Blood And Silver:Rise of the Alpha’s Rejected Mate

Chapter 223 PIPER The grove is free … for now .

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the sunlight beaming through the packhouse windows .

It wasnt light ; it was warm , golden … the kind that wrapped around you and made you forget that the darkness had ever existed .

For weeks , the mist had clung to the territory , suffocating everything it touched .

But now the sky was clear , and the air felt different , lighter .

I went out , squinting against the brightness .

Already werewolves were gathering , their faces a mix of disbelief and cautious hope .

Aurora stood on the ridge overlooking the territory , her silhouette framed by the rising sun .

Dane was beside her , his arm draped protectively around her shoulders .

Its over , he said softly , his voice carrying just enough for those nearby to hear .

Then and there , Aurora said nothing else , just stood her ground , eyes fixed on some point above the horizon , apparently waiting for something .

Chapter 223 2/8 Then she nodded , this small smile on her lips .

For now , she said , soft yet clear as crystal .

With purpose , the pack stirred ; the dam was broken that had so long held some unseen tension at bay .

The werewolf set to , repairing the packhouse and outlying homes , others sallied out into the forest , making observations .

about the lie of the land .

Trajan took to running the younger werewolf through drills in the open field .

I watched him as he corrected stances and issued advice , his voice low even .

It was a side of him I hadnt seen before , a leader , not just a fighter .

They look up to him , Warrick said , coming to stand beside me .

Hes earned it , I said , crossing my arms to watch Trajan demonstrate some sort of defensive move .

Warrick grinned .

Still think he broods too much , though .

I elbowed him , rolling my eyes .

And you talk too much .

Later in the day , Aurora was out in the field with the other elders , helping them farm .

Odd , I thought it looked .

Her amongst them , soft laughter at the end of one of their jokes .

Lighter .

said to Warrick who was still by my side , nudging him with my elbow

he said ,

We all do .

to Aurora where she stood at the edge of the fields

way tension swelled then released in her shoulders told me it had weight

the time Eira had turned to go , Aurora followed her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone , her figure melting into the trees

little later , I again found Aurora still along the tree line ,

gone ? I asked as I sat

nodded , her gaze following along the path Eira

she needed to go away

it is part of her

with this ? She exhaled a sigh ,

I dont know .

so infrequent , that being at

just taking her opportunity

filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience for what has seemed like Chapter 223 4/8 eternity … werewolves sharing food

to rejoice , not quite yet

hearth , her features dancing

beside her , his

; their silence

them and our banter

told you the traps would work , Warrick said smugly

I fixed your sloppy placement ,

shook her

two will never change

one the pack retired to

nooks and corners within the packhouse

went out , and I fell a few feet behind

night sky and sat down almost against each other as the soft evening breeze whistled among

silent for several seconds ; both lay looking up with

5/8 keen concentration until Aurora leaned her

her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but I did

, he said

think we can

edge of the clearing ,

where the blackness

we could finally start rebuilding , not just the packhouse or the land but ourselves

that instant , as I turned to head inside , something fluttered

of green light , quick enough that I almost didnt catch

; my breath was caught in my

swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of

to Aurora

each other , their

, so convinced the

light … it was wrong

ran back to the forest , peering hard into the darkness

still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures in the breeze