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 .

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

said ,

We all do .

to Aurora where she stood at the edge of the fields

tension swelled then released in her shoulders told me

, Aurora followed her a number of paces before embracing

later , I again found Aurora

? I asked as I sat down beside her

nodded , her gaze following along the path Eira had vanished into

she needed to go

relation to the Forgotten … it is part of

? She exhaled a sigh , running her hand through

I dont know .

its so infrequent , that being at

taking her opportunity

that by evening , the packhouse was just so filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience for what has seemed like Chapter 223

to rejoice , not quite

her features dancing

sat beside her , his hand

; their silence a

our banter served to fill the pauses

you the traps would work , Warrick said smugly as he fell back

because I fixed your sloppy placement ,

shook

will never

on until one by one the pack retired to

nooks and corners within the

out , and

under the starry night sky and sat down almost against each other as the soft evening

seconds ; both lay looking up with

223 5/8 keen concentration until Aurora leaned her head against Danes shoulder

think finally we can start breathing , her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but I did notice how his hand

, he said

think we can

the clearing , giving them some time to their moment

looked out across the horizon where the

weight felt lifted , and we could finally start rebuilding ,

to head inside ,

, quick enough that I almost didnt

; my breath was caught

glow on the horizon was gone now , swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of unease it left with

to Aurora and Dane

together , heads turned to each other , their quiet

convinced the war was already

… it was wrong

hard into the darkness

still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures in the