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

deserves to , he said , his

We all do .

sun higher in the sky now , Eira drew closer to Aurora where she stood at the edge of the fields

they said , but the way tension swelled then released in her shoulders

to go , Aurora followed her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone , her figure

, I again found Aurora still along the tree line , alone

? I asked as

along the path Eira had vanished into

said she needed to go

the Forgotten … it is part of her

a sigh

I dont know .

though , its so

is just taking her

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

time to rejoice , not quite yet

, near the hearth , her features

, his hand

so easy with each other ; their silence a testimony to their compatibility

them and our

Warrick said smugly

sloppy

shook her head

will

the pack retired to bed , to rooms

nooks and corners within the

out , and I fell a

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

were silent for several seconds ; both lay looking up

concentration until Aurora leaned her head against

voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing

he said

think we can

at the edge of the clearing ,

out across the horizon where the blackness of the forest met the sky

we could

turned to head inside , something fluttered

enough that I almost didnt catch it , pulsed across the horizon before

was caught in my throat

swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of unease it left with me coiled tightly in

back to

, their quiet conversation a gentle murmur in

seemed so confident , so convinced the war was already

that light … it was

forest , peering hard into the darkness for any

trees were still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures