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 .

223 3/8 Shes smiling more , I said to Warrick who was still by my side , nudging him with my elbow

to , he said , his voice oddly serious

We all do .

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

, but the way tension swelled then released in her shoulders told me it

followed her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone , her figure melting into the trees

found Aurora still along the tree line ,

? I asked as I sat down beside

gaze following along the path Eira had

needed to

to the Forgotten … it is part

sigh , running her hand through

I dont know .

so infrequent , that being at peace

just taking her opportunity

filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience for what

time to rejoice ,

, near the hearth , her features dancing in the flicker of the flames

,

; their silence a testimony to their

I sat opposite them and our banter served to fill the pauses

work , Warrick said smugly as he fell

sloppy placement ,

shook

two will

the pack retired to bed , to

nooks and corners within the packhouse

out , and I fell a few feet

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

silent for several seconds ; both lay looking

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

barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for

, he

think we can

hung back at the edge of the clearing , giving them

the blackness of the forest met the sky

, the weight felt lifted , and we could finally start rebuilding , not just the

turned to head inside , something fluttered in

didnt catch it , pulsed

froze ; my breath was caught

the darkness ,

back to Aurora and

other , their quiet conversation a

convinced the

that light … it was wrong

peering hard into the darkness for any sign of life

their branches danced in gentle