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 .

more , I said to Warrick who was still by

, he said , his voice oddly serious

We all do .

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

but the way tension swelled then released in

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

later , I again found Aurora still along the tree line

? I asked as I sat down beside her

following along the

said she needed to go

… it is part of her which she

exhaled a sigh , running her hand through

I dont know .

so

taking her

evening , the packhouse 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

a time to rejoice , not

sal , near the hearth , her features dancing in the flicker

her ,

two were so easy with each other ; their silence a

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

work , Warrick said smugly as he

fixed your sloppy placement , I returned ,

chuckled and shook

two will never

one by one the pack

quiet nooks and corners

, and I fell a few

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

several seconds ; both

concentration until Aurora

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

he said

we

back at the edge of the clearing , giving them

horizon where the blackness of

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

that instant , as I turned to

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

froze ; my breath was caught in my

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

back to Aurora

, heads turned to each other , their quiet conversation a gentle murmur

seemed so confident , so convinced the war was already

…

peering hard into the darkness

were still ; their branches danced in