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

Chapter 249

ALINA

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Firelight in the gathered hall danced upon the walls in long shadows while I sat toward the rear.

I chose my place for a specific reason: I could let my eyes trail across them, from the babbling wolves to those nervous looks at neighbors and the more who whispered stories of Rowan’s rise and fall into destruction.

“Did you hear how he argued with Aurora before he was arrested?” I whispered to Lyra, a younger wolf sitting to my side.

Lyra’s ears twitched. “I heard him say something about her playing favorites. Is that true?”

I sighed, faking reluctance. “I wouldn’t say that outright, but. There’s truth to every rumor, isn’t there? Rowan wouldn’t have acted out for no reason.”

Lyra frowned, her gaze wandering to the front of the room, where Aurora stood beside Dane. “But Aurora’s always been fair.”

“Fair?” I let the word hang in the air, laced with doubt.

“Fairness is not the same thing as a good leader, Lyra. Fair doesn’t mean it listens to everyone. Rowan wanted to be heard,

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and look where it got him.

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And in that, the seed was sown. Lyra’s doubt would grow like a fire taking to burn slowly, and I would be the one fanning the flames.

Later that day, I made my way to the training grounds, where a group of wolves sparred beneath the sharp commands of Piper.

Her voice rang out with authority, but with a jagged edge a hairline crack that I was more than happy to widen.

“Piper,” I called, taunting her with a sweet smile.

She turned, wiping the sweat off her forehead. “What do you want, Alina?”

“Just a moment of your time,” I said innocently. “You work so hard. I thought you could use a little break.”

Piper crossed her arms. “I’m busy.”

“Too busy to hear what Warrick’s been saying?”

I knew I had her

looking offhandedly toward the

nothing. I just overheard him mentioning how he admires, strong willed wolves. He seemed awfully

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clenched. “Warrick

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said

And sometimes. admiration can turn

hardening. “Why are you

you should know,” I replied, trying to sound as concerned as

deserve to be prepared, Piper. Strong wolves like you don’t have to let

ensued was satisfying… I walked away, glad that I

into the now vacant quarters of Rowan

behind.

one thing caught my eye: a folded piece of parchment tucked beneath the edge of the

scanning my eyes over the spidery, uneven handwriting. The words were cryptic, near nonsensical

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my chest,

“What are you doing?”

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Piper standing at the door

up,” I replied casually, hiding the letter behind my back. “Rowan’s mess,

eyes. “You shouldn’t

I said, advancing on the door. “But if anyone asks, we’ll just say

an answer, brushing past her into the hallway as the letter seemed to burn like a secret

silence of my

of the cryptic words. “The truth buried in the grove will be their

is the truth? And how

fingers trembling in the mixture of

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a fool, but his desperation had

letter as if it might reveal more if I just looked

this pack, molded its. leaders,

have this? And why

while I stepped outside, I sat on the training grounds, pretending to watch the

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voice cut through the space as

his easy grin back in place as he offered some kind