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

Chapter 257

AURORA

The disturbing howl cut through the night, had stirred me awake, and a shiver ran down my spine. I sat up when I heard a soft knock at our door, followed by Trajan’s muffled voice.

“Dane, we need to talk. Now.”

Dane stirred beside me, his weight shifting beside me as he sat

up.

“What’s going on?” he called softly.

“Something’s wrong around the borders,” Trajan said. “The patrol picked up movement. I thought it best we check it out.”

I felt Dane’s hand brush against mine as he stood. It was a reassuring touch, my voice thick with sleep. “Where are you going?”

He turned toward me, the moonlight outlining his face in sharp

lines.

“Trajan heard something unusual. I’ll just go take a look.”

The knot of worry that had settled in my stomach over the past. few days tightened. “Be careful,” I whispered.

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Dane leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Always. For you.” His voice carried the weight of unspoken promises.

I watched him leave, the door closing softly behind him. Alone, the room felt colder.

*** ******

By the time Dane got back, it was dawn. A few packs were gathered, warriors stood around the main hall, their eyes moving quickly in the direction of the woods.

Murmurs greeted me as I joined them, thick with unease. Dane’s presence steadied them, but his face showed his doubts.

“Trajan and his patrol found signs of movement near the eastern border,” he began. “Nothing concrete but enough to raise questions.”

“What sort of signs?” one of the older females asked sharply, her voice tight with concern.

“Tracks that looked fresh but just seemed to disappear into nothing right at the edge of the riverbank,” he explained.

“Most likely just some loose end “I heard the doubt in his voice, the flick of his eye toward me for confirmation. But before I could say a word, another jumped in.

“This isn’t the first time,” Warrick said, his voice even. “There’ve been whispers of strange movements for weeks. What if it’s not a stray?”

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“That’s speculation,” Trajan said, his voice even. “Till we have more evidence, we can’t jump to conclusions.”

Piper crossed her arms, her expression skeptical.

“Speculation or not, it’s pretty suspicious timing. A stray typically doesn’t hang out like that.” The argument continued coming, the pack voice rose and pitched as they fought over how to make it fit. I hung back in silence, listening to the shifts in tension out across the gathering.

Eventually, Dane raised a hand, his authority cutting through the chaos of voices.

“We’ll double the patrols and keep a close watch on the borders. For now, let’s not spread unnecessary panic.”

The pack murmured their agreement, though unease lingered in their eyes.

dispersed, I spotted Freya sitting alone on a low stone. wall near the meeting hall, staring into the woods. I was

halted. She sighed, her

as if a storm is

must not think about it too much. Whatever it is will be

Chapter 257

then, her lips curling into a slight smile. “Worried about him?” she said,

piercing.

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always competent. That’s

taunting. “Oh, I know. He’s. impressive.”

at the silent challenge she

statement.

loyal, very faithful…” I said, so

invisible dust off her clothing, “you’re lucky to

the air, their presence marked a soft murmur of

*** *** ***

my mind was a storm of doubt. Whispers of what Freya had said lingered in my brain and would not

speaking low and cautiously, “Aurora. something doesn’t just

heart racing, and peered into his

257 in the

“What do you mean?

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us rustling outside the window

in the air when the

up; my pulse raced. “Do you hear that?” I

jaw clenched.

with him, he was out of bed, the

he crossed

“Dane ”

he said,

you getting hurt in case of

only watched as he disappeared out the door, the cool night air brushing

fainter but hadn’t

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on edge as I strained

ticked by in painful silence before I

and peered out. Moonlight bathed the yard, shadows jumping among the

a patch of bushy

with large, terrified

stammered, holding her hands out as

mean to

his knife a fraction, his face a mask of

are you doing

hesitated, looking towards

saw something. near the tree line. I wanted to make

open the door, unable to hold my tongue

you have no business being out walking around alone

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It’s not

and for a moment, I thought I saw

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said softly. “But. I guess

a hand

We can’t afford to take risks

nodded, chastised. “I’ll go back to

caught her looking back at Dane, her eyes

My stomach twisted uncomfortably.

I turned to Dane. “You