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.

Chapter 257

2/10

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?”

Chapter 257

3/10

“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.

Freya sitting alone on a low stone. wall near the meeting hall, staring into the woods. I was about to walk past her when she got up

as I halted.

storm

furrowed my brow. “You must not think about it too much. Whatever it is will

Chapter 257

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

piercing.

4/10

brow. “Dane’s always competent.

light, almost taunting. “Oh, I know. He’s.

at the silent

statement.

I said, so much

invisible dust off her

marked a soft murmur of insecurity that I kept

*** *** ***

doubt. Whispers of what Freya had said

speaking low and cautiously, “Aurora. something

heart racing, and peered

in

“What do you mean?

5/10

he could answer, the faint sound reached us rustling outside the window

Dane hung in the air when the light rustling outside the window started growing

my pulse raced. “Do you hear that?” I

his jaw clenched. “Stay

before I could argue with him, he was out of

speed, he crossed towards the knife beside

“Dane ”

it, Aurora,” he said, firm

you getting hurt in case

watched as he disappeared out the

fainter but

Chapter 257

6/10

body tensed; every nerve was on edge as I

ticked by in painful silence before

the window and peered out. Moonlight bathed the yard,

There, behind a patch of bushy shrubs, was a

me with large,

Freya stammered, holding her hands out as if in some need of

didn’t mean to scare

a fraction, his face a mask

you doing out

looking

the tree line. I wanted to make sure everything

to hold my tongue a

you have no business being out walking

Chapter 257

dark. It’s not

for a moment, I thought I saw

7/10

bother anyone,” she said softly. “But. I guess

running a

We can’t afford

go

I caught her looking back at Dane, her eyes staying

My stomach twisted uncomfortably.

was gone, I turned