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

Chapter 278

LILA

Aurora spoke softly, her words hanging in the silence, in the balance within the pack, seeming to resound within her mind:

“Every choice ripples through into others. Be sure yours aren’t the one drowning someone you care for.”

I glared hard at the paper clutched in my shaking hands on it, Calla’s uneven words across the page read clear as day, the demand, “Sow doubt. Make them question him, or I’ll make sure your past comes to light.”

I felt my heart twist, words cutting deeper into me like a knife as I reread the message over and over.

The face of Rowan flashed into my mind, the honesty in his smile, the brightness of his eyes when he spoke about earning again the trust of his pack.

Why does he have to be so good? Why did I have to care?

I lay under a mountain of blankets, smothering, unable to get out. The murmurs of the pack outside my room filtered into my ears, a toneless reminder of how much it would cost me if Calla followed through with her threats.

“What am I doing?” I whispered, pacing. “I should have just

Chapter 278

walked away when she first called.

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But Calla knew too much. She was the key to unraveling it all the life I’d tried to build here.

It was some kind of treachery, a betrayal, to that one fragile. piece inside me that still hoped I could be better when Rowan. betrayed me.

I found him at the training grounds, his form economical as he showed techniques to a circle of younger wolves, voice steady, firm with corrections, yet the patience distinct beneath that weight of whispered concern surrounding his name.

“You’re gripping too tight,” he told one young werewolf, adjusting the werewolf’s hands on the practice sword. “Loosen up. If your hands are stiff, your strikes won’t flow.”

wolf nodded, adjusting his grip as Rowan stepped back. “Better. Now

edge of the open circle, less certain that this was a brilliant notion being nearer to him but then he looked at me with a soft, sudden

said, mopping sweat off his forehead. “What’re

words my

just wanted to, um check on you,” I heard myself saying weakly, managing a smile I

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the words sounded less strained. You’ve

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chuckled low and nodded toward the sparring wolves. “They keep me on my toes. But it’s good.

him, fidgeting my hands nervously in my lap. “You seem different,” I

words it seemed. “I’m trying,” he said. “Each day feels like a chance

be.“.

words shrunk my chest as guilt chomped down on the edges

like you are fighting a fight

furrowed. “All the time. But you keep on fighting anyway.

I echoed, barely

of the wolves. drifting across the field. It

the silence.

lately,” he said softly, still questioning. “Not that I mind. It’s nice having someone who doesn’t look at me like I’m about

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at the soft, unexpected, even to me. “Maybe

turned fully to me, his

I said without thinking, then hastened to add, “About

a small smile. “Careful, Lila. You’re

meant it to, and I made myself turn away. “Maybe that’s what you need,”

edge of the training grounds, younger wolves dispersing this way and that. The coolness of air,

over us.

leaving?” he asked abruptly, his