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

"How could you? I don't know how much more of this I can take,” I said, walking back and forth in the clearing behind the packhouse.

Warrick leaned against a tree, crossing his arms, frustration written all over his features. He had calledto speak withand I can't seem to stand him, not after what I saw.

Though I felt hurt, I still shouldn't show it to him that I am hurt.

"Piper, please," he said, strained. “I have apologised a hundred times. What more could you possibly want from me? "It's not about the apology, Warrick!" I spat, spinning to face him. "It's about trust. You broke it and now... now I don't even. know who we are anymore." His jaw hardened, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then his voice gentled, almost imploring. "I made a mistake, Piper. I know that. But I love you. Doesn't that count for anything?" I shook my head. My chest tight, I managed to get the words out: "Love isn't enough when I can't even trust you." The silence.

was a stretch between us.

Finally turning away, I muttered, "I need to get my head sorted," and I walked off.

"Piper... baby." I heard Warrick calling, but I didn't turn to him.

I didn't know which way to go, but somehow my feet did because they carriedin the direction of the training grounds.

I passed Rowan, he was having ssparring with a circle of younger wolves. "Piper?" he questioned, furrowing his brow in concern.

"I need someone to talk to," I whispered as I halted.

He nodded and walked to a nearby bench, I followed him and we sat. "What's going on?" he asked softly.

I fumble over words because my brain just felt one huge jumble of a mess. "It's Warrick. Everything just seems so... shattered. And maybe not worth saving anymore." I said.

"Relationships suck, I know. But you are strong, Piper. You'll figure it out." "Will I?" I said, forcing a bitter laugh. "Cause right now, it feels. like drowning.

He leaned over and laid a reassuring hand on mine. In his quiet voice, he said, "You are not alone. You've got people who care about you." Blunt as the words were, they felt like skind of lifeline. I found myself leaning toward him, his warmth was everything.

I smiled even as I was confused, Warrick kept screwing up and Rowan kept being so great. I am not sure of what I want anymore.

With my eyes locked in Rowan's he leaned closer, "Piper," he whispered, his tone very unsure. “You know you're important to me, right?" My breath caught, and in that instant, I couldn't tear my eyes off of him. The space between us seemed to reduce and, in one swift moment, we were leaning in.

But at the last second, I drew back, my heart pounding. “I can't,” I whispered, and then stood abruptly.

Rowan was looking every bit as shaken as I felt. "Piper, I'm sor..." "I need to get going," I hastened to say, turning to walk away before either of us uttered another word.

I returned to the packhouse, Warrick was standing waiting by the door for me. I ignored him and walked inside.

I sat in my room while he stayed by my door, as Rowan calso from the training grounds direction, a frown was on Warrick's face.

"What the hell were you doing with her?" Warrick thundered. He was loud en Rowan stiffened, eyes unyielding. "We were talking, Warrick. That's all.” "Talking?" Warrick jeered, taking a threatening step closer. "It didn't look like just talking to me." "Warrick, stop," I said as I got up to my feet, but he didn't hear me.

"You've been sniffing around her for weeks," Warrick growled low, his fists clenched. “You think I don't see it? You think I don't know what you're trying to do?" "Warrick, that's enough," Rowan said, firm and controlled.

"Oh, now you're tellingwhat to do?" Warrick sneered, stepping right into Rowan's space. “You think you're better than me? You think you can just take her.

Warrick is older than Rowan, and that made him look a bit bigger and intimidating. But I and Rowan were just age grades.

"I'm not trying to take anyone," Rowan said over him, his voice. rising. He threw a glance my way and I pursed my lips. And he continued, "But perhaps if you were treating her with the respect she deserves, you'd not feel so threatened." Murmurs stirred across, all glancing between them in the corridor.

"Respect?" Warrick spat. "How dare you speak of respect." Chapter 287 577 "Oh, then cease acting the jealous fool," was all Rowan returned. I gulped, I can't seem to find the strength to go out there and somehow ease this tension.

"Enough!" Aurora's voice cut through at last, and she stepped. between them, tall. "That is enough. Both of you." Warrick let his glare flick to Rowan one more time, chest heaving, before whirling and stalking away.

Rowan held my gaze for a second, then turned to leave, too, leavingthere with the weight of it all pressed upon my chest.

Warrick cto a sudden stop, whirling with a snarl. “You really think this is over, Rowan? You're just a failure, crawling on your hands and knees to try to get places you don't deserve. her." Rowan clenched his fists together, and paused as he growled. "Say what you will about me, Warrick, but knock it off with bringing Piper into it." "You don't get to talk about her,” Warrick snapped, his voice cracking with anger and frustration. "You don't know her like I do." "And yet here you are," Rowan said evenly, “accusing her of things she hasn't done, pushing her away because you can't handle your own guilt." "Enough," Aurora repeated this tcoldly. Stepping between the two men, she let her sharp eyes hold, unrelenting. “This pack doesn't have tfor petty fights. If you cannot settle this ast adults, then I will see both of you accountable." "I am sorry, Luna," Rowan said, with a little bow and then with one more gaze at me, he walked off.

Warrick laughed harshly. "Petty? You think this is petty, Aurora? He's trying to..." "Warrick!" Aurora's voice rose above the din. "If you cared for Piper the way you are claiming, you'd stop embarrassing her in front of everybody." Warrick faltered, his gaze flicking to me. His anger softened, for a moment replaced by something like regret. "I'm not trying to embarrass anyone," he muttered.

"Then act like it," Aurora said, firm but unkind.

The people finally went their separate ways, but the whispers wouldn't, until finally Aurora turned toward me: "Piper, come. with me. Now".

Warrick would have reached for my arm, but I pulled away, my chest tig The curtains broke, and morning painted the room soft gold.

I sat upon the edge of the bed and stared down at the map across my lap. The indecision of the council ate atAurora. firm, as always, for waiting in a peaceful way yet every instinct inwas screaming the opposite: twas not of our essence.

The door creaked as Trajan stepped in, his expression wary. "You're up early," he said, crossing his arms.

"I couldn't sleep," I admitted, rolling up the map. "I've made my decision, Trajan. I'm going to scout the disputed territory myself." 0 His brows furrowed. "Without the council's approval? Aurora won't like this.” "I'm not waiting for approval anymore," I snapped, my voice harder than I intended. "This pack needs action, not endless debate.

Trajan sighed but nodded. "Who are you taking?" "Only those I trust," I said. "You in?" He paused, then gave a curt nod. "Always." By mid morning, I had assembled a small group: Trajan, Warrick, and three others who had sworn loyalty without the least hesitation. The air was heavy with tension as we moved toward the disputed territory, the only sound the rustle of leaves underfoot.

It was wide, open, its edges traced in large juts of rocks. It was easy enough to see why both packs coveted this land: rich land, clear rivers only a few feet underground, wood so thick knotted. it was impossible to cut across.

Yet with every step I took deeper inside this paradise, the tighter I felt something was pulled around my intestines. "Tracks," Warrick whispered, squatting low. "Fresh." Before I could get a word out, figures appeared from behind the trees. An army wearing bronze armors, they looked battle-hardened too, they were surrounding us in an instant.

"Who dares trespass on our land?" one voice asked, cold and wickedly clear.

I stepped forward, my head up. "I'm Dane, Alpha of this pack. We have a righ "And yet you cwithout an army," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “I am Kaida... the leader of this army... and we will teach you a lesson." She stepped back and her army stepped up, wielding their weapons.

"Prepare to at..." Before I was done with my command, they surged at us with the speed of light. Instantly, the fighting got fierce, we were outnumbered. Wet were holding our own, it seemed but obviously we're not going to prevail. Little, little from bruises, a cut on my forehead. started dripping blood.

"Enough!" This command from Kaida sliced through chaos, freeing us, "Leave them." Her army hesitated but obeyed. She stepped closer, her eyes. locking onto mine. "This is your warning, Alpha. Don't cback unless you're ready to lose more than your pride." I gritted my teeth in shbut nodded. "Understood." The walk back to the packhouse was heavy with defeat. My warriors were silent, their injuries a bad reminder of my failed gamble.

Aurora was waiting when we arrived, her arms crossed and her eyes blazing. "What the hell were you thinking?" she demanded.

I sighed, brushing past her. "Not now, Aurora." "Oh, now is exactly the time," she countered, followinginto our room. "You risked their lives for what? Your ego?" "It wasn't my ego!" I shouted, spinning to face her. "It was for the pack's future.

"And you thought going behind everyone's back was the best way to secure that?" she shot back, her voice shaking with anger, I could tell she was sick worried for me, but I hated it.

I don't need pity. “Maybe if the council could make a decision, I wouldn't have to act on my own!" She narrowed her eyes, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths. "You put everyone in danger, Dane. Including yourself." The tension between us was like a live wire pulled out. She turned away, her hands digging into the edge of the dresser. "I can't lose you," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Something insidesnapped. I closed the distance between us, my hands wrapping around her waist.

"You won't lose me," I whispered, turning her to face me.

She would have argued again, and her lips parted; I quieted her

t to this territory." The army laughed and a lady with golden armor stepped into. view. She was damn beautiful, her curves were so different even with the leather armor she wore, her long hair flowing like a river of midnight. Her sharp eyes calculating, her lips curling into a smirk.

ht with it all weighingdown.

"Not now, Warrick," I managed to choke, my voice firm though my body shook with emotion.

ough that several wolves stopped what they were doing and stared.