Blood And Silver:Rise of the Alpha’s Rejected Mate
Chapter 209

Chapter 209 1/6 AURORA I understand enough , he says , his voice unyielding .

Ive lost enough .

Im not losing you too .

Before I could further argue with him , the air shifts around us , and the mist starts to take form , sharpening by the second .

Shapes are taking form and morphing into figures … twisted mockeries of people from Danes past .

A woman with golden hair stands at the edge of the mist , her face twisted in a mask of pain .

Beside her , a young boy clutches her hand , his eyes wide in fear .

No , Dane whispers , his voice breaking .

The figures step closer ; their forms are twisted , and unnatural .

The boys face screws up , his mouth open in a silent scream .

Dane , what are they ? I ask , my voice shaking .

Theyre my fears , he says , his body stiff with tension .

My failures .

The visions lash out , their movements weird but deliberate .

Dane raises his arms in defense , his movements are quick but strained .

You couldnt save us , the woman says , her voice sad and weak You let us die .

Chapter 209 The boy moves closer , his small hands outstretched to Dane .

You promised , he says , the tone too steady .

You said youd take care of us .

Dane stumbled backward , his skin pale .

2/6 Dane ! I yell , raising the pendant high .

For a second its glow cuts through , forcing the illusions to shatter .

Liriens voice cuts through the fog , imperative .

The grove feeds on guilt and fear .

He is open to it here .

He cannot stay .

Dane shakes his head .

Heavy breathing escapes from his lips as he growls , I wont leave her .

Youre not helping her , Lirien snaps , its form shimmering with irritability .

Your presence only makes the grove that much stronger .

Leave before you are both devoured .

Dane , I tried again , my words shaking .

Listen to Lirien .

You have to leave , or it will destroy you .

I w … wont be able to , he responds , his words breaking .

I wont let it take me away from you .

The grove raves on , furor doubled , and more join the horde wolves twisted monstrous forms , their eyes aglow with malice .

The glow of the pendant reduced , my hands shaking as the bursts increased further life from its depths .

Ill hold them off , Dane says suddenly .

An edge has crept into his voice now , his body firm , though a quick flicker reveals his Chapter 209 hand .

3/6 You have got to finish this , Aurora .

You are all that you can .

No ! I snap , catching his arm .

I wont leave you behind .

You dont have a choice , he says , his voice low and even .

This is bigger than us .

Bigger than me .

I blink through my tears but shake my head .

We do this together .

No matter what .

The illusions close in , their distorted faces leering as they circle us .

Dane stands beside me , his body tense and ready to fight .

Then lets finish it , he says to me .

We forge ahead in concert .

With every use , the light in the pendant gutters , the illusions threatening to break through .

Dane lashes out at the figures with brutal efficiency , desperation driving his movements .

The mist grows thinner with our passage ; a clearing opens up before us , and there , at the middle of the grove , is its center tree its roots twisting , running with corruption .

Were almost there , I say , and my voice is tight with determination .

The roots seem to sense our approach , twisting violently as dark branches rise from the ground .

Lirien appears again , its form flickering .

Chapter 209 4/6 tree will not wait .

You must decide .

We fight our way through the final few roots ; its corrupted energy whiplashing out as though it were a living thing .

The pendant flared brighter once more , beating them off us long enough to reach the bottom of the tree .

The roots divided now , showing a heart pulsating bright in the center of it .

Power hummed the air .

It was thick to such a degree my skin tingled with the energy .

Liriens voice fills my head , soft and insistent .

The time of choice has come , now , Luna .

Will you revive the grove … or let it rot ? I glaze at the heart , hypnotic in the core light , almost threatened by it .

Dane reaches out and brushes his hand across mine .

The touch grounds me .

Aurora, he says softly .

Whichever way , Im with you .

I shut my eyes momentarily , willing the anger inside me to calm .

The glow of the heart pulses , each beat tugging me closer toward .

a decision Im not prepared to make .

Restore it , I whisper .

Sacrifice it all , and it ends here .

Its just too similar to me in my mind as far as cost is concerned .

What if I fail ? I whisper , turning to Lirien , whose shadowed form stands unstirring .

You wont , Lirien says with such surety .

The grove has chosen you .

The grove shall take your sacrifice .

Chapter 209 There isnt , I say , my voice breaking .

Youve seen what this place can do .

If I walk away , the pack suffers .

5/6 The grove dies .

Dane steps closer , his voice raw .

And what about you ? What happens to you , Aurora ? Dont you think you matter too ? My chest tightens , tears filling my eyes .

This isnt about me , I say .

Its about all of us .

The roots rolled around the glowing heart , dark branches .

creeping closer as if sensing the weight of my hesitation .

The choice cannot wait , Lirien says .

Decide , Luna .

Now .

I step closer , and the heat from the glowing heart caresses my skin as if it were alive .

Its light seems to intensify , demanding my attention , and tugging me closer .

Dane reaches for my arm , his touch light yet firm .

Aurora , wait … theres still time to think this through .

There isnt , I answer , my voice shaking , yet set .

The grove wont let us leave without a decision .

The branches around my heart coil tighter , their agitation now violent in response to the thought in my mind .

It is as though all that air holds heavy , in me with the weight of so many lives hanging in the balance , the packs , mine .

Whatever happens , I tell him , turning back to Dane .

promise Chapter 209 Aurora , no .

6/6 Promise ! I scream over him , my voice drowning him in a sea of tears .

His hand falls , his face contorted in rage and misery .

I swear it , he growls .

His voice is barely audible .

I lean forward , toward the heart , and the pendant resting against my chest surges to life in soft golden light .

The minute my fingers make contact with the light , a low rumbling growl explodes from the grove behind him and I am paralyzed .

A monster steps out from behind the trees , green fire ablaze in his eyes .