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

Chapter 26 DANE 1/5 I woke on my back , naked on cold , hard , wel ground .

Pain screamed through my right shoulder .

Sick heat seared through my veins .

I tasted metal in my mouth .

I groaned .

Dane ! Aurora knelt beside me .

Her hands were cool and dry .

on my feverish , sweating forehead .

Dont try to get up .

They had someone hiding in the trees .

You were shot with a silver bullet .

Fuck me .

No wonder I felt like death .

Did it go through ? I asked .

They left it in long enough to make you sick .

Then they pulled it out .

No wonder my shoulder felt like it had been sliced down to the bone and set on fire .

Aurora pulled her hand away .

Only then did I open my eyes .

It didnt make much difference .

All I could see was darkness .

It was cold .

I reached for my wolf .

Transforming would help me heal , and it would keep me warmer .

But he whimpered and moaned and wouldnt emerge .

There was Chapter 26 too much silver in my body .

I was stuck as a human , possibly for days .

Where are we ? I asked Aurora .

I dont know .

Some cave deep in the mountains .

They lowered us down this small cliff and left .

I havent heard anything since .

If theyre guarding us , theyre probably outside the cave .

She paused , then said , You could probably jump or climb out in your lycan form .

Can you shift ? No.

Another pause .

I realized how cold it was .

The wet kind of cold that seeps into your bones .

Already my fingers and toes were like ice .

How long have we been down here ? I asked .

Hours .

They lowered food down .

A thermos with something .

hot inside .

Maybe soup .

I havent had any .

I dont know if theyd poison us or not .

Though … if they were going to kill us , they could have done it .

Theres not really a point in dragging us both here , then digging the bullet out of you , then feeding us .

I grunted again , surprised at her insight .

Or maybe this was all a setup .

A scheme .

But if it was , why was Auora down here , too ? What could she possibly gain ? My trust ? Was I supposed to believe all these Chapter 26 3/3 forces were after her so that Id finally break and believe she was on my side ? But then why disappear for five years in the first place ? And then there were those children .

Where did they fit in ? I remembered Auroras pain as she shouted at me that Id never trusted her .

Never given her a chance .

I had good reason for that .

Anyone would agree .

But … should give her a chance ? There couldnt be anything between us .

Not with Evelyn expecting my child .

But we could be allies , at least .

Maybe I shouldnt be allies with a woman I dreamed about taking to bed .

Hearing her moan .

Making her pant , sweat , writhe .

Hearing her scream my name … I heard her make a small noise , like a shiver she was trying to hide .

I moved to push myself up and realized there was fabric draped over my body .

The sweet scent of lilacs drifted from it .

Whats this ? My sweater .

Its not much , but its all I have .

From the sound of her voice , she was sitting a few feet off to my left .

I have clothes .

You dont .

I touched the soft fabric .

It was barely a scrap .

Hardly enough for modesty , let alone warmth .

You should get the thermos .

Chapter 26 4/5 Drink the soup .

Youre right .

They wouldnt go to the trouble of keeping us alive just to poison us .

I heard her shifting around .

There was the sound of a metal lid.

unscrewing .

The scent of broth made my mouth water .

You should go first , Aurora said .

Youre injured .

Im not .

I was immediately suspicious .

I opened my mouth to say something , but Aurora spoke first .

Here , Ill drink some first , so you know Im not working with the Reeds to poison you .

Its dark .

I said .

How will I know ? She made a sound that usually went with her rolling her eyes .

Then she touched my shoulder , felt her way down my arm , and took my hand .

First , she dipped my fingers in the open thermos so I could feel how full of warm liquid it was .

Then she moved my fingertips to her throat .

Then she tilted her head back and drank .

I felt her throat move as she swallowed .

When she was finished , she put my hand in the thermos again .

It was lower .

She moved my hand to her face , her clothes .

They were dry .

She hadnt dumped it and pretended to swallow .

I pushed myself up as best I could with my injured shoulder and propped myself against the cold cave wall .

Aurora passed me the thermos , and I drank , too .

Chapter 26 5/5 It was just chicken broth .

Nothing special .

More likely to make ne feel my hunger than to fill my belly .

But it was warm .

I drank what I thought should be a little less than half , then I handed it back to her .

Finish it .

She did .

When she got to the end , there was a long pause .

Dane … I think … From high above , Esther Reeds voice cut through the dark , as if shed been crouching there all along , waiting for us to wake and drink .

I told you Id prove youre just as low as the rest of us .

Now youll see .

Mother , Aurora called out as if down here , shed forgotten Esther Reed was never her mother at all .

What did you give us ?