Chapter One Hundred Twenty Two
The words had barely left Damon’s mouth-
There will be no marking ceremony-
when everything snapped.
Claim
Before anyone could react, Talon moved. Fast. Too fast. One second Damon was standing- the next, his back slammed against the wall. A crack echoed through the room. Talon’s claws were already at Damon’s throat, digging just enough to break skin-just enough to warn.
“What did you say?”
His voice wasn’t loud. But it was deadly. Every ounce of the respect he had begun to offer Damon- gone.
Vanished.
“My king-!” Conall stepped forward instinctively, ready to pull Damon away-
“Do. Not. Move.”
Talon’s command hit like a force. Invisible. Crushing. The room froze. Literally. Conall stopped mid-step, his body locking in place.
His muscles tensed-but refused to obey him. His wolf, Fang, surged in confusion.
What is this? Fang demanded inside their shared mind. How is he ordering us? He is not our king.
Conall swallowed hard, his eyes widening slightly as he struggled against the invisible pressure.
This… he realized slowly, this is the Alpha King.
Not just a title. Power.
This is his aura.
Heavy. Absolute.
Our instincts are responding, Conall said internally. Even if we belong to another kingdom… some things don’t change. And we’re not moving… because we know he won’t kill Damon. Not without hurting Willow.
Fang stilled.
Understanding settling in.
She… is the bridge between them.
Across the room-
“Talon!”
Diana’s voice cut through the tension. Sharp. Commanding. She moved toward him immediately, ignoring the weight in the air, grabbing his arm.
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“Release Damon.”
“Did you hear what this bastard just said?” Talon growled, not loosening his grip. Diana didn’t flinch.
Clam
“I heard,” she said evenly. “And we will not understand why he said it if you keep your claws in his throat.”
Talon’s grip tightened slightly.
“There is no good reason for anyone to disrespect my sister.”-
“Talon.”
Her voice softened-but only slightly.
“What did I tell you?”
That made him pause. Just enough.
“Willow is her own woman,” Diana continued. “She does not need you to fight her battles. And trust me-
Her eyes flicked briefly to Willow-
“She will do far worse to him than anything you can.”
That made something shift. Not much. But enough.
“Release him,” Diana said finally. “And let him speak.”
Talon’s jaw clenched. Every instinct screamed at him to end it. To protect. To destroy the male who hurt his sister. Inside him, Fenrir snarled.
We should rip his throat out.
A dark pause.
Just a little. We can say it was an accident.
Talon exhaled sharply through his nose.
No.
Fenrir growled again, restless.
He disrespected her.
“And if we act on that,” Talon shot back internally, “we deal with Diana.”
That made Fenrir pause. Talon pressed further.
“Are you willing to go against her?”
Silence. Then- a reluctant retreat. Fenrir huffed.
…No.
Because for all his strength- for all his dominance- there was one wolf Fenrir would never defy. His
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Chapter Oneked Twenty Two
mate Talon’s grip loosened.
Then slowly-reluctantly- he released Damon.
Damon didn’t move immediately. He stayed where he was, one hand coming up to his neck, fingers brushing over the shallow wounds Talon left behind. He didn’t growl. Didn’t retaliate. Didn’t even glare. Which-more than anything- surprised everyone.
Diana stepped forward, her gaze sharp.
“I was starting to believe you could redeem yourself,” she said coolly. “When you offered us to stay. I thought maybe… Talon might eventually respect you.”
Her eyes hardened.
“But then you opened your mouth. Is hurting Willow your favorite pastime?”
Damon blinked. Confusion flashed across his face.
“What? I would never hurt Willow. Not again, never again,” he said immediately.
“But you just did,” Diana shot back.
Her voice wasn’t raised. But it cut deeper than Talon’s claws.
Cla
“You told her there would be no marking ceremony,” she continued. “As if she isn’t worthy to stand beside you.”
A dangerous pause.
“If I didn’t know what Willow feels for you…”
Her eyes darkened.
“I would have done far worse than Talon.”
That’s when it hit him. Fully. The realization. Damon’s face changed instantly. Color draining. Eyes widening slightly. And slowly- his gaze turned to Willow. And what he saw- broke something in him.
Because she wasn’t angry. Not fully. She was hurt. Humiliated. Her eyes burned-but not with rage. With pain. That was worse. Far worse.
“Willow-”
He stepped toward her immediately, closing the distance before she could step back.
His hands came up gently, cupping her face, guiding her to look at him.
“Don’t-no,” he said quickly, his voice urgent. “That’s not what I meant.”
Her eyes searched his. Silent. Demanding truth.
“You are my mate,” Damon said, his voice steadying-but filled with emotion. “You are my queen. You are the only female I will ever stand beside.”
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His grip softened slightly.
“The only one this pack will ever accept as Luna.” His gaze didn’t waver.
That made Willow’s breath hitch slightly.-
“But then why?” she asked quietly
Simple. Direct. Painfully honest. Damon exhaled. And this time- he didn’t hide.
“Because I already took too much from you.”
The room stilled. Even Talon. Even Diana.
Damon continued, his voice lower now.
“I marked you… for the right reason. But at the wrong time.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“You were hurt. Dying.” His eyes flickered with guilt.
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