The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 49

Chapter Forty-Nine

CAM

Talon guided Diana through the wide corridors of the Black Howler pack house, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back. The gesture was subtle, but protective. Possessive.

“This wing is the east barracks,” he explained quietly as they walked. “Warriors stay here when they rotate shifts. The elders chamber is on the second floor. And the training grounds are behind the main hall.”

Diana listened carefully, memorizing everything. This was not just a tour.

This was her future.

They reached the large double doors of the food hall just as the scent of fresh bread, roasted meat, and brewed coffee drifted into the corridor. The low hum of conversation spilled out.

Breakfast was in full swing.

The moment Talon stepped inside, the room shifted. Conversations lowered. Chairs scraped softly. One by one, wolves bowed respectfully to their Alpha King.

“Alpha King.”

“Good morning, Alpha.”

Their gazes then shifted-to her.

Curious. Assessing. Measuring.

As wolves, they could smell it. Talon’s scent wrapped around her like an invisible cloak. Beneath it was something deeper-something ancient and undeniable.

The mating bond, but tradition mattered.

Until Talon publicly declared who she was, no one would act. No one would kneel. No one would address her as Luna.

They would wait.

“Talon!”

An older male and female approached them with warm smiles, accompanied by a younger female who looked perhaps a year or two younger than Diana. The younger one’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“What time did you make it home, brother?” the young female asked brightly.

Brother?

Diana’s eyes widened slightly.

“After midnight,” Talon replied calmly. Then his arm tightened around Diana, pulling her slightly closer to his side.

“Father. Mother. Willow,” he said clearly, his voice carrying across the hall. “I want you to meet Diana-my fated mate and my Luna.”

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Chapter Forty

A collective gasp swept through the food hall. Forks paused mid-air, and conversations stopped

completely

Fated mate.

Luna.

“Eek! A fated mate?!” Willow was the first to recover. She squealed, bouncing slightly on her toes. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner? Oh my Goddess! It is so nice to meet you, Diana! I’m Willow!”

She reached forward as if to hug her.

“Willow, do not overwhelm her,” Talon warned.

“I am not overwhelming her! Right?” Willow asked, tilting her head at Diana.

Diana opened her mouth… then closed it. She wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I…” she began politely. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

Willow grinned wider, clearly delighted.

“Hello, Diana,” the older woman said gracefully, stepping forward. Her aura was calm yet powerful. “My name is Selene. I am Talon’s mother-and the former Luna of Black Howler.”

“And I am Rowan,” the older male added, his voice deep and steady. “Former Alpha.”

Diana instinctively straightened. “Hello, Alpha King. Luna Queen. It is an honor to meet you.”

Rowan chuckled warmly. “You may call us Rowan and Selene, my dear. We are no longer king and queen. Those titles belong to our son now.”

Selene studied Diana closely-not coldly, but thoughtfully. Measuring her strength. Her posture. The quiet fire in her eyes.

Interesting, Selene thought,

“Diana,” Willow chirped suddenly, grabbing her hand, “come get food with me. I will tell you everything you need to know about my brother.”

“Willow-” Talon warned again.

“What? Don’t worry, big brother. I won’t say anything bad about you. Much.”

Before Talon could protest further, Willow had already dragged Diana toward the buffet tables.

Diana glanced back once.

Talon’s eyes followed her every step.

Possessive.

Protective.

Enzo appeared beside Rowan and Selene, hiding a smirk.

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Chapter Forty She

Claim

“You should have told us you found your mate,” Selene said to Talon, lowering her voice. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have… especially since she looks so sweet, shy, and timid.”

Enzo snorted loudly, and Rowan and Selene turned toward him in surprise.

“Something amusing, Royal Beta?” Rowan asked.

Enzo quickly cleared his throat. “Nothing at all, Former Alpha.”

Talon narrowed his eyes slightly, and he asked carefully. “What do you rnean you wouldn’t have, Mom?”

Selene shifted slightly, suddenly looking less composed. “In my defense, Talon, I did not know you had found your mate. If I had known…”

“Mom,” His tone hardened. “What did you do?”

Before she could answer, the scent hit him.

Floral. Artificially sweet. Heavy with perfume meant to mask something sharper underneath.

Talon stiffened.

He knew that scent.

Vanessa.

The daughter of one Alpha from an allied pack who had been persistently-annoyingly-encouraging a political mating.

“Talon! You’re here? No one told me!”

Vanessa’s voice rang out across the hall as she hurried toward him. Heads turned again.

She walked straight up to Talon and wrapped herself around his arm, pressing her body against his side.

Gasps echoed again.

Talon immediately tried to remove her hands, but Vanessa clung tighter, like a vine wrapping around a

tree.

“Vanessa,” he said coldly, “remove yourself.”

“Oh, don’t be so distant,” she laughed lightly. “I heard you returned late last night. I was worried.”

Talon’s jaw tightened.

Across the buffet table, Willow froze, and Diana stood very still.

The entire hall held its breath.

Vanessa leaned her head slightly against Talon’s shoulder. “You should have sent for me.”

Silence.

“Please remove your hands from my mate,” Diana’s voice cut through the room.

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Chapter Foul W

Every head turned toward her.

Clem

“Or I will do it for you,” Diana stepped forward, her movements deliberate. Her eyes-no longer shy-were sharp and unyielding. She continued evenly. “And I am telling you now-if I have to do it, I will not be gentle.”

The air in the hall shifted.

Gone was the unsure newcomer.

In her place stood something powerful.

Something dangerous.

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