The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

+25 Points

Diana stared at the massive wolf standing only a few feet away from her, every instinct in her body caught between fight and disbelief.

He was enormous-easily the largest wolf she had ever seen. His coat was so black it swallowed the moonlight, as if shadows themselves clung to his fur. His shoulders rolled with quiet power, muscles shifting beneath sleek skin, a predator forged by battle and dominance.

And yet…

Is he wagging his tail?

The thought slipped into her mind uninvited, absurd and impossible. She blinked once, then twice, just to be sure her eyes weren’t betraying her.

The great wolf’s tail swayed slowly from side to side, not stiff or aggressive, but loose- almost eager. His ears were perked forward, golden eyes bright, curious, fixed entirely on her.

Not calculating.

Not cold.

Not threatening.

Just… focused.

‘He is cute, Artemis said softly in her mind, a note of unmistakable delight coloring her voice.

‘I like him.’

Diana didn’t take her eyes off the wolf. Her body remained tense, weight balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to move at the slightest sign of danger.

‘Artemis, she said under her breath, forcing calm into her voice, ‘we do not know anything about him. We have to be careful.’ Her jaw tightened. ‘Look what happened to our ex-mate.’

The word still tasted bitter, even after all these years.

The wolf in front of her took a single step closer, slow and deliberate, as if he understood caution just as well as she did. His head dipped slightly-not a sign of submission, but not dominance either. An acknowledgment.

‘Our ex-mate was a clueless, cowardly, power-hungry Alpha, Artemis scoffed. ‘Weak where it mattered. Blinded by ambition. Tell me-‘ she pressed, her voice sharp with certainty, ‘does

196

Chapter Fourteen

this one look clueless to you?’

+25 Points

Diana studied him more carefully. The wolf’s presence pressed against her senses like a living storm. Power rolled off him in steady waves-ancient, controlled, unyielding. This was not the frantic hunger of an Alpha desperate to prove himself. This was confidence born of knowing exactly who-and what-he was.

‘No,’ Diana admitted quietly.

‘Does he look like a coward?’ Artemis continued.

The wolf lifted his head slightly, meeting Diana’s gaze head-on. There was no fear there. No hesitation. Only patience… and something dangerously close to warmth.

‘No,’ Diana said again.

‘Power hungry?’

Diana’s lips twitched despite herself.

‘No, she murmured. ‘He looks like a big puppy.’

Artemis laughed, a rich, satisfied sound that echoed through Diana’s soul. ‘Exactly.’

As if summoned by her words, the massive black wolf took another step forward. Then another. His movements were careful, almost reverent, like he was approaching something sacred rather than prey.

“Hey-” Diana started, lifting her hand instinctively, unsure whether she was trying to stop

him or reach for him.

Too late.

The wolf closed the final distance, lowered his massive head, and licked her face.

Not a quick, territorial swipe.

A slow, deliberate, unmistakably affectionate lick.

Warm. Gentle.

Intimate.

Diana froze. Her breath hitched, shock rippling through her as the contact sent a spark straight down her spine. Her reservations cracked-not shattered, but softened, like ice beginning to melt under the sun.

26

Chapter Fourteen

‘Oh, Artemis purred, utterly pleased. ‘Ohhh. He likes us.’

• 25 Paints

The wolf pulled back just enough to look at her again, tail wagging more enthusiastically now, eyes glowing with unmistakable satisfaction.

Diana swallowed hard.

‘Ooh, Artemis continued, voice dropping into a teasing, scandalously amused tone. ‘He wants to mate with us right here, right now.’

‘What?’ Diana hissed aloud, panic flaring instantly. The image hit her all at once-fur, heat, bond, claiming, surrender. Too fast. Too sudden. Too much. Her heart slammed against her

ribs.

‘Nope,’ Diana said, already stepping back. ‘Absolutely not.’

The wolf tilted his head, clearly confused by her sudden retreat.

Diana didn’t wait to explain, and she turned and ran.

out. With one last furious look into the forest where his mate had vanished, he turned and sprinted back toward the pack grounds.

Alpha Asher and Enzo were already waiting when Fenrir returned, the tension thick enough to taste. Fenrir shifted back into Talon without hesitation, bones snapping and reforming as his wolf receded into his mind.

The night air felt cold against his skin.

Without missing a beat, Enzo stepped forward and wordlessly handed Talon a pair of shorts he’d taken from one of the pack members. Talon accepted them with a brief nod and pulled them on. He was confident in his body-he had nothing to hide-but no man, wolf, or Alpha wanted to conduct a confrontation while naked.

36

Chapter fourteen

Talon lifted his gaze to Asher, eyes sharp, burning with barely restrained dominance.

+25 Points

“Where can I find my mate?” Talon demanded. “What is her name? And why is she fighting in human form?”

The question landed heavily. He’s jaw tightened. His eyes flickered-just for a moment, but Talon caught it. Recognition. Conflict.

“Mate?” Asher repeated slowly. “She is not your mate. That’s impossible.”

The growl tore out of Talon’s chest before he could stop it.

The ground beneath his feet vibrated with the force of it.

“That is my mate, Alpha Asher,” Talon said, voice low and dangerous. “No one, especially you, will ever tell me she is not.”

The air went still. Pack members nearby froze, instinctively lowering their gazes as the clash of two Alphas pressed down on them like a physical weight. Enzo stiffened beside Talon, ready but silent.

Asher exhaled slowly, as though bracing himself.

“Alpha Talon,” Asher said at last, his voice steady but strained, “it is impossible for her to be

your mate…”

Talon took a step forward, dominance flaring, Fenrir roaring in his mind.

“…because she is my mate.”

The words hit like a thunderstrike.

Silence swallowed the clearing whole.

No one moved. No one breathed.

Even the forest seemed to hold its breath as the meaning of Asher’s declaration settled over them-heavy, shocking, and utterly impossible.

Talon stared at him, disbelief blazing into fury, then into something darker… something dangerous.

22

Comments