The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 222

Chapter Two Hundred Twenty Two

“Talon, that is not true.”

“Isn’t it?”

She took a step toward him.

“No.”

But Talon shook his head.

“You knew I would not agree.”

Diana could not deny it.

“You knew I would stop Ravenna from leaving with Thorne.”

Silence.

“And that is exactly why you did not tell me.”

Diana’s eyes filled with tears.

“I was trying to protect them.”

“And I was trying to protect you.”

His words came sharp and immediate.

“And our children.”

Diana reached for him instinctively.

“Talon…”

But the moment her fingers moved toward him, Talon stepped back. The movement was small. But it broke something inside her.

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This was the first time he had ever pulled away from her. The first time he had looked at her as though touching her might make everything worse. Diana slowly lowered her hand. Talon closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, the anger had faded slightly. What remained was exhaustion. And hurt. So much hurt.

“I need to leave.”

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<Chapter Two Hundred Twenty Two Diana’s chest tightened.

“Talon…”

“I need some time away from you.”

Her eyes widened. He immediately continued.

“Not because I do not love you.”

His voice softened, but only slightly.

“I love you more than anything in this world.”

His gaze dropped briefly toward her stomach.

“And I already love our pups.”

He looked back at her.

“But what I am feeling right now…”

He exhaled slowly.

“I do not want to feel this way toward my mate.”

Diana could not speak.

“I am angry with you.”

His honesty made her heart ache.

“I am hurt.”

Diana’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. Talon looked away.

“So I need to leave before I say something I cannot take back.”

The room became painfully quiet.

Diana finally whispered, “Where are you going?”

“To check on the pack.”

His voice returned to the controlled tone of an Alpha King.

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“I need to speak with Enzo. I need to see the damage for myself. And I need to make sure our people are recovering.”

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He paused near the door. Then he looked back at her. Despite everything he had just said, worry immediately appeared in his eyes.

“Stay here.”

Diana frowned.

“Talon-”

“Please.”

The word stopped her.

“I am asking you to stay here and rest.”

His gaze dropped to her stomach again.

“I cannot deal with what I am feeling right now while also worrying about you walking around the pack and exhausting yourself.”

Diana swallowed.

“The pups. They are the reason I need you to listen to me this time.”

That hurt. But she understood. Talon placed his hand on the door.

“I need space, Diana.”

His voice was quieter now.

“But that does not mean I want anything to happen to you.”

He looked at her one last time.

“So please…”

His eyes softened.

“Stay here.”

Diana slowly nodded. Talon remained by the door for another second, almost as though part of him wanted to turn around. To hold her. To forgive her. But the pain was still too fresh. He opened the door. Then he left.

The moment it closed behind him, Diana stood completely still in the middle of their suite.

For the first time since they had become mates, the distance between them felt heavier than any battlefield they had ever faced.

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After walking through the pack grounds, checking on his people, speaking with several warriors, and making sure the borders were properly secured, Talon finally returned to the Alpha’s office.

He sat behind his desk while Enzo stood across from him, delivering his report. Talon listened–or at least, he tried to. His body was in the office, but his thoughts kept wandering back to Diana. He was still hurt by what she had done.

He understood why she had helped Ravenna. Diana had seen a female desperately trying to save her mate. She had seen Ravenna’s pain and had chosen to give her a chance to save Thorne before the arriving wolves killed him.

Talon understood Diana’s compassion. What he struggled to accept was the cost of that compassion.

Thorne had kidnapped wolves. Tortured them. Twisted them into feral creatures and used them to attack their own kind. Wolves from Black Howler had died because of him. Wolves from their allied packs had suffered because of him.

Thorne had repeatedly tried to kill Diana. He had tried to kill Talon. And when Thorne had finally been defeated and vulnerable, Diana had deliberately helped Ravenna escape with him.

Worse, she had allowed Ravenna to attack her to make their escape believable. While carrying their pups. That was the part Talon could not stop thinking about. Diana had risked herself and their unborn pups without telling him. Without trusting him enough to let him be part of her decision.

“Alpha?”

Enzo’s voice pulled Talon from his thoughts. Talon blinked and looked at his Beta.

“Is something wrong?” Enzo asked carefully.

When Talon did not immediately answer, concern appeared in his Beta’s eyes.

“Is the Luna all right?”

Of course Enzo would immediately think of Diana. There were very few things capable of distracting Talon this badly, and everyone close to him knew that his mate was at the top of that very short list.

“Yes,” Talon answered. “Diana is fine. She’s resting in our suite.”

Enzo visibly relaxed.

“What else?”

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Enzo hesitated briefly before continuing.

“We received a call from Ravenna’s coven.”

Talon’s expression immediately hardened.

“What do they want?”

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“They’re searching for Ravenna and Thorne as well. Apparently, the coven has organized its own hunt. They want permission to come here and speak with the Luna. They believe she might know something about where Ravenna took Thorne.”

Talon went completely still. For several seconds, he said nothing. Enzo waited. Finally, Talon shook his head.

“If they want to come to Black Howler, they can. But not now.”

“Alpha?”

“Diana needs to rest.”

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