The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 236

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty Six

Diana carefully unfolded the letter, her heart beating a little faster as her eyes moved across the first few lines. Talon stood behind her chair, one hand resting on her shoulder while the other remained close to her pregnant belly. He leaned forward slightly, reading the letter along with her.

At first, Diana was simply curious. There was no name at the top of the page. No signature at the bottom. Nothing that identified the sender or revealed where the letter had come from.

Yet the handwriting seemed familiar. And the faint warmth she had felt when she touched the envelope had not disappeared. It was still there, gently brushing against her fingertips.

Diana continued reading. Her expression slowly softened. Then her eyes widened. A smile spread across her face before she could stop it. They are safe. Relief washed over her.

She had spent months wondering whether the two people she had helped escape were truly all right. She had wondered whether they had found somewhere peaceful to live, whether the male had recovered from his injuries, and whether the female had safely delivered the child she had fought so desperately to protect.

Now, finally, she had an answer. They were alive. They were together. And they were happy.

Diana pressed her lips together as emotion tightened her throat. They deserve this, she thought. After everything they endured, they deserve a peaceful life.

She remembered the battlefield. The desperate cries of a female begging her mate not to leave her. The darkness pouring from his body. The moment he had finally recognized the woman holding him. And the way she had clung to him as though she could keep him alive through sheer determination.

Diana had not known whether helping them escape would be enough. She had only known that she could not stand there and watch them lose each other after everything the female had sacrificed.

Now, months later, the letter in her hands told her that the chance she had given them had not been wasted.

“We made the right decision,” Artemis said softly inside their shared mind.

Diana smiled.

“Yes. We did.”

“She suffered so much.”

“I know.”

“She nearly lost her mate. She nearly lost her son. She was prepared to sacrifice everything for us.”

Diana lowered her gaze toward the letter.

“And now she finally has the life she wanted.”

Artemis settled contentedly.

“I am happy for her.”

“So am I.”

Diana continued reading, but her smile slowly faded. There was more. Something she had not expected. Her fingers tightened around the paper. Artemis immediately noticed.

“And what about the other thing mentioned in the letter?”

Diana reread the passage. Once. Then again. Before she could answer her wolf, Talon spoke behind her.

“So, it was from her.”

Diana looked up. Talon was staring at the letter with a thoughtful expression.

“She never mentioned her name,” he continued. “But I assume this is from the person we have been wondering about for months.”

Diana remained silent. Talon moved around the chair and crouched beside her.

“She knows the letter was addressed to you. She must have known you would recognize who sent it.”

He frowned slightly.

“So why all the mystery?”

Diana looked back at the page. Talon continued.

“She could have simply signed her name. No one else needed to know about it. If anyone intercepted the letter, they would only know that someone was writing to you.”

He glanced at the envelope resting on the desk.

“Unless she was worried about the letter being intercepted before it reached you.”

Chapter Two Hundred Thirty Six

Claim

Diana’s eyes widened slightly. Something was wrong. Not with the letter. With what Talon was saying. He sounded pleased by the news, but there was none of the concern Diana had felt when she read the final part. He had not reacted to it at all. He cannot see it.

Diana looked down at the letter again. Every word remained perfectly visible to her. The message had not changed. The final lines were still there. But Talon was speaking as though the letter contained nothing more than a simple announcement.

“She doesn’t know whether we told Talon the truth,” Artemis said.

Diana became still.

“Of course.”

“She prepared the letter so that only its intended recipient could read everything.”

Diana looked at the handwriting again. The faint white magic surrounding the paper suddenly made sense. The sender had not simply hidden her location. She had hidden part of her message. And she had done it carefully enough that Talon, despite standing directly behind Diana and reading over her shoulder, had not noticed anything unusual.

“She is being cautious,” Artemis continued. “Especially with the other news.”

Diana slowly nodded. It was a clever precaution. If Talon had not known that Diana helped the couple escape, the hidden message would have protected their secret. If someone else had opened the letter, they would have seen only a harmless announcement about a mother and her newborn child. Nothing that could reveal the condition of the male who had once carried Gideon’s curse.

“Diana?”

Talon’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up. He was watching her closely.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

His eyebrows rose.

“Diana.”

She sighed. Talon’s expression became more serious.

“You were smiling a moment ago. Now you look worried.”

He glanced at the letter.

“Is something wrong?”

Diana hesitated.

Then she asked, “Talon, can you read the entire message?”

He frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“The letter. Can you read everything written on it?”

Talon looked at her as though she had asked him a very strange question.

“Of course I can.”

Diana’s heart beat faster.

“Are you sure?”

“Diana, I was standing behind you the entire time.”

He reached for the letter.

“Let me see it.”

Diana reluctantly handed it over. Talon unfolded the paper completely and began reading from the beginning. Diana watched his eyes. They moved steadily down the page. Then stopped. Talon turned the letter over. Nothing. He turned it back. His eyes narrowed.

He held the paper closer to the light. Then he looked at Diana.

“What exactly am I supposed to be looking for?”

Diana stared at him.

“You really cannot see it?”

“See what?”

He looked down again.

“Is there something written here that I cannot read?”

Diana did not answer immediately. Talon’s concern intensified. He examined the letter from top to bottom, carefully turning it toward the light as though hidden writing might suddenly appear. Then he checked the back again.

“Is there another page?”

“No.”

“Was there something else inside the envelope?”

“No, Talon.”

“Then what am I missing?”

Diana reached for the letter.

“Talon, give it back.”

“Wait.”

He moved it slightly out of her reach. Diana stared at him.

“Talon.”

“There must be something here.”

He turned the paper again. Diana immediately leaned forward.

“Be careful!”

Talon froze.

“What?”

“Do not tear it.”

“I am not going to tear it.”

“You are holding it like you are trying to interrogate it.”

Talon looked down at the paper. Then at Diana.

“This letter is hiding something from me.”

“Yes.”

“And you are worried about me tearing it?”

“It is an important letter.”

“That is precisely why I want to know what is written in it.”

Diana held out her hand.

“Give it back.”

Talon sighed but returned the letter. She carefully smoothed the paper against her lap. For a moment, Talon simply stared at her. Then his expression changed.

“Diana.”

She looked up.

“Is there something in that letter about Thorne?”

Diana did not answer quickly enough. Talon stood. His entire body became tense.

“Is the curse back?”

“No.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

“Did something happen to him?”

Diana took a deep breath.

“Talon, please calm down.”

“How can I calm down when you are telling me there is a message in that letter that I cannot read?”

He ran a hand through his hair.

“Is she asking you for help? Is she warni

Diana carefully unfolded the letter, her heart beating a little faster as her eyes moved across the first few lines. Talon stood behind her chair, one hand resting on her shoulder while the other remained close to her pregnant belly. He leaned forward slightly, reading the letter along with her.

At first, Diana was simply curious. There was no name at the top of the page. No signature at the bottom. Nothing that identified the sender or revealed where the letter had come from.

Yet the handwriting seemed familiar. And the faint warmth she had felt when she touched the envelope had not disappeared. It was still there, gently brushing against her fingertips.

Diana continued reading. Her expression slowly softened. Then her eyes widened. A smile spread across her face before she could stop it. They are safe. Relief washed over her.

She had spent months wondering whether the two people she had helped escape were truly all right. She had wondered whether they had found somewhere peaceful to live, whether the male had recovered from his injuries, and whether the female had safely delivered the child she had fought so desperately to protect.

Now, finally, she had an answer. They were alive. They were together. And they were happy.

Diana had not known whether helping them escape would be enough. She had only known that she could not stand there and watch them lose each other after everything the female had sacrificed.

“We made the right decision,” Artemis said softly inside their shared mind.

“She suffered so much.”

“She nearly lost her mate. She nearly lost her son. She was prepared to sacrifice everything for us.”

“I am happy for her.”

“And what about the other thing mentioned in the letter?”

“So why all the mystery?”

“She doesn’t know whether we told Talon the truth,” Artemis said.

“She prepared the letter so that only its intended recipient could read everything.”

“She is being cautious,” Artemis continued. “Especially with the other news.”

Diana slowly nodded. It was a clever precaution. If Talon had not known that Diana helped the couple escape, the hidden message would have protected their secret. If someone else had opened the letter, they would have seen only a harmless announcement about a mother and her newborn child. Nothing that could reveal the condition of the male who had once carried Gideon’s curse.

“Diana?”

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