The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 58

Chapter Fifty Eight

“When it comes to our mates,” Rafe said after a long, tense silence, his voice lower now but still burning with anger, “we will never see eye to eye.”

He lifted his head fully, staring straight at Asher through the iron bars. “We will never agree on how a wolf should treat his mate.”

The chains at his wrists clinked softly as he shifted. “I would never let you feel the pain of losing a mate, Asher. Never.”

His voice cracked slightly before hardening again. “Because you were my best friend.”

The words hung painfully between them.

“If I had known then what I know now about how painful it is to lose a mate,” Rafe continued, his breathing uneven, “I would never have let you reject Diana.”

Asher stiffened.

Rafe’s eyes burned. “I saw what it did to you.”

Asher looked away.

“I saw how much you longed for the mate you rejected,” Rafe said quietly. “How you watched her when you thought no one was looking.”

His voice softened briefly, almost sorrowful. “You looked at her like a wolf praying for a second chance.”

The truth cut deep, but then the softness vanished.

“And now,” Rafe continued harshly, “you stand here telling me I should have rejected Hazel when I found her? Just because she was already your chosen mate? Even when she pleaded to me, begged me not to?”

His eyes filled with fury. “And yet, you didn’t just tell me that. You let that bitch kill her in front of me.”

The words echoed violently through the dungeon.

“What kind of friend are you?” Rafe shouted. His chains rattled as he surged forward.

“Do not ever call me your friend again, Alpha!” His voice cracked with raw grief. “You are not my friend.”

His gaze turned murderous. “You are the wolf who let my mate die.”

The dungeon fell silent except for Rafe’s ragged breathing.

Asher’s face hardened. “Hazel was a traitor, Rafe.”

Rafe laughed bitterly.

“She did not just betray me-her Alpha,” Asher continued. “She betrayed the pack. She attempted to assassinate the Alpha King’s mate.”

His voice darkened. “She colluded with rogues to do it.”

14

Chapter Fully g

Rafe’s expression twisted, and he said quietly. “Just like I did.”

His eyes lifted again, “And yet here I am.”

He looked around the dark cell. “Rotting in this dungeon.”

clam

“You are alive because you are my friend.” Asher’s jaw tightened. “If the Alpha King had his way, you would already be dead.”

Rafe laughed again, harsher this time.

“So this is mercy?” He gestured around the dungeon with chained hands. “This?”

He stepped closer to the bars. “You are weak, Asher.”

The words hit harder than any physical blow.

“You can never do what a real Alpha needs to do.”

Asher’s eyes flashed.

“If you were a strong Alpha,” Rafe continued mercilessly, “you would never have rejected Diana just because her wolf did not emerge when she should have been.”

“You would have fought for her.” His voice rose. “You would have told every pack member who objected to leave. You would have chosen your mate and let the rest deal with it.”

His lip curled. “But you didn’t. You chose the easier path.”

He leaned forward. “You dressed it up like a noble sacrifice. Like you were giving up your mate for the good of the pack.”

Rafe’s eyes filled with contempt. “But if you really think about it… you were just weak.”

Asher’s fists clenched.

“And look at you now,” Rafe continued relentlessly. “You are too weak to kill me.”

He laughed bitterly. “You think this is mercy because we were friends?”

He shook his head. “Our friendship died the moment you stood there and watched that bitch kill Hazel.”

Asher’s voice dropped dangerously. “Careful, Rafe.”

But Rafe ignored him. His eyes burned. “You didn’t even try to protect her. She was still your Luna in front of everyone. You chose her as your mate, and yet when the moment came…”

He leaned closer to the bars. “You did nothing, because you didn’t want to anger the Alpha King.”

The accusation hung heavy.

“You knew he was protective of his mate,” Rafe said. “So you took the easy path again.”

Asher stepped forward sharply. “You’re wrong, Rafe-”

“You know I’m right!” Rafe cut him off.

Chapter Fully fight

The words echoed through the dungeon.

For a moment, the two wolves simply stared at each other.

Then Rafe spoke again-quietly this time. “But hear this, Alpha.”

Something dark had settled in his eyes. “I will avenge my mate.”

Asher’s stomach tightened.

“Hazel was my mate.” His voice trembled. “And she was carrying my pup.”

The words landed like a hammer, then Asher froze.

“I will avenge them,” Rafe continued. “One way or another.”

Clam

“You cannot do that,” Asher said quickly. “The Alpha King will kill you long before you even get the chance.”

Rafe smiled slowly.

Cold.

Unhinged.

“I can, and I will.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “If you think these walls will hold me forever… think again.”

Asher’s wolf stirred uneasily.

“Because when I break free,” Rafe continued softly, “there will be only one thing left for me to do.”

His eyes gleamed with hatred. “I will kill Diana.”

The name echoed in the dungeon.

“Preferably in front of you… and the Alpha King.”

Asher’s blood ran cold.

Rafe’s grin widened into something almost monstrous.

“I can already picture it.” He closed his eyes briefly as if imagining the scene. “I can see both of your faces.

His voice turned chillingly calm. “The former mate… and the current mate… watching as she takes her last breath.”

He leaned back slowly. “While I slit her throat.”

Then Rafe began to laugh. Not the laugh of the wolf Asher had once grown up with, but the broken, manic laughter of someone who had lost everything.

And now had nothing left to lose.

Chapter Fly ma

Chapter Fifty Nine

“You are insane!” Asher shouted, his voice echoing off the damp stone walls of the dungeon.

Rafe only smiled-a cold, broken smile that no longer resembled the wolf Asher had once called brother.

“Diana is not to blame for any of this,” Asher continued angrily. “It was you and Hazel who betrayed this pack. It was you and her who colluded with the rogues. You and her!”

His words carried both fury and disbelief. How had everything fallen apart this badly?

But Rafe only laughed.

“All I know,” he said slowly, his eyes dark and hollow, “and all I care about… is that she killed my mate.”

“And I will have my revenge, Alpha.” His voice hardened, and he learted closer to the iron bars. “I will kill your ex-mate.”

Before Asher could respond, a sharp voice cut into his mind.

‘Alpha, rogues are spotted near our border.’

The mind link snapped through his thoughts like lightning.

Asher’s head jerked slightly.

Rafe noticed immediately.

“Your pack is calling you, Alpha,” Rafe said mockingly, leaning back against the wall as if amused. “You do not need to waste your time here in this dungeon.”

He tilted his head slightly. “You would not want the pack thinking you are still friendly with a traitor… would you?”

Asher’s jaw tightened. “This is not over, Rafe.”

Rafe only smirked.

For a brief moment something flickered in Asher’s eyes. “Whatever you say… you are still my friend.”

“And you just proved to me how weak you are,” Rafe replied coldly.

Asher did not answer.

There was no time.

He turned and rushed out of the dungeon, climbing the stone steps two at a time. As he emerged into the pack house corridor, he immediately mind-linked the entire territory.

‘All non-combatants move to the bunkers immediately. Warriors to the northern border. Move now!’

Panic rippled through the pack, but training took over quickly.

Within minutes, the territory was mobilizing.

1/4