The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 98

Chapter Ninety Eight

The moment Damon finished speaking, the tension on the other end of the line didn’t ease.

It only sharpened.

“I did not kidnap her,” Damon said firmly his voice controlled despite the storm he knew was corning.

“She is my mate.”

A beat.

Then-

Talon exploded.

“You did not kidnap her?” Talon’s voice was laced with fury.

“You didn’t give her a choice, Damon. So what do you call that?”

A harsh breath.

“What did you tell her to make her go with you?”

Before Damon could respond, another voice cut in-calm, steady, but carrying authority that filled the

silence.

“Talon… we won’t solve anything like this.”

Diana.

Even through the phone, Damon could feel it-that quiet strength in her tone.

Not loud.

Not aggressive.

But unshakable.

He wasn’t surprised they had him on speaker.

Diana didn’t need to raise her voice to take control of a room.

Or a situation.

And Damon knew-deep down-

She was the reason Talon hadn’t already declared war.

“Damon,” Diana continued, her voice measured, “I hope you understand what my mate is feeling right now.

”

A pause.

“We trusted you. We welcomed you into our pack.”

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Another pause.

“And then we find out you are Willow’s mate… while you were trying to take me away from Talon.”

The words landed etean.

Precise.

“You hurt Willow.”

Her tone didn’t change-but it grew heavier.

“And Talon allowed you to mark her to save her life.”

A breath.

“But that does not give you the right to take her from us.”

Damon’s jaw tightened.

“She is my mate, Diana.”

His voice dropped slightly-but it carried weight.

“I have every right to claim her and take her with me.”

A beat.

“Yes… I hurt her.”

That part-he didn’t deny.

“But I will earn her forgiveness.”

His gaze flickered briefly toward Willow.

“Hers.”

A pause.

“Not yours. Not Talon’s.”

On the other end, there was movement-muffled, like Diana trying to steady Talon again.

Damon understood.

If their positions were reversed-

He would be doing the same.

“Why did you call us?” Talon demanded again, voice still tight with anger.

“Where is Willow? Can we talk to her-”

A sharp pause.

Diapter Nur Fright

-or are you not letting her speak to anyone?”

Damon exhaled slowly.

“Talon… do you really think Willow would allow that?”

His tone wasn’t mocking.

Just honest.

“She’s here. And she can hear you.”

There was a split second of silence-

Then Talon’s voice changed.

Not calmer.

But… different.

“Willow?”

A beat.

“Willow, do you need me to come get you?”

His voice dropped, urgent.

“Just tell me. I’ll be there.”

Willow stepped closer to Damon, her voice steady when she answered.

“I’m okay, Talon.”

A pause.

“And I don’t need you to come here.”

Silence.

Heavy.

“I’m staying here… with Damon.”

She didn’t rush her words.

Didn’t soften them.

“And Diana is right. Nothing will be solved if we keep talking like this.”

A breath.

“Can you tell me what happened after I left?”

On the other end, Talon didn’t answer immediately.

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Chapter Nuwe Eght

Damon could almost feel it-

The war inside him.

Between being Alpha

And being a brother.

“Brother,” Willow added more gently, “I’m telling you the truth.”

“I want to stay here.”

Another pause.

“I can do a lot of good here.”,

Her voice hardened just slightly.

“But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven Damon.”

A breath.

“I’m choosing the packs… over anything personal.”

Silence stretched again-

Until Diana spoke.

“Let’s give your brother a moment, Willow.”

Her tone was softer now.

Understanding.

Then she shifted.

Back to the matter at hand.

Clems

“Enzo and Galvin investigated all the allied packs who attended the marking ceremony,” Diana continued.

“They didn’t find anyone out of place during the time of your attack.”

A pause.

“Is there anything you remember? Anything that could help?”

Willow frowned slightly, trying to recall.

“I didn’t see his face clearly.”

Her voice slowed as she thought.

“And I couldn’t recognize his scent.”

Another pause.

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was

asked.”

That caught Talon’s attention immediately.

“Masked?” he asked, sharper how-but more controlled.

“What do you mean?”

“He smelled like herbs,” Willow explained.

“Strong enough to cover his natural scent.”

A breath.

“But before he left… he said something.”

“What?” Diana asked.

Willow hesitated.

“He told me…”

A pause.

“…to tell my brother and his new Luna hello.”

Silence fell again.

Heavier this time.

“Do you know who it could be?” Willow asked quietly.

Diana answered first.

“We think it might be Rafe.”

Willow’s eyes widened slightly.

“Rafe?”

“He was imprisoned for helping Hazel attempt to assassinate me,” Diana explained.

“I killed Hazel. He claimed she was his mate.”

“Was imprisoned?” Willow repeated, her gaze shifting slowly toward Damon.

There was a beat of silence-

Then Diana’s voice came again, sharper now.

“I’ll let Damon explain what happened and why he is out of prison.”

A pause.

“I would love to hear him explain.”

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< Chapter Ninety Eigh!

Damon exhaled slowly.

“I’ll tell her later.”

“Hm.” Diana’s soft seoff came through.

“Coward.”

Despite everything-

Willow almost smiled.

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“But if it was Rafe,” Willow continued, pulling the conversation back, “you would have seen him with the allied packs, right?”

“I didn’t see anyone unfamiliar.”

“Is it possible he changed his appearance?” Talon asked.

Diana paused.

“…I didn’t think of that. And if he is with another pack, his scent will be different.”

“Then we consider that possibility,” Talon said firmly.

“Nothing is ruled out.”

Willow nodded slightly, then took a breath.

“There’s something else.”

That shifted everyone’s attention again.

“The reason we called…”

Damon glanced at her, letting her take the lead.

“Four rogues came to the border today,” Willow continued.

“Three adults and a pup.”

“And?”

Talon asked.

“They came from Stone Claw Pack.”

Silence.

“One of them-Kira-told us something.”

Willow’s expression hardened.

“She said Vanessa found her mate.”

“They brought him into the pack. Alpha Charles, Luna Carla… and Vanessa. She does not know where they

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found him.”

“And they took him straight to the pack hospital.”

Diana didn’t interrupt

She just listened.

“Kira overheard Vanessa and her mate talking.”

Willow’s voice dropped slightly.

“They said accepting the bond would be… beneficial.”

A pause.

“Kira left immediately. She didn’t want to be accused of eavesdropping.”

“But after that…”

Her hands clenched slightly.

“Vanessa’s mate started harassing her.”

“And her family.”

Damon’s aura darkened slightly.

“They tried to report it,” Willow continued.

“But Vanessa stopped them.”

A breath.

“She spread rumors.”

“Threatened them.”

Her voice sharpened.

“And she told Kira that if they spoke to the Alpha…

“She would make sure her son-Blaze-would be banished. He is only a pup.”

Silence.

Complete.

“They had no choice,” Willow finished quietly.

“So they ran.”

“And rejected their pack.”

The weight of her words settled on both sides of the call-

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nd this time-

o one spoke immediately.

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