The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 130

Chapter One Hundred Thirty

“You’re leaving again?

Ravenna paused at the doorway. She turned and found the Grand Witch standing near the center of the chamber. The oldest witch in their coven. The wisest. The most respected. För centuries she had been considered the strongest among their kind.

Until another rose. The thought alone made Ravenna’s chest ache.

The Grand Witch’s silver eyes softened as they settled on her.

“You only returned a few days ago, child.”

Her gaze drifted to the healing scar hidden beneath Ravenna’s sleeve.

“And when you did, you were wounded. Are you certain you want to continue down this path?”

Ravenna looked away toward the open doorway. Toward the forest beyond. Toward the wolves. Toward the war that was coming.

“I don’t think I have a choice anymore.”

Her voice was quiet. Heavy.

“Every road leads to the same destination.”

The Grand Witch remained silent. Waiting. Ravenna smiled sadly.

“If I help the wolves…”

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her satchel.

“I lose Thorne.” A pause.

“If I help Thorne…” She swallowed painfully.

“I lose myself.”

Silence settled between them. The Grand Witch’s heart ached for the young witch she had raised. For the little girl who used to run through the coven gardens chasing butterflies. For the young woman who had once spoken about a future filled with love.

Not war. Not curses. Not impossible choices.

“There must be another way.”

The Grand Witch stepped closer.

“There always is.”

Her voice was gentle.

“You and Thorne have loved each other for years. I refuse to believe that what you have is destined to end

Chapter Ope+de+ Thirty

this way.”

Ravenna laughed softly. But there was no joy in the sound. Only heartbreak.

“You still believe love can fix everything.”-

The Grand Witch smiled sadly.

“And you don’t?”

Ravenna closed her eyes. For a moment she remembered another time. A different Thorne. The male who used to bring her flowers.

The male who would sit with her beneath the moon for hours

The male who once promised they would grow old together.

The male who kissed her forehead and told her she was his future.

Tears burned her eyes.

“I did.”

A whisper.

“I believed it more than anyone.”

The Grand Witch stepped closer.

“Then what changed?”

Ravenna’s composure finally cracked.

“He attacked me.”

The words shattered the room. Silence followed immediately. Heavy. Painful.

The Grand Witch froze.

“What?”

Ravenna looked down at her hands.

The same hands that had once held Thorne’s face.

The same hands that had healed his wounds.

The same hands that now trembled.

“The injuries you saw when I came back.” Her voice broke. “They were from him.”

The Grand Witch’s eyes widened.

“No…”

Ravenna nodded. A tear slipped down her cheek.

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Yes

Another followed.

“He attacked me.”

The Grand Witch looked horrified

“By accident?”

Ravenna laughed bitterly.

“No.”

That single word felt like a knife.

“He knew exactly who I was.”

Her voice shook.

“He knew I was standing there. He knew it was me. And he chose to do it anyway.”

The Grand Witch stared at her.

Clam

Heartbroken. Because she knew what those words cost Ravenna. Admitting them made them real. Made them impossible to deny.

“Oh, my child…”

The older witch pulled her into her arms. Ravenna tried to stay strong. Tried to keep the tears back.

But she couldn’t. Not anymore. She buried her face against the Grand Witch’s shoulder and cried.

Not like a White Witch. Not like the protector of wolves. Not like the woman destined to challenge Thorne. Just a heartbroken female who missed the male she loved. The Grand Witch stroked her hair gently.

“Did you fight back?”

Ravenna immediately shook her head.

“No. How could I?”

Her voice cracked.

“He’s my life.”

A pause.

“My heart.”

Another tear rolled down her face.

“He’s the male I wanted to spend forever with.”

The Grand Witch sighed.

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Chapter Opal Thirty

He is not stronger than you, Ravenna

Ravenna pulled back slightly.

“What?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

The Grand Witch’s gaze sharpened.

“You inherited the power.”

Clam

The ancient power. The sacred power. The power that had only appeared a handful of times throughout history. The power of the White Witch.

“You are stronger than Thorne.”

Ravenna immediately shook her head.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

The Grand Witch’s voice became firm.

“You are. You simply refuse to use it against him.”

That was the truth.

And they both knew it. Ravenna looked away.

“I will never fight him.”

The words came instantly. Without hesitation. Without doubt. The Grand Witch closed her eyes.

“Ravenna-”

“No.”

Ravenna’s hand moved instinctively. Resting against her stomach. Still flat. Still hiding the secret no one knew except the Grand Witch.

“I cannot.” Her voice trembled. “How could I fight the father of my child?”

The room fell silent. Even after hearing it before, those words still carried weight.

Still carried hope. And tragedy. Tears filled Ravenna’s eyes again.

“If I hurt him…” She swallowed. “If I kill him…”

Her hand tightened protectively over her stomach.

“How do I explain that to our child? How do I tell them that I was the reason their father isn’t here?”

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The Grand Witch’s expression softened.

“My poor child.”

Ravenna shook her head.

“No.”

Her voice broke.

“I can’t do it.”

The Grand Witch looked toward the window. Toward the distant horizon. Toward a future she could not clearly see.

“But will you be able to tell your child something else?”

Ravenna frowned.

“What?”

The Grand Witch looked back at her.

“Will you be able to tell them that their father chose the curse over both of you?”

The question hit harder than any spell. Ravenna flinched. Because she had asked herself the same thing.

Again. And again. And again. The Grand Witch continued softly..

“Life is made of choices, Ravenna. The moment you chose to help the wolves…” Her eyes filled with sadness.

“You chose a path that may one day place you against Thorne.”

Ravenna looked away. Because she knew. She had known from the beginning. She simply hadn’t wanted to admit it.

The Grand Witch hesitated before asking the next question.

“Does he know?”

Ravenna’s hand tightened against her stomach.

“No.”

The Grand Witch closed her eyes.

“Oh, child.”

“I tried.”

Tears spilled down Ravenna’s face again.

“I tried to tell him.”

Her voice cracked.

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