The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 158

Chapter One Hundred Fifty Eight

Clam

Diana smiled softly as she placed the report from the Rogue Kingdom on Talon’s desk. The thick stack of parchment detailed everything that had happened after Damon and Willow returned home. Every event had been carefully documented by Beta Conall and approved by Damon himself before it was sent to the Royal Pack.

Rafe’s punishment had finally been carried out. It had been brutal. Barbaric. Savage. By every ordinary standard, it would have been considered excessive. Yet Diana found that she couldn’t judge them.

The Rogue Kingdom had its own laws. Its own customs. Its own way of delivering justice. Or, in Damon’s words… Revenge.

She leaned back in her chair, remembering everything she had witnessed during her stay in the Rugue Kingdom. The respect. The loyalty. The devotion. The members of the Rogue Kingdom didn’t merely obey Willow because she was their future queen. They adored her. They protected her. They accepted her long before she had accepted herself as their queen.

She couldn’t bring herself to condemn what they had done to Rafe. Not after everything he had taken from

them.

Not after everything he had almost taken from Willow. Still… Diana smiled to herself. Knowing Damon… There was one thing she was almost completely certain of

“If the punishment had truly become unbearable to watch…”

She chuckled quietly.

“… Willow would’ve stopped it.”

Artemis huffed.

“Or at least tried.”

Diana laughed.

“Exactly.”

She could practically picture the entire situation unfolding. Damon allowing Willow to witness the beginning. Allowing her to see that justice-or rather, revenge-was being carried out.

Then… The moment Damon sensed Willow becoming uncomfortable… The moment she looked ready to step in… He would have quietly led her away. Found some excuse. Suggested they return to the pack house. Distracted her with something else. Anything.

Because despite the terrifying king Damon could become… He had one undeniable weakness. Willow. He would never willingly force her to witness something that might haunt her later. For all his ruthlessness… He remained remarkably gentle with his mate. Diana’s smile only widened.

“He really has changed.”

Artemis agreed.

Chapter Oneftmiked Filly Eight

“He still enjoys making others suffer.”

“True. But only those who deserve it.”

A pair of strong arms suddenly wrapped around Diana from behind. She leaned comfortably against Talon’s chest.

“What has my beautiful Luna smiling like that?” he asked before kissing the top of her head.

Diana picked up the report once more.

“I was thinking about Damon.”

Talon raised an eyebrow.

“Should I be jealous?”

She laughed.

“Not that way.”

She lightly nudged him with her elbow.

“I’m reading about what happened after they reached the Rogue Kingdom.”

She held up the report.

“So…”

She looked up at him.

“Damon really let his entire pack do that?”

Talon nodded.

“According to Conall’s report… Yes.”

He walked around the desk before sitting beside her.

“They gathered the entire pack. They told everyone exactly what Rafe had done. What he did to Willow. What he did with Hazel. What he nearly did to you.”

He sighed.

“Then Damon stepped aside. He gave his people permission.”

Diana slowly shook her head.

“I honestly never imagined that.”

“Neither did I.”

Talon leaned back in his chair.

“But…”

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< Chapter Ope+mked Fifty Eight

A faint smile crossed his face.

“I think I made the right decision.”

She looked at him curiously,

“When I handed Rafe over to Damon.”

He folded his arms.

“I thought Damon would torture him personally. I never considered that he’d allow the entire Rogue Kingdom to take part.”

He chuckled softly.

“It never crossed my mind that revenge could belong to an entire pack.”

Diana looked back down at the report.

“I understand now…”

She quietly closed the parchment.

“…why Damon always called it revenge instead of justice.”

Talon nodded.

“Justice belongs to the law. Revenge belongs to those who were hurt.”

Clam

Silence settled comfortably between them. Outside the office windows, the afternoon sun shone brightly over the Royal Pack.

Warriors continued their training in the distance. Others repaired sections of the outer wall damaged during the latest rogue attack.

Life continued. Even with danger constantly surrounding them. After a few moments, Talon looked at Diana more carefully.

“How are you feeling?”

She blinked.

“I’m fine.”

He raised an unconvinced eyebrow.

“Diana.”

She smiled sheepishly.

“All right… I feel…”

She searched for the right word.

“A little tired. But honestly, that’s expected.”

She stretched her shoulders.

“We’ve barely slept this past week. These nightly feral rogue attacks are exhausting.”

She sighed.

“I almost wish Thorne would simply stop hiding.”

Talon frowned.

“So we could finish this.”

She nodded.

“I wish he’d come himself. No more sending feral rogues. No more testing our borders. No more waiting.”

She looked toward the forest beyond the office windows.

“Let him come. Let us fight. And let this finally end.”

Fenrir growled inside Talon.

“I agree.”

Talon remained thoughtful.

‘I don’t understand what he’s waiting for.”

His gaze narrowed.

“It’s almost as if…”

He paused.

“…he expects something to happen.”

Diana tapped her fingers lightly against the desk.

“Maybe he’s waiting for us to wear ourselves out.”

She shrugged.

“Maybe he thinks if he attacks often enough… our warriors will become exhausted… our patrols weaker…. our defenses slower.”

Talon slowly shook his head.

“No. I don’t think that’s it.”

She looked at him.

“If exhaustion were his goal… He’d attack with overwhelming numbers. He’d send thousands. Instead…”

He frowned.

“Every attack has roughly the same number. A hundred feral rogues. Sometimes a little more. Sometimes

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less

He leaned forward.

“The first few nights believed he was studying our defenses Our patrol routes. Our warrior formations Our response time.”

He looked toward the distant tree line.

“But now… I think it’s something else.”

Diana followed his gaze.

“You think he’s searching for something.”

“I do.”

“What?”

He slowly shook his head.

“I don’t know. And that’s what bothers me.”

Artemis quietly stirred.

“I don’t like unknown enemies.”

“Neither do I.”

Diana stood from her chair.

“We may never understand what goes on inside Thorne’s mind.”

She walked toward the large office window overlooking the training grounds.

“But whether we know his plans or not…”

She folded her arms.

…our responsibility doesn’t change.”

She turned toward Talon.

“We continue training. We strengthen our borders. We increase patrol rotations. We refuse to become complacent. We protect our people.”

Talon smiled proudly.

“That’s exactly why you’re my queen.”

She smiled back. Then… The room suddenly tilted. Diana blinked. Her vision blurred for a split second. Her knees weakened.

“Diana!”

Before she could even react, Talon was already moving. His chair crashed backward onto the floor as he

A

reached her in an instant.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist before she could fall. He steadied her against his chest.