The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 175

Chapter One Hundred Seventy Five

Claim

Agatha looked down at her stomach. Neither did she. That uncertainty frightened her more than any threat Gideon had made. The boy she once knew had limits. The man he had become did not seem to possess

any.

Still, Agatha forced herself to remain strong. She could not break. Not while her child depended on her. Every morning, she woke and reminded herself that Lucian was alive. She could feel him through their bond.

The connection was faint because of Gideon’s spells, but it had not disappeared,

Some nights, when the house was completely quiet, Agatha closed her eyes and concentrated until she felt the smallest warmth in her chest. Lucian. Her mate. Far away, but still connected to her. She did not know whether he could feel her in return. She hoped he could. She hoped he knew she was alive. She hoped he understood that she had not left him willingly.

Since bringing her back, Gideon visited every day. Sometimes he came in the morning and remained until nightfall. Other times he appeared without warning, entering her room as though he still had the right.

He brought flowers. Food. Rare herbs. Jewelry. Books she once loved.

He behaved as though he were courting her. As though enough gifts could erase the memory of his hands around her arms or the threats he made against her child.

Agatha refused everything. The flowers remained untouched until they wilted. The jewelry stayed inside its boxes. The food was given to others whenever Gideon left. The herbs were useful, but Agatha would not touch them unless her mother first checked them for spells.

Accepting anything from Gideon felt wrong. It felt like a betrayal of Lucian. Even speaking politely to Gideon made guilt twist inside her chest.

She knew she was being unfair to herself. She was trapped and doing whatever was necessary to survive. But she still remembered Lucian’s loving eyes. The way he trusted her completely. The way he had given up his pack and his future because she asked him to choose a peaceful life with her.

She would not willingly give any part of herself to Gideon. Not hek love. Not her loyalty. Not even false gratitude.

Agatha turned back toward the window. The sky had grown darker. Clouds gathered above the forest beyond the coven. She imagined Lucian running beneath those trees. Searching. Calling her name.

“Lucian,” she whispered.

The bond inside her chest warmed faintly. She closed her eyes.

“I am still here, my love.”

“You still think of him?”

The voice behind her made Agatha jump. She quickly turned. Gideon stood inside the room. She had not heard the door open. Her heart began beating faster.

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He leaned against the doorway, watching her. A bundle of white flowers rested in one hand. His clothes were clean, and his black hair had been neatly tied away from his face. From a distance, he might have resembled the Gideon she remembered.

But his eyes revealed the truth. Darkness moved inside them. A living shadow surrounded the edges of his irises. Agatha had never seen magic consume someone in that way before.

“How did you enter without making a sound?” she asked.

Gideon ignored the question.

“You said his name.”

Agatha remained silent. His gaze moved toward the window.

“You were thinking about him again.”

“He is my mate.”

The flowers in Gideon’s hand bent beneath the tightening of his fingers.

“Every day, I come here.”

His voice remained calm, but anger sharpened every word.

“I bring you food. Flowers. Herbs. I make certain you have everything you need.”

Agatha stared at him.

“Everything except freedom.”

His jaw tightened.

“I have tried everything to win you back.”

“You cannot win back something that was never yours.”

The darkness in his eyes deepened.

“You loved me.”

“I cared for you.”

“You loved me.”

“Yes,” Agatha said softly. “But not the way you wanted me to.”

Gideon stepped into the room. The door closed behind him without being touched.

“You keep hurting me.”

Agatha stood carefully. Her back ached from sitting too long, and the weight of her stomach made every movement difficult.

“I never wanted to hurt you.”

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Chapter Quemdied Seventy Five

“Yet you continue doing it. I did not choose Lucian to punish you.”

“You abandoned me for him.”

“I chose my mate.”

“You chose a wolf.”

His voice became harsher. Agatha forced herself to remain calm.

“If you could just accept that we are not meant for each other, you might finally find peace.”

Gideon laughed bitterly.

“Peace?”

“Yes.”

“There is no peace without you.”

“Your mate may still be out there.”

His expression turned cold.

“There is no one else.”

“You cannot know that.”

“I do.”

Agatha shook her head.

“You have spent your life believing I was meant for you because our families decided it when we were children.”

“Our families recognized what we already knew.”

“Our magic never answered each other.”

“Magic does not decide love.”

“No, but it tells the truth.”

Gideon crossed the room until only a few steps remained between them.

“And what truth is that?”

“That we were not destined to bind.”

His face tightened. Agatha continued despite the fear rising inside her.

“Your true mate may exist somewhere beyond this coven.”

“I do not want another woman.”

“She may be someone whose magic answers yours.”

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do not care.”

“Someone who can love you without fear.”

“You loved me before.”

“Not like this.”

Gideon’s voice rose.

“There is no one for me but you!”

The flowers in his hand suddenly withered. Their white petals turned black and fell to the floor. Agatha stepped backward.

Gideon looked down at the dead flowers, then opened his hand and allowed the remaining stems to drop.

“You will learn to love me again,” he said.

“I will not.”

“You will.”

“No.”

His nostrils flared.

“Your so-called mate has not even tried to find you.”

Agatha’s body became still. Gideon saw the flicker of pain in her expression and continued.

“You have been here for almost two months.”

“He does not know where I am.”

“He is a wolf. You claimed your bond was so powerful.”

Gideon spread his arms.

“Where is he?”

Agatha’s throat tightened.

She refused to answer.

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