The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 202

Chapter Two Hundred Two

Inside him, Fenrir enthusiastically agreed.

“Yes. Mate stays safe. We fight.”

Talon mentally groaned.

“Fenrir, perhaps do not help.”

“We are correct.”

“That does not mean she will like hearing it.”

Diana’s eyes narrowed.

“Excuse me?”

Talon lifted both hands.

“My love-”

“I will not hide.”

“I did not say hide.”

“You absolutely meant hide.”

“I meant remain protected.”

“Behind everyone else while they fight?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Talon’s jaw tightened.

“Diana.”

“No, Talon.”

She stood. He immediately stood with her. Diana pointed toward the window.

“I am the Luna Queen of Black Howler.”

“I know.”

“I lead these wolves.”

“I know.”

“I fight beside them.”

“I know.”

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do not hide from däriger while my pack bleeds.”

“This is different.”

“Why?”

“You are carrying two pups!”

His voice rose. Diana froze. Talon immediately softened his tone.

“That is why.”

He moved closer.

“You are not only risking yourself anymore.”

Diana’s expression changed slightly.

“I know that.”

“Do you?”

Her eyes flashed.

“Talon.”

“I am not trying to insult you.”

His voice became almost pleading.

“I am trying to make you understand what I feel.”

He placed both hands against her arms.

Clam

“You nearly died before. The poison. The earth spike. The feral attack. I held you unconscious in my arms.”

His breathing became uneven.

“I watched healers take you away from me.”

Diana’s anger softened. Talon continued.

“And now…”

He looked down at her stomach.

“… there are two more lives inside you.”

Fenrir surged close to the surface.

“Our pups.”

Talon’s eyes flashed gold.

“If something happens to you now…”

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His voice broke slightly.

“I do not know what I will become.”

Diana reached toward him. But before she could say anything, he continued.

Claim

“I cannot stand somewhere fighting while wondering whether Thorne has reached you. I cannot do it. And

I will not apologize for wanting you somewhere safe.”

Diana gently placed her palm against his cheek

“I understand.”

Talon leaned into her hand.

“But I still will not hide.”

His eyes closed briefly.

“Diana.”

“Listen to me.”

He opened his eyes.

“I have never hidden from a fight.”

She smiled sadly.

“Not even before I knew Artemis existed. When I lived in Crimson Fang, everyone thought I was wolfless. I still trained harder than every warrior. I still fought rogues. I still protected my pack. Even when I had no

I

I

wolf to heal me.”

Talon remembered. That was one of the things he loved most about her. Diana had never needed power to become strong.

She had created her strength herself. Diana continued.

“I know I am with pups. I know Artemis is weaker because she is protecting our pups. I know Thorne is dangerous. I know all of that.”

Her expression became firm.

“But I will not become someone else because I am afraid.”

“You do not need to prove anything.”

“I am not proving anything.”

“Then why?”

“Because this is who I am.”

She spread her arms slightly.

“A warrior. A Luna. Your mate. And the mother of our pups.”

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She touched her stomach.

“Being their mother does not erase everything I was before them.”

Talon remained silent Inside him, Fenrir growled unhappily.

“We still do not like it.”

“I know.”

Then Diana said something that made Talon’s expression change completely.

“Besides…”

She looked toward him thoughtfully.

“If Thorne knows I am with pup, then we already know what he wants.”

Talon’s eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?”

“He wants me.”

“Yes.”

“He believes this is his best opportunity.”

“Yes.”

“So he will come.”

Talon stared at her. The direction of her thoughts became painfully clear.

“No.”

Diana ignored him.

“He will not waste this opportunity.”

“No.”

“He will become desperate.”

“No.”

“And desperate enemies make mistakes.”

“Diana.”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“We know what he wants.”

Talon shook his head.

Clas

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“No.”

“Which means…

“No.”

“…we can control where he comes looking for it.”

Talon stared at her in disbelief.

“You…”

He stepped backward.

“You want to use yourself as bait.”

Diana did not answer immediately. That silence was answer enough.

Fenrir exploded.

“NO!”

The force of his reaction surged through the mate bond. Diana’s eyes flashed silver as Artemis immediately rose in response.

Talon’s voice deepened with Fenrir’s.

“You will not be bait.”

Diana’s expression hardened.

“Excuse me?”

“We will not allow it.”

That was the wrong choice of words. Completely wrong.

Artemis surged so strongly that Diana’s voice carried both woman and wolf.

“Allow?”

Talon froze. Fenrir froze too. Diana stepped closer.

“Who exactly do you think you are to tell us what we are allowed to do?”

Talon opened his mouth. Nothing came out. Diana continued.

“We are not your prisoner. We are not some helpless female waiting for permission from her Alpha.”

Her eyes burned silver.

“We are not a slave you can order. And we do not need your approval to think, fight, or make decisions about our own life.”

Talon’s jaw tightened.

Chales

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am your inate.”