The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty Nine

There was a sharp knock on the heavy wooden door of Alpha Asher’s office.

The sound cut cleanly through the tense silence already hanging in the room.

“Enter,” Asher called, his voice steady despite the irritation simmering beneath it.

The door opened, and Beta Rafe stepped inside His posture was rigid, his jaw tight-never a good sign. He dipped his head respectfully.

“Alpha. Luna,” Rafe greeted, acknowledging both Asher and Hazel before closing the door behind him.

Asher didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

“Rafe,” he said sharply, rising from his chair. “Explain to me how the captured rogues are now dead.”

Hazel’s eyes narrowed slightly as she straightened beside Asher, her fingers curling against the arm of her

chair.

Rafe took a measured breath. “Alpha… someone broke into the dungeon.”

Asher’s expression hardened. “Broke in?”

“Yes,” Rafe continued. “Someone slipped past the outer patrols and entered the lower levels. By the time the bodies were discovered, the rogues had already been executed.”

Hazel inhaled sharply. “Executed?” she echoed. “You méan murdered.”

Rafe nodded once. “Cleanly. Efficiently. Whoever did it knew exactly where to strike.”

“What about the guards?” Asher slammed his palm against the desk. “I personally stationed warriors there. Are you telling me they simply let this happen?”

“That’s the strange part,” Rafe replied carefully. “The guards were still at their posts when the bodies were found. None of them show signs of physical injury.”

Asher stared at him. “Then how did someone get past them?”

“They don’t remember,” Rafe said.

The room went deathly quiet.

“They… don’t remember?” Hazel repeated slowly.

Rafe nodded again. “They recall standing watch. Then they remember someone approaching-speakingto them. And after that…” He shook his head. “Nothing. Hours are missing from their memories. It’s as if someone compelled them to step aside and forget everything that happened.”

Asher felt a chill crawl down his spine.

Compulsion.

That kind of power wasn’t common. It wasn’t something just any wolf could wield.

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Chapter Twentie

“Who could order my guards like that?” Asher muttered. “Even deltas have authority over sentries, but this

His eyes darkened. “This was deliberate.”

“As Alpha, you can command them to remember,” Rafe said cautiously. “You can force the truth from them.”

Asher straightened immediately. Then call them in. I want answers. Now.”

“Alpha,” Rafe hesitated. He said slowly, choosing his words with care, “you may want to consider the timing.”

Asher turned to him sharply. “Explain.”

“The Alpha King is still in the territory,” Rafe said. “If he learns that someone infiltrated our dungeon and executed prisoners under our watch… and worse, that we may have a traitor within our ranks-”

Hazel cut in smoothly, “it will make us look weak.”

Asher’s jaw clenched.

“Our standing with the allied packs is strong but,” Rafe continued. “If word spreads that your authority was undermined while the Alpha King was present, there will be consequences.”

Asher exhaled slowly, anger warring with cold calculation. “And what do you suggest?”

Before Rafe could answer, Hazel leaned forward, her voice calm but deliberate. “The Alpha King doesn’t need to know everything. Not yet.”

“He will ask,” Asher turned to her. “He claimed Diana as his mate. He will want to know why the rogues who attacked her are suddenly dead while in our custody.”

Hazel’s lips pressed into a thin smile. “She is not his mate yet.”

Asher stiffened.

“She is unmarked,” Hazel continued. “They may have mated, but they have not completed the bond. There is no public claim, no formal marking. Diana is still a member of this pack.”

Rafe nodded slowly, seeing where she was going. “We can inform the Alpha King that the matter is being handled internally. We submit a report once we finish our investigation.”

Hazel glanced at Asher. “It’s reasonable. Strategic.”

Asher paced the length of the office, his boots heavy against the stone floor.

Marked or not, he thought bitterly. Fenrir had claimed her. The Alpha King had claimed her-openly, without hesitation. His beta had acknowledged her as Luna in front of witnesses. The mark was just a formality.

“We would be lying by omission,” Asher said quietly.

Hazel’s eyes hardened. “We would be protecting our pack.”

Rafe added, “If the Alpha King believes this was a failure of control, he may step in. He may take command of the investigation or worse, strip authority.”

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Chapter Twanytime

Asher stopped pacing.

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