The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 60

Chapter Sixty

“What do you want with Rafe?” Asher asked, his voice hard as stone.

Across the border, the rogue who called himself Conall tilted his head slightly, as if considering the question. The faint smile on his face never faded.

“So… Rafe is his name,” Conall said thoughtfully, almost amused. The way he said it made several Crimson Fang warriors shift uneasily.

“Isn’t it obvious what we want?” Conall continued, folding his arms behind his back with a calm confidence that did not belong to any ordinary rogue. “We will deliver him to our King.” His eyes gleamed faintly. “So our King may make an example of him.”

A murmur passed through the gathered wolves.

“An example,” Conall repeated slowly, “of what happens to anyone who attempts to harm our Queen.”

The Royal Guard Captain finally stepped forward, unable to remain silent any longer. His presence alone carried authority, the insignia of the Royal Pack glinting faintly on his armor.

“Queen?” the captain said sharply. “Luna Diana is not your queen, rogue.” His voice carried clearly across the border. “She is the mate of our Alpha King.”

Several Royal Guards behind him growled in agreement.

“Until the Silver Wolf is marked and claimed,” Conall only smiled, just condescendingly, “she may choose another for her mate.”

The statement caused another wave of uneasy whispers.

“The Silver Wolf,” Conall continued, “is the only wolf in our history who holds the power to choose her mate freely.”

“Our Luna has already chosen. She chose the Alpha King of Black Howler.” The Royal Guard Captain said. His eyes narrowed, and he replied firmly. “Your King missed his chance.”

For the first time, something flickered briefly in Conall’s eyes, but the rogue Beta only shrugged slightly.” We shall see about that.”

The air between the two sides grew tense.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

Then Conall’s focus returned to Asher.

“But that is not our purpose here today,” he said calmly. His voice lost its mocking tone. “What we require now is the former Beta.”

Rafe.

Conall gestured slightly toward the Crimson Fang territory.

“So please, Alpha Asher,” he continued politely, “hand him over to us.”

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Chapter Sudy-

A-ripple of anger moved through the Crimson Fang warriors.

Clam

“Let us pass the judgment he deserves. A judgment you clearly cannot deliver.” Conall’s gaze sharpened.” After all… he still lives comfortably inside your dungeon.”

The insult was deliberate.

Asher’s eyes darkened. “What happens inside my pack is handled by my pack.” His voice carried the authority of an Alpha. “You have no right to demand anything from me.”

Conall watched him for a long moment, then that same slow, mocking smile returned. “Ah.”

The rogue Beta nodded slightly. “I was hoping you would say that.”

Several Crimson Fang warriors tightened their grips on their weapons.

“What do you mean by that?” Tyler asked cautiously beside Asher. But Conall did not look at him. His gaze remained fixed on Asher.

“Then you leave me with no choice, Alpha,” Conall said quietly. The calmness in his voice was far more dangerous than shouting.

Behind him, the rogues shifted, but with coordinated purpose.

Asher’s wolf stirred uneasily beneath his skin. Because this was not how feral rogues behaved, they moved like trained soldiers.

Conall raised one hand slightly. Immediately, the rogues behind him stepped apart, and from within their ranks-

A massive wolf stepped forward.

The creature was enormous. Even in human form, the man who emerged from the shifting wolf looked powerful beyond ordinary wolves. His shoulders were broad, his posture relaxed yet commanding.

A faint aura of dominance rolled off him like invisible pressure, and then several Crimson Fang warriors instinctively lowered their heads.

Even Tyler stiffened beside Asher.

The Royal Guard Captain’s eyes sharpened.

Conall bowed his head slightly toward the newcomer. “My King.”

The words fell like thunder across the clearing.

Shock rippled through the Crimson Fang pack.

Rogue King.

The man’s gaze swept calmly across the gathered wolves, then his eyes landed on Asher.

His voice, when he spoke, was quiet, but carried easily across the border.

“So.” The Rogue King tilted his head slightly. “You refuse to hand over the wolf who attempted to murder

20

Chapter Suty

my Queen.”

Asher’s jaw clenched. “Díana does not belong to you.”

“That,” The Rogue King’s lips curved faintly, he said calmly, “is a matter still to be decided.”

Then his gaze shifted briefly toward the Crimson Fang territory behind Asher. “To think… the wolf who tried to kill the Silver Wolf sits in your dungeon.” His eyes darkened. “And you still allow him to breathe.”

The air grew colder.

Asher felt every warrior around him tense.

“Once more,” the Rogue King said quietly. “Give him to me.” His voice lowered. “And we will leave your territory peacefully.”

Silence fell across the border, because everyone knew what the alternative meant.

“As I have already said to your Beta,” Asher replied firmly, his voice echoing across the border, “what happens inside my pack will be handled by my pack.”

The Rogue King studied him in silence, then slowly, he tilted his head. For a brief moment, his eyes unfocused, glazing over slightly.

Asher recognized the sign immediately.

Mind link.

The Rogue King was communicating with someone.

With several someones.

7

Before Asher could react, his own mind was suddenly flooded with frantic voices.

“Alpha! Rogues inside the pack!”

Another voice burst through.

“Alpha! They went straight to the dungeon!”

Then another.

“Alpha, we need assistance immediately!”

More voices overlapped in panic.

“Alpha, rogues breaching the lower corridor!”

“Alpha, what are your orders?”

Asher’s blood ran cold. His head snapped up toward the Rogue King.

“What did you do?” Asher demanded, fury flashing across his face.

The Rogue King regarded him calmly, as if the chaos unfolding inside Crimson Fang territory was merely a minor inconvenience.

3.6

did what I should have done from the beginning,” he said evenly. He folded his hands behind his back.

“I had hoped,” he continued almost conversationally, “to establish a cordial relationship with my mate’s former pack.”

The words made Asher’s stomach tighten.

“But now,” the Rogue King added, his voice losing its mild tone, “I see that such cooperation is impossible. “He took a step back. “So I simply took what I needed.”

Then he turned away as if the matter were already settled.

“Wolves,” the Rogue King said calmly over his shoulder, “we have what we came for.”

Behind him, Conall’s sharp eyes flickered toward Asher one last time. A satisfied smile touched his lips.

“You heard the King,” Conall announced to the rogues gathered near the border. “We have what we needed.”

Then he turned and followed his King back toward the forest.

The rogues that had been standing across the border began retreating with them in perfect order.

Asher stood frozen for one second too long.

Then the realization struck him like lightning.

The rogues at the border…

Were never the real attack.

They were a distraction.

Blinders.

A handful of wolves standing at the most visible location-drawing the pack’s warriors and leadership to the front gate.

Meanwhile, other rogues had slipped into the territory from different directions, and straight toward the dungeon.

Toward one specific prisoner.

“Tyler!” Asher barked suddenly.

Tyler was already turning toward him, face pale with the same realization.

“They were never here to attack the border,” Tyler said grimly. “They came for Rafe.”

Asher shifted instantly, his wolf bursting forward with explosive speed.

“All warriors return to the dungeon immediately!” he mind-linked. “Intercept the rogues inside the territory!

Panic rippled through the pack, but it was already too late.

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