The Silver Wolf (Diana and Talon) novel Chapter 78

Chapter Seventy Eight

Days passed quickly in Black Howler Pack.

Too quickly.

So quickly that for everyone else, it felt like a blur of preparation, excitement, and anticipation for the upcoming marking ceremony.

But for Willow-

Every single day felt long.

Heavy.

Endless.

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Talon and Diana were consumed by responsibilities. Meetings with allied packs. Finalizing ceremony details. Security arrangements. Formal announcements. Endless discussions with elders and advisors.

Which meant-

It became Willow’s responsibility to host their guests.

To entertain them.

To guide them.

To ensure the Rogue King and his Beta felt welcomed inside their territory.

And every single moment of it…

Was torture.

Every morning, Willow would walk to the guest wing.

Every morning, she would stand in front of that door.

Every morning, her hand would hover over the handle for just a second too long.

Because the moment that door opened-

She would feel it.

The bond.

Sharp.

Unforgiving.

Alive.

Winter would stir instantly inside her, her wolf pressing forward, aching, reaching.

Mate…

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And then-

Reality.

Damon would step-out

And look past her.

“Good morning,” she would say every day.

Her voice polite.

Neutral.

Controlled.

And every day, Damon would nod.

Acknowledge her.

But never see her.

Then they would walk together to the dining hall.

Every morning.

The same routine.

The same pain.

At first, the pack had been cautious.

The moment Damon and Conall entered the dining hall, conversations would quiet. Eyes would shift. Greetings to Talon and Diana would pause for a second too long before continuing.

The presence of rogues-

Even controlled ones-

Was not something easily accepted.

The pups were the most honest.

Where they once ran freely toward Diana, laughing and calling for her attention, they now hesitated.

Stood closer to their parents.

Watched.

Unsure.

But Diana…

Diana fixed that.

As she always did.

Chapter Seventy Eight

She would kneel down, smile warmly, and call the pups over.

“What are you planning to do today?” she would ask.

“What games are you going to play?”

“What trouble are you getting into?”

And slowly-

The fear would melt.

The pups would laugh again.

Run to her.

Climb onto her lap.

And through them-

The rest of the pack began to soften.

Clai

Now, almost a week had passed.

The marking ceremony was only a few days away.

And the pack had grown… comfortable.

They now knew exactly who their guests were.

The Rogue King.

Damon.

And his Beta.

Conall.

Some wolves still kept their distance.

But others-

Especially the pups-

Had started to greet them.

“Good morning!”

“Hello!”

Small voices.

Careful.

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Curious.

Willow didn’t know if she should be relieved.

Or devastated.

Because while the pack grew used to them

She was breaking.

Every morning, when she stood beside Damon…

Every step they walked together…

Every breath-

She felt it.

The bond.

Pulling.

Calling.

Demanding.

Winter would whimper inside her.

Curl into herself.

Try to protect what little remained unbroken.

But it didn’t help.

Because her mate-

Her mate-

Looked right through her.

Willow saw everything.

She couldn’t not see it.

The way Damon’s gaze followed Diana when she entered the dining hall with Talon.

The way his eyes lingered when Diana smiled.

When she laughed.

When she spoke.

The way he watched her interact with the pack.

With the pups.

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The way he studied her like something precious.

Something he wanted.

Something he believed should be his.

And Willow saw something worse.

She saw the truth.

Damon didn’t just want Diana.

He wanted what Diana had.

What she was.

What she represented.

And every time Willow saw it-

Something inside her cracked.

Winter whimpered constantly now.

Soft.

Broken.

Mate… doesn’t want us…

Every day, Willow forced herself to stand.

To walk.

To speak.

To smile.

Because she had a choice.

She could tell Talon.

She could tell Diana.

She could end this.

If they knew-

If Talon knew Damon was her mate-

He would end this immediately.

He would throw Damon out of the territory.

He would never allow his sister to suffer like this.

Chapter Seventy Eight

If Diana knew-

She would stop everything.

She would protect Willow.

She would never allow this to continue.

But Willow said nothing.

Because this wasn’t just about her.

Talon and Damon were talking.

Negotiating.

Discussing alliance.

Peace.

Protection.

The feral rogues.

A future that could change everything.

Willow refused to be the reason that alliance failed.

Refused to be the weakness that broke something bigger than herself.

So she endured.

“Just a few more days,” Willow whispered to herself that night.

Curled in her bed.

Hands gripping the sheets.

“Just a few more days, Winter…”

Her voice trembled.

“After the marking ceremony…”

She swallowed.

“After the alliance is announced…”

Her eyes burned.

“We’ll leave.”

A pause.

“With or without his rejection.”

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<Chapter Seventy Eight

Winter whimpered softly.

“We just have to hold on a little longer.”

Morning came again.

And with it-

Another test.

“Willow… are you okay?”

Diana’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Willow blinked.

Forced a smile.

“Of course,” she said lightly. “Why do you ask?”

Diana studied her closely.

Too closely.

“There’s something different,” Diana said gently.

“For the past few days… you’ve been distant.”

Her hand reached out.

Warm.

Comforting.

It closed around Willow’s.

“You’ll tell me if something is wrong, right?”

Willow’s mask cracked.

Just for a second.

Because this-

This was Diana.

Kind.

Genuine.

Loving.

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<Chapter Seventy Eight

Her Luna

Her friend.

What would happen if she told her?

If she said it out loud-

Damon is my mate.

And he doesn’t want me.

He wants you.

The words sat at the edge of her throat.

Ready to fall.

Ready to break everything.

Then-

Her gaze lifted.

And met Damon’s.

He was watching her.

Not Diana.

Her.

Waiting.

The moment passed.

The mask returned.

“Nothing is wrong,” Willow said.

Her voice steady.

Too steady.

“I’m just tired.”

Diana sighed softly. Relieved.

“Honestly, I didn’t know preparing a marking ceremony could be this exhausting,” she said.

Her eyes shifted toward Talon.

“And you only gave us two weeks.”

There was mock irritation in her tone.

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Clam

Chapter Seventy Eight

Before Talon could respond-