Filed to story: Diana Nightshade and Alpha Talon Ravenwood Book PDF Free
Interesting.
“Yes,” Enzo answered. “She is from Crimson Fang.”
Willow smiled. “I’m happy for you.”
She tried to sound light and casual, but her eyes betrayed her.
There was pain there.
When Willow looked up, she found Diana watching her quietly. Willow immediately flushed and turned her head away, focusing on her food.
Diana did not miss the way Selene reached over and gently squeezed Willow’s hand beneath the table. Willow glanced at her mother and offered a small, sad smile.
Ah, so there had been something.
Perhaps unspoken. Perhaps unfinished.
Diana filed the information away.
“I cannot wait to hear the story of why your mate is angry at you, Enzo,” Selene said smoothly, clearly enjoying herself. “And I would very much like to meet her.”
Enzo’s ears reddened slightly.
“Mother,” Talon corrected lightly.
Selene waved him off. “You know what I mean.”
“Mother,” Talon continued, a mischievous glint in his eye, “it would be better to ask Leah personally why she hates Enzo. Or ask my Luna. She was there when Leah slapped him.”
The entire table went silent.
Willow’s eyes widened, and Rowan coughed to hide a laugh.
Selene blinked. “She what?”
Enzo groaned. “Alpha-“
“She slapped you?” Willow burst out.
Diana pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.
“It was a… misunderstanding,” Enzo muttered.
“A misunderstanding that left a handprint on his face,” Talon added helpfully.
Enzo shot Talon a dark look. “Alpha, perhaps I should tell the story of how you first met the Luna? That might be more interesting, don’t you think?”
Talon’s amusement faded slightly.
Rowan leaned back in his chair, suddenly very interested. “Oh?”
Diana blinked between them.
“What happened when you first met?” Selene asked smoothly.
Diana laughed softly despite herself.
“I did not know you two had this kind of relationship,” she admitted, glancing at Talon and Enzo. “In Crimson Fang, you were always formal. Alpha and Beta. Professional. No teasing.”
Talon nodded slightly. “When we are outside our territory, we maintain formality,” he explained. “Other Alphas observe everything. A King and his Beta joking in another pack’s hall can give the wrong impression.”
“Unsavory,” Rowan added.
“It can suggest weakness,” Talon continued. “Division. Or lack of discipline.”
Enzo smirked slightly. “We prefer they think we mean business.”
“And you do,” Diana said quietly. She had seen it firsthand. The authority. The command. The silent understanding between them during battles and meetings.
“But here,” Talon continued, his voice softer now, “this is home.”
The word settled warmly in Diana’s chest.
“At home,” he said, glancing briefly at his father, “we can be brothers.”
Rowan’s eyes softened at that.
Diana watched the dynamic closely. The strength of this family. The laughter layered over power. The ease. It was… different.
Healthy.
“So,” Selene said lightly, steering the conversation back, “why is Leah angry?”
Enzo exhaled dramatically. “Because I hid her parents.”
Diana’s head snapped toward him.
Willow frowned. “Why would you hide your mate’s parents?”
“Because,” Enzo said carefully, “the Alpha-King ordered me to.”
All eyes shifted to Talon.
“There were traitors in Crimson Fang.” Talon did not flinch and said calmly. “Leah’s parents were witness. I could not risk their lives.”
“So you kidnapped them?” Willow asked.
“Secured them,” Enzo corrected.
“Without telling her?” Selene pressed.
“Yes.”
“And let her believe they vanished?” Rowan asked.
“Yes. I did not know they had a daughter at that time.”
Willow winced. “That explains the slap.”
“She was terrified,” Diana sighed softly. “She thought rogues took them. She searched for days.”
Enzo’s jaw tightened. “I was not aware of her at that time. I never met her. I just saw her at the pack meeting when Talon asked for every Crimson Pack member in front of the pack house.”
Diana understood the situation.
It had been strategic, but painful.
“She will forgive you in time,” she said finally. Enzo looked at her uncertainly.
“She is your mate,” Selene added. “She just needs time.”
Talon reached under the table and gently squeezed Diana’s hand.
“You will see,” she told Enzo calmly. “Leah is strong. She understands duty.”
Willow stared at her plate quietly.
Diana noticed.
“You will find your mate too,” she said gently, surprising even herself.
Willow looked up quickly.
“And he will not make you chase him,” Diana added lightly.
“Good,” A small smile tugged at Willow’s lips. “Because I do not chase.”
Laughter circled the table again, but beneath the humor, Diana could feel it.
The shifting of bonds.
The forming of alliances.
The quiet acceptance of her presence.
She glanced around the hall. Wolves still watched her discreetly. Assessing. Observing.
She was not just Talon’s mate.
She was their Luna.
And this-this table, this family, this laughter-was the beginning of her place among them.
After breakfast, the hall slowly emptied as warriors rotated to training, elders moved toward the council wing, and pack members returned to their daily duties.
“I have meetings with the elders, Talon leaned closer to Diana and said quietly. “There are matters we need to address after what happened in Crimson Fang. I will see you later.”
There was apology in his eyes.
Diana nodded. “Go. I will be fine.”
He brushed his fingers against her cheek briefly-an intimate gesture that did not go unnoticed by the nearby wolves-before standing.
Selene rose gracefully as well. “Come, my dear. Willow and I will show you the rest of your new home.”
Home.
The word still felt new.
Willow immediately linked her arm with Diana’s. “Prepare yourself. Black Howler is not small.”
That turned out to be an understatement. The Royal Pack territory was massive, less like a traditional pack settlement and more like a private city hidden within forests and mountain ridges. The pack house itself was only the center of a far larger world.
They passed a modern glass building.
“That is our corporate headquarters,” Selene explained. “To humans, we are simply a large corporation that houses and employs its workers.”
Diana glanced at the building, impressed.
“Some of our members prefer to work outside the territory,” Willow added. “They work alongside humans. Finance, technology, medicine. Of course, the humans have no idea what we are.”
“They believe the Royal Pack is simply a private enterprise with strong internal housing benefits,” Selene said with a knowing smile.
They continued walking. Diana saw a private hospital wing far more advanced than most human facilities she had seen. A movie theater. Training grounds. Parks with manicured paths and towering trees left untouched by development. Residential districts spread out in organized rows of beautiful homes.
“This is… enormous,” Diana admitted.
“We must be self-sufficient,” Selene said. “Especially as the ruling pack.””
As they entered one of the parks, the atmosphere softened. Sunlight filtered through tall trees. Pups ran freely across the grass, their laughter ringing through the air. Mothers sat on benches nearby, watching attentively but smiling warmly.
The sight made Diana’s chest ache. She remembered when her mother used to bring her to the park. She could almost hear her voice. Feel her hand brushing back Diana’s hair.
“Did your mind wander?” Selene commented gently, noticing Diana’s distant expression.
“My mother used to bring me to the park,” Diana replied quietly. Willow squeezed her hand once.
Suddenly, a blur of fur and laughter zipped across the grass.
One small pup, too focused on chasing his friend, ran straight into a she-wolf standing near the path.
The impact was harmless, just an accidental bump, but the she-wolf stumbled dramatically.
And Diana immediately recognized her.
Vanessa.
Diana almost laughed at the irony, but the amusement died quickly.
Vanessa’s face twisted with irritation. Without hesitation, she shoved the small pup down to the grass.
The child yelped in surprise, and gasps rippled through the nearby mothers.
The pup’s mother rushed forward. “Ms. Vanessa! It was an accident-“
Vanessa turned and struck her across the face.
The crack echoed sharply.
The park fell silent.
Diana did not remember deciding to move.
She was simply walking.
Fast.
Willow blinked. “Diana-“
But Diana was already there. She reached Vanessa in seconds, without a word, she raised her hand and slapped Vanessa hard across the face.
The sound was loud enough to make birds scatter from nearby trees.
Vanessa staggered back in shock. “How dare you hit me!”
Diana’s eyes were cold. “How dare you hit not just a pack member, but push a pup as well?”
Vanessa scoffed. “I was teaching him a lesson that clearly his mother failed to teach him.”
“Oh, really?” Diana tilted her head slightly, then she slapped her again.
Harder.
“The first one was for the pup,” Diana said calmly.
Vanessa’s eyes widened in disbelief.
