Filed to story: Diana Nightshade and Alpha Talon Ravenwood Book PDF Free
“Then what does that mean?” Diana’s pulse quickened. “Who is he?”
“I do not know,” Talon’s expression hardened, and he admitted. “And I do not like that you were alone with him.”
Diana straightened slightly. “Talon, I can take care of myself. Artemis would have attacked without hesitation if she sensed true danger.”
“I know you are strong,” he said firmly. “You and Artemis are formidable.”
His gaze locked onto hers. “But you are my mate. Fenrir and me-we are bound to you. It is our duty. Our honor to protect you.”
His voice deepened. “And I was not there.”
Diana’s expression softened slightly. “He did not attack me. He spoke calmly. Almost… amused.”
That did not ease Talon’s tension.
“Did he touch you?” Talon asked.
“No.”
“Did he threaten you?”
“No.”
“Did he say anything about knowing who you are?”
She hesitated. “He watched me carefully. Like he was assessing something.”
“Diana,” Talon inhaled slowly, he said carefully, “if this male was present inside a locked-down territory during rogue unrest… and if he could conceal his scent completely…”
A dangerous possibility formed between them.
“The Rogue King,” Diana whispered.
Talon did not answer immediately, but his silence was heavy.
“If the rogue we captured mentioned a Rogue King searching for a Silver Wolf..” Diana continued slowly,” and this unknown Alpha-level wolf appeared in my cabin without scent…”
Her heart began to race. “You think he was looking for me?”
“I do not jump to conclusions,” Talon’s eyes flickered briefly with something fierce, he said carefully. “But I do not dismiss patterns either.”
Diana swallowed. “He did not know I was the Silver Wolf. If he suspected, he would not have let me leave.”
Talon’s jaw tightened. “Or he wanted to confirm.”
Silence settled between them.
The air felt heavier now.
“What does this mean?” Diana asked softly.
“It means,” Talon said, voice firm again, “that from this moment forward, you do not confront unknown wolves alone.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he continued. “Next time, you mind-link me immediately. No hesitation.”
“Talon-“
“No,” he said gently but firmly. “I know you are capable. I know Artemis is fierce. But we nearly lost you once.”
His voice lowered. “You were surrounded. Exhausted. Bleeding. And I arrived when you were already at your limit.”
His hand tightened around hers. “I will not relive that.”
Diana saw the memory in his eyes.
The fear he rarely showed.
“I promise,” she said softly.
He searched her gaze. “I need your word.”
“I promise,” she held his stare steadily. “Next time, I’ll call you immediately.”
The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, and Fenrir stirred within him, calmer now.
Diana reached up and placed her palm against his chest. She said gently. “You are not the only one who protects. If this Rogue King is real… and if he is searching for the Silver Wolf..”
Her eyes hardened slightly. “Then he will find that I am not prey.”
Talon’s lips curved faintly, but his eyes remained serious.
“And he will find,” Taton replied quietly, “that the Silver Wolf stands beside the Alpha King of Black Howler.”
The wind moved lightly across the lake, but beneath the peaceful surface, something larger was shifting.
Somewhere beyond their borders, someone was watching.
And Talon intended to be ready.
Back in Crimson Fang Rack, the atmosphere felt nothing like it once had. Where there had once been structured discipline and confident hierarchy, now there was tension. Whispered conversations stopped when Asher walked past. Warriors trained harder-but without the same unity. Mothers kept their pups closer. Trust had been fractured.
Alpha Asher stood alone in his office, staring out at the training grounds below.
He had lost his Luna.
That wound was political.
But losing his Beta-
That was personal.
Rafe had been more than his second-in-command. He had been his shadow since they were pups. They trained together, bled together, and celebrated victories side by side.
Rafe had been there the day Asher found his fated mate and rejected her. He still remembered Diana’s face that day. Shock. Hurt. Confusion.
Rafe had stood beside him then.
“You are Alpha first,” Rafe had said. “Your duty comes before your heart.”
So Asher chose the pack.
He chose politics.
He chose Hazel.
And Rafe supported him.
When Asher formally made Hazel his chosen Luna, Rafe stood proudly at his side.
The irony burned now.
Hazel had been Rafe’s fated mate all along.
And Diana-
Diana had a wolf.
Not just a wolf.
A powerful one.
And now there were whispers of a Rogue King searching for her.
The captured rogue’s words replayed in Asher’s mind.
The Rogue King retaliated for what happened to Diana’s parents…
Rogues were sent to hurt her…
The Silver Wolf is our Queen.
Queen.
The rogue had called Diana his queen.
Asher clenched his fists. If the rogue spoke truth, then someone powerful had been looking for Diana for years.
Everything felt unstable.
His Luna was exposed as a traitor.
His Beta is imprisoned.
His pack was shaken.
And the Alpha King of Black Howler had every right to intervene.
Asher exhaled slowly. He did not have the luxury of grief, he needed to prioritize.
Stabilize.
Reassure.
And appoint a new Beta.
“Tyler, please come to my office,” Asher mind-linked his Gamma.
Tyler had been the third of their trio growing up.
Asher.
Rafe.
Tyler.
Tyler had always been steady, loyal, and observant. And now he was hurting too.
A few minutes later, Tyler knocked once before entering.
“Alpha, you called for me?” The formality in his tone struck Asher immediately.
Tyler had never addressed him with such stiff distance before.
Asher could feel his distress-through years of friendship, it was almost tangible.
“Yes,” Asher said without preamble. “Sit.”
Tyler remained standing.
Asher did not waste time. “Tyler, you will be my new Beta effective immediately. I will announce it to the pack tonight.”
Tyler blinked. “What?”
You heard me.”
Tyler shook his head slightly, disbelief written across his face. “Asher, are you sure? I’m not certain I am the right choice.”
Asher stepped forward, his voice firm. Tyler, we no longer have the luxury of hesitation. We cannot afford second-guessing. The pack is restless. Confidence must be restored quickly.”
He gestured toward the window. “The Royal Guards will not remain here permanently. The Alpha King will recall them eventually. When he does, we must stand on our own strength.”
Tyler’s jaw tightened.
“You need to begin handling Rafe’s responsibilities immediately,” Asher continued. “Council coordination. Warrior rotations. Border enforcement. I will guide you through it, but you must step into the role now.”
Tyler swallowed slowly. “Understood… Alpha.”
The word sounded heavier this time.
He looked at Asher carefully. “Asher… what will happen to Rafe?”
The question hung painfully in the air.
Asher turned away briefly. “I do not know, and frankly, I am not ready to discuss it.”
His voice hardened. “The Alpha King wanted him dead.”
Tyler’s eyes widened slightly.
“And if he had not been in a rush to bring Diana back to Black Howler,” Asher continued quietly, “I believe Rafe would have been executed on the spot. No matter what I said.”
Silence filled the office.
“What he did-what he and Hazel did to Diana-was unforgivable.”
Tyler’s voice was low. “But he did it because Hazel was his fated mate. He was trying to protect her. Trying to please her.”
Asher spun around sharply, and he snapped. “Hazel should not have been his mate.”
Tyler stiffened.
“Not anymore,” Asher continued, more controlled but no less intense. “Not after I chose Hazel as my Luna and he supported that choice.”
His voice dropped. “He should have rejected her the moment he knew.”
Tyler’s expression tightened. “Rejecting a fated mate is not easy.”
“And betraying your Alpha is? Your best friend?” Asher shot back.
The room fell silent.
“He let himself be manipulated by that viper,” Asher ran a hard through his hair, frustration bleeding through. “Hazel fed his ego. Fed his resentment. And he allowed it
Tyler stepped forward slightly. “He loved you, Asher. He would have died for you.”
Asher’s jaw clenched. “I know.”
