He stayed.
The realization settled into her chest, warm and overwhelming.
Did he… stay the whole night?
Carefully, she reached inward.
‘Artemis?’ Diana called gently through their shared mind. ‘Are you okay?’
The familiar space stirred. She saw her wolf curled within the vastness of their inner world, her silver form resting on a bed of moonlight. Artemis lifted her head slowly, eyes glowing but tired.
‘Yeah, Artemis answered, her voice calm but carrying the weight of exhaustion. A few hours after youpassed out, I managed to process the wolfsbane. It was… difficult. It fought me the entire way. But I broke it down and pushed it out of our system.
Diana swallowed, threat tightening. That’s why I can feel you stronger now?’
Yes, Artemis confirmed. Once the poison was gone, I could finally focus on healing you properly. Your body responded fast-faster than it should have.
Diana knew why.
‘And yes, Artemis continued, a hint of warmth entering her tone, ‘our mate stayed. He never left us. Noteven once.
Something inside Diana eased completely at that. She glanced back at Talon, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest, the faint crease between his brows even in sleep.
We were lucky, Diana said quietly. Without the bond, he wouldn’t have known. If we had waited for pack patrols…. even if I called for help…
They wouldn’t have made it in time,’ Artemis finished. ‘You know that.’
Dlana nodded faintly.
‘Our mate is strong,’ Artemis said, pride threading her words. ‘And fast. He crossed territory like a storm. He reached us when we needed him most.’
A pause.
‘And once he had us,’ Artemis added softly, he refused to let go.”
Emotion welled up, unexpected and fierce. Diana shifted her hand just enough to brush her fingers through Talon’s hair. The strands were soft beneath her touch, cool where moonlight lingered in their color.
Talon stirred.
The sensation-the touch-felt like something out of a dream. Warm. Gentle. Real in a way his mind struggled to process after a sleepless night spent hovering between vigilance and fear.
Am I imagining this? he thought dimly.
Inside his mind, Fenrir exploded.
Wake up!’ his wolf roared. ‘Our mate is awake! How long are you planning to sleep?’
Talon jolted upright with a sharp inhale. His eyes snapped open and locked onto Diana’s.
She was watching him.
Awake. Alive. Looking at him with clarity instead of pain-hazed confusion.
“Diana,” he breathed, instantly reaching for her face. His palm cupped her cheek with reverent care, as if she might vanish if he touched too hard. “You’re awake.”
“I am,” she said softly.
Relief hit him like a physical force. His shoulders sagged, forehead resting briefly against hers as he exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding for hours.
“How are you?” he asked, his voice low, controlled only by sheer will.
“Much better,” Diana replied honestly. “Sore. But healing. Thank you… for coming to me.”
His gaze darkened-not with anger, but with emotion so intense it bordered on pain.
“I will always come to you, my mate,” Talon said firmly. “Always. But there will never be a next time like this.”
She frowned faintly.
“And never make me feel that helpless again,” he continued, voice roughening. “I thought I lost you.”
“I am strong,” Diana met his eyes steadily. “I won’t be killed so easily.”
“I know,” Talon said. “I saw how you fought. I saw your strength. But there were too many rogues. Even the strongest wolf can be overwhelmed.”
Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken truths.
“What happened to the rogues?” Diana frowned slightly. “How did they even enter the pack? I didn’t hear an alarm. They were just… there. Outside my cabin.”
“There was no alarm,” Talon’s jaw tightened, and he said flatly. “Alpha Asher didn’t know about the attack at all. He was only informed after Fenrir and I came running to you.”
Her eyes widened.
“This pack has a traitor,” Talon continued honestly. “And you were the target.”
A chill crept up her spine. “Did you find out who it is?”
“Not yet,” Talon replied. “But we captured a few rogues alive. They were meant to be interrogated.”
Before she could respond, a knock sounded at the door.
A man she hadn’t met stepped inside-tall, sharp-eyed, his presence calm but alert.
“Alpha King. Luna Queen,” he greeted respectfully. “I’m glad to see you awake.”
“Diana,” Talon said, eyes never leaving her as he spoke, “this is Enzo. My beta.”
She inclined her head slightly.
“Is there a problem?” Talon asked, already sensing the answer.
“Yes,” Enzo said grimly. “The rogues we captured… were executed.”
Diana’s breath caught.
“What?” she asked. “How is that possible? Weren’t they being watched?”
“They were, Luna,” Enzo said. “But the guards were ordered to stand down.”
“Ordered?” Diana repeated. “By who?”
“When I questioned them,” Enzo continued, “they said they were instructed to leave the rogues alone for the night.”
Her mind raced. “Who has the authority to issue that kind of order?”
“Anyone ranked higher than the guards, Enzo replied. “From deltas… up to the Alpha himself.”
Diana exhaled sharply.
“That means questioning Alpha Asher,” she said. “And I doubt he’ll cooperate. Admitting this would expose weakness in his leadership.”
“And that,” Enzo said quietly, “is exactly what the traitor is counting on.”
Frustration flickered across her face. “Then we won’t know who it is
Enzo’s mouth curved slightly. “Not exactly, Luna.”
She looked at him sharply. “What do you mean?”
“The rogues weren’t just prisoners,” Enzo explained. “They were bait.”
“We expected this,” Talon’s grip tightened around Diana’s hand. “The real traitor would move to silence them.”
“Are you able to come with us, mate?” He leaned closer, his voice low and resolute. “I want you there when we catch the traitor.”
The air seemed to shift.
Diana met his gaze-steady, unafraid. “Yes,”
And somewhere deep inside, Artemis smiled.
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 m閍n 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.
“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.”
Asher stopped pacing.
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, he spoke. “If call the guards now and uncover the truth, it becomes undeniable that someone with rank betrayed us.”
“And if you don’t,” Hazel said softly, “you maintain control. For now.”
Asher looked at her, searching her face. “And what if the Alpha King finds out anyway?”
Hazel met his gaze without flinching. “Then we make sure we are ready when he does.”
Rafe lowered his head slightly. “Alpha, we just have to play our cards right.”
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