The Silent Alpha

63. The Treehouse

***Agnest**

I smell his scent nearby, my wolf impatiently wagging her tail for him to come inside the house and speak to us.

But after finding out who he is to me, I do not wish to see him anytime soon.

There’s a tap on my shoulder and I turn to find Zane watching me closely, his hair still wet from his shower.

“What’s on your mind?” he signs.

I try to brush him off but he insists.

“You’ve been stirring the steak sauce with the stove off for 10 minutes now,” he argues with a soft smile.

“What’s wrong?” “How is Talia handling her wolf and mark? Don’t think I didn’t see it,” I tease him, changing the subject.

Zane blushes and timidly hides his red face from me, likely mumbling something under his breath.

He turns back to me when he calms his blush down.

“Whatever it is that’s bothering you, you can tell me,” Zane signs.

“I still have time for you.” selfish with his love.

His mate and his pup should be his priority.

“Take care of your family and I will be okay,” I smile, Zane’s eyes growing sad.

“But you are my family,” He retorts.

“I can take care of you too.” His words overwhelm my heart but I know he will not let this go until he is sure I am okay.

“Pll tell you when I am ready.

I’m just not ready right now.” My reply seems to upset him but as always, he respects my wishes and drops the matter entirely, instead taking the saucepan from my hands and helping me set the table.

I feel the floors vibrate beneath my feet as Dakota stomps down the hall.

He’s started to stomp more around me to make his presence known or catch my attention and it makes me so happy he cares enough to do that.

As I reach for the dinner plates, I feel Dakota pull at my pant leg.

When I look down at him, he signs the word ‘help’ and holds out his little hands for me to give him the plates.

They are much too heavy for him so I give him his own plastic plate and cup to carry to the table and he happily trots along No one seems to have the heart to tell him that’s Zane’s place and so the little boy claims the seat.

Talia and Rionna help me bring the food to the table and as we all settle at our seats, Tylen appears down the hall.

I freeze upon seeing him, unsure if I should run and hide or pretend my heart isn’t racing now that he’s so close.

He’s much more handsome than I last remember, his brown eyes containing speckles of amber and emerald when the light hits them.

His dark hair, which is longer at the top and shorter on the sides, is messily combed upwards witha few stubborn strands hanging over his forehead.

His clean shaven jaw is sharp and a pair of thick brows frame his large eyes that look directly at me.

He wears a black t-shirt, his arm tattoos on full display.

“I invited Tylen for dinner,” Rionna explains.

“I hope that’s alright.

He just needs his space from his father right now.” I force a smile on my face and silently nod as Tylen slides into the seat directly across from me.

don’t see him and pour myself

us about

a glance at me and turns

me,”

blame her.” “You met your mate and didn’t tell me?” Rionna glares at

“It’s not for me

privacy.” Rionna doesn't reply, but I can tell this conversation will continue

better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning

my walls and gave me his heart,” she

mate is, don’t give up

might just be afraid of her own

a way to

the necklace on my neck and lignore

is now uncomfortable and I find myself drowning

never change, no matter who forces their way

down the painful road of my past, I look up again and find a new conversation taking

corner of my eye, I notice Tylen translating as well, the kind gesture filling me with

hear my father has offered you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia

know why an Alpha would give up his pack?”

Alpha, or wolf, to be honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not answer right away, taking his time to formulate

been on a battlefield from the time I could shift,”

wolf and I have

it, Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

my gift makes me a weapon

keep me off the battlefield but my sense of duty always

my pack because that’s

who That’s what I became...and that frightens

I fear the day I fight because I

a

a monster

pack may need aruthless soldier now, but it will

choose to abstain from my position when there is no heir left to take the title, but I think

deserves a good

that is not who I am.”

own limitations and I admire your courage to step away and create your

be accepting my father’s proposal?” Tylen asks when there are

know,” Zane

appears they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen

war,

feared losing everything again and kept Rionna’s past a secret for that reason, but

I don’t know.

and have something up his sleeve.” He settles back in his seat with a shrug, but it seems the entire

she senses

me,” I sign, quickly getting up to

quiet, I take a walk outside with

begin to race and I break into a sprint as I try

into a clearing and find a large tree house perched atop a

steps built into the trunk for easy

to and fro while inhaling the fresh air to soothe my turbulent I have not felt butterflies in my belly since Damon stole a kiss from me the day he

so angry at him for leaving that I refused to

been 20 years and I have still

time I’d see him, I would have savored his last kiss

the same war that took my family and mating me

midst of my inner turmoil, the sudden scent of sage and magnolia fills the air and I look up to find Tylen staring at me near the edge of the clearing, his eyes following

signs, taking two steps into the

reaction he stops

found it the day you left me.” I want nothing more than to run and hide but

the only objection you have