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.

hello but I pretend I don’t see

quickly begins, Zane signing the entire “So Tylen...tell us about yourself...” Talia asks, Zane

have a mate?” Tylen steals a glance at me and turns back to

her...but she doesn’t trust me,”

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

not for me to tell,”

doesn't reply, but I can tell this conversation will continue in

makes you feel any better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning either,” Talia says as she pours juice

my walls

don’t give

afraid of

patience and you'll find a way to show her you’re worth opening

necklace on my neck and lignore him once

which has always been my refuge is now uncomfortable

matter who forces their way into my

of my past, I look up again and find a new conversation taking place, Zane still

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

pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up

like to know why an Alpha

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

the time I could shift,”

wolf and I have

live it, Idream

It’s in my veins.

my gift makes me a

tried her best to keep me off the battlefield but my sense of

for my pack

who That’s what

because I have to...but I fear the day I

not a

monster in

it will not need another ruthless Alpha later

there is no heir left to take the title, but I think I’ve earned the right to walk

pack deserves a

is not who I am.” “That’s very mature

or her own limitations and I admire your courage to step away and create your own destiny.” Tylen’s eyes meet mine one more time, loneliness

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

don’t know,”

exchange glances and it appears they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen has an

lost everything because of this war, his mate, his best friend, his

kept Rionna’s past a secret for that

I don’t know.

him to lie but I also wouldn’t put it past him to hide his true motive and have something up his sleeve.” He settles back in his seat with

Cynthia, becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I struggle to restrain

quickly

need of some peace and quiet, I take a walk outside with no

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

a clearing and find a large tree house perched atop a

a wrap around deck and steps built into the trunk for easy access to

tire swing hangs from one of the tree’s sturdy branches and I carefully climb onto it, swinging my legs to and fro while inhaling the fresh air to soothe my turbulent I have not felt butterflies in my belly

leaving that I refused

and I have still not

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

sending my son off to the same war that took my family and mating me to the son

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 me when I

isn’t it?” He signs, taking two steps into the clearing while I

my reaction he stops

day you left me.” I want nothing more than to

you have for accepting me as your mate?”