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.

see him and pour myself a glass

the entire “So Tylen...tell us about yourself...” Talia asks, Zane giving her a

a glance at me

trust me,” Tylen

met your mate and didn’t tell me?” Rionna glares at

could you?” “It’s not for me to

her privacy.” Rionna doesn't reply, but I can tell this

better, I didn’t trust my mate

slowly tore down my walls and gave

is, don’t give up on

just be afraid of

find a way

the necklace on my neck and lignore him once more,

been my refuge is now uncomfortable and I find myself

who forces their

down the painful road of my past, I look up again and find

as

you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter to give him her undivided

questions.” “Yes, I'd like to know why an Alpha would give up

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

battlefield from the time I

my wolf and I have ever known is

live it, Idream

It’s in my veins.

makes me a weapon of

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

be a warrior for my pack because that’s what

who That’s what I became...and that

I fear the

not a

a monster

pack may need aruthless soldier now, but it will

to choose to abstain from my position when there is no heir left to take the

pack deserves

I am.” “That’s very

realize his or her own limitations and I admire your courage to step away and create your own destiny.”

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

know,”

him?” Tylen and Rionna exchange glances and it appears they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen has an answer.have not forgiven him for what he did to Rionna and I...lam trying to understand

war, his mate, his best friend,

again and kept Rionna’s past a secret for that reason, but he makes it

I don’t know.

of a reason for 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 a shrug, but it seems the entire situation has

as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I struggle to

I sign, quickly

quiet, I take a walk outside with no

race and I break into a sprint as I try to

I stumble into a clearing and find

steps built into the trunk for easy access to the

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 since Damon stole

leaving that I refused to kiss

years and I have still not forgiven

I would have savored his last kiss and told him how much I loved being his

war that took

of my inner turmoil, the sudden scent of sage and magnolia fills the air and I look up to find Tylen staring at me

is a nice little space, isn’t it?” He signs, taking two steps into the clearing while I take two steps

reaction he stops moving but

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

you have for accepting me as your mate?”