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.

I pretend I don’t see him and pour

entire “So Tylen...tell us about yourself...” Talia asks,

mate?” Tylen steals a glance at me and

she doesn’t trust me,” Tylen replies both

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

you?” “It’s not for me to tell,” Tylen

doesn't reply, but I can

mate in the beginning either,” Talia says as

in but he slowly tore down my walls and gave me his heart,”

mate is, don’t

afraid of her

patience and you'll find a way to show her

neck and lignore him once

which has always been my refuge is now

who forces their way into my

look up again and find a

as well, the kind gesture

Tylen signs, Talia

I'd like to know why

honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not answer right away, taking his

battlefield from the time I could shift,” Tylen finally

I

it, Idream it, I breathe

It’s in my veins.

me a weapon of

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

for my pack

what I became...and

I fear the day I fight because

not a good

a monster

aruthless soldier now, but it

think it selfish for me to choose to abstain from my position when there is no heir left to take the title, but I think I’ve earned the right to walk away

pack deserves

not who I am.” “That’s very mature of you,”

and create your own destiny.” Tylen’s eyes meet mine one more time, loneliness and fear

proposal?” Tylen asks when there are no more

don’t know,” Zane

they share a few words via mindlink before

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

again and kept Rionna’s past a secret for that reason,

I don’t know.

him to lie but I also wouldn’t put it past him to hide his true motive and have something

senses

I sign, quickly getting up

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

begin to race and I break into a sprint

I stumble into a clearing and find a large tree house perched atop a majestic oak

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

branches and I carefully climb onto it, swinging my legs to and fro while inhaling the fresh air to

for leaving

been 20 years and I have

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

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

the 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 me when I

isn’t it?” He signs, taking two steps into the clearing while I take two steps back and nearly bump into the

reaction he stops moving but

than to run and

you have for