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.

pretend I don’t see him and

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

Tylen steals a glance at me and turns back to

doesn’t trust me,”

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

could you?” “It’s not for me to

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

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

my walls and

don’t give up

might just be afraid

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

neck and lignore him once more, concentrating on cutting my

now uncomfortable and I find myself

who forces their way into my

past, I look up again and find a new conversation

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 sitting up straighter to give him her

“Yes, I'd like to know why

met an Alpha, or wolf, to be honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen

battlefield from the time

my wolf and I

it, Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

gift makes me a

best to keep me off the battlefield but my sense

my pack because that’s what they

That’s what I became...and

fight because I have to...but I fear

a good

a monster in

may need aruthless soldier now, but it will not need another ruthless Alpha

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

deserves a good

I am.” “That’s very mature of you,”

step away and create your own destiny.”

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

because of this war, his mate, his

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

I don’t know.

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 left him

as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I struggle to

me,” I sign, quickly

and quiet, I take a walk outside with

to race and I break into a sprint

a clearing and find a large tree

and steps built into the

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

angry at him for leaving that I

been 20 years and I have

it would be last time I’d see him, I would have savored his last kiss and told him how much I loved

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

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

it?” He signs, taking two steps into the clearing while I take two steps

my reaction he stops moving

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

only objection you have for accepting me