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.

signs hello but I pretend I don’t see him and pour myself a glass

entire “So Tylen...tell us about yourself...”

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

she doesn’t trust me,” Tylen replies both audibly and

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

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

reply, but I

makes you feel any better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning

he slowly tore down my

your mate is, don’t give

be afraid

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

my neck and lignore him once more,

now uncomfortable and I find myself drowning in my

change, no matter who

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

Tylen translating as well, the kind gesture filling me with

has offered you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter to

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

never met an Alpha, or wolf, to be honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not answer right away, taking his

a battlefield from the time I could

wolf and I

Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

gift makes me a weapon

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

had to be a warrior for my pack because that’s what they needed

soldier who That’s what I

have to...but I fear

a

a monster in the

but it will

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

pack deserves a

who I am.” “That’s

takes a true Alpha to realize his 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 and fear darkening them and he looks away before

my father’s proposal?” Tylen asks when there are no more

know,” Zane

and it appears they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen has an answer.have not

of this war, his mate, his best

secret for that

I don’t know.

true motive and have something up his sleeve.” He settles

becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s turmoil

me,” I sign, quickly

need of some peace and quiet, I take a

I break into

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

steps built into the trunk for easy access to

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

leaving that I refused to kiss

been 20 years and I have still not forgiven

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

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

look up to find Tylen staring at me near the edge of the clearing, his

signs, taking two steps into the clearing while I take two steps back and nearly bump into the

my reaction he stops

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

name the only objection you have for accepting me as your mate?” he asks