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.

but I pretend I don’t see him and pour myself a glass of wine

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

you have a mate?” Tylen steals a glance

her...but she doesn’t trust me,” Tylen replies both audibly

“You met your mate and didn’t tell

for me to

but I can tell this

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

slowly tore down my walls and gave me

mate is, don’t give up on

might just be afraid of

patience and you'll find a way

necklace on my neck and lignore

which has always been my refuge is now uncomfortable and I find

who forces their way into my

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

as well, the kind

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

you have questions.” “Yes, I'd like to know why

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

been on a battlefield from the time

I have

live it, Idream it, I breathe

It’s in my veins.

gift makes me a weapon of

the battlefield but my sense of

for my pack because that’s what they

soldier who That’s what I became...and that

fear the day I

not a good

a monster

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

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

pack deserves

who I am.” “That’s very mature of you,”

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 anyone

proposal?” Tylen asks when there are no more

know,”

dol know! can trust 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

everything because of this war, his mate, his

Rionna’s past a secret for that reason, but he

I don’t know.

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

becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I

quickly

I take

race and I break into

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

built into the trunk for easy access to

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 a kiss from me the day he

leaving that I refused to kiss him

years and I have

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

universe is mocking my pain, sending my son off to the same war that took my family and mating me to the son of

the sudden scent of sage and magnolia fills the air and I look up to find Tylen staring at

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

stops moving but

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

family name the only objection you have for accepting me as