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

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

a glance at me and

met her...but she doesn’t trust me,” Tylen

can’t say I blame her.” “You met your mate and didn’t tell me?” Rionna

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

Rionna doesn't reply, but I

my mate in the beginning either,” Talia says

my walls and gave

mate is, don’t give up on

might just be afraid of her

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

necklace on my neck and lignore him once more, concentrating on cutting my

been my refuge is now

never change, no matter who forces their way into

road of my past, I look up again and find a new

translating as well, the kind gesture filling me with

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

I'd like to know why an Alpha would give

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

on a battlefield from the time

my wolf and I have ever known is

it, Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

me a weapon

best to keep me off the battlefield

warrior for my pack because

soldier who That’s what I

fear the day I fight because I

a

monster in

it will not need another ruthless Alpha

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

pack deserves a good

am.” “That’s very

admire your courage to step away and create your own

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

don’t know,” Zane

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

everything because of this war, his

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

I don’t know.

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

becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s turmoil

I sign, quickly getting up

quiet, I take a walk outside with no destination

break into a sprint as I try

and find a large tree house perched atop

around deck and steps built into the trunk

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

was so angry at him for leaving that I refused

and I have still not

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

the 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

turmoil, the sudden scent of sage and magnolia fills the air and I look up to find

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

he stops

it the day you left me.” I want nothing more than to

my family name the only objection you have