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 pour myself a

us about yourself...” Talia asks, Zane giving her a look

Tylen steals a glance at

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

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

not for

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

trust my mate

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

don’t give

be afraid of her own

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

lignore him once more, concentrating on cutting my

is now uncomfortable and I find myself drowning

matter who forces

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

my eye, I notice Tylen translating as well, the kind gesture filling me with a warm

Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter to give

“Yes, I'd like to know why

to be honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does

been on a battlefield from the

my wolf and I have ever known

Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

me a weapon of

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

had to be a warrior for my pack because

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

because I have to...but I fear the day I fight because I want

not a good

a monster

but it will

heir left to take the title, but I think I’ve earned the right to walk away after all

deserves a good

am.”

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

proposal?” Tylen asks when there are no more questions for

don’t know,”

few words via mindlink before Tylen has an answer.have not

because of this war, his mate, his

secret for

I don’t know.

for him to lie but I also wouldn’t put it past him to hide his true motive and have something up his sleeve.”

as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I struggle to restrain

sign, quickly

of some peace and quiet, I take a walk outside with no destination in

into a

my run, I stumble into a clearing and find a large tree

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

one 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

at him for leaving that I

and I have still not

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

is mocking my pain, sending my son off to the same war that took my family

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 jump off the swing onto my

is 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

my reaction he stops moving but

left me.” I want nothing more than to run and hide but I remain

the only objection you have for accepting me as