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

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

steals a glance at me

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

didn’t

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

reply, but I

it makes you feel any better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning either,” Talia says as she pours juice for

slowly tore down my walls and gave me his heart,” she adds with a

don’t give up

just be afraid

find a way to show her you’re worth opening

eyes the necklace on my neck and lignore him once

is now uncomfortable and I

who forces their way

painful road of my past, I look up again and find a new conversation taking place, Zane still translating for my

the corner of my eye, I notice Tylen translating as well, the kind gesture filling me

pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting

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

honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not

on a battlefield from the time

I have ever

Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

gift makes me

battlefield but my sense

pack because that’s what they needed me to

That’s what

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

a good

monster in the

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

there is no heir left to take the title, but I think I’ve earned the right to walk away after all my years of

deserves

not who I am.” “That’s very mature of

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 anyone else

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

don’t know,”

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

because of this war, his

kept Rionna’s past a secret for that reason, but he makes it very

I don’t know.

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

wolf, Cynthia, becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I struggle to restrain

quickly getting up

some peace and quiet, I take a

thoughts begin to race and I break into a sprint as

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

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

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

for leaving that I refused to kiss

years and I have still

him, I would have savored his last kiss and told him how much I loved being his

same war that took my family and mating me to the

midst of my inner turmoil, the sudden scent of sage and magnolia fills the air and I look up to find Tylen staring at me near the

into the clearing while I take

he stops moving but

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

you have for accepting me as your mate?” he asks