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.

don’t see him and pour myself a glass of

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

steals a glance at me and

trust me,” Tylen replies

blame her.” “You met your mate and didn’t tell me?” Rionna glares at Tylen, hurt

you?” “It’s not for me

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

better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning

let him in but he slowly tore down my walls and gave

don’t give up

be afraid

patience and you'll find a

and lignore him once more, concentrating

always been my refuge is now uncomfortable and I find myself drowning

change, no matter who forces their

up again and

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

offered you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting

“Yes, I'd like to know why an Alpha would give

honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not answer right away, taking his time to formulate an

from the time I

wolf and I have ever

live it, Idream

It’s in my veins.

gift makes me a weapon

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

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

soldier who That’s what

I fear the day I fight

not a

monster

soldier now, but it will not need another ruthless Alpha

me to choose to abstain from my position when there is no heir left to take

deserves

who I am.” “That’s

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

proposal?” Tylen asks when there are no

don’t know,”

they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen has

of this war, his mate,

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

I don’t know.

motive and have something up his sleeve.” He settles

she senses Tylen’s turmoil and I

me,” I sign, quickly getting up

quiet, I take a walk

thoughts begin to race and I break into a sprint as I try to outrun

run, I stumble into a clearing and find a large

and steps built into

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

angry at him for leaving that I

I have

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

son off to the same war that took my family and mating me to

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 edge of the clearing, his eyes following me when I jump off the swing onto my

two steps into the clearing while I take

my reaction he stops moving but

more than to run and hide but

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