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

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

a mate?” Tylen steals a

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

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

“It’s not for me to tell,”

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

trust my mate in the beginning

refused to let him in but he slowly tore down my walls and gave me his

your mate is, don’t give up

afraid of

time and patience and you'll find a way to

and lignore him once more, concentrating on cutting my

refuge is now uncomfortable and I

no matter who

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

as well, the kind gesture

his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter

know why an Alpha

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

battlefield from the time I could shift,”

my wolf and I have ever known is

Idream it, I breathe

It’s in my veins.

makes me a

the battlefield but my sense of duty always

pack because that’s what they

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

fear the day

a

a monster

may need aruthless soldier now, but it will not need

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

pack deserves a good

that is not who I am.” “That’s very mature

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

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

don’t know,” Zane

glances and it appears they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen has an answer.have not forgiven him for what

of this war,

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

I don’t know.

him to hide his true motive and have something up his sleeve.” He settles back in his seat with a shrug,

she senses Tylen’s turmoil and

me,” I sign, quickly

desperate need of some peace and quiet, I take a walk outside with no

to race and I break into a sprint as I try to

long into my run, I stumble into a clearing and find a

around deck and steps built into the trunk for easy

it, swinging my legs to and fro while inhaling the fresh air to soothe my turbulent

was so angry at him for leaving

20 years and I

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

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

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

nice little space, isn’t it?” He signs, taking two steps into the clearing

stops moving but

left me.” I want nothing more than to

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