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.

I don’t see him and pour myself a glass of

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

Tylen steals a glance at me and

me,” Tylen replies both audibly and in

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

not for me

reply, but I can tell this conversation will continue in

better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning either,” Talia says as she pours

in but he slowly tore down my

your mate is, don’t give up on

just be afraid of her

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

the necklace on my neck and lignore

my refuge is now uncomfortable and I

matter who forces their way

my past, I look up

as well, the kind gesture filling me with a warm fuzzy

hear my father has offered you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter to give

to know why

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

on a battlefield from the

I have ever

Idream

It’s in my veins.

makes me a weapon

to keep me off the battlefield but

had to be a warrior for my pack

who That’s what

to...but I fear the day I

not a

a monster in the

pack may need aruthless soldier now, but it will

no heir left to take the title, but

deserves a

not who I am.” “That’s very mature

courage to step away and create your own destiny.” Tylen’s eyes meet mine

accepting my father’s proposal?” Tylen asks

don’t know,” Zane

appears they share a few words via mindlink before Tylen

everything because of this war, his mate, his best friend,

imagine he feared losing everything again and kept Rionna’s past a secret

I don’t know.

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

as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and

sign, quickly

I take a

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

a clearing and find a large tree house perched atop a majestic oak

and steps built into the trunk for easy

hangs from 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

angry at him for leaving

and I have still not forgiven

I would have savored

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

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

space, isn’t it?” He signs, taking two steps into the clearing while I take two steps back and nearly bump into

he stops

nothing more than to run and hide

name the only objection you have for accepting me