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.

signs hello but I pretend I don’t see him and pour myself a glass of

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

a mate?” Tylen steals a glance

met her...but she doesn’t trust me,”

met your mate and didn’t tell me?”

“It’s not for

but I

my mate in the beginning either,” Talia says as she pours juice for

him in but he slowly tore down my walls

don’t give

might just be afraid of her

and you'll find a way

lignore him once more, concentrating on

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

change, no matter who

I look up again and find a

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

you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs,

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

never met an Alpha, or wolf, to be honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not answer right away, taking his

a battlefield from the time I could

my wolf and I have ever known is

Idream it, I breathe

It’s in my veins.

gift makes me a weapon

keep me off the battlefield but my

be a warrior for my pack because that’s what

That’s what I became...and that frightens

I have to...but I fear the day

not a

monster in

it will not need another ruthless Alpha later

think it selfish for me to choose to abstain from my position when there is no heir left to take the title, but I think I’ve earned the right to

pack deserves a

not who I am.” “That’s

or her own limitations and I admire your courage to step away and create your

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

don’t know,”

appears they share a few words via mindlink

because of this war, his mate,

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

I don’t know.

can’t think of a reason for him to lie but I also wouldn’t put it past him to hide his true motive and have something up

becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s turmoil and

sign, quickly getting up to

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

I break into a sprint as I

stumble into a clearing and find a large tree house perched

built into the trunk for easy access

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 me the

at him for leaving that I refused to

been 20 years and I have still not

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

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

to find Tylen staring at me near the edge of the clearing, his eyes following me when I jump off the swing onto

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

stops

day you left me.” I want nothing more than to

objection you have for accepting me as your