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 pour

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

you have a mate?” Tylen steals a glance at me

trust me,” Tylen

didn’t tell

for me to tell,” Tylen

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

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

down my walls and gave me his heart,” she

your mate is, don’t give up

might just be afraid of her own

you'll find a way to show

eyes the necklace on my neck and lignore him once

my refuge is now uncomfortable

matter who forces their way into

past, I look up again and find a new conversation taking place, Zane still translating

my eye, I notice Tylen translating as well, the kind

has offered you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter to

to know why an Alpha

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

from the time I

wolf and I

live it, Idream

It’s in my veins.

my gift makes me a

battlefield but my

had to be a warrior for my pack

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

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

a

a monster in

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

there is no heir left to take the

pack deserves a good

am.” “That’s very mature of

your own destiny.” Tylen’s eyes meet mine one more time, loneliness and fear darkening

proposal?” Tylen asks when there are no more

know,”

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

war, his mate, his best

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.

I 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 shrug, but it seems

wolf, Cynthia, becomes restless as she senses Tylen’s

me,” I sign, quickly

I take

break into a sprint as I try to outrun

into a clearing and find a large

around deck and steps built into

fresh

was so angry at him for leaving that

20 years and I have still not

I’d see him, I would have savored his

mocking my pain, sending my son off to the same war that took my family and mating me to

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

the clearing while I take two steps back and nearly bump

my reaction he stops moving

nothing more than to run and

have for accepting me as your mate?”