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

“So Tylen...tell us about

you have a mate?” Tylen steals a

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

met your mate and didn’t tell me?”

for me

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

my mate in the beginning either,” Talia

in but he slowly tore down my walls

don’t

afraid of her

find a way to show her you’re worth opening

lignore him once more, concentrating on

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

who forces their way

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

notice Tylen translating as well, the kind gesture

Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia

I'd like to know why an Alpha would give up his pack?”

would you?” Tylen

from the time I could shift,” Tylen finally

my wolf and I

Idream it,

It’s in my veins.

me a weapon of

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

to be a warrior for my pack

who That’s what

fear the day I fight because

not a

a monster in the

pack may need aruthless soldier now, but it will not need another ruthless

from my position when there is no heir left to take the title,

pack deserves

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

your courage to step away and create your own destiny.” Tylen’s eyes meet mine one more time, loneliness and fear

asks when there

don’t know,” Zane

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

because of this war, his

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

I don’t know.

motive and have something up

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

quickly

peace and quiet, I take a walk outside with no destination

begin to race and I break into a

stumble into a clearing and find a large tree house perched atop a majestic

around deck and steps built into the trunk for easy access to

the tree’s sturdy branches and I carefully climb onto it, swinging my legs to and fro while inhaling the fresh air

so angry at him for leaving that

years and I have still

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

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

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

two steps into the clearing while I take two

he stops moving but

me.” I want nothing more than

you have