The Silent Alpha

***Natalia*** 

"What the f**k do you want?" I snarl, Jordan stammering on the other end.

"Luna, I-"

"I'm not your Luna!"

I hiss furiously.

"Get that through your head and stop calling me.Your Alpha and Silver Crest are not my responsibility anymore.You chose Vanessa, so ask her-"

"Would you just listen to me!" he blurts out.

I count down my breaths to control my anger before speaking.

"I told you everything," I whisper softly, pain laced with every word.

"I told you how much it hurt...How much pain I was feeling...I confided in you my worst fears and self doubts ...And you made believe that it was all in my head and I just had to try a little harder.You let me believe I was going crazy and that I was not enough."

My voice cracks a little from the memory of it all but my feelings quickly shift to complete rage.

"But I have found someone who believes I’m enough.Someone who actually listens to me and I will not let you come into my life again to ruin my happiness.I’m done listening to you," I snarl.

"I don’t trust you or anything you have to say anymore."

"But Christian is coming!" he pleads, but only I burst into laughter.

"He can come," I sigh in annoyance.

"He won’t find us."

I hang up the phone before he can say another word, turning to look at my pup as he snores lightly in his sleep.

Christian is never going to find him, I think to myself, crawling back into bed to hold Kota in my arms.He will never get him.

I find it hard to fall back asleep and just watch Kota as the sun rises, hoping Zane is safe wherever he is.

The morning is relatively mundane when Kota wakes up.

We brush our teeth, comb our hair and dress like any other day but even as we go through these motions, I feel Zane’s absence.

"Mommy, you forgot this!" Kota cries, reaching for Zane’s small bottle of cologne.He stands on the tips of his toes and leans over the sink, grunting as he tries his best to reach it.

I grab it for him and he closes his eyes and puffs out his chest for me to spray him with his father’s cologne.

"Now I’m ready," he grins, stomping away down the hall.

I follow him into the kitchen where we find Agnes already preparing breakfast.

Kota stomps his feet on the wood floor to make his presence known and Agnes looks up from the stove to greet him, forcing a smile on her face.

It appears she did not get much sleep last night either, dark circles clinging to her under eyes.Her usually glowing skin is quite pale and she looks as defeated as I feel.

"I- help - you,"

Kota signs to Agnes, Agnes’s face lighting up as she hands Kota some plates.

We set up breakfast together on the patio and as we settle down to eat, Zane’s absence becomes blatantly obvious when I have to pull out a little pen and paper to speak with Agnes.

I have been practicing ASL with the girls at the clinic but I am still not proficient in the language to carry a full conversation on my own.

Luckily for me, Rionna arrives and joins us, and she is able to translate for Kota and I.

Butterflies dance in my belly when I notice Kota mimicking Rionna and singing the words he does know as he speaks so Agnes doesn’t feel left out of the conversation.

While they are few and far and between, I am sure Agnes appreciates his efforts.

Zane has only been part of our lives for a few weeks and he’s already impacting our son in such a beautiful way.

Devina purrs happily while watching our baby trying to be like his Dad.

"Nona, how do I say Eggness with my hands?" Kota asks, opening and closing his hands.

"Her name is this," Rionna explains, spelling out the name AGNES.

Her spelling reminds me that I have never seen Agnes use a name sign before when referring to herself but Zane appears to have a name sign.

"Does Agnes have a name sign?" I ask Rionna who translates for me.

"I know Zane does.She makes the letter Z over her heart every time she addresses him." Agnes gives a response.

"Name signs are usually only given by members of the Deaf Community," Rionna explains.

"It's like an initiation of sorts and it’s a huge honor to be given one if you are not Deaf. Since Agnes does not know anyone in the community, she has never been given a name sign but she has given one to Zane."

"Can I have aname?" Kota asks, smiling his toothy grin.

"That is for Agnes to decide," Rionna explains, translating for Agnes who gives a short response.

"She says she wants to give you a good name sign so she will think about it a little longer."

"Yay!"

between mouthfuls

closed, please," I scold him gently, Kota

along with Rio who wags his tail

over by the oversized

ladies and gentleman," Rosalie winks at

doing?" she asks with a

I shrug with a

at the table, Celina sitting beside

sure your minds are all over the place right now so you may

to start setting things up for the event.Ro and I are heading into town to

thing on my mind right now but I need the distraction, especially after that call with Jordan and it would be nice to take Kota out for a

asks, my body freezing at the

"How do you-"

"Sorry," Celina laughs sheepishly.

just really loud," she says,

guy…

mutter under my

"Past tense."

"IS," Celina corrects.

picking the right one is so

to pick mine," I

when I

"Hmm," Celina hums.

"Were you close?"

thought we

out, he was just another wolf not worth

he called you?" Rosalie

What did he

this morning to warn me that my ex is coming to find me," I reply

the past four years and

least bit concerned?" Celina

not in any danger and even if by some miracle, Christian did find me, I’m in one of the safest packs in the

Celina

I am not human anymore," I

my life.My only concern right

me so happy to see you finally accept him as your mate!" she

holy s**t, you

to my neck and l stroke the groves of Zane’s mark imprinted on my

blushing!" She

and it makes

small smile stretches on my face but Celina still seems

danger for

promise,

shake my

Christian would find me here.There’s no need

rising from her chair and

an hour at

some snacks for the trip and give him my usual sermon

I murmur as

them to places where mommy can’t see you,

"Okay, mommy," he nods.

don’t take candy from strangers, right?" He shakes

"No."

now let's go get Daddy a present for when

"Yeah!"

Rosalie and Rionna at the pack house as planned but as we walk out to the drive away, Kota holds onto my hand and squeezes it

murmur,

with you?" he pleads, his beautiful eyes

again, Devina whines, wanting

SUV.I set him down gently beside me,

okay," I murmur, pushing his hair away from his

take care of you.You don’t have to be scared," I whisper with a soft smile and lean into his

me name the colors of the

help take his mind off his own fears, and we arrive

first stop is a visit to the florist for Rosalie to finalize the

we go to the

of the event, Aurora must hand pick a gift to present to each new

recipients weeks ago and it was up

meticulous in her work, going

of boredom," Celina mutters as Rosalie requests changes for some

dresses for the

head, a cool

and Rionna don’t

are ready for a party, Celina drags us

Night of Melodies before as

the pack run and then dress in pack colors for the party.For River Moon, that’s

to the racks at the back of the boutique with several elegant

you don’t look like you’re swimming in fabric."She hands me

the blue one first," she shouts

dark blue dress that has a high neckline and long puffy

dress with a cape, making her look like an

your dress,"