The Silent Alpha

***Natalia*** 

"Now it's just you and me," I smile at Zane, the wolf staring at me with anxious eyes.

"Relax," I chuckle.

"I don’t bite."

The nervous look never leaves his eyes as I drag him back to the park.

During the first part of our date with Kota, I watched Zane carefully, noticing how excited he got over such simple things like Dippin Dots or the disco music that was playing during the rides.

It’s obvious this is his first time seeing an amusement park before, leaving me to wonder what else he had yet to experience.I take him to the nearest roller coaster, explaining to him the thrill of dropping and rising ona train.

He doesn’t seem convinced by my explanation, but he nonetheless humors me and gets on the train.

There’s a slight hint of fear in Zane’s eyes as the ride operator locks us into our seats, the automated announcements telling us to keep our arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.I reach out to hold Zane’s hand and comfort him, interlocking our fingers to let him know we were going to be okay.

The train shoots out of the station, Zane’s eyes widening as we rush down a track, making a sudden sharp turn and climbing up the first hill.

"Hold on tight!" I squeal, growing excited for the drop.

The anticipation grows as the entire park shrinks before our eyes, the sun setting off in the horizon.

The pretty view distracts Zane temporarily before we reach the apex and look down at the drop.

"Oh f**k,"

Someone behind us shouts before we race down the hill, a camera flashing as we zoom past it territied and amused by the sharp turns and sudden drops.

A huge grin is plastered on his face when we get off and I can tell he wants to ride again.

We make our way to the photo booth at the end of the ride, and I laugh my butt off when I see our picture.

I’m smiling like a lunatic with my arms raised in the air while Zane has a look of absolute terror, his eyes and mouth wide open in fright.

"I'm buying it," I giggle, Zane’s ears turning red in embarrassment.

"And I’m going to frame it." He shakes his head in horror, as if willing me not to buy it but I give him a stern look.

"This is a picture of your very first roller coaster," I sigh.

"And I want to remember being the one who shared that moment with you."

His entire face turns redder than a tomato, the edges of his lips slightly curving up in a little smile.

Satisfied that I can now keep the picture, I hand the money to the clerk and receive two copies of our photo.

"Hehe, now I get to remember the look on your face forever," I tease him, shoving the pictures in my purse before he can take them from me.

We go on a few more roller coasters, Zane nervous about each one but coming out of each ride with a contagious smile on his lips.I spot a cotton candy stand and buy two big clouds of cotton for each of us, Zane staring at the large pink cloud with a puzzled look on his face.

"Open your mouth," I laugh, tearing off a piece of his cotton.

Zane hesitantly follows my orders, slowly hanging his mouth open.

"Now, stick your tongue out."

He once again does as he’s told and I place the little cotton fluff on his tongue, his eyes lighting up like a child at Christmas as the candy melts in his mouth, leaving the sugar taste in its wake lutty from my candy.

He holds it out to me and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"You want to feed me?" l ask.

He turns bright red again and lowers his gaze in shame, guilt quickly filling my mind.

Jeez, Talia, why are you such a b***h? I scold myself, opening my mouth and leaning in close to him.

His hand shakes a little as he deposits the little fluff in my mouth, the sugar spreading across my tastebuds.He smiles nervously so I offer hima smile in return and wiggle my eyebrows to ease the awkward tension between us.

"We should try the Ferris wheel," I suggest, pulling him towards the giant wheel at the end of the park.

A young operator greets us and lets us into the little cage, Zane gripping onto the sides when it begins to rock upon our ascension.

"Relax, wolf," I chuckle.

"It's supposed to rock a little.Just sit back and enjoy the view."

Almost as if on cue, we reach the top of the Ferris wheel overlooking the entire park, his breath hitching when he sees the incredible view.

"It’s pretty, isn’t it?"

up at the glittering

could stay up here for

feel his gaze settle on me and I turn to look at him,

I sit back in our seats and watch the moon for a bit, listening to the laughter coming

me, stretching his arms out in

his arm behind my seat,

him on his little quest, I lean my body

chest, my heart growing heavy knowing he is likely suffering

you for today," I murmur, avoiding his eyes for fear that I might actually

never seen Kota so happy.That’s the best

side, allowing him to wrap his arms

and strong, and for a brief moment, I allow myself to imagine what it would be like to

bringing me a sense of comfort knowing Kota would have a dad to look up to...but as with every potential partner I take interest in, the looming fear of betrayal casts a shadow of

Zane and Kota get along just fine, one day Zane will want

he find someone else, leaving me

lingering in the back of

do not know Zane after all, and it is best I practice caution

the best of me, and I text

portal opening to a candlelit picnic

of the candles set up ona large stone that will be serving

enough candles, Aurora," Evan

"They’re already here."

to us with

detail.There’s a large blanket on the ground with pillows and dishes scattered around it.A basket with a delicious scent coming from

lights illuminate the grass surrounding the picnic, the lake providing a pretty backdrop for our

all of this?" I ask, wondering how much planning

taking my hand and leading me

the plates and cutleries, producing two wine glasses for

he pulls out containers of fruits, cheeses, macaroni salads, sandwiches, fried chicken, cookies, and even a small chocolate cake, allowing him

me while I eat, as if to see

say as

spells out Agnes’s name with his fingers and I mentally pat myself on my back

past few days with the girls

then I need this recipe

out his chest a little in pride at my compliment to his mother, bringing a tiny smile to my face.I like that his

and

up a conversation with a man who does not speak and I find myself running out of things

only make him nervous.the only real way we can: by laying all of

throat to catch his attention and put away my dishes back into

I blurt out, carefully wiping my wine glass before finally looking

"Christian," I sigh.

***Zanet** 

not sure what to

Alpha.Very tall, very

ever met.Practically perfect in every single

cold shiver runs down

runs through my veins

it very clear that lam no Alpha,

to her should she ever

him would take an interest in a girl like me," she says, her voice suddenly growing

or a loner or

definitely not his type. Guess

doesn’t reach her eyes and she goes a little quiet, swallowing her emotions

a wolf.It wasn’t an easy thing to wrap my head around but it made a little sense.It explained why I felt like I was home with

lips and rolls her eyes, Grayson snarls at the idea of another man ever claiming her as his but I shove him to the

married for 2

it wasn’t all flowers and rainbows.I had to prove myself to the former Alpha and the entire pack that I was Capable of leading them despite being a human.I did the best that I could

as she wipes away a stray tear rolling

in her chest,

to get pregnant, doing everything I could to give him his pup but it

through gritted teeth, holding back the more tears desperately wanting to spill onto

took matters into his own

goes very quiet, balling up

the walls I built, letting her thoughts and memories trickle

my head, and

the

make you my Luna,"

Talia’s mate had cheated on

wipe the tears that finally spilled onto her cheeks

She whispers, holding back a

didn’t say a word to me about it.They lied to me!" she screams, pounding her fist against my

lied to me! They were supposed to protect their Luna but they lied to me! They lied.Wolves lie!" she sobs, burying her face