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 stars

stay up here for hours

and I turn to look at him, my face

back in our seats and

stretching his arms

hold back my laughter when he carefully drapes his arm behind my seat, knowing his face

real harm in indulging him on his little quest,

tear as I trace patterns on his broad chest, my heart growing heavy knowing he is likely suffering from trauma

for today," I murmur, avoiding his eyes for

Kota so happy.That’s the best

at his side, allowing him to wrap

moment, I allow myself to imagine what it would be like to

comfort knowing Kota would have a dad to look up to...but

could see that Zane and Kota get along just fine, one day Zane will want a pup of his

find someone else, leaving me to pick up all the pieces of my heart again?

wheel, the thought lingering in the back of my mind

it is best I

not long before my hunger gets the best of me, and I text Aurora to let her know that we’re ready to come

portal opening to

the candles set up ona large stone that

candles, Aurora," Evan

"They’re already here."

turning to us

instant look around at the incredible set up, admiring the attention to detail.There’s a large blanket on the ground with pillows and dishes scattered around it.A basket with a delicious scent coming from it sits in the middle of the blanket, a bottle of

the grass surrounding the picnic,

all of this?" I ask, wondering

my hand and leading me to

arranges the plates and cutleries, producing two wine

containers of fruits, cheeses, macaroni salads, sandwiches, fried chicken,

if to

is delicious," I say as I finish

name with his fingers and I mentally pat

had been practicing my signs over the past few days with the girls at

need this recipe

to his mother, bringing a tiny smile to my face.I like that his

again takes over and we

difficult keeping up a conversation with a man who does not speak and I find

tell I’m getting anxious and it seems to only make him nervous.the only real way we can: by laying all of our cards out on the

my throat to catch his attention and put away my

mate once," I blurt out, carefully wiping

"Christian," I sigh.

***Zanet** 

freeze, not sure what to

tall, very handsome,"

ever met.Practically perfect in every

cold shiver runs down

my veins

it very clear that lam

a huge disappointment to her should

was shocked a guy like him would take an interest in a girl like me," she

geek or a loner or anything like that,"

type. Guess I’m still not

goes a little quiet, swallowing her

and we tied the knot shortly after he explained that he was 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

rolls her eyes, Grayson snarls at the idea of another man ever claiming her as his but I shove him to the back of my mind, reminding him that we

were...um married for

say we were happy for the most part but of course, 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 but, in the end, Christian

wipes away a stray tear

can hear her heartbeat erratically in her chest, the thick scent of

the last part of our marriage struggling to get pregnant, doing everything I could to give him

spits through gritted teeth, holding back the more

Christain took matters into his own

quiet, balling up her fists at her

on the walls I built, letting her thoughts and memories trickle into

and woman laying on a bed together flickers in my head, and I watch in disgust as

thrusts, the woman moaning louder

make you

the memory as I realize Talia’s mate had

that finally spilled onto her cheeks in hopes of comforting her from shame of letting me see her in such

whispers, holding back a

a word to me about it.They lied to me!"

Luna but they lied to me! They lied.Wolves lie!" she sobs, burying her