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?"

sigh, looking up at the

up here for hours

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

my face to hide my blush, I sit back in our seats and watch the moon for a bit,

timidly inches closer to me, stretching his arms out in

hold back my laughter when he carefully drapes his arm behind my

in indulging him on his little

his broad chest, my heart growing heavy knowing he is likely suffering from trauma

for fear that

seen Kota so happy.That’s the best gift anyone

side, allowing him to wrap his arms around

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

would have a dad to look up to...but as with every potential partner I take interest in, the looming fear of betrayal

Kota get along just fine, one day Zane will want a pup of

Will he find someone else, leaving me to pick up all

lingering in the back of my mind serving as a

and it is best I practice caution before diving in

my hunger gets the best of me, and I text Aurora to let her know

way to the alley, the portal opening

stone that will be serving as our dinner table, her Gamma,

candles, Aurora," Evan

"They’re already here."

turning to

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

grass surrounding the picnic, the

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

my hand and leading

quickly arranges the plates and cutleries, producing

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

if to see if I’m

delicious," I say as I finish

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

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

this recipe

mother, bringing a tiny smile

silence once again takes over and we both awkwardly

a conversation with a man who does not speak and I find myself running out of things to say with his simple

only make him nervous.the only real way we can: by laying all of our cards out on

catch his attention and put away my

out, carefully wiping my wine glass before

"Christian," I sigh.

***Zanet** 

freeze, not sure

Alpha.Very tall, very handsome," She sighs

Alpha you've ever met.Practically perfect in every

cold shiver runs down

blood runs through my veins but I am far from

very clear that lam no Alpha,

huge disappointment to her should she ever find out

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

geek or a loner or anything like that," she says with

type. Guess

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

an easy thing to wrap my head around but it made

her as his but I shove him to the back of my mind, reminding him that we did not have a right to be angry that she had a life before meeting

for

all flowers and rainbows.I had to prove myself to the former Alpha and the entire pack that I was Capable of leading

as she wipes away a

can hear her heartbeat erratically in her chest, the thick

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

more

Christain took matters into his own

suddenly goes very quiet, balling up her fists at

a deep breath, I concentrate on the walls I built, letting her thoughts and

my head,

between thrusts, the

I will make you my

snarls at the memory as I realize Talia’s

the tears that finally spilled onto her cheeks in hopes of comforting her from shame

She whispers,

cheated on me...with my sister.My entire pack knew....And they didn’t say a word to me about it.They lied to me!" she screams, pounding

lied to me! They were supposed to protect their Luna but they lied to