The Silent Alpha

***Zane*** 

Talia orders a pizza and the three of us sit by the fort and watch Shrek in Spanish.I can’t follow most of what is being said but the subtitles help.

Talia seems restless as we watch, glancing at me from the corner of her eye every so often and shifting on her pillow over and over again.

I know there’s something on her mind but I cannot bring myself to invade her privacy, so I timidly place my hand over hers, Talia flinching as the sparks ignite between us.

Ashamed, I pull my hand away but she takes it in hers and interlocks our fingers, muttering an apology under her breath.

"Sorry...it'll just take a little getting used to," she blushes, her thumb caressing mine.

"Your hands are...warm..." she smiles nervously.

She says nothing more, turning her attention back to the movie.

I want to ask her what is on her mind but before I can figure out a way to communicate, there’s a knock at the door.

A bit of dread settles in the pit of my stomach when I see Evan standing in the doorway.

He tries to hide his worried face with a smile, but his eyes give him away.

"The Queen wishes to speak to both of you about today’s… incident," he says, carefully picking his words.

"Zane didn’t do anything wrong,"

Talia huffs, taking a Grayson practically swoons over the gesture and like a love sick puppy, demands to come out and mark her on sight.

Is that all you can think about right now? I snap at him, knowing we are very likely going to get kicked off the territory for his behavior.

No, I'm definitely thinking about her t**s too, Grayson replies nonchalantly.

Just look at how she’s puffing out her chest.

They look great in this top...

I despise you, I sigh, knowing there is no way to trade wolves at this point.

Trust me, I'd trade humans in a heartbeat, he retorts.

"I never said Zane did anything wrong,"

Evan explains calmly, though I can see the fear flicker in his eyes as he backs away from my small Latina mate who glares furiously at him.

""Trust me, I would have loved to piss on Benoit Perrault years ago."

"So then why-"

"Things are more complicated than you think and unfortunately, Zane and his wolf only made things worse,"

Evan interrupts.

"Please, just come to the Pack house so Aurora can speak to you both."

Seeing that we would have to face Aurora sooner or later, we grab Kota and head to the pack house where Evan takes Kota out to play with Rio on the lawn while Talia and I head upstairs to Aurora’s office.I don’t smell the visiting Alphas anywhere, meaning they nervous.

Talia must be nervous too because she holds my hand as I open the door to the office, giving it a tight squeeze as we enter.

The tension in the room is thick, Aurora resting her head in her hands as she focuses on her breathing while her mate, Oliver, gives me a murderous look.

Carter, their Beta, seems to be the only one not upset at the moment, greeting both Talia and I with a smile.

A spine tingling fear washes over me when Oliver opens his mouth to speak.

"Do you have any idea what you two have done?"

Oliver growls, his blue eyes flickering between sapphire and silver.

"Do you have ANY idea how much you f****d up-"

"Oliver, stop it..."

Aurora warns, her face stern as she looks at her husband.

"Let them speak for themselves before you place blame on anyone."

"You know as well as I do that it does not matter what the reason was.Zane had no right to pee on an Alpha visiting my territory!"

"Our territory,"

Aurora corrects him, Oliver’s mouth closing instantly.

"You forget, Zane and Talia are my guests here and Benoit, as a visitor, should have respected me by respecting my guests.You and I both know he has not!"

"So what do you propose we do?"

shakes his head in

away with throwing away everything we've worked

retorts, Carter coughing to hold back his

Carter holding up

I

mutters, storming past

after him, Oliver pausing at the door

closing the door after him as

of her nose as she

Talia says when the

her hand, Talia clamping her

already know what happened," She mumbles, finally looking

as soon as

leans back in her chair with her

it does not make this situation any

issue?" Talia asks

just

"What’s the issue?"

sarcastically,

Lune De Minuit is River Moon’s the pack company, but they also have a huge influence over our other shareholders.Alpha Jacques’s eldest daughter, Adeline, used to manage these shares before she went rogue 6 months ago.Benoit is the heir apparent to the Alpha title and has been managing the shares from France.He is set to take the title next month, so we planned to have a formal meeting with him next week to discuss the future of our partnership.His father, however, decided to show up two

stops to rub her

has been negotiating with Jacque all week to come up with a finalized plan to end the partnership.They came to an agreement this morning until Grayson so graciously pissed on Benoit Perrault.Now, not only are all the negotiations off the table, but Lune

head might explode with frustration

been Queen for less than 3 months and I’m about to enter another war," she whispers under breath, Carter walking over to her and

little credit,"

to war with the Witches and you took them down in less than 3 weeks.You can

his words seem to have given her the comfort

enormous wave of guilt

fault," Aurora says after a deep

would have managed to cause trouble with or without Grayson’s help," she

it have

I held back, Grayson snickers.It was either piss

shut the f**k up? I snap,

lobo,

before her face once again grows

needs to learn discipline.I wholeheartedly disagree, Grayson replies before

still have something to discuss with both of you," Aurora says, her eyes switching between

being kicked out?" Talia asks, her hand

entirely on you," Aurora responds with a shrug as she rests her

you a promise that I would keep you safe and I have failed you now on two occasions," she

it looks like the time

my arm around her waist and pull her close to remind her she

your reservations about wolves, so I

always make arrangements to place you somewhere else while Gwen completes her mission...But I would really love it

very quiet for a moment, wrapping her arms around my stomach and burying

here," Talia whispers to herself, though

be around other wolves.He’ll have questions that I don’t know

could be good for Kota."She looks like she has more to say

is that a yes?" Aurora

murmurs, slowly tilting her

"Should we stay?"

my cheeks andI blink ather.She's asking me? No, Zane.She’s asking your shadow, Grayson grumbles, the desire to punch my own

protect

whispers, her thick lashes

my life, Iwant to say but I only manage to nod my head at

we'll stay..." Talia replies, turning to look at

"might like it."

see

Talia’s

her drawers and plucks out an envelope, holding

their wolves over the next few weeks and will be initiated into River Moon as official pack members.We would be most honored if you would join us in this celebration.It will take place on the Buck Moon, perfect for the pups to test out their new wolves.There will be lots of food and music and plenty of pups for Kota to play

quietly,

we free

just have one

she rises to her

in guard training? Now that we have a new enemy on the horizon, it would be nice to

quickly, Grayson rolling his eyes at me for my

"Great!"she says aloud.

sharp.Evan can pick you up and he'll

over and she heaves a heavy sigh, Carter laughing at

for a meeting

I collect Kota from the

***Natalia*** 

an impending war

seen one rogue attack.It was small and luckily no one got hurt but it pales in comparison

Zane and Grayson with me,

protect