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

we should just let Zane get away with throwing away everything we've worked hard on

to

deadly look, Carter holding up his hands

think I need

storming past

calls after him, Oliver pausing at the door and taking

closing the door

air, pinching the bridge of her nose as she

can explain," Talia says when

Aurora holds up her hand, Talia

already know what happened," She mumbles, finally

memories as soon as you walked

her hair and leans

not make

is the issue?" Talia asks for both of

just another

"What’s the issue?"

sarcastically,

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

stops to rub

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

young Queen looks like her head might explode with frustration and for a brief moment, she appears

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

a little credit,"

5 minutes before we went to war with the Witches and you took them down in less than 3 weeks.You can handle a snobby Alpha and his son

his words seem to have given her

enormous wave of guilt washes

not your fault," Aurora

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

did it have to

Grayson snickers.It was

you shut the f**k

lobo, {I

face

to learn discipline.I wholeheartedly disagree, Grayson replies before I shove him to

you," Aurora says,

out?" Talia asks, her hand

responds with a shrug as she rests her

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

now it looks like the time

nervously on her feet so I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close to remind her she has me

know you have your reservations about wolves, so I

Gwen completes her mission...But I would really love it if

moment, wrapping her arms around my stomach and burying her nose in my

likes it here," Talia whispers to herself,

questions that I don’t know the answer to...And there are some good wolves here that

looks like she has more to say

a yes?" Aurora asks with a

you think, Zane?" Talia murmurs, slowly tilting her head

"Should we stay?"

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

protect Kota

her thick

say but I only manage to nod my head at her, a small but beautiful smile

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

"might like it."

enrolled.I’m glad to see River Moon is slowly changing your perception of

Talia’s cheeks turning

young Queen rummages through her drawers and plucks out an envelope, holding

less than a month, there will be a Night of Melodies ritual.Four of our pups will receive 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

Majesty," Talia replies quietly,

we free to leave

I just have one more question for

as she rises to her feet and

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

my eagerness to be useful."I mean, yes, your Majesty.I would

"Great!"she says aloud.

6 am sharp.Evan can pick you up and he'll take

heaves a heavy sigh, Carter laughing at

that's everything, I’m apparently late for a meeting with the other Alpha’s.You

the lawn and head

***Natalia*** 

of an

only ever seen one rogue attack.It was small and luckily no one got

with me, however, puts

would protect Kota without