The Silent Alpha

***Talia*** 

Zane is exceedingly quiet during dinner, his mind likely still reeling from the events of this afternoon.

Upon entering the office earlier today, Aurora’s voice popped into my head, warning me to not believe a word the visitors said, especially not the young Alpha named Caine.

"He lies," she whispered before flooding my mind with a sickly scene of a woman attempting to seduce Zane but failing and claiming he raped her.

She then showed me his torture at the hands of his brother.

It was a lot of information to process at the time, but I knew my mate was innocent even before Aurora revealed the events to me.

Zane would never harm anyone.He is a man who has seen the ugly side of people, and a man who has faced rejection after rejection.

Despite all of his pain, however, he is never cruel.He is kind and patient, loving and nurturing, strong and beautiful.He is a man worth fighting for...and I will fight for him until the very end.

Agnes also seems to sense his anxiousness and attempts to sign with him but he shakes his head at her and does not respond, keeping whatever turmoil he’s feeling to himself.

It makes me angry to think his former Gamma would even try to take him back. How dare he set foot in River Moon and try to guilt trip him into fighting? "Mommy, why is Daddy sad?"

Kota whispers to me as he stuffs the last bite of his pastelitos (Salvadoran turnovers) in his mouth.

"He had a really rough day," I reply, pushing away his hair and kissing his forehead.

"He just needs some time alone."

Kota wipes his hands and curiously stares at Zane who seems lost in his own thoughts as he picks at his food.

Without a word, Kota climbs off his chair, bouncing on his toes as he walks to my mate, stopping just before his chair and resting his chin on the arm rest.

"Can we build a fort, Daddy?" Kota asks.

Kota’s voice startles Zane for a moment but he quickly composes himself and picks up our son, setting him down on his lap.

No words are exchanged as Zane holds Kota in his arms, his hand gently cradling Kota’s head and massaging his scalp.

After many years of being alone, it is a beautiful sight to see a man hold my baby with so much love and care, as if he were his own.

It is a comforting thought to know Kota will be loved not only by Gwen and I, but by Agnes and Zane as well.

Should something ever happen to me, Kota will always have a family.

"Kota, time for a bath," I tell him, Kota shaking his head at me.

"Zane will build your fort and we can come join him when It is only after Zane gives him a stern look that Kota finally climbs off his lap and begrudgingly follows me up stairs for a bath.”

When we return downstairs, Zane is far more relaxed, having tucked away his emotions as he and Agnes adjust the last of the bed sheets over some chairs.

"D-done," he smiles nervously as I carry Kota in for an inspection of the fort.

Satisfied with Zane and Agnes’ construction skills, Kota scrambles inside, burying himself under a pile of pillows and blankets.

"Can you read me a story?" he asks Zane, patting the space beside him.

Before anyone can answer, however, the sound of a knock at the door startles all of us.I hand Zane the book and answer the door, finding Evan waiting outside.

He smiles sheepishly, shifting his weight on his feet.

"I know it’s late...but there’s another visitor here for Zane," Evan sighs.

Why could they not just leave him alone? I wonder, shaking my head disapprovingly.

"Can this wait until morning?" I ask, stealing a glance at Agnes and my mate currently trying to entertain Kota.

"Zane’s not done processing today’s earlier visit and the last thing he needs is more drama.Tell whoever it is to leave him alone."

"I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t urgent," Evan responds.

"Hesitation makes my fingers itch to slam the door in Evan’s face and run to hide Zane away from everyone, but I know these foolish thoughts will do us no good.It is best to get this over with now, so I step aside and let Evan in while I ask Zane to instruct Agnes to put Kota to bed.

come along too,"

this pertains to

but he does not question

follow Evan to the pack house, Kota yawning heavily in Zane’s arms as we make our

sitting at the head of the table while a mysterious man sits with his back

room, I notice Agnes grow tense, her hands instinctively grabbing Zane’s bicep and pushing both him and

her eyes as she holds her defensive

salt and pepper hair is well groomed and combed up and to the side, his graying hairs the only

framed by two thick brows that make the gray

is even a hint of

with an air of dominance surrounding him.He must

in a voice rich like

he is, but it becomes apparent

Agnes pushing us towards the exit as if she were afraid of

know your name," the man apologizes to me, a small smile on

reply, the man repeating it

"Pleasure," the man says.

"I am Toran.Toran Ravenstone.”

***Janet** 

escapes my lips as I realize I am facing the

all of

chest when I hold Kota a little tighter and pull Talia closer

to harm your family,"

is reserved solely for your father.Please have a seat.We have

nothing to discuss, I want to tell him but I eye Aurora for an

my past, so why then, has she

whispers in my head, walking over to Toran

see this," Aurora pleads, gesturing

gamma takes Kota from my arms, promising to play with Rio

to move, and I find it difficult to trust that Toran won’t try to hurt my family.He is, afterall, the root cause of all my pain,

can do to make you trust me, is there?" Toran sighs, settling back down on

the truth in just the right way that you would never think to doubt him.He used to get your

then you killed him...Grayson growls.Best friend of the year!

a story.You knew your father’s.It’s

to the

out, you want nothing to do with me, I will leave you in peace.Alpha’s honor," he

don’t have any honor...my family to the

down besides me, her hands trembling as she fights to calm herself down.She flinches when I

for good reason,"

a different man the

look at Agnes for a moment, wondering how on earth

Ravenstone...until I sent her to you," he says quietly, shock washing over my

revelation and I look at the woman who has watched over me for the last

said,"

only know one side of this story." He suddenly sits up straighter and

are able to project memories.Would you like to see the truth behind this wicked war?" I

you for that, I respond,

to see the truth," she

"You’ll understand better."

"You can do this,"

chin on my Taking in a deep breath, I let down a wall, allowing Toran’s thoughts to trickle towards me like a small stream until it starts flowing like a roaring river and I find myself almost

to calm myself

the pitch black, I hear the sound of giggling echoing off in the distance and I follow it until a sudden flash of

images take shape on the table for everyone to watch, but it seems only I can hear what is

with my young uncle Cyrus, cracking jokes in a room full of people dressed lavishly in ball gowns

marble floors glisten under the lights and everyone holds a drink

woman wearing a

who she is looking at.She raises

Pair," Cyrus whispers in Toran’s ears, Toran roaring

fully aware," Toran replies,

her and I think we will make a decent

about this

"You’d be you."