The Silent Alpha novel Chapter 10

***Jane***

 "I'm Kota," he giggles, climbing off my lap.

"What's your name mister?"

The boy grins back at me, not an ounce of judgment in his tiny body.

His pretty eyes sparkle with excitement as he waits patiently for my response.

I have been asked for my name many times in my lifetime, usually for unpleasant reasons, but never had anyone asked just for the simple reason of getting to know me.

My father asked me my name everyday growing up and everyday I disappointed him.

Last night, my own mate wanted my name so she could reject me.

And yet, this little boy with blue and brown eyes just wanted to know who the stranger in the bushes was.

His smile is infectious and as I stare silently at him, he furrows his brows and leans in close.

"Are you dead too?" He whispers, resting his chin in his hands.

"I know a dead person," he hisses.

"Her name is Egg-Ness," he adds matter of factly.

"She can’t hear."

He suddenly stands close to my ear and shouts, "Can you hear me!?"

"Kota?"

We hear Talia call out and I place my hand over his mouth.

Kota.

"Hehe mommy"

Kota laughs when his mother walks right past us again without noticing our presence.

The little boy dusts off his hands and squeezes my cheeks together.

"I like you," he laughs.

"Do you wanna play with me?"

He stares at me with his blue and brown eyes and for the first time in years, I feel completely at ease.

"Y-yes," I whisper.

His grins, grabbing hold of my hand and dragging me out of the bushes.

"Come on!" He squeals.

"There are dragons chasing us! Mommy’s the princess. We have to save her!"

He pulls me in the direction that his mother had walked to and we stop just before Talia, her eyes narrowing to slits when she sees me with her son.

Oh dear Moon Goddess...I avoid her stare and shift uncomfortably on my feet, my legs itching to sprint out of there.I can feel my mate glaring at me and I try to run but Kota has a firm grip on my hand.

"Mommy look!" Kota smiles proudly at himself.

"I found a friend.His name is...."

He stops himself and looks up at me with a grin.

"What’s your name?"

Talia ignores me and grabs her son, ripping him out of my grip.She crouches down so that she’s at his eye level and looks at him sternly strangers! It’s dangerous!"

She snaps, the little boy's lip quivering at the harshness of her voice.

"But mommy..."

"No buts, Kota," she retorts, her cheeks slightly flushed in anger.

Her face softens when Kota’s eyes fill with tears and she takes a deep breath.

"Okay.Okay.I’m sorry, baby," she whispers, pulling the boy to her chest and kissing his head.

"I’m sorry for yelling.I didn’t mean to.You just can’t talk to strangers like that, okay?" She sighs quietly.

Kota nods solemnly.

"I’m sorry," he says, kissing her cheek.

"Okay, go stand by that tree over there," she says, kissing him back and pointing to a tree just behind me.

"Don’t wander off.I just need to talk to your friend, okay?"

He nods his head and runs off to the tree, grabbing a stick and waving it around like a sword.

"If you ever get near my son again, Zane, I will kill you.Do I make myself clear?" Talia asks, her voice a bit strained.

I nod my head, unable to explain the misunderstanding.She taps her foot impatiently as she thinks for a moment.

"Good.Now let’s get this rejection over with so we can both move on with our lives."

My heart beats uncontrollably, Grayson whispering his plan in my head.

"I know your name," she continues, her eyes full of security job, and living with friends and your mother, my best guess is that you’re a reckless wolf… A Rogue."

I gulp and she smirks triumphantly at me.

Damn it, she’s good, Grayson grumbles.

"Did I guess right?" She asks, tilting head slightly to the side in amusement.

A silence falls between us, the only sounds coming from Kota as he jumps and roars to himself, swinging the large stick at an invisible dragon.

"Okay, well like I said, I’m not interested in a mate or any other werewolf tradition, so if you could just accept my rejection, that would be great," she adds with an insincere smile.

"I, Talia Ramos, reject you, Zane White, a rogue as my mate." I brace myself for the pain but to my surprise, I feel nothing.

Talia stares at me in confusion, running her hands through her hair.

"Okay maybe I said it wrong," she sighs.

"I Talia Ramos, reject you Zane White as my mate."

I blink at her, still feeling absolutely nothing.

She must be saying something wrong ...Grayson said.

Or perhaps only a wolf can initiate a rejection? 

"Okay, you say it," Talia demands.

"You reject me and I'll accept."

The ball is in our court, Grayson says.Perhaps my plan may work. I shake my head at my mate and my heart breaks as her eyes fill with tears.

"Please," she whimpers, getting down on her knees and holding her hands up in prayer.

"Please reject me.I'll do anything.Anything.Please, just let me go.I can’t do this again.I can’t..."

What can’t she do again? I wonder.Her voice breaks and a sob escapes her throat.

"P-please!"

Unable to take more of her crying, I crouch down and pull her close to my chest.

Talia thrashes her arms against me and screams at me to let her go but I only hold her tighter until she finally gives in and sobs into my shirt.

I smooth down her hair and rest my chin on her head.

Please don’t cry...

I want to tell her but as always, the words taste like cotton in my mouth.

Kota stops his game and runs over to us, his eyes growing wide.

"Mommy what’s wrong?" He asks, wedging his small body between mine and Talia’s so that he can see her face.

"Why you sad mommy?" Talia wipes her tears and kisses her son on the head.

"Why you cry, mommy?" He frowns when she pulls away from my arms.

He takes his little fingers and forces her cheeks up into a smile.

"There. All better!" in her arms and smothering him in kisses as he squeals.

I feel a small pain in my heart as I remember all the small kisses my mother gave me after a beating from my father.

She was the only person aside from Agnes who didn't make me feel like a freak.

Talia steals a quick glance at me, her distrust for me still lingering in her eyes.

"Let’s make a deal," I sign and to my dismay, she shakes her head.

"I don’t know what you’re saying," she whispers.

"I only understand a little ASL." I frown and search for a small stick to use as a pen in the dirt.