The Silent Alpha novel Chapter 46

***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.

"Actually, Agnes should come along too," Evan interjects.

"Aurora says this pertains to her as well."

Zane furrows his brows in confusion, but he does not question Evan and grabs Kota and his coat.

The four of us anxiously follow Evan to the pack house, Kota yawning heavily in Zane’s arms as we make our way to the dining room.

We find Aurora and Oliver already sitting at the head of the table while a mysterious man sits with his back facing us.

Upon entering the room, I notice Agnes grow tense, her hands instinctively grabbing Zane’s bicep and pushing both him and I behind her like a shield.

Tears fill her eyes as she holds her defensive stance, the man turning around to face at us.

His salt and pepper hair is well groomed and combed up and to the side, his graying hairs the only real indication of his age.

His deep-set eyes are framed by two thick brows that make the gray in his irises pop.

A thin beard grows on his sculpted jawline and there is even a hint of a dimple on his right cheek.

He is quite handsome with an air of dominance surrounding him.He must be an Alpha, I tell myself as he eyes our family closely.

“Hello, Zane," he says verbally in a voice rich like chocolate.

Zane does not appear to know who he is, but it becomes apparent Agnes does...and she does not like him.

The man rises to his feet, Agnes pushing us towards the exit as if she were afraid of the man getting any closer.He only chuckles softly to himself and steps back to give us some room.

"I'm afraid I do not yet know your name," the man apologizes to me, a small smile on his lips.

"Talia," I reply, the man repeating it to himself.

"Pleasure," the man says.

"I am Toran.Toran Ravenstone.”

***Janet** 

An audible gasp escapes my lips as I realize I am facing the man who destroyed whatever semblance of a family I once had.

The one who has caused all of my nightmares for the past 20 years.

A small chuckle bubbles in Toran’s chest when I hold Kota a little tighter and pull Talia closer to me.

"I do not wish to harm your family," Toran explains when he notices my nervousness.

"My anger is reserved solely for your father.Please have a seat.We have much to discuss."

There is nothing to discuss, I want to tell him but I eye Aurora for an explanation.

She can see my past, so why then, has she let "There's more to this story than you understand,"

Aurora whispers in my head, walking over to Toran and gently placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Please, Zane.You’re going to want to see this," Aurora pleads, gesturing to the table.

"Give Kota to Evan.He will watch over him while we talk." The gamma takes Kota from my arms, promising to play with Rio as they leave.

My legs refuse 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, the reason my mother and brother are gone.

"There’s not much I can do to make you trust me, is there?" Toran sighs, settling back down on his chair.

"Your father, as much as I hate to admit it, has always been a very cunning man, even in childhood.He knew how to...how to twist the truth in just the right way that you would never think to doubt him.He used to get your uncle and I out of all kinds of trouble..."

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

"There are always two sides to a story.You knew your father’s.It’s time you learned mine,"