The Silent Alpha novel Chapter 63

63. The Treehouse

***Agnest**

I smell his scent nearby, my wolf impatiently wagging her tail for him to come inside the house and speak to us.

But after finding out who he is to me, I do not wish to see him anytime soon.

There’s a tap on my shoulder and I turn to find Zane watching me closely, his hair still wet from his shower.

“What’s on your mind?” he signs.

I try to brush him off but he insists.

“You’ve been stirring the steak sauce with the stove off for 10 minutes now,” he argues with a soft smile.

“What’s wrong?” “How is Talia handling her wolf and mark? Don’t think I didn’t see it,” I tease him, changing the subject.

Zane blushes and timidly hides his red face from me, likely mumbling something under his breath.

He turns back to me when he calms his blush down.

“Whatever it is that’s bothering you, you can tell me,” Zane signs.

“I still have time for you.” selfish with his love.

His mate and his pup should be his priority.

“Take care of your family and I will be okay,” I smile, Zane’s eyes growing sad.

“But you are my family,” He retorts.

“I can take care of you too.” His words overwhelm my heart but I know he will not let this go until he is sure I am okay.

“Pll tell you when I am ready.

I’m just not ready right now.” My reply seems to upset him but as always, he respects my wishes and drops the matter entirely, instead taking the saucepan from my hands and helping me set the table.

I feel the floors vibrate beneath my feet as Dakota stomps down the hall.

He’s started to stomp more around me to make his presence known or catch my attention and it makes me so happy he cares enough to do that.

As I reach for the dinner plates, I feel Dakota pull at my pant leg.

When I look down at him, he signs the word ‘help’ and holds out his little hands for me to give him the plates.

They are much too heavy for him so I give him his own plastic plate and cup to carry to the table and he happily trots along No one seems to have the heart to tell him that’s Zane’s place and so the little boy claims the seat.

Talia and Rionna help me bring the food to the table and as we all settle at our seats, Tylen appears down the hall.

I freeze upon seeing him, unsure if I should run and hide or pretend my heart isn’t racing now that he’s so close.

He’s much more handsome than I last remember, his brown eyes containing speckles of amber and emerald when the light hits them.

His dark hair, which is longer at the top and shorter on the sides, is messily combed upwards witha few stubborn strands hanging over his forehead.

His clean shaven jaw is sharp and a pair of thick brows frame his large eyes that look directly at me.

He wears a black t-shirt, his arm tattoos on full display.

“I invited Tylen for dinner,” Rionna explains.

“I hope that’s alright.

He just needs his space from his father right now.” I force a smile on my face and silently nod as Tylen slides into the seat directly across from me.

He signs hello but I pretend I don’t see him and pour myself a glass of wine instead.

Dinner chat quickly begins, Zane signing the entire “So Tylen...tell us about yourself...” Talia asks, Zane giving her a look of misery.

“Do you have a mate?” Tylen steals a glance at me and turns back to Talia.

“l’ve met her...but she doesn’t trust me,” Tylen replies both audibly and in sign.

“I can’t say I blame her.” “You met your mate and didn’t tell me?” Rionna glares at Tylen, hurt flickering in her eyes.

“How could you?” “It’s not for me to tell,” Tylen argues.

“I am respecting her privacy.” Rionna doesn't reply, but I can tell this conversation will continue in private.

“If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t trust my mate in the beginning either,” Talia says as she pours juice for Kota.

“I refused to let him in but he slowly tore down my walls and gave me his heart,” she adds with a smile.

“Whoever your mate is, don’t give up on her.

She might just be afraid of her own feelings.

Give her time and patience and you'll find a way to show her you’re worth opening up to.”

Tylen eyes the necklace on my neck and lignore him once more, concentrating on cutting my steak.

The silence which has always been my refuge is now uncomfortable and I find myself drowning in my memories.

I never change, no matter who forces their way into my life.

Not wanting to go down the painful road of my past, I look up again and find a new conversation taking place, Zane still translating for my sake.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Tylen translating as well, the kind gesture filling me with a warm fuzzy feeling.

“I hear my father has offered you his pack, Zane,” Tylen signs, Talia sitting up straighter to give him her undivided attention.

“Il assume you have questions.” “Yes, I'd like to know why an Alpha would give up his pack?” Talia explains.

“I’ve never met an Alpha, or wolf, to be honest, who would, so why would you?” Tylen does not answer right away, taking his time to formulate an answer.

“lye been on a battlefield from the time I could shift,” Tylen finally responds.

“All my wolf and I have ever known is war.

I live it, Idream it, I breathe it.

It’s in my veins.

Even my gift makes me a weapon of destruction.

Rionna tried her best to keep me off the battlefield but my sense of duty always dragged me into battle.

I had to be a warrior for my pack because that’s what they needed me to be.

A soldier who That’s what I became...and that frightens me.

I fight because I have to...but I fear the day I fight because I want to.

That’s not a good leader.

That’s a monster in the making.

My pack may need aruthless soldier now, but it will not need another ruthless Alpha later on.