Chapter 46


    The Silent Alpha


    Chapter 46: Revtions I


    ***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 iming 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 thest 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 quicklyposes himself and picks up our son, setting


    him down on hisp.


    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 aforting 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 cane join him when It is only after Zane gives him a stern look that


    Kota finally climbs off hisp and begrudgingly follows me up stairs for a bath.”


    When we return downstairs, Zane is far more rxed, having tucked away his emotions as he and


    Agnes adjust thest 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 nkets.


    “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’ste…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 nce at Agnes and my mate currently trying to entertain


    Kota.


    “Zane’s not done processing today’s earlier visit and thest 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 m 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.


    “Please sit.If, after you hear me out, you want nothing to do with me, I will leave you in peace.Alpha’s


    honor,” he says, cing his hand over his heart.


    You don’t have any honor…my family to the dining table, pulling Talia’s chair closer to mine.


    Agnes seems on edge as she settles down besides me, her hands trembling as she fights to calm


    herself down.She flinches when I reach for her hand.


    “She fears me for good reason,” Toran mutters.


    “I was a different man thest time we met.”


    I look at Agnes for a moment, wondering how on earth they could have met each other, but Toran offers


    an exnation.


    “Agnes was once a member of Ravenstone…until I sent her to you,” he says quietly, shock washing over


    my face.


    Even Grayson seems at a loss for words at the revtion and I look at the woman who has watched


    over me for thest 20 years as if she were a perfect stranger.


    “Like I said,” Toran sighs tiredly.


    “You only know one side of this story.” He suddenly sits up straighter and gestures to Aurora.


    “Her Majesty tells me you are able to project memories.Would you like to see the truth behind this wicked


    war?” I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to see the mind of a psychopath, Grayson mutters.


    You’re already messed up as it is.Thank you for that, I respond, my eyes flickering to Aurora for


    guidance.


    “You deserve to see the truth,” she encourages.


    “You’ll understand better.”


    “You can do this,”


    Talia murmurs, resting her 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 drowning in the pit of his mind.


    It takes me a moment to calm myself down until the memories sort themselves out.


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


    sh of bright light blinds me.


    My eyes burst open and like a movie projector, images take shape on the table for everyone to watch,


    but it seems only I can hear what is being said.


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    A young Toranughs with my young uncle Cyrus, cracking jokes in a room full of people dressed


    lavishly in ball gowns and tuxedos.


    The marble floors glisten under the lights and everyone holds a drink in their hands.


    From across the room, a beautiful woman wearing a blue gown and tiara smiles innocently in their


    direction.


    The look in her eyes is tender and loving, although I cannot make out who she is looking at.She raises


    her ss at Cyrus and Toran and then turns to dance with King Arthur.


    “You know marrying her doesn’t make you the Fated Pair,” Cyrus whispers in Toran’s ears, Toran roaring


    withughter.


    “I’m fully aware,” Toran replies, smiling to himself.


    “But that doesn’t matter.I really like her and I think we will make a decent match.”


    “Are you sure about this though?” Cyrus asks.


    “You’d be you.”