The Silent Alpha (Natalia)

*Natalia***

“Now it’s just you and me,” I smile at Zane, the wolf staring at me with anxious eyes.

“Relax,” I chuckle.

“I don’t bite.”

The nervous look never leaves his eyes as I drag him back to the park.

During the first part of our date with Kota, I watched Zane carefully, noticing how excited he got over such simple things like Dippin Dots or the disco music that was playing during the rides.

It’s obvious this is his first time seeing an amusement park before, leaving me to wonder what else he had yet to experience.I take him to the nearest roller coaster, explaining to him the thrill of dropping and rising ona train.

He doesn’t seem convinced by my explanation, but he nonetheless humors me and gets on the train.

There’s a slight hint of fear in Zane’s eyes as the ride operator locks us into our seats, the automated announcements telling us to keep our arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.I reach out to hold Zane’s hand and comfort him, interlocking our fingers to let him know we were going to be okay.

The train shoots out of the station, Zane’s eyes widening as we rush down a track, making a sudden sharp turn and climbing up the first hill.

“Hold on tight!” I squeal, growing excited for the drop.

The anticipation grows as the entire park shrinks before our eyes, the sun setting off in the horizon.

The pretty view distracts Zane temporarily before we reach the apex and look down at the drop.

“Oh f**k,”

Someone behind us shouts before we race down the hill, a camera flashing as we zoom past it territied and amused by the sharp turns and sudden drops.

A huge grin is plastered on his face when we get off and I can tell he wants to ride again.

We make our way to the photo booth at the end of the ride, and I laugh my butt off when I see our picture.

I’m smiling like a lunatic with my arms raised in the air while Zane has a look of absolute terror, his eyes and mouth wide open in fright.

“I’m buying it,” I giggle, Zane’s ears turning red in embarrassment.

“And I’m going to frame it.” He shakes his head in horror, as if willing me not to buy it but I give him a stern look.

“This is a picture of your very first roller coaster,” I sigh.

“And I want to remember being the one who shared that moment with you.”

His entire face turns redder than a tomato, the edges of his lips slightly curving up in a little smile.

Satisfied that I can now keep the picture, I hand the money to the clerk and receive two copies of our photo.

“Hehe, now I get to remember the look on your face forever,” I tease him, shoving the pictures in my purse before he can take them from me.

We go on a few more roller coasters, Zane nervous about each one but coming out of each ride with a contagious smile on his lips.I spot a cotton candy stand and buy two big clouds of cotton for each of us, Zane staring at the large pink cloud with a puzzled look on his face.

“Open your mouth,” I laugh, tearing off a piece of his cotton.

Zane hesitantly follows my orders, slowly hanging his mouth open.

“Now, stick your tongue out.”

He once again does as he’s told and I place the little cotton fluff on his tongue, his eyes lighting up like a child at Christmas as the candy melts in his mouth, leaving the sugar taste in its wake lutty from my candy.

He holds it out to me and I raise an eyebrow at him.

“You want to feed me?” l ask.

He turns bright red again and lowers his gaze in shame, guilt quickly filling my mind.

Jeez, Talia, why are you such a b***h? I scold myself, opening my mouth and leaning in close to him.

His hand shakes a little as he deposits the little fluff in my mouth, the sugar spreading across my tastebuds.He smiles nervously so I offer hima smile in return and wiggle my eyebrows to ease the awkward tension between us.

“We should try the Ferris wheel,” I suggest, pulling him towards the giant wheel at the end of the park.

A young operator greets us and lets us into the little cage, Zane gripping onto the sides when it begins to rock upon our ascension.

“Relax, wolf,” I chuckle.

“It’s supposed to rock a little.Just sit back and enjoy the view.”

Almost as if on cue, we reach the top of the Ferris wheel overlooking the entire park, his breath hitching when he sees the incredible view.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

at the glittering stars

stay up here for hours just

his gaze settle on me and I turn to look at him, my face flushing when I see the tender look in his

I sit back in our seats and watch the moon for a bit, listening to the laughter coming

inches closer to me, stretching his arms out in a

to hold back my laughter when he carefully drapes his arm behind my seat, knowing his face is probably bright red as he avoids

harm in indulging him on his little quest, I

on his broad chest, my heart growing heavy knowing he is

murmur, avoiding his eyes for fear that I might actually cave

the best gift

his side, allowing him to

brief moment, I allow myself

of comfort knowing Kota would have a dad to look up to…but as with every

fine, one day Zane will want a

will happen to us when I struggle to give him one? Will he find someone else, leaving me

Ferris wheel, the thought lingering in the back of my mind serving as a gentle reminder to be

it is best I practice caution before diving in headfirst into another mate

and I text Aurora to let her know that we’re ready to come

the alley, the portal opening to a candlelit picnic by

the last of the candles set up ona large stone that will be

candles, Aurora,”

“They’re already here.”

hushes him, turning to us with a

up, admiring the attention to detail.There’s a large blanket on the ground with pillows and dishes scattered around it.A basket with a delicious scent coming from it sits in the middle of the blanket, a bottle of wine in ice resting

illuminate the grass surrounding the picnic, the lake providing a pretty backdrop for

all of this?” I ask, wondering how

my hand and leading me to

arranges the plates and cutleries, producing two wine

out containers of fruits, cheeses, macaroni salads, sandwiches, fried chicken, cookies, and even a small

while I eat, as if to

as

out Agnes’s name with his fingers and I

signs over the past few days with the girls at

recipe

bringing a tiny smile to my face.I like that his relationship with his mother is so

takes over and we both awkwardly

a man who does not speak and I find myself running out of things to say with his

tell I’m getting anxious and it seems to only make him nervous.the only real way we can: by laying all of our cards out on

throat to catch his attention and put away my dishes

once,” I blurt out, carefully wiping my wine glass before finally

“Christian,” I sigh.

***Zanet**

sure

very

met.Practically perfect in every single way, ”

shiver runs

runs through my veins but I am

father made it very clear that lam no Alpha,

a huge disappointment to her should

shocked a guy like him would take an interest in a girl like me,” she says, her voice suddenly

or anything like that,” she says with air

not his type. Guess I’m still not

reach her eyes and she goes a little quiet, swallowing her emotions

a wolf.It wasn’t an easy thing to wrap my head around

rolls her eyes, Grayson snarls at the idea of another man ever claiming her as his but I shove him to the back of my mind, reminding him that we did not have a right to be angry that she had a life before

were…um married for

of course, it wasn’t all flowers and rainbows.I had to prove myself to the former Alpha and the entire pack that I was

away a stray tear rolling

can hear her heartbeat erratically in her chest, the thick scent

pregnant, doing everything

teeth, holding back the more tears desperately wanting to spill onto her

never enough…So Christain took matters into his own

goes very quiet, balling

breath, I concentrate on the walls I

my head, and I watch in disgust as

the woman moaning louder

will make you

Talia’s mate had cheated on

onto her cheeks in hopes of comforting her from shame of letting me see her in such a

whispers, holding

didn’t say a word to me about it.They lied to me!” she screams, pounding her

lied to me! They lied.Wolves lie!” she