The Silent Alpha (Natalia)

Chapter 34: Hidden I
***Zane***

“Why did you hide your stutter from me?” She asks, her hand reaching out to touch my cheek.

I flinch away, my entire world collapsing in on me.

Quick! Play dead, Grayson snickers, his stupid comment making me even more nervous.

Unable to face my mate, I turn around on my side to hide my shame from her, pulling the covers over my head.

For a long time, the only sound I hear is the pounding of my heart against my ears, drumming louder with every passing second.

“Zane?” Talia whispers, tentatively placing her hand on the covers.

“Zane, please look at me.You don’t have to hide from me.”

The fear gripping my heart, however, makes it hard for me to face her.I know better than to speak.

My father spent years reminding me just how worthless my words were and he trained me to be quiet to avoid embarrassing him.

I know all too well that the second she hears my voice, she’ll laugh, or worse…she’ll hate me like my father.You’re being irrational, Grayson mutters.

If she really hated you, why on earth would she still be here with you? The Queen gave her a chance to leave and yet she chose to stay here with us! She asked us to protect her and her pup.

Our pup! She kissed us here alone with us! Does that sound like someone who hates you for your flaws? Do her actions remotely resemble Father’s? Each individual word he says makes sense, but I cannot understand their meaning together.

How could anyone love me the way lam? My own father could not even stomach the sight of me.

Gamma Wyatt never mistreated me, but he went along with my father’s idea to pass me off as Agne’s son and pretended I did not exist.

He turned a blind eye to the torture and abuse I faced in the Hive.

Agnes cannot hear me so she cannot grow impatient with me when [ have to repeat myself over and over again.

My mother was a kind woman, but I knew all too well that I was a burden to her and that I ruined a lot for her.

She and my father would have had a better marriage had I not stood in the way with my ineptitude.

I was only a month old the day my brother, Jonathan, died but there is no doubt in my mind that she wished my brother had lived instead of me.

He would have been a better son and my father would have been proud to name him as the next heir of Scarlett Haven.

Kota is the only person who does not seem to notice my imperfection, but he is only a child and he does not understand that the man he wants to call Dad cannot even say his name without getting stuck.

One day, he will grow up and find it embarrassing for me to speak around him and his friends.

he will even pretend to not know who

never say a word.I can be the Silent

in the shadows, watching over the people

Bullshit! Grayson snarls.

opportunity to show her who

her former mate did to her, she

little faith in our mate and give

little faith in Moon Goddess

reason and I, for one, would like to know

but…But nothing! Grayson roars.No

remember that you are not the same little boy who used to stand in front of the mirror reciting poetry while his father stood behind

who holds your hand when she’s scared and kisses you when she doesn’t

pup who wants

who has watched over you

friend who wants to teach you to be a better version of yourself…and

prove to Talia that we deserve every kiss, every hug, and every ounce of her

lead a pack like Moon Goddess

processing Grayson’s argument, Talia pulls back the covers and rests her head on my shoulder, her body

whispers,

for keeping your voice to yourself, but I need to know the truth about

disappears as

Her mate…

her fingers around my bicep and

anymore,” she murmurs, her fingers moving up to

all of your flaws and imperfections…all of your pain and worries.You are wrong to assume everyone else is perfect but you.I have my own

turn my head and look at her.What

so surprised,”she chuckles softly to herself before her face

hate a lot of things

her, grabbing her wrists and pinning them on either side of

whispers, her lips almost

don’t think I

is pain in her eyes as

I’m

“Well I’m not.”

but she refuses to let them fall, batting her eyes to make them all go away

She hides…just like me.

to come out of hiding.I can feel her heart fluttering in her chest, one beat after the next as neither one

her lips

through my body but I pull away before my mind turns

puzzled look flickers in her eyes as I push myself up onto my knees, pulling her

turns bright red as I push her legs closed and spin her around so