The Silent Alpha (Natalia)

Read The Silent Alpha by Stephanie Light Chapter 84 – Former Lunas

***Natalia***

“Hello Natalia,” a familiar voice whispers timidly.  Gathering my bearings, I realize I‘ve run right into Vanessa and knocked her over, a sheepish smile on her face as I help her to her feet.  “Where is Kota?” I ask, looking around the living room in search of my son.  “Here I am, Mommy!” Kota squeals with his arms raised in the air, peering from the balcony of the  stairs.

My heart skips a beat when I see his beautiful eyes looking back at me and I rush up the steps to hold  him.  “Mommy!” Kota cries, wrapping his arms around my neck in a tight embrace.

“Kota!“I sob into his hair, rocking him from side to side in my arms and showering him with kisses.” Oh, my beautiful little bean! My sweet frijolito! I‘m here. Mommy‘s here and I‘m never letting you go,“I weep, unable to contain my joy of holding him in my arms again.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I ask, pulling away to inspect his beautiful face.

“My butt hurts,” he shakes his head at me, pointing to his legs and his butt. He wears a little pajama set and I pull back his bottoms to check his wounds.

“Ouchie,” | gasp, Kota nodding in agreement. I gently pat his butt, murmuring the age old Spanish chant to heal all wounds. “Sana. Sana. Colita de rana. Hechate un pedo para ti y para tu hermana. {Heal, heal, little frog tail.

Fart for you and your sister).” (A/N: It actually makes no sense but it‘s a Spanish rhyme with a twist for whenever a child gets hurt to make them feel better.]

Kota bursts into laughter and a tiny stench reaches my nostrils.  “Did you fart?” I ask as he plays with his fingers.  “Yeah,” he giggles, the sound breathing life into me.  He‘s okay. My baby is okay.

“You still use that?” Vanessa chuckles softly. “I remember mom used to say that all the time to us to get us to stop crying.”

I grab Kota and turn to look at my older sister, taking in her appearance. She‘s showered since I last saw her on the phone but there is still a little bruising on her face and neck. She shifts uncomfortably on her feet, and her eyes keep flickering around in search of danger.

Vanessa and I may be at odds, but I have never wished her any ill, even if she does deserve it.

She has a wolf, Devina whispers. It‘s small but I can sense it. There‘s a wall between them.

“You have a wolf,” Vanessa whispers, a little flicker of delight in her eyes. “And you‘re marked!” she adds with a soft smile. “Th–that‘s great. I‘m so happy you moved on!”

An awkward silence forms between us as she musters up the courage to keep speaking. I, however, have nothing much to say to her.

“You have a very beautiful son,” she says quietly. “Very beautiful.” “Thanks,” I reply after clearing my throat. “Thank you for… taking care of him.”

“Mommy, can we take Nanessa home with us?” Kota asks, Vanessa smiling at the little boy, though the light never reaches her eyes. “She‘s my friend.”

She already knows my answer.

“I‘m sorry Kota,” I whisper, Vanessa‘s smile faltering slightly. “But your friend has her own path to take. Right, Nanessa?”

I feel heartless, but I had given Vanessa a home once and she betrayed me. I will not make the same mistake twice, even if she did protect my pup.

“Right,” she answers quietly before forcing her voice to be high and happy. “But it‘s okay, Kota. Maybe one day, you can come visit me and we can have pillow fights.”

“Or you can come visit us!” Kota cries with excitement. “You can meet my Daddy!”

“No!” I snap, Kota and Vanessa both jumping in fright at the harshness of my voice. “No,” I repeat softly, shaking my head as I push past Vanessa. “No, I‘m sorry Kota, but Nanessa is going to be very busy living her own life so she can‘t meet Daddy.”

“But why not?” Kota whines, small tears springing to his eyes.

I resist the urge to groan and am grateful when Rionna appears around the corner.

Nonna!” | squeal with forced excitement,

out his arms to greet

Rionna replies, taking Kota from my arms and peppering his cheeks with kisses. “I‘m so glad you‘re safe now.

cheeks and Kota

okay, Nonna,” he whispers.

to discuss a plan of

living room. “Yes,” Jordan replies as

the cabin was designed to look unassuming.” Jordan says. “But

Alphas from the neighboring areas would gather here for business and to settle disputes. There‘s a secret entrance to the cellar from the

antique chandelier hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the room is a long  table with handcrafted wooden chairs and velvet blue cushions. There are built in shelves

hundreds of books on war and political strategies, business practices and laws, religions, and  even

figurine on one of the shelves and tilts it up. A hidden door opens from behind a shelf on the opposite side of the room, a cloud of dust rising as it opens to reveal a dark

leads to and if it‘s still usable?” I ask through a cough, swatting my hand to get the dust away

as teens,” he shrugs. “The tunnel leads to the southern part of the woods and has an exit hidden within

Rionna and she seems to

say, taking Kota in my arms and giving him one last good squeeze. “Nonna and Nanessa are going to take you far away from the cabin to somewhere safe in

us?” “No, baby,” I whisper. “I have to talk to the man who took you and make sure he never does it 

and I give him

little man for me, okay?”I murmur, kissing his chubby cheeks. “You have to protect Nonna and Nanessa. They‘re afraid of the dark. Can you

“Like Daddy?” He asks.

whisper. “Can you be my little superhero like Daddy?” He nods his little head and I give him one last hug. “I love

too, Mommy,” he says as

him from the cold air coming

blanket so that he‘s nice and snug in

Please be careful.”

but Vanessa lingers back, tears rolling down her

so sorry for everything I‘ve done to you,” She whimpers. “I know what I

was unforgivable.” “I‘m sorry,” she says in a small

to the broken soul peeking through her eyes, and I feel a lump form in

asked

the floor and with a trembling voice, answers

I look away to gather my bearings. I may have hated my sister, but no mother should ever lose

your mate,” she adds quietly.

Jordan and I stare at her in

a crack

into tears. “I‘m sorry! I‘m very sorry for what I did!

into her hands and I resist the urge

“But I‘m not ready to forgive you or let you back into my life. I’m sorry, but when this is all over,

she replies. “I knew that would be your answer. I just needed you to know

you.” I nod, swallowing back my sob. “Now hurry… and good

disappears into the tunnel before turning to Jordan and heading back upstairs to

have at least trained for this

once we‘re left

I have trained our entire lives

snap as I try to figure out a back–up plan. I had plenty of warrior training when I was

Devina shrugs. And