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.

squeal with forced excitement, Kota turning in

out his arms to greet

arms and peppering his cheeks with kisses.

her cheeks and

he whispers.

downstairs to discuss a plan of attack and hope

old meeting place?” I ask as we gather in the living room. “Yes,” Jordan replies as I look around the cabin and notice a lot of windows and glass doors. “Not a lot of

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

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

kept, with a gorgeous antique chandelier hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the room is a long  table with handcrafted wooden chairs

on war and political strategies, business practices and laws, religions, and  even

a howling wolf figurine on one of the shelves and tilts it up. A hidden door opens from behind

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

to play in it when we were kids and would throw parties here as teens,” he shrugs. “The tunnel leads to the southern part of the woods and has an

turn to Rionna and she seems to be thinking the

Kota in my arms and giving him one last good squeeze. “Nonna and Nanessa are going to take you far away

“I have to talk to the man who took you and make sure he

his lips and I give him another

to protect Nonna and Nanessa. They‘re afraid of the dark. Can you take care

“Like Daddy?” He asks.

little head and I give him one last hug. “I love you

he says as I hand him over

over Dakota‘s head to shield him from the cold air coming from the tunnel. “Please take care of

Rionna says, tucking Kota into the blanket

Please be careful.”

but Vanessa

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

I reply coldly. “It was unforgivable.” “I‘m sorry,” she says in

don‘t compare to the broken soul peeking through her eyes, and I feel

he asked

her eyes to the floor and with a trembling voice, answers with dread, “He wanted to know if he killed my

my eyes and I look away to gather my bearings. I may have hated

what it‘s like to lose your mate,” she adds quietly. “He killed my mate… He killed

stare at her in

Jordan asks, a

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

sobs into her hands and I

sorry, but when this is all over, I don‘t want to see you again. I wish you a long, happy life Nessa. I really do. Just not with me

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

I nod, swallowing back my sob. “Now hurry… and good luck to you.” “You too…” she whispers

into the tunnel before turning to Jordan and heading back upstairs

at least trained for this stupid challenge you plan on undertaking?”

once we‘re

I have trained our

figure out a back–up plan. I had plenty of warrior training

anymore… Devina shrugs. And I am