Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 54: Taking Advantage Of The Soft Heart!

"The reason I’m insisting that we shouldn’t go together is because, seeing us together, he’ll just get angry and won’t talk. I know what I’m talking about, so let me go alone!" Ace insists for the tenth time.

"I already told you, this is not about our personal issues; it’s about the pack and our lives!" Kieran argues.

"If Jun has really joined Lila, then it is about our personal issues, because if I hadn’t had a fight with him, that wouldn’t have happened, he wouldn’t have joined her!" Ace retorts.

"Whatever. Come on, let’s go. We don’t have time for arguments," Kieran says, leading the way to Jun’s house.

...

They don’t have a car, but they have wolf speed, so before darkness claims the world, they are there, standing in front of Jun’s house.

"Kieran, can you just listen for once! I’m telling you, he will not listen if he sees us together. Just stay out and let me talk to him!" Ace says before they knock on the door.

"Why would he still be mad? It’s not like there’s anything between us, is there? I even already told him that," Kieran says, as if aiming for some reaction from Ace.

"I never said there’s anything between us! I mean, was saying that necessary? I feel like you’re mentioning this on purpose! If you want to talk about what happened, why don’t you just say it! Fine then, whatever happened between us days ago happened, and it doesn’t mean anything. Forget I mentioned that I love you because, thinking about it afterward, I realize how wrong I was. It was just some aftereffect of the mate bond, but now they’re gone. So how about we leave the unnecessary out and focus on the necessary?" Ace lies smoothly, stepping in front and knocking on the door.

Worried that Mr. Wang could be the one who answers.

"I don’t think he’s in. No one is in," Ace announces to Kieran, who snaps out of his daze just now.

"You mean there’s an aftereffect of the mate bond?!" Kieran asks, completely off topic.

"There was, not there is. Long gone. I’m telling you, Jun is not in, neither is his father."

Kieran hesitates, his mind somewhere else, before saying, "Then let’s find another way."

"Go. I’ll wait for him."

"You can’t just sit here and wait! Why is it so important that you see him now?! Just because he looked for you after your silly fight?!"

Before Ace can say anything, they hear hurried footsteps. "Ace?" Xiao Jun calls, coming through the gate.

Ace freezes at the sound of Jun’s voice, his heart caught between relief and apprehension.

Jun’s tone is laced with urgency, and when he finally appears before them, his face is pale, his usual calm demeanor replaced by restless energy.

"Jun," Ace says softly, stepping forward. "What’s going on?"

Jun’s gaze flickers to Kieran, then back to Ace, hesitation clouding his expression. "You shouldn’t be here, Ace," he says, his voice almost a whisper. "Not now."

"What do you mean, ’not now’?" Kieran interjects, stepping closer. "If you have something to say, say it."

"It doesn’t concern you, so why don’t you just fvck off!" Jun snaps.

"If it concerns Ace, then it definitely concerns me! It also concerns Lila, doesn’t it?!" Kieran retorts.

"Guys, please," Ace says, feeling the old fights resurface.

Jun’s jaw tightens as his eyes dart around, scanning the area as if expecting someone to emerge from the shadows.

"This isn’t the place for this conversation," he says firmly, his tone sharp. "And I don’t have time to deal with him right now." He gestures to Kieran with thinly veiled contempt.

"You came looking for me, didn’t you? I know something’s wrong—just tell me what it is. Please," Ace says, his voice laced with desperation.

Jun’s expression cracks for a moment, revealing a deep-seated anguish. "It’s my father," he mutters, almost too quietly to hear.

Kieran narrows his eyes. "What about him?"

Jun glares at him. "This has nothing to do with you, Alpha. Stay out of it," he warns again.

"Ace, I’m sorry. Yes, I was hurt and felt betrayed by you, but I didn’t have the right to go and join your enemy’s side!" Jun says. "Now she’s taken dad! She has my dad, and she’s using him as leverage to force me into... into betraying you, Ace."

Ace’s blood runs cold. "Leverage? What do you mean?"

Jun’s hands tremble at his sides. "She told me... if I don’t deliver you to her, she’ll kill him. I’ve been trying to stall her, but I’m running out of time."

Kieran steps forward, his presence commanding, his voice a growl. "And what? You were just going to hand Ace over? You think that would save your father?"

Jun’s eyes flash with anger. "Don’t you dare stand there and lecture me about choices, Kieran! You’re not perfect yourself, and you should go to hell!"

"Stop it!" Ace’s voice cuts through their argument, sharp and clear.

He turns to Jun, his heart aching at the sight of Jun’s pain. "But why, Jun? Why would you go that far? Seriously, you know how she is."

"Actually, I don’t believe him," Kieran announces.

"Kieran, can you stop?!" Ace snaps.

"Xiao Jun_ Xiao Jun_ we’ve worked together, we’ve walked together for some time, and now I know you perfectly. I know when you’re lying, and right now... you’re lying!" Kieran says, ignoring Ace’s warning.

"If you’re not doing this... I’m doing it!" Ace says, referring to Kieran. "Maybe this will be our chance to get her. And good thing my powers are restored now, so we can pretend that you caught me. Right now, she doesn’t have her magic. It’s only her power of words—what she’s best at: manipulating people! And since she doesn’t have her magic, it would be easier." Ace adds, scheming.

"How sure are you that she doesn’t have a plan B?! Ace, I get it that you’re so soft-hearted and want to fix whatever happened between you, but your so known friend—or boyfriend, whatever he is right now—is not trustworthy, I’m telling you. And since you’re not listening, I’ll join because you are going!"

Ace steps closer, ignoring Kieran’s words and placing a hand on Jun’s shoulder. "We’ll get him back. I promise you."

Just as they’re about to leave, Jun keeps insisting they leave immediately, but a car pulls into the driveway. Mr. Wang steps out of it.

Ace’s mind spirals. What on earth just happened?! Did Xiao Jun just lie to him?! Did he really want to hand him over to Lila?!

Kieran laughs sarcastically. "Wow, here we are_ the abducted father just came in, oblivious to whatever is happening," he says, his eyes glued to the older man.

"Jun?! Jesus, why do you always have to make me this worried?! Where on earth have you been for the past three days?! Do you want me to die from stress?!" Mr. Wang says, nearing.

"Ace, it’s been a while. How are you?" Mr. Wang asks, not as angry as the other day when he confronted Ace about his son’s feelings for Ace.

"Fi... fine," Ace stutters, making his way out of the compound.

"Ace, let me explain." Xiao Jun says, running after him.