Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 63: He Loves You

It’s been weeks since everything happened, and a lot has happened too.

And as the days pass, the mating season draws closer, moving like an inevitable tide toward the wolf world.

Ace hasn’t stepped foot anywhere since the funeral. He’s spent every day and night at Jun’s side, watching over him, making sure he eats, sleeps, and at least exists_ even if Jun barely speaks a word.

Helping him too through the transformation.

His wolf has been growing and sometimes it threatens.

Also, Ace has been receiving letters from Marsel, each one urging him to go, to talk, to meet, to visit. But he hasn’t had the chance_ a tight schedule that has no much activities.

The pack has mostly returned to normal. The wounds of recent events have begun to heal, but not for everyone.

Not for Kieran.

The restlessness has settled deep in his bones, an ache that refuses to fade no matter how much he tries to ignore it. He knows time is running out.

The Moon Goddess had given him the freedom to choose his mate, and the elders had taken that as a sign to help him find the right one.

They’ve been relentless, bringing forth women from the pack who have yet to be mated. Beautiful, strong, worthy women.

But Kieran hasn’t looked at even one.

Every time he tries_ when they stand before him, offering shy smiles and respectful bows_ his mind wanders elsewhere.

His thoughts drift back to the house he barely visits, where Ace and Jun are always together.

The last time Kieran went to Jun’s house, it was a mistake.

He had told himself it was only to check on Jun, to be sure Ace wasn’t carrying all the weight alone.

But when he arrived, when he stepped into that space and saw them together_ Ace, leaning close, speaking softly to Jun, his presence unwavering_ something inside him twisted so painfully he had to leave before anyone noticed.

Since then, he hasn’t settled.

The thought of Ace and Jun being close again haunts him. It shouldn’t. It doesn’t make sense.

But the thought of them going back together again, feels like a sharp blade twisting in his chest?

Kieran has spent weeks trying to reason it away.

It’s just because they’ve been through a lot together. That’s all. That’s why he feels like he is attached to Ace in some ways.

They relied on each other, survived things no one else could understand. That’s why it feels like something is missing when Ace isn’t around.

That’s why his absence has made Kieran feel so unsettled.

Right?

But even as he tells himself that, the doubt lingers.

Because there’s something else Kieran can’t stop thinking about_ something he refuses to say out loud.

Why did he mate with Ace a second time? It’s not like he is just thinking about it now... he has been thinking about it and asking himself that question from the very moment he hit the orgasm in that act.

The first time, the Moon Goddess had forced it upon them. Kieran had fought against it, rejected it with everything he had_ but did it, unconsciously.

But then the moon goddess severed the bond, freed him from it.

And still, he had found his way back with Ace.

Of his own will.

Kieran shuts the thought down before it can take root. He won’t think about that. It doesn’t matter.

What matters now is finding a woman. The Moon Goddess is expecting him to present someone.

The elders are waiting.

His pack is waiting.

The entire wolf world assumes Kieran will make the right choice.

So he will.

Even if something deep inside him rebels against it.

-

Else where,,,

The house is quiet as usual.

The soft hum of the heater fills the silence, mixing with the faint rustling of leaves outside the window. It’s peaceful, in a way that Jun hasn’t felt in a long time.

He’s lying on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, his fingers absently tracing patterns against the fabric.

Across from him, Ace is sprawled out on another couch, flipping through a book but not really reading.

For the first time in weeks, Jun doesn’t feel like he’s suffocating under his grief.

For the first time, he feels like talking.

"Ace," Jun murmurs, his voice softer than usual.

Ace looks up immediately, a little surprised. His face lighting up. "Yeah?"

Jun hesitates, then turns his head toward Ace. His gaze is steady, contemplative. "I heard that every wolf is mated to another by the Moon Goddess."

Ace tilts his head, not expecting that topic. "Yeah. That’s how it works."

Jun is quiet for a moment before asking,

"Then do you have a mate? Do you know who your mate is?"

Ace stiffens.

His grip on the book tightens for a second before he exhales and sets it aside.

He contemplates lying, brushing it off. But then he remembers_ Jun doesn’t deserve lies anymore, besides, he needs to know those things.

So Ace gives him the truth.

"It was Kieran."

Jun is surprised for a moment before realization spread on his face. He blinks, processing.

"Was?" he prompts.

Ace sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah...but he rejected me." A humorless chuckle escapes him. "He says he cannot be with a man. The idea of being bonded to a man_ he can’t stand it."

Jun watches him carefully before sighing. "Ugh! G_d! That guy is so hard headed!"

Ace shrugs, surprised that Jun is not mad. "Well, the Moon Goddess severed our bond. We’re not mates anymore."

"She can do that?!" Jun asks surprised.

"Looks like it." Ace answers.

"But you told me you love him." Jun asks surprised, if the moon goddess severed their bond, then why did Ace wanted to be with Kieran.

"I don’t know what happened but even after the bond was severed, I never felt any difference. I still have those feelings for him" Ace says, for some reason he feels so much better by talking to Jun about his emotions.

"You must have fallen in love with him in the process." Jun suggests.

"Bad for me. He is a freak!" Ace says, looking away. "You know, he hurts me , and he knows he hurts me, but he still does it without hesitation. I heard that he is looking for a woman to present to the moon goddess so that she solidifies their bond." He adds, his voice pained.

Jun looks at him and says,seriously, "Actually, I think that freak loves you too."

Ace snorts. "Kieran? That one Kieran!? Yeah, right." Ace laughs sarcastically. freёnovelkiss.com

"I’m serious. And I don’t believe even for a moment that_ those concerns he had for you were because of the bond! When you disappeared... he hardly breathed." Jun adds.

Ace looks at Jun, there’s no teasing, no amusement_ Jun looks dead serious.

Ace lets out a small laugh, shaking his head. "You would rather kill me than believe what you are saying right now."

Jun shrugs. "Okay, tell you what? He is not going to get any woman to present her, trust me, then you will know that am telling the truth, he is hard headed!"

Ace scoffs. "If he doesn’t, then maybe it’s because he’s afraid because of the past experience. Not because of me!"

Jun’s expression doesn’t waver. "Ace let me ask you something, the day you two were in the study, you know, the day I walked on you, was the mate bond still there?"

Ace pauses. The words sending shivers down his spine.

"No" He finally answers.

"Then what do you think he did it with you? Huh? It meant something, dummy. Think! Kieran wouldn’t have slept with you if he doesn’t feel something for you!" Ace is quiet, the memory forcing it’s way in his head.

"Do you know what he did after that moment? I don’t wanna talk about it." Ace says.

Jun shifts onto his side, resting his head against his arm. "I’ll still open your eyes , he has always looked at you like that. I noticed. I always got mad and suspected it but I never wanted to accept it."

Ace swallows, suddenly feeling an odd tightness in his chest. "You’re reading too much into things," he mutters.

"Am I?"

Ace sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Look, Jun, Kieran has a duty to his pack. He has a responsibility. He’s out there right now looking for a woman to present to the Moon Goddess. If he ever did feel anything for me, it doesn’t matter. Because I will never forgive him for what he has been doing to me since we were mated."

Jun doesn’t argue. He just lets out a quiet "Hmm."

Silence settles between them again, comfortable but weighted.

Ace shifts, stretching out his legs. "You’re really not mad about it anymore?"

Jun exhales. "Not really. I think I was angry at a lot of things, and you were just an easy target." He glances at Ace, lips twitching slightly. "You are easy to be mad at, you know."

Ace laughs at that, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard that before."

"Be my brother at least." Jun says suddenly.

"Gladly" Ace says , for the first time in a while feeling some happiness.