Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 67: "Ace... I... I Want You."

Kieran stands frozen for a moment, Jun’s words echoing in his head.

"Ace is going to find someone."

The thought sends a wave of something sharp and unbearable through him. His emotions swirl, restless, agitated, but his wolf is quiet, not manipulating him in any way as the days the bond was still there.

The idea of Ace choosing someone else

standing before the Moon Goddess with another_ makes his chest feel tight.

No. He won’t allow it.

Without another thought, he storms out of his room, his movements fueled by instinct. He has to find Ace. He has to stop him before it’s too late.

••○○

Ace is on his way to Marsel and Elira’s home, determined to see what they want.

But as he walks, doubt creeps in.

Tomorrow night is the mating season ritual, and he still hasn’t found someone.

He should be focusing on that, he can visit Marsel later, because he can’t think of any urgency that they might be calling him for.

With a frustrated sigh, he changes direction, heading back into Kieran’s territory.

Not mansion but territory, the land that most werewolves live in.

He walks, scanning faces, trying to feel something_ anything. But no one catches his interest.

Just an overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Annoyed, he gives up and turns back toward Marsel’s home. Maybe dealing with them will be easier than this pointless search.

But on his way before he gets there, a familiar figure steps into his path.

Kieran.

Ace stops short, his heart lurching before he forces himself to scoff. "Kieran?! What are you doing here? On this path? Wait, were you following me?"

Kieran exhales, shoulders tense. "Not following, I was looking for you. I... thought you must have gone to ’VeilWalkers’ so I went there but you were no."

Ace crosses his arms. "Why? Why are you looking for me suddenly?"

Kieran’s jaw tightens. "Ace... I. You... Are you seriously that desperate to find a mate?"

Ace’s frustration flares. "Yes, I am! I don’t have the luxury of ignoring reality like you do. The ritual is tomorrow. I need to find someone."

Kieran steps closer, eyes dark with something unreadable. "And you think you’ll just stumble across the right person?"

Ace lets out a bitter laugh. "Kieran, why are we doing this again?! Why are here again, talking in riddles?! Which part of am tired of this don’t you understand?"

Kieran shakes his head, exhaling. "I don’t want you to find someone... else." His voice is lower now, more intense.

Ace narrows his eyes. "Why not? And what do you mean by ’else’"

Kieran opens his mouth, then closes it.

°Because no one else is right for you.

Because I don’t want to see you with someone else.

Because it feels like it’s always been you.°

But the words don’t come.

Ace watches him, something inside him shifting.

Kieran looks... conflicted.

Unsteady in a way Ace has never seen before. The hesitation, the tension in his shoulders, the way his throat works as he swallows hard_

But Ace takes it as an effect of mating season.

He remembers what kieran has made him go through, the way he has mistreated him ever since they met.

And right now he knows and sees that Kieran is not ready to accept it even if he feels something, and no matter how much he really wants Kieran, he is not willing to be with somone who hasn’t even accepted himself.

With someone who mistreated him! With that thought, he storms away. Only for Kieran to pull him back, pinning him on the tree.

"Ace... I... I want you. And I don’t want you to find someone_ else." Ace freezes, Kieran’s words finding him off guard.

Kieran swallows hard after realizing what he has just said.

He moves closer to Ace, his hand snaking to Ace’s cheeks, his face hinting closer, Ace is tense and still frozen, but when he snaps out of daze and realizes what is happening, he moves away from the tree, leaving Kieran stands there.

"You want my body, or you want me?! For some reason I think think that you are saying this just because it’s the mating season, and you are overwhelmed by the heat, you need someone to release it to. And since you still haven’t found the woman you want yet... you think... ’ah , since I’ve already done this with Ace twice, why can’t I now?!’ But guess what Kieran? Am not in for that now nor later, so stop bothering me, stop following me around and find your mate so that you can relieve yourself!"

Ace snaps walking away, but as always... like lately... Kieran stops him again.

"If I wanted a woman... I would be having one right now, it’s not about finding a mate or the mating season Ace, am not feeling this just now... It started long ag..."

Before he can finish, Ace cuts him. "Actually, I don’t care how long it’s been. And don’t stop me again!"

For a moment Kieran is unable to react.

In his entire life, he has never gone after anyone, and he already feel discouraged when looking at Ace walking away from him.

_

Back in the mansion, it’s quiet, most of people have already left, he feels the emptiness.

And thinking about how he just let out what he feels_ for the first time in his life, only for him to be just brushed off, it makes him have thousands of emotions swirling in him.

Most of all frustrated.

And the heat is just frustrating him even more. And the fact that it forces him to think of Ace, it is maddening.

Sleep abandons him even if it’s already 2 am , he picks his phone, dials Xiao Jun’s number, and when he doesn’t pick up, Kieran makes his way to his house.

-

"What the hell?! What do you want in the middle of the night?" Jun asks, a hint of surprise and annoyance in his voice.

"I told him, I told him how I feel, but do you know what I got in return? A cold shoulder, and him storming away, leaving me stand there like a lost kid! Is that what you wanted me to do?!" Kieran snaps walking into the house without even being invited. "Is he is in?" He adds asking.

"No he is not, he is probably finding a mate while you are here whining." Jun says closing the door.

"Well, there’s no way he is going to present someone_ anywhere!" Kieran snaps pacing around.

Xiao Jun can’t help but chuckle amusedly.

"What’s funny?" Kieran snaps.

"So you are finally admitting that you really love him? That you love him so f*cking much that you can’t breathe when you think of him being with someone else?!" Jun asks smirking.

His words makes Kieran’s heart pound. Because it could be true. But he doesn’t say anything.

"Can I tell you one fact about yourself you hard headed... the bond between you and Ace was never the main reason why you wanted him those days! You loved him, and you love him,,, you wanted to be with him, and the bond just emphasized your feelings for him, I saw you Kieran , everyday I knew you were developing something for Ace but I never wanted to accept that fact, or confront you about it.

So stop being a coward and explain to him, make him see that you really do love him! Am pretty sure you didn’t tell him that you love him!

Go sit down, accept your feelings for him, accept him for who he is before going to him! And don’t take long because your time’s running out!

Now leave me in peace, I have my own problems to deal with other than teaching a whole alpha who has lived hundreds of years on earth_ who doesn’t know how love feels like! Am actually glad that_ that bond was severed, so that you deal with your feelings without giving an excuse of the mate bond."

Jun says a lot , Kieran listening without arguing for the first time.

"So what am I supposed to do?" Kieran asks after some time.

"Ohhhh my G-d! You mean I’ve said all that and it just went through your left ear and got out through the right one?!" Xiao Jun groans. "Do you need a book and a pen for you to take notes?!"

"You made me do this, you made me go after him, so why don’t you just help me and stop talking unnecessary things!" Kieran snaps.

"Oh yeah?! I made you go after him?! Now I get it when Ace says_ how inconsiderate, unbearable, stubborn and heartless you are! Seriously, you don’t deserve him. So maybe you should really stay away from him with your denial bulshit!"

"I just don’t know how to do it, alright? That’s why am asking for your help." Kieran admits his voice barely above a whisper.

"I’ve told you, first, accept it Kieran. Am asking you this and I want an honest answer. Do you love Ace?" Xiao Jun asks, for once serious.

Kieran doesn’t say anything.

"Do you fvcking love him or not?!" Jun snaps after waiting a minute longer.