Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 77: The Morning After.

The room is quiet, filled only with the slow, steady breaths of two bodies entwined.

The golden light of dawn filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over tangled sheets and heated skin.

Jun is nestled against Rey’s chest, his heartbeat steady, his body relaxed in a way he has never felt before.

For the first time, everything feels right. Complete.

Rey’s fingers lazily trace circles on Jun’s bare back, his golden eyes half-lidded as he watches him.

He still can’t believe this is real.

That Jun is here, in his arms, his scent interwoven with his own.

Marked.

Claimed.

His.

Jun shifts slightly, tilting his head up to look at Rey.

The bond between them hums, the connection pulsing through their veins like a steady, unbreakable thread.

Rey leans down, brushing a soft kiss against Jun’s forehead. "How are you feeling?" he murmurs, his voice husky from sleep.

Jun lets out a breath, his lips curving slightly. "Like I belong to you."

Rey chuckles, tightening his arms around Jun, pressing another kiss to Jun’s temple. "You do?"

"Yes, how about you?" Jun asks, but before Rey answers, something startles them.

A commotion.

Muffled voices. The distant sound of hurried footsteps, doors slamming.

Then...

"Where did he go?!"

Kieran’s voice.

Loud.

Frustrated.

Jun stiffens instantly, eyes going wide as the reality of the situation slams into him. Morning. It’s already morning.

There was a battle, Kieran was in trouble, and none of them were at his side, not Ace, Not Rey, and not him either, Kieran was all alone.

Rey is already sitting up, his muscles tensed. "Shit," he mutters under his breath as the realization that just hit Jun_ hits him too.

Kieran has been all alone.

Jun scrambles out of bed too, his heart racing. "I need to hide. He can’t know that we’ve done this at a moment like that..."

Rey nods, quickly getting to his feet and pulling on his clothes.

Jun barely has time to grab his own when the sound of approaching footsteps grows louder.

Kieran is coming.

Jun darts to the side, finding a place to conceal himself just as Rey finishes dressing.

A sharp knock pounds against the door, then...

It swings open.

Kieran stands there, his expression dark, his golden eyes flickering with frustration and exhaustion.

His clothes are slightly disheveled, his hair messy_ like he hasn’t slept at all.

"You," he snaps, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Where the hell have you been all night? Sleeping, sleeping at a moment like this?! When chaos has fallen upon our kind?! You just slept peacefully?!"

Rey keeps his gaze on him, guilt knowing at him and Kieran’s pain. "I was caught up by something," he answers.

Kieran’s jaw tightens. "Here? I don’t see anything that could have caught you up in this room, you look relaxed, contented. So what exactly could have caught you up making you look so contented with life?!" He cuts himself off, exhaling sharply.

Rey doesn’t flinch. "I’m sorry Kieran, it was a mistake made, and it was not intentional , I was supposed to be there, with you, fighting with you. And am here now."

Kieran laughs bitterly, shaking his head. "So what? You’re turning your back on me too? Both of you! You are turning your backs on me?! Ace, Xiao Jun and you too? It’s perfectly fine, I cannot force anyone from what they want."

Rey’s golden eyes darken, his voice firm. "I haven’t turned my back on you, Kieran. None of us have, and as for me, I would rather die with you than stand with someone else, or go to someone else."

Kieran stares at him for a moment, searching his face for something

_ reassurance, maybe. But whatever he’s looking for, he doesn’t seem to find it.

He exhales harshly, running a hand through his hair. "The battle’s happening this morning. I don’t have time for this." He turns on his heel, his boots hitting the floor with purpose as he storms out of the room.

The moment the door clicks shut, Jun steps out from his hiding place, his breath uneven.

He turns to Rey, his gaze softening instantly. "Oh G_d, I can’t believe he thinks we’ve both turned on him too. You know, Kieran can be a freak sometimes but I’ve always looked up to him, sometimes he just doesn’t know how to deal with his emotions, that’s his problem, but ever since I knew him, I would never say he doesn’t deserve that position as an alpha." Jun says, regret in his voice.

"I know babe, but it already happened, we need to fix it." Rey says going over at Jun.

Jun sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. "I really feel bad that he has been alone all night."

Rey crosses the space between them, tilting Jun’s chin up gently. "I’ll go to him right away, don’t worry about him though, no matter how much he seems weak now, no one would ever beat him," he says, his voice quieter now.

He plants a kiss on Jun’s lips before saying, "I have to go, I’ll see you later, you are coming, right?"

"Yes, I’ll go back home just for a second then I’ll rush back, okay?"

Rey’s fingers brush against his cheek. "Okay, take care."

Jun swallows, nodding, "You too."

Rey leans in, pressing one last kiss to Jun’s lips, slow and lingering, like a silent promise.

"I’ll see you soon," he murmurs against his lips. Before he lets him go reluctantly.

Jun nods.

With that, Rey steps back, his golden eyes holding Jun’s for a moment longer before he turns and leaves.

Jun watches him go, his heart heavy but steady. When his thoughts drifts back to Kieran, he feels the uneasiness, the need to join them right away.

He picks his things fast, putting on his hoodie then rushes out.

He doesn’t even use a vehicle, with his werewolf speed, he uses the barely used roads and the short cuts roads and woods until he gets to his house,

He finds Ace ready to leave.