Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 97: Cure or Trap?!

The Jeep roars through the forest, its headlights cutting through the thick darkness.

Ace sits stiffly in the passenger seat, his arms crossed, mind racing. The case of vials rests between them, containing the cure that has the potential to save the wolves.

But something still doesn’t sit right.

The ruins, the sudden attacks, the eerie symbols carved into stone_ none of it feels like a coincidence.

And then there’s Rehan. His presence, his insistence, the way he shielded him without hesitation.

It wasn’t self-preservation.

It was calculated.

"You’re unusually quiet," Rehan finally says, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I have a lot on my mind," Ace replies without looking at him.

Rehan chuckles. "Like how grateful you are that I just saved your pack? And more __ your life?"

Ace scoffs. "Don’t flatter yourself, you haven’t even saved them yet."

Rehan smirks but doesn’t push further. The rest of the ride is silent, tension thick between them.

By the time they reach the mansion, wolves are already waiting, their eyes filled with desperation.

Jun and Rey stand at the front, their expressions unreadable. Jun’s arms are crossed, his body tense, while Rey’s sharp gaze flickers between Ace and Rehan, clearly analyzing everything.

"You’re back," Jun says, his tone more relieved than he wants to admit.

Rehan steps out, holding up the case. "And I brought the cure."

Murmurs ripple through the crowd, a mixture of hope and hesitation. Some wolves shift anxiously, others exchange glances.

He strides forward confidently. "I told you I could help."

Jun’s eyes narrow. "We’ll see. But first before we give them... you taste it." He says referring to Rehan.

Rehan is caught off guard.

"What?" He asks.

"You taste it first, then we will give them." Jun repeats.

"Is this how you repay my concern and kindness?! Do you have any idea how hard it was to make a decision of going to a place like that?!" Rehan snaps.

"Rehan, it’s just a drag... medicine... I doubt it will kill you just because you are not sick... so take a sip, that’s all." Ace chimes in.

"So you too? After all I’ve done for you? Took pain in your place! Saved your life, and you still doubt me?!" Rehan asks.

Ace doesn’t answer immediately. He has a small reason to trust him now, but doubt lingers. He glances at Rehan, who meets his gaze with a disappointed expression.

"Alright, I’ll do it!" Rehan agrees, taking it, sipping, swallowing and then gives back. "What now? Trust me? Or you still have other ways to test me?" He asks with uneasiness.

They exchange glances for a while before Rey speaking... "I’ll take risk first."

Hearing that, Xiao Jun snatches it from him. "No, you are not!"

"Jun..." Rey starts but Jun cuts him.

"I said you are not! I don’t trust him." Ace insists.

"Alright, love birds, why don’t we try it on someone else, some useless omega." Rehan suggests.

"Do you hear the way he speaks, he thinks others are useless, they don’t concern him, he doesn’t care, that’s why we shouldn’t trust him!" Jun snaps. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"The only way to know if it works is to test it with a sick person, so why don’t you keep your judgements about me, Jun. And do what needs to be done!" Rehan retorts, anyone could tell that he is loosing patience.

One of the sick wolves is brought forward, their breathing labored, body trembling.

Ace kneels beside them, uncorks a vial, and tilts it against their lips.

The dark liquid slides down, and for a few agonizing moments, nothing happens.

Then_

A sharp inhale.

The wolf’s body stops convulsing. Their labored breathing evens out. Their dull eyes clear, shifting around as if waking from a nightmare.

Gasps echo through the crowd.

Jun and Rey exchange glances, their suspicion laced with reluctant hope.

One by one, more wolves are given the medicine. And each time, it works.

Their pain fades, their strength returns, their breathing steadies.

Relief begins to spread, but it’s thinly veiled under an unshakable unease.

What?! That was easy! With immediate effect?!

Rehan smirks, Victory written all over him face.

Too easy.

Too perfect.

He watches everything unfold with quiet satisfaction. When the last wolf recovers, he finally turns to Ace. "You should take one too."

Ace frowns. "What?"

Rehan’s expression remains calm. "This disease spreads. Slowly. You just went to that place and it might have some effect on you, you won’t feel anything now, but once symptoms appear, it might be too late."

Ace hesitates. "I feel fine. And no, thanks. Besides, you were at that place too, so why should I be the one to take it and you don’t?!"

"I just took it, didn’t you see?" Rehan asks, determined.

"Rehan, you didn’t take it by wanting, we just forced you!" Ace argues.

"I was gonna take it anyway." He says simply.

"Then why were you hesitating to take it?" Jun asks raising a brow at him.

"I Just wanted to give you the satisfaction of thinking that I have some other plans, you don’t trust me, and I was just playing with you. In fact, you should take it too. You’ve been around them for hours and it will affect you." Rehan answers.

They exchange glances among each other, "Babe, you should take it, I feel totally fine, and maybe for once.. we should believe him." Rey says pulling Jun toward him.

Jun nodes hesitantly before taking it.

Rehan steps closer to Ace, lowering his voice. "If you don’t take it now, you will regret it soon enough_ there will be no warnings. Then when you collapse, by then, the cure won’t work as fast."

Ace presses his lips together. He doesn’t trust Rehan still. But he’s seen the cure work.

The wolves are fine.

The medicine is real.

Isn’t it?

Rey and Jun exchange glances but say nothing.

But in the end_

Ace makes the decision.

Without another word, he grabs the vial, uncorks it, and downs the liquid in one swallow.

It’s bitter, thick as it coats his throat. A strange pulse flickers in his chest, just for a second.

Rehan smiles. "Good choice."

Ace wipes his mouth, ignoring the lingering sensation crawling under his skin.

It’s done.

°°°°

Do you guys trust Rehan?🤔