Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 101: Feeling Him.

Kieran barely registers the world around him as he moves_ fast, almost desperate_ toward his room where Ace lies.

The halls stretch endlessly before him, but he doesn’t slow. His pulse is a wild, erratic thing, his breath tight in his chest.

The ritual worked. It had to work. But until he sees Ace_ until he can feel him, hear his voice, know he’s still there_ nothing will be real.

He pushes the door open without hesitation when he gets to his room.

And stops.

Ace is awake.

The sight nearly brings Kieran to his knees.

Ace sits on the bed, fingers pressed lightly to his temple, his brows furrowed like he’s piecing together a puzzle with missing edges.

His skin is flushed, his breathing slow but uneven.

Then his gaze lifts, and the moment his eyes meet Kieran’s, his breath stutters.

Kieran should say something. Should move.

But he doesn’t.

"Ace..."

"Kieran..."

Their voices overlap, simultaneously they call. Like an echo of something unfinished. And then silence.

The weight between them is suffocating.

Kieran swallows, finally stepping forward, drawn to Ace with a pull he can’t resist. He doesn’t know what he will say, what he will do_ he just knows he needs to be close.

But before he can reach him_

The door swings open.

Marsel and Rey step inside, their presence shattering the fragile moment.

Kieran clenches his jaw, irritation flickering across his face. He doesn’t even try to hide it.

"Ace, you’re awake," Marsel breathes, relief evident in his voice.

Ace blinks, as if just realizing they’re there. He straightens slightly, fingers curling against the sheets.

Rey steps forward, his tone calm but firm. "Kieran."

Kieran doesn’t move. His mind is still tangled in the moment he just lost.

"They’re here," Rey continues. "The alphas."

Silence.

Kieran’s breath tightens in his chest. His fingers curl into fists at his sides, a quiet war playing out inside him.

Of course, they would come. They must have caught wind of the chaos, of his absence.

He should go.

His role demands it, even if he hasn’t claimed it back after stepping down.

But all he wants_ all he wants_ is to stay.

His throat feels tight as he drags his gaze back to Ace, silently pleading for something he doesn’t even have the words for. Not now. Not again.

Ace watches him, eyes unreadable.

Then, finally, Kieran exhales, unable to walk away again from this moment. "Give me a minute. I’ll follow." He says.

Rey and Marsel exchange a glance but don’t argue. With a final look, they step outside, leaving the door slightly ajar.

The silence stretches.

Then_

"I need to use the toilet," Ace says suddenly.

Kieran’s head tilts slightly, something flickering in his gaze.

Ace doesn’t move right away. His fingers tighten in the sheets before he finally shifts to stand.

Kieran steps forward instinctively, but Ace waves him off with a small shake of his head.

"It’s fine," Ace mutters.

It’s a lie.

Not because he actually needs to go_ but because he knows.

He’s seen the look in Kieran’s eyes, felt the weight of words left unspoken. Kieran wants to talk. Maybe about them, maybe about if there’s still some hope between them.

And as much as Ace wants to too, he knows this is not the time, what’s the need of one minute talk when they have a million of things to talk about.

Kieran studies him for a long moment, something aching behind his eyes. But he doesn’t push.

But when Ace gets to the door, he couldn’t watch it quietly anymore.

Again.

He’s losing this moment.

Something inside him cracks.

Before he can stop himself, he moves.

His hand wraps around Ace’s wrist, pulling him back_ firm, desperate, but not rough.

Ace stills, breath catching.

Kieran’s voice is raw when he speaks, heavy with emotions he’s been drowning in for too long.

"Ace... I can’t stand this anymore."

Ace’s heart stutters.

Kieran’s grip tightens slightly, his fingers trembling.

"I’ve felt the pain you wanted me to feel, every bit of it. And it’s endless. It won’t stop. I..."

Ace doesn’t let him finish.

He can’t.

The pain in Kieran’s voice is unbearable, cuts too deep.

Before another word can break them further, Ace closes the distance_

And kisses him.

The world shatters.

It’s not gentle.

It’s not careful.

It’s every unsaid word, every sleepless night, every ache, every regret, every longing, all crashing together in a desperate, fevered collision.

Kieran holds onto him like he’s drowning, like this is the feeling he’s been dying for but never able to reach. His hands slide up Ace’s back, pulling him closer, closer_

Because if he lets go, it might all disappear.

Ace presses deeper, and Kieran drinks him in like he’ll never get enough, like he’s been starved of this, of him.

The moment swells, heated, overwhelming, intoxicating_

A sharp knock on the door jolts them apart.

They break apart, breathless, chests heaving, foreheads nearly touching.

Kieran wants to curse the world, wants to lock the door and never leave.

Then_

"Kieran, you’re really needed right now," Jun’s voice calls from outside.

Kieran doesn’t move.

His grip on Ace lingers, his forehead pressing against Ace’s for just a moment longer.

Ace swallows hard.

Then, quietly, too quietly, Ace steps back. "You should go." He says in a whisper. "I’ll be there in a minute."

Kieran stands at the doorway, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. He doesn’t want to leave. Not now.

His gaze lingers on Ace, searching, pleading.

Ace meets his eyes, his throat working before he forces out, "I’ll follow you in a minute." He says again.

Kieran hesitates. But he has no choice.

With great reluctance, he nods and steps out, his chest feeling unbearably tight.

The door clicks shut.

The second Kieran is gone, Ace staggers. The weight of everything **the kiss, the emotions, the heat still buzzing under his skin** comes crashing down all at once.

He barely makes it to the nearest wall before his legs give out.

His back hits the cold surface, but it does nothing to cool the warmth spreading through him. He drags in a breath, then another.

His lips still tingle.

He touches them lightly, his fingers trembling.

He had kissed Kieran. Again.

Or had Kieran kissed him?

Does it even matter?

Suddenly, the door swings open again.

Ace stiffens, looking up_ only to find Xiao Jun standing there.

Jun takes one look at him, sitting on the floor, breath uneven, face flushed_ and smirks.

Ace groans, throwing his head back against the wall. "And why the fvck are you grinning?"

Jun crosses his arms, the amusement in his eyes only growing. "No reason."

Ace rolls his eyes.

Jun shakes his head, laughing under his breath. "You know... I was going to apologize for interrupting whatever that was, but now, I’m thinking I should take credit instead."

Ace glares. "There was nothing to interrupt."

Jun raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Nothing? You’re sitting on the floor, looking like you just got struck by lightning, but sure. Nothing happened."

Ace groans, covering his face with his hands.

"Look," Jun cuts him off, voice full of mock sympathy. "I know you want to curse me for shattering your moment, but I’m so sorry_ duty calls."

Ace throws him another glare, cheeks still burning. "There was no moment."

Jun smirks. "Wasn’t there?"

Ace’s silence is answer enough.

Jun leans closer, his voice dropping. "Listen here, you little stubborn rat. If you and Kieran start some bullshit fight again, I swear, I will personally send you both straight to hell."

That finally does it.

"You know, I hate you right now for knocking at that particular time!" Ace snaps, shoving him. His frustration over the shattered moment exploding.

Jun laughs, easily dodging the attack. "That’s the reaction I was waiting for. Gosh... that man really loves you."

Ace exhales sharply, shaking his head. But just as he’s about to snap at Jun again, something clicks in his mind.

Right. The problem outside.

His expression sobers. "Alphas are here?" he asks, his voice shifting. "Why? What happened?"

Jun straightens, all traces of teasing gone. "Rehan’s medicine did things to us," he explains. "Things got bad. But dad found a way to counteract it."

Ace’s brows furrow. His stomach tightens. "And Rehan?"

"Locked up in the mansion prison."

Ace exhales, nodding slowly. "We should go see what’s happening."

They stride out of Kieran’s room, through the hallways.

The other wolves are still around, including those from Rehan’s pack. They still look like they are struggling with what just happened.

The alpha’s around_ those from Rehan’s pack wonder what there destiny is. If their leader just did such a despicable act, do they even have a chance of being accepted in another pack?!

Anyone could tell the stress they have just by looking at them.

Ace and Jun passes them, here and there before they arrive in the grand hall where the meeting is being held.