Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 132: "Do you ever miss ’us?’ you and I"

He heads straight to Rey’s room.

He knocks on Rey’s door and hears him groan inside before the door opens.

This is how Rey has been acting ever since he came back with Jun from investigating the witch’s place; moody with everyone, including Kieran.

Ace hasn’t met with him since he went with the witches, and when Rey opens the door and sees him, Ace can literally see anger flush across his face.

Rey doesn’t even try to hide his annoyance. And Ace can’t help but feel like Rey has a problem, especially with him.

For a moment, Ace is too stunned to speak. He is not used to this kind of Rey. He is used to a teasing, ever smirking Rey.

"What is it? It’s pretty late," Rey says, his voice distant.

Ace doesn’t even know where to start. For a moment, anger finds its way inside him too, especially when he remembers how hurt Jun was when he realized Rey had a chance to go see him but didn’t.

Whatever Rey’s problem is, why is he being a jerk to everyone? And why, especially, to Jun?!

"Do you have a fucking problem?!" Ace snaps.

"What does it seem like to you, Ace? I’m tired. I need some fucking rest," Rey retorts, pushing the door closed, but he doesn’t get to shut it completely because Ace pushes it back open.

"You know, I actually thought you were an admirable, mature guy, but now I’m reconsidering my thoughts about you! Whatever the fuck your problem is, you don’t get to treat Jun however you feel like! Because I’m not going to let you! I thought now that he found someone reliable, I could breathe easy, knowing he’s happy. Seriously, Rey, you know how much he’s been through, and the last thing he needs is you being a jerk to him, especially when you know you make him happy! If you have a problem, why don’t you say it out loud instead of making it everyone else’s problem?!" freewēbnoveℓ.com

"I can’t do this right now!" That’s all Rey says before closing the door in Ace’s face.

Anger rolls through Ace, making his mark flicker. He pushes it down, taking in a deep breath before exhaling.

Now, he has no choice but to stride away in the darkness and find Jun.

He transforms and runs in his full wolf form.

There are only a few places he knows Jun goes when upset. He won’t go to the home they share with their parents. That’s for sure.

If not the cemetery, then the park. If not there, then his father’s hotel.

Using his sharp senses, Ace finds Jun at the hotel, and within a minute, he gets there.

It’s almost quiet because it’s nighttime, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t guests and night-shift workers.

After hiding in a spot where he can transform back, he heads straight to Jun’s office, which used to be his father’s. He doesn’t even knock, he enters cautiously.

Finds Jun sitting on the office chair, his head on the desk but it shoots up when he hears the door.

"Never thought of you as a night worker," he says, trying to lighten the mood, but Jun doesn’t answer him.

Ace can tell he’s been crying. Ace’s chest tightens, and he doesn’t care anymore if Jun is trying to push him away. He walks in quickly and pulls him into his arms.

Jun doesn’t push him away like he has been lately. He stays still, his body stiff, as if trying to stop himself from feeling Ace’s warmth, to resist letting himself relax.

But his body betrays him. He relaxes in Ace’s arms as silent tears roll down his chest.

"It’s okay," Ace whispers.

When Jun doesn’t say anything for a while, Ace adds, "Jun, I know you know that I would never brush you off for anything. But that day, it was really killing both of us, trying to keep the people we swore to protect safe from something we didn’t know when or how it would attack..."

Before Ace can finish, Jun cuts him off. "I know. I’m sorry I overreacted."

"I get it..." Ace says.

Silence.

Ace wants to ask if something happened between him and Rey, but he’s afraid it might bring up something Jun isn’t ready to talk about or want to hear.

"I don’t know what’s happening, but the fact that he totally ignored me is really killing me. We didn’t fight. I didn’t do anything that could possibly be the reason he’s acting this way toward me," Jun explains before Ace can even ask.

Ace’s arms are still wrapped around him.

"I don’t think you’re the problem." Ace says. "He’s being a dick to everyone. But regardless of whatever his problem is, he doesn’t get to treat you this way!" his anger toward Rey’s behavior toward Jun rising again.

"How do you know I’m not the problem?" Jun asks.

"Because I talked to him, and trust me, something is really troubling him. But the fact that he won’t speak up is just pissing me off," Ace answers.

Jun sighs heavily. "Well, fuck it. As long as I have you here with me, I actually don’t care. He can talk whenever he wants because I’m really not going to try after what he just made me feel."

Ace looks at him, wondering what to say.

He doesn’t care about his mate as long as I’m here with him?! Ace wonders. What does that even mean?!

"I know you’re tired. You sacrificed your rest time to come see me," Jun says when Ace doesn’t respond.

"I couldn’t sleep knowing I upset you and that Rey was being a jerk, and because of that, you were alone," Ace confesses.

Jun smiles. "I love you," he says, looking into Ace’s eyes.

For some reason, Ace hesitates to say it back, even though he knows Jun means it in a brotherly way.

"I love you," he finally says back.

"What now? Will you go back to rest at Kieran’s? You look terrible, you need some serious rest." Jun asks, knowing how tired Ace must be, and since they’re not home, they don’t have their own rooms to sleep in.

"No, it’s fine. I can’t go back now. I might even pass out on the way," Ace chuckles. He stands and walks to the large couch on the left of the desk.

He lets his body sink into it with a heavy sigh.

"Since I was planning to take a nap there, where am I supposed to sleep now?!" Jun asks, faking a frown.

"Here," Ace says casually, but before even a second passes, Jun is already collapsing onto his side.

Both of them are on the same couch. Though it’s large enough, for some reason, there seems to be tension between them for once.

"I really miss this," Jun mutters. "Just you and me, and nothing else to worry about. No mates, no wolves, no witches, none of that."

"Honestly, I can’t even remember what peace feels like anymore," Ace admits.

"Do you ever miss our past life? Do you ever miss "us?" Me and you?" Jun asks, making Ace’s heart tighten for some reason. But he brushes it off as overreacting.

"Of course. It used to be so much easier back then," he says.

Silence stretches between them as they look at each other before Ace reacts first, turning to his other side.

"Good night, Xiao Jun," he says.

"Good night," Jun answers in a whisper, turning to his side as well.