Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 183: Lila Back- Vegeance.

Kieran leans back in his chair, rubbing his temples as exhaustion sets in.

The night has stretched on longer than he expected. Lucy- no, Detective Lucy- has been providing sharp insights, her theories about the case holding more weight than he initially thought.

He hadn’t intended to entertain her for this long, but every time she spoke, her ideas pushed the investigation forward, making too much sense to ignore.

He had no idea she was this perceptive. And now, hours have slipped by.

Lucy sits across from him, a satisfied glimmer in her eyes as she leans back in her chair, stretching.

She’s kept him engaged with great ideas and leads, keeping him focused until the night is almost gone.

At some point, she suddenly slumps forward onto the desk, her breathing steadying as if she’s fallen asleep.

Kieran frowns. "Mrs. Richards?" he calls.

No response.

He sighs, rubbing his eyes.

He’s too drained to deal with this right now. He could wake her up, insist that she go home, but she seems completely out of it.

He isn’t about to carry her, and it’s not like she’s in his way, causing any harm by staying here.

With a tired exhale, he decides to let her be, at least for now.

He scribbles down a few notes, rereading the theories she helped form, and despite himself, he feels a sense of satisfaction.

At least we have something to work with now.

The case has been a dead end for too long, and Lucy, whether by sheer intelligence or luck, has managed to crack open possibilities that hadn’t crossed his mind before.

He keeps working, mind churning through the puzzle, until eventually, exhaustion overtakes him.

His head lowers onto his folded arms on the desk, sleep claiming him before he realizes it.

Lucy waits. Of course she was not asleep.

She remains still, her breathing even, making sure Kieran is completely asleep before she moves.

Slowly, she lifts her head, peeking at him through lowered lashes.

The room is quiet, only the sound of his steady breathing filling the space.

A slow, devious smile spreads across her lips.

She unbuttons her blouse, just enough to expose her collarbone, then reaches for the zipper of her skirt, loosening it slightly.

She’s meticulous, nothing too revealing, just enough to create the perfect illusion.

Her fingers trail lightly over her own skin as she ruffles her hair, ensuring she looks disheveled, just enough to be convincing.

She listens.

The building is still, but morning is creeping in. Any moment now.

She watches Kieran for another second. He doesn’t stir. Perfect.

Minutes pass, and frustration begins to gnaw at her. Where is he? Ace should have arrived by now.

He’s always early, always eager to see Kieran. What if Kieran wakes up before he gets here? Her plan would crumble.

Then, just as she’s about to retreat, the door creaks open.

She doesn’t turn immediately. Instead, she straightens, pretending to be buttoning up her blouse hastily, as if caught in an intimate moment.

Ace steps in, a bright smile on his face, clearly expecting to see Kieran waiting for him.

But the moment his eyes land on her, on the scene before him, he freezes. Lucy trying to button up first before going for her skirt.

His expression shifts instantly.

Lucy glances at him with a flicker of faux surprise before lowering her gaze, feigning embarrassment. "Oh... Mr. Carter," she murmurs, voice soft and full of false innocence. "I... I didn’t realize you just walk in without knocking." She clutches the front of her blouse, casting her eyes downward. "Please... keep this between us. I wouldn’t want Mr. Hale and me to lose our jobs."

Ace’s world tilts.

His heart pounds, from something sharp and suffocating. His breath catches in his throat, and for a long moment, he just stares.

Kieran stirs, groaning slightly from his sleep, missing everything.

Ace swallows. His pulse is erratic. His mind struggles to piece together what he has seen, what he has heard.

Lucy is gone before Kieran even lifts his head. He only catches her back, disappearing.

Kieran blinks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He doesn’t notice anything amiss at first

, until he sees Ace standing there, rigid, unmoving.

Kieran frowns. "I kinda knew you’d come this early," he says, amusement in his voice as he stretches. "You’re really stubborn, you know that."

But Ace doesn’t respond.

Instead, he turns sharply on his heel.

Kieran instantly knows something is wrong.

"Ace?" His voice loses its teasing edge as he stands up, following him. He catches up at the door, grabbing Ace’s wrist before he can leave.

Ace doesn’t look at him. His body is tense, trembling slightly. When he finally turns his gaze toward Kieran, his eyes shimmer with unshed tears.

His expression is unreadable, but the emotion in his stare is unmistakable.

Hurt.

Betrayal.

Anger.

Kieran’s stomach twists. "What’s wrong?"

Ace doesn’t answer immediately. His jaw clenches as he swallows thickly, his emotions barely contained.

Kieran follows his line of sight toward the empty desk, toward the seat where Lucy had been. His gut tells him she is the reason for this.

"We were just trying to figure things out," Kieran tries to explain, his voice careful, measured. "It was late, we got exhausted. We must’ve fallen asleep without realizing..."

"Right, I’ll use the bathroom," Ace mutters abruptly, turning away before Kieran can stop him.

Kieran watches him go, an unease settling in his chest.

Inside the bathroom, Ace locks the door behind him.

His hands tremble as he grips the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

His vision is blurred, but he refuses to acknowledge the tears gathering in his eyes.

Breathe.

Inhale.

Exhale.

But the pain doesn’t fade.

He presses his lips together, forcing himself to stay silent, to hold back the emotion clawing at his throat.

But it’s useless.

His body betrays him, shoulders shaking as he exhales a shuddering breath.

"This is stupid," he murmurs to himself. "I’m past this. Crying like a damn baby." He forces a strained chuckle, but it sounds hollow, empty. His reflection mocks him, red-rimmed eyes, trembling lips. He looks pathetic.

He grips the edges of the sink tighter.

"I should’ve seen this coming," he whispers. "How many times did he break me before? Shouldn’t I be used to this?" His voice cracks, but he swallows the pain, straightening his posture.

His breathing steadies, the storm within him dulling into something colder. Something final.

"If he really wants a woman, I should I force him into something he doesn’t want," he murmurs. "He never truly desired a man anyway."

The words sting, but they bring clarity.

This isn’t about him. This isn’t about his feelings.

But this won’t stop him from saving Haven City people, he grew up among humans, and nothing will stop him from protecting them.

He wipes his face swiftly, erasing all evidence of his emotions. He looks at himself once more, his expression neutral, impassive.

Good.

When he steps out of the bathroom, Kieran is still waiting, watching him closely. Ace doesn’t meet his gaze.

He walks straight to the desk, picking up the case files as if nothing had happened. His voice is even when he speaks.

"Let’s find the killer." Ace mutters, his fingers tightening around the papers as his eyes scan the words with growing unease. "Killing without leaving any trace... Dark powers?"

Kieran ignores him, talking about something totally different. "What is this about? Lucy? Is this really how you want us to live? Questioning each other over ridiculous suspicions?" His voice hardens. "Do you truly distrust me so much that you’d even entertain the thought that I could cheat on you, Ace?" Kieran’s tone is edged with frustration, but Ace refuses to back down.

"Are you here to save people or not?" Ace challenges, his gaze unwavering. "If you are, then stop dragging your personal grievances into this. If you keep acting like this, I’ll start to believe you don’t actually care about the people suffering out there, waiting for your help, while you stand here, consumed by your own personal issu..."

Before Ace can finish, Kieran moves in a blur, instinct overriding restraint. In a swift motion, he seizes Ace, pinning him almost forcefully against the wall.

His voice drops, low and raw with emotion. "I’m getting sick of this, you know that?" His grip tightens slightly. "I could push this aside and focus on my duty right now, but the truth is, I can’t. My mind refuses to work properly when I know things aren’t right between us!"

His voice rises, carrying the weight of unspoken turmoil. "So look at me, Ace." His fingers curl around Ace’s arms. "Look at me, look into my eyes and tell me you actually believe I would betray you!"

At that moment, just beyond the threshold, Lucy stands in the shadows, a smirk playing on her lips as she listens.

"You thought you had won, didn’t you?" she whispers, her eyes glinting with wicked amusement. "You fools! You burned me with your pathetic flames, but you forgot one thing, my spirit cannot be destroyed."

A sinister chuckle escapes her lips, a sound dripping with malice.

"My spirit has wandered homelessly for years because of you! And Now that my spirit inhabit another body, neither of you will ever suspect who I truly am. And I will ruin you both, inch by inch, until the agony is unbearable. Then, and only then, will I end your miserable lives and send you screaming into the depths of hell."

Her expression twists with dark delight as she breathes her final words.

"I am Lila, the unstoppable force of vengeance. Never forget that!"