Ace walks away without a word, leaving Kieran and Jun standing there.
"I hope he finds soone cool. Seriously, he has been through a lot, and he deserves soone who will take good care of him," Jun presses on.
"Kieran, look at that guy... do you think he has a mate? I think my brother might like him. He has so features that almost resemble yours, and since Ace liked you, he might like him too." Jun gestures toward a man across the room. "I’ll talk to him and see if he has soone. I hope not."
Before he can leave, Kieran pulls him back. "What nonsense are you talking about?!" His voice is low and dangerous.
"Nonsense?! You call this nonsense?! Which part sounds like nonsense anyway? Because I realize I’ve said a lot," Jun says amusingly.
Kieran is unable to pinpoint exactly what he ant.
"Oh, by the way, did you get the woman to present to the Moon Goddess? Ace said it’s supposed to be on the first day of the mating season. Is that true?" Jun presses further.
Before Kieran can respond, Jun suddenly exclaims, "Holy bananas! Look! I told you that guy is Ace’s type! They found each other, and the way Ace is laughing... that guy must be funny."
Kieran can’t stand it any longer. He is unsettled_ not his wolf, but his human side.
He storms out of the grand hall, needing air_ or maybe just a place where he won’t have to watch Ace standing there with another man, laughing like that. Like he’s never seen Ace laugh since they mated.
Jun knows he has hit a nerve. He knows Kieran feels sothing for Ace, but Kieran is stubborn, and he won’t admit it.
After Kieran walks out, Jun remains inside, his own emotions creeping up on him.
That sa warmth. That sa heat in his body. The need gnaws at him as he tries to act normal, though he can see most of the wolves walking in pairs lately, closer than usual.
anwhile, Kieran heads straight to his study, pacing as his emotions spiral out of control.
He is feeling the effects of the mating season too, and seeing Ace only amplifies his need. But watching Ace with soone else gnaws at him even more.
Still, he refuses to admit that maybe_ just maybe_ he feels sothing for Ace.
_
The day moves swiftly, night approaching with its looming disasters as the first day of mating season draws near.
Ace wants to leave, but Xiao Jun won’t listen to him. He can’t help but suspect Jun has another agenda in the mansion.
The reason Ace wants to leave impatiently is because the approaching season does things to them, and the last thing he wants is to be near Kieran. What if he loses control and finds himself begging Kieran again?
He would rather die than look desperate in front of him.
By now, the other guests have left_ so of them mad, since Kieran has been acting like their presence doesn’t concern him.
_
But Kieran is busy growing restless, the heat inevitable.
He has experienced difficult mating seasons before, in those days when he couldn’t find his mate. But this ti, the feeling is overwhelming.
He needs soone.
He walks into the grand hall.
Jun and Ace are talking about sothing, but the mont Jun sees Kieran, he suddenly makes an excuse to leave.
"Oh! I just rembered sothing," Jun announces and slips away.
Ace is startled.
Why does it feel like Jun is trying to force Kieran and him together?
For a mont, Ace wants to leave too_ he is not ready to lose himself in Kieran. But Kieran grabs his hand.
His eyes beg for Ace’s closeness, but his mouth refuses to say the words.
"What?" Ace asks, confused by Kieran’s actions.
"I... want to know," Kieran says, stepping closer. His body is completely out of control. Well, not just his body_ his mind and soul too.
Ace moves backward. "To know what?"
"If we could help each other through this season," Kieran says. Even though he doesn’t want to admit it, the words slip out before he can stop them.
"Help each other? How? Is there a problem?" Ace asks, unaware of Kieran’s true intentions.
"Not exactly a problem... about the mates," Kieran explains, clearly struggling.
"Oh," Ace exclaims, trying to keep himself composed around Kieran. "You an, you want us to help each other find mates?" He asks, masking every ounce of his pain. He refuses to show it. "For ... I already have soone in mind, but I can help you find soone reliable. I an, why not? We’re like friends. We’ve been through a lot together, and I would gladly help a fri..."
"That’s not what I’m talking about!" Kieran snaps, unable to stand Ace’s responses.
"Oh... It’s not? Then what are you talking about?" Ace asks.
"Why are you pretending like you don’t know what I’m talking about?! I know you know!" Kieran snaps, his composure clearly running out.
"Why are you speaking in riddles?! Seriously, if you don’t want to talk, then I’m leaving," Ace says, turning away.
But Kieran stops him again by grabbing his hand, "Ace..."
"What?!" Ace’s patience is running out too. "Seriously, I’m not into guessing whatever you’re trying to say to right now. Every ti, you do this that! It’s always the sa! I’m always the one left wondering: What is Kieran up to? Why did he do this? Why did he say that? What is he thinking?! ...You know what? I’m tired! So if you ever have sothing to say to , say it straight and forward!" Ace snaps, storming off.
Kieran moves fast, pinning him to the wall. He knows Ace is fight, he does things to him without even a single explanation.
"What am trying to say is that_ You can’t just pick anyone, Ace. So stranger_ and present him to the goddess! Do you even know what kind of person that man is?! And yet, here you are, claiming to settle with him already when you just t him a few minutes ago!" Kieran snaps, masking his own insecurities.
"Actually, Kieran, you have no right to stand here and lecture on who I should be with. And besides, if Rey isn’t a good person, that doesn’t concern you. That’s my problem_ mine and his alone. So instead of cornering here and lecturing on the kind of a person I should be with, why don’t you focus on finding the woman who will satisfy you the way you want? And present her to the moon goddess!"
"It is our problem! Actually, it’s the pack’s problem! Because if you’re not okay, that affects everyone! You’re the protector of this pack_ are you forgetting that?! And that’s exactly why the Moon Goddess lets us choose people we are comfortable with! Because we should be comfortable enough to work effectively." Kieran insists.
"Right. And I’m comfortable with Rey. So why don’t you mind your own business?"
This ti, Ace walks away before Kieran can stop him.
Xiao Jun watches in frustration. "Ugh! This idiot! Why doesn’t he just admit that he has feelings for Ace?!" he mutters to himself.
A mont later, Rey passes by on his way to Kieran’s study.
Rey is the newly appointed council mber, chosen by the elders and Kieran himself to replace Dren as Kieran’s right-hand man.
He notices Jun eavesdropping and stealing glances at sothing.
He can’t help but join him.
Jun barely notices soone behind him, but the overwhelming emotions from last night hit him full force, the heat rushes through him.
He groans at the feeling,
And when Rey suddenly speaks behind him, Jun jerks_ accidentally bumping into him.
"Easy, easy now," Rey smirks, staring at Jun longer than necessary.
Jun’s body reacts before he manages to step away.
"I know what you’re trying to do," Rey announces.
"What?" Jun asks, staring at him, confused.
"He won’t admit it." He says gesturing to Kieran, "Trust , I’ve known him long enough to know that. But he is in love though," Rey adds, catching Jun off guard.
"You know?!" Jun asks, surprised. "Haven’t you just arrived at this mansion like a few weeks ago?!"
"Yeah, but not the pack. I’ve been under his rule for as long as I can rember. And besides, Dren was my best friend_ I’ve been around here a lot."
"Then how co I’ve never seen you?" Jun asks.
"Maybe because you just didn’t want to see ," Rey chuckles. "But I’ve seen you around plenty. From the first day you ca here looking for Ace, blazing with fire." He smirks. "Actually, it was kinda adorable."
Jun stares blankly. ’It was kinda adorable?!’
Before he can fully process that, Rey adds, "You know, the mont I saw you walk in today, sothing in ... reacted. Maybe amusent? I thought you’d never co here again. Don’t get wrong_ I admire your confidence and your attitude. If you’re staying, that ans I can learn a lot from you."
Jun can literally feel his face burning.
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