Alpha's mate is a male?!?-Chapter 165: Oblivion of the effect, Or Seduction..

The way Ace addresses him, so impersonal, so detached, is suffocating.

And yet, the words strike something deep within him. It’s like a cruel tease, mocking the intimacy they once shared.

But beneath it, Kieran senses the truth-- Ace is crumbling inside, and this is his way of reaching out, even if he won’t admit it.

Kieran doesn’t answer. He can’t. He is frozen, trapped in the whirlwind of emotions he can’t express.

Ace waits a beat, but when Kieran says nothing, he merely walks past him, brushing against his shoulder ever so slightly.

"When you feel like it, then find me in bed," Ace murmurs, voice softer now, before disappearing out of the hall.

Kieran remains rooted in place, staring at the spot where Ace just stood.

The silence is deafening.

Rey shifts uncomfortably in his seat before finally speaking. "Go."

Kieran’s eyes flicker toward him, but Rey doesn’t waver.

"This is your chance," Rey says, his tone firm but gentle. "Make him let out his emotions. Just try. Talk to him." He glances toward the door Ace just walked through. "I’ll keep everything under control here."

Kieran doesn’t say a word. He simply turns on his heel and walks out.

And for the first time in a long time, he feels like he has a purpose again.

Kieran follows him, but even as he walks toward the room, his heart pounds against his ribs.

Each step feels heavier than the last, like the weight of everything-- grief, regret, confusion, is pressing down on him all at once.

He pauses briefly in front of the door, taking a slow breath to steady himself.

The silence beyond it is unnerving. For a second, he wonders if Ace is already asleep. If maybe he should turn back and give him space.

But no, Ace is barely holding himself together, and Kieran knows it. If he leaves now, he might never get another chance to reach him.

Pushing the door open, he steps inside.

The room is empty.

For a moment, panic flickers through him, but then he hears the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. The faint patter of droplets hitting tile.

Kieran hesitates. Should he wait? Call out to him?

Before he can decide, the water stops, and the door swings open.

Ace steps out, steam curling around his figure, his skin still glistening with moisture.

Water drips from his damp hair, sliding down the sharp planes of his body, tracing along every defined muscle before disappearing below his waist.

He isn’t wearing a towel. Not even a single piece of clothing covers him.

Kieran stiffens, his entire body locking in place. His breath catches in his throat, and for a split second, his gaze betrays him, lowering before he forces himself to look away.

His jaw clenches as he stares at the wall, the floor, anywhere but at Ace’s bare form.

Damn it.

This is not the time for other thoughts. He can’t afford to let his mind wander, not now. Not when Ace is in this state.

But Ace... Ace makes it hard.

He stands there, completely unbothered by his own nudity, as if daring Kieran to react. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something in his eyes, something sharp, something almost taunting.

Kieran swallows hard, hands balling into fists at his sides.

But Ace just walks across the room to the closet, his movements slow, almost aimless.

He pulls open the wooden doors, his fingers grazing over the neatly folded clothes inside, but after a moment of staring, he simply shuts it without taking anything.

Kieran clenches his jaw, silently cursing under his breath. He was hoping, no, praying that Ace would grab something, anything, and cover himself, sparing Kieran the torture of trying to look anywhere but at him.

But, of course, Ace does nothing of the sort.

Instead, he strides toward the bedside table, opening the drawer with a soft click.

He pulls out a bottle of body oil, his expression unreadable as he pours some into his palm.

The scent of something faintly sweet fills the air as he spreads it over his damp skin, rubbing it in with slow, deliberate movements.

Kieran forces himself to keep his gaze trained on the ceiling, then the floor, anywhere but at Ace’s glistening skin.

"Why aren’t you getting in bed?" Ace asks casually, as if completely unaware of the effect he’s having on him. "Aren’t you tired? I mean, you were one of those running up and down, day and night. You look terrible."

Kieran swallows hard. His exhaustion is a fact, he can feel the weight of it pressing on his shoulders, dragging down his limbs. But at this moment, tiredness is the last thing on his mind.

Ace finishes applying the oil, then, to Kieran’s dismay, climbs into bed just like that, completely bare, without even the slightest concern.

Kieran stiffens, his fists clenching at his sides as he tries to focus on his own breathing.

He tells himself that this isn’t a big deal, that Ace is probably doing this without thinking, that there are far bigger issues between them right now than his lack of clothing.

But Kieran’s body doesn’t care about logic. It doesn’t care that they are at odds, or that grief is still hanging over them like a heavy storm cloud.

It reacts to Ace as it always does, instinctively, hungrily, betraying him.

Kieran clenches his jaw and makes up his mind. He cannot get into bed with Ace like this.

Not now.

Not when his own control feels so dangerously thin. But then he remembers Ace’s earlier words. I feel drained, Alpha. Do you want to hold me to sleep?

Ace had asked for this. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

And if Kieran refuses now, if he creates even more distance between them, it will only make things worse.

Gritting his teeth, he forces himself to move, slowly lowering himself onto the bed.

He keeps his body stiff, careful not to let himself sink too close. The space between them feels unbearably vast despite how small it actually is.

Seconds pass. Then Ace shifts beside him.

"Is that what you call holding me to sleep?" Ace’s voice is quiet but firm. "I feel like I’m alone in this bed."

Kieran exhales shakily, his fingers twitching against the mattress. He knows what Ace wants from him. But does he have the control to give it?

But still, he has no choice but to move closer, the weight of Ace’s words pressing on him like an unshakable command.

Slowly, hesitantly, he shifts, his arm crossing over Ace’s waist. His fingers barely brush against Ace’s bare skin, but even that light contact sends a jolt through him.

He holds his breath, forcing himself to stay still, to ignore the way Ace’s warmth seeps into him, to pretend that this is nothing.

"Ugh, this is not helping," Ace mutters, his voice carrying a hint of frustration as he suddenly sits up.

Kieran watches him, confused, but before he can ask, Ace reaches for his shirt.

His fingers move deftly, undoing one button after another, the fabric parting to expose Kieran’s chest.

Kieran stiffens, his entire body going rigid, his breath caught in his throat.

"Ace..." he starts, but the words die as Ace pushes the shirt open, leaving Kieran’s chest bare.

Then, without hesitation, he lowers himself back down, resting his head against Kieran’s chest as if it belongs there.

The warmth of Ace’s skin against his own sends another shiver through Kieran, his pulse quickening in a way he can’t control.

Ace’s hand hovers just above his chest, close enough for Kieran to feel the heat radiating from it.

Kieran swallows hard, his jaw tightening. This is torture. Pure, absolute torture.

Ace snuggles in closer, his body pressing fully against Kieran’s side. For a brief moment, he goes still.

The room is silent, save for the sound of their breathing. Kieran isn’t sure what Ace is thinking, but he knows what he himself is feeling, an unbearable mixture of longing, restraint, and an exhaustion so deep it feels like it’s dragging him under.

He exhales shakily, his arm tightening just slightly around Ace’s waist, trying to ground himself.

But the more he tries to control his thoughts, the worse it gets.

Ace’s bare skin is warm against his own, his scent familiar yet overwhelming, and Kieran wonders, for the hundredth time, how he is supposed to endure this without losing himself completely.

Kieran thinks... if only Ace was dressed in something, maybe this wouldn’t be this torturous.

Maybe he wouldn’t be struggling so much to keep his breathing steady, to keep his thoughts from wandering to places they shouldn’t go.

Maybe he wouldn’t be feeling the heat of Ace’s bare skin against his own like a slow-burning fire threatening to consume him.

But Ace isn’t wearing anything, and Kieran has no choice but to deal with it.

His body is stiff, muscles tense beneath Ace’s weight as he tries, tries so damn hard, not to react.

But how could he not? The sensation of Ace’s smooth skin pressing against his side, the warmth of his breath fanning over Kieran’s chest, the way his fingers linger just above his skin, not quite touching, yet still managing to drive Kieran insane, it’s too much.