Ace trembles in Kieran's arms, the bond pulling at him like a tide he can't escape.
His heartbeat races, the heat of Kieran's body against his own driving him to the edge.
He tilts his face upward, his lips brushing the edge of Kieran's neck.
The pull is overwhelming, all-consuming, and before he can think, he starts to lean in further, his instincts taking over.
He touches Kieran's chest, his hand moving down to Kieran's stomach and then under his shirt. "Touch me , please, I want to feel it, I need to fee__" As though drunk, Ace says, his words stopping as his lips brushes on Kieran's.
But Kieran freezes.
His grip loosens, and before Ace can make the kiss go further, Kieran pulls back.
His breath is ragged, his hands curling into fists at his sides as he struggles to steady himself.
"Why?" Ace's voice cracks with confusion and hurt. "Why are you doing this to me, I didn't ask for this so why are you making it harder for me?"
Kieran avoids his gaze, the tension in his body radiating outward. "I can't do this," he mutters, his voice hoarse.
The words hit Ace like a slap. "What do you mean, you can't?" he demands, his emotions spilling over. "We already did it, so why not?"
"We might have but I wasn't in my right mind, I didn't know I was doing it until it was over , I've told you already, I can't be with a man, if you want this that much then accept the soul swapping." Kieran says without hesitation.
The frustration that's been building for weeks in Ace finally boils over. "You know what? How about you fucking swap your own soul because I am never doing that, if this feeling inside of me can kill me then let them do so because am not allowing my soul to be transferred in some woman's body. Besides , I like it with men, when am a man myself , so go away with your homophobic traits and never come looking for me for any reason! In fact, am done with all these bulshit__ mate , alpha , wolf , bond , pull ! All that madness! I can't believe am betraying my boyfriend for all this madness!"
Kieran's head snaps up, his eyes glowing at once. "What did you just say?" he growls, his voice low and dangerous.
Ace doesn't back down. "I've said a lot , so which part do you want me to repeat?"
"You don't get it , do you? No one , and I mean no one gets to put their hands on you unless it's me!" Kieran's voice is a deadly whisper, his wolf's presence bleeding through his words.
"And you also don't get it, do you? I said am done with you and all the madness that you've somehow inserted in my life. You took my first time which was reserved for him! Well thank heavens you didn't let it happen again today so maybe tonight he can at least take my second ti__!"
Ace challenges, his chest heaving.
Not that he is saying all these to try and provoke and make Kieran jealous or something, he just wants to scream out these words so maybe everything that's chaos in his life could just end and go back to the way they were.
"Enough!" Kieran roars, cutting him before he could finish his sentence. Kieran's voice reverberates through the room.
The force of it makes Ace flinch, but his anger keeps him standing firm.
Kieran takes a step closer, his eyes glowing with raw fury. His wolf snarls within him, the thought of anyone else touching Ace driving him to the edge. "I said and I'll say again , You don't get to let anyone else touch you," he growls, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Not while I'm alive. Not while we're bonded. Do you understand me? And that so called boyfriend of yours, is either you stop the relationship with him, or you'll never see him again in your remaining entire life!"
Ace's heart stops then starts pounding in his chest. And even so , he doesn't let Kieran see that he has somehow defeated him.
"You do that, and you__! You will never see me too in the remaining entire life of yours. I don't know what your problem is! You don't want me , so what's the point of all these threats?! I'll be with whoever wants me , because you can't just walk into my adult life and start controlling it, ruining what I've had with someone who loves me!"
Kieran's body shakes with the effort of holding himself back. His wolf demands action, demands he claim Ace once more maybe to make it clear to him, but Kieran forces it down, his human side barely in control. "You have no idea what you're saying," he mutters, his voice tight. "No idea what you are."
"Maybe I would have known and understood if you helped me , instead of making my life harder!" Ace shouts, throwing his hands up. "Stop treating me like I'm some fragile thing you have to protect and actually tell me the truth!"
But Kieran doesn't answer. Instead, his eyes harden, and he takes another step toward Ace. "If you won't listen to reason, I'll make you listen."
Ace's stomach drops. "What the hell does that mean?" he asks, backing away.
Kieran doesn't respond. In one swift motion, he grabs Ace's arm, his grip firm but not painful. Ace struggles against him, his heart racing. "Let me go!" he shouts, thrashing in Kieran's hold.
"You're coming with me," Kieran says, his voice cold and unyielding.
Ace fights back, but Kieran's strength is overwhelming.
Ace doesn't fully understand his powers yet, doesn't know how to tap into the energy that simmers beneath his skin. Kieran overpowers him easily, dragging him toward the door.
"Kieran, stop!" Ace yells, his voice breaking. "You can't just—"
"I can, and I will, since you don't want to listen!" Kieran interrupts, his voice sharp. "You're out of control, and until you learn what you are, I'm not letting you destroy yourself—or me."
Ace glares at him, his chest heaving with anger and betrayal. "You're insane," he spits. "You can't keep me. I'm not your prisoner!"
Kieran doesn't respond. He pushes Ace into the car, locking the doors before Ace can escape.
The ride is tense, the air thick with unspoken words. Ace stares out the window, his hands clenched into fists as he fights the urge to scream.
When they arrive at the mansion, Kieran doesn't let anyone see Ace. He moves swiftly through the halls, his grip on Ace's arm never loosening.
The few pack members they pass glance curiously, but Kieran's icy glare keeps them silent.
He leads Ace to a secluded part of the mansion, a wing Ace has never seen before. At the end of the hallway, Kieran opens a door to a large, luxurious room. The air inside is cool and still, as though the room has been untouched for years.
"This is where you'll stay until you understand what you were born to be," Kieran says, pushing Ace inside.