After Ace left Kieran and Jun fighting, he went straight to Marsel's home.
He couldn't take it anymore—the shouting, the tension, the weight of everything crashing down on him.
Kieran and Jun's arguments were relentless, circling around him like vultures, picking at the remnants of his frayed patience.
Each word they threw at each other felt like a blow to his chest, a reminder of how trapped he was in the middle of their clashing emotions.
Neither man seemed to notice how much their bickering was suffocating him.
The air around them had grown too thick to breathe, and Ace felt like he might explode if he stayed even a moment longer.
He needed air.
He needed quiet.
The forest path to Marsel's home was shrouded in a calming silence, broken only by the rhythmic crunch of his boots against the ground.
The crisp air bit at his cheeks, the cool sting a welcome contrast to the heat of the confrontation he'd just left behind.
The towering pines stretched high above him, their needles whispering softly in the breeze, offering a kind of solace he hadn't known he needed.
He didn't have a plan—his legs moved of their own accord, guiding him toward the one place that felt like a sanctuary.
Each step through the familiar woods brought back fragments of memories: quiet conversations by the fire, the scent of Elira's cooking wafting through the air, Marsel's steady, reassuring presence.
'°
By the time he reaches the modest, welcoming house nestled on the edge of the woods, it's night again.
The sight of the cottage, with its warm glow spilling from the windows, stops him in his tracks.
For a moment, he hesitates , staring at the intricately carved door.
Summoning a breath, Ace raises his hand and knock softly.
The sound seems to echo louder than he expected in the stillness.
Within moments, the door creaks open, and Elira's face appears.
Her sharp, knowing eyes softens as they land on him, and her lips curve into a wide, understanding smile.
"Ace," she says gently, stepping aside to let him in. Her voice carries the warmth of someone who has been expecting him, even if she hasn't. "We weren't expecting you."
"I… need a break," Ace admits, his voice raw and subdued. He feels the weight of his exhaustion settle deeper as the words leave his lips. "Things are… complicated."
Elira places a comforting hand on his shoulder, her touch light but grounding. "Come in," she says, guiding him inside. "You're always welcome here. Am happy you remembered here."
The scent of herbs and spices immediately envelops him, wrapping around his senses like a blanket.
The faint crackle of the fireplace in the corner adds to the cozy atmosphere, and for the first time in what feels like hours, Ace's shoulders relax.
Marsel is seated in a high-backed chair by the fire, a thick book open in his lap.
He looks up as Ace enters, his keen gaze softening with recognition. "You look like you've been through a storm," Marsel says, closing the book and setting it aside. "Come, sit. Let the fire chase away the cold."
Ace sinks into the chair across from him, letting the warmth of the flames seep into his skin.
He leans back, closing his eyes for a moment as the tension in his body slowly ebbs.
"I'll get you something to eat dear." Elira says but Ace stops her.
"No please, am fine.
It's not just a storm," Ace finally murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's a hurricane."
Elira moves to sit beside Marsel, her hands folding neatly in her lap.
Her gaze never wavers from Ace, her quiet understanding shining through. "Tell us," she says gently, her voice encouraging him to unburden himself.
Ace hesitates, his gaze flickering between the two of them. But the weight of everything he has been carrying is too much to bear alone anymore. Slowly, he begins to speak.
He tells them about Kieran's cold indifference, about the way Jun's love feels like both a lifeline and a chain.
He recounts the endless arguments, the growing tension, and how it all seems to revolve around him.
He speaks of Lila's looming presence, how they delt with her and unfortunately ran, and the way it feels like her shadow still lingers over the pack.
"I came here because… I need some peace," he admits, his voice breaking slightly. "But I don't even know if I can have that anymore."
Elira reaches across the table, placing a hand over his.
Her touch is warm, steady, and it sends a strange pang through Ace's chest. "You can always find peace here," she says, her voice firm. "This is your home as much as it is ours."
Ace's throat tightens at her words. Home. Why does it feel so true, so right, when he barely knows them?
Marsel leans forward, his expression serious but not unkind. "You mentioned Kieran and Jun," he says. "Why are they fighting?"
"I don't know," he finally admits. "Jun is upset with Kieran, but neither of them will tell me why. It's like there's this tension between them, and I'm stuck in the middle."
He looks down at his hands, his shoulders slumping. "There's still a problem I haven't solved__ telling Jun the truth , and seeing them like that just kills me. I don't know what to think anymore. Am confused, Kieran barely talks to me and am supposed to be with him, and Jun… Jun loves me, he takes risks for me, stays by my side even when he doesn't have to. I don't know what to do. Should I just… move on? Forget about Kieran and focus on Jun? Can I even do that, with the bond between Kieran and me still there?"
The room falls into a heavy silence, the weight of Ace's words settling over them like a thick fog.
Marsel exchanges a glance with Elira before leaning forward, his expression careful. "Ace," he begins, his voice steady, "have you noticed anything… different since yesterday? About yourself? About Kieran?"
Ace frowns, his brow knitting in confusion. "Different? What do you mean?"
Marsel's gaze sharpens. "The mate bond. Have you felt it? Truly felt it?"
Ace's chest tightens as he searches his memory. "I… I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. Everything's been so chaotic."
"What about the mark, the mark Kieran made on you? Is it still there?" Marsel urges, his voice quiet but insistent.
Ace hesitates, his pulse quickening. Slowly, he presses his palm against his neck, where the mark made that night never faded nor his skin smooth. Closing his eyes as he tries to sense the familiar tug—the invisible thread that has always tied him to Kieran.
But there's nothing.
His eyes fly open, panic flashing in them. "It's gone," he breathes, his voice shaking. "I... wh... What does that mean?"
Marsel's expression is grave as he leans back in his chair. "It means the Moon Goddess has severed your bond. You and Kieran are no longer tied by fate. You're free to choose your own path now."
Ace's mind reels. The bond is gone? It doesn't make sense. "When… when did this happen? Why didn't I feel it?"
Elira's voice is soft, soothing. "Maybe because you've been too consumed to realize it."
Her words hit him like a wave, and he leans back in his chair, his thoughts spinning. He is free.
The bond is gone.
But instead of relief, he feels… lost.
"Why did the moon goddess severe our bond? Is it because I did something wrong? Did I not do what she wanted me to do? Wh..."
Marsel's voice breaks through the haze. "No, that's not it, you have done a great Job, and still you have to deal with Lila until she is no more. You and Kieran. I don't know the real reason why the moon goddess did it , but it's not any of your fault, maybe she thought you were struggling with the bond. You have a choice now, Ace. A real choice. But before you make it, take the time to figure out what you truly want."
For the first time, Ace feels like his future is in his hands. But the weight of that freedom is both terrifying and exhilarating.