Chapter 16
May 15, 2025
Kane’s blade sliced through the air—straight for Ace’s throat.
But before it could land, Rowan moved.
Clang!
His sword intercepted Kane’s in an instant, the force of his defense sending a shockwave through the room.
Kane’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Rowan—what the hell are you doing?”
Rowan didn’t lower his weapon. “Stand down.”
Kane’s nostrils flared. His gaze darted between Rowan and Ace, then locked onto Ace with pure disgust.
“This bitch is a girl?” he spat.
Rowan’s grip on his sword tightened. “Drop your weapon, Kane.”
Kane hesitated, still seething. “You’re seriously protecting her?”
“Drop it.”
Kane cursed under his breath but finally let his sword clatter to the floor.
Rowan turned to him. “Go get the man.”
Kane’s brows furrowed in confusion. “What?”
“The one who told you she was a woman. Go and get him now!”
Kane clenched his jaw, but after a tense moment, he spun on his heels and stormed out. Not before casting one last glare at Ace.
Silence settled between them.
Rowan exhaled, pressing his fingers to his temple before sinking back onto the bed. “Sit,” he ordered.
Ace hesitated. But she obeyed.
The silence between them felt heavy—suffocating.
It wasn’t long before the door swung open again, and Kane returned. Behind him was the man—alive and well. His expression twisted in resentment the moment his eyes landed on Ace.
Ace lowered her gaze, bracing herself.
Rowan spoke first. “Not another word from you.”
Donovan’s lips pressed together, but his anger still burned in his glare.
Rowan turned to the man. “I’ll grant you your freedom—if you vow to never say a word about what happened here. Ever.”
Kane whipped his head toward Rowan, his face a mask of utter disbelief. “What?”
Even the man looked stunned. “Y-You’re letting me go?”
Rowan leaned forward, his voice low and firm. “Yes. But if a single word of this leaves your mouth, I’ll personally hunt you down.”
Kane scoffed loudly. “Alpha, don’t tell me you want to protect this liar? A fraud? You should be ordering her execution, not this!”
Rowan shot Kane a sharp look. “Enough.”
Kane growled under his breath, shaking his head in frustration.
Rowan turned back to Donovan. “Do we have a deal?”
Donovan’s gaze flickered to Ace, still burning with resentment, but he knew better than to refuse Rowan’s mercy.
Slowly, he nodded. “I won’t say a word, Alpha.”
Rowan nodded in approval before shifting his attention to Ace. “Stand up.”
Ace stood immediately.
“Apologize to him.”
Ace stiffened. She knew why Rowan was making her do this. If she didn’t, the man would hold a grudge—and that was dangerous.
Taking a slow breath, she turned to him and bowed her head slightly. “I’m sorry for hurting you.”
Donovan didn’t respond, only glaring.
Rowan’s voice cut through the tension as he turned slightly back to Donovan. “You, too.”
The room fell silent.
Kane blinked, Donovan stiffened and Ace’s eyes snapped up in shock.
Donovan gaped at Rowan. “What?”
Kane let out a laugh of disbelief. “Wait—you want him to apologize? To her?”
Rowan’s expression was unwavering. “Yes.”
Donovan’s face twisted in outrage. “Why the hell should I apologize to her?”
Rowan’s voice was lethal. “Because you struck her first.”
Donovan’s hands clenched into fists, but under Rowan’s commanding presence, he knew he had no choice.
His lips curled in distaste as he muttered, “I’m… sorry.”
Rowan gave a sharp nod. “Good. Now leave.”
The man hesitated for only a moment before turning and walking out, his steps heavy with lingering anger.
Kane let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. “I can’t believe this.” He folded his arms, eyes narrowing at Rowan. “You’re not going to explain why you’re suddenly protecting a liar?”
Rowan didn’t answer.
“This is about why you went to Ravelwood today, isn’t it?”
Ace’s eyes snapped to Rowan. He went to Ravelwood?
Rowan’s gaze darkened. “Yes.”
Kane snorted as he put the pieces together. Rowan had become suspicious of Ace and he thought he could find out about his suspicions by going to her Pack to find out who she really was.
Rowan’s eyes flickered to Ace before returning to Kane. “When she got injured, you put her on my back.”
Kane’s brows furrowed. “Yeah. So?”
Rowan’s voice was measured. “I felt something. Something… off.”
Kane’s eyes widened slightly, realization dawned on him.
Rowan continued, his voice cold and controlled. “But I kept denying it. So, I went to Ravelwood to confirm my suspicions.”
Ace swallowed hard.
Kane let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head in amusement. “So, she really fooled everyone?” He turned to Ace with a smirk. “Damn, I almost respect it.”
Ace remained silent, her stomach churning.
But then Kane’s smirk disappeared. “Still, deception is deception. She should be punished.”
Rowan didn’t answer. Kane’s voice turned hard. “Rowan, she’s a fraud. You have to—”
“No.”
Kain froze.
Rowan’s voice left no room for argument.
Kain stared at him in disbelief. “Don’t tell me… you’re actually protecting her?”
Rowan’s jaw tightened. “She saved my life. Twice.”
Kane scoffed. “So what?”
Rowan’s voice hardened. “She killed Dante.”
That shut Kane up.
Rowan stood, his eyes locked onto Kain’s. “She’s worth keeping by my side.”
Kane narrowed his eyes. “Rowan…”
“She has the qualities of a Luna.”
Ace’s breath hitched.
Kane’s entire body tensed. “What? Rowan, don’t—”
“And most importantly,” Rowan cut Kane short, voice dropping to a near whisper. “She is my mate.”
Kane’s eyes went wide. “WHAT?!”
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