Shadow of doubt.

After Ace collapses , Kieran seem to unfreeze.

He is at Ace's side in an instant, his wolf growling low and restless, clawing at him with an urgency that's hard to ignore.

"Ace?" Kieran's voice comes out sharper than intended, betraying the concern he doesn't want to admit he feels.

He presses two fingers to Ace's neck, searching for a pulse. Relief floods him when he finds it—strong and steady.

Lila, still standing in the corner, lets out her shock. "What on earth was that?! I mean , what just happened?! Did he just burn Carrissa to ashes?! What kind of dark magic is th..."

Her voice grates against Kieran's ears, and he snaps his head toward her. "Shut up."

She flinches, her confidence wavering for a moment. Her shock still raw.

But then she is at it again, "I should shut up?! Did you see what he just did? He's dangerous"

Kieran's gaze flicks back to Ace, his mind racing.

Dangerous.

The word sticks in his head, and he can't shake it.

The light, the power that erupted from Ace—it wasn't normal. It wasn't even something Kieran could understand.

His wolf doesn't see it that way, though.

The animal inside him is restless, protective, almost desperate to shield Ace from harm.

But Kieran can't ignore what he saw. That wasn't the act of someone harmless.

"He's hiding something," Kieran mutters, more to himself than to Lila.

"Of course he is!" Lila snaps, stepping closer. Her eyes narrow, her tone dripping with venom. "You saw what he did. That wasn't just a wolf, Kieran, and definitely not a human. He's been lying to you this whole time."

Kieran's jaw tightens.

His wolf growls again, a low rumble that echoes in his chest.

He can't deny that Lila has a point. Whatever Ace is, he hasn't been honest about it.

"I need to find answers, to know what he is , he might be a danger to the pack pretending to be innocent, but what I don't understand is why the goddess would mate me with a mysterious person! Is it a test?! Or did I mistake the bond?! But that's not possible because am totally pulled to him! Could it be that he used his magic powers somehow to make me feel the fake bond?! This is driving me crazy!" Kieran says, his voice cold and detached. Now pacing around.

"He'll wake up soon," Lila says, as if afraid of what Ace would do if he wakes up now.

Kieran glances at her, catching the subtle shift in her demeanor. "What are you thinking?" he asks, his voice low.

"I'm thinking," Lila begins, her tone measured, "that we've been underestimating him. That power he unleashed—it's not normal, Kieran. And it's definitely not something a regular wolf should have. Maybe all the doubts you've mentioned are true, maybe he is really not your mate, he has all that power, he might have lured you into a trap!"

Her words hit a nerve, and Kieran straightens, his hands clenching into fists. "You think I don't know that?"

"I'm just saying," Lila continues, her voice smooth but tinged with irritation, "we need to be smart about this. Whatever he is, whatever he's hiding—it could be dangerous. For both of us."

Kieran's eyes narrow. "You seem awfully interested in this."

"Of course I am. You should be, too. That kind of power—it's not something we can ignore." ~If I can figure out what he is, maybe I can use it~ she thinks to herself.

Kieran doesn't respond. Instead, he turns back to Ace, who remains unconscious, his face pale but peaceful.

The sight stirs something in Kieran—something protective, despite the doubt clouding his mind.

"Stay here," Kieran orders, his voice firm. "I need to think."

Lila raises an eyebrow but doesn't argue. She watches silently as Kieran steps out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Left alone with Ace, Lila's mask slips. Her confidence wavers, replaced by frustration and something darker. She moves closer to the bed, her gaze narrowing as she studies Ace's face.

"What are you?" she murmurs, her voice barely audible.

Her mind races, piecing together the fragments of what she's witnessed.

The power Ace unleashed—it wasn't just raw energy. It was something primal, something ancient. And it had burned the witch to ashes in an instant.

Lila's fingers twitch at her sides, a surge of greed coursing through her veins.

Power like that—power that could destroy so effortlessly—it's exactly what she's been searching for.

But she knows she has to be careful. Kieran might be blinded by whatever bond he thinks he has with Ace, but Lila isn't.

She sees the opportunity in front of her, and she won't let it slip away.

Her lips curl into a smirk as a plan begins to form in her mind. If she can figure out how to harness that power, Ace's fate will be sealed. And if Kieran stands in her way? Well, she's dealt with obstacles before.

Kieran, meanwhile, paces in his study, his thoughts a chaotic mess. His wolf is restless, growling and snarling at him for doubting Ace. But the rational part of him can't ignore what he saw.

That light, that power—it wasn't natural. It wasn't something any wolf should possess. And if Ace has been hiding something this big, what else is he keeping from them?

A knock at the door pulls Kieran from his thoughts.

"It's me," Lila says, stepping inside without waiting for permission.

Kieran looks at her, his expression hard. "What do you want?"

"We need to deal with the witch's body, I mean , ashes," She says, her tone practical. "We can't just leave it there. Someone will notice eventually."

Kieran sighs, running a hand through his hair. "We'll bury it in the woods tonight."

Lila nods, but her gaze lingers on him, her expression unreadable. "You're doing the right thing, Kieran. Keeping him here. We need to figure out what he is before it's too late."

Kieran doesn't respond. He knows she's right, but something about her words—about her—feels off.

Later that night, they carry the witch's ash carefully just incase she comes back to hound them___ deep into the forest, the air heavy with tension.

The ground is cold and unyielding as Kieran digs, his thoughts swirling with doubt and unease.

Lila watches him silently, her mind elsewhere. Her earlier fear has been replaced by determination.

Whatever Ace is, whatever power he holds—she'll find a way to take it for herself.

As they bury the ash and cover it with earth, Kieran can't shake the feeling that everything is spiraling out of control.

He glances at Lila, her face unreadable in the dim moonlight, and wonders if he's made a mistake by trusting her.

○

Back at the mansion, Ace stirs, his body aching and his mind foggy. His wolf growls faintly, a warning that something is wrong.