Chapter 657: Deal With Luna Zara

While Ace and Daisy were locked in that hypnotic moment, Ivy and Abel stood at the corner, having the time of their lives commentating like deranged romance announcers.

"This is the moment we’ve been waiting for..." Ivy whispered, leaning in with ridiculous anticipation as if she was watching live television.

Abel nodded, dead serious. "If only we had popcorn, or a camera. Their future generations deserve to witness this."

"I know, right" Ivy breathed, her eyes wide and sparkling. She gripped Abel’s arm. "Oh my God, my nerdy friend is about to have her first kiss."

And true to her words, Ace and Daisy were caught in that heavy, charged stare. Their faces inched closer, breath mingling, and eyes searching and yearning.

Then suddenly, Ace snapped out of it like someone dunked him in cold water.

Both Ivy and Abel deflated like disappointed balloons.

"Aww COME ON!" Ivy yelled, throwing her hands up.

Abel groaned out loud, "We were so close!"

Ace, trying to reclaim some dignity, cleared his throat and switched into stiff doctor-mode.

"Exam completed. The patient, no, I mean, you’re fine. There’s no concussion. Hydration recommended."

He stood, turned, and marched toward the door like a soldier fleeing the crime scene of his own feelings.

"Wait!" Daisy blurted.

Ace stopped mid-stride and turned back.

"How did you get here?" Daisy demanded. "You’re supposed to be in the North Pack. Why are you here?"

Her eyes narrowed. She might have been flustered but she wasn’t stupid. Luna Zara had just been on Lunaris ground hunting for answers about Violet. She almost drowned. Then Ace magically appeared to save her.

That wasn’t a coincidence.

Something was definitely going on.

Had it been anyone else, Ace would’ve lied without blinking. But Daisy was smart — and he liked her. Lying to her felt wrong.

"You’re right," Ace said finally. "My coming here is not a coincidence."

He stood straighter, shoulders squared as he confessed, "I know Violet, my brother, and the cardinal alphas are not in this realm. I saw them vanish right before my eyes."

Daisy froze. Ivy did too. The lighthearted atmosphere evaporated, replaced by a sudden tension.

Daisy’s face twisted with disbelief. "You told your mother about it?!"

"No, I didn’t." Ace snapped, desperate to explain, "I knew she wasn’t trustworthy. She even tried to erase my brother’s memory so he wouldn’t be mated to Violet—"

"What?!" Daisy and Ivy shouted in perfect unison.

Ace dragged a hand through his hair, breath uneven. "The point is she fled the North Pack. I know she wouldn’t do that for nothing especially after the Alpha King’s visit. So I followed her here, and the rest is as you already know."

For a moment, neither Daisy nor Ivy spoke.

They just stared at him with narrowed eyes, guarded and suspicious.

And that hurt more than he expected.

Ace swallowed, yet managed to say,

"Trust me. I would never do anything to hurt my brother’s mate."

For a moment, no one spoke.

Daisy and Ivy exchanged a silent yet tense and rapid conversation with their eyes. When they finally looked back at Ace, a decision had settled on their faces.

"How many people know about this?" Ivy demanded.

"And I have a feeling I shouldn’t be asking that either," Abel muttered.

"Yes, you shouldn’t," Ivy told him. "It’s for your safety." Then she turned back to Ace.

"Can we trust your father? He doesn’t know the full details anyway, but still."

"He won’t say a word." Ace answered with a firm voice.

Daisy studied him, "And your mother?" she asked, unimpressed. "What are you going to do about her?"

The question hit him like a challenge. This was a test from Daisy. Ace’s jaw flexed.

"My mother won’t bother you again," he said to her. "She’s being dealt with as we speak."

Daisy and Ivy exchanged a startled glance.

Daisy tilted her head, hesitant. "You guys are not planning to kill her or something? Because I didn’t exactly ask for that."

"That’s a matter for the North," Ace cut in. "The North Pack will handle Luna Zara’s insolence. Just know she won’t be bothering you."

"Well, if you say so."

Daisy shifted on the bed, pretending to adjust the blanket when in reality, his sudden confidence did things to her insides. It was sexy as hell.

God, Daisy. Impure thought. Abort mission.

Ace took a step back. "If that’s all, I’ll take my leave. There are family issues waiting to be handled."

"Wait!" Daisy blurted.

At once, Ivy and Abel traded a look that translated perfectly:

Oh, buckle up. This ride isn’t over.

Ace stopped, brows raised. "Yes?"

"Is that all the questions you’re going to ask?" she pressed. "You know, concerning you know what I’m talking about." She gestured vaguely.

"Daisy!" Ivy cautioned her.

"I’m just saying—" she added with conviction, "he does seem to be on our side."

Warmth grew across Ace’s expression. That single stretch of trust meant a lot.

"Thank you," he said. "Then... my brother, is he safe? Wherever they went?"

Daisy’s expression softened. "Ace, I’m honestly sorry. I don’t know. But if he’s with Violet and the other cardinal alphas, then I’d say no harm will come to him."

It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but it was enough.

Ace nodded once. "Thank you. For that."

Then he turned to leave only to stop and turn back again.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"What?" Daisy was stunned. That question came out of nowhere.

"Yes or no, Daisy Fairchild. Or are you that scared of a simple answer?" He had the cockiest smile she had ever seen.

"No, I don’t have one. And no—whatever you’re thinking is not happening."

"And what exactly do I have in mind?" he teased.

Daisy sighed. "You’re sixteen, Ace. I don’t do children."

"Exactly. Sixteen. That’s two years away from getting my wolf." He stepped closer, voice lower. "And I feel it, deep down, you’re mine, Daz. Moreover..." his grin turned wicked, "what’s down here doesn’t belong to a child."

Her jaw dropped.

"Oh my God." Ivy was living for this. Abel howled, literally cheering him on.

Daisy’s face flushed scarlet. She was losing. Badly.

She crossed her arms defensively. "I don’t do long-distance relationship."

"Don’t worry," Ace said, already walking toward the door, "I won’t be a distant face for long. Just you wait."

"What? Ace—" Daisy had a bad feeling about that and wanted answers. But her underaged doctor was already gone.

She slowly turned to see Ivy and Abel staring at her with matching suspicious expressions.

Ivy wiggled her brows. "Aren’t you two just precious?"

Daisy groaned, grabbed a pillow, and hurled it at them.

"Out. Both of you!"

Cackling, Ivy and Abel sprinted out of the room, the door slamming behind them.They leaned against the door in the hallway, catching their breath until Abel got ideas.

Roman’s Beta leaned close to Ivy, voice dropping into a low husk that had worked on every girl he ever flirted with.

"So..." he drawled, swaggering just a little, "your friend’s paired up. Guess fate wants us to be next."

Ivy gave him a sweet smile that didn’t touch her eyes. She leaned in and whispered,

"That line was the romantic equivalent of soggy bread. Better get back to Oscar."

She patted his cheek and sashayed away, and Abel stood there, openly staring at her ass with no shame.