Ace didn't flinch. His golden eyes stayed locked on Jax, unreadable as stone. The hallway around them was dead silent. Distant murmurs from anxious pack members down the hall did nothing to cut the heavy stillness pressing between Alpha and Beta. The air felt thin.
"I don't remember asking for a review of your patrol routes, Jax," Ace said. His voice dropped low. Dangerous.
Jax scoffed, pocketing his silver knife with a sharp click that echoed. "Don't use the Alpha voice on me, Ace. A rogue didn't do that to your chest. Try again. You're bleeding. You're distracted. And you've been acting insane since you brought that girl into your cabin. What the hell is going on?"
Ace looked at his lifelong friend. The secret weighed against his ribs like a blade. He saw it in Jax’s e
