CHAPTER 93: MORE THAN ONE MATE

Leia couldn’t concentrate on her work. Her thoughts kept circling back to that moment, how Zei had stirred the instant Kieran kissed her. It wasn’t just instinct or surprise. It left a lingering warmth and confusion tangled in her chest.

No matter how hard she tried to push it away, her mind spun in loops, dragging her deeper into the thoughts why her heart was reacting to every brother.

With a tired sigh, she looked down, and realized she had pressed the pen so hard against the page that the nib had torn straight through the paper.

She slid the ruined sheet aside and leaned back in her chair, letting the pen fall gently onto the desk. Her fingers loosened around it as her eyes drifted to the ceiling.

"At this rate, I’m going to lose my mind," Leia murmured, pressing her thumbs against her temples in frustration. The spiraling thoughts wouldn’t stop. She shook her head. "No, this won’t do. I need someone’s advice."

She opened the drawer, pulled out her phone, and quickly dialed Rhea’s number.

"Leia," Rhea answered after a few rings, her voice light. "I was actually on my way to your office."

"But I’m leaving now. Let’s meet at a café instead," Leia suggested, standing up and already gathering her things.

"Ah—okay!" Rhea responded with surprise. "Let’s meet at Shadow Moon Café. It’s popular around here."

"Sure," Leia said before ending the call.

Without wasting another second, she grabbed her essentials and rushed out of the office. As she stepped into her car, her gaze unintentionally wandered, and landed on Kieran. He stood a short distance away, deep in discussion with a few pack elders.

Leia’s eyes drifted to his lips, and she swallowed hard.

’This isn’t right...’ her thoughts raced. ’I was still uncertain about how I felt about Kieran. But now I feel my heart races in his presence too. It’s not right. Liking three of them at once? What’s wrong with me?’

Frustrated and overwhelmed, she leaned forward and lightly bumped her forehead against the steering wheel.

Sitting up straight, Leia fastened her seatbelt. "Maybe it’s just infatuation," she muttered to herself. "I’m such a noob at this. Rhea’s been in enough relationships, maybe she can help me figure it out."

With that thought, she started the engine and pulled onto the road. She tried to keep her mind clear, focusing on driving. Thankfully, Lucien had gifted her a personal car, it made moments like this easier. Within fifteen minutes, she reached the café.

After parking, she grabbed her wallet and phone and headed inside.

From a corner table on the right, Rhea waved cheerfully.

Leia made her way over. "You already ordered?"

"Yep," Rhea replied with a grin. "I figured you’d be here soon. You mentioned yesterday that you like iced lattes, so..." She gestured to the drink waiting in front of Leia.

Leia smiled warmly and took a slow sip.

"So, what is it that made you call me out so suddenly?" Rhea asked, taking a delicate spoonful of her pastry and chewing thoughtfully.

Leia hesitated, stirring her iced latte before speaking. "Well... there’s this friend of mine who’s, um, developing feelings for three guys at the same time."

Rhea blinked. "Wait, what?"

Leia arched a brow. "Weird, right?"

Rhea leaned forward slightly. "Not necessarily. Depends on the context. So, who is this mysterious friend? Someone from your old city?"

"Yes," Leia replied quickly, lying a little too smoothly. "She said all three of them have been kind to her... and whenever she spends time with any of them, her heart reacts differently. It’s like... they each make her feel something unique. Isn’t it strange? Falling for three people at once?"

Rhea tapped her spoon on the edge of her plate, thinking. "Strange? No. Complicated? Absolutely. But it happens, especially when emotions are confused with attraction, care, and the desire to feel seen. Does your ’friend’ know what exactly she’s feeling for each of them? Is it romantic... or emotional dependency... or maybe admiration?"

Leia looked down at her drink, her fingers tightening slightly around the cold cup.

"Well... it’s romantic," she admitted.

"Romantic?" Rhea raised a brow, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Are you sure about that?"

Leia nodded, almost too quickly. "Yeah. I’m sure."

Rhea chuckled lightly and took a slow sip of her iced coffee, her eyes never leaving Leia’s face. "Leia... don’t tell me the ’friend’ is actually you."

Leia’s head snapped up. "Wh–what?" she stammered, eyes wide in surprise. Her cheeks warmed instantly, flustered that Rhea had caught on so fast.

"The three Alpha brothers," Rhea said knowingly, setting her drink down. "They all want you. And now... you’ve started feeling the same about them, haven’t you?"

Leia didn’t answer right away.

Rhea gently reached across the table and placed her hand over Leia’s. "It’s okay," she said warmly. "From what I can tell, all three of the Calandrino brothers have feelings for you. So it’s not wrong for you to feel something in return."

Leia lifted her eyes slowly, still unsure. "But... how can that be? I mean, isn’t one mate the rule?"

Rhea shook her head with a knowing smile. "Not always. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the multiple mates concept, but it does exist."

Leia blinked. "No... what’s that?"

"Sometimes," Rhea explained, her voice gentle but certain, "the Moon Goddess chooses more than one mate for a wolf. It’s rare, but not impossible. And if that’s what’s happening to you, Leia, then maybe all three brothers are meant for you."

Leia looked at her, eyes wide and lips parted in disbelief.

"You don’t need to rush anything," Rhea added. "Keep spending time with them. Let yourself feel what’s real. If the connection is truly romantic with each of them... then there’s nothing wrong. You don’t have to choose just one. Maybe, you were never meant to."

A small, conflicted smile tugged at Leia’s lips. Her mind suddenly was now even more restless, but also it was strangely relieved.