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POV – Kai-Lea
While we waited for the feast to begin, I strolled the grounds with Xochiquetzal—now known as Katara. It was refreshing to talk to someone who understood my wolf and lycan like she and her mate did. Kallen and Stuart had wandered off to chat with her mate, leaving us some much-needed girl time.
“So, they embody you?” she asked, a curious glint in her eyes.
“Yes,” I replied, feeling a hint of worry creep in. “Although my lycan and my third soul have always been more mysterious than my wolf. They didn’t speak much during my childhood. My third soul, we call her Sleepy, mostly just... sleeps.”
Katara’s gaze softened. “You seem reserved. The original humans who held your wolf and lycan were anything but. They were bold and strong. What has happened to you, if you don’t mind my asking?”
I hesitated, but her gentle tone made it easier to share. “I was abused by the Black Moon Pack under the Taylors’ rule until I was sixteen. They broke me down, made me feel worthless. But then the Royal Green Mountain Pack came to visit, and everything changed. Kallen and Stuart... they’ve been my rock. They’re nothing short of wonderful, sweet, caring, and absolutely amazing. Kallen is like a warm light in my life; his presence wraps around me like a cozy blanket, making me feel safe and cherished. He knows just how to comfort me when I’m feeling low. Stuart, on the other hand, is incredibly emotional. He sees right through my façade and encourages me to confront my feelings, helping me process everything I’ve been through. They both listen when I need to talk, and they’ve shown me what it means to truly heal. It’s like they opened a door I didn’t even know was locked, allowing me to breathe again.”
Just then, a rich aroma wafted through the air—dark roasted coffee mingling with the scent of cinnamon-baked pastries. It enveloped me like a warm hug, stirring something deep inside. The deep, earthy notes of the coffee blended perfectly with the sweet, spiced scent of cinnamon, creating a mouthwatering invitation that made my stomach growl. I could almost taste the smoothness of the coffee and the fluffy texture of the pastries, fresh from the oven, their warmth radiating through the air. The tantalizing aroma was so vivid that I could almost picture the pastries golden brown, with a soft sheen that hinted at their sweetness.
“What is that smell?” I asked, suddenly eager to find its source.
“What smell, darling?” Katara asked, feigning innocence.
“The dark roasted coffee and cinnamon baked pastries! They’re incredible!”
“We don’t have anything on this side of the palace that could cause that. Could it be your mates?”
I inhaled deeply, puzzled yet captivated by the alluring scent. “Maybe one of them, but not both.” Unable to resist, I slipped off my shoes, driven by the tantalizing aroma. Katara giggled behind me, teasing that it was about time I acted like the warrior she remembered.
As I chased after the scent, I finally found its source. A magnificent warrior stood there, wearing nothing but shorts and simple socks. He towered at least seven feet tall, muscles rippling across his body. His movements on the training field were fluid, each motion executed without hesitation. His hair was almost darker than mine, and his eyes glimmered with a fiery orange-gold hue, tinged with silver. As he continued to train his opponents, I could see him studying each one with keen focus. My lycan perked up, eager to play.
Moving into position, I sensed that I caught him slightly off guard—almost. Kaida, my lycan, was more than sure of herself.
As he swung his fist, I channeled Kaida’s energy and moved faster than I ever had. I grabbed his wrist, pulled it down and under his arm, then seized his shoulder from behind and threw him over me. He went flying but quickly found solid ground, kneeling on one knee as he looked up at me with a smirk. “Little mate, you’re going to be a lot of trouble if you keep this up without introducing yourself.” His tone was playful, laced with a hint of challenge.
“See, I don’t think you have it in you to keep going. I mean, a big strong Alpha like yourself,” my lycan and I teased.
“Teasing me isn’t going to help your case, little mate.” He charged at us like a bull. When he got close enough, I executed a crescent kick that landed hard against his side. As he staggered back, he changed up tactics, realizing ‘bull in China’ shop wasn’t working for him. As I wasn’t just any ordinary opponent.
This playful back-and-forth continued until the entire Royal Lycan pack gathered around, curious about the commotion. His brother finally made his way onto the field, thinking he could throw me off by teaming up. Thanks to Kallen and Stuart’s training, I was ready for them both. They quickly figured out that teamwork wouldn’t work on me, and after a struggle, they managed to pin me to the ground—though my lycan and I had let them.
“So, how much trouble am I in?” I breathed, nipping at them playfully.
“You have no idea, little mate.”
Boos erupted from the crowd, and laughter filled the air. “Mom, Dad! She is our mate!” one of the brothers exclaimed.
“We know,” they replied in unison, causing the palace to burst into laughter.
“What? How?” the second one asked, confusion etched on his face.
“The way she stared at your brother before joining in on training,” Luna Queen Katara answered, shaking her head with amusement.
“I’m Kai-Lea, and I have a wolf, a lycan, and a third mysterious soul who sleeps. We call her Sleepy for now. My wolf is Asena; Kallen and Stuart are our mates, just like you two are to my lycan. My silly lycan’s name is Kaida,” I explained to avoid any confusion.
“Well, Kai-Lea, I’m Ragnar, and this is my twin, Zephyr. Mom and Dad named us after wolves they once knew,” he informed me.
“Nice to finally meet you. We’ve been waiting three years to meet our mate. We just turned eighteen.”
“Are all my mates going to be younger than me? I’m nineteen, almost twenty. Kallen and Stuart are eight as well.” I felt a twinge of embarrassment, realizing I was the oldest.
“You could never be old to us, little mate.” Zephyr said, stepping closer to me and kissing my temple.
“How did you do that?” I asked, curious as we hadn’t mated or marked each other yet.
“It was written on your face, sweetie,” Luna Queen Katara replied with a smile.
“It’s going to be strange calling you Luna Queen now that your sons are our mates,” my lycan said, addressing our friendship and respect while keeping the mood light.
“We have to change that,” she responded, pulling me into a hug with a soft giggle.
“That can wait until everyone else is here. As we have sent out invites. As we didn’t need an explanation for how your parents are alive. Asena and Kaida would never allow someone to use dark magic or necromancy to bring anyone including them back from the dead. It was one of their most basic orders back in the day.” King Shawn said, with a fatherly happy smile plastered on his face. 
“In the meantime, you two can show these three to their new sleeping arrangements.” Luna Queen Katara said, with a knowing smirk written across her face. Causing me to blush as I knew what she was hinting more at. I was now wishing I hadn’t teased them as I now had four mates that were going to ravish me once we were all alone.