Clifford's brain went offline for a moment, unable to grasp what Kira had just said. He stared at her, speechless, for an entire minute.
Kira didn't bother to wait for his response. She grabbed his arm and yanked him along as she headed toward the front door.
Clifford's body tensed. He asked anxiously, "Kira, what are we doing here?"
Although they weren't very close, Clifford was certain that the reason she brought him wasn't because she cared or wanted a future with him. No, he was convinced she was just going to use him again—as a shield.
He grimaced at the thought, lamenting his misfortune.
Kira looked at him with confusion and replied casually, "What else? To see my parents, of course."
Her eyes blinked innocently.
Clifford protested, "I don't want to go with you."
Without warning, Kira flashed her white teeth in a grin and forcefully pulled him along. When they reached the door, she swung it open.
She wasn't surprised to see her parents home; they looked as if they'd been expecting her.
When Mr. and Mrs. Samuels saw Kira with her supposed boyfriend, their lips twitched, amused. To them, Clifford was a complete nerd—an easy target for Kira to bully. Mrs. Samuels glanced at her husband, who nodded subtly.
"Hello, sir. Hello, ma'am," Clifford greeted awkwardly.
Kira didn't linger. She simply held Clifford's arm and announced, "Dad and Mom, this is Clifford—my boyfriend. And he's also my mate."
She released his arm and vanished into her room without further explanation. Mr. and Mrs. Samuels watched her go, exchanging subtle glances.
They couldn't quite figure it out. They knew that Pascal was Kira's mate, yet here she was, introducing another handsome nerd as her mate? It didn't add up.
Clifford stood awkwardly, nervous and unsure. He lacked the raw presence or commanding aura typical of a werewolf—he was painfully ordinary, so much so that his presence almost went unnoticed.
Mr. Samuels was the first to shake off his thoughts. He offered a warm smile, rising to his feet. "Welcome, kid. Come here and sit down."
He guided Clifford to a chair and then turned to his wife. "Let's have dinner together. This is the first boy Kira has introduced to us as a friend."
Mrs. Samuels, however, wasn't entirely convinced. She looked at Clifford with suspicion, feeling that something about this just didn't add up. She asked pointedly, "Are you a girl?"
Clifford's face flushed with embarrassment. The doubt stung, and he clutched at his jeans as he replied shyly, "I'm a boy."
Mrs. Samuels exhaled in relief. She knew her daughter was mischievous, and she wasn't about to take any chances. Standing up, she said gently, "Relax. This is your home too. Let's have dinner together and get to know each other."
Clifford sat stiffly, unsure of what Kira was up to or what she might be setting him up for. He watched as Mrs. Samuels headed out, her footsteps leading toward Kira's room.
As he had guessed, Mrs. Samuels knocked on Kira's door. Without waiting, Kira called out, "Come in."
Mrs. Samuels opened the door quietly and stepped inside, her gaze immediately falling on her daughter, who was drying her hair. She studied Kira intently, her mind racing with thoughts she had learned from books and a paper she had found alongside Kira—secrets she was determined to keep until her dying day.
She was aware that every werewolf eventually found their mates, but she had no idea about the possibility of multiple mates. A strange suspicion crept into her mind—she felt that Kira might be hiding something, perhaps up to no good.
She cleared her throat softly and asked, "Child, I know you don't usually joke about matters like this. I want the truth—who among them is your mate? Is it Clifford or Pascal?"
Kira spread her arms confidently and retorted, "They are all my mates. There's one more—there are three of them."
Mrs. Samuels's eyes widened in shock. Her mind raced to process what she'd just heard. She had seen her own experiences—once, a woman marrying two men—but three? That was utterly beyond her understanding. It sounded so illogical, so impossible.
She stared at Kira, her voice tentative. "Child, how is that possible?" she asked, struggling to make sense of it.
Kira, aware that her parents weren't werewolves and might not understand, explained patiently, "We are all fated to be together. Unless they sever the bond, I will remain their mate."
Mrs. Samuels stood there in stunned silence, her mind reeling. She was used to seeing marriages between one man and one woman. The idea of Kira with two—no, three—men was incredible, almost unbelievable.
She hesitated before asking, her voice trembling slightly, "Are you going to marry all three of them?"
Kira paused, considering the question. It sounded like fun, but the thought of spending all her time with those men—some of whom she found quite disgusting—made her stomach churn. She chose not to answer, remaining silent.
Mrs. Samuels thought about advising Kira to choose just one, but then she remembered the note she had seen when she found Kira. Sighing softly, she decided to change the subject. "Dinner is ready. Come, let's eat."
Kira and her mother left the room, heading back to the sitting area. Meanwhile, Mr. Samuels, engrossed in a lively debate about physics with Clifford, was so absorbed that he didn't even notice his wife walk in. Clifford and her husband appeared utterly engrossed, their faces lit with excitement.
Kira watched the scene with a raised eyebrow. She noticed her father forgetting to acknowledge his wife as he enthusiastically argued with Clifford. Both men looked genuinely excited, and Mrs. Samuels couldn't help but smile. It had been a long time since she saw her husband like that—since he left the research institute, he hadn't spoken about physics at all. Seeing him so animated and happy brought her a sense of relief.
Kira quietly moved to the dining table and began eating with her mother. The others soon joined her. As they ate, Mrs. Samuels turned to Clifford with a gentle smile and asked, "Will your parents be worried about you? Have you called home?"
Clifford tensed up noticeably before answering seriously, "I don't have parents."
Mrs. Clifford fell silent, realizing she had started the conversation on the wrong note. She quickly forced a polite smile and said, "Sorry for your loss."
Kira looked at Clifford with suspicion, raising an eyebrow as she watched him.