The best option...right?

After the whole situation, Ravin and I walked back to our quarters, I asked one of the maids for a basin of water and some clean cloth to clean and disinfect Ravin.

We sat down at the edge of the bed, as I started cleaning his wounds.

"I'm so stressed Tina, what should I do? I don't want my brother to become mates with Rina. He won't be happy for the rest of his life. He deserves to be happy." Ravin mumbled.

"I'm sure something will be worked out." I said, trying to placate him.

"What if it doesn't? I know the only reason Rina wants Leon is because she wants to punish me. She wants to hurt my brother because she knows it will hurt me." I could hear the trembling in his voice.

It seems this is a serious matter, and that Ravin must love his brother very dearly. It almost made me miss my dead-beat siblings. Almost.

"Let's calm down for now, you, worrying won't do any good. We will figure out a way together."

[main hall next day]

This was not how I imagined the day would go…

"I won't pick just any mate mother. I want it to be like brother. I want love." Leon vehemently declared.

"You don't have the time to think about it. Son, there are so many females who wants you as their mate. I understand you might not love them. But you could come to love them in the future. I know it's not fair, but this is the only way we can see a way out. If you have a mate, Rina can't force you to be hers. Unfortunately, your father did promise that we would pair up our children together with Lester's daughter, Rina. Since Ravin already has a mate. We still have one child left; the promise still stands." Ravin mother who I came to find out her name recently is Lizarah. Lisa for short; held her distraught son, Leon tightly against her bosom as she strokes his black silky hair, "My child, if you take a mate, your father and I will deal with the consequences of breaking our promise. I don't want you suffering because of our hasty promises."

Leon held his mother, pressing his face against her chest, "What am I to do, mother."

"Brother, is there anyone you have your sights on? Even just finding some type of attraction could be good in the long run." Ravin asked.

"No…" his eyes looked at me briefly, before averting his eyes.

I'm normally not stupid, but why do I sense that Leon was looking at me with what I could describe as longing? Did he want to be my mate? I can't do that. I already have his brother. He's not thinking of pairing with me even if I don't love him and probably won't ever?

"Oh child, why do you have to endure this? My heart breaks for you." Lisa cried.

"I will summon all the female in our tribe, you will pick one son." The lion's king who I always found out his name is Raon, said.

"Father, that's no use. I've already saw all of our clan's female…I—I don't want any of them. There's only one that I do want…but she won't consider me." Leon turned away after admitting that.

His mother gasped, "Who? Who is it my child?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter mother. She won't have me. I am almost certain." He mumbled.

"I will speak with her, surely she would reconsider." His father voiced.

"Please, it's alright. If I'm meant to be with Rina, then I'll just see it as fate." Leon chuckled but it sounded so sad.

I didn't even have to guess now. He really means me. Oh Leon, why did you have to fall for me? I can't be with you in that sense, I'm already mated to your brother. That would be too weird. Wouldn't it? I mean I want to help him, but can I really do that?

After that it was like I was in a daze. I kept contemplating whether that would be the right choice. I want to help Leon, but at the same time I don't want to hurt Ravin. I came to care for him so much. Hurting him would be the last thing I ever wanted to do.

I sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for Ravin to come back, he left with some of the other beast men to hunt.

I laid down with a sigh, gosh…it really is boring. I miss my phone; I mean I still have it, but I can't charge it so it's dead in my bag. I miss watching Mytubes, I miss socializing in general. This place would have suck if I didn't have Ravin by my side.

"What are you thinking about?" I turn to look at Ravin who stood at the edge of the bed. Oh shit, when did he come? I didn't even hear him. For someone of his size to be this quiet is kind of scary. Like a ninja.

"Nothing, I'm just lazing about." I told him.

"Oh…okay." Why does he look like something is bothering him?

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Tina…I have something I want to ask you. I don't know if I should or if it comes off as demeaning or not. But I would really like to ask this of you." He looked like a frightened cat.

I got up giving him my full attention, "What is it Ravin? You can tell me."

He sat down, his hand in his laps, but he was wringing them like a nervous tic.

"I would never mean to impose on you, but tomorrow is the day Rina will come and claim Leon. My parents are at their wits ends. My mother won't eat because she's unhappy for Leon. My father hasn't been able to do anything besides stress about the situation, and I…I'm so lost and I feel so guilty. I feel like this is all my fault. If I had just taken Rina as a mate, then Leon wouldn't have to go through this. I feel like I'm the reason we are in this predicament." Tears rolled down his cheeks, I was stunned for a moment. Ravin is such a genuine soul. I never seen a man cry openly in front of a woman before.

He continued, "I know it's a lot to ask. But please can you see it in your heart to take Leon as a mate as well? It's not uncommon but it's also not very common for brothers to share a mate, and I do not mind as long as he is safe." What??? Is he serious?

"Ravin, do you realize what you are asking me? To take another mate is one thing, but this is your brother. Isn't it strange to you that you and your brother is sharing the same female?" does he love his brother that much to even contemplate that? But what about me? Should I just take any guy just because he's okay with it? It's not fair. Not even to me.

"I understand that, trust me. If I could have you to myself, I would gladly do so. But this is the world we live in. You will find another mate. Your heart will be given to others beside me. I have already prepared myself for that. I love my brother, and I love you. Why not? I want him safe; I want him to enjoy life like I do. Rina will ruin him once she has no more use for him. you wouldn't do that. I know you would treat us well." He insisted.

Ugh…but this is so weird to me, "Ravin…but I don't love your brother…he would be in a loveless contract. how is that any different than marrying any other female?"

"Because he loves you."

Shit, that shocked me. I looked at Ravin with wide eyes. Did he already know this?

Ravin softly chuckled, "I knew the moment I introduced you to him, the way he looked at you was identical to how I looked at you. It was like looking in the mirror. I admit, I felt a bit overprotective. But he didn't act on his feeling he respected me as his brother and decided to force away his feelings. I know he won't take a mate if it's not you. And if you don't, he will be with Rina to help our family. Leon is a gentle soul; he always sees other needs beside himself. He's very caring. So I want to be the same, I want to be selfless and push away my needs and help him achieve his." Ravin smiled.

"Ravin, him loving me will make no difference. I honestly only want you as a mate. I wasn't thinking of having another, ever." I told him honestly.

"It makes me so happy that you only want me." He sniffled, "But please, for me. Please consider it. It will definitely solve our problems, and I know Leon will do everything to make you happy. Just like me."

I sighed, "Okay."

"Thank you." Ravin pulled me into a tight embrace, his warmth encasing me. I want to make him happy, but can I really go against my morals? I was raised in a monogamy environment; can I really live in a polygamy lifestyle world? Ah, this is too much even for me.

"I will devote everything to you Tina, I promise. I will follow everything you say." Oh Ravin…what am I supposed to do?

I wish I had more time to think, tomorrow is too soon, and who knows when Rina decided to come. Tonight, would be the best time to make the decision. Realistically speaking that is.

I can't believe I'm about to say this…

"Ravin…let's do it. I'll form the mate contract with him now." I hope I don't regret this…

The walk back to the main hall seems longer than usual, or is it because I'm dreading it? I can't believe I'm about to become another person's mate. I looked at Ravin, he seems so much more like his usual self. Is me becoming mates with his brother that important? He's smiling so much like he's the one being mated. I mean we are, but still. Why does it bothers me? Oh well Tina, it's time to embrace this polygamy bullshit. Even if it's just two mates it still feels so weird.

I turned to look at Leon, he looked at me briefly before shyly turning away. Before coming back here to the main hall, Ravin announced to his parents and Leon that I will accept Leon as my mate. The parents were overjoyed. I guess their son sharing the same mate is acceptable to them. Geez…this is so weird to me how happy they are.

Lisa came toward me, picking up my hands and holding it to her bosom, "Thank you child, thank you for taking my sons into your life. I am so grateful that they both will have peaceful lives and not be unhappy with Rina. Thank you. You've made a mother like me so happy." She cried softly with a smile.

"Thank you. My mate and I are eternally in your debt." the king said.

"No…it's alright. I'm glad." No not really, but geez I why do I feel guilty like I'm deceiving them? Leon won't be happy. How can he? When I don't plan on being an actual mate to him. I don't think I can wrap my head around having two brothers as my husbands, it's just too weird right now. Shit, I haven't even became real mate with Ravin yet. Now I have his brother to deal with. Gosh…this is such a headache.

Leon came up to me, his handsome face lit up brightly, "Thank you so much, I promise to always be loyal to you I will love only you from this day forward. I promise to do my best to stay beside you." He vowed.

Oh geez…the guilt is almost too unbearable. Leon, please forgive me.

"Ah, okay thank you." I manage to say.

He looked at me, waiting.

Ah yes, I got to hand him my arm.

Hesitating slightly, not only from having to hastily accept him as a mate, but also the quick bite of pain I had to endure. I don't like pain in general, this suck.

I raise my arms up to his face. Leon looked at my face as he raised my arm up to his lips and just as quickly as Ravin did, Leon bit into my arm. The piercing pain made me have to catch my breath for a bit. Just like before the pain was instantly gone. The blue bind wrapped around Leon's neck and around my wrist. The mate contract is complete.

"It's blue?" Raon the king asked, his face shocked.

"Please keep this between us father, the elder said if anyone finds out…Tina could be in danger." Ravin interjected.

"Blue binds…I have heard the stories from my father, who've heard from his father. But to witness it beforehand, it's astounding." He cleared his throat, "Rest assure son. Tina is part of our family now. How can I put her life in danger? No need to fret my child." He assured us.

"Thank you, father." Ravin breathes out a sigh of relief.

Both Ravin and Leon walked me back to our room, I was lost in thoughts. I mean who wouldn't? I literally have two men I'm bound to now. In a sense I could have sex with both, and no one would bat an eye. Not that I'm going to that is. But still. If that was the case.

"Mother said they will change the room to fit our needs. A bigger bed to fit us." Leon beamed happily.

Wait…we're supposed to share beds?

"Leon…I want to have you understand something before this get any bigger. I'm adjusting to this life I'm living now…I'm still not use to the way you live just yet. From where I am from, woman usually only have one hus—mate… we don't have multiples like you guys here. It's still very new to me and a bit unsettling. If you would give me time, I don't know how long it will take. But please. I ask that you don't force me to treat you like a normal mate would do. Please. At least until I'm ready." Damn why is it harder to explain to Leon than it did with Ravin?

"I know…big brother told me." Leon gave me a half turn smile, "I won't force you nor will I make you explain anything to me. Just being with you by your side is enough for me."

"Mm…" I nodded, "Thank you for understanding me."