We spent the rest of the day inside, neglecting the daily chores in favor of basking in our newfound closeness. We cuddled, we kissed, and we talked for hours, both about our pasts and the future.

I learned that when Elio and Zale had first come to the cabin almost four years prior, they hadn’t come alone. They had arrived with a third mate, a wolf beastman named Jasper. It was his clothes that I had been wearing all this time.

The three of them had been inseparable since childhood, all raised in the same orphanage in the east. They fell in love at an early age, and because they were bonded, the beast army had allowed them to accept their posting together. Rangers was what they were called, living on the outskirts of the beast territory, keeping watch over the border with the wildlands.

Two years prior, Jasper had been out on a routine patrol and was caught unaware by a group of monsters. They assumed it was frost zombies, judging by the state they found him in.

Frost zombies, despite their name, were very much alive. Vile creatures from beyond the impassable mountains, devoid of warmth and driven solely by their hunger for living flesh.

I’d once seen the remains of a unit that crossed paths with a group of frost zombies. It was a sight that haunted me still. I couldn’t begin to imagine the horror of losing someone I loved to those things.

At the time, Elio had nearly gone feral from the grief. Unable to accept the loss of their mate, he abandoned Zale and fled into the forest, disappearing for over a moon cycle. While he was gone, Elio said he remained exclusively in his animal form, desperately trying to leave his human emotions behind. He claimed it was the only way he could survive the pain.

Zale, on the other hand, had been left at the cabin alone, forced to endure the pain of losing their mate on his own. He admitted that, for a time, it felt like he had lost both of his mates at once. My heart ached for him. I couldn’t imagine carrying that kind of grief alone, with no one to hold onto in the aftermath.

One day, while Elio was roaming in the woods near the borderland, he came across a group of human soldiers. Mistaking him for a real fox, they tried to hunt him, thinking his pelt would make a good coat. Elio fought back viciously and managed to escape, but his face would always bear the scar from that encounter. Now, he said he wore it with pride, as a reminder of what he had lost, as well as what he had almost given up.

It was Elio’s near-death experience with the hunters that brought them back together. Not knowing where else to turn, he returned to the cabin, covered in blood and shaking with fear. Zale took him in without hesitation and tended to his wounds as best he could.

The time they spent together while Elio was recovering was enough to begin mending the rift that Jasper’s death had created. Elio slowly learned to carry his grief instead of being consumed by it, and Zale got one of his mates back.

As time passed, however, they realized that it wasn’t just Jasper that they missed. It was the bond the three of them had shared. The dynamic. The balance. Zale and Elio loved each other deeply, but they didn't feel complete. They both longed for that missing piece that once bridged the gap between them.

And that was what Elio had meant when he said that I fit. He thought I could be that missing piece, that I could be the person who could make their two halves whole again.

To be honest, when they first told me that, I didn't react well. It felt like they were looking to me as some kind of replacement for Jasper. It wasn’t a good feeling. I didn't want to be someone's replacement. I wanted them to want me for me.

But as they told me more about their deceased mate, I quickly realized I was worrying about nothing. Jasper and I were nothing alike. It wasn't about replacing him, it was about moving on.

If not for his animal features, it sounded like Jasper could have passed for a Royal, silver-haired with sky blue eyes. I, on the other hand, had black hair and grey eyes, typical of a northeastern noble. Physically, the only thing we had in common was our clothing size.

Our personalities were nothing alike either. They said he was cold, often abrasive, and struggled to connect with others. He only ever showed his softer side to them, and even that was rare. Where I was by no means soft, I'd always been known for being cheerful and easy to get along with.

They assured me that no one could ever replace Jasper, nor would they want them to. Their interest in me wasn’t about replicating the past, but creating a new future. I fit because I was me, not because I reminded them of the person they lost.

After they told me about Jasper, I told them about my life as the youngest son of a low-ranking baron. In the world of Vraynian nobility, I was barely a step above a commoner, which was something I'd never had an issue with. In the southern duchies, such things mattered, but the north was built on the cooperation between commoners and nobles. The monsters didn’t care about our bloodlines, and neither did we. Even the ducal family treated commoners with respect and courtesy.

I had three older brothers and two older sisters, all of whom had either been married off or joined the Northern Army. Thanks to my parents' unusual sense of humor, we were all named after the Gods in one way or another. My name, Bryn, came from the God Bryndowan, as did my brother's name, Rowan. Then there was Den and Vera for Denaverow, Sara for Tansara, Mario for Mariosopie, and our eldest brother Lewis, named for Vraylewit, the creator. They'd had plenty of other ideas as well, but decided that six kids was enough.

My life up until now had been rather uneventful. I’d never taken a lover, nor had I traveled unless it was on a mission. In fact, the farthest from home I had ever strayed was the cabin I was currently residing in. My only exciting stories came from my time in the army, many of which Zale had already heard.

As midday turned to late afternoon and eventually evening, we started discussing the future. We all shared a similar vision of that future, but making it happen wasn't going to be easy.

I knew without a doubt that if I wanted to be with them, I would have to leave my life in Vrayna behind. Even without the war, our relationship would be a target for hatred and bigotry, no matter where we tried to go. The only option was for me to stay in the Beastlands. But, to do that, I'd have to give up my home, my family, and my life in the Northern Army.

It was something I was willing to do, but Elio and Zale were worried that I would come to resent them for it. For this to work, they would sacrifice nothing, while I would have to give up everything.

However, I didn't see it that way. Yes, I was giving up a lot, but I was gaining something precious in return. Besides, the Northern Army and the beast army were fighting the same battle. It didn't matter to me which side I fought with.

After a late dinner, we drank the last of their cider, sitting around the table in peaceful silence. Then, as the first movement of ascent drew near, I retreated to my bed by the fire.

“I hope you weren’t planning to sleep there,” Elio commented as I was adjusting the blankets.

I paused for a moment, then awkwardly replied, “I, um… We didn’t really discuss sleeping arrangements, so…”

“Oh, my sweet,” Elio purred, “You’ll be sleeping in our bed from now on. Though, honestly, I wasn’t planning on letting you sleep at all tonight. I’ve been thinking about claiming my new mate all day.”

“Elio,” Zale cut in, his voice stern, “There’s no need to rush. That’s a much bigger step for him than it is for you.”

It suddenly hit me what Elio was suggesting. Of course, I’d known that accepting them would mean more than just cuddles and kisses, but I hadn’t really thought about what that would entail. However, I wasn’t opposed to finding out.

“I…” I started, but trailed off, not knowing how to express myself.

“It’s okay,” Zale reassured me, “Don’t feel like you have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Elio needs to learn some patience.”

“Um, I... Maybe… Would you help me figure out what I’m comfortable with?” I blurted out, the tips of my ears burning.

Zale’s eyes widened at my unexpected response, then his lips curled up into a smile that made my knees feel weak.

“We can definitely do that,” Zale breathed, his expression darkening into something far more intense.

“We can help you get comfortable with a lot of things, my sweet,” Elio murmured in a low, seductive voice. “Come to bed with us, and we’ll make you so comfortable that you won’t be able to sit properly tomorrow.” He ran his hand over my backside to ensure his meaning was clear.

Ah, so that's how it works, I thought to myself as I wrapped my head around the mechanics of it. I probably should have felt apprehensive, given the position I imagined I was about to be in, but all I felt was anticipation.

Elio held out his hand to me, his eyes burning with expectation and desire. Showing uncharacteristic restraint, he didn't push me to take it. He waited patiently for me to accept it on my own.

So, I did.