Last night, someone stole a kiss from Rhea's lips, and now everyone was on her radar as a potential culprit.

She watched Curtis talk to the one-mark beasts he was training. Was it him? But it didn't feel like there was a lot of tongue.

Maybe Harvey?

No, Harvey doesn't have the guts to do something like that. Or did he?

"What are you thinking about? You're thinking so hard your face is wrinkly."

Rhea eyed Nik, who flinched under her gaze, still remembering how she broke his arm.

No, it couldn't be Nik; he's too scared of her.

"Someone kissed me last night. I'm trying to find out who." She was surprisingly willing to open up to him. He was more shocked than anything.

"Someone dared to kiss you? Are they not afraid of death? Who would kiss a beast in its sleep?"

His words were grating to hear. He really had a way of getting on her nerves.

"It's not Curtis and definitely not Harvey. Maybe it's one of the beast men who come to the hut often."

"Apart from Korrin and me, it's just Helio and Clove. The three who can read and write."

Rhea thought about the potential suspects. Maybe? But she didn't even know them that well. Why would anyone risk their life to kiss her?

"Is it really Harvey?" Right now, that seemed to be the only option.

"Why does it matter anyway? Are you that bored that you're making this into a big mystery? It was probably one of your mates."

"Nik, you need to be more afraid of me so you can speak less," she said deadpan.

"I don't think you plan on eating me, so I should be fine."

Her eye twitched. Maybe she should eat him.

"Whatever. Why are you here anyway? Don't tell me you're bored?"

"Oh. I forgot. I was here to tell you we found a female."

"What!!" Rhea sat up immediately. "Bring her here! Wait, did you kidnap her or..."

"That's illegal now. I just found her wandering and brought her here. It seems like she lost her mates."

"How curious. Bring her here."

.

Nik left to fetch the new female, leaving Rhea to her thoughts. The mystery of the kiss still gnawed at her, but the arrival of another female took precedence. It was rare for females to wander into their territory, and rarer still for them to be without their mates.

"Curtis."

Hearing her voice he stopped what he was doing to answer to her.

"What's wrong Rhea?"

"Last night, someone kissed me. I'm trying to figure out who it was."

Curtis looked confused. "Someone kissed you? In your sleep?"

"Yes. It wasn't you, was it?"

"Someone dared to kiss you while I was away!?"

Rhea sighed. "I can't figure out who it could be. Nik suggested it might be one of the beast men who come to the hut often."

Curtis's eyes narrowed. "I'll keep an eye out. If I find out who I can just kill them."

"Kill who? Don't do anything crazy, it might be Harvey."

Curtis scoffed, "Harvey doesn't have the guts to do something like that."

"That's what I said! But actually you never know, he might have built the courage. I really just want to fuck him.."

She stopped seeing Curtis's cold stare as she was reminded of the cold bath he gave her.

"Not now though, when I'm healed." She added with a nervous laugh.

"By the way Curtis, have you heard Leo say anything strange?"

He thought for a moment, "I went to deliver the wheat to him yesterday, he asked me if you wanted to make flowers?"

"You mean flour?"

"Yes! Flour."

Rhea fell into contemplation for a bit, the more she thought about it the stranger it seemed, could he be he was like her? But he was a double marked beast... Then was he a reincarnator?

That's so cool.

Curtis seeing her think of Leo felt aggrieved. He wrapped his tail around her body, and around her legs.

"Do you want him as your male?"

"No I don't. I want him to become a Playboy."

Her words always confused him, but he was patient to learn.

"Play boy?"

.

A short while later, Nik returned with the new female. She looked terrified but ultimately unharmed. Rhea rose from her seat, her curiosity piqued. Curtis had gone on an errand and Harvey still hadn't come back from work.

"Welcome," Rhea said, her tone gentle. "What's your name?"

The female hesitated before replying, "My name is Dali."

"Dali, how did you end up here?" Rhea asked.

"I was separated from my mates during a hunt. I've been wandering ever since, trying to find my way back," Dali explained, her voice trembling slightly.

Rhea nodded, understanding her fear. "You're safe here. We'll help you find your mates."

"I'm really sorry to ask but what are you doing here?"

"Huh?"

"Are you a feral's mate?"

It hadn't occurred to Rhea that people didn't know who she was since they had never met her.

"I'm sorry about that, I'm Rhea the Black Wind Queen. Please, make yourself comfortable."

Dali was a bit shocked but right now whatever was happening here was better than being kidnapped.

"Nik, see that Dali is given food and a place to rest."

Nik nodded and led Dali away.

Rhea looked at Dalia a bit, she seemed to be from the wolf tribe? She wondered if Winston would be sent to find her soon. She hoped he was healing ok, when he comes back she'll feed him a few emeralds.

Korrin walked by and so she snapped out of her trance like state.

"Korrin."

"Good afternoon Queen Rhea."

She got a good look at him, he was a similar stature to Winston. His black hair was braided today with some bone pins keeping the strays away.

Objectively he was handsome.

Korrin felt hot under her discerning gaze.

"Is everything alright my Queen?"

She stared at him for a bit more, could it be him?

No way it's him, he would have probably killed her in her sleep instead.

"It's nothing, sorry for bothering you."

.

Leo was minding his business and recording the days spoils as usual when Curtis came knocking.

"Curtis- what's going on?"

"Queen Rhea has an assignment for you."

"Huh?"

"She said you should seduce the female that came here. "

Leo felt his brain stop for a moment. Seduce who?

"Wait I don't want a mate!"

"You don't have to mark her, just make her like you." Curtis explained.

"This feels really impossible."

"Rhea thinks you can do it."

What's that meant to mean!?"

Curtis placed a hand on his shoulder, "you are the most well mannered Scorpion, so if anyone can do it, it's you."

His face was in shock, what kind of mission was this!? He died a virgin how was he meant to seduce someone?

Curtis said good and left him in shock.

"My peaceful life.. is over."

.

Tonight was special, since s female has arrived Rhea took it upon herself to cook for everyone. So a large pot was placed in the village center.

Drinks were distributed and appetizers while she was cooking.

Leo was to accompany Dali and so he helped her come outside. At first she was hesitant but he assured her that she was under the protection of the scorpion Queen and so nothing would happen to her.

She felt better and agreed to come outside.

What she found was a bit shocking. Music from animal skin drums and off string instruments and wind pipes. Dancing and drinking and overall non violence.

Was this how all feral camps were?

Now she thought of it, she hadn't seen a kidnapped female yet.

She wondered how the queen kept them all at bay, her mate must be the most powerful.

"Watch your step so you don't fall." Leo said holding her hand.

"Ah.. thank you."

"Dali!! Come over here!" Rhea called out to her.

"You're cooking? Why aren't your mates cooking for you?" Dali asked curiously.

"Well, I just felt like it today. Come, taste this."

She was given a small bowl with the soup to taste.

"This is delicious! What kind of meat is this? I've never had it before."

"Of course, it's collosal meat!"

"What!?"

Rhea laughed at her cute reaction.

"Aw Dali, don't be too shocked, this tribe is probably not what you expected is it?"

She shook her head bashfully at Rhea's tone.

"You want some more don't you?"

She nodded shyly, Rhea found her so cute like a bunny.

"Here, say ah~"

Rhea fed her some more.

Leo rolled his eyes, the one who was doing the seducing wasn't even him.

Korrin watched the scene solemly, his expression remained the same, but he wondered if she would ever feed him like that.

He felt an aura of bloodlust directed towards him, it was Curtis.

He looked away from Rhea and got back to his own food.

"That scorpion is really up to no good." Curtis told Harvey. He genuinely felt better with Leo than Korrin.

"I mean, if Rhea wants to take him as a mate, there's not much we can do."

Curtis grit his teeth, being able to keep her to himself for this long was already a blessing.

"When is the two months up?" He asked Harvey who blushed brightly.

"Why would I be keeping count if something like that!?"

"You don't want to mark Rhea?"

"I mean I do but... Curtis are you really ok with it?"

Curtis was quite territorial and truly Harvey was already doing his best to get along with him so he wouldn't upset Rhea.

"I mean, I don't like it, but no one likes it do they, sharing their spouse."

"If you really don't like it, just tell Rhea."

Curtis shook his head, if he told her there was a really chance she would never mate with Harvey but that was unfair to him who left his tribe and joined them here. He was family.

"I will get used to it, I think it will hurt every time, it hurts for you too doesn't it?"

Harvey was silent, yes he didn't talk about it much but it did eat him from the inside anytime Rhea was with Curtis.

"I wish I was born in Rhea's world, then we wouldn't need to share, we could be happy with the females me loved and they could be happy with just us."

Wouldn't that be nice?

By the time the food was distributed Rhea sat with Dali and Leo, talking to them was like a breath of fresh air. She missed having friends she could talk to about stuff, and Leo was like her so he understood her words.

"I'm still trying to figure out who kissed me, I've been thinking about it all day but I still can't figure out who, did a new man get added to the roster without my knowledge? " 

Leo snorted laugh, a roster? He hasn't heard that word in years.

"What's a roster?" Dali asked.

"It's like a list of men I'm courting you know?"

"Ah! I understand. Well, I'm new here but quite a few have been looking at us."

"That's just the normal amount of looking, but a kiss is one step further. I need to find him so I can punish him."

Leo sweat dropped at her words, she was so enthusiastic he doubted she was talking about 'punishing' in a usual sense. She was actually enjoying this mystery. Compared to mundane everyday life, this was as close to a soap opera she would get.

"It could be someone who admires you but is too scared to admit it openly." Dali suggested.

"I don't know," Rhea hesitated. "I'm not an easy person to admire."

"???"

Was this the famous oblivious main character? Leo couldn't help but think her words were too funny.

"What do you mean, your mate admire you quite a lot."

"Yeah but, I'm sure they both only liked me because I was a female who was nice to them."

The arrow of truth was right on the mark.

"The snake is so protective of you, and the scorpion has been making sure no one comes near us, they're really good mates."

"The scorpion?" Rhea asked confused.

"Yes, that one." She pointed at Korrin who was talking to some others.

Korrin?

Huh?

"Is he not your mate? He smelt like you."

"No way!" Rhea gasped.

"I think we just caught our offender." Leo said with a whistle, this was a bit better than a soap opera, he wondered how long till Curtis found out. Would Rhea save Korrin? Will he live to see another day? Will Korrin confess his feelings? Find out next time, on Mother of Ferals telenovela!