“Exactly,” he responded. “While we’re on the topic, remember when I said there were five men destined to love you? Well, that number may have altered. Slightly.”
“Slightly?” My eyes narrowed, and I fought the urge to pick the ladle back up and chuck it at him. “Lupin…”
“Ah, that glare is lethal,” he said, amused. “Like a little murder muffin. Your irritation is misplaced, though. It’s not my fault. You’re the one who gave rise to other futures and unlocked all the possibilities that go with them. In doing so, you also unlocked new love routes.”
“Love routes? Are you telling me I reallyamliving in a dating simulation game?”
“This is no game. It’s very real. But if that helps you better understand the situation, then yes.”
“I hate you.”
He snorted. “Don’t kill the messenger.”
“How many men are we talking about? I’m only one muffin with so much loving to go around.”
“Oh… not too many more. Six in total.” Lupin folded his hands in his lap and reclined more in his chair. “Perhaps seven.”
“Seven?” I gaped. “What is this? Muffin Lord and the Seven Alphas?”
“Not all are alpha males. Briar and Lake are more submissive in nature, I’d say. Rowan and Maddox will butt heads a lot though, I’m afraid. Both of them are stubborn beyond belief.” He paused. “You’re smiling.”
Fuck, I was. But I was too happy not to. “So Rowan really is one of my destined men?”
“Seeing as to how my answer won’t change anything between the two of you, I can confirm that he is.”
My smile widened. I felt giddy. Maybe Lupin was right about the whole trusting my heart thing. My mind had definitely tried to caution me against Rowan, but I’d done what felt right. And being with Rowan felt right.
Loving him did too.
When Lupin exhaled, his breath shook. “I’m prohibited from directly interfering with your fate. Meaning I can’t give you the answers you seek. I can, however, provide you with clues. Which is why I came to you months ago and told you about your mother. I knew you’d come to Exalos.”
“Isn’t that interfering?”
“Not necessarily. You’d already decided to attend the autumn ball and showcase your coffee and desserts. Thus, your path to Exalos was already guaranteed. The lord mayor would be in attendance at the ball, sample your food, and then later ask you to open a second café here. All paths showed you accepting his proposal. Telling you about your mother had no bearing on your decision. It would, however, fuel your curiosity while here and allow you to find the answers you need.”
“Joke’s on you,” I said, frustration billowing in my stomach. “It’s done nothing but drive me nuts. I’ve tried learning about my mom but don’t know where to even look. All I know is she used to hand out food to people and then vanished one day.”
“She did vanish, in a sense. She ran away with your father.”
Nerves replaced my frustration.
Lupin shifted forward in his chair, clasping his hands together. “Your fatherwassomeone of importance. His identity is the key to all of this. The missing piece. And your mother is the clue needed to find that piece.”
“But Ihaven’tfound it.”
“You will. And soon.” The sadness in his eyes fell to his mouth in a weak smile. “Knowing who your father is will put you in great danger, but knowledge is power. You can use it to your advantage when the time comes.”
“When the time comes? Can you give any clues to when that might be?”
His brow furrowed, and he rested a finger at the edge of his lips. “Cherry blossoms.”
“Um. What?” My brain hurt from thinking too hard. “Wait. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, right? Are you saying something will happen to me in the spring?”
He pressed his lips together.
“Yep. You’re a total butthole wizard. I hate you.”
“You could never truly hate anyone. You are far too kind.”
