I was exactly where I needed to be. Now, it was time to re-immerse myself in the rhythms of Z's Place and figure out my new normal.
Stepping back out into the main area, my gaze landed on a woman in a quiet corner. In that instant, a deep, unexplainable certainty washed over me.
Holy hell.
This woman was my fated mate. I walked over to her, drawn by an invisible force. Despite her strange, almost distant manner, the magnetic pull between us was undeniable.
She stood with an air of confidence of a wolf shifter whose fierce, focused amber eyes and strong posture immediately captivated me. I knew her. Holy shit, I knew her already. We had shared one wild, drunken night before my long sleep, though I couldn't recall her name until my eyes caught the small nametag on her uniform. Krystal.
Gathering my courage, I approached her with a gentle smile. "Hi, how are you?"
She looked at me politely but blankly, clearly not recognizing me despite the overwhelming connection I felt. "I'm Zaden," I offered, my tone friendly yet curious.
She returned my smile politely. "Oh, right. Our mysterious owner. I'm Krystal."
Silence hung between us for a moment while I wondered if she recognized me at all. Did she feel the fated mate pull? Surely she did. She was a wolf. I ventured, "Do we know each other? I feel like we've met before."
Like ten years before, in Knoxville. Should I say something? If she didn't remember me, did I want to put that image of myself in her mind? Maybe not.
Back then, I hadn’t recognized her as my mate, but I wouldn't have. Because of the curse. Now that Ashton had found his forever partner, the rest of us would, too. And Krystal was mine.
Krystal tilted her head slightly, her smile remaining reserved. "Not that I recall?" she replied, her tone laced with something inexplicably strange.
Something was odd with her. Maybe she remembered me. Or felt the pull. I was so confused and excited that I felt like my dragon was going to burst out of my skin. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but inside, my heart raced.
How could she not feel this? The connection between us was so strong, it was almost tangible.
I searched her face for any hint of recognition, any flicker of the bond I sensed so deeply. But her amber eyes revealed nothing, her polite smile unwavering.
I couldn't rush this. If she was truly my fated mate, the truth would come out in time.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to center myself. "Well, it's a pleasure to officially meet you, Krystal. I look forward to working with you."
She nodded, her posture relaxing slightly. "Likewise. It's good to finally put a face to the name."
I chuckled softly. "I'm sure there's been plenty of speculation about the absentee owner. I promise I'm not as mysterious as the rumors might suggest."
A hint of amusement danced in her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."
As we stood there, the background chatter of the bar faded away, leaving only the pounding of my heart and the inexplicable longing to know everything about this enigmatic woman.
"Your voiceisfamiliar, though," Krystal admitted softly, her brow furrowing as she studied me more closely. The gentle background music and the subtle scent of her perfume mingled in the air, stirring memories that felt like they'd only happened last week, but it had been a decade.
I allowed my mind to drift back to that night, a kaleidoscope of hazy recollections. Shared laughter, clumsy conversations, and stolen moments. The details were vivid in my mind, etched into my memory with the precision of my dragon nature. But for Krystal, I knew, the alcohol had blurred the edges, leaving only fragments behind. Wolves had a good alcohol tolerance, but she’d been pretty blistered.
If only she could remember the way I did, the connection we shared, however brief.
I smiled warmly, hoping to put her at ease. "Perhaps we've crossed paths before, in another life."
She laughed softly, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. "Maybe so. Stock Creek is a small town, after all."
Standing there, mere inches from her, I felt an undeniable pull, a certainty that went beyond the allure of that forgotten night. It was as if the threads of fate were weaving us together, binding our souls in an unbreakable bond.
Yet, despite the strength of my conviction, Krystal's odd behavior and lack of recognition gave me pause. I couldn't rush this or force a connection that needed to grow naturally.
With a hopeful glimmer in my eyes, I ventured softly, "I hope to see you around, Krystal. Hopefully, we'll see a lot of each other now that I'm back in town."
She nodded, her smile genuine but guarded. "I'm sure we will. It's a pleasure to have you back."
