She was perfect. Everything I’d ever wanted and more.
As she walked away, her steps graceful and purposeful, I silently vowed to make her mine. The pull I felt for her was undeniable. But she had walls around her heart. She must have, not to feel the mate pull the way I did.
I would find a way to break through the barriers and help her remember what we’d shared. No matter how long it would take, Krystal would be mine.
Chapter 2
Krystal
I spentthe last few hours of my shift with an unfamiliar, electric current flowing under my skin, left behind from Zaden’s touch. Every time I glanced toward the bar’s far end, Zaden was there, pretending not to watch me but never missing a detail. When I moved through the room, his gaze followed.
Some would think that was creepy, but that wasn’t what I felt coming from him. My wolf sensed his interest in me. Tingles skittered up my spine every time Zaden was watching me. It confused me because my wolf had reacted to him as if he were our mate. Was he just looking for a good time? Then he’d have to go find someone else to play with. I had a son who took all my attention, so the last thing I needed was to hook up with my boss.
When I met Zaden moments ago, my first thought, after the initial jolt of holy hell, he’s hot, was that it suddenly made sense why the owner of Z’s Place had been a legend but never an actual, physical presence. He was a dragon, and like the rest of the Beck Clan dragons, he would've been in a ten-yearhibernation for the last decade. For years, the bar had been run by the bar manager, Kenneth, but I'd never known why.
I busied myself through the Friday night rush, pouring drinks and working the tables. Angel and the other bartender, Shay, ribbed me at every opportunity. They were wolves and part of my pack.
"You’re making the new boss nervous," Shay said, sidling up beside me with a tray full of empty tumblers. Her green eyes sparkled. "He’s watching you like a hawk."
"Like a dragon," I corrected, stacking glasses for the dishwasher. "And he’s not nervous. He’s probably critiquing my technique."
Angel piped up from the other side of the bar, "I don’t think technique is what he’s interested in."
I rolled my eyes and let their laughter wash over me. Old Krystal, pre-mom Krystal, who had no impulse control, would have flirted back twice as hard, maybe even tried to see if an ancient dragon shifter could drink her under the table. But I’d worked too hard to carve out something stable for Bryce and me. If there was anything ten years of single parenting taught me, it was how to ignore distraction.
And yet.
Every time Zaden moved, I caught it. The subtle way he redirected a drunken regular away from a tipsy college girl. The easy way he charmed the kitchen staff and how he cleaned up a spill before anyone could even point it out.
He wasn’t just handsome, he was gorgeous. And, when he caught me staring back once, he flashed a crooked smile that made me want to punch something.
It was almost a relief when a group of out-of-towners surged through the door ten minutes before last call, demanding shots and food and more shots. I pivoted into high gear, barking orders, weaving through bodies, and mentally calculating how many tips would be left after all the chaos.
That’s when Zaden jumped in, and not in the "I’m a boss helping out" kind of way. He sidled up next to me, rolled his sleeves, and started mixing drinks faster than Shay could set out the glasses. He remembered every order, even the complicated ones, without writing anything down. His hands worked with the practiced ease of someone who’d done this for centuries and had just gotten back from a ten-year sleep.
"It’s like you never left," I said, sliding a gin and tonic toward him as we caught up on the final round.
He grinned. "I always enjoyed bar work. It's simple. Honest."
I wiped down the bar, feeling oddly seen. Most people, most wolves, even, took a while to get past my resting bitch face. Zaden didn’t seem fazed at all.
"You know," he said conspiratorially, "if you ever want to take a night off, I could cover for you."
I arched an eyebrow. "I’m not sure if that’s a threat or a promise."
He leaned in, close enough that I caught the scent of bourbon and something darker, more ancient. "Why not both?"
Angel whistled from down the bar. "You two need to get a room, or should we keep serving drinks?"
"Back off, Angel," I called, but I was grinning. "You’re jealous because he’s better at mixing than you are."
Angel cackled. "Damn straight. But I look better in heels."
Zaden laughed, a full, bright sound that filled the bar and made a few heads turn. He tapped the counter, then turned to me. "You’re off tomorrow, right? Want to grab dinner? Or breakfast? Or both?"
It was the way he said it, no pressure, just a suggestion, as if he’d be perfectly fine with any answer. Still, my mind did the usual calculus. Was it smart to date my boss? Even if the boss was a literal immortal dragon? What would Bryce think?
"Maybe," I hedged, keeping my tone casual. "I’m not big on dating."
