I savored the bourbon for a moment before setting the glass down. "I'm gonna head back to the office for a bit. Catch up with Kenneth."
Angel nodded. "Of course. He's been eager for your return. We all have."
With a grateful smile, I slid off the stool and made my way to the back. I knocked twice on the office door before pushing it open. "Kenneth, my man!"
Kenneth stood from behind the desk, a wide grin splitting his face. "Zaden!" He strode over, grasping my hand in a firm shake. "Damn, is it good to see you."
"Likewise," I said, clapping him on the shoulder with my free hand. As a fellow shifter, Kennethunderstood the significance of my absence better than most. Even though Ken was a wolf and didn’t have to hibernate like my brothers and I. "Place is still standing, so I take it you've been holding down the fort?"
Kenneth chuckled. "You know it. Kept everything running like a well-oiled machine." He gestured for me to sit as he returned to his chair, swiveling the computer screen towards me. "In fact, wait until you see these numbers."
I leaned forward, scanning the financial reports on the screen. My brows lifted in pleasant surprise. "Kenneth, this is impressive. More than impressive. You've outdone yourself, truly."
Color rose in Kenneth's cheeks, but his smile was proud. "Told you I'd take care of everything. Your faith in me wasn't misplaced."
"Never doubted that for a second," I said firmly. "Which is why I'm going to make sure you get one hell of a bonus for your hard work and dedication."
Kenneth's eyes widened. "Zaden, that's not?—"
I held up a hand, cutting off his protest. "Iinsist. You've earned it and then some. Let me do this for you. Please."
Kenneth held my gaze for a beat, emotions flitting across his face. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Zaden. Truly."
"Least I can do," I assured him. Settling back in my chair, I let my gaze drift around the office, taking in the subtle changes. Like the rest of the bar, it had adapted in my absence, shifting to fill the space I had left behind.
But sitting there with Kenneth, I felt a sense of rightness. A click back into place. The bar was still mine, still my home. And having the chance to properly recognize Kenneth for all he'd done in my stead? That made the homecoming all the sweeter.
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. She was my fated mate. I walked over to her, drawn by an invisible force. Despite her strange, almostdistant 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. 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 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.
Back then, I hadn’t recognized her as mymate because of the curse. Now that Ashton had found his, 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 can she not feel this? The connection between us is so strong, it's 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.
Patience, Zaden. You can't rush this. If she's truly your fated mate, the truth will 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 aface to the name."
