Chapter 34

34

“Where are you taking me?” I demanded. My hands were tied and I had a blindfold on, preventing me from seeing where I was.

The blindfold was removed and I blinked against the bright, harsh lights a moment as my eyes adjusted.

“Congratulations!” Silver, Zara, Zyra, Gina, Theo, Tristan, Damien, and Antoine shouted. More congratulations were shouted from the regulars and from Tonka as he came inside to join us as well.

Silver’s bar had been decorated with silver streamers and a “Congratulations!” banner.

“What’s this?” I asked as I looked at my mates who had kidnapped me here.

“It’s your congratulations on being mated party,” Theo explained as she came over and hugged me. “We knew you wouldn’t throw one yourself and so we decided to throw one for you. I’m so happy for you.”

I hugged her back and laughed. “You’re right, I wouldn’t have thrown one for myself. Thank you.” I peeked around her at the three men staring at her butt and said, “Seems like your party may not be far off.”

She blushed and smacked my arm playfully. “Stop it. We’ve just started dating, mating is far off.”

“That’s what I said, too,” I reminded her with a smirk.

The guys drifted away from me, chatting with everyone and getting drinks from Silver.

Zara and Zyra came over and handed Theo and I drinks. The drink glittered and swirled in a hypnotic pattern.

“Don’t worry, there is no pixie dust lite in there,” Zara said with a wink.

“A toast, to our sister and her happiness,” Zyra shouted and raised her glass in the air.

“To Kass and her happiness!” Zara shouted.

Everyone in the bar cheered and toasted as well.

I was pretty sure my face was going to hurt tomorrow from smiling too much tonight.

“You sure you don’t want us to try to help with your fertility?” Zara asked.

“I’ve been doing research on it and there are spells and potions that can help,” Theo added.

I shook my head. “Thank you, but we’ve spoken about it and at this time, we don’t want children. If that changes, I’ll let you all know, but as of right now, we don’t foresee kids in our future.”

“One Kass is enough trouble for us,” Jong-min said as he came up behind me, draped his arm around my shoulders, and kissed my cheek.

“True that,” Theo teased. “I’m glad I can pass her off to you guys. I’m exhausted. I think she took ten years off my life.”

I stuck my tongue out at her.

She whispered something and a flower appeared on my tongue making me cough and wildly scrub it off.

Everyone laughed as I chased her around the bar, Theo included.

After getting a good pinch in, I went to the bar and sat to face Silver. “You ever think this day was going to come?”

He smiled. “I hoped you would find your people, and while I was hesitant to like them at first, they really proved themselves and their love.”

“Yeah, they are hopelessly in love with me,” I agreed with a laugh.

“It’s hard not to love you,” he said as he made me another drink.

“Except when I’m pissing off your patrons and causing damage to your bar.”

He laughed and said, “Even then, I was still filled with pride. You were able to play those men so easily and made so much money. It was hard to believe, but I watched you do it again and again.”

I blinked in shocked silence. He’d never said he was proud of my pool shark habits before.

“Are you dying?” I asked.

He rolled his eyes. “I realized after almost losing you and the girls that life is short and I need to tell you three how I feel more often. I want you to know that I am proud of you and am so happy to be part of your life.”

Tears sprang to my eyes and I said, “I’ll take that drink now.”

He smiled and put the drink on the bar top in front of me.

“I challenge you!” Theo shouted.

I spun on the barstool to face her with an arched brow. “What kind of challenge?”

“Me versus you at pool,” she said.

My eyes widened. “You’re challenging me to pool? Me? The ultimate pool shark shark?”

She nodded. “I’ve been practicing and I’m certain I can defeat you now.”

Hopping off the stool, I smiled and said, “What are the terms?”

“If I win, you have to cook us dinner at the restaurant,” she said. “If you win, we’ll cook you dinner at my place.”

“Wager accepted,” I said and smiled. She was so going down.

“Don’t break anything!” Silver ordered us as we headed to the pool tables.

I raised my hand to let him know that we had heard him.

Once inside the room, I went to the wall where the pool cues were, clicked the button to open the secret compartment, and pulled out my custom cue. The stick was black with silver swirls and a tiger shark in the center. It was perfectly weighted and had cost quite a bit of money, but I loved it and used it every chance I could get.

“Coin toss for break?” Theo asked.

I shook my head. “You challenged me, so I get to break. Don’t act like you don’t know the rules.”

She laughed. “Fine. Go ahead and break.”

While she racked the balls, her boyfriends and my mates came into the room. I thought they were going to watch us, but instead, they split up to have games of their own.

Jong-min took the table next to ours and kissed my cheek as he waited for Antoine to rack the balls on their table. “You look beautiful,” he whispered. “Being mated suits you.”

“Why thank you.”

“Also, you better win this,” he whispered and kissed me again.

“What did you guys bet?” I asked.

“You’ll have to wait to find out after I win,” he said and moved to start the game.

“Are you done flirting? Ready to play?” Theo teased even though she had just finished racking the balls.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Your Majesty,” I said with a mock bow before bending over the table to play.

Soon, the room filled with teasing, the sound of the wooden sticks hitting the balls, and the balls hitting against each other. It was the surround sound I loved, but made even better since it was all my friends in the room for once.

“Remember that first night that we met Kass,” Grant said.

“Quite a first impression,” Reed said with a nod.

“So, when I win, what are you going to cook me?” I asked Theo as I hit yet another ball into the pocket.

“I think a vegan meal,” she teased. “Lot of vegetables.”

“Rude,” I said and stuck my tongue out at her.

She laughed and we ended up playing two out of three, which I smoked her in both my wins.

With a resigned sigh, she said, “I’ll make you some delicious food. Maybe tacos.”

I skipped out of the room and back to the bar top where Silver had two drinks waiting for us.

“Judging by your smile and Theo’s scowl, I’m going to guess you won?” he asked as he started making another drink for someone.

“Of course I won,” I said and flipped my hair over my shoulder, purposefully smacking Theo with it.

She sputtered as the hair hit her face and pinched my arm. “Brat.”

Laughing, we both clinked our glasses against the other and took a big drink.

I knew this perfect, calm, happy time would have bumps in the future, but I pushed those thoughts out of my mind to enjoy the happy time now.

We would face whatever came, when it came.

“Since this is a closed event in the bar,” Theo started and Silver immediately scowled. “Could we order food to eat here?”

He opened his mouth to immediately reject her, took a breath, and said, “You know what, sure. Tonight is to celebrate Kass and her mates and she’s been through enough that she deserves food as well. Plus, I’d rather you two not get super drunk while not eating. Tonka!”

Tonka walked over, a drink in his hand, the first time I had ever seen the bouncer drink. “Yeah, boss?”

“Can you go get forty tacos from the restaurant and bring them back?” Silver asked and pulled a wad of cash out of his pocket. “Make sure you get salsa, too.”

Tonka chugged his drink, set the empty glass down, and nodded as he took the glass. “Sure thing.”

“If you don’t want tacos, get yourself something else,” Silver ordered him.

Tonka smiled. “Tacos are good.”

“I knew we were friends for a reason,” I teased him.

He winked at me and headed to go get us tacos.

“Did … did Tonka just wink at Kass? Are … are they actually friends now?” Theo sat hard on the barstool. “I think I might faint.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “How dare you. I’m very likeable. It was only a matter of time before he stopped pretending to hate me.”

Silver shook his head as he cleaned a glass. “He never hated you. He just hated that you made his job harder.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” I muttered.

“So, what are your future plans, old man?” Theo asked Silver.

He set the glass down and said, “The girls and I were actually talking about going on a trip.”

“A trip?” I asked, eyes wide.

He nodded. “We’ve not gone on a family trip in far too long. I think we’re going to go visit my homeland, so I can introduce them to my clan and visit my people. Plus, I want to take them to meet their people, to meet other trolls in hopes they might find their mates. As much as they claim they’re happy, I know they’d be even happier with mates of their own.”

What he said made sense. I hadn’t thought about the twins not having as many potential mates here since the trolls tended to stay secluded from the rest of the world. “What about the bar?” I asked. If he closed it, I wasn’t sure what I would do with myself. I loved this place and all the people who frequented here. It was a second home, which made me sound like a lush, but it was less about the drinking and more about the comradery.

He smiled at me. “I’ve heard a rumor that you’ve learned to be quite a good manager and I know you owe me and would love to order Tonka around a bit. So, I’d hoped you would handle things while I was gone. I found a bartender who can serve drinks while you manage the rest of it.”

Wow, he really had thought all this through.

“You aren’t retiring on us, are you?” Theo asked.

“Not yet, but soon. I am, as you two like to so often remind me, an old man. It’s about time for me to retire and relax.”

“He already talked to me about it and I have someone I was interviewing for assistant manager already,” Gina said, coming up behind us. “I think they could handle the pizza place while you handle things here, Kass.”

“I would be honored to manage the bar while you and the twins go on your trip,” I said. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?”

“I’m planning for two weeks, but it depends on if the twins find any potential mates,” he said.

Theo and I lapsed into silence, drinking and watching the people around us, lost in our thoughts about all of these changes coming to our lives. Change was scary, but sometimes it was also good. Thinking back to Theo and I being in this bar four years ago, running our pool scams on the tourists and spending time together, they were good memories. However, looking at where we were now, it was even better. As scary as change could be, I was looking forward to seeing where we ended up four years from now.

“I hope they’ll find mates,” Theo whispered. “They both deserve to find love after everything they’ve been through.”

I nodded. “Exactly. Those two have been through so much. It’s definitely their turn to find a mate, or mates. Whatever floats their boats.”

“Says the shark who liked to sink boats,” Theo teased.

“That was one time and they were killing sharks for no reason,” I countered.

“I didn’t say they didn’t deserve it,” she said and laughed.

The door to the bar opened. My mouth parted in excitement, thinking it was Tonka with our tacos, but instead, Cap’n Two-Teeth and his Chums entered, all with their top halfs shifted into their shark forms, but their bottom halfs with human legs.

“Cap’n!” I yelled, even more excited than I had been about the tacos.

“Kass!” he and his crew yelled.

I rushed forward to hug the pirate shark shifters.

Cap’n Two-Teeth, his upper half was that of a great white shark with a hook in his dorsal fin that was no longer rusted, which made me happy.

“Your hook’s not rusted anymore. Does that mean you’re not sick now?” I asked, though, I hadn’t asked when it was rusted if it had been because he was sick, since I hadn’t wanted to pry.

“Turns out I had a curse on me, but I got it lifted,” he said with a shrug. “Well, that one lifted.” He smiled, showing his two teeth in his gums.

“It’s good to see you,” I said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been down to visit.”

He scoffed. “You’re mated now and working. We understand.” At my wide eyes he said, “We ask about you and keep tabs to make sure you’re doing alright.”

I hugged him again. “Thanks.”

“Congratulations on being mated, by the way. We were all getting worried about you, but it makes this old heart happy to know you’ve got mates.” He scowled as he looked at said mates, who were walking out of the pool room and towards us. “Though, I wish they were aquatic.”

If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it this far in life. Turning, I said, “Silver, a round for the Cap’n and his crew on me, please.”

The chums all cheered and headed to the bar to get their drinks.

“You doing alright? No more crazy battles?” Cap’n asked as we joined the crew at the bar.

I laughed. “Hopefully not, but I’m always on alert, just in case. Never know how many enemies are still lurking out there.”

“Well, if you ever need anything, you just call on us,” Cap’n said.

“I appreciate that. And that offer goes for you as well. If you and your crew ever need anything, you let me know. We sharks need to stick together,” I said.

“How about an arm-wrestling match?” Shamus challenged with a wide smile. The older great white was always challenging me to matches of some sort. He was the first mate and enjoyed displays of strength.

“Oh, you’re on, old man!” I replied and moved to a nearby high table, setting my elbow on top of it, and wiggled my fingers.

Shamus chugged his beer, walked over, and we clasped hands, elbows on the table. “You ready to lose, tiger?”

“In your dreams, basic white.” I smiled, showing my teeth as I used the insult. He was a great white shark, but I liked to call him basic because it irked him.

“I’ve got twenty on Kass,” Grant said as he joined us and slapped a bill on the bar top.

“I’ll take that bet!” Trent, a hammerhead shark, said and slapped his bill on top of Grant’s.

All of the Chums started placing bets and it wasn’t long before the rest of my friends joined in as well.

“Ready?” I asked Shamus.

“I’m not getting any younger,” he teased.

Reed set his hand atop our joined ones and said, “Ready? Go!” As soon as he released our hands, Shamus and I clenched, trying to push the other down.

“You’ve gotten weaker, tiger,” Shamus grunted.

“Have I? You’re the one who seems to be struggling.” I yawned and tapped my free hand against my mouth.

Shamus growled and gripped the table with his other hand, now trying harder.

So, I gripped the table and started pulling the back of his hand down towards the tabletop.

Everyone cheered for who they bet on, some calling insults to “shark up” while others called words of encouragement.

With one more hard jerk, I slammed the back of his hand against the table, released it, and threw my arms up in victory.

“Kass, thirty and Shamus, zero!” I shouted. “How’s it feel to get defeated thirty times in a row?”

“I swear she cheats,” Shamus said as he rubbed his arm.

“How about darts?” I challenged.

His eyes sparkled. “Bring it!”

Tonka walked in carrying several bags and the scent of tacos immediately hit me.

“After tacos,” I said and Shamus nodded his agreement, rubbing his hands together at the scent.

Everyone got into a line to get some tacos.

Jong-min kissed my cheek as he stood beside me, smiling down at me. My formerly grumpy cat shifter male was much less grumpy ever since we’d officially become mates.

Grant stepped up behind me and kissed the side of my neck, right over his mark, making me shiver in delight.

Reed looped his arm around my waist and squeezed me against his side.

Not to be left out, Jong-hyun walked over, stooped in front of me, and placed a chaste kiss on my lips, giving me a wink before he turned around.

“Hey! No cutting,” I accused him.

“I’m protecting your front,” he replied.

Rolling my eyes, I stepped out of my mates’ holds and stepped in front of him. “No, you’re trying to get tacos before me. I thought we decided as a pack that I always get to eat first?”

“No, you tried to enact that and we all declined,” Jong-min countered.

“You said you’d rather I ate first, so you didn’t have to deal with me being hangry,” I reminded him.

“I said that for that day because you were being exceptionally hangry,” he countered back.

After filling up our plates, everyone sat together, eating, teasing each other, and enjoying the delicious food.

This was everything I had ever wanted.

This was my true, happily ever after.