18. Whizz

Isat at the bar area of the MC clubhouse, nursing my fifth bottle of whiskey, trying to numb the chaotic thoughts that had consumed my mind.

As a shifter, I wasn”t easily affected by alcohol, but I was determined to try and drown my problems, even if it meant downing the a few bottles.

Nitro, the bartender on duty, had been giving me sympathetic glances for a while, but I brushed them off.

I didn”t want anyone”s pity. I wanted to wallow in my frustration and disappointment, even if it meant getting drunk.

As I lifted the bottle to my lips for another swig, a tap on my shoulder made me pause.

I turned to see a familiar face – Piston.

He asked, ”Is this seat taken?”

I glanced at the empty stool next to me, then back at Piston, shaking my head. ”Nah, it”s all yours.”

Piston pulled up the stool and sat down. He gave me a concerned look.

He didn”t say anything right away, just watched me for a moment before finally speaking.

”Rough day, huh?” Piston asked.

I sighed, the alcohol on my breath heavy. I couldn’t remember the last time I was in such a state.

“You could say that,” I said.

Piston nodded, his own drink in hand. ”Want to talk about it?”

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to let out some of the frustration and worry that had been eating at me.

With Piston sitting beside me, I felt a bit less alone.

After some cajoling, I finally opened up about my first real argument with Dylan, the shock of him walking away while I tried to explain my side of things still fresh in my mind.

He listened intently, letting me spill my frustrations and worries without interruption.

When I had finished, I looked at him, searching for some insight.

”Was I really in the wrong?”I asked.

Piston didn”t hesitate with his response.

”Keeping secrets from your mate is a huge no. If I did the same to Linus, he would”ve given me the cold shoulder for weeks,” he said.

I sighed, knowing he was right. The thought of Dylan being mad at me for weeks was something I couldn”t bear.

I felt a pang of guilt for not trusting Dylan enough to confide in him earlier.

I knew I had to make things right and find a way to rebuild the trust that had been damaged.

”Do you think I”ve already screwed things up with him?” I asked, my voice laced with doubt.

Piston leaned in closer, he gripped my shoulder.

”Whizz, every relationship reaches a rocky point sooner or later. It”s how you handle it that matters,” he said.

His words hit me hard. He was right. I couldn”t just wait for Dylan to come to me.

If I wanted to mend what I broke, I needed to make the first move.

Piston continued, ”You shouldn”t wait for Dylan to approach you. Take the initiative to go up to him and apologize. Explain why you did what you did, and make it clear that you want to work things out.”

I nodded, his advice was sound. It was time to swallow my pride, to set aside my fears and uncertainties, and go to Dylan.

I spent some time at the bar with Piston, discussing how to win Dylan back.

We hammered out a plan that would hopefully help me mend my relationship with my mate.

I raised my glass to him and said, ”Thanks for listening, brother.”

Piston gave me a nod. ”Anytime, Whizz. I’ve got your back.”

We drank a little while longer, then I made my way to Venom”s office.

As luck would have it, our MC President was there when I knocked on the door.

”Problem?” Venom asked, never one to mince his words.

I got straight to the point, telling him about what Marc had uncovered regarding Gregory Hicks” new operation.

”These rats don”t know when to stay down,” Venom said with a growl.

He leaned back in his chair, studying me intently. ”What do you intend to do next?”

I explained that I wanted to hunt Hicks and his men down, but Marc had advised me to wait.

We didn”t have enough information to work on, and charging in without a solid plan could lead to disaster.

Venom”s expression softened, and he nodded approvingly.

”Marc is wise, Whizz. The old you would”ve come to that same conclusion eventually,” he said.

There was a hint of reproach in Venom”s voice, a tone I didn”t particularly appreciate, and it stirred anger within me.

But I knew I couldn”t let my emotions get the best of me, not in front of the MC President and my lead alpha.

I took a deep breath and finally confessed, ”Dylan”s involved in this, Venom. I promised him I would protect him. What if Hicks and his men go after Dylan again?”

”I know it”s hard when your mate”s life is at stake, but you need to be patient, Whizz. We”ll get these bastards sooner or later. You have the full support of the MC,” Venom said.

His words were both reassuring and calming.

I felt a sense of relief knowing that I had the backing of the entire MC, and I finally managed to calm down.

”Thanks, Venom,” I said.

Leaving his office, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

As I headed back to my workspace to complete a few research requests, my thoughts kept drifting back to Dylan.

I couldn”t shake the feeling that he was at work right now, perhaps thinking about our fight earlier, just as I was.

With those thoughts weighing on my mind, I decided to leave the MC clubhouse early.

I needed to see Dylan, to make amends and let him know how much he meant to me.

I hopped on my motorcycle and revved the engine, the powerful rumble under me a comforting presence.

I rode into town and stopped by a flower store, choosing a dozen daisies, Dylan”s favorite flowers.

I knew that this simple gesture might not be enough to make up for our argument, but it was a start.

With the flowers in hand, I headed towards Three Hills, intending to surprise him.

I didn”t have to wait long. Half an hour later, I spotted Dylan talking animatedly to a blond-haired omega. Kyle.

My frown deepened as I watched them, the memory of the information, or rather the lack of information, I had dug up on the mysterious Kyle resurfacing.

There was something about the way Kyle”s records had been manufactured that immediately set off alarm bells.

Who or what was Kyle hiding from? I knew that it was possible I was just being paranoid.

It was common for people to create new identities for themselves, especially if they had a troublesome past.

That didn”t necessarily mean he was connected to Hicks in any way. Still, I couldn”t shake the suspicion that hung over Kyle.

It bothered me how easily he had inserted himself into Dylan”s life, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

My thoughts on Kyle vanished the moment Dylan turned and saw me. His face lit up as he broke away from the conversation with Kyle and ran up to me.

It was as if he had momentarily forgotten that we had had a fight.

Dylan”s smile, however, dropped when he reached me, replaced by a look of uncertainty.

He asked, ”What are you doing here?”

I offered him the bouquet of daisies. ”I”m here to pick you up. I figured we could have dinner together. These are for you.”

I could see the tension in Dylan”s face melt a little as he took the flowers.

”Flowers don”t make everything better, Whizz,” he reminded me.

”I know,” I said, my voice gentle. ”But I hope it”s a start.”

I took a deep breath and finally apologized for my actions.

”I never intended to hurt you,” I told him. ”But I promise I won”t ever lie to you or keep anything from you again.”

I wanted Dylan to understand that I was committed to making things right between us, to rebuilding the trust we had lost.

Our relationship was too important to let it crumble over a mistake, and I was determined to prove that to him.

Dylan”s embrace was unexpected, and it took me by surprise.

He hugged me tightly and whispered, ”Mates should trust each other. I trust you with everything I am, you understand?”

I couldn”t help but smile as I rubbed his back.

”I do,” I replied

”I love you so much,” Dylan whispered.

”Same here,” I answered. ”Let”s start over?”

Just as we were about to continue our reconciliation, Kyle interrupted us. “Dylan, everything alright?” Kyle asked.

We reluctantly parted from our hug as Kyle approached, and his presence immediately set me on edge.

I couldn”t shake the feeling that something was off about him, something I couldn”t quite put my finger on.

“I mentioned our fight to Kyle,” Dylan told me. “But we’re good now, Kyle. It was all a misunderstanding. Right, Whizz?”

I managed a nod in acknowledgment, unable to bring myself to be friendly.

The sense of distrust lingered, and I couldn”t shake the feeling that there was something about Kyle that I needed to keep a close eye on.

“We’ll get that coffee another day,” Dylan told Kyle. “I promise.”

“I understand. You guys have a good time,” Kyle said.

He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, and I couldn”t help but feel a twinge of guilt for my suspicions.

Wait a moment. Maybe Kyle was just that good an actor that he could easily fool everyone?

Dylan got behind me on my motorcycle, wrapping his arms around my waist, fitting against me as if he always belonged there.

”He”s a great guy, Whizz,” Dylan said, breaking the silence. ”I hope you give him a chance.”

I sighed, not wanting to push or convince Dylan of my suspicions regarding Kyle.

Kyle had quickly become an important part of Dylan”s life, the first real friend he had made since his rescue.

I didn”t have it in me to take that away from him.

Still, my gut instincts told me that Kyle might not have entirely honest intentions toward my mate.

”I”ll try,” I replied but the truth was, Kyle had placed himself on my personal list of people to watch out for.

”How do you intend to make it up to me?” Dylan asked in a teasing voice, his mood shifting.

I grinned. ”You”ll just have to find out.”

Starting the motorcycle”s engine, I revved it to life, and we rode back to Moon Burrow.

I had special plans for tonight. It involved a nice dinner, maybe a movie or two, then Dylan and me getting naked.

# d and him make up.