Chapter 183 SURPRISINGLY TASTY
Edeline
He snapped back to the present, looking at me with a soft chuckle. "Oh, that’s a mix of Jägermeister, coconut rum, and pineapple juice. Not a lot of bartenders know it, but it’s good—better than it sounds, I promise. You can have it as a shot or a drink. It might sound weird, but trust me, it’s surprisingly tasty. Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine," he assured me with a nod, his tone more playful now.
I gave him a polite smile, trying to relax as we both settled into the quiet that followed. We sat there with our legs hanging off the barstools, not saying a word. My thoughts, however, were anything but quiet. They kept drifting back to everything that had happened this evening, replaying each moment like a movie I couldn’t turn off.
I had decided to stop pursuing him.
I had reached a point where my spirit just couldn’t take it anymore. I had to surrender. It was totally understandable, even to me.
I was tired—tired of always being second best, tired of being the one who’s there for everyone when no one is there for me. The moon might not be thrilled with my decision, and if she isn’t... well, I hope she’ll guide me in the right direction. But honestly, no one else has been there for me. No one except Darius.
Darius. He’s always been there for me, and I haven’t forgotten about him. I heard he’s doing better now, and before long, he’ll be free from that damn cellar. I need to go see him soon. It’s hard to even trust my own brother to stay loyal, and while I’m still mad at him, I can’t help but forgive him. He’s wrestling with the same emotions I once struggled with.
The clink of drinks being placed on the table snapped me out of my daydream. I quickly pushed aside any lingering thoughts, making sure to keep my guard up, ensuring Percival couldn’t reach me through our connection. I glanced at the drink in front of me; its color was like muddy water with a hint of yellow. Not exactly appetizing.
“Hey, give it a shot,” Conor said, playfully nudging me.
I felt a twinge of guilt. If I were pregnant... well, I didn’t think one drink would hurt the pup. It wasn’t even a pup yet, just a bunch of cells, but still... the thought made me feel like a terrible parent.
Conor let out a big sigh. “Hey, don’t worry. It’s not going to hurt you. Just go for it.”
I sighed again, but a small smile crept onto my face. Despite everything, there was a thrill in being here with him in human territory. I couldn’t sense any other wolves around—just humans. It was oddly comforting.
I raised the glass to my lips and gave it a quick sniff. The aroma was surprisingly pleasant. That’s pretty cool. I took a cautious sip, and to my surprise, it didn’t taste terrible!
I raised my eyebrows, glancing at Conor, who had a smug grin on his face. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing.
After a few more sips, the tension started to melt away. We completely forgot about the mate bond and began teasing Shortie about his thinning hair. The atmosphere grew light and easy as we all started laughing together. Shortie joked about getting some plugs so the ladies would have something to play with, which sent Conor into a fit of laughter, beer spraying out of his mouth.
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter too, matching the bellowing sound that filled the room. It felt so good to laugh like this, to just be in the moment.
“Hey, I don’t think that’s going to do much for you with the ladies,” Conor teased, still chuckling.
Shortie let out a frustrated sigh, but there was a twinkle in his eye. “So, what’s the deal, you big goofball? The first girl I’ve ever seen you with is right here, and I have a feeling she’s more interested in me than you. Right, sugar?” He winked, flashing his trademark silly grin.
I clutched my belly, laughing even harder. The whole situation was just too funny.
“See, Shortie?” Conor said with a grin. “She finds it absolutely hilarious!” He laughed along with me.
It was... well, it was interesting, hanging out with people like this. They were hilarious! And seeing an Alpha male like Conor joking around with another person was something new. I suppose he felt at ease here, not having to be in his dominant role. Shortie was definitely the one calling the shots. This was his domain, and for once, Conor didn’t seem to mind.
As Shortie moved away to the other side of the bar, still chuckling at our jokes, I leaned in, letting my elbow rest comfortably on the bar. A smile tugged at my lips as I settled into the moment. I stopped drinking after my third glass; I could already feel the lightheadedness creeping in, making everything around me seem a bit softer, a bit fuzzier. It was a relief, really—a way to wash away the sadness that had been weighing me down. I wasn’t feeling giddy, just... content. And that was more than enough.
I glanced over at Conor, who was looking down at me with that playful smirk of his. “So light,” he chuckled, raising another shot to his lips. He downed it in one go, slamming the glass on the bar with a satisfied shake of his head. “Wow, that’s really good!”
His enthusiasm made me giggle, and his warm smile in response only deepened the sense of ease between us.
“Conor, why did you bring me here? I mean... I know why, but why did you ask me to go with you?” The question had been nagging at me all night, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
He sighed, turning to look at me fully. His expression was serious now, a stark contrast to the light-hearted banter from earlier. “I know you’re familiar with my story... well... Anita’s story,” he started, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Percival confronted me about it, made me see just how terrible Anita really is,” he added, the mention of her name drawing a glare.