Drinks

Don and Megan decided to head out and wait for their son to come out. While they still had an hour left till the school gets over, it was the same time that it took for a trip back and forth from the McCain household to the school. Sure, the couple could let their son take the bus as usual, but things weren’t as usual around here anymore.

“Let’s go to the bar. I need a drink.” Megan huffed as soon as they left the school. 

“You sure? It’s the middle of the day.” Don paused, worried for his wife. He was also worried about his son as no matter what he did not want to introduce Mark to alcohol at this young age, even if it was just a smell coming out of his mother’s mouth.

“I’ll have like one shot. Please.” Megan begged. “I am already worried about that little kid, I need some booze in me.” she sighed.

“Alright then…” Don sighed. Unable to say no to his lovely wife had one of his biggest weaknesses in his life. 

They headed off to the nearest bar, the Platoon Pub and decided to order something with less alcohol content.

They were browsing through the drinks when Don noticed an unfamiliar face. At the same time, Megan was about to ask for the usual, when Don prompted his wife to stop. “How can I help you?” the unknown man asked them with a coy smile.

“Where is Miguel?” Megan asked the man.

“He left, so I took his position.” The man shrugged. “I am Zhane.” he introduced himself. 

“McCain’s”! The owner, who was familiar with them, shouted. “Bring both of them a pair of mojito.” he ordered his worker.

“No wait, I won’t be drinking today. I am driving.” Don declared to both Mr. Benitez and Zhane.

“You always drive, that never stopped you before.” Mr. Benitez noted.

“We will be driving our son home, we do not want to teach him the wrong lesson.” Don shrugged.

“I can make a Mocktail, if you want.” Zhane shrugged. “And while you are at it, you might like a virgin Pina Colada,” he suggested.

“You are suggesting to me what to drink?” Don scoffed.

Zhane looked at Mr. Benitez who turned to the couple and smirked. “He has been suggesting them to all the customers today. All I can say is that those who are taking it up, are leaving with no regrets.”

“Okay…” Don frowned. “So tell me, why are you suggesting Pina Colada to me?” 

“I make it really good.” Zhane shrugged. “Looks like you are having a rough day, both of you. Maybe you can use something good.” he added.

Both Don and Megan looked at each other, impressed by the new bartenders' deduction skills. “You know what? Pour me one too.” Megan smirked. “But don’t make mine virgin.”

“Coming right up.” Zhane shrugged and got busy. Don and Megan were both impressed by how he made those drinks, as if he was a professional. Sure this was a bar, but it lacked good bartenders… until now. Or so it seemed. The duo was happy to pay an extra tip to Zhane, satisfied with the service. Before they realized, the time had passed and it was time to go back to pick up Mark.

Zhane on the other hand followed the duo’s train with his gaze as he found his suspicion being confirmed. Earlier this day when he visited the school to drop off kitchen supplies a strong scent of forest dew hit him. It was his favorite scent in the entire world, and therefore smelling it in a sophisticated place like a school was definitely odd.

If he was right, whoever this person was, was supposed to be his mate. If Zhane had to guess, he would say it was someone who worked at the School. However, before Zhane could find out who exactly it was, he made a run for it. Sure, if his mate was a wolf (which was likely) they would search him up, and for that he needed to be prepared.

His suspicion was confirmed when Mr and Mrs McCain walked in through the door, and a trail of similar scent followed. The intensity wasn’t high, so he was certain that whoever his mate was, Mr. and Mrs McCain had interacted with them both. He was even more certain that the scent was on them because when they walked out of the bar, the scent faded away.

As the school was near, it was highly possible that whoever his mate was could trace him here, or even otherwise can walk into the bar for a casual drink. The chances were too high. But there was no way he could get off the shift early, as he had just moved in and started working here.

Later on, he was looking forward to attempting to convince Mr. Benitez to allow Zhane the night shift. While the night shift was usually crowded, and therefore not Zhane’s favorite, it was certainly safer. The school hours would be over, and perhaps whoever his mate was won’t bother to come here at night. And even if they did, maybe in the crowd, the person would not be able to trace them. Or at least that’s what he hoped.

But it was all merely circumstantial. Zhane simply couldn’t base all his preparations based on hope alone. So after his shift was finally over, he headed back to his room, dug out a tiny bag from a small pocket inside his luggage and smirked.

Inside it there was a pocket knife and a small bottle of white liquid. “If you dare come near me, I will kill you.” in a chilling voice Zhane mumbled, as he stared at those tiny two things in his hand. Luckily he was alone in the room.