Chapter 13: Bells

It was dark, with a few lights on the stairs on each side. While the kats kept their eyes forward, the enticing smell of butter popcorn permeated the surrounding air. As the big screen played a movie, the sound of crackling fire and the sight of a desolate landscape filled the room, setting the stage for a heartwarming tale of a lone wanderer guiding a diverse group of colorful characters toward a new home. Sometimes, kittens gasping or laughing sounded off, followed by their parents shushing or telling them to behave.

Oliver could only gawk and jump slightly when the theater's audio boomed the sound effects and music. Never had he experienced this feeling so entranced by everything. Even if Jonathan munched loudly beside him, he didn't mind enjoying his time. However, the absence of his fathers made him snap out of it. Hearing a shift near him made him focus on the party nearby.

Feral sat on Oliver's other side, with Luna beside him and her two boys on the next following chairs. The sizable tom appeared uncertain as he intermittently checked the two older boys, then redirected his attention to the screen with a hint of intrigue. Earlier, Conner wanted to see a slasher film and sat rather annoyed. Conner was the complete opposite, engaged with the story. A slight smile escaped Feral when Luna rested her head on his shoulder.

Oliver observed them and imagined his fathers being there instead, behaving similarly. He frowned, wishing they could be there, but it seemed they were preparing for the upcoming wedding. That made him pause. Isn't one of them supposed to wear a dress? Then again, that minor episode he saw on television gave him a clue of what to expect for the wedding, which involved a fight where the groom fought a dragon.

A dragon. I always wanted to see one, Oliver thought. He giggled, wondering if something like that would happen, but thought it was silly. Returning his attention ahead, he kept watching the movie.

The movie began heading toward the climactic end, with the lone wanderer finding his place with his newfound friends. He found his family. Seeing that, Oliver felt happy and sad, liking that the character had his happy ending and now wanting his fathers to be around more than ever.

Once the credits rolled, he followed the adults out. After shuffling down the stairs and into the connected lobby, they made it outside. Soon, they were walking out and heading towards the parking area.

"So, how did you boys enjoy the movie?" Luna asked.

"Too colorful for my taste," Conner said. He pointed at the passing preview poster of an action flick. "I wanna see that one when it comes out."

Luna glanced back, eyes narrowing as she scanned the poster. "Hmm… maybe. If you do well on the upcoming test, then we'll go," she said, getting an excited 'yes' from Conner. Her tail wrapped around Feral's, and she gently bumped into him with her shoulder. She closed her eyes and leaned on him. "Maybe we could all go?"

A smile tugged out of Feral, though before he said anything, his ears perked, and his eyes glanced towards Connor, who had an irritable face. The smile faded, and he exhaled. "I'll see if I can go. The start of the year always brings the omegas out of hiding."

In agreement, Luna nodded and frowned.

Oliver noticed Cale on the sideline, eyeing his brother and Feral. He seemed unsure until he shook his head. "I liked the movie, Mom. The way the story was presented, the action, the music, and the world-building," Cale added, getting close and grabbing his mother's hand. He shifted forward to look at Feral. "Thank you, Feral, for taking us to the movies."

A flicker of surprise crossed Feral's face, but he swiftly composed himself and nodded. "It's not a problem, Cale," he said. He paused, appearing hesitant by his following words. He rubbed his head and smiled. "You can call me Ulysses or Uly for short."

Cale stared at Feral before shooting a glance toward his brother. He shook his head. "Maybe. I don't know."

"It's alright," Feral said, his voice tinged with a slight disappointment. He glanced at Oliver and Jonathan. "How about you? Did you two enjoy the movie?"

"It was awesome, Uly," Jonathan exclaimed out. He tugged Oliver's hand with a big smile. "How about you? Did you like it?"

The moment everyone looked at him, Oliver felt this slight pressure. He wanted to say everything he liked about the movie, from the story to the music, just like them, but they didn't know sign language. He looked away and gave a thumbs-up. Trying to get their attention elsewhere, Oliver pointed at Feral.

"You're right, Oliver," Luna said, winking. She tugged her mate's hand. "How about it, love? Did you enjoy it?"

"It was fine," Feral said, shrugging his shoulders. "I haven't seen a cartoon in a while, so it's a pleasant change of pace. Anyway, are you boys hungry? Anything particular you are craving?"

"Pizza," all the boys said in unison.

With a humorous look, both adults shared a look before snorting. As they neared Feral's car, they witnessed the brown tom holding the door open for his mate, patiently waiting for everyone to enter before jumping into the driver's seat. Soon, he drove them out with him and Luna discussing possible pizza joints to go to while drifting into adult conversation.

While Jonathan kept talking, Oliver would half listen and nod while checking the passing buildings. The night sky looked so good tonight. If he were at Tram's, he would get prepped for a run, going wherever he told him to go in the middle of the night. It felt strange, this new way of living. When either of his fathers poked his attention away from the television every night, he expected them to make him do a run, but they warned him it was almost bedtime.

No list. No run. It was just a warning that it was time for bed.

Oliver could feel the warm embrace as they held him close and took him to his bed. Jake would read him a children's book while Chance would read one of his comics. No matter what, they never failed to give him a loving lick on the head and whisper a sweet goodnight when they saw him getting sleepy.

However, they seemed a bit off this week, looking like something was weighing on them. In fact, Oliver saw them acting oddly with each other. He wonders if something happened or if this wedding had something to do with it. They looked unhappy.

Frowning, Oliver released a breath. He could see Jonathan trying to start a conversation with his cousins from the corner of his eye. Cale would engage with him, while Conner would give a brief response. Oliver might have been mistaken, but it seemed like the tiger started paying more attention to them after the rock incident. On the other hand, Conner occasionally demanded to be left in peace, leaving the possibility that nothing had changed.

The adults at the front talked about mundane things until they drifted about the bachelor parties surrounding Chance and Jake.

"I wish I could have gone with either of them. A beach day with my sisters and brothers sounds nice. Then again, bar-hopping sounds fun," Luna mused, rubbing her chin. She leans back against the chair and shrugs. "Oh well, at least I get to spend tonight with my favorite toms."

"And away from your mother," Feral whispered. He groaned, stopping at a red light and tapping his thick fingers on the steering wheel.

"Uly, come on. Take a break sometimes."

"You're agreeing with her?"

"Yes, and no. I agree to relax, but not with her forcing you to come down because you must prove to my mom you love me. She and the rest of my family are a bit much sometimes." Luna frowned, crossing her arms and huffing. It didn't last as she reached for Feral's paw and rubbed it. "Good exit strategy, though. Movie night was a good idea."

Feral's tense expression relaxed as the light turned green, and he held his mate's hand contentedly.

After a short drive, they didn't take long to arrive at Tito's Pizza and Arcade. The space-theme carpet and the neon-lit area worked well with the loud and colorful arcade machines. The smell of freshly made pizza filled the air as teenagers walked with orders to awaiting families.

Luna quickly explained the rules and told them not to talk to strangers. As soon as she and Feral handed each of them money, the kids bolted towards the arcade.

Oliver hesitated, clutching the ten-dollar bill, while the two adults exchanged worried glances. He wondered why they were looking at him like that and waited for them to give him instructions.

"Something wrong?" Luna asked, kneeling and putting a hand on Oliver's shoulder. She signaled with her head in the direction the boys went. "Don't you want to play some arcades with your cousins?"

Oliver blinked, looking at the money once more. Anytime Tram handed him a bill, he would go to the convenience store nearby and get whatever he asked for that day. Or when an adult gave him a package to deliver. Nothing was ever for him but for somebody else. 'What do I do with this?'

Luna glanced over her shoulder to Feral. "Love. Do you know any sign?"

Feral rubbed his chin. "Barely. Though I think he's asking what he's supposed to do with the money," he said. His frown deepened as soon as Luna's ears folded, and a sad look overcame her.

Oliver felt Luna rub his shoulder with care as she looked utterly lost in what to say or do next. Nothing came from either of them until Feral coughed.

Giving a quick caress to his mate's cheek, Feral moved and placed a hand on Oliver's back, gently guiding him towards the arcade. "How about this? I'll show him the ropes while you order pizza and get a table for us. I'll wrangle the rest of the kids when the food is ready."

Luna's face lit up. "Show him the ropes?" She snorted, giving an amused look as she cocked an eyebrow. "Love. This isn't work. Think you can handle the arcade?"

With a scoff, Feral put a hand on his chest and feigned dejection, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Call me the arcade king. Used to go with my brother every weekend when we had some free time back in the day."

"Oh? Now, that's something I want to hear later. Alright, have fun, you two," Luna said.

Feral nodded, giving a quick wave before continuing to lead Oliver to the arcade area. Making a quick stop at the token machine, Feral instructed Oliver what to do. Oliver nodded, doing what he was told, and soon, a good amount of tokens popped out and landed in the bucket. Feral grabbed a free plastic token holder nearby, putting all the tokens inside and handing them to Oliver.

Oliver soon found himself in the skee ball area, surrounded by the sound of rolling balls and the sight of his cousins aiming for the holes. Despite most balls landing on the one-thousand hole, Jonathan couldn't help but giggle with each roll. While Cale struggled with landing his balls in the hole, he still outperformed the others and scored better. Conner's reactions were diverse throughout the game, ranging from disappointment and muttered curses when he missed or scored no points when he slid the ball too hard, making it bounce and roll down back his way, to somewhat appeased when it made it in.

Feral asked Oliver for a couple of tokens, got four, and put them in the coin slot. The machine hummed a theme song, and the locked balls rolled out and clanked once they reached the bottom. Handing Oliver a ball, he guided him towards the machine.

Oliver looked at the ball, the machine, and then Feral, seeing the brown tom waiting for him to roll the ball. Watching his cousin, Oliver hesitated before mimicking their action of moving the ball down the black slide, witnessing it reach the tip, and returning to him. He caught it and looked at Feral, wondering if that was alright.

A laugh broke out, and Oliver saw Conner laughing and pointing at him. "The heck was that? At least Prince made something."

"Uh, thanks. I think," Jonathan said, stopping mid-slide. He focused on Oliver and gave a thumbs up. "You got this, Oliver."

"Conner, be nice," Cale said, tugging his brother's shirt.

Oliver felt so defeated, not wanting to play anymore. But he felt a paw patting his head before he could place the ball down. He glanced up and saw Feral extending his other paw, requesting the ball. He handed the ball to the brown tom and watched Feral take a position before rolling it without hesitance. The ball flung up and smoothly went through the highest possible score. Oliver shared the same surprised expression as his cousins.

"Still got it," Feral muttered with a slight grin. He took a moment to glance at each of the kids before nodding his head. "You four need some work if you want to score high."

"Eh. We're doing just fine, old tom," Conner said. He was the first to shake his amazement, returning to look defiantly at Feral. "You just got lucky."

"Oh, did I?" Feral picked up the next ball, slid it up the ramp, and landed in the same spot. He crossed his arms and smiled. "I think I got lucky again."

"Whatever," Conner muttered, looking away.

"I could help you get a high score." Feral glanced at everyone else. "All of you."

Conner gave a doubtful gaze. "So? Do you think helping me would win a point over me?"

Feral exhaled, appearing unsure as he observed Conner. Oliver always remembered the boy's intense gaze whenever Luna and Feral were together. Despite Conner's reserved nature, his eyes betrayed his thoughts. On the other hand, Cale seemed curious, though he would retreat and stay on his brother's side every time.

"Nope," Feral said simply. He pointed with a thumb towards where the prizes were located. "However, don't you want to win one of those prizes?"

Conner's ear perked up, looking towards the booth. His tail whished around as his eyes focused on something. His brother Cale approached him, tugging his arm and silently asking his brother to go along with it. After a moment, Conner clicked his tongue and nodded. "Alright. Fine." He pointed a claw at Feral. "This doesn't change my opinion of you."

Despite Feral's interest in asking, he nodded and waved at the kids to come close. "Okay. From the small amount I've seen… I can break down where you guys go wrong. Jonathan, you need more power in your slides. Plus, you shift your entire body, which causes you to slide it awkwardly. Cale, your form is fine, but you question yourself and do not make the call before you throw it. Stop doubting yourself, and go for the highest score," he paused, glancing at Conner. He smirked, making the boy's fur stand up. "Conner, you need to ease up in your power. You have the confidence and form down. You just need to stop getting irritated whenever it doesn't go your way. If you let your anger get the best of you, you'll never be able to score high."

Conner huffed, crossing his arms. "Riiiight. Any more tips of wisdom. Oh, wise one."

Feral ignored him, glancing at the two other older boys. "I'll give you all pointers as you go along."

With excitement, Cale and Jonathan nodded and went back to their places. With an eye roll, Conner reluctantly followed them.

Oliver tugged Feral's big hand, getting the brown kat's attention. He pointed at himself. 'And me?'

Feral kneeled, grabbed another ball, and handed it to Oliver. "First time playing skee ball?"

Oliver nodded.

"You just need more practice. Don't worry about the score. Just try to get a feel for it and work from there."

Feeling surprised, Oliver could only stare, watching Feral head over to the other boys and give them pointers as they kept playing. Occasionally, Feral's behavior would catch him off guard. When he saw the brown tom on television back at Tram's place, he saw a scary and loud tom who shouted at his enforcers with such cold authority. Never did he imagine this side of Feral.

Looking at the ball in his hand, he looked at the ramp leading to the holes. Deciding to try it, he used more force than before, getting it to the lower hole. The machine hummed a bell sound. He smiled, liking the feeling, and grabbing the next ball.

James rubbed his eyes, taking a sip of his tea. The clock was still eight, and he needed to wait thirty more minutes. He drifted to his current living space.

Only the bare necessities were inside, lacking any flavor or expression, remaining as they had been since James came here. The apartment complex was in the southern east of the city, on the edge of the crime areas—perfect enough for him to arrive early at the Nikko estate and not get mugged in the middle of the street.

He opened the sliding door, entered the small outdoor patio, and checked in the neighborhood. Some homeless people were sleeping in the building's alley across from him, kids were playing in the street, and cats were returning from work. He watched his neighbors spend their day in their homes, all with someone, whether their friends, kids, or partners. Everyone belonged to something, yet his apartment felt empty and cold.

With a sigh, he glanced back at the clock and saw it was time. He moved back, closing the sliding door and hurrying towards his room. Once there, he went to his small cabinet near his bed and opened it. He stabbed the edge using a claw and lifted the fake floor, revealing a bulky phone. Taking it out, he extended the antenna and dialed some numbers, putting it near his ear and hearing it ring.

A female voice came with a slight giggle. It was weird to hear a Feral laugh, as they always seemed so serious. To be fair, he only knew two of them. Her typical stern demeanor on TV faded as she spoke. "Hey, there, mud face. How's it going?"

James snorted, letting himself fall back onto his plain bed. "Keep that up, and I'll tell our fellow graduates and Callie about how you almost slept with Steele."

A slight growl escaped. "Ugh. Don't remind me of that."

"Hmm. Let's see. Mick's Bar. It was the festival of flowers. Every fresh graduate was getting drunk and rowdy. You two got wasted, and I was left babysitting you, too. Then we go to the apartment. I leave you two alone and return to you guys with half your clothes. You had your top off, and he had his bottom off. And-"

"Alright. That's enough," Felina said quickly. James could hear something slamming and Felina groaning on the other line. "Good thing he remembered nothing."

"He had a nice piece," James muttered absentmindedly. He blushed, remembering that hard and long pole from that scrawny kat. "Shame that Jimmy turned out so different after the academy."

"Yeah. However, let us not dwell on it and ruin the mood." She hummed, shifting, and the taps of her footsteps hinted she was walking.

James nodded, though he wished his old friend hadn't become such a jerk when he became commander lieutenant. Steele had influential parents, and they had high expectations. That once timid and unsure guy who got picked on in the academy changed so much with power. Maybe bitter was the right word.

"So, what's new with you?" James asked.

"At home, somewhat resting. I am currently juggling different cases and projects. Wishing I could join my mate and have a blast at Jake's bachelor party, but I don't have the energy. Plus, I wanted to be available for you."

"Oh yeah, the weddings tomorrow. How are both grooms doing?"

"Jake is fine. His future husband… just can't calm down and worries about all the moving pieces. However, he's been off these two days. Not sure why, though."

James chuckled. "He's probably just scared. How do you think we'll do when we get married?"

"Probably like Jake. I'm more of a paper-and-sign gal, but my mate is gushing about it, especially after seeing Jake and Chance's wedding preparation. Think I'll need you sooner based on how she looks at things and me."

"Hopefully, I could go," James mused lowly. He tapped the phone and shifted to his side. "But if this continues, I'll be stuck here longer. I'll tell you what, FF, it's been hectic here."

"How's that going?"

James exhaled. "The clan is on high alert. There's not enough time to collect evidence since we're on a wild goose chase trying to find who offed Tram. So that side is at a standstill."

"I remember you suggesting another party has gotten into the mix. Any clues about who it could be?"

"Unfortunately, not a clue as of yet."

"Hmm. From the looks of things, it seems Reiko has assigned some detectives to investigate the death of Deacon's former ride buddy. Damn. Whomever this third party is, they are desperate to find Deacon. They tortured the poor guy to death."

"It… was much worse being there," James whispered, wanting to find out who did it. He rubbed his temple. "Say, speaking of which, how's that new commander-lieutenant? Like what's your opinion of him? I have never met him since I went undercover a month before he arrived."

"He's fine… I guess. Kind of hard to read him, though most enforcers like him."

James whistled. "And he's hot. Think he plays my field?"

Felina busted out laughing. "Down, boy. I don't think so."

"Phooey."

They kept talking, discussing their lives and random things like friends meeting for coffee. It was a time for James to be vulnerable and speak openly without fearing his cover or being judged. Based on her willingness to communicate openly, he surmised that Felina shared similar feelings. Although she wasn't playing the role of an undercover agent like him, she could be her true self and unwind around him. Granted, when they first met, he got the typical Felina with something to prove to the other boys, but a particular situation changed that.

James stifled a laugh.

"What?" Felina asked, sounding annoyed. "Did I say something stupid?"

"No. I'm just thinking about our academy days. Remember when you walked in on me, getting railed by our old drill sergeant in the shower room?"

A hum escaped Felina before she snorted. "I remember trying to find somewhere to cry. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. No wonder he gave you those looks when we first entered the academy. I never seen someone bolt out of a room as quick as he did."

"I asked you what was wrong. You answered. I answered your question about the drill sergeant and me while staying in the same position he left me in. Then we laughed."

"I think that was the same day we helped Steele with other recruits picking on him."

"Oh yeah. Then we became the trio, and the rest was history," James said, letting his words drift. He frowned, scratching his neck and looking towards the window. "We should hit him up one day and see how he's doing."

"You remember he nearly got my uncle killed, right?" Felina interjected sharply. A slight hiss escaped. "The little twerp didn't bother to help my uncle when Dark Kat or Mad Kat got him. Listen. If you want to contact him, do it on your own time. As far as I am concerned, he deserves his new position in the middle of nowhere, away from us."

"FF. Come on," James begged. Whenever Steele was brought up, Felina would always react sensitively, either brushing it off or becoming annoyed during the conversation. "He's still our friend. You don't have to forgive him for what he did. I don't. But sometimes, we could have steered him to a better path if we didn't get so busy trying to make a name for ourselves in the Enforcers."

Felina said nothing, though James could hear her clicking her tongue and mumbling something under her breath. A tremendous exhale escaped on the other line before she spoke again. "Listen. It's getting late. I have a wedding tomorrow to attend."

James felt defeated, letting his shoulders slump down. That was the end of that conversation. "Alright."

"You staying up all night?"

"Yeah. I have the day off tomorrow. Thinking about getting a drink and prowling around for someone interesting tonight."

A tired chuckle escaped Felina. "Let me guess. A bottle of wine is in order?"

"Old, strong, and good to take to bed," James added. He laughed briefly before his eyes landed on his clearance badge for the Nikko compound.

His mind drifted to a particular boss, remembering how Aiko pinned him against the wall and cupped his chin. Since that day, he couldn't stop thinking about the snow leopard's muscular physique and the masculine scent that surrounded it. Aiko's presence had a captivating effect on James, with his scent becoming increasingly prominent and addictive. Regrettably, he cannot escape his boss's clutches and has been stuck by Aiko's side since this chaotic situation began.

"Goodnight, James. Be safe."

"You too, Felina. Have fun at the wedding."

Despite the many males around, a neon-lit area with many dark places and techno playing in the background smelled like sweet lavender. Males would kiss in the dark corner with other males, and a few females would do the same with other girls. People interacted much on the purple and pink dance floor, with the bar being the quietest location.

Jake stifled a laugh, feeling odd as Callie and his soon-to-be sister-in-law mates kept drinking shot after shot. They had been bar hopping from bar to bar and had landed in a new gay bar called the Neon Lavender. Nate looked so concerned as the passing guys kept giving him looks, finally snapping out of his deep buzz and realizing where he was. Meanwhile, Andy was the complete opposite.

"If I was a tail swiper, I would kill it," Andy said, glancing at the surrounding area. "I can feel these toms disrobing me with their eyes."

"I hope they don't get the wrong idea," Nate muttered. He raised his hand and waved apologetically in Jake's and Callie's direction. "Not that there's nothing wrong with homosexuals or anything."

Jake looked at Callie, sharing the same amused look at him. "None taken. Relax, Andy, none will take advantage of you," he said.

"Unless you offer," Callie added.

The trio laughed as Nate blushed. Suddenly, the giant tiger running the bar put a drink down near Nate. The lion jumped slightly, looking at the alcohol and then the tiger.

"I didn't-"

The tiger pointed toward an older gray-colored tom at the other end of the bar. This tom raised his drink and winked. "He paid for it," the tiger said before heading to work on another drink.

"Where's my drink?" Andy huffed. He put his hands to the side and gave his best-offended look.

Jake laughed with Callie, both putting a hand on each side of Andy's broad shoulder. "They expect you to give someone a drink. You're strong, confident, and very intimidating, while poor old Ned looks like a baby deer that needs to be picked up," Callie said, covering her mouth.

"Well, if they can't handle these guns, then they can't handle me," Andy joked, flexing his enormous arms. He shrugged and laughed, jabbing Jake with his elbow. "Even if they could handle me, I'm already taken, just like this stud. Congrats again, Jake."

Jake smiled, though it didn't last, as tomorrow was in a few hours. He lingered about the big day these past few days, and his mind kept going in circles as if he had forgotten something. He shook his head and asked himself why he was getting so worked up. The ugly incident with Chance came to mind, but he dismissed it. It was probably nothing. He was sure of it. Maybe?

"Everything alright," Callie whispered, bringing him back. She looked concerned as she stroked his shoulder. "Nervous?"

"Yes, and no. I feel like I'm forgetting something or someone," Jake admitted in a low tone, seeing Andy and Nate getting another drink. He got closer to Callie. "Maybe, Swat Kat related. Maybe about Chance. Or maybe about our kid. I just don't know."

With a hum, Callie played with her drink with a finger. "Is it about your mom or sister?"

"Nope," Jake said rather harshly. He winced when Callie gave him a look. "Chance didn't tell you about our fight. Did he?"

"First time I'm hearing it," Callie admitted. She slipped them away before continuing. "I knew something was up with both of you. You two fought?"

Jake sighed, nodding his head. "Yeah. It wasn't that bad," he lied. His mind drifted a few days ago…

...

Sensing something was wrong, Jake looked away from the paperwork, glancing at his mate. Chance sat on the office couch blankly as he stared at the ceiling despite Scaredy Kat being on. This was alarming. Most people would excuse it, assuming that Chance is bored or preoccupied with something. However, this is Scaredy Kat they were talking about. Even though the tabby had seen the episodes multiple times, he would still laugh and become captivated by the show, just like a little kitten, and get annoyed if someone interrupted.

"Chance," Jake called out. Chance didn't respond. Getting off the chair and moving closer, Jake called him again and still didn't respond. Exhaling, he shook his head and jumped on his tabby, straddling him. "Chance, do you copy?"

Chance jerked a bit, looking so surprised, until his usual cocky grin appeared. With a sliding motion, his hands moved downward and confidently caressed Jake's rear, establishing a firm hold as their mouths drew closer, starting an intense make-out session. They indulged in a deep purring exchange until Jake broke off, causing Chance to mew for another kiss.

"Nu-uh," Jake said, touching his mate's lip. He leaned back, letting himself sit on his mate's knees. Chance's pouting made him chuckle. Gently caressing those chubby cheeks, he looked squarely at those green eyes. "Something on your mind?"

Chance slumped back against the couch, putting his hands behind his head. He yawned, showing his sharp teeth. "Why the question?"

Jake pointed behind him. "Because my big tabby isn't laughing."

"Oh," Chance said, glancing around before returning to Jake. "I'm just tired."

"Chance, come on. It's you. Remember that one time during a mission when you broke some ribs? You refused to stay in bed as they played a marathon the following morning. I can remember you crawling towards the living room to see it. Sick, tired, sore, rain or sunshine, Chance Furlong always has time for Scaredy Kat," Jake said, recalling that funny yet scary moment. He shook his head and flicked his mate's nose. "So… again… what's wrong, tiger?"

"I like the sound of my new pet name," Chance joked.

"Chance."

Looking unsure, Chance's smile softened as he took one last glance up before returning. With a firm look, he reached for Jake's cheek and stroked it. "We should invite your mom and sister to the wedding."

A loud cartoon sound of something screeching sounded off.

Everything in Jake's body tensed up. For a second, he thought he had misheard his mate. Yet when he realized Chance had said it, he couldn't help but growl. He pulled away and got off his mate. "No," he muttered.

"Kitten, don't be like that," Chance said, getting up and attempting to reach Jake's hand.

Jake shifted back. He felt annoyed yet tried to remain calm as he paced around the waiting room. It helped very little. After a few more steps, he spun to face his mate. "After what happened that night, you want us to invite them to our wedding? What the heck is the matter with you?"

Chance groaned. "Jake. They are family. It's not like I'm asking you to invite your dad or something."

"Unbelievable," Jake whispered, shaking his head. As he walked towards the counter, his eyes wandered beyond the glass window, his mind lost in thoughts. At that moment, his agitation made it impossible for him to look back. "I don't want them there," he said.

"Jake. Crud. Look," Chance exasperated, taking a moment to let out a defeated breath. His footsteps closed in, and his breath touched Jake's fur. Wrapping those powerful arms around Jake's stomach, he nuzzled his head against Jake's shoulder. With a soft and firm voice, he continued. "Your mom came by the garage a few weeks back. She's hurting right now. She wants to be part of our lives and Oliver's. Heck, I know your sister wants it as well. She was the first to reach out to you. They are just… in an awkward situation between you and your dad. I know, you know, if you took a step back."

A purr escaped Jake's throat involuntarily as Chance enveloped him in a comforting warmth from behind. With every touch from his mate, he couldn't help but feel a soothing sense of safety and contentment. Yet before his emotions could control his words and thoughts, his analytical side thought. "A few weeks back," he said slowly, repeating Chance's words until it clicked. Now he felt pissed off. "Was it the time when I was looking for a school for Oliver?"

Chance said nothing, though Jake felt his mate tensing up. Turning around, he saw the tabby looking slightly surprised and ashamed. That was enough to prove his theory, and he shoved Chance back. "Fuck. I can't believe you! Oh my god, that explains why the school is keen on helping us."

With both hands up, Chance's ears folded, his head lowering as he looked apologetically at Jake. "Kitten, please. I know it was wrong, but I was thinking primarily about our kid's needs. It's a good school with a lot of resources. Lindsey just had the connection we need and a very… small… donation," he muttered the last part without confidence.

"YOU. WENT. BEHIND. MY. BACK," Jake snapped through gritted teeth.

"And I'm very sorry," Chance repeated. He pulled his red cap off and brushed his hair back. With a hesitant step, he approached Jake, a forced smile slipping from his lips. "Listen. Let's just take a moment and…"

And that was it. Jake was on Chance the next second, throwing kicks and punches his way. His mate gasped, ducking most of them and grunting when they landed. No matter how hard Chance tried to placate Jake, his words only fueled his escalating fury. Soon, they were crashing into things as Chance continued to defend himself. They kept going until Chance finally grabbed and pinned Jake to the ground. The tabby swiftly got around, getting on top and snatching Jake's scruff with his teeth. Jake yowled, unleashing his claws and attempting to get his mate off him. However, Chance yanked his scruff and held Jake's hands down.

They stayed on the floor for thirty minutes, with their ragged breaths calming down. Another ten came and went when Chance finally spoke while keeping his teeth on Jake's scruff.

"Are you good?"

Jake stayed silent, feeling less angry, but it still hurt. He wanted to lie and say yes, but he couldn't. His heart felt so heavy, like someone was squeezing it. It felt hard to breathe, and he could only let out a distressed mew.

"Jake?" Chance said, letting go of Jake's scruff. He pulled them to sit, bringing Jake closer to his chest. "Kitten?"

"Damn it, Chance," Jake said with a whimper. "Why are you picking their side?"

"I'm not! Crud! I… I didn't mean to… I mean shit… I overstepped… I'm fucking sorry," Chance said. He licked Jake's head affectionately, drawing him in for a deeper embrace. "I just wanted our families to be together as one. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was wrong. Listen, let's just forget it and…"

Jake shook his head, pushing away from his mate. He didn't want to hear it. He needed to move. Wiping his tears, he grabbed the keys to the tow truck. "You already took my parent's money. At this point… just invite them… I don't care. Look, Oliver's getting out of school soon. Clean up the mess here before we come back."

"Jake."

Ignoring his mate's calls, Jake didn't wait and hopped inside the tow truck.

…

Jake took another shot with the group, exhaling, feeling the need to relax and force his smile. Nate and Andy bought it. However, Callie kept glancing at him with those concerned eyes. He had given her a synopsis of what happened, avoiding talking about the physical fight or him crying like a poor kitten. All she knew was that he and Chance had a disagreement and worked it out. To be honest, it wasn't complete bullshit, as they returned to their usual selves.

Who is he kidding?

Jake rubbed his temple, remembering how they avoided each other and kept their conversations short. Chance was giving him space, and he was making sure not to blow another fuse while their kid was around. He heard from Freya that his mom and sister were helping now with the event, though that didn't brighten his mood. Speaking off, he could remember seeing Freya eyeing them questionably before suggesting this three-day separation.

I think she might know something is up, Jake thought bitterly.

Excusing himself from the group, he headed towards the bathroom. A passing tom looked at him with interest, though he waved him off politely. Avoiding the kats in the hall, he made it to the bathroom. The music cut off as the door closed. Not wasting any time, he went to the stall and relieved himself. Once finished, he slowly headed towards the large sink. He let the water run, glancing up to see his tired self.

So many conflicting emotions were rushing out. One side curses himself for attacking his mate, and the other is bitter about Chance going behind his back. He rubbed his head, lowering down as he held onto the sink's base.

After that lousy night with his father, Jake pushed any thought to reconcile or connect with them—back to how things were before. However, his sister had the garage's number. As he answered the calls, Chance would shoot him looks, but he would always lie and say Jake was too occupied.

"Damn it, Chance," Jake muttered. He shook his head. "It's my fault. I should have just told Jessica to fuck off. Damn it. Why can't they just leave me alone? They already chose my father."

The music came on for a moment, with someone stumbling inside. Jake glanced up to look at the mirror - a drunk male looked about Jake's age, a mix of a snow leopard and something else, thanks to the fluffy cheeks and tail, maybe a rag doll. His fur color was winter gray mixed with a splash of light orange, and he was fit. The snow leopard headed towards the sink next to Jake, putting his hands on the edge and groaning.

Turning on the sink, the leopard splashed his face with water several times before leaning his head towards the sink. He lazily reached for the empty paper towel holder nearby, letting out a hiss when he finally noticed it was empty.

Jake ripped the paper towel near him and tapped the leopard's shoulder. "Here."

The snow leopard glanced at the towel. He nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jake said, inspecting the tipsy kat. He smiled. "Fun night?"

"Not really. I was here to find some fun… but I'm just not feeling it anymore," the leopard said, rubbing his face vigorously. His shoulders slumped, and he threw the paper in a trash hole. "You?"

"Not really. Clubs aren't my thing."

"The heck are you doing here, then?"

"Some friends and I are bar hopping around. Celebrating my wedding in." Jake looked at the clock nearby. "Later today."

"Congrats. I'm guessing a male if you are here."

"Good guess. My mate is a tabby kat. Thank you… uh."

"Call me Kira," he said, pinching the temple of his nose.

"Jake."

"Jake? Huh… that's interesting."

"Hmm?"

"Nothing." Kira let go of his face, glancing at Jake for a minute. He kept a blank expression until he squinted. "You good? You don't seem too happy despite your wedding coming up soon."

Jake would have lied, though he stopped and thought about it. This was a stranger, so what he said didn't matter. He wanted to talk to somebody and just let it out. "My mate lied to me. It hurt, and I wonder if I can face him later today. But then my concerns shift to our kid, who we're adopting."

A concerned look escaped Kira briefly before shifting back to neutral. "Did he cheat or something?"

"Huh? No. He just went behind me and invited someone I didn't want at the wedding." Kira cocked an eyebrow. Jake licked his lips before continuing. "My family, to be exact. Let's say there's some bad blood there. I know Chance, my mate, meant well, but it's a can of worms that I don't know if I can deal with. I tried once, which brought out some past wounds. The old bitter, angry me came out. I… I got so mad… not at him but at my family… … and then I was on him in the next second. Damn it. How could I do something like that? To someone that I love?"

Nodding, Kira looked away, scratching his head. After a minute, he snorted and smiled. "I'm jealous."

Jake blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Can I be honest with you?" Kira said, leaning on the sink with one hand. He looked ready to throw up but stifled it and sucked it back in. He rubbed his mouth, letting it go and sighing. "Just for a moment since you're so open with me."

Looking at Kira, Jake saw how the snow leopard lowered his defenses and seemed more lively than before. That or the drinks were getting to him. Regardless, he nodded.

"I wish I could have what you have. A mate to run to and maybe a kid to watch over," Kira mused. Longing and desire filled his eyes, unable to be hidden. He tapped the sink with his fingers and frowned. "But things don't work out that way. Maybe what I'm trying to say is that if you can see yourself without Chance?"

Jake thought about it. The moment he thought of that, he shivered. The idea of being alone scared him. Yet that wasn't the scariest part. No. Chance, not being around, frightened him the most. Being with his tabby differed from anyone he's ever been with. It was like the sun that kept him warm each night, the comfort that made him feel protected and that person he could imagine growing old with. He shook his head, feeling completely stupid. "No. I can't… oh god. Did I mess things up?"

Suddenly, Kira appeared before him and grasped Jake's shoulders. "Don't think like that. I'm sure he's waiting for you to return to him," he said. He shook Jake before slapping his sides. "Just kiss and make up. Talk, and that's it. Or have some makeup sex. Like a married couple! I'm sure this won't be the first fight you'll have."

"But I,"

"But nothing," Kira cut in. He pointed a claw at Jake's face. "Leave the stupid bullshit with me. Not you. I mean, look at me. I'm attracted to the wrong type of guy. My boss, no less," he whispered the last part.

"Sorry?" Jake said, unsure if he heard right. His head was ringing, and he was regretting the drinks from earlier. He watched Kira's smile turn somber as he looked away. Something in him wanted to help this tom like he did just now. "Maybe he'll come around."

Kira shook his head, walking around Jake and heading towards the door. "I doubt it. Anyway, it was good to meet you, Jake. Maybe we'll meet in better circumstances." He stopped at the door and looked back. A grin appeared, and he winked. "Have fun being married."

Jake couldn't say anything as Kira left. However, he felt the need to run out and go to Chance. However, as he took the first step, he felt his stomach twisting and something coming out of his throat. Clasping his mouth, he rushed towards the bathroom stall and shut the door.