The sun had long since disappeared by the time the pack saw the flickering neon sign just off the highway exit: MAUREEN’S DINER – OPEN 24 HOURS in pink and blue cursive that had definitely not been cleaned since the ‘80s. It sat like a time capsule in a patch of gravel, surrounded by bug-splattered light poles and a pair of rusting payphones no one had touched in a decade.

Diesel pulled the bus into the lot with a tired grunt. “We eating or getting chased out of here?”

“Yes,” Gabriel said, already halfway to the door.

Cassie muttered something about caffeine and pancakes and followed him.

Thane stood at the top of the bus steps, arms folded, scanning the parking lot with those icy blue eyes. “No howling. No climbing things. No licking neon signs.”

Gabriel paused mid-stride and lowered his paw. “You can’t prove anything.”

Inside, the diner was pure retro chaos—red vinyl booths, checkered floor, a jukebox that only played songs recorded before the moon landing, and one bored teenager behind the counter clearly wishing he was anywhere else. The place was empty except for a couple truckers and a woman in her sixties reading a paperback romance novel with a highlighter.

The wolves piled into two booths. Emily was already taking aesthetic photos of the salt shakers. Jonah was trying to order every item that included both bacon and whipped cream.

Cassie just slid into her seat and sighed. “This is sacred. Do not ruin this for me.”

Rico raised a hand in solemn promise. “No chaos. Diner rules apply.”

“Thank you,” Thane said.

At that exact moment, the bell above the diner door jingled again.

A group of teenage girls stood in the doorway. One of them dropped her phone.

The tallest one squeaked, “That’s Gabriel from Feral Eclipse—”

Before Thane could move, Gabriel turned around in his booth, gave a dazzling grin, and said, “Ladies. Welcome to your origin story.”

Two of them burst into tears. The third immediately called someone on speakerphone. “YOU NEED TO GET HERE. NOW. NO I’M NOT JOKING. HE JUST SPOKE TO ME.”

The one with the lip ring took a blurry photo, accidentally used the front camera, then screamed and dropped her phone again.

Rico laughed so hard he had to hide behind the dessert menu.

“Why are you like this?” Thane groaned, getting up to intercept before it could get worse.

To his credit, Gabriel was trying to be polite. To his detriment, he was also now trying to sign a paper napkin with a claw.

“I want this tattooed on me,” the lip ring girl said reverently.

“Absolutely not,” Thane cut in, stepping between the group and Gabriel. His presence was calm, firm, protective in that way only a pack alpha could manage.

He lowered his voice. “Hey. He’s happy to meet you. But it’s been a long day. Can I ask you to keep it low-key?”

The girls blinked, clearly startled to be addressed by a six-foot-two-tall brown werewolf with light gray streaks and the vibe of someone who could flip a tour bus with one hand.

They nodded immediately.

Thane gave a small smile. “Thank you.”

He turned and pointed at Gabriel. “Sit.”

Gabriel raised both paws and slid obediently back into the booth. “You’re so scary when you’re nice.”

Thane sat beside him with a sigh. “And you’re exhausting when you’re awake.”

The girls remained at the counter, whispering and quietly freaking out but respectfully staying put. One of them made a heart shape with her fingers. Gabriel returned it with his claws.

Jonah leaned over to Emily. “Ten bucks says someone gets a tattoo of this night.”

Emily whispered back, “One already posted: ‘just made eye contact with Feral Eclipse’s bassist and now I have a religion.’”

Thane muttered something under his breath and reached for the coffee.

The waitress arrived with their food and barely blinked at the werewolves in the booth. “You boys want creamers? Syrup? You look like trouble.”

Mark gave her a half-smile. “Only on stage.”

They didn’t leave until after midnight.

As they stepped back out into the parking lot under the flickering diner sign, a second carload of fans pulled in. Thane waved them off with a tired but kind, “We’ll see you all soon.”

Gabriel took one last look at the sign and sighed happily. “We should put this on a shirt.”

“Absolutely not,” Thane said.

And the bus doors closed behind them.