The festival grounds were quiet now.

Long after the crowd had filtered out, the barricades stacked, and the stage dimmed to a faint electric hum, the pack sat together near the rear of the tour van. The wide desert sky was scattered with stars, cool night air rolling in like a gentle tide after the blistering heat of the day.

Thane leaned against the side of the van, arms folded, his fur ruffled by the wind. His ice-blue eyes scanned the horizon, but his posture was finally relaxed. Beside him, Gabriel lay on his back in the grass, bass propped beside him like a trusted companion, paws laced behind his head as he stared at the stars in content silence.

Mark sat on a folding crate near the small camp lantern they’d set out, sipping a bottle of water, legs crossed. He hadn’t said much since the meet and greet chaos. But there was a faint smile on his muzzle, a twitch at the corner that only those who knew him well would notice.

Cassie and Jonah were off a little ways, tossing handfuls of popcorn at each other from one of the leftover snack trays. Maya, still red from her mom’s surprise appearance, sat barefoot beside Rico, who was casually tuning his guitar by ear. Every so often, Maya let out a muffled groan and muttered something in Spanish, while Rico smirked without looking up.

No one was in a rush. For once, there was no fire to put out, no fan mob to dodge, no Saints to outplay. Just the low murmur of crickets, the soft rustle of breeze, and the afterglow of another incredible show.

Gabriel broke the silence. “You think Mama Feroz is still taking selfies with fans at the taco truck?”

Thane chuckled. “Probably leading them in a conga line by now.”

Maya groaned again, burying her face. “She is never allowed to come to a show again.”

Mark took another sip. “Pretty sure she got more applause than Vandal Saints.”

Everyone laughed.

Gabriel rolled onto his side, eyes meeting Thane’s. “You good, my wolf?”

Thane nodded slowly. “Yeah. I am.”

He looked around the group—laughing, teasing, tired but glowing from the energy of the night.

“We’re good.”

And under the open sky, for just a while, everything was still.