The bus rumbled through a winding back road, still vibrating slightly from its dramatic diner escape. Everyone inside was in varying states of recovery, dehydration, and denial.
Thane sat in the lounge seat up front, arms crossed, a headache brewing behind his eyes like a summer thunderstorm. He wasn’t speaking. He wasn’t growling yet either… which somehow felt worse.
Gabriel was stretched out across one of the forward benches, tail flopped over the edge, trying to tune his bass in silence.
“Dude,” Jonah said from the back. “You’re tuned. The strings are fine.”
“I’m not,” Gabriel muttered.
Then — off in the distance —
“IS THAT A GIANT INFLATABLE WEREWOLF HEAD??” Cassie shouted.
Everyone crowded toward the windows.
Sure enough, as the bus crested the next hill, they saw it:
A tiny town. Maybe five stoplights total.
Every telephone pole lined with handmade signs reading:
🛑 “FULL MOON FEST!”
🎉 “WELCOME, FERAL FRIENDS!”
🐺 “LIVE MUSIC & FAKE FANGS!”
😬 “FEATURING: Feral Eclipse (probably!)”
And there, dead center in the town square:
A giant inflatable werewolf head that looked suspiciously like Gabriel.
Except… it was wearing sunglasses.
With a sign beneath it that said:
“GET YOUR FERAL ON WITH GABE WOLFBOY!”
Thane. Froze.
Then slowly — very slowly — turned in his seat.
Everyone immediately backed up like they’d just spilled blood in shark-infested waters.
“…they used my face,” Gabriel whispered in awe.
“They used our name,” Cassie growled.
Jonah peered closer. “Is that supposed to be me? Why is the drum kit made of cardboard and sadness?”
Diesel let out a low whistle. “This is either the worst tribute… or the best lawsuit I’ve ever seen.”
Thane stood.
Silent.
Dead silent.
He stalked toward the back of the bus like a beast on the hunt, claws flexing at his sides. His fur bristled down his arms and his ears were pinned all the way back.
Gabriel blinked and immediately launched after him.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa — my wolf, hang on!”
“Someone is profiting off our image and playing canned music next to a stand called ‘Wolfy Wieners.’ I will BURN THIS TOWN TO THE BEDROCK.”
“Okay yes that’s bad,” Gabriel admitted, hands up, “but also, your vein is doing the thing. The scary one. Breathe, — uh — my wolf, I mean. Please?”
Thane snarled. “There’s a man in a papier-mâché costume out there with a sign that says ‘Pet the Pack Leader.’”
“…Okay, that’s worse,” Gabriel muttered. “Like a lot worse.”
Mark wandered past holding a bottle of water. “Do we want a distraction or a diversion?”
“Neither,” Thane snapped. “I want their printer. I want their event permit. I want their town council.”
Just then, a soft voice piped up from the side of the lounge.
“…I’ll go,” Emily said quietly, already pulling on her crew hoodie.
Everyone turned.
She stood up straight, shoulders a little shaky — but eyes set with fire. “I’ll talk to them. You guys stay here. Just… let me try first.”
Thane blinked.
Gabriel opened his mouth — paused — and just gently nodded.
Emily stepped off the bus.
Fifteen minutes later:
The door creaked back open.
Emily stepped in, holding a tray of funnel cakes and a gift basket full of handmade werewolf keychains. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and she had a few glitter stickers stuck to her hoodie.
Gabriel blinked. “What happened?”
“They had no idea we’d actually show up,” she said with a laugh. “They thought the band name was fake. They’re just fans. Really, really bad at branding.”
Thane was silent. Still. Tense.
Emily walked over, placed the basket gently on the table near him… and handed him a handmade mug with paw prints and “Alpha Coffee” scrawled in Sharpie.
Then she looked up at him and said quietly:
“They really do love you, you know. Even if they’re… kinda legally clueless about it.”
Thane stared at the mug. Then — finally — let out a slow breath. Shoulders relaxing. Ears untwisting. Just a little.
“Did you… tell them to take the inflatable down?”
Emily grinned sheepishly. “I may have… accidentally signed a few t-shirts instead.”
He blinked. Then chuckled — once, low and growly.
“…Fine. We stay. One hour.”
Gabriel whooped and collapsed onto the couch in relief. Jonah ran out the door yelling “I’M FINDING WOLFY WIENERS.” Rico chased him.
Emily smiled… then grabbed another funnel cake.
Mark raised a brow. “So we’re doing the chaos with consent now?”
Thane grunted. “I’ll allow it.”