The morning after was always rough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this morning? This one was biblically cursed<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tour van\u2014beloved, battered, and one shaky tire away from becoming modern art\u2014was packed with four barely-functioning humans and three sleep-deprived werewolves, all equally grumpy, and at least two of them actively contemplating violence. The sun wasn\u2019t even fully up yet. Everyone looked like they\u2019d fought a tornado and lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel was at the wheel, wide-eyed and buzzed from his second gas station cold brew\u2014he insisted on driving this leg. Thane, in the passenger seat, looked like a man on his sixth war tour, arms crossed, expression unreadable except for the faint twitch at his temple every time the van hit a pothole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the back row, Jonah was passed out against the window with drumstick imprints on his forehead. Rico was slumped next to him, earbuds in, mouthing lyrics to a song only he could hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassie sat with her knees pulled up, hood over her head, holding a half-eaten granola bar like it had personally wronged her. \u201cIf this van hits one more bump, I\u2019m gonna puke out my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maya was trying to tune a guitar in her lap while simultaneously elbowing Gabriel in the ribs from behind his seat. \u201cI told<\/em> you we should\u2019ve stopped at the nice<\/em> coffee shop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t time!\u201d Gabriel barked back, slurping his cold brew like it was a life elixir. \u201cWe\u2019re twenty minutes behind schedule already because someone<\/em> left their entire amp rig back at the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rico raised his hand weakly. \u201cThat was me. I have no regrets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the back, Jonah moaned, \u201cTell my mom I died doing what I loved. Except I didn\u2019t. I died in a tin can with no AC and Gabriel playing ska<\/em> on the Bluetooth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel grinned into the rearview mirror. \u201cIt\u2019s called character development, Jonah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maya launched a balled-up sock at his head. \u201cYou\u2019re lucky you\u2019re cute.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark, seated sideways at the side equipment rack (the only one tall enough to do so without folding like origami), checked the rig straps with an expression of deadpan despair. \u201cIf this amp stack slides forward one more inch, it\u2019s going to flatten Jonah like a pancake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane growled without opening his eyes. \u201cMaybe then we\u2019ll have room for the fanmail crate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel yawned, then jolted suddenly as the van hit a speed bump at mach five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n THUMP\u2014CRASH\u2014SPLASH.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The third<\/em> coffee of the morning shot skyward like a geyser and splattered across the roof liner, raining back down in glorious brown droplets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone screamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just<\/em> bought that!\u201d Maya wailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cassie covered her head like it was acid. \u201cCoffee rain! COFFEE RAIN!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jonah sat bolt upright, blinked at the mess, and murmured, \u201cIs this… my resurrection?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel swerved slightly from laughter. \u201cOkay, okay, my bad!<\/em> But look on the bright side\u2014we\u2019re all awake now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane stared at the mess, clawed hand slowly rubbing his muzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI swear,\u201d he muttered darkly, \u201cif the promoter doesn\u2019t have our load-in ready by the time we get there, I will burn their stage to the f<\/em>***ing ground.*\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gabriel glanced sideways at him, still grinning. \u201cLove you too, my wolf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thane exhaled sharply and leaned his head against the window, eyes closed. \u201cOnly reason you’re still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark, from the back: \u201cThis is fine. This is normal. This is the exact energy I signed up for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The van creaked, coffee continued to drip from the ceiling like an espresso-based rainstorm, and the open road stretched out before them like a dare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Feral Eclipse rolled on.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The morning after was always rough. But this morning? This one was biblically cursed. The tour van\u2014beloved, battered, and one shaky tire away from becoming modern art\u2014was packed with four barely-functioning humans and three sleep-deprived werewolves, all equally grumpy, and at least two of them actively contemplating violence. The sun wasn\u2019t even fully up yet. 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