"Storm's coming," I murmur.
"We'll make it quick," Asher says, opening the door for me.
Kayden isn't answering calls or texts. Not in his room, not back since last night. Astrid's messages about the chaos left me with a gnawing suspicion he might have been part of it. The thought coils in my gut, tightening until it's hard to breathe.
What if—
No. I can't think like that. But my chest clenches with every unanswered call.
Inside, Astrid sits with a weary-looking man hunched over a mug of coffee. She lifts her gaze as we come in, but doesn't move or greet us. Probably doesn't want to startle the cop.
The place is quiet. A couple of truckers fueling up before the road, travelers passing through, and a handful of familiar locals scattered across tables.
Asher guides me toward the bar, his hand a steady weight at the small of my back. Winston's broad smile greets us before his words do. "Nice to see you this early. Coffee?"
"Would love some," I say, sliding onto a stool. He pours two mugs, humming something under his breath that doesn't match the jukebox tune crackling behind him.
Jace appears from the back in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled just so.
I arch a brow. "Heading to ring the New York Stock Exchange bell?"
He huffs, but there's a flicker of pride. "Can't blame me for having style." Then he leans in, lowering his voice. "You got me into hot water, you know."
I wince. "Sorry about that."
He shrugs. "All good with…?" He nods toward Asher, who's scrolling his phone, expression unreadable.
"Yeah… it's just—" I lower my voice. "We can't find Kayden."
Jace snorts. "He's probably passed out drunk somewhere."
I nod, but the hope feels paper-thin.
When Winston drifts closer, towel slung over his shoulder, I shift the topic. "How did the pack meeting go?"
The old coyote shakes his head, disappointment in the lines around his eyes.
Jace shrugs, blunt. "Told you it wouldn't work."
"Sometimes you have to try, Jace. Pack, family, even like this… it matters," Winston says, the tone halfway between teaching and reassurance.
Jace frowns. "If they can't step up now, I don't know what good they are at all."
"They'll come around," Winston counters gently. "When it really matters."
But the shadow in his gaze says he isn't sure either.
When Astrid joins us, she doesn't waste words. "I sent your fancy druid blade request to my contact. Haven't seen anything like it myself, but he's good at digging."
"Thanks," Asher says, steady. "And the… other thing?"
The cop is at his table, half-asleep, stabbing a burrito like it offended him. Astrid flicks a glance his way, then lowers her voice. "The front door looked blown open. Neighbor reported noise, glass breaking. The desk on the street cleared out quick, but someone took a photo. Blurry since it was dark, but you can see enough." She hesitates, then adds, "And apparently a few people are missing. They worked there. Case got bumped to federal. Out of his hands now."
Asher and I share a glance, nerves tightening.
Astrid grimaces. "Yeah. My thoughts exactly. It's got Kayden written all over it."
Winston mutters, "Damn boy… always stirring trouble."
