Evelynn’s POV
The road stretched on until the gas was half-gone and the night felt like it was pressing too close. That was when I saw it - a squat building with neon letters buzzing BAR into the dark. The parking lot was littered with beat-up trucks and a couple bikes, chrome catching the lamplight like the eyes of wolves.
My wolf stirred. "This is reckless."
“Or it’s smart,” I whispered, cutting the engine. “We’re done running.”
The music inside was rough, guitars bleeding through static speakers. Smoke hung in the air, the smell of sweat and spilled beer weaving into it. A jukebox glowed in the corner, half-dead neon humming.
I walked straight to the counter. “Table for five,” I said, loud enough that heads turned.
The bartender blinked, then jerked his chin toward the back. “Boot
