being the only Magistar in California. Bryan was probably reading Burp reviews. He’d been charged with finding them a general contractor. Normally Max and Bryan spent their time together practicing in the yard. Away from the house and pack, they played with quintessence, learned enchantments, and stank the trees up with the smell of coolant and ozone.
When Judd arrived, the two of them were happily ensconced at Colin’s table near the door. It was weird for them to be huddled behind computers at a cafe. Out of character. Although Judd supposed even Max, magical being though he was, had email to answer. There was always email.
Alec came in next, looking impossibly geeky in his lab coat. His hair was sticking up. He’d been running his fingers through it. He did that when he was worried.
The focus of the pack swung in his direction. Palpable yearning. Even the humans sensed Alpha power.
“We should take over the back.” Alec pointed to the family zone at the rear of the cafe. It was full of books and board games.
Fortunately, the cafe was mostly empty. The lunch rush was long over and the post-work evening crowd had not yet arrived. Americans didn’t have the concept of afternoon tea, a fact that, even all these years later, Judd still found a grave character flaw.
Those few humans in the place were giving them wary looks. They deserved it – a gang of big burly dudes, a bit too loud, a bit too pushy. The weirdness of a geek in a lab coat coming in and ordering them all around just made them seem extra creepy to humans.
The writer in the corner gave them a horrified look. She packed up her things, scampered out. The couple in the window started finishing their muffins with a will.
“Everyone order something so we look like we belong,” instructed Alec. “Except you, Lovejoy. You’ll pinch hit as barista, please. We need Trick at our meeting.”
“Beautiful boys!” Trick sang out, “What can I froth for you?” He was clearly delighted to have his place of work invaded by werewolves.
Dutifully they all stood in line and ordered. At cafes that catered exclusively to humans, none of the drinks were that exciting to werewolves, let alone other shifters. But Bean There, Froth That had two stickers in its window – the rainbow and the moon. Which meant this was a queer-friendly place that tried to accommodate shifters. Those stickers were probably Trick’s doing. In addition to the requisite pastries, the Bean carried eggs baked in baskets of bacon, fish pies, and sardine banh mi sandwiches. For drinks, Trick did interesting things with frothy milk, bone broth, fish sauce, and clam juice. The Bean was considered very hip as a result.
Judd got himself a steamed milk broth with sour cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top. He thought it was similar to what Colin got, so he wanted to try it. Then he went to wait impatiently at the back.
Alec gave Judd a long look. Then sighed. “Tank, you guard the door, please.” Normally, that was Judd’s or Kevin’s job. But if Colin was in trouble, Kevin would want to be part of the discussion. Judd was grateful that his Alpha understood that Judd had to be there too.
Trick whipped up their drinks in record time. He even had Colin’s ready for him. Judd was tolerably certain that no one had told him Colin was coming.
Although, this was about the time Colin usually stopped by the cafe on his way home from school.
Judd sipped his drink – meh – and worried.
Turns out he was right to worry.
Colin’s beat-up old motorcycle coughed to a stop outside. He drove it up onto the sidewalk. Deputy Kettil would have a fit if he saw it, but the kid was clearly in a hurry. Colin was usually law-abiding, even on a motorcycle, which Judd didn’t understand. Wasn’t that the point of a motorcycle – that they could get away with shit and no one would catch them? Except a motorcycle cop, of course.
Judd chose a seat on the couch at the very back. He had a good view of the front door. He jostled Kevin for it. His fellow enforcer let out a long-suffering sigh, and took the chair opposite instead, facing the employee entrance at the back. Both doors were now under enforcer surveillance.
Judd examined Colin closely as he came in. His face looked troubled, but he didn’t appear overwrought or injured in any way. He gave a nod