Duke pressed the accelerator, speeding away from the dairy farm and Carla Dyer. He and Brick were both silent, as the miles passed by and the moon shone brightly in the sky. As they entered the outskirts of a city, he slowed and turned his head left and right, scanning the shops on the main street. Spying an open diner, he pulled into a parking spot and killed the engine.

Turning to look at Brick, he said, “Dude… you gotta admit… that was pretty fucked up.”

Pushing his sunglasses farther up on top of his head, Brick opened his door and shot back, as he got out, “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“But!”

“Shut up.”

They stepped inside the bustling diner, to the sound of crashing dishes.

“Jolie!” shouted an angry male’s voice from back in the kitchen.

A blonde waitress rushed past where they stood, saying, “Ooohh!”

Then a tall Hispanic guy stood from his seat at the counter and approached, taking a protective stance.

“What do you guys want?” he asked.

“Two coffees to go.”

“Wait here.” He looked them both up and down and lowered his voice. “You need to get out of here quick.”

Brick’s nostrils flared, as he said, “You got a problem?”

“Not me. I don’t give a fuck what you are.” He flashed fang and flared his eyes. “But there are local sympathizers to your enemy.”

“Backward fucks.” Duke winked at the blonde attending the tables, as she hurried by, tripping over her feet. “Oh, hey, baby!” He whistled and said under his breath, “She’s all kinds of smushy, a take my weight kinda girl.”

“Careful.” The man raised to his full height. He was shorter than Brick but taller than Duke. “She’s mine.”

“And who are you?” Brick asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Devlin Wick.”

“She’s mated?” Duke asked, his eyes pinned on the waitress’s wide hips.

“Yes. To me.”

Devlin leaned his head to the left and then the right, his jaw ticking in agitation.

Brick jabbed Duke in the ribs.

“Yeah, okay. We’ll wait outside. Sorry, man. No offense.”

The bell above the door rang as they exited. While they waited, sitting on the concrete bench on the sidewalk, Duke began to laugh. Starting low, it gained strength until he slapped his knees and grabbed his sides.

“What is it now?” Brick asked, as pink bloomed across his cheeks, knowing more jokes at his expense were on the way.

“She hooked you up to that contraption and fucking milked your dick, man!”

Brick coughed and looked away.

“I had an end game—the book.”

“She said, ‘Moo for me, Brick!’” Duke collapsed onto the ground, as Brick watched Devlin getting their drinks and a bag. “And you did!”

“Goddammit! You’re the one who massaged iodine onto her nipples!”

“Hey, she’s the freak who wanted to be treated like her heifers! She said that’s what they do to her cows, so after I worked her tits over, it seemed like the thing to do.” He sat up and crossed his legs at his ankles. “Who am I but a mere beta, to disobey my alpha’s orders to do whatever was needed in order to complete the mission?”

“Shut up. That guy’s coming.”

Brick watched, as Duke wiped his eyes and tried to contain his laughter.

Handing a bag to Brick, Devlin said, “Two large coffees. Sugar and creamer are in there, too.”

At the mention of the dairy product, Duke burst out laughing again.

“Ignore him.” Brick rolled his eyes at his best friend and then directed his attention to Devlin. “Thanks, man. What do we owe you?”

“Nothing. Just leave, before trouble finds you.”

“Not to worry. We can handle ourselves. But we’re headed out of town now.”

“Safe travels, then.”

Devlin raised his hand in farewell and went back inside the restaurant. Setting his cup on the bench, Brick stood and stretched his arms over his head.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

After they were inside the car, Duke started it and then shifted into Reverse.

“All I gotta say is, ‘Thank God, she passed out afterwards, so we could search the premises.’”

“Stop talking about it and drive.”

As they travelled from the small town, into the countryside, farmland rose in the distance with cattle roaming the fields.

“Moooo!”

Duke snickered, with a glance to his alpha. When Brick shook his head in annoyance, Duke slapped the steering wheel with a bark of laughter.

“Will you stop talking about it?”

“Why? She was a nice lady. I liked her.”