"Wait!"
Lauren stopped suddenly in front of a small building that was a bar. The bar in question was different. Its windows were dark, and the sign above the door was faded and cracked, barely legible in the faint glow of a streetlamp.
“Aiden,” she whispered, tugging his arm. “Circle back.”
He frowned but followed her lead, doubling back until they stood in front of the bar. Lauren pressed her face against the glass, squinting to get a better look inside.
There was only one person inside, a lone barman. He was wiping down a glass, his round face glistening with sweat under the dim lights. The place was empty. No patrons, no music, not even a hint of life. 
“This doesn’t feel right,” Lauren muttered.
Aiden glanced at her. “It’s Perkins. Nothing here feels right.”
Lauren ignored him. How could this bar be empty when the rest of the town was practically bursting at the seams with music and alcohol? It made no sense.
“I’m going in,” she said abruptly, already placing her hand on the door.
Aiden grabbed her arm. “Lauren, wait. We’re supposed to be lowkey, remember?” He warned her. “You don’t know who’s in there. We can’t just walk in blind.”
“I’ll be fine,” she hissed, shaking him off. “Stay here if you’re so worried.”
Before he could stop her again, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The air inside the bar was stale, filled with the smell of spilled beer and old sweat barely masked with cheap air freshener. The barman looked up as she approached, his face pulling into a scowl. He was a large man. His shirt strained against his round belly, and his small, beady eyes followed her every move.
“You lost?” he grunted, setting the glass down with a loud clink.
Lauren stopped in front of the counter, tilting her head. “Why’s it so empty in here?”
The barman snorted. “Why’s it your business?”
“I’m just curious.” She leaned against the counter, her eyes narrowing. “Every other bar in town is packed to the brim. Why isn’t this place?”
He glared at her. “Don’t get a lot of customers this time of night.”
“Really? Because the rest of Perkins seems pretty lively.”
The barman’s scowl deepened. “Look, kid, I don’t know who you think you are, but I don’t need questions from nosy teenagers. Either order something or get out.”
Lauren bristled at the insult, but before she could retort, something sharp hit her senses. She froze, her nostrils flaring slightly. It was faint but unmistakable, but it was the scent of her father’s serum, the one he'd used to turn innocent people into wolves.
Her head whipped toward the door behind the bar. It was a plain, unmarked slab of wood, but that was where the smell was coming from. Lauren was sure of it.
“Aiden,” she called softly, glancing toward the entrance.
He was standing awkwardly by the door, his arms crossed as he glared at the barman. “What?”
“Come here.”
He frowned, but he strode toward her anyway. “What is it?”
“Just sniff the air.”
Aiden stared at her like she’d lost her mind. “Seriously?”
“Just do it, please.” she insisted.
He sighed but did as she asked, his head tilting slightly as he inhaled deeply. His expression changed almost immediately, his eyes narrowing as they flicked toward the door.
“You smell it too,” Lauren whispered.
“It’s coming from there.” he muttered, nodding toward the door.
The barman tensed visibly. His movements were sudden and clumsy as he tried to dart in front of the door, one hand reaching for a set of keys on the counter.
“Hey!” Lauren shouted.
But he wasn’t fast enough. Aiden zipped forward, blocking his path with an ease that made the barman stumble back in shock.
“What the hell are you doing?” the barman barked. "Get the hell out of my bar now!"
Aiden’s hand shot out, grabbing the man by the collar and shoving him against the wall. Despite the man's obviously large frame, Aiden could hold him down. His voice was dangerously calm. “You’re going to tell us what’s behind that door now."
The barman sputtered, his face red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Wrong answer!” Aiden growled.
Lauren’s eyes darted behind the counter, landing on a coil of rope shoved into a corner. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and tossed it to Aiden. “Tie him up.”
The barman struggled, but he was no match for Aiden’s Alpha strength. Within moments, he was tied securely to a chair behind the counter.
“You can’t do this!” he shouted. “This is illegal!”
“Tell it to someone who cares,” Aiden retorted.
Lauren stepped beside him, her gaze fixed on the door. “Let’s see what’s so important back there.”
Without waiting for a response, they turned toward the door, the barman’s muffled protests fading into the background.
**********
The small room behind the door was darker than the rest of the bar. The scent of the serum was so strong now that Lauren could almost taste it in the back of her throat. It made her stomach churn, and she fought the urge to gag.
Aiden stepped cautiously inside, his eyes scanning the room. The shelves were cluttered with boxes of all shapes and sizes, some half-open, their contents spilling out in a careless mess. But it was the metal equipment tucked into a corner that caught Lauren’s attention. They were glass vials filled with the familiar green liquid.
“Looks like we’re getting close,” Lauren muttered.
Aiden nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. His fingers moved quickly over the screen as he dialed.
“Beth,” Aiden said when the call picked up. “Have you guys made it to Perkins yet?”
Beth’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Yeah, we’re here. What’s going on?”
“We found something,” Aiden explained, glancing around the room. “It looks like Makovsky’s hideout. I’m sending you the address now. There’s a bar on Main Street. You need to be ready.”
Lauren leaned against a nearby shelf, crossing her arms as Aiden spoke. Her mind was already running ahead, picturing the confrontation with Makovsky. Her father. It felt like the words couldn’t fully sink in.
Aiden ended the call and dialed again, this time to Mike.
“Mike, we’re at the empty bar on Main street,” Aiden said without preamble. “I need you to gather the pack. Get them ready.”
Mike’s response came quickly. “Got it. We’ll be there soon.”
Aiden ended the call with a sharp swipe of his finger across the screen. Then he turned to Lauren.
“Ready?” he asked.
Lauren swallowed hard and nodded. Truth be told, she was terrified of meeting her father face to face. But she couldn’t back out now.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Let’s do this.”
Together, they moved toward the back of the room, where another door stood, half-hidden behind a stack of boxes. The scent of the serum was even stronger here, and Lauren's heart began to thunder. They were so close now.
Aiden’s hand rested on the doorknob. He glanced over at her one last time, his eyes filled with silent understanding.
“Stay close,” he said softly.
Lauren nodded, stepping beside him. Then without another word, Aiden turned the handle and shoved the door open.
It swung wide with a creak, revealing a hallway that was lit with small bulbs. The air around them was filled with the same serum smell, but now there was something else too. The faintest sound of movement echoed from deeper inside.
Aiden’s eyes darted to Lauren.
“Stay sharp,” he murmured, already taking a step forward.