Chapter 265

Aurora 's Perspective Pushing open the door to "The Propeller" felt like stepping into the stomach of another world. The noise hit first—an avalanche of sound. The clatter of glasses, slurred shouts, the sharp *crack* of pool balls, all underpinned by a complex odor of stale beer, sweat, cheap tobacco, and something sharper no amount of air freshener could mask. The air was thick, the lighting artfully dim, providing just enough visibility while hiding most faces and transactions. My wolf senses were on overload. The smells were overwhelming. The sour tang of fermentation, the burn of cheap liquor, the greasy scent of human bodies, and… kin. More than one. Their scents were mostly murky, feral, carrying the gunpowder-stink of street-level struggle, raw desire, or simply numb apathy. The so-called dark creatures or stray wolves. A few pockets radiated considerable strength, even hints of blood, but a tense, mutual understanding held sway here. No one started tr