A year after The Crimson Goat began catering to both humans and chupacabras, the entire restaurant was completely packed. Although the chupacabras still had the inside to themselves, the patio welcomed both species for evenings full of friends, good food, and weekly wing-eating contests. With the restaurant booked solid for weeks on end, all of the chefs were constantly bustling through the kitchen.

Except for tonight.

Miguel and Alejandro entered The Crimson Goat with nothing but the memories they'd shared on their day off. Cooking breakfast together, watching the director's cut of Eventide while snuggling under a heap of blankets, hitting a few rounds at the batting cages.

And yet, Miguel couldn't help noticing that his Moonbeam had been distracted all day. He'd burnt the bacon, barely said a word as they'd cuddled on the couch, and nearly thrown out his shoulder after underestimating his swing, completely missing the ball.

Miguel leaned against The Crimson Goat's entryway, exchanging waves with customers. It felt so strange to be there without his apron hugging his scales and even stranger to see Alejandro biting his lip as if it was his dinner. Despite being the one to suggest spending the evening as customers for a change, Alejandro fidgeted like a mouse eying a hawk. "Are you sure you want to eat here, Moonbeam?" Miguel asked. "I don't mind making us something back home."

"Yes!" Alejandro winced as the word came out sharper than Miguel's claws. "Yes, I just have a lot on my mind. You know how mamá can get sometimes."

Miguel chuckled nervously. Now that he'd spent more time around Alejandro's family, he was all too familiar with how dangerous a wooden spoon could be. "Tried to tinker with a family recipe again?"

"Something like that," Alejandro said.

Miguel gave his hand a gentle squeeze before leading them into The Crimson Goat. Chupacabras filled the restaurant with contented thrumming and slurping, with not a single seat free. In the midst of the chaos, Miguel spotted a few members of his old pack. They didn't come often and Martha was never with them, but they lacked the leanness they'd had last year. From what Esmeralda had told him, the packless shelter they worked at was kind to them, and getting away from the Millers had eased the stiffness from their spines.

Maybe someday they'd have a territory of their own again, but even now Saguaro Pack was happier than Miguel had seen them since he was a hatchling.

Luis nodded to Miguel from behind the host stand, the aromas of fresh meat and cayenne wafting from his scales. "Do you have a reservation?"

"It should be under Miguel of Carolina Reaper Pack." His lips curled into a smile as he said his pack name, as they always did.

"A bit early, aren't you?" Luis tapped his claws against the podium. "Says here you're not supposed to arrive for another half hour."

"We sort of ran out of things to keep us busy," Alejandro said, his cheeks flushed.

That was a lie. Miguel would have been more than happy for Alejandro to keep lying against him and working on his knitting, but his Moonbeam hadn't even been able to focus on that. For the first time since Miguel had known him, he'd pricked his finger and yelped a word he never would have used in front of Mrs. Morales.

Luis winced. "Kitchen's been a hot mess tonight, but I guess we can seat you now. Might just have to wait a bit for the salsa."

"Do they need a hand in there?" Alejandro tensed beside Miguel, his muscles twitching.

"We're supposed to be relaxing." Miguel wrapped his arm around Alejandro, pulling him to his side. Alejandro leaned into his touch, but his moonbeam smile stayed hidden behind bitten, bloodied lips.

"Listen to your partner. They've got everything under control." Luis grabbed a pair of menus. "At least, I sure hope they do."

He led them through a sea of thrumming customers. Despite whatever chaos the kitchen was dealing with, everyone seemed happy. Even Isabella smiled as she carried a sausage platter to one of her tables.

At least, she was smiling until she saw Alejandro.

Her eyes flicked from Alejandro to Luis and back again, her spines quivering. Luis shrugged, earning a frustrated hiss from Isabella as she sprinted toward the kitchen.

"What's got her so stiff-spined?" Miguel asked. And why was everyone acting so weird?

"She's stuck tending to Creosote Pack tonight. You know how rowdy we can get!" With how often Luis partook in their fights, it had only been a matter of time before Valentina had welcomed him as an official member of her pack.

At last, Luis led them to a candlelit table for two on the patio. Smack dab in the middle of the crowd, it had the perfect view of the night's wing eating competition. Humans and chupacabras cheered each other on as they scarfed down plates full of Ralph's weekly special. Or attempted to, at any rate. Try as they might, few could even dream of matching Miguel's love for Carolina Reapers.

But Miguel wasn't competing tonight. No, he was simply enjoying dinner with his partner, and there was no place he would rather be than sitting across from him.

He wasn't sure he could say the same for Alejandro.

Alejandro's eyes darted around the patio as his teeth dug into his lip. His foot tapped out a frantic staccato under the table, and his jaw twitched each time a waiter passed their table.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Miguel asked after their drinks arrived. If he couldn't get Alejandro to say what was bothering him, the least he could do was try to distract him.

Alejandro startled, his gaze snapping to Miguel. "Kind of warm."

"Lots of hunting parties out, though." Miguel nodded toward a pair of shooting stars racing across the sky. They'd seen so many that evening he'd long since lost count, yet Alejandro had paused to wish on all of them.

No matter how many stars streaked through the night, they were downright dull compared to his Moonbeam. "Hope they'll catch something." Just as quickly as it came, Alejandro's smile vanished again as he half stood out of his seat, craning his neck in the direction of the kitchen.

"Guess they're not the only ones who are hungry." But it wasn't like Alejandro to get so impatient about food, especially since he knew how busy The Crimson Goat was. Miguel fought to keep his spines laying flat despite his concern. What in the stars' name had gotten into him? "The salsa will be here soon."

"I hope so," Alejandro mumbled. He blew out a long, slow breath. His hand found Miguel's under the table, stroking his scales. "Must be a mess in there without the head of sanguine cuisine."

"They can manage without me for one night." Miguel popped his medication into his mouth before washing down the lone pill with a swig of Sriracha. Now that José and Rosa were experienced chefs, they were more than capable of handling the chupacabra-centric dishes while Ralph and Yolanda handled the humans' food.

"Can't say the same for me." Alejandro sighed. "Sorry I've been such a mess today, mi amor. I've been trying to make everything perfect for you, but..."

"It is perfect for me as long as I'm with you."

There was his Moonbeam's smile, still as radiant as the day they'd met. "Then may the stars shine brightly upon us for many more years to come."

Miguel chirped, letting out another one even as half the patio turned to see the source of the sound. There were no glares, no muttered comments about how one of them was doomed to get their heart broken. Or, if there were, Miguel didn't notice.

He only had eyes for his Moonbeam.

"I'm sure they will," Miguel said once his deep thrumming paused long enough for him to speak. "As long as my Moonbeam smiles upon me, I'm sure the stars will take a hint."

Their salsa arrived in two bowls. Wisps of steam rose from the mouthwatering mixture, all of the ingredients perfectly blended into a cohesive whole. "To Carolina Reaper Pack." Alejandro lifted his bowl.

"To Carolina Reaper Pack." Miguel tapped his bowl against Alejandro's before bringing it to his lips.

A blend of spiciness and smokiness as warm as Alejandro's gaze washed over Miguel's taste buds. This wasn't their usual recipe. No, this was something so delicious Miguel drank every last drop in one gulp. "Stars, that's good! Is Mr. Kaminski trying out a new recipe?"

"An old one, actually." Alejandro got down on one knee, his smile brighter than ever as he took out a small black box with a trembling hand. He opened it to reveal a gold ring adorned with a crimson gem. "Miguel of Carolina Reaper Pack, will you marry me?"

Chirp after chirp flew out of Miguel's mouth, his sheer elation bursting out for the whole world to hear. "Yes!"

Alejandro slipped the ring onto Miguel's finger. The cool metal felt as natural as his scales, but not quite as much as the arms that wrapped around him. "Te amo para siempre, mi amor."

Miguel chirped, nuzzling Alejandro's hair as they embraced. "I love you too, Moonbeam."

They enjoyed the rest of their dinner hand in hand, scales on skin. Basking in the light of his Moonbeam's smile, every bite Miguel took tasted like home.