Page 101 of Beasts of Mine

“That was Alpha behavior.” I glanced toward Luca as several moments from the last few days rearranged themselves in my head.

“Some of it.” Luca tightened the strap around the rolled ground cover, his green-gold eyes briefly flicking toward Malek. “Some of it was just us wanting to help.”

“There’s a difference?” I clipped the rescued carabiner back where it belonged.

“Sometimes.” Luca’s mouth curved as he glanced toward Tavian. “With him, I’m less certain.”

“Rude.” Tavian pressed one hand against his chest, looking wounded for all of half a second.

“You stole her cleaning cloth.” Luca reminded Tavian while tucking the finished roll beside the bags.

“I returned it.” Tavian defended himself with a broad spread of his hands.

“After I chased you through mud.” I gave Tavian a long look while reaching for another bag.

“You looked like you were having fun.” Tavian’s amber eyes brightened at the memory.

“I was threatening you.” I reminded Tavian as my fingers closed around the strap.

“You can do both.” Tavian countered, catching the other end of the bag at the same moment I did. Neither of us let go. For a second, it became less about the bag and more about the fact that Tavian was standing directly across from me in human form, one hand wrapped around the same strap as mine. His forearm flexed when I pulled, and his scent strengthened with the movement—sun-warmed wood, citrus leaves, and that faint spicy undertone that registered much more strongly now that I knew what he was.

“I can carry it.” I reminded Tavian, tightening my grip while meeting his eyes across the bag.

“I know.” Tavian assured me as some of the teasing softened from his expression. “I still want to.” That took more of the argument out of me than it should have.

“Fine, but touch the lens case again and you lose equipment privileges.” I warned Tavian as I released the strap.

“I accept your terms.” Tavian swung the bag onto his shoulder, looking far too satisfied with the deal. It wasn’t until I turned and found Malek carrying two of the heavier bags while Luca had somehow packed most of what remained that I realized I had been thoroughly outmaneuvered. Worse, some instinctive part of me liked watching them take care of things without ever acting as though I was incapable of handling them myself.

That distinction mattered.

By the time the platform was almost clear, the morning light had strengthened enough to make the wet leaves beyond camp shine. I made one final check before taking down the sleeping area, checking beneath the platform, around the posts, and along the edge of the clearing. A bottle cap buried under damp leaves went back into my trash pouch. I found one forgotten cable tie near the water container and a tiny strip of packaging stuck beneath the edge of the platform.

Everything else was clean. No scraps, forgotten batteries, food, or pieces of equipment remained. When I finished, the place looked nearly untouched apart from the darker patches where our weight had pressed moisture from the wood.

I checked my watch and reached for the radio.

“Morning check-in?” Malek asked as he glanced toward the handset from near the trail, one of my bags hanging from each broad shoulder.

“Before I leave.” I confirmed for Malek while extending the antenna and checking the channel. “I told Mara I would.” Tavian stopped rustling through the final supply sack, and Luca went quiet beside the folded tarp without needing to be told. Even that had become part of their routine over the past few days—they knew when the radio mattered.

“Mara, this is Evie. Morning check-in.” I spoke into the handset while pressing the transmit button and listening to the static crackle through the speaker.

“Morning, Evie. Packed up?” Mara answered a few seconds later, her voice slightly rough with the early hour but already carrying its familiar practical edge.

“Almost.” I reported to Mara while glancing toward the final dry bag near my boots. “Everything’s good. I’m starting back shortly.”

“Copy. Same route?” Mara checked through another short wash of static.

“Same general route.” I confirmed for Mara as I shifted the radio against my palm. “I should be back this morning.”

“Good. Call if anything changes.” Mara reminded me, her tone sharpening slightly in the same way it always did when I was traveling between locations.

“I will. Evie clear.” I promised Mara before releasing the transmit button.

“Mara clear.” Mara signed off, her voice dissolving beneath the returning static. I clipped the radio back onto my belt and bent toward the final bag, only for another hand to close around the strap first.

“Now I can leave.” I announced to the three men as Malek lifted it before I could.