Page 107 of Beasts of Mine

“So it can just be affection?” I asked Luca while adjusting the strap against my chest, aware of the new scent each time the fabric shifted.

“Or reassurance.” Luca nodded as he stepped over a shallow groove in the trail. “It gets more intimate when it’s your skin, especially close to your glands.”

“That part I understand.” I told Luca, resisting the sudden urge to touch either side of my neck simply because he had mentioned them.

“I figured.” Luca replied with a small smile before letting the subject drop instead of explaining biology I already knew. That was enough scent education for one morning, especially with cedar clinging to the strap across my chest and Tavian close enough that every shift of humid air brought citrus from somewhere behind me.

I tried not to think too hard about the fact that I liked both.

The route became more familiar as we neared the areas regularly used by the station. Small signs of humans returned one at a time—an old marker tied high around one tree, a branch cut cleanly instead of broken, the faint shape of yesterday’s boot print pressed into a muddy stretch of trail.

The change was subtle, but all three men noticed it immediately.

Malek stopped first. Tavian’s teasing expression disappeared as he scanned the trail ahead, while Luca shifted the tarp beneath one arm and listened for several seconds.

“This is where we stop.” Luca told me quietly as he nodded toward the human-used route. I looked at the collection of bags still hanging from Malek.

“You need to give those back before you become a leopard.” I told Malek while holding both hands toward him.

“I can take one.” Tavian offered automatically as he reached toward the largest bag.

“You are also about to become a leopard.” I reminded Tavian, staring at his extended hand until it stopped halfway there.

“Right.” Tavian lowered his arm again, his mouth twitching. “That creates a problem.”

Luca laughed under his breath while helping redistribute the lighter gear. I hadn’t realized how much of my equipment they’d been carrying until the full weight settled back onto my shoulders and pulled against the waist strap.

I adjusted the load automatically, shifting one case higher. Malek noticed immediately.

“I can take them farther.” Malek offered, his jaw tightening slightly as he glanced toward the station trail.

“No.” I refused Malek while tightening the straps until everything sat where it was supposed to. “Mara watched me leave with this gear. I’m not walking back without half of it and inventing a story about how it got there.”

Malek studied the bags for another second, visibly unhappy with the answer but unable to argue with the logic.

He didn’t try.

A few yards off the trail, Luca crouched beside the exposed roots of a huge tree and reached into a narrow hollow I would have walked straight past. He pulled out a dark waterproof bundle, checked the tie, and unfolded enough of the top to show clothing stored safely inside.

“We keep clothes hidden near the trails we use.” Luca explained after noticing my interest, brushing damp soil from his fingers as he stood. “It saves us from planning every shift around where we left everything.”

“That makes considerably more sense.” I told Luca as I glanced between the hidden bundle and the three men.

“Glad we finally found something about us that does.” Luca replied with a warm smile before securing the cache beneath the roots again.

I checked that my camera sat properly against my side before turning toward all three of them.

“Stay away from the station.” I warned the men as I adjusted the radio at my hip. “Especially the generator.”

“That feels aimed at me.” Tavian complained as he placed one hand against his chest, his expression deeply offended.

“It is.” I confirmed for Tavian without hesitation.

“Unfair.” Tavian muttered, but the grin returning to his mouth made it clear he didn’t mean a word of it.

“Do not go near the station.” Malek instructed Tavian, his voice flattening just enough that the humor in Tavian’s expression faded.

“I wasn’t going to.” Tavian assured Malek with an exasperated sigh as he dragged one hand through his hair. I understood Malek’s role better watching them now. Tavian could tease him over food and ignore half his complaints, but when Malek spoke about their territory or keeping their existence hidden, Tavian listened.