Page 110 of Beasts of Mine

“Eastern fork, then probably south along the creek. I want another pass through the lower canopy while the light is decent.” I tightened the camera strap and slipped a spare battery into its usual pocket.

“Back by?” Mara lowered her attention to the log and wrote the route beside my name.

“Before six. I’ll call if I change direction.” I clipped the radio onto my belt and checked the emergency kit inside my bag before closing it.

“Going leopard hunting again?” Mara glanced up from the page, one corner of her mouth lifting.

“Photographing. There is a difference.” I zipped the bag and settled it over my shoulder.

“So you say. Try not to move into the forest permanently.” Mara closed the notebook and leaned back in her chair, looking entirely unconvinced.

“I make no promises.” I stepped backward toward the stairs, then caught myself when the answer sounded suspiciously like something Tavian would say. Mara’s eyes narrowed slightly, as though she had noticed something odd about the answer even without having any idea who Tavian was. I left before she could decide it deserved further investigation.

The walk toward the eastern fork felt much shorter without field-camp gear dragging at my shoulders. I settled into the familiar rhythm of watching the canopy, paused when something moved high through the branches, and noted fresh tracks in the softer ground beside the creek, but part of my attention kept reaching ahead. Yesterday, I would have expected three leopards somewhere near the fork. Today, I knew who would actually be waiting.

Malek’s scent still clung faintly to the strap across my chest where he had rubbed his jaw over it that morning. Luca lingered on a section of the bag he had handled while packing, and traces of Tavian seemed to be everywhere because the man had apparently touched half of my belongings before breakfast. Their scents were light beneath wet earth, vegetation, and humid air, but once I noticed them, they were difficult to ignore.

I probably should have minded that more. Instead, I found myself picking up my pace a little as the eastern fork drew closer. The trail curved around a broad tree trunk, revealing three men waiting beneath the shade. Tavian sat on a fallen log with his forearms resting loosely against his thighs, his dark hair slightly damp from the humidity. Luca stood several feet away with one shoulder against a tree, longer hair tied back at the nape. Malek had positioned himself farther from the path where he could see both me and the surrounding forest.

Yesterday, seeing them like this had stopped my brain completely. Today, I paused for only a second before continuing toward them.

“Hey, photographer.” Tavian rose from the log in one smooth movement, his entire face brightening when he saw me.

“Menace.” I greeted Tavian automatically as I approached, the nickname still coming more easily than his actual name.

“You came back.” Luca pushed away from the tree, quiet pleasure warming his voice and the smile that followed.

“I said I would.” I shifted the camera strap against my shoulder, trying not to notice how much I liked that they had actually been waiting for me. Malek stayed where he was for another second. His golden-brown eyes traveled over my camera, radio, bag, and boots before finally settling on my face.

“Good.” Malek gave me a small nod, and something about how satisfied he sounded made it annoyingly difficult not to smile. Tavian’s nostrils flared. Luca paused halfway toward me, while some of the watchfulness eased from Malek’s face. Three reactions at once was enough to make me suspicious.

“What?” I asked the Alphas, moving my attention between them.

“Nothing.” Tavian rocked back on his heels, failing spectacularly to make his widening smile look innocent.

“Keep it to yourself.” Luca warned Tavian, though the amusement in his own face told me he knew exactly what the other man had noticed.

“Keep what to himself?” I turned toward Luca, catching Malek taking another quiet breath beside him.

Then I understood. It was my scent.

Even through the blockers, something sweeter had slipped beneath the usual muted honey and jasmine, apparently encouraged by how relieved I was to find all three of them exactly where they said they would be. Their noses were better than mine. They knew what the change meant, and judging from Tavian’s expression, they also knew I had figured it out.

Great. So much for keeping that reaction to myself.

“Whatever thought is happening behind that smile can stay there.” I pointed toward Tavian before he had a chance to share it with the group.

“I haven’t said a word.” Tavian lifted his hands away from his sides, amusement still written all over him.

“Your face is doing enough.” I passed Tavian and started down the narrower trail toward the creek, adjusting the camera at my hip.

“That feels like a difficult standard.” Tavian fell into step beside me, his voice still carrying laughter.

“You’ll manage.” I glanced at him long enough to see his smile widen before returning my attention to the path. Luca laughed softly behind us. Malek said nothing, but when I looked back, he was watching Tavian with the long-suffering patience of someone who had been dealing with him for years.

“I did come out here to work, by the way.” I tapped two fingers against the camera as we reached the creek trail.

“I remember.” Tavian moved several feet away without being asked, his teasing easing enough to show he was taking me seriously. The quick adjustment surprised me.