Dimitri sighed, but Felicity noticed the corner of his mouth twitch upward. "Fine, but no talking, we need to be quiet."

Frost nodded solemnly, pressing a finger to his lips in exaggerated silence.

The night deepened around them, the stars emerging in the clear sky above. Despite the tensions and dangers of their world, moments like these reminded Felicity why she fought so hard to keep her strange family together. Even in this broken world, there was still room for connection, for protection, for love.

As Lucan finished her braid, tying it off with a small piece of fabric, Felicity felt the weight of exhaustion finally settling over her.

"Sleep, little fox," Lucan murmured, his voice a gentle rumble. "We’ll keep watch."

Felicity nodded, her eyes already growing heavy. As she drifted toward sleep, she heard Frost whisper something to Dimitri, and the man’s low chuckle in response.

Felicity woke to a strange sensation and warmth enveloping her face, soft and lush. Her nose was buried in something that felt like the most luxurious fur she’d ever touched. She stretched her limbs, a small moan escaping her lips as her muscles protested the movement.

Still half-asleep, she nuzzled deeper into the warm pillow beneath her cheek. A deep, rumbling vibration answered her movement, startling her eyes open. What she’d thought was a pillow shifted, revealing itself to be Lucan’s massive chest; he had transformed completely during the night, his beast form now wrapped protectively around her.

His golden eyes met hers, pupils dilating with affection. The transformation rippled through him, muscles shifting and contracting as he returned to his beast-man form. His face softened, the fur receding to reveal the strong jawline and pointed ears she knew so well.

"Good morning," he whispered, pulling her closer against his chest.

Felicity inhaled sharply as his nose pressed against her neck, his breath warm against her sensitive skin. His chest rumbled with a sound that was almost a purr as he breathed deeply.

"I love your scent," Lucan murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Can’t get enough. It does something to me... You are perfect for me." His teeth scraped the barest edge of her collarbone. "Mine."

Heat flooded her cheeks, crawled down her throat, and pooled somewhere low and liquid in her belly. Her fox ears flattened sideways, a dead giveaway she couldn’t control, and her tail curled involuntarily around his thigh.

Traitor body, every single time.

"You can relax," he continued, his large hand stroking down her back ", I’ll always be here for you."

Felicity closed her eyes, savouring the moment of peace. "I know you will," she whispered.

"You can’t just sniff someone and then say things like that before breakfast, Lucan."

His laugh was a dark, pleased thing pressed directly into the hollow beneath her ear. "Why not?"

"Because it’s.." Her fingers curled into the hard plane of his chest, nails catching against muscle. "It’s disorienting."

"Good." His large hand slid down the length of her back, palm spanning wide, fingers splaying possessively over the base of her tail. She jolted. He noticed, of course, he noticed. "You’re perfect for me, Fel. Every part of you was made to fit right here."

She bit her lower lip, fighting the pleased whimper building in her throat. The blush had officially conquered her entire face. Possibly her shoulders and definitely her chest.

"You know," she managed, tipping her head back to finally look at him properly, "most people start the day with ’how did you sleep’ or ’would you like tea.’ Normal greetings.

Lucan’s gaze traced the blush staining her skin with open, devastating appreciation. One corner of his mouth curled upward slowly, wickedly, entirely too self-satisfied.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, dragging his thumb in a lazy circle at the base of her tail.

Her thighs clenched. "That doesn’t count when you’re doing that at the same time."

"Doing what?" Pure innocence is an absolute lie.

"Lucan."

"Felicity." He mimicked her tone perfectly, the bastard, and the grin that split across his face was devilish and devastating and unfair in every conceivable way.

His hand gentled on her back, stroking in long, soothing passes from her shoulders to her hips. The urgency softened into something quieter. Steady. Sure.

"You can relax," he said, and the playfulness had ebbed just enough to let sincerity bleed through. "I’m not going anywhere, not now, not tomorrow. Not when the world decides to fall apart again."

Her throat tightened. She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, or lack thereof, actually, because of course he was shirtless, because the universe enjoyed testing her and let herself sink into him. Let her weight rest against his chest instead of holding herself apart.

"I know," she whispered, and the terrifying thing was that she did

His chin settled atop her head, and she felt the press of his smile against her hair. That rumbling purr started again, vibrating through her skull, her chest, settling somewhere behind her ribs like a second heartbeat.

Lucan’s hand lingered on Felicity’s back, those long, soothing strokes turning into something hungrier as the heat between them built.

She pressed closer, her fingers splaying over his bare chest, feeling the hard ridges of muscle tense under her touch. That purr of his, deep and vibrating, wasn’t just some quirk; it was his inner beast, the panther side he kept leashed, rumbling to life now like a promise of what was coming.

Her body betrayed her, nipples hardening against the thin fabric of her tank top, thighs clenching as his hand dipped lower, cupping her ass possessively.

"Felicity," he growled, mimicking her tone but twisting it into something dark and commanding. His grin was pure alpha male, devilish, making her stomach flip.

Lucan made her feel safe but also made her heart race.

She melted into him, her weight sinking against his chest, but the urgency was back, sharper now. "You can relax," he murmured, sincerity lacing his words, but his fingers betrayed him, squeezing her flesh, pulling her hips flush against the hard ridge of his cock straining through his jeans. "I’m not going anywhere. But fuck, woman, you’re making it hard to hold back."

Her throat tightened with emotion, a mix of vulnerability and raw need. God, I believe him, she thought, her heart pounding in sync with that purr vibrating through her. She curled her fingers into his skin, nails scraping lightly, drawing a hiss from him that sent a thrill straight to her core.

Felicity did know he’d stay, not just for tonight, but through whatever storm came next. But right now, she wanted him to wreck her, to claim her in ways that left no doubt.

Lucan tilted her chin up with a firm grip, his eyes locking on hers dark, possessive, like a predator sizing up his mate. "Tell me what you want," he demanded, voice rough, breath hot against her lips. The scent of his arousal hit her, earthy and intoxicating, making her pussy wet.

"I want you," she whispered, but it came out breathy, needy. All of you, that beast inside, tearing me apart.

"Not good enough." His hand slid under her tank top, calloused palm grazing her stomach, then higher, thumb brushing her nipple until it pebbled.

Felicity gasped, the touch electric, sending sparks down her spine. He pinched it lightly, then harder, watching her face with that smug grin. "Say it dirty, Felicity. Tell me how you want this cock."

Heat flooded her cheeks, but fuck, it turned her on, his bold demands, the way he commanded her submission without apology. "I want your cock inside me," she said, voice trembling but bold. "Fucking me hard, Lucan." Felicity stammered, but the words ignited a fire between her legs, slick heat dripping down her thighs.

Lucan’s purr deepened into a growl, vibrating against her as he crushed his mouth to hers. The kiss was primal, tongues tangling, tasting the faint bitterness of coffee on him mixed with her own sweetness.

He backed her toward the pile of cushions and pillows, hands roaming one yanking her tank top over her head, exposing her breasts to the cool air. His free hand yanked her shorts aside, thumb grinding against her swollen clit, "So wet for me already," making her hips jerk uncontrollably. "You’ve been thinking about this, haven’t you? My beautiful girl."

She moaned, hips bucking into his hand, the sound echoing in the quiet morning of the camp."Please, Lucan, ram your thick cock into my dripping cunt," she moaned, voice breaking on the crude plea. "Split me open, flood me with your hot load."

Lucan shoved her shorts down, kicking them aside, and Felicity fumbled with his boxers, freeing his thick cock hard, veined, pre cum beading at the tip. She wrapped her hand around it, stroking firmly, loving the way he groaned, the velvety heat of him pulsing in her grip.

A guttural growl ripped from his throat, vibrating through his chest as he crushed his mouth to hers.

She obeyed, crawling onto the sheets, the fabric cool against her heated skin. He followed, kneeling between her legs, spreading them wide with his knees. The air hummed with tension, his scent enveloping her as he leaned down, mouth claiming her breast. He sucked hard, teeth grazing her nipple, the sharp pleasure-pain making her arch. "Fuck, Lucan," she whimpered, fingers threading into his hair, pulling him closer.