Alice let out a jagged laugh, her button eyes darting between Victor’s possessive grip and Dimitri’s cold stare. "Seriously, I can’t tell who the victim is here! Oh my god, Felicity... are you pregnant?!"

The ragdoll girl instinctively stepped forward to get a better look, but the air was suddenly filled with a low, vibrating rumble.

Lucan and Ivan, already half-shifted into their beast forms, moved with blurring speed to plant themselves in front of Felicity, their teeth bared in a silent, lethal warning.

"Guys, it’s okay! I think?" Felicity chirped, her fox ears twitching at the sudden surge of protective mana.

"’I think’ isn’t enough for us, Fel," Exile grumbled, as he kept a sharp eye on the Tiger-man, Tim.

Dawn broke the tension with an aggressively casual chirp, nodding toward the bewildered Alice.

"We’re the ’eat nightmares for breakfast’ team, yes," he said, flashing a wink.

"I’m Dawn. That’s Thane, who is currently thinking about how much he hates the sound of your voice, and that’s Dimitri, who is thinking about how much he hates everyone’s voice".

Dimitri’s jaw tightened so hard a muscle jumped in his cheek. "Dawn, shut up".

"See? Consistent," Dawn said to Alice, completely unfazed by the death glare.

"All right! Well, Alice, let’s camp together tonight!" Felicity announced, her voice bright and mildly oblivious to the way the men were practically vibrating with territorial energy.

"Or... close by, haha! Let’s move to Bowral together. It’s much safer that way!"

Safer. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone except, apparently, Felicity herself.

The team didn’t look happy about the addition to their "sanitised" path, but they followed her lead, moving off the side of the road to a sheltered clearing. Victor finally placed Felicity safely on the ground, his touch lingering on her waist for a heartbeat before Lucan stepped in, standing like a living shield directly in front of her.

To settle the atmosphere, Victor reached into his spatial storage. He began pulling out plush cushions and soft blankets to create a comfortable nest for Felicity to rest her tired legs. Finally, he reached back in and brought out Luna and Frost, the young cubs.

The sight of the cubs instantly shifted the mood. Alice let out a tiny squeal of delight, her button eyes sparkling with excitement as she reached out to pet them. Even Tim, the Tiger-man who had been sitting nearby with a scowl etched on his face, seemed momentarily distracted. His gaze softened as he watched the cubs, but it wasn’t long before his eyes were back on Dimitri, the glare returning as if he were trying to set the man on fire with his mind.

As night settled over their makeshift camp, the tension between the groups remained palpable. Alice and her husbands had established their own space about twenty feet away, close enough to be considered part of the same camp but far enough to maintain a clear boundary. Tim sat at the edge of their group, his amber eyes constantly shifting between watching Felicity and glowering at Dimitri.

Felicity observed the subtle but unmistakable way her men positioned themselves between her and the tiger man. Victor’s wings were slightly unfurled, ready to shield her at a moment’s notice. Ivan’s massive frame had shifted subtly, placing him directly in Tim’s line of sight. Even Ash, who usually preferred the shadows, had moved to a vantage point where he could monitor both Tim and the surrounding forest.

"Lucan," Felicity whispered, tugging gently at his sleeve. Her fox ears twitched with confusion. "Why is everyone being so... aggressive toward Tim? I thought he was one of Alice’s husbands."

Lucan’s expression softened as he looked down at her. His large hand came to rest on her head, fingers gently stroking between her ears in a way that made her want to purr.

"He’s not mated to her, Felicity," Lucan explained, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "He’s a single male. That’s why the others are keeping an eye on him."

Felicity’s eyes widened. "But I thought... I was sure they were together that’s so strange, he even protected her?"

She glanced over at Alice, who was laughing at something one of her actual husbands had said. The ragdoll girl seemed completely oblivious to the tension her unmated companion was causing.

"Don’t worry about it," Lucan said, guiding her toward the nest of cushions Victor had prepared. "Let me do your hair before you rest. You’ve had a long day."

Felicity settled into the soft pile of cushions, feeling them mould around her tired body. Lucan’s fingers were gentle as he began to separate her blonde hair, working it into a loose braid that would keep it from tangling while she slept.

Across the clearing, Exile had taken charge of the cubs. Luna and Frost, who had grown remarkably in the past few weeks, were now playing a game that involved chasing each other around the perimeter of the camp. They looked to be about seven years old now, though their development had been accelerated by the magical energies of the world.

Frost, still largely silent around the group, would occasionally break his quiet demeanour to chatter excitedly to Felicity, calling her "Mum" with such genuine affection that it made her heart swell. He would occasionally speak to Luna as well, their bond evident in the way they communicated with just a look.

Dimitri stood guard at the edge of the camp, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness for any potential threats. His vigilance was interrupted when Frost suddenly abandoned his game with Luna and rushed toward him, small arms outstretched.

"Uncle Dimi! Uncle Dimi!" Frost called, his voice carrying across the camp.

Felicity watched with amusement as Dimitri tried to maintain his stern expression while the young boy clambered up his leg, seeking a perch on his shoulders.

"I’m keeping watch, Frost," Dimitri said, though he made no real effort to remove the child. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Can help," Frost insisted, settling himself on Dimitri’s shoulders, his small hands gripping the man’s hair for balance. "Eyes up high now."