The second Stones and his crew backed off, Hunter headed straight for the grills.
He’d been eyeing this particular cut for the last hour.
Prime tenderloin, glistening with fat, the kind of meat that melted on your tongue.
He’d already fended off three other guys trying to claim it.
He tore the meat into bite-sized pieces and dusted it with salt from his pouch.
Back at Maya’s side in seconds, he held out the meat.
“Here. Still warm.”
Hunter had no clue what Maya’s game was, but she’d shut down those deer tribe guys without hesitation.
Sharing his steak seemed like a fair trade.
Maya’s stomach had been growling for twenty minutes.
She grabbed a piece and bit down.
The meat was tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned.
Damn good.
She nodded while chewing.
“This is great. Thanks, Hunter.”
Hunter watched her.
Compliments used to be like pulling teeth.
Now they just fell out of her mouth.
But he didn’t buy it.
He jerked his chin toward the other grill, where a big bird was spinning over the fire, its skin crackling and golden.
“That’s rainbow pheasant. Looks big but it’s actually really tender, way better than aberrant beast meat. Want me to grab you some?”
He wanted to see if she’d keep being cooperative.
Maya followed his gaze.
Hard to believe something that big could be tender, but curiosity won.
She nodded.
“Sure, I’ll try it.”
Hunter blinked.
She actually said yes.
He pushed through the crowd around the grill, carved off a chunk from the thigh, and tore it into smaller pieces on a broad leaf.
The other four exchanged looks.
Nobody could tell if Hunter was being genuine or testing her.
And Maya’s sweet routine could be real or complete acting.
Caleb watched Maya’s face light up as she tasted Hunter’s meat, and that crushing weight settled back in his chest.
After a moment, he spoke up.
“You thirsty? I can get you some water.”
Maya glanced at the water station ten feet away.
She didn’t want to keep bothering them over simple tasks.
She shook her head quickly.
“I’m good. I can grab it myself.”
Caleb’s hand froze, fingers curling into a fist.
The light in his eyes dimmed.
Hunter offers her meat, she takes it with a smile.
Did she hate him that much?
Pushing him away at the creek wasn’t enough.
Now she had to draw lines over fetching water?
Maya missed the storm on Caleb’s face.
She stood, walked to the water jars, and was about to drink when a clay pot appeared in front of her.
Noah had materialized with the pot, his smile warm.
“Maya, this is honey berry juice. Want to try some? It’s sweet. The females here love it. Been chilling in the creek, cuts right through the grease.”
The scent hit her first.
Sweet, crisp, with mountain coolness.
Nothing like the bitter wild fruits she’d been choking down since arriving here.
Maya’s eyes went wide.
Juice.
Real fruit juice.
In a world where finding salt was a small miracle, someone had actually made this?
Her mouth watered.
Her fingers twitched.
Then she caught herself.
In beastman culture, a male bringing food to a female?
That wasn’t just being neighborly.
That was a statement.
She yanked her gaze away and shook her head.
“Thanks. I’m good. My mates will handle it.”
She didn’t actually expect them to.
She was just trying to shut this down without starting a fight.
The words landed like a rock in still water.
None of her five mates moved.
None of them spoke.
But the air shifted.
Caleb’s voice came out flat.
“We’ll get her juice. You can go now.”
He stepped forward, positioning himself between Noah and Maya.
Not aggressive.
Just present.
Noah didn’t back up.
He’d seen the way her eyes lit up.
She wanted it.
She was just stubborn.
He studied her—quiet, small, interesting.
The more he looked, the more he wanted to see what was underneath that careful exterior. The source of this chapter is g.com.
She’d turned him down.
He wasn’t going to push.
But he wasn’t going to make it easy for her to forget him either.
He set the pot down on the rock beside her.
“Keep it. No strings.” Then he turned and walked away.
No lingering.
No looking back.
Maya stared at the pot.
The honey berry scent curled around her, pulling.
She stood there, frozen.
Her hand twitched toward it.
Stopped.
Twitched again.
Sage watched her fight herself for a long moment.
Then he reached over, picked up the pot, and set it squarely in front of her.
“He said no strings. If you want it, take it. Don’t make it complicated.”
Maya’s fingers grazed the clay.
“This isn’t going to mean I owe him something?”
Jasper’s voice came from behind her, dry.
“If accepting food meant owing someone, I’d be in debt to half the tribe.”
That was enough.
Maya picked up the pot, brought it to her nose, and inhaled.
Sweet.
Cool.
Clean.
She took a sip.
The honey berry hit her tongue—smooth, nothing bitter, nothing harsh.
The best thing she’d tasted since she woke up in this world.
She took another sip.
Then another.
When she finally set it down, half the pot was gone.
She looked up.
All five of them were watching her.
She held out the pot.
“Anyone want some?”
Caleb moved before anyone else could answer.
His hand closed around the pot, fingers brushing hers.
He brought it to his lips and drank.
Slowly.
His eyes stayed on her the whole time.
When he lowered the pot, it was empty.