Lucien pouted, forcing his legs to move. The trail was quiet and the air crisp, but his stamina hit a wall after ten minutes. He tugged on Leon's jacket sleeve.

"Carry me, husband."

Leon's Adam's apple bobbed. Lucien hadn't called him that in days. Usually, it was "Pervert" or "Leon" when he was annoyed.

Leon shifted his pack to the front and crouched. "Get on, baby."

Lucien scrambled onto his back like a happy backpack. He wrapped his arms around Leon's thick neck and poured on the praise.

"You're the best, Leon. So strong. Let's catch up to your parents. Faster!"

Leon's pace quickened. Under the weight of his "lamb," he broke into a full run.

Under a sprawling oak,

Freya

carefully tucked a vibrant leaf into a sealed bag. She planned to turn it into a bookmark later.

A blur of black and blue streaked past her.

Freya blinked, shielding her eyes from the sun. "Leon? Was that them?"

The hike had turned into a sprint.

By the time the parents reached the summit, Leon was already hammering stakes into the ground. Lucien sat on a small folding stool, nursing a bag of chips.

He waved enthusiastically. "You guys are so slow!"

"You're just too fast," Freya laughed, catching her breath.

"Leon ran the whole way with me on his back," Lucien chirped, crunching on a chip.

Leon had stripped down to a black t-shirt. Sweat darkened the fabric between his shoulder blades. His forearms flexed with every strike of the mallet.

Lucien wandered over, pressing a chip to Leon's lips. Leon bit it, his gray-blue eyes tracking Lucien's every movement.

"Go sit down, baby. I'll have the grill ready soon. You hungry?"

"You're working so hard. Let me help." Lucien set the chips aside and squeezed Leon's bicep. "A massage for the champion."

Leon's skin was hot. His muscles felt like carved stone under Lucien's pale, soft fingers.

Leon's jaw tightened. "Lucien."

Lucien didn't move his hand. He gave a cheeky, golden-eyed grin. "What? Can't a wife help her husband?"

Leon leaned in, his voice a dangerous rasp. "Think carefully. We're on the mountain tonight. But we go home eventually."

Lucien pulled his hand back instantly. He turned and bolted toward Freya, humming a tune as if his heart wasn't racing.

Leon grit his teeth, watching that rounded rear retreat. Keep playing, lamb. I'll catch you tonight.

They started skewering meat for the BBQ. Lucien felt Leon's gaze like a physical weight on the back of his neck. It wasn't a friendly look.

Leon brushed past him, his lips grazing Lucien's ear. "I set our tent further away. The soundproofing is better out here."

Lucien's eyes went wide. He looked at the long, sharp skewers in his hand and felt a sudden kinship with the meat.

He needed a plan. His eyes landed on the cooler. Leon's father had brought a few packs of beer.

If he's drunk, the wolf goes to sleep. Lucien crept toward the cooler, checking the alcohol percentage on a can.

"What are you doing?"

Lucien jumped, nearly dropping the can. Leon stood right behind him, caging him against the plastic lid.

"Just... looking at the labels."

"You can't handle your liquor," Leon noted, his voice dropping to that manipulative 'King' register. "Don't touch it."

"I can! My tolerance is way up," Lucien lied, his face flushing. He held up a can. "Drink with me, Leon. Please?"

Leon stared at him for a long beat. A slow, dark smile spread across his face. "Sure. Why not?"

The scent of roasting meat filled the clearing. Lucien filled two glasses.

"Since you're so strong, you should drink more," Lucien suggested. "One sip for me, one full glass for you."

Leon arched a dark brow. "Fair deal."

Lucien took a tiny sip, barely wetting his tongue. Leon tilted his head back and drained the entire glass in one go.

Lucien did a mental victory dance. Plan: Success.