Luca's beast form stirred awake in the middle of the night, his heightened senses prickling with an unshakable restlessness. He gazed down at Ves, who was sleeping soundly beside him, her small frame curled up against his.
The sight of her peaceful face calmed him momentarily, but an unfamiliar scent wafted through the air, making him freeze. He instinctively leaned closer, his sensitive nose picking up its source, her.
He shook his furry head to clear his thoughts, shutting his eyes in a futile attempt to sleep again.
Ves unconsciously shifted closer to him, her warmth pressing against his fur, and he wrapped his large form protectively around her.
When morning came, Ves woke with a stretch, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. A faint discomfort in her lower abdomen made her pause, but she soon brushed it off not thinking much of it.
She looked around and spotted Luca, who was already watching her with an unusual intensity.
"Good mornin'!" she greeted, her voice bright and energetic.
Luca blinked before replying, his accent awkward but endearing at the same time. "Good mor-nig!"
She chuckled softly, recalling how she had taught him this simple greeting, a custom from her world that he had been eager to adopt.
Ves stood up deciding to freshen up but suddenly froze mid-step. Her body stiffened as realization dawned on her. Her face flushed as she looked down, her expression shifting from confusion to embarrassment.
Luca noticed immediately. His beastly senses caught the scent again, and his jaw tightened as understanding dawned on him and he clenched his fists to control his sudden, beastly urges. He stepped closer to her, his movements slow and deliberate.
Ves felt a flush of embarrassment as she pressed her legs together awkwardly. Unsure of how to explain her discomfort, she stammered, "I… uh, I think I…" Her voice faltered, and her gaze darted to him nervously.
Luca gently placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his tone calm and reassuring. "Shh… It's okay. I understand."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Y-you do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled down at her, his sharp features softening with care. "Yes. It's perfectly normal. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything. Just wait here, okay?"
Relieved yet still flustered, Ves nodded hesitantly and reached out to hug him back, burying her face in his chest. He held her briefly, his embrace firm and steady, before stepping back.
"Lie down," he said gently. "I'll be back soon."
"But… but…" Ves hesitated, glancing down in discomfort. She could feel the faint dampness on her thighs, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I'll… uh, dirty the…"
"It's fine," he interrupted softly, guiding her to sit. "You don't need to worry about that."
Despite his words, Ves felt her embarrassment deepening. She lay down reluctantly, watching as Luca gave her one last reassuring glance before leaving.
As she lay there, Ves found herself puzzled. She had no clue where Luca had gone or what he meant by saying he understood.
'Maybe he thinks I'm sick…' she mused.
She knew that back on earth, many men looked down on periods or could not care much. Not just men but even women considering this topic shameful. She tsked in her head thinking of their double standards.
But Luca's reaction was far different from what she had seen. He was gentle, understanding, and without a hint of judgment. She felt her heart warm irrespective of whether he guessed the cause of her discomfort correctly or not.
After lying still for a while, she became increasingly aware of the dampness beneath her. She froze, hoping it wouldn't worsen before Luca returned.
Not long after, Luca entered the room carrying a bundle of soft cotton wrapped in large leaves. He spotted Ves curled up and quickly approached her. "Here, you can use this," He hurriedly urged her seeing the look of clear discomfort on her face.
Looking at the cotton Luca brought for her, Ves realized with a jolt that Luca understood the cause of her discomfort correctly and flushed. She hesitated for a bit, "Could you… uh… sew a piece of cloth, maybe some hide, into… something I can wear? she nervously requested.
Luca didn't miss a beat. "Yes, of course. How should I sew it?" he asked without hesitation.
Following her instructions, he grabbed some hide and skillfully stitched it into several simple but comfortable undergarments. Though he wasn't entirely sure what purpose they served, he was happy to help his precious little female. Once he finished, he handed the completed pieces to her with a pleased expression.
gave her a reassuring smile and said, "I'll leave you for a bit and go bring you some fruits." He remembered how Ves loved the fruits Lyra brought and also understood which of those Ves liked more than others. Without waiting for her response, he stepped out to give her some privacy.
Grateful for the moment alone, Ves hurriedly and carefully arranged the cotton in her newly made undergarments and put them on. The feeling was strange and uncomfortable, but she knew she didn't have many options. Fortunately, she had asked Luca to sew multiple pairs, which gave her some reassurance.
As she adjusted, her gaze drifted to the small red patch staining the hay bed where she had been lying moments ago and a surge of embarrassment welled up within her.
'I can't let him see that…' she thought anxiously. Without hesitation, she pulled out the soiled hay and did her best to even out the remaining pile, hoping the spot wouldn't be noticeable.
Just as she gathered the stained hay sticks to discard them, Luca reappeared, carrying a bundle of fruits wrapped neatly in large leaves. His eyes immediately noticed her moving about, and he hurried over, concern flickering across his face. After placing the fruits aside, he gently took the hay sticks from her arms.
"You should be resting, little female," he said softly, his tone both firm and gentle. "Just tell me if there's anything you want… please?" His voice lowered at the last word, as though pleading with her to let him take care of things.
Ves flushed red in embarrassment as Luca held the stained hay sticks in his hands and pushed her gently to lay back. She was overcome with immense gratitude and a small smile formed on her lips as she watched him.
Ves flushed crimson, mortified that he was now holding the stained hay sticks. Yet Luca didn't seem bothered in the slightest. Instead, he nudged her back towards the bed with careful hands, guiding her to lie down again.
Overwhelmed by his tenderness, she felt a rush of gratitude swell in her chest. A small, shy smile spread across her lips as she watched him handle everything without any hesitation.