After their fight over the "stealing incident," Faun felt lost. 

He loved his Alpha, but the thought of stealing from families left him feeling wrong. No matter how Kai tried to justify it.

As Faun plated up their dinner, his heart felt heavy. 

As soon as Faun sat, Kai’s tail wrapped around his slim ankle, preventing him from bolting.

“What’s wrong, sweet Faun?”

Instead of answering, Faun pushed around the food on his plate. Buying himself time. 

Faun nearly fell out of his chair when Kai’s tail casually slithered up and around his sensitive inner thigh. 

“That got your attention. Now, tell me what’s wrong.” Kai’s sharp smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Fauns swallowed his nerves. If this relationship was going to work, he needed to be honest. 

“I don’t feel good about you taking food from families.”

“Faun, my sweet, we discussed this already. It’s what’s best for our future pups.”

“I know that Kai. But there has to be another way that isn't stealing from others or starving ourselves. Some option we’re missing.”

Kai gave Faun a frustrated look before letting out a deep sigh.

“So how do you suppose we eat, other than hunting for food like a bunch of animals?”

Faun sent a significant look at Kai’s snake-like lower half before furrowing his brow in thought.

“Well, if we invited more people to live on your land, then we would need less food from each person...”

Kai just leaned back in thought, letting Faun continue rambling.

“Maybe we could charge them some food every month, kind of like taxes? And in return… Your protection! Like a bodyguard from other Alphas”

Faun met Kai’s contemplating gaze.

“You want me to let people live on my land and have my protection? And in return, they pay me in goods?”

“We get food. They get a piece of land for a home and your protection. And nobody steals from anyone. Everybody wins!”

Faun was on the edge of his seat by the end of his little speech, staring hopefully at his Alpha. Making his eyes big and shiny.

Finally, Kai’s steel gaze softened.

“Fine, if that is what you desire, Faun. I will implement this new taxing system tomorrow. Now, will you please eat, my dear?” 

Faun felt much lighter without guilt on his shoulder. He nearly purred with joy at his Alpha's approval.

With new relish, the Omega forked a piece of flaky salmon into his mouth, humming at the buttery flavor.

Kai dug in as well. Gripping the delicate silverware with inhuman strength, crushing the fork into an unrecognizable blob of metal. Faun quietly wondered what Omega Kai had stolen the treasure from.

As the Omega munched on his food, he toed off his thick wool socks.

When he still felt warm, his rabbit fur sweater joined the pile with his socks.

The movement made Kai go preternaturally still.

Faun ignored the weird behavior, trying to fan his flushed cheeks.

Why was it so warm suddenly?

Fanning himself with both hands, Faun tried fruitlessly to chill his boiling face.

Eventually, Faun gave up and just slipped out of his top, letting his flushed chest chill slightly.

A harsh noise made the Omega glance up.

Sometimes Faun forgot his Alpha was more beast than man. But as he watches Kai, his pupils blown wide, thick tail raising him until he loomed a few feet over Faun. He remembered.

Kai braced himself against the table, fingers making deep imprints on the heavy wood.

“Heat.” The word was half-growled.

“What?” Faun warily watched Kai’s hands grip the table tighter and tighter.

“You're in heat.”

The table broke with a dull crunch.

“Oh,” Faun said breathlessly, watching splinters spray across the floor. 

Well then.