Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 105: (Xmas Special) Mistletoe Moments

Early Morning,

The blizzard had stopped, but the world was still quiet, insulated by a thick layer of snow.

Inside the bedroom, the light was grey and soft. Caspian was still asleep, his arm draped protectively over Orion (who was snoring softly in a nest of blankets on the floor).

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Caspian breathe.

The grey veins on his neck were darker today. They looked like cracks in porcelain, creeping up toward his jawline.

I reached out, my fingers trembling slightly, and traced the line of the corruption.

"Does it hurt?" I whispered.

Caspian’s eyes opened. They were teal and deep, like the ocean before a storm. He didn’t answer. He just reached out, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me down.

"Whoa!"

I landed on the bed beside him. He wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my neck, holding me so tight I could barely breathe.

"Don’t get up," Caspian mumbled into my skin. "The world is cold. You are warm."

"We have to," I said softly, stroking his hair. "Orion will wake up soon. And we have Solstice prep to do."

"Five minutes," Caspian bargained. "Just five minutes of peace."

He lifted his head. His eyes were clear, but there was a shadow of fear in them that hadn’t been there before.

"I forgot the word for ocean this morning," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "Just for a second. I looked at Orion and I couldn’t remember where we came from."

My heart broke.

"Caspian..."

"I am forgetting, Primrose," he said, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. "But I do not want to forget this. I do not want to forget you."

He leaned in.

He kissed me.

It wasn’t like the accidental touches or the playful moments we’d had before. It was deliberate. It was desperate. His lips were soft but demanding, tasting of sleep and sorrow.

I froze for a second—my first kiss in two lifetimes—and then I melted.

I kissed him back. I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, pouring every ounce of comfort and courage I had into him.

Caspian made a low sound in his throat, surprised by my response, but he didn’t pull away. He deepened the kiss, his thumb tracing my jawline, making my entire body hum with heat.

For a moment, the Void didn’t exist. The corruption didn’t exist. It was just us.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless.

"Wow," I whispered, my face burning.

Caspian smirked, a flash of his old arrogance returning. "Indeed. That was... memorable."

He kissed my forehead. "Now. Let us face the day. Before I forget how to make coffee."

The Merchant District (Midday)

While the daycare was waking up, Jax was walking through the snowy streets of the Merchant District. He wore a new coat—bought with his own money—and carried a small box of chocolates.

He was heading toward the Moon-Hop Manor, the home of the wealthy Bunny Merchant Clan.

Inside, Luna was sitting at a tea table with her parents. Her father, Lord Cottontail, was a large, round rabbit with a monocle. Her mother, Lady Fluff, was equally round and draped in pearls.

"So," Luna said casually, sipping her tea. "Mother. Father. Hypothetically... what if I were to marry a predator beast kin?"

Lady Fluff dropped her spoon.

Clatter.

"A predator?" Lord Cottontail gasped, his ears standing straight up. "Luna! Do not joke about such things! They are dangerous! They eat meat! They have... teeth!"

"But what if he was nice?" Luna pressed. "And had a job?"

"Impossible," Lady Fluff sniffed. "Predators are wild. Speaking of marriage, your childhood friend Thumper is in town. He is a delightful boy. He runs a carrot farm. Very safe. You should meet him."

"I have to go get Clover," Luna stood up abruptly. "From the daycare."

"Go," her father nodded. "And stay away from Foxes. I heard one was seen nearby."

Luna walked out, her heart heavy.

She turned the corner and saw him.

Jax was leaning against a lamppost, flipping his coin. He smiled when he saw her—that crooked, charming smile that made her knees weak.

"Hey, princess," Jax grinned. "Why didn’t you come to the daycare? I missed my assistant."

"I was busy," Luna said quietly. "My parents..."

She stopped. She looked at him. He looked so handsome in his new coat. He had cleaned up his act. He was a hero of the daycare.

But to her parents, he was just a Fox.

"Jax," Luna said, her voice trembling. "My parents... they will never agree. They want me to marry Thumper."

"Thumper?" Jax raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a headache."

"He’s safe," Luna whispered. "They won’t see you differently, Jax. No matter how good you are."

Jax’s smile faded. He stepped closer, his golden eyes serious.

"So that’s it?" he asked. "You just give up?"

"I think... they will arrange the marriage soon," Luna admitted, tears welling up.

Jax flipped his coin. He caught it. He didn’t look at it.

"Come with me," Jax said firmly.

"Huh? Wait, I have to pick up Clover," Luna stammered.

"That can wait," Jax replied, grabbing her hand.

He didn’t pull her toward the daycare. He pulled her back toward her house.

"Jax! What are you doing?"

"I’m meeting the in-laws," Jax said, his jaw set.

He marched up to the door and banged the knocker.

Lord Cottontail opened it. "Luna? You forgot—"

He froze. He saw the Fox holding his daughter’s hand.

"Eek!" Lady Fluff squeaked from the hallway. "A predator!"

"Good afternoon," Jax said smoothly, stepping inside and pulling Luna with him.

"Who is this?" Lord Cottontail demanded, trembling. "Unhand my daughter!"

"I am Jax," he announced. "I am the Head of Security for the Daycare. I have a steady income. I have a pension plan. And I am currently dating your daughter."

The parents gasped.

"Absolutely not!" Lord Cottontail shouted. "A Fox! You are thieves! You are tricksters!"

Jax stepped forward. He didn’t growl. He just projected a terrifying aura of competence.

"I am a Fox," Jax agreed. "Which means I am smart. Smart enough to know that Luna is the best thing in this city."

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"Now. You can accept me. And we can have tea. Or... you can forbid it. And I will take her away, and you will never see her or your future grand-bunnies again."

"Elopement?" Lady Fluff fainted onto a sofa.

Lord Cottontail looked at Jax. He looked at Luna, who was staring at Jax with wide, starry eyes.

"You... you would steal her?"

"I’m a Fox," Jax winked. "Stealing is what we do. But I’d rather ask permission."

Lord Cottontail swallowed. He looked at the sharp teeth in Jax’s smile. He looked at the determination in Luna’s eyes.

"Fine," the rabbit dad whispered. "But... but you must wipe your paws before entering."

"Deal," Jax grinned.

He grabbed Luna’s hand and dragged her back outside.

"That was reckless!" Luna gasped, her heart racing.

"They wouldn’t have listened otherwise," Jax laughed. "Come on. We get Clover. Then... I have something to show you."

After dropping Clover off at the manor (where her parents were still in shock), Jax took Luna to a small building on the edge of the district.

"It’s not a mansion," Jax said nervously, unlocking the door. "Finn and I... we moved out of the pantry. It’s got two rooms. And a kitchen."

He opened the door. It was small, clean, and cozy.

"I know it’s not up to the taste of a rich merchant’s daughter," Jax rubbed the back of his neck. "But—"

Luna grabbed his collar and pulled him down.

She kissed him.

"It’s perfect," she whispered against his lips. "I am so proud of you."

Jax let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her slightly, and kissed her back—deep, steamy, and full of promise.

The Daycare Porch.

The sun was setting. The party inside was winding down.

General Rajah walked out of the daycare, adjusting his coat. He looked tired.

He stopped.

Princess Leonora was standing at the gate. She looked hesitant, her hand on the latch, ready to turn and leave.

"Leonora," Rajah said instinctively.

She froze. She turned to look at him.

"General," she said formally. "I... I came because Primrose invited me. But I should go."

"Can we talk?" Rajah asked, stepping off the porch.

"No, General," she said, turning away.

Rajah moved fast. He blocked her path—not aggressively, but firmly.

"I have a lot to say to you," Rajah said. "I apologize for the things I said. For the silence."

Leonora looked up at him. Her eyes flashed with a sudden, fierce anger.

"If I hadn’t come here, you wouldn’t have come to see me," she accused, her voice shaking. "You would have let the silence stand."

"I..."

"I understand!" Leonora cried, tears spilling over. "I understand you were scared of my father! But I am not my father, Rajah! I would have found a way! I would have protected your clan! My father listens to me! But you... you didn’t trust me."

She tried to push past him. "Let me go."

Rajah didn’t let her go. He reached out and pulled her into a hug.

It wasn’t a polite hug. He buried his face in her hair, his large hands cupping the back of her head, his thumbs brushing her lion ears.

Leonora froze. It reminded her of when they were children—when she would cry over a scraped knee, and he would hold her just like this.

"I... I am sorry," Rajah whispered into her hair, his voice breaking. "I truly am. I was a coward. I shouldn’t have avoided my chance with you."

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.

"And about the question you asked... would I have fallen for you?"

Leonora held her breath.

"Yes," Rajah admitted, the truth raw and terrifying. "I would have. I did."

For a moment, under the winter sky, the Tiger and the Lion just stared at each other, the years of silence finally broken.