Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband-Chapter 32: The Bunny and the Bandit

Three Days Ago.

Luna was in the shady part of the market. She shouldn’t have been there, but she was desperate. She wanted to buy a Good Luck Charm for Primrose’s new business.

She stood in front of a rickety stall run by a twitchy Weasel-kin.

"Yes, yes, beautiful lady!" the Weasel hissed, holding up a dirty, grey rock tied to a string. "This is a Dragon-Scale Amulet! Guaranteed to ward off bad luck, bad spirits, and bad taxes! Only 50 gold coins!"

Luna hesitated. "It... it looks like a rock."

"It is a camouflaged dragon scale!" the Weasel insisted. "Very rare! Buy it now, or I sell it to the Duke!"

Luna bit her lip. She reached for her purse. She was too nice to say no.

Suddenly, a hand—an orange, furry hand with sharp claws—slammed onto the counter, right on top of the amulet.

"Fifty gold for a piece of gravel?" a lazy, raspy voice drawled. "Inflation is rough these days, eh, Weasel?"

Luna jumped. Standing next to her was a Fox-kin. He was leaning casually against the stall, wearing a loose green shirt and a grin that spelled trouble. Jax.

The Weasel paled. "Jax! I... I am conducting legitimate business!"

"You’re selling driveway gravel to a tourist," Jax laughed. He picked up the rock, tossed it in the air, and caught it. Then he crushed it in his hand. It crumbled into grey dust.

"Oops," Jax smirked. "Must have been a defective dragon."

Luna gasped. "It was fake?"

"Everything here is fake, Carrots," Jax said, looking down at her. He eyed her expensive silk dress and her basket of vegetables. "You shouldn’t be in this district. The sharks will eat you alive. Or the weasels."

He grabbed the Weasel by the collar. "Give the lady her entry fee back. And an apology."

The Weasel scrambled to hand Luna a silver coin (which she hadn’t even realized he’d pickpocketed from her earlier). "Sorry! So sorry!"

Jax released him, and the Weasel bolted.

Luna stood there, clutching her basket. She looked at the Fox. He was a predator. He was a criminal. She should be terrified.

But he had saved her money.

"Thank you," Luna whispered, her ears trembling.

Jax shrugged, turning to leave. "Don’t thank me. I just hate bad liars. Go home, Carrots. Before someone sells you a magic bean."

"Wait!" Luna called out.

Jax paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

Luna reached into her basket. She pulled out the freshest, crispest, most perfect carrot she had.

"I... I don’t have gold on me," she lied (she had plenty). "But... for saving me."

She held out the carrot.

Jax stared at it. He stared at her serious, terrified olive eyes.

He snorted. Then he chuckled. Then he laughed.

He walked back, took the carrot, and took a loud, crunchy bite.

"Payment accepted," he said, juice running down his chin. "You’re weird, Carrots. I like that."

He winked and vanished into the crowd.

And that was how the Merchant’s Daughter met the Bandit.

Presently

Luna’s heart was beating so fast she was certain her long, lilac ears were going to vibrate right off her head.

The merchant’s daughter stood behind a crate of Sun-Apples in the shady part of the market, clutching a small, wax-paper bag to her chest like a shield. Inside was a Honey-Glazed Moon-Cake that Primrose had helped her bake. It was perfectly round, golden, and in Luna’s mind, it smelled like destiny.

She needed destiny. Because ten feet away, leaning against a lamppost like he owned the shadow it cast, was Jax.

He was... unbearable. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He was a Fox-kin, but he didn’t look noble like Primrose’s family. He looked like trouble. He wore a loose green shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing lean arms, and his messy orange hair looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. His single, massive orange tail flicked lazily back and forth, keeping time to a tune only he could hear.

He was currently tossing a red apple in the air, haggling with a fruit vendor who looked very confused about where his wallet had gone.

Luna had met him exactly one time. Three days ago. He had saved her from a scammer, called her "Carrots," ate her vegetable, and left.

It was, objectively, a minor interaction. But to Luna, it was the most romantic thing that had ever happened.

Be bold, Primrose had said. Make him win your parents over.

Luna took a deep breath. Her pink nose twitched with determination.

She stepped out from behind the apple crate. "H-hello!"

Jax caught the apple mid-air. He turned slowly. His sleepy, half-lidded green eyes landed on her, and he blinked.

"Oh," he drawled, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "If it isn’t Carrots. Back for another refund?"

"I am not," Luna squeaked, marching up to him—and stopping a safe, respectful three feet away. "And my name is Luna."

"Sure it is," Jax said, taking a loud bite of the apple. Crunch. "You’re the merchant’s daughter. The one with the shiny purse."

He looked her up and down, his gaze sharp despite his relaxed posture. "You shouldn’t be here, Carrots. The sharks are circling."

"I... I have a proposition," she blurted out.

Jax raised an eyebrow. He leaned down, bringing his face level with hers. He smelled of cinnamon, woodsmoke, and... stolen apples.

"A proposition?" he whispered, his voice a rasp that made Luna’s knees wobble. "Careful. You’re a bunny. You shouldn’t be making deals with foxes. We bite."

"I’m not scared of you," Luna lied. (She was terrified. He was gorgeous).

She thrust the wax bag at his chest.

"Here," she said. "It’s... a down payment."

Jax blinked. He took the bag, opening it to sniff the contents. "Moon-Cake? High quality. Smells like... that fancy daycare in the common district."

He looked at her, intrigued. "Payment for what? A fence? A distraction?"

"For... an escort service," Luna said firmly.

Jax choked on his apple. He coughed, thumping his chest. "Excuse me?"

"For the Harvest Moon Festival!" Luna clarified frantically, her face burning brighter than the sun. "I need... security! Yes! Security! My parents are worried about... pickpockets! And since you are a... Procurement Specialist..."

"A thief," he corrected helpfully.

"...I thought you would be the best person to... protect me," she finished lamely.

Jax stared at her. He looked at the Moon-Cake. He looked at her trembling ears. He looked at her expensive silk dress that cost more than this entire street.

He started to laugh. It wasn’t a mean laugh. It was a warm, wheezing chuckle that made his ears wiggle.

"You want me," the local swindler, "to guard the wealthiest merchant’s daughter at the biggest festival of the year?"

"Yes," Luna stood her ground. "My father says the best way to catch a thief is to hire one."

"Your father would skin me into a rug if he saw me within ten feet of you."

"Then you’ll have to be charming," she said. "Prove you’re not just a thief."

Jax stopped laughing. He looked at her—really looked at her—his green eyes searching her face. He seemed baffled that a prey animal was voluntarily standing this close to him without running away.

He took a bite of the Moon-Cake. He chewed slowly.

"It’s good," he murmured. "Really good."

He finished the cake in two bites, licked the sugar off his thumb, and pushed off the lamppost.

"Alright, Carrots," Jax said, dusting crumbs off his shirt. "You hired yourself a fox. Pick you up at sunset? Or do I need to climb a trellis?"

"The trellis," Luna whispered, her heart soaring. "My dad has guards at the door."

Jax grinned, his sharp canine tooth glinting in the sun.

"Trellis it is. Wear something easy to run in. We might have to dodge your dad."

He winked, turned, and vanished into the crowd, his big orange tail waving goodbye.

Luna stood there, clutching her empty hands, grinning like an idiot.

She had a date. With a Fox.