RTY | MW [✔]

04.

There wasn't a lot Mingyu could do to calm Soonyoung's fury about the fox's 'theft,' so he enlisted Minhyuk's help. The beta dutifully played along, reporting a sighting of a lone wolf near their western border. Mingyu dispatched Soonyoung and a handful of others to check it out. That would keep the other alpha busy for most of the day. By the time he returned, his anger would have cooled.

That done, Mingyu went to the kitchen to speak to Jihoon, finding him just beginning preparations for lunch.

The beta took one look at his face and sent the others out to pick herbs from the garden for dinner.

"This isn't a good time," Jihoon pointed out, effortlessly slicing ham. "There are hungry wolves to feed."

"They can wait a few extra minutes."

Jihoon set down the knife. "If you say so."

Mingyu got straight to the point. "Is Soonyoung right? Is our guest a thief?"

Jihoon's impassive expression gave nothing away. "They were scraps, like I said."

"Has anything else gone missing since he arrived?"

The beta snorted. "Not so much as a crumb. Unless you count people like Soonyoung helping themselves between meals."

Mingyu was relieved to hear there wasn't any more ammunition to fuel Soonyoung's claims. A few scraps could be overlooked. But it led to another dilemma. An unwilling 'guest' in a wolf pack, the fox wasn't stealing scraps for the fun of it.

"Something else I can help you with, or can I get back to work?" Jihoon asked irritably.

"Let's avoid a repeat of this morning's drama."

"You don't want Wonwoo helping out in the kitchen?" Jihoon's frown was enough to tell Mingyu his feelings on the matter.

"I'm not saying that. I'm saying don't give him a reason to steal food."

Jihoon was slow to catch on. "I don't think you have to worry about that. Soonyoung just about scared him out of his skin. He won't set a foot wrong now."

"That's not what I'm saying."

Mingyu wasn't very successful in hiding his frustration, and Jihoon glowered at him.

"Then you'll have to be more explicit. Not all of us speak brooding alpha."

Mingyu raised an eyebrow at that but let it go. "If some extra food found its way onto his plate now and then, it wouldn't be the end of the world, would it?"

The beta finally got it, his grumpiness turning to surprise. "We have plenty to go around," he said vaguely.

"Then let's make sure our guest has enough." Enough that stealing scraps wasn't necessary.

"Will do." There was a hint of puzzlement in Jihoon's eyes as he turned back to his work.

"It goes without saying that this conversation never happened," Mingyu added. "Especially where Soonyoung is concerned."

"What conversation?" Jihoon retorted.

He glanced over his shoulder at Mingyu, his expression betraying some confusion at the alpha's actions. Mingyu decided to put that to bed before it became the kind of rumor that grew legs. If his pack thought he was soft on people who trespassed on their territory, he'd never hear the end of it.

"The sooner he regains his strength, the sooner we can wash our hands of him. We don't need that kind of trouble."

Jihoon nodded, accepting his reasoning, and got back to work. Relieved he'd gotten his point across without having to be too overt, Mingyu headed out. He'd spent too long in the packhouse that morning. And he was almost as riled up as Soonyoung thanks to all the commotion. His wolf needed space and the chance to feel free, away from the confining walls of their home.