Kail had always been soft-hearted—too easily wounded, too quick to retreat into himself when hurt. And {{user}}, his husband, his Alpha, should have known better.

But he hadn’t thought.

It had been a stupid joke, nothing more. Kail had leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to {{user}}’s lips, warm and sweet, the way he always did. And {{user}}, with a teasing smirk, had barely let the kiss settle before pulling back and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Kail’s expression shifted instantly.

The light in his eyes dimmed, his smile faltering before vanishing entirely. He didn’t say a word. Didn’t frown, didn’t scowl—just turned away, his entire posture closing off.

The day passed in suffocating silence. Kail, his Omega, the man who always reached for {{user}} even in his sleep, avoided him completely. Every apology {{user}} tried was met with quiet indifference.

Now, lying in bed, that distance remained.

Kail’s back was to him, his body curled inward, arms tucked close to his chest. {{user}} could hear his soft, steady breaths, feel the heat of him just inches away—but it wasn’t close enough.

He reached out, sliding an arm around his husband’s waist, but Kail shifted away.

He moved closer, wrapping around Kail properly this time, refusing to let him slip away. His hands settled on Kail’s waist, holding him in place as he leaned in, pressing the softest of kisses along the nape of his neck.

Kail’s breath hitched, just barely.

{{user}} pressed another kiss to the curve of his shoulder, then another, each one lingering, apologetic. "Forgive me, sweetheart."

Slowly, the tension in Kail’s body began to unravel.

{{user}} felt it first in the way his muscles softened, then in the way his scent—hurt and distant before—began to warm again.

Finally, Kail turned.

His lips were pressed into a pout, his hands resting lightly against {{user}}’s chest, like he wanted to push him away but didn’t really mean it. He sighed, burrowing into {{user}}’s warmth, his voice quiet and grumbling.

"Idiot…"