Volume 1 – Chapter 0: Prologue

Yoon Chi-young had recently rediscovered the zest in his once dull life.

It was the vitality brought about by raising a puppy.

The puppy, which would bite him relentlessly every day, ruined clothes and valuables either by tearing them apart or dropping them in water, and would purposefully sneeze on his face, wagging its tail only for pretty girls.

Woof! Woof!

<What’s that? You like me a lot? Want to go home quickly?>

Whenever he tried to interpret the puppy’s intentions through one of his subordinates familiar with dog behavior.

<Yes, sir… It’s saying, ‘You little brat.’>

<Ha, so damn cute… Alright, let’s go home and spend some time together.>

The puppy was adorable even when it cursed.

Yoon Chi-young still loved the puppy even when his fingers were covered in cuts and his phone shattered into pieces after falling from the 27th floor of an apartment building. He liked it when the puppy boldly stole his food, leaving traces around its white-furred mouth, and the pretense of friendliness it showed only in the presence of food.

At first, he was simply amused by teasing it, but later he grew fond of its soft and warm body. Then, he was charmed by how it schemed to torment him, and eventually, he cherished the puppy for warming his lap when he had grown accustomed to being alone.

But then.

“……”

Yoon Chi-young found his puppy in a dark alley.

Just a month after being taken in, the puppy had run away, only to return a day later, bloodied.

Its once white fur was matted with blood, and its soft tongue hung limply from its agape mouth. No response came even when he called its name, as its body temperature grew cold.

With a face about to crumble, Yoon Chi-young cradled the white puppy in his arms.

“Gyeon Heeseong…”

“……”

“…Why did you go out on your own?”

If the puppy disliked him, it could have just stayed by his side and continued to torment him, instead of appearing injured and tearing his heart apart. He wanted to tell it that it had finally succeeded in tormenting him as it wanted, but there was no response even as he held it in his embrace.

“Why…”

Yoon Chi-young shed tears for the first time since he met the puppy, an unimaginable sight back then.

He had only wanted to tease the puppy that seemed to dislike him.

He never wanted to come to cherish the puppy more than himself, as he did now.

Chapter 1: Picking Up a Puppy

Part 1

A heartless brat.

That was what Gyeon Heeseong thought the first time he saw Yoon Chi-young.

‘How can he walk around smiling like that after hearing his father has died?’

Heeseong glanced at Chi-young with a disgusted look.

He had heard that just last night, the father of Chi-young, the leader of the wolf clan, had passed away. Yet there was Chi-young, dressed in a sharp suit, laughing and chatting happily with those around him. And all of this was happening in a gambling den of the canine clan.

In the industry Heeseong worked in, affection was scarce. It was a place where beastmen fought and committed crimes over money every other day. But Heeseong had heard that the wolf clan, to which Chi-young belonged, valued family due to their monogamous nature. However, seeing Chi-young now, he seemed more like a lion that would kill its own cubs rather than a wolf.

However, Heeseong couldn’t afford to show his disdain outwardly. He was neither a lion nor a wolf but a small dog in the gambling den.

“Good day.”

As Chi-young passed by, Heeseong bowed his head in greeting.

Chi-young, who was a head taller, either didn’t hear the greeting or was too engrossed in his conversation with a friend.

Chi-young’s face was as handsome as a purebred wolf’s, and his smile was gentle when he laughed, but the words that came out of his mouth were the complete opposite. Chi-young seemed to take pleasure in the fact that he had seen the ears of a member of the bovine clan get cut off, even though he had lost a bet.

‘I must never get involved with this guy.’

Heeseong shuddered and looked at Chi-young’s back with displeasure.

Chi-young, with his handsome features, seemed oddly out of place in the dingy gambling den, much like his behavior of laughing and chatting despite his family’s recent tragedy.

A few steps away, Chi-young lazily muttered.

“Doesn’t it smell like a little puppy around here?”

“……”

Heeseong’s fist clenched reflexively.

It seemed like the comment was meant for him to hear. Heeseong, being a small dog breed, was complex about his size. He usually maintained his human form meticulously to avoid revealing his true scent or appearance. It was strange. Unless someone had an exceptionally keen sense of smell, they shouldn’t be able to detect a ‘puppy scent,’ something not even he could identify.

‘Damn wolf brat.’

It must have been a derogatory remark aimed at the canine clan. The man standing next to Chi-young also burst out laughing, asking what kind of nonsense that was.

Heeseong glared murderously at Chi-young’s broad back, unaware that Chi-young had turned around and was faintly smiling at him.

***

…Contrary to Heeseong’s hopes, he ended up encountering Yoon Chi-young again.

The second time Heeseong saw Chi-young was when he was being scolded by his brother.

As the youngest member of the canine clan organization, Heeseong had to work in the gambling den without any days off, often getting involved in incidents and accidents. In truth, most of these incidents were due to Heeseong’s intractable nature.

“Heeseong… You need to tone down your personality if you want to work here, okay?”

His brother, Park Geon-tae, who was sitting with him at a corner table, said this with a hint of frustration. Heeseong was looking down, dispirited, but still couldn’t hide his rebellious spirit, glaring at something on the table.

Geon-tae wasn’t his blood brother, but he was the one who had taken Heeseong in when he was on the brink of starving to death. For that reason, Heeseong considered him the only family he had left and comfortably shared his troubles and stories that no one else would listen to.

“…That bastard kept asking me to suck it while playing poker.”

“That’s because you’re pretty, and they get carried away. Why did you have to throw chips in the customer’s face right away?”

“He said he wanted to tuck it into my chest…”

“Ah, geez… There was a wolf at that table too. Aren’t you going to be careful?”

Geon-tae gently chided him, pouring him a glass of alcohol.

Comforted by his brother, Heeseong found it easier to express his emotions. Perhaps due to the accumulated sadness and fatigue, soft black hair with half-folded white puppy ears started to show.

After gulping down half of his drink, Heeseong put the glass down defiantly and said, “Brother, I don’t want to work here anymore.”

“……”

Geon-tae averted his gaze with a bitter expression. Bound by debts to the organization, Geon-tae was in no position to easily leave the gambling den. Despite knowing this, Heeseong wanted to escape, even if it meant running away. If it weren’t for his brother, he would have fled long ago.

It was then that an unexpected question came from the side.

“Why are you drinking alcohol? Trying to kill yourself?”

It was Yoon Chi-young.

Even though they were strangers, he easily struck up a conversation with Heeseong. Heeseong had greeted him as a gambling den employee before, but they were essentially meeting for the first time.

Yet, there was Chi-young, sitting naturally at the table next to the round one, fixing his gaze on Heeseong. Heeseong, feeling uneasy and pressured, leaned back and retorted with a defensive tone.

“Do you know me?”

“No, Not yet.”

“Then mind your own busi…

Ouch

!”

Suddenly, the brother sitting in front of Heeseong stepped on his foot. His face was drenched in cold sweat, clearly flustered.

It was a silent warning to be careful with his words around a VIP.

“Ca-canines can drink alcohol just fine.”

“Are you being forced to drink?”

Is this bastard even listening to what I’m saying?

“No. I, I want to.”

“Ah, wanting to…”

Chi-young smiled and tilted his head at such a trivial response. That simple gesture seemed almost sculptural. His features were flawless and beautiful, with a gentle smile that drew people in, yet his gray eyes emitted a cold aura, giving him a somewhat lifeless appearance. However, even that dangerous atmosphere felt strangely attractive, continuously capturing Heeseong’s attention.

“Drink in moderation. You’ll harm your body otherwise.”

Chi-young belatedly stroked Heeseong’s head gently as he passed by, a gesture as tender and affectionate as one might show a lover.

Moreover, he flipped only one of Heeseong’s half-folded puppy ears before leaving.

‘Is he out of his mind?’

Heeseong couldn’t hide his displeasure and neatly folded his white ears back while baring his fangs. He wanted to outright curse, but Chi-young had already disappeared with his own group members.

“Do you know Yoon Chi-young…?”

His brother asked hesitantly after a moment. With a face as if he was about to kill someone, Heeseong shook his head.

“I don’t know, damn it.”

“But why did he act like he knows you?”

That was something Heeseong wanted to know as well.

Seeing Heeseong’s annoyance, his brother earnestly warned him, “Be especially careful around Yoon Chi-young from the wolf clan. There are rumors he even preys on his own kind.”

“……”

…Gyeon Heeseong disliked Yoon Chi-young.

If the information came from his brother, the manager of the gambling den, it was likely true. Chi-young was rumored to be heartless, even regarding his family’s death, and now there were rumors of him preying on his own kind. Heeseong couldn’t understand how someone with such a handsome face could engage in such actions.

And then, during their third encounter, an incident with Chi-young occurred.

Heeseong faced harassment from that bastard—Heeseong didn’t want to use the term “bastard” given he himself was a dog, but ironically, the guy was also a dog.

<Hey, man. How is that harassment? I just said you were cute.>

<You put my body in your mouth!>

Even his brother just laughed it off, but Heeseong persistently claimed it was harassment.

Here’s what happened: The night before, Heeseong had cleaned up a room that a customer had trashed and had fallen soundly asleep on the sofa, reverted to his original small form due to extreme fatigue.

Being a small white dog, Heeseong could curl up inside a suit jacket and be mistaken for a pile of laundry, often going unnoticed for a long time. It was the one advantage of being a small dog.

But Yoon Chi-young was different.

Heeseong had no idea how long Chi-young had been by his side, but when he woke up, there he was, staring down at him with dark eyes, from atop Heeseong’s sleeping form.

And that crazy bastard was biting Heeseong’s white front paw!

It might seem trivial, but the terror is real when experienced firsthand. beastmen gradually reveal their true forms when they can’t control their emotions. Imagine waking up to find a vampire-like creature with black wolf ears and fangs gnawing on your front paw.

Argh!

Startled, Heeseong flailed about. Then, Chi-young’s delighted laughter pierced his ears. He even went as far as to grab the scampering puppy’s body with one hand and rub his lips against its fluffy back.

Heeseong screamed for him to get lost and bit down hard on Chi-young’s fingers holding him, drawing blood.

Yet, Chi-young, seemingly unfazed by his bleeding fingers, flipped the white bundle over and buried his lips into its pink belly.

<Ah, this looks really delicious.>

All while making such a dog-like remark.

Embarrassingly, Heeseong eventually foamed at the mouth and fainted. It was inevitable. Just as in the wild, where an animal might faint when bitten by a predator many times its size, it was an automatic reflex.

From that day on, Heeseong’s hatred for Yoon Chi-young solidified.

He was actually scared by the rumors of Chi-young preying on his own kind, though he wouldn’t admit it. Just like he wouldn’t admit the tough exterior he projected was in stark contrast to his true form as a small dog.

***

I’m not sure if therianthrope is the correct term here. But I’ve decided to label it as such since our MC can shapeshift to/fro his puppy & human form. Hwv, let me know if you have any other suggestions on the labeling.

Part 2

Heeseong had a nightmare.

It was a dream where he, turned back into a puppy, was being chased by Yoon Chi-young. Heeseong ran desperately, rolling over and over, but eventually was cornered into a dead-end and caught by Yoon Chi-young.

<Ha, this will be delicious…>

Yoon Chi-young looked at the mud-covered puppy with the same desire one would have for a ripe fruit. Heeseong struggled with all four legs to break free, but he couldn’t move an inch.

As the handsome face came closer, sharp fangs of a wolf made their appearance.

And the moment Yoon Chi-young’s prominent nose touched the puppy’s moist nose, Heeseong woke up from the dream with a scream.

‘Shi… F*cking hell, what a shitty dream.”

Heeseong jumped up in his puppy form. He must have slept for a long time, so only one side of his potato-sized head was flattened by the pillow. Barely coming to his senses, Heeseong looked around. It was still the middle of the night.

Moreover, he had woken up in a motel attached to a gambling den. It was a place that was always above Heeseong’s head every day, but the clean surroundings felt strangely unfamiliar now.

Heeseong heard something ridiculous from his brother who just entered the room.

“Oh, you’re awake? Yoon Chi-young said he’s sorry and paid compensation.”

“Compensation…? What compensation?”

“He said he’s sorry for messing with the gambling den’s dog by mistake and handed this over. Just rest well for today.”

Rest well, as if.

Suddenly gifted with a day off, Heeseong, who worked 6.5 days a week, didn’t know what to do with the free time.

‘Just knocked out an innocent beastman and now he’s paying compensation money.’

Still, it was a precious day off. Heeseong took the opportunity to rest all by himself. From time to time, he heard strange moaning sounds from the next room, but Heeseong didn’t care and slept like he was knocked out. The stress and fatigue built up in his body were only relieved after sleeping for a whole day.

Waking up again, Heeseong found a drink and a large box placed beside the bed.

Sweet Potato Snack

On the box, there was a note written by his brother’s hand, “Yoon Chi-young bought this.”

“Does that guy really think I’m a dog?”

Yoon Chi-young’s sense in snacks was terribly off. Heeseong, considering throwing away the snack box larger than his puppy form, decided to transform back into human form and try one. The sweet snack suited his taste. Fatigued, Heeseong reverted back to his puppy form and devoured two more bags of sweet potato snacks, then jumped off the bed with a full belly.

It was about time to start taking care of his livelihood.

*

Part 3

In the evening, Heeseong went down to the gambling den.

“This Heeseong is here?”

“Hmm.”

Heading to the office, his brother welcomed him.

Manager Park Geontae

The title engraved on the black nameplate on the desk felt strangely unfamiliar.

It’s been almost half a year since his brother became the manager of the gambling den, but Heeseong still wasn’t pleased with his brother’s position. It seemed like the path to escape this life was getting further away, which he disliked.

However, voicing his complaints wouldn’t change anything. Annoyed, Heeseong sat on the sofa, chewing on the sweet potato snacks he brought along. Maybe it was because he had rested all day, but his mind seemed to work a bit better.

Yet, a persistent question lingered in his mind.

‘Why does Yoon Chi-young act like he knows me?’

Heeseong thought hard about whether they had met before. But nothing particular came to his mind. He had been working like a dog, after all, dealing with countless customers.

Ah, there was a time when he handled a gambling table Yoon Chi-young was at.

<Ugh… There was a wolf at that table too. Aren’t you going to be careful?>

As his brother said, Yoon Chi-young was there when Heeseong threw chips to a customer who was a chip-counting beastman. With his usual consistent smile, his gaze… was fixed on him.

Recalling that fact, a shiver ran down Heeseong’s back.

Could it be that, just like the rumors of cannibalism, Yoon Chi-young wanted to eat him? Because he was from a dog tribe with no significant background and his true form was a small breed, making him seem easy prey? Suddenly, Yoon Chi-young’s comments about him being tasty, and the weird remark about passing by the smell of a puppy, seemed suspicious.

With a more serious expression, Heeseong spoke up.

“…Bro.”

“Huh?”

“Did Yoon Chi-young… pick on me because I’m, um, a small breed?”

“How would he know? You’ve been hiding it so well.”

His brother chuckled dismissively, shaking his head as if the idea was preposterous. Heeseong was cautious about revealing his true form, so very few had seen him transform. The only times he had slept in his true form were in rooms where no one would come in without a reservation.

But something still felt off.

“When we were drinking, Yoon Chi-young flipped my white ears too. He doesn’t know I’m that small dog, does he?”

“You worry about the strangest things. How many white dogs work here, buddy?”

True

. It was unlikely he’d be recognized. Half of the dog tribe in Korea had white ears, and recognizing someone just by their ears, especially in their true form, was nearly impossible. It was akin to not being able to recognize someone in human form by their ears alone.

Yoon Chi-young was probably just another gambling den customer with a penchant for bothering people. While Heeseong was reassured, his brother glanced around cautiously and then dropped a hint.

“Heeseong, just do one delivery today.”

“Suddenly?”

Heeseong looked up in confusion, though he didn’t really mind. Doing deliveries was much preferable to dealing with gambling den customers.

“Just need to pick up one item from here. Here.”

His brother handed him a note. Heeseong, still chewing on the sweet potato snack, checked the note.

The destination was a construction company building, the stronghold of the wolf tribe.

“…Isn’t this where Yoon Chi-young works?”

“Hmm. Right…”

His brother observed Heeseong’s reaction, then cautiously approached him. With his robust build and rough appearance, it seemed as if a thuggish gangster had come to extort money from the pure white Heeseong. Yet, in reality, his brother was carefully gauging Heeseong’s mood.

“Yoon Chi-young seems to have some interest in you. So, if you go, it might…”

“Are you saying you’re sending me to that cannibalistic wolf bastard?”

Heeseong growled, grinding his teeth. His black eyes sharpened like those of a predator. Then, his brother, taller by half a head, patted Heeseong’s back, trying to soothe him gently.

“Hey, calm down… You know how those wolves don’t always hand over the goods properly and hassle our guys.”

“And you’re sending me knowing that?”

“I’m sending you because I trust you! Buddy, don’t make me feel bad.”

“……”

Heeseong wanted to hate his brother. But he couldn’t bring himself to despise the only family-like figure he had left. Having been abandoned by his family once, Heeseong didn’t want to be left out of the pack again.

However, he couldn’t help but dislike the task.

Heeseong had heard many rumors while working at the gambling den. An increase in dealings with the wolf tribe meant the gambling den was receiving illegal goods.

For instance, smuggled items or drugs.

Therefore, couriers often found themselves in dangerous situations, either going missing or running off with valuable items. For this reason, courier tasks were usually entrusted to reliable members of the organization.

“…Brother, do I really have to go for this deal?”

Heeseong asked, glaring at some spot on the floor. He had always said this to his brother, but Heeseong no longer wanted to be involved in such activities. He wanted to live a normal life, just like everyone else.

At that moment, his brother tightly wrapped his tattooed arm around Heeseong’s shoulder, pulling him into an embrace and thumping his back firmly.

“Then let’s just go this one last time. Okay?”

“……”

“After all this

hyung

done for you, just do this one last thing for me, will you?”

Heeseong silently stared at the floor for a while. He thought he would be happy just not working at the gambling den. But then he realized that doing deliveries was even more dangerous and dirty.

Still, he couldn’t whine to the brother who had taken him in after he was abandoned.

“I’ll go… I’ll be back.”

Resignation came easily now. Heeseong forcefully gathered his composure, grabbed his black helmet, and put on his outerwear.

Silence lingered in the office for a while. Heeseong finished preparing to leave without a word and headed for the door.

Then, a soft call came from behind.

“Heeseong.”

“……”

“After this job, let’s wash our hands of all this, together.”

At those words, Heeseong turned to look at his brother, his black eyes brimming with life. As he relaxed the tension in his face, his round eyes and boyish features became more pronounced.

“Really?”

His brother was silent for a moment. Then, he smiled belatedly, speaking earnestly.

“Yeah. I’m almost done paying off my debt. This is the last time.”

Heeseong smiled brightly at his brother. It was a genuine smile, the kind he hadn’t shown since he started working here.

“I’ll be back.”

With a much brighter expression, Heeseong left the gambling den that felt like a rat’s nest. Emerging from the dim underground, he was greeted by the sight of the bustling streets at dusk. Heeseong watched college students around his age for a moment before putting on his black helmet and mounting his bike.

It was time to face Yoon Chi-young, the cannibalistic wolf.

*

Part 4

Heeseong dismounted his bike and entered the building located in the heart of the city, the stronghold of the wolf tribe.

The wolves, who valued pure blood, held power in the entertainment and sports industries as well as in the underworld, thanks to their superior physical abilities and solidarity. Their towering buildings stood in stark contrast to the dog tribe, who dug gambling dens underground like ants.

Guided by the reception, Heeseong headed to the upper floors of the building. The sleek and clean building felt unfamiliar. As he walked through the hallway in his casual attire, someone who saw Heeseong sneered arrogantly.

“Ah, smells like a dog.”

“It’s your own smell.”

Heeseong snapped back, baring his teeth. Laughter and curses came from behind, but no one openly picked a fight. After all, Heeseong was a guest here for a transaction.

Still, he already felt uncomfortable in this place. As the youngest member of his organization, Heeseong sometimes did small delivery jobs. But this was his first time acting as a courier for such a large organization.

Using Yoon Chi-young’s apparent fondness for him as leverage was the implied strategy, but Heeseong found himself utterly incapable of doing so. His fiery temper had already caused enough trouble in the gambling den. Moreover, Heeseong was someone who could never resort to flattery or ingratiation, as such insincere expressions were against his nature.

“Ha…”

Standing in front of the door, Heeseong let out a vague sigh. While his black motorcycle helmet hid any signs of nervousness, a bulky gang member standing by the door noticed the sound and looked over at Heeseong intently.

Feeling the gaze, Heeseong spoke provocatively.

“What are you looking at? Open the door.”

“……”

Heeseong didn’t care that the other person was bigger and bulkier than him. Perhaps because his true form was that of a small dog, he tended to show off more in his human appearance.

However, the expressionless opponent stared at Heeseong and then smirked faintly.

Knock knock.

While Heeseong was getting annoyed, the doorkeeper knocked on the door. There was no time to prepare. Heeseong debated whether to take off the helmet, but knowing his white ears and tail had a habit of popping out when he was nervous, he stubbornly decided to keep it on.

Click.

As the door opened, a tidy office filled with several members of the organization came into view. At first glance, it looked like an executive office of a reputable company, but remembering it was the territory of the wolf tribe made it a place not easily entered.

Inside, despite being midday, the blinds were drawn, casting the room in dim light. About half a dozen robust men were standing, and among them, a tall man in a white shirt leaned against a table, blatantly staring at Heeseong with a delighted smirk.

I really have the luck of a dog.

The one who greeted Heeseong was Yoon Chi-young.

Moreover, a dreadful silence pervaded the room, and Yoon Chi-young seemed to be in a particularly bad mood today. Although his mouth was smiling, his gray eyes were cold. His shirt sleeves were rolled up as if after some intense activity, and his black hair, swept back above his forehead, was naturally disheveled. The dangerous atmosphere made Heeseong feel as if his whole body was stiffening.

Heeseong tried to speak calmly.

“I came for the goods…”

Heeseong paused mid-sentence as he caught sight of something at Yoon Chi-young’s feet.

It was difficult to distinguish from the black marble floor, but it was unmistakably an beastman, bloodied and motionless. Heeseong’s gaze shifted back and forth between the beastman and Yoon Chi-young’s blood-stained white shirt.

“We meet again.”

Yoon Chi-young casually started a conversation as if pleased.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“……”

He grinned, as if to show off. Despite wearing a helmet, Yoon Chi-young had recognized Heeseong. Last time, he had chewed up a puppy body, and now he was nonchalantly showing off having nearly killed an beastman. Faced with that dazzling smile, Heeseong couldn’t find the words to respond.

Yoon Chi-young, feigning a sense of grievance, asked, “What about the helmet?”

He wanted to see Heeseong’s face. Hesitating, Heeseong took off the helmet, revealing a fair face slightly damp with sweat at the fringe. His black eyes were filled with tension, and his brows were furrowed seriously.

Seeing his face, Yoon Chi-young smiled genuinely for the first time. He couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of such a gentle face, completely unfit for the perilous world of the gambling den. Heeseong had the kind of handsome face that might suit an idol better, but it was a pity he always went around with a fierce expression as if threatening the world alone. Despite his aggressive demeanor, he seemed like a small animal filled with fear, which was somewhat pitiful.

Heeseong remained silent and stiff all this while. Yoon Chi-young sighed as if deeply disappointed and said, “We’re acquaintances, yet you won’t even show your face or respond to me.”

He lifted the glass on the table and drank. Each movement revealed the subtly outlined muscles under his white shirt.

After finishing his drink, Yoon Chi-young continued, “I’m disappointed…”

“That’s…”

Even though Yoon Chi-young spoke with a smile, Heeseong sensed a deadly seriousness.

But Heeseong was there to collect an item, and his brother had instructed him to leverage any affection to ensure a smooth transaction. Heeseong tried his best to muster up some conversational skills.

“I-I’m glad to see you too.”

“Glad?”

Yoon Chi-young laughed at Heeseong’s stiff expression as if it was absurd. His face clearly betrayed his lie. He swept back his black hair that had fallen onto his forehead, bursting into a joyful laugh. The sweet smile on his handsome face seemed far removed from someone who had just brutalized an beastman.

With a good-natured tone, he said, “You came for the goods, right? I’ll give them to you.”

“Ah, yes.”

Yoon Chi-young received something from one of his men. It was a bag containing a suspicious powder, large enough to fill his substantial hand, which Heeseong estimated to be worth tens of millions of won.

Yoon Chi-young gestured with the bag in his hand. Despite his stiff body, Heeseong strode forward with effort.

‘Just go along with Yoon Chi-young this once, get the goods, and leave.’

Heeseong reminded himself of his role. His brother had clearly stated that this would be the last job before they wash their hands of this business. He wanted to wrap things up smoothly and move on, just this once.

As he approached, his keen beastman sense of smell picked up various scents. The fresh scent of soap coming from Yoon Chi-young, a faint smell of drugs, and the pungent odor of blood were distinctly noticeable.

“Here, take it.”

Yoon Chi-young extended the drugs as if offering bait.

Heeseong looked suspiciously between Yoon Chi-young and the drugs. The wolf’s readiness to hand over the goods so easily seemed dubious. Glancing around cautiously and hesitating, Heeseong slowly reached out to take the item.

But as expected, Yoon Chi-young did not hand over the item easily.

He pulled Heeseong’s hand towards him and bit down hard with his fangs. The memory of almost being devoured in one bite caused Heeseong to jump in shock, spewing curses.

“This crazy…!”

It might have been somewhat manageable if it had stopped there.

Snap!

A strong punch turned Yoon Chi-young’s head sharply to the side. His black hair scattered thinly across his neat face, transforming the atmosphere into one of precarious tension.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze in the room as everyone stiffened. A bizarre silence enveloped the room, along with the deadly tension Heeseong dreaded.

Stunned by his own action, Heeseong stumbled backward.

He looked down at his hand, marked by Yoon Chi-young’s bite, then back at Yoon Chi-young’s face, and finally at the bloodied mess at his feet. A chill ran down his spine as he realized the gravity of his situation.

“Ugh…!”

The gang members reacted first. Three of them grabbed Heeseong by the back of his head, forcing him to kneel on the floor.

With his hair gripped tightly, Heeseong took a deep breath due to the tension and looked up at Yoon Chi-young. From below, Yoon Chi-young appeared even taller and more imposing. The reality of having struck a prominent figure of the wolf tribe and a VIP of the gambling den hit him with a wave of chills.

Yoon Chi-young was touching the cheek that had been hit, slowly caressing the spot as if puzzled by the sensation, then spat onto the marble floor. The spit was filled with blood, clearly indicating a cut inside his mouth.

“…Your punch is spicier than I expected.”

Yet, Yoon Chi-young seemed unbothered by Heeseong’s blow.

Instead, he chuckled belatedly as if amused by the situation. However, no one else in the room joined in his laughter, making it seem all the more eerie.

“Crazy bastard.”

Heeseong looked up at him in fear, clenching his teeth. Despite the recent scuffle, the sight of Yoon Chi-young’s fangs as he laughed made Heeseong feel a profound aversion.

After a prolonged laugh, Yoon Chi-young finally said with a deep sigh, “Let him go.”

For the first time, Yoon Chi-young looked down at Heeseong without a hint of a smile. His distinctive grey eyes appeared cold. Heeseong hadn’t expected his usually gentle smile to feel so chilling when expressionless.

“You came as a guest. We should send you off without any injuries.”

At Yoon Chi-young’s command, the gang members released Heeseong abruptly onto the floor. Blood smeared Heeseong’s hand as he braced himself against the ground. The pungent smell of blood made his head spin, and somewhere, the scent of burnt flesh lingered.

Heeseong’s face turned deathly pale. He was accustomed to brutal scenes in the gambling den, but now, isolated from his pack, the fear was magnified several times over.

“Take care. …Let’s meet again.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke without a trace of warmth. For the first time, the simple farewell felt terrifying to Heeseong.

Sneaking the item away, Heeseong fled the building in a panic. Although there was no reason for Yoon Chi-young to chase after him, he ran as if he were being pursued, just like in his nightmare. He couldn’t bear to stay there a moment longer.

Upon exiting the building, Heeseong made his way to his bike parked in the alley.

“Haah, ha…”

Stepping outside and breathing the fresh air felt like salvation. Only then did the reality of his actions begin to sink in.

He had caused a major incident. This time, he had struck Yoon Chi-young, the boss of the wolf tribe.

His brother had instructed him to use Yoon Chi-young’s fondness to secure the goods, but he ended up using his fists instead. Looking up at the towering concrete building erected by the wolf tribe, Heeseong chewed his lip anxiously, thinking of his brother. He knew his brother would bear the brunt of this ordeal.

“How am I going to explain this to my brother?”

With trembling fingers, Heeseong tried to compose himself as he loaded the item onto his bike and was about to put on his helmet. Now that he had the goods, he needed to return safely to his pack.

But his dilemma didn’t last long.

Thump!

A blunt force struck the back of his head, and Heeseong’s body collapsed powerlessly.

***

Part 5

…After being struck on the head, my memories became spotty and fragmented.

Heeseong, who had been attacked, struggled fiercely. He had promised his brother to work together until the end of this month, and he couldn’t afford to ruin everything now.

Despite the blinding pain from the blow to his head, Heeseong swung the helmet he held in his hand wildly at anyone who came close. There were about four or five assailants, likely trying to steal the drugs from him. Heeseong managed to fend them off with the helmet, attempting to find an opening to escape.

“Aaargh!”

But as he felt a tearing pain in his leg and his body collapsed, Heeseong realized a knife had been plunged into his thigh. The excruciating pain from the penetration made it impossible for him to stand, and he fell to the ground, curling up.

“You worthless piece of shit. And with such a foul temper.”

Someone kicked Heeseong hard in the stomach as he spewed insults. Without even being able to scream, Heeseong writhed on the ground, gasping for air. Then, the attackers rummaged through his bike and body, stealing the drugs given to him by the wolves.

‘No, this was the item brother told me to retrieve….’

Biting down on his teeth, Heeseong first pulled out the knife embedded in his thigh. In a last desperate attempt, he tried to crawl after them, but the mocking laughter of his assailants faded into the distance.

Abandoned in the alley, Heeseong instinctively felt that if he collapsed here, he would die.

‘I shouldn’t revert to my true form now….’

But he was already turning back into a small puppy, a natural phenomenon for a wounded beastman seeking recovery.

The puppy crawled into a corner, desperately trying to move its diminished body.

‘Brother said… it was the last time….’

His beaten body was in too much pain, and the injustice of it all was unbearable. He wanted to cry, but the pain made even that impossible.

The puppy managed to half-drag itself along the concrete wall, making a half-circle around the building. It thought collapsing where people were most likely to be would increase its chances of getting back to its brother.

But the building, infuriatingly large, seemed endless no matter how much it walked. Bleeding and trailing blood, Heeseong eventually collapsed, powerless.

As consciousness began to fade, a familiar voice accompanied by the scent of cigarettes came from above.

“What’s with this scruffy little puppy?”

‘Let go… you bastard!’

Heeseong inwardly cursed fiercely, fearing it might be the attackers who had ambushed him.

However, the only sounds that escaped outward were feeble whimpers. Attempting to flee again proved futile; the little white paws merely twitched, devoid of any strength.

“Ah…”

After a soft sigh, Heeseong felt someone gently lifting him into their arms.

“I spared you because you’re pretty.”

He couldn’t make out the following words clearly. Yet, Heeseong felt a wave of fear, thinking he heard Yoon Chi-young’s voice close by.

But succumbing to the warmth, Heeseong instinctively snuggled into the embrace and passed out.

*

Heeseong regained consciousness faintly a few times.

As soon as he came to, he was greeted by the faint smell of chemicals and disinfectant.

‘No…’

Thinking he was in a hospital, Heeseong tried to awaken fully. But his body was too weak, managing only feeble whines.

‘Vet bills are expensive…’

Beastmen often didn’t qualify for insurance, making both animal and beastman hospital bills expensive. Heeseong had no money, especially after being robbed of the goods he was transporting. He felt guilty even thinking about asking his brother to cover the hospital expenses.

As he groaned inwardly, Heeseong’s eyes fluttered open, revealing an unexpected scene.

‘Where am I…?’

It wasn’t the hospital scene he anticipated. Heeseong found himself in a bed as large as his room, with black bedding and the surrounding sleek modern interior all in black tones. The only white in sight was himself, the puppy.

In his blurry vision, he saw figures: a gaunt beastman in a white doctor’s coat and a tall man sitting on the bed. The beastman in the white coat looked so haggard, almost like a drug addict, making Heeseong wonder if he was truly a doctor.

“Why did you wake up? Sleep more.”

Indeed, it seemed his fate was to be a dog.

Struggling to look to the side, Heeseong saw Yoon Chi-young speaking sweetly, as if soothing a lover. Heeseong wanted to curse at him, wondering if he had lost his mind, but being in his puppy form, all he could manage was to bare his tiny, rice-grain-sized fangs slightly.

The doctor spoke cautiously.

“Given the patient’s small size, the surgery was quite risky, but fortunately, there was no damage to the organs, so recovery should be swift.”

As he spoke, Heeseong felt the doctor’s finger touching near his thigh, where he had been stabbed. The pain made Heeseong curl up tightly and tremble. He wanted to shake off the hand touching the wound, but the medication in his system made even small movements arduous.

“Also, this time too, we could hardly detect any pheromones from the patient… the puppy, making it difficult to accurately determine if it’s a beastman.”

Yoon Chi-young, seemingly unconcerned, simply nodded while looking at the puppy.

This was news to Heeseong. Having avoided hospitals due to financial reasons, he was unaware that his pheromones were almost undetectable.

‘Why don’t I have pheromones?’

Beastmen typically emit pheromones hundreds of times stronger than ordinary animals, often used to distinguish them from non-beastmen. However, Heeseong couldn’t tell if the lack of detectable pheromones was fortunate or unfortunate.

‘Is this a good thing right now?’

Regardless, he felt it might be better for Yoon Chi-young not to know he was Heeseong the beastman.

‘Because I…’

As Heeseong’s tiny brain pondered, he felt his strength draining away. Yoon Chi-young was gently stroking the puppy’s neck. Although he didn’t want to admit it, the caressing was incredibly soothing.

Eventually, relaxed by the gentle touch, Heeseong fell into a deep sleep once again.

***

Part 6

In the early dawn, Heeseong awoke in his puppy form.

It was natural for beastmen to revert to their original form when severely injured. It seemed he would need to maintain this form for a few days due to the depth of his injuries.

‘Why is this guy sleeping with me?’

Heeseong glared at the sleeping Yoon Chi-young, then inspected his hind leg. It was wrapped in a stiff bandage, and there were signs of a catheter on his front paw, recognizable from his few childhood hospital visits.

It appeared Yoon Chi-young had picked him up and treated his injuries. While surprised, Heeseong cautiously surveyed his surroundings, aware that he was essentially in the wolves’ den.

The puppy, looking around the dim surroundings, limped towards the end of the bed where Yoon Chi-young’s smartphone lay.

Managing to reach it, Heeseong pressed the home screen of the smartphone with his front paw, revealing Yoon Chi-young’s stylish selfie against a backdrop of the sea—seemingly full of self-admiration—and the date.

November 3rd, Wednesday

‘Have I been asleep for three days?’

He remembered going to Yoon Chi-young to fetch something on the last day of October. Heeseong sighed deeply, knowing his brother would be worried. He hadn’t realized so much time had passed.

The drugs he was transporting had been stolen, and he had vanished without a trace.

The members of the canine tribe’s gambling ring would probably think the youngest had run off with drugs worth tens of millions of won. But Heeseong was sure his brother would believe in him and wait.

‘I need to contact my brother.’

Heeseong smartly prioritized his actions. He needed to inform his brother of the situation and return as soon as possible.

Determined, the puppy tried hard to use the smartphone, which was half his size. Fortunately, it wasn’t locked, but operating it with his jelly-like paws was nearly impossible, like trying to use a smartphone with his toes.

After accidentally pressing various buttons, Heeseong found a gallery named ‘Furry Friends’ full of his sleeping photos, snorted in frustration, and threw the smartphone under the bed. It was a disheartening start to the day.

The next day, Yoon Chi-young, with his finely sculpted physique, woke up and mumbled something strange while burying his nose in the puppy’s pink belly.

“Sleeping with this little one is quite nice…”

‘What kind of nonsense is that?’

Heeseong frowned deeply and glared at Yoon Chi-young, who seemed more relaxed than usual, probably due to it being morning. The puppy offered his own morning greeting to Yoon Chi-young’s handsome, slightly disheveled face.

Achoo!

With a powerful sneeze, the boss of the wolf clan was comically toppled from the bed. Yoon Chi-young, who had fallen onto the bed, let out a long, incredulous laugh. In front of him, the puppy looked triumphantly at him, smugly licking its nose with its tongue.

From the first day he awoke, Heeseong had been on high alert. He started by figuring out the layout of the excessively large house, dreaming of escape.

But Yoon Chi-young, that lunatic, even took Heeseong to his office.

Once again in the heart of the wolf clan’s territory, Heeseong found himself perched on Yoon Chi-young’s lap. The puppy sat awkwardly on his uncomfortable host’s legs, visibly displeased with the arrangement.

However, some welcome news came through.

“Sir. There’s been a call from the gambling den looking for Heeseong.”

‘Me?’

Heeseong perked up, straightening his body to listen more attentively. The puppy assumed a sphinx-like posture on one of Yoon Chi-young’s thighs.

‘My brother is looking for me.’

Heeseong’s tail wagged rapidly, filled with both joy at being sought after and guilt for worrying his brother. His anxiety grew.

‘How do I escape from here?’

That concern completely occupied his little mind.

Then, Yoon Chi-young asked as if hearing it for the first time, puzzled.

“Heeseong?”

“The guy from the canine tribe who came to pick up goods from us this time.”

“Ah…”

Yoon Chi-young sighed softly, mulling over this unexpected piece of information.

“The one who hit my face?”

Saying so, Yoon Chi-young gently caressed the small white bundle seated on his thigh.

Heeseong wanted to gauge Yoon Chi-young’s expression but couldn’t afford to. He felt Yoon Chi-young’s sharp gaze from behind. Turning around and meeting his eyes would surely arouse suspicion.

“Let the canine tribe keep looking.”

Yoon Chi-young said cheerfully, his attitude nonchalant as if watching a fire in a neighboring town. Meanwhile, Heeseong, a member of the household on fire, was deeply contemplating how to escape and extinguish the flames.

Yoon Chi-young added softly,

“If they find him… bring him to me first.”

“……”

“Debts need to be repaid.”

Yoon Chi-young, smiling, played with the white puppy’s body. Every time his unusually large hands touched its back, Heeseong’s folded ears twitched nervously.

‘This wolf’s grudge…’

Heeseong thought timidly. However, Yoon Chi-young still bore the torn wound at the corner of his mouth, inflicted by Heeseong’s forceful punch.

A fragment of a vivid memory then flashed through Heeseong’s mind.

A beastman lying beaten and bloodied before Yoon Chi-young.

If his true identity were revealed, he might be next. Or worse, he could end up as a meal for this cannibalistic wolf. Being a small dog with no significant background, Heeseong would be an easy cleanup.

“Why is your tail tucked?”

Yoon Chi-young asked, gently fondling the area near the puppy’s tailbone. Startled, Heeseong looked back to find his tail had involuntarily tucked between his legs.

Yoon Chi-young playfully toyed with the retreating tail. With a smile in his eyes and a sweet curve to his lips, he offered Heeseong a piece of dried sweet potato.

“Here. Have a snack.”

“……”

Faced with the treat, Heeseong was plunged into deep contemplation.

Yoon Chi-young didn’t know he was Heeseong. Even the doctor hadn’t identified him as a beastman.

Perhaps he could continue pretending to be a puppy until he recovered, and then transform back into a human when possible to escape back to his brother?

It was a plausible plan, and frankly, there weren’t any other options available. If Heeseong transformed back into a human now, it would be a significant strain on his body. Moreover, he couldn’t predict what kind of revenge Yoon Chi-young might seek upon discovering his identity.

Ultimately, Heeseong chose temporary survival.

With a dignified air, he accepted the dried sweet potato while pretending to be a puppy. His black eyes intensely glared at Yoon Chi-young, forming sharp triangles.

‘Bowing at the right time is wise, as brother said.’

Swallowing the humiliation of having to pretend to be a puppy, Heeseong forcibly reminded himself of his brother’s teachings.

He was determined not to be devoured by Yoon Chi-young and to return to his brother. If possible, he’d even steal some valuable information or money along the way. Heeseong clung to this grand dream as he accepted another piece of the snack. It was delicious.

Chapter 2: Puppy for a Day

Part 1

<Wolves are cunning and fierce. Plus, they have strong solidarity, so if you mess with one, the whole pack will come after you. So never get on their bad side, just bow down and go with it.>

This was the advice Heeseong received from his brother about the Wolf Clan.

Heeseong took his brother’s teachings to heart, especially since knowing the characteristics of different beastman customers was crucial for working in the gambling den. For example, feline beastmen valued cleanliness and preferred solo play, while racoon beastmen believed in their own intelligence and thus, it was profitable to place them in gambling sessions with less clever individuals.

Heeseong generally believed that such traits in beastmen were innate.

That was until he met Yoon Chi-young.

“This crazy bastard…!”

Now, Heeseong was currently exerting all the strength he had in his lifetime. It was because he was wrestling against the beautiful, smiling face of Yoon Chi-young, who had approached right in front of him. Heeseong desperately stretched out his paws to block the lips that kept getting closer.

Yoon Chi-young, bursting into joyful laughter, pleaded like a lover making a whimsical request to a puppy, “I gave you treats… Can’t you give me just one kiss?”

‘Ha…’

Finally settling down at the table, Heeseong sighed deeply. As he sighed in the form of a puppy, Yoon Chi-young fondly toyed with his soft and warm body, finding it cute. It was all meant as a show of affection, but Heeseong was truly on the verge of irritation.

He wished Yoon Chi-young would just leave him alone.

Heeseong thought he would have been better off if Yoon Chi-young had been like typical wolves – cunning and fierce. Then, all he would have to do is submit, and it would be over.

But Yoon Chi-young acted as if he was a puppy’s lover, never letting Heeseong out of his embrace. He even boldly brought the puppy into meetings to ask for important decisions – which he, of course, ignored.

The more Yoon Chi-young did this, the more anxious Heeseong became. He was looking for any small opportunity to escape this wolf’s den, but Yoon Chi-young kept him close under the guise of finding him cute, leaving Heeseong no chance to find a way out. It was almost as if he was under surveillance.

“How strange…”

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young, who had been burying his nose in the resigned puppy’s belly, murmured.

“Why would anyone abandon something this cute?”

‘Who’s being abandoned?’

The puppy stamped Yoon Chi-young’s cheek forcefully with its short paws. His casual remark was extremely irritating.

Abandoned

. It seemed Yoon Chi-young thought of him merely as an abandoned puppy. However, Heeseong felt an uncomfortable level of aversion to that word itself.

‘I wasn’t abandoned.’

In a fit of anger, the puppy bit Yoon Chi-young’s hand hard, but due to its injuries, it lacked the strength to draw even a drop of blood, unlike before. Yoon Chi-young, seeing the tiny bite marks, actually chuckled as if he found them cute, which hurt the proud canine beastman’s pride deeply.

“Why is the puppy angry?”

On the way home, sitting on Yoon Chi-young’s lap in the car, Heeseong wouldn’t even glance his way, despite being petted.

“I’ll buy you a toy. Calm down.”

‘Are you kidding me?’

Even hearing sweet words did not quell his anger; it only felt more humiliating. After all, Heeseong was a fully grown adult.

Yoon Chi-young, insisting on his own way, bought a toy and promptly threw it into the washing machine upon returning home.

“I’ll wash the toy and then you can play with it.”

‘…This punk.’

Heeseong, filled with grievances, followed the housekeeper around, plotting a sinister scheme. It was easy to execute his plan as the housekeeper hurriedly put the toy in the washing machine and fled as soon as Yoon Chi-young came home.

In the meantime, Yoon Chi-young, having taken a shower, noticed the puppy staring intently at the drum washing machine.

Inside, small duck and snake toys were spinning round and round. Charmed by the puppy’s cuteness, Yoon Chi-young sat in front of the washing machine, following the puppy’s gaze.

“Ah…”

And then Yoon Chi-young realized what the puppy had been ambitiously watching was not the new toys.

His wireless earphones were also spinning inside the washing machine.

***

Part 2

Heeseong was punished for putting the wireless earphones in the washing machine. His punishment was to accompany Yoon Chi-young to his dinner.

“I’m sorry, but our restaurant does not allow pets.”

They encountered a small obstacle, but Yoon Chi-young smiled, understood, and came up with a solution.

“Just stay here for a moment.”

‘You crazy bastard!’

Heeseong snarled and struggled, but he ended up in Yoon Chi-young’s coat pocket.

Yoon Chi-young protected the puppy nestled in his coat pocket with his hand. The size of the pocket was just right, and his hand was large enough to allow the puppy’s body to settle in comfortably.

Eventually, Heeseong, having given up, lay down in the pocket with a weary face.

‘So warm…’

Perhaps it was because of the injury, or because he had been tormented by Yoon Chi-young’s lips all day and had even waged war with his fingers, but Heeseong felt like he could fall asleep at any moment. However, a lingering tension kept him awake. It was the tension of being next to a cannibalistic wolf.

‘I wish I was in my brother’s pocket instead.’

When he was younger, his brother would put the tired Heeseong in a bag or pocket after a long day at work. Those were the times when his brother was also struggling in the organization, and that was his best way of taking care of Heeseong. Yet, it remained a fond memory because it was the only place where he could sleep soundly and warmly.

But if it was Yoon Chi-young, it was out of the question.

‘Is Yoon Chi-young playing with me now only to fatten me up and eat me later?’

Yoon Chi-young had rumors swirling around him of being a cannibalistic wolf, so there was no reason he couldn’t prey on a puppy. Suddenly, Yoon Chi-young’s kindness and the generous treats he provided seemed suspicious.

In the meantime, Yoon Chi-young was led somewhere by a staff member. Judging by the smell of food, it seemed to be a Korean traditional restaurant. The sound of a door opening suggested that Yoon Chi-young was guided to a reserved room.

“Oh, is that Yoon Chi-young?”

As the door opened, the voice of a young man, somehow familiar, was heard.

At this noise, Heeseong, who had been lying down wearily, perked up his ears. Why did the voice sound familiar? Heeseong’s black eyes widened.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young continued the conversation.

“What brings me the honor?”

“Since when do we need a reason to meet?”

“Of course.”

Yoon Chi-young answered nonchalantly. His playful response was met with a somewhat forced laugh from the other party. Despite the casual interaction, it seemed that Yoon Chi-young held a higher status.

The other party then spoke in a more secretive tone.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young. I’ll cover today’s expenses. In return, let’s visit the canine beastman casino together.”

“Ha…”

Yoon Chi-young sighed as if annoyed. In contrast, Heeseong inside the pocket perked up hopefully.

‘A canine beastman casino?’

If Yoon Chi-young agreed to go to the casino with the man, it could be the perfect opportunity for Heeseong to escape.

The man continued, trying to entice him further.

“If you come, those canine beastmen would dig up a corpse if you asked. Just help me out this one time.”

“What’s your goal?”

Yoon Chi-young seemed to have taken a seat. Since he hadn’t taken off his coat, Heeseong ended up nestled near his thigh. Heeseong tried to get out, but Yoon Chi-young’s hand securely blocked the round body of the puppy.

“There’s someone I’m looking for, but he’s been missing from the canine beastman casino lately. Even when I call, the canine beastmen won’t answer me.”

“It seems like someone must have taken them…” the other party muttered as if to himself. Heeseong, curious about who was speaking, bit Yoon Chi-young’s hand, a plea to be taken out of the pocket.

The man continued, “I even found out the name. It’s Gyeon Heeseong.”

‘Really? Is he looking for me?’

Heeseong waited with anticipation. Just moments ago, he had wanted to stay inside the coat, but now he was eager to show his face immediately. The person might be a canine beastman worried about him or an acquaintance of his brother, capable of rescuing him from this cannibalistic wolf.

However, Yoon Chi-young, while sipping on something, murmured as if annoyed, “It’s strange how many people are looking for that puppy…”

“Ah, I can’t stop thinking about it.”

‘Listen to me! Let me out!’

Heeseong, desperate, squirmed with all his might inside the pocket. Finally, Yoon Chi-young acknowledged him.

“Why? Want to come out?”

Yoon Chi-young murmured understandingly as he took Heeseong out, in a tone that seemed to indulge his complaints. However, there was a subtle enjoyment in his demeanor about the situation.

Heeseong, not caring about that, eagerly showed his face outside the coat. His fur was all staticky, but identifying the man looking for him was more pressing.

“Ah, when I see him, I’m definitely going to…”

Upon seeing the man, the puppy’s eyes filled with nothing but murderous intent.

Heeseong knew him too. They had already met, and he was just as displeasing to Heeseong as Yoon Chi-young.

“Bite his d*ck first.”

‘…Damn it…’

Unlike the handsome Yoon Chi-young, this was just a rude-looking horse beastman. And he was the very reason Heeseong had gotten in trouble with his brother.

<they’re all doing this because they’re in the mood because you’re just so pretty. Why would you throw chips in a customer’s face?>

It was Kwon Ki-hyuk, who had been hit in the face with chips by Heeseong during a poker game after asking for a blowjob.

Heeseong typically had trouble remembering other beastmen, but Kwon Ki-hyuk was an exception, vividly etched in his memory.

<How old are you? Ever slept with a guy?>

<If I win this round, I’m buying him first.>

<I’m different from you; I don’t prey on beastmen in bed.>

These were the words Heeseong heard when he first encountered Kwon Ki-hyuk. Clenching his fists from the very first word, Heeseong held back patiently, thinking of his brother. Especially since he was already under strict watch for a previous mishap.

<Kwon Ki-hyuk’s family is politicians… They’re going under, so there’s no money, but just in case, don’t provoke them and stay compliant, okay?>

His brother had cautioned him, knowing the political influence of Kwon Ki-hyuk’s family. But whether he was a politician’s son or not, to Heeseong, Kwon Ki-hyuk was nothing more than a perverted horse beastman.

And Heeseong later realized that Yoon Chi-young had been present in that game too.

<I don’t prey on beastmen in bed, unlike someone.>

Kwon Ki-hyuk had clearly directed that comment at Yoon Chi-young. At the time, Heeseong was too consumed with rage towards Kwon Ki-hyuk to notice, but recalling it now, the rumors about Yoon Chi-young cannibalizing his own kind seemed widespread. The prevalence of such rumors made them seem all the more credible.

Yet, Heeseong found the pervert even more detestable than the cannibalistic wolf.

“What’s with the puppy?”

Reunited with Kwon Ki-hyuk, he asked disdainfully, as if looking at something insignificant. It was typical of the horse clan, overflowing with unnecessary pride. Suddenly, he bared his teeth at the puppy as if to threaten it.

In response, Heeseong showed his own wariness. He growled, baring his fangs, and fidgeted on Yoon Chi-young’s arm as if anxious.

Yoon Chi-young, holding a beast in his arms, casually lifted his glass and replied:

“My puppy.”

“He’s not a beastman, just a real dog, right? Look at that temper. Barely bigger than a d*ck.”

Woof!

At Kwon Ki-hyuk’s mocking laughter, Heeseong barked sharply. Despite his body still aching and knowing he shouldn’t strain himself, he felt he would explode with anger if he didn’t express his fury somehow. Then, Yoon Chi-young, treating the fist-sized puppy with almost reverent care, stood up, petting it gently.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been soothing the puppy, approached Kwon Ki-hyuk, who was sitting across from them. Bringing the puppy close to Kwon Ki-hyuk’s face, he asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t like him?”

‘I f*cking hate him. He’s disgusting.’

The puppy seemed to understand, nodding its head. In the puppy’s eyes directed at Kwon Ki-hyuk, there was nothing but contempt and hatred.

Then, a gentle yet serious question was posed, “Then, do you want to eat him?”

‘What…?’

Feeling something was off, Heeseong desperately leaned his head back, catching sight of Yoon Chi-young’s handsome face looking down at him. His face was undeniably movie-star handsome, with naturally flowing black hair, bold yet appealing features, and soft eyes. Within those… lay the slightly dilated gray irises of a madman.

“Shall our puppy play with him? We could even put him on a leash, would you like to lead him around?”

“What the hell are you—ugh…!”

Yoon Chi-young had grabbed Kwon Ki-hyuk’s hair, pulling his head back forcefully so his face was fully visible. Panic seeped into Kwon Ki-hyuk’s expression, his exposed neck vein bulging. His breathing turned ragged with shock.

Tension swiftly filled the room, and Yoon Chi-young’s smile turned cold. His actions, while looking affectionately at the puppy, were cruel. It was then that Heeseong was reminded of Yoon Chi-young’s brutal wolf clan nature.

Kwon Ki-hyuk, catching his breath in panic, touched Yoon Chi-young’s solid arm and forced an awkward laugh.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young… Haha. Your jokes are always, dammit.”

“Ah… Don’t like it?”

No matter what Kwon Ki-hyuk said, Yoon Chi-young only looked down at the puppy in his arms.

Heeseong was already vigorously shaking his head. Kwon Ki-hyuk was repulsive and undesirable to be near. In fact, Heeseong disliked all of the horse beastmen who took pride in flaunting their sexual prowess and size. Based on his experiences in the gambling den, the horse clan always enjoyed sexual jests, oblivious to the whispers behind their backs about their premature tendencies, much like wild horses.

After a moment, Yoon Chi-young slowly nodded in agreement.

“Right. Our puppy shouldn’t eat dirty things.”

“…Ha.”

Regardless of Kwon Ki-hyuk’s incredulous laughter, Yoon Chi-young disdainfully let go of his hair. Kwon Ki-hyuk’s face, strained with veins popping on his forehead, was pushed away in an ugly manner. Beside him, Yoon Chi-young casually wiped his hand on Kwon Ki-hyuk’s expensive-looking suit. The puppy watched this scene, alternating its gaze as if not understanding the dynamics.

‘Weren’t they friends?’

Heeseong had thought they were friends, but now Yoon Chi-young was treating Kwon Ki-hyuk as if he was merely a toy for his puppy.

“I’m too busy playing with the puppy.”

Yoon Chi-young sighed as if bored and returned to his seat. Afterward, he carefully placed Heeseong on the table like handling a precious gem. Thanks to this, the puppy found itself amidst an array of exquisite traditional Korean dishes.

Even with grilled short ribs in front of him, Heeseong was more intrigued by Yoon Chi-young’s bored remarks.

“I thought Assemblyman Kwon was about to make the news soon, so I thought we were preparing for that by meeting…”

“What?”

“There was no need for you to come all the way here.”

“What are you talking about, Yoon Chi-young?”

Kwon Ki-hyuk asked seriously. His hair, once sleekly styled, was now disheveled like a mad scientist’s. The forced smile on his face had vanished.

Witnessing the scene, Heeseong’s mood took an unexpected turn.

He had just seen the downfall of someone who tormented him, all too easily exposed. It was a hollow victory, yet Heeseong couldn’t help feeling a distasteful sense of satisfaction. The man was never worthy of sympathy to begin with.

The scum who had tried to corner him in the restroom attached to the room, intending to force himself on Heeseong.

Recalling the past, Heeseong didn’t hold back. Even limping on his hind legs, the puppy navigated through the food to approach Kwon Ki-hyuk. Yoon Chi-young, clearly observing, made no move to stop him, and Kwon Ki-hyuk was too preoccupied to notice the small puppy.

Heeseong heated up Kwon Ki-hyuk’s lower body just as he had wished.

“Why my dad? Just start with what it is… ugh, f*ck!”

Heeseong blatantly caused trouble by spilling hot soup right in front of Kwon Ki-hyuk.

Kwon Ki-hyuk, now with his lower body scalded as he desired, cursed and flailed about in a spectacle. His frantic attempts to cool his groin were comically reminiscent of a prancing pony.

“Are you okay?”

Even then, Yoon Chi-young seemed oblivious to Kwon Ki-hyuk’s distress, focusing only on comforting Heeseong in his arms. Within that embrace, the puppy maliciously glared at Kwon Ki-hyuk, eyes shining with spite.

“Did you want to spill that? Good job.”

Yoon Chi-young praised Heeseong, even for the mischief he caused, unlike his brother who always urged restraint. Heeseong puffed out his chest in a thrill of satisfaction, his fur bristling with pride.

And as Yoon Chi-young made to leave the room, Kwon Ki-hyuk detained him with a string of coarse curses.

“You bastard, what was that about earlier?”

“Ah.”

The smile vanished from Yoon Chi-young’s face. Seeing his icy gaze, Heeseong instinctively perked up his ears. It was instinctive.He sensed danger in provoking Yoon Chi-young at this moment.

Yoon Chi-young didn’t react with irritation. Instead, he gently placed Heeseong back into his coat pocket, but his murmured words carried an ominous tone.

“You shouldn’t see bad things, so stay here.”

‘I want to see it too!’

Heeseong tried to grasp Yoon Chi-young’s wrist with his front paws to avoid being put back into the pocket, but it was futile.

Then, Heeseong heard a heavy sound. The coat’s lapel fluttered vigorously, indicating Yoon Chi-young must have kicked something forcefully.

Crack.

It was the first time Heeseong had clearly heard the crisp sound of a bone breaking. The stifled gasps of Kwon Ki-hyuk struggling to breathe suggested he was in too much pain even to scream.

Soon, the brutal sounds faded, and the door opened, leaving only the clinking of fine dining utensils from the hall to be heard. Inside the pocket, Heeseong was enveloped in a strange sense of elation, his heart racing continuously.

It was the first time he caused trouble and didn’t get scolded for it. It was also the first time someone had taken his side.

***

Part 3

[TL/N: Therianthrope → Beastman]

Yoon Chi-young returned to the car and climbed into the back seat. As soon as he was on board, the car smoothly exited the parking lot.

Even then, Heeseong’s heart was still racing. He felt satisfied for having gotten one over on Kwon Ki-hyuk. It was clear that he, too, was fundamentally a bastard at heart.

He was savoring that feeling when Yoon Chi-young’s unnecessary question came.

“Did I do well?”

Heeseong ignored Yoon Chi-young’s words. He simply lay across Yoon Chi-young’s thighs, staring blankly elsewhere. Now that he was in a good mood, he wanted to quietly reminisce about the sound of Kwon Ki-hyuk’s bones breaking.

“But… why did you spill soup on that guy’s thing earlier? Were you interested?”

Yoon Chi-young’s voice dropped as if he felt slighted. Although he was certainly making full use of his handsome face, Heeseong never looked up at him. He was annoyed by his good looks.

“Mine’s bigger than his, you know…”

‘Ack!’

He shuddered at the unwanted revelation, trying to cover his ears with his front paws. But his legs were too short, making it difficult. He didn’t want to know anything about that, whether it was about his thing or whatever else.

“Why? Are you jealous?”

As if there was anything to be jealous of.

Tired of swearing, Heeseong didn’t even pretend to listen and just strained to block his ears. But Yoon Chi-young wasn’t the type to shut up just because the other person wasn’t listening.

“I didn’t mean to look at it on purpose. He’s the one going around asking everyone to suck it off.”

Heeseong clenched his tiny canine teeth at the unwelcome explanation.

When he recovers and turns back into a human, he’ll definitely sew that mouth shut.

Heeseong firmly resolved.

***

Among beastmen, the bond between them was even more crucial than among humans.

This was because a beastman who had reverted to their true form due to an injury needed the help of their pack without fail.

‘Ah, my ear itches.’

Having turned back into a puppy, Heeseong especially needed the touch of his kin. Already unable to use his hands, which was inconvenient enough, his ears, half-folded, were prone to ear infections and often itched. Moreover, with an injured hind leg, he couldn’t scratch as usual with his back foot.

Eventually, Heeseong sought out Yoon Chi-young. When in need, one must borrow even the hand of a cannibalistic wolf.

The puppy went out to the spacious terrace. There, Yoon Chi-young was smoking—apparently unconcerned because his house was on the top floor—and Heeseong tugged at the hem of his pants. Yoon Chi-young, who had been looking at documents on a tablet, willingly looked down at the puppy.

“Hmm?”

‘My ear, my ears are itchy.’

Heeseong vigorously rubbed his ear with his front paw. It was unbearably itchy. Until now, his brother regularly cleaned his ears, so it was manageable, but since coming to Yoon Chi-young’s house, he hadn’t been able to clean his ears once.

The biggest problem was the lack of communication.

“Do you want to be held?”

‘No, hey.’

“Oh, want a pet? A kiss?”

Boom!

Heeseong finally exploded in frustration. He pushed Yoon Chi-young’s lips away with his front paw, desperately avoiding the kiss.

The frustration of not being able to communicate was too great. Among beastmen of the same kind, some communication was possible even when reverted to their true form. Though they couldn’t form complete sentences, they could convey two or three key words through body language.

However, even between a dog and a wolf, the body language used was completely different. It was like meeting a foreigner who spoke a different language. In fact, among beastmen, wolves were particularly secretive with their body language, making it difficult to communicate with other beastmen.

Yoon Chi-young, seemingly just as curious, made a call somewhere.

“Is Young-bae there? Tell him to come up.”

According to Heeseong, today was the weekend, but it seemed the gangsters had no days off. A few minutes later, a robust man entered Yoon Chi-young’s house. He looked intimidating with his stern demeanor and piercing eyes, but he was a gang member with surprisingly delicate hands. Heeseong knew this because the man had once put a pin in his hair, which he immediately removed.

Yoon Chi-young, smiling mischievously, gestured with his eyes towards the puppy on the terrace table to Ji Young-bae.

“Are you from the canine tribe?”

“Yes.”

“What is the puppy saying?”

‘Do you understand me?’

Heeseong looked at Ji Young-bae without much hope. It was suspicious that he was working under wolves, despite being from the canine tribe.

Moreover, as a member of the canine tribe, Ji Young-bae might have noticed that Heeseong was not just a puppy but a beastman. There was some level of communication between beastmen of the same kind and animals. However, since animals had lower intelligence compared to beastmen, communicating with them was akin to talking to a 5-year-old from the perspective of a beastman. Being too communicative could risk revealing his identity, so it was best to be cautious with his actions.

Just then, his ear itched like crazy again. Desperate, Heeseong rubbed his ear with his front paw and grumbled.

‘Please, clean my ear.’

This time, he showed very precise body language. Then, Ji Young-bae seriously reported to his boss.

“F*ck!’

There must have been a communication error, perhaps because they weren’t from the same region of the canine tribe. Surprisingly, even among beastmen in their true forms, communication could be difficult if they were from different regions. It was like encountering someone who spoke a heavy dialect.

Despite the translation error, Yoon Chi-young lifted Heeseong close to his face, as if he found him adorable, and looked into his eyes.

“Ah, want your ear touched? Does our puppy like having his ears touched?”

“……”

The resigned puppy gave up on both responding and attacking. Now, Heeseong longed for his brother for a different reason.

As far as Heeseong remembered, Yoon Chi-young had perky black wolf ears. Born with well-ventilated ears, he wouldn’t understand the plight of folded ears. Resigned to his unfortunate genetics, Heeseong lay sprawled on the table, defeated. Then, Yoon Chi-young gently touched the puppy’s ears.

But there was an unexpected find. As Yoon Chi-young habitually flipped the puppy’s ears, he discovered something.

“Isn’t this an ear infection?”

“Uh…”

Ji Young-bae and Yoon Chi-young’s gaze converged on the puppy’s ears. As the two men looked down at the puppy, roughly the size of their fists, Heeseong felt a sense of danger. However, he stayed still, wanting to draw attention to his dirty ears. It was humiliating and sad, but his heart was desperate.

“We need to clean his ears.”

‘You got it!’

Fortunately, perhaps because they were from the same canine family, Yoon Chi-young understood what was needed.

Yoon Chi-young stood up, tucking the puppy under his arm. After washing his hands, he sat on the living room sofa and poured out the contents of a paper bag that had been placed in a corner. Numerous pet supplies were spread out on the table, all of them brand new and still in their packaging.

‘…Am I not going to a pet shop?’

He had secretly hoped to meet a gentle-handed lady at the pet shop. But now, the gangster in front of him was fiddling with ear cleaning tools. The puppy looked up at Yoon Chi-young with fearful eyes.

Feeling the gaze, Yoon Chi-young turned and smiled smoothly, lifting the corners of his mouth.

“We’re going to live together forever, so I should do it now.”

“……”

It was a bright smile, but to Heeseong, it seemed like the smile of a villain. It was clear that this guy already knew what he hated the most.

Soon, a cotton swab drenched in ear cleaning solution was probing into the puppy’s ear. As Yoon Chi-young gently rubbed the swab, the squishing sound made the puppy’s expression relax.

‘Ah, ha.’

Though he hated to admit it, Yoon Chi-young’s ear cleaning skills were much better than his brother’s. The touch was gentle, and he cleaned with the delicacy of touching a gemstone. He spent more time cleaning Heeseong’s ears than he did looking at documents.

Taking it further, Yoon Chi-young also meticulously cleared the puppy’s eye boogers and even offered praise and treats for something that wasn’t a big deal.

“Good job. Here, some snacks.”

“……”

Boom

. Heeseong glared at him while munching on the dried sweet potato treat. Yoon Chi-young then set the puppy down on the plush carpet.

Limping towards the full-length mirror, Heeseong sat down in front of it, feeling complex emotions.

‘F*ck this. I’m… actually satisfied…’

It was the fourth day since Heeseong arrived at Yoon Chi-young’s place, making it a week including the three days he had been unconscious. During this time, Heeseong realized that he had indulged in luxury and his appearance had significantly changed.

Reflected in the mirror was a version of himself he had never seen before. His white fur gleamed, and his previously thin body had gained some weight. His face, usually grimy with tear stains, was clean, and his black eyes sparkled with vitality. Seeing his improved condition despite causing trouble made him feel guilty towards his brother.

He missed his brother, but… it was the first time he had rested to his heart’s content since he started working. To the point where he slightly dreaded returning.

‘Are you outta your mind, Heeseong?’

No matter what, he couldn’t be satisfied with the care of a cannibalistic wolf.

Heeseong belonged to the canine tribe, which valued their pack. He had a place he must return to. Even if it meant suffering from the consequences of losing the drugs upon his return…

‘Pull yourself together. This isn’t my home.’

He needed to escape from Yoon Chi-young. Reinforcing his resolve, Heeseong took a snake plush toy, imagining it as Yoon Chi-young, and ferociously bit into it. He then vowed to recover as soon as possible and return to his brother.

However, deep down, Heeseong thought it wouldn’t be too bad if his recovery took a little longer.

***

Part 4

Yoon Chi-young, stepping back onto the terrace, took a seat and picked up the tablet.

Several photos and CCTV footage appeared on the tablet screen. Swiping to the side, simple documents and reports submitted by members of the organization also surfaced.

All were records from the vicinity of the wolf clan’s base on the day the puppy was found.

Lost in thought over the records, Yoon Chi-young turned to Ji Young-bae standing behind and inquired,

“There were no organizations that trespassed into our territory on this day, correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Yoon Chi-young smirked slightly. The puppy had appeared, injured, in a blind spot not covered by the CCTV, but astute Yoon Chi-young could somewhat grasp the situation.

It didn’t make sense to start a fight in front of the wolf clan’s base just to steal drugs worth a mere tens of millions of won. Even street thugs, conscious of their territory, would prefer to quietly pass by the stronghold of the fiercely territorial wolf clan.

Unless one wanted to rid themselves of a bothersome burden and pocket some money on the side.

Moreover, if the youngest member of an organization disappeared within the wolf clan’s territory, it would be difficult to hastily investigate.

Having thought this far, Yoon Chi-young gazed from the terrace into the house. A white puppy was sound asleep on the black carpet, hugging a snake toy.

“What to do…”

Yoon Chi-young smiled faintly.

The situation seemed somewhat amusing. The casino manager, Park Geon-tae, was already under close watch for a reason. Whenever something passed through that man’s hands, it tended to diminish slightly. Given his obsession with women, it seemed he might even sell his own flesh, and now he had indeed thrown away the most crucial card.

“If it’s true, our puppy might be deeply hurt.”

Though the words carried a tone of concern, his gray eyes sparkled with an unusual excitement.

Soon after, Yoon Chi-young gave Ji Young-bae a simple order.

“Start monitoring Park Geon-tae from today.”

“Understood.”

Rising from his seat, Yoon Chi-young picked up the white lump lying like a stain on the black carpet and laid it beside his bed. Looking down at the puppy, his eyes swirled with an excitement never felt before.

***

As the weekend passed, Yoon Chi-young unusually stayed home instead of going to work. Heeseong watched the latest movie Yoon Chi-young put on and ate grilled king prawns that he had peeled himself.

“Did the puppy like the prawns?”

‘I don’t know. It’s my first time eating them.’

For Heeseong, it was the first time he ever tried king prawns. He hadn’t realized shrimp could taste so good. For the first time, he even clung to Yoon Chi-young’s wrist to receive and eat a prawn directly. Yoon Chi-young, watching the puppy do so, proudly commented,

“Ah, so cute I could die.”

‘What?’

“Eat up and recover quickly. So I can eat you in winter.”

“……”

Heeseong’s appetite suddenly dropped.

Only then did the puppy stop eating the prawns and glared at Yoon Chi-young as usual. In a fit of pique, he even knocked over a cup of water. Yoon Chi-young, finding amusement in that, smiled warmly and peeled more prawns to give him like a bribe. After some deliberation, the puppy ended up eating all of it.

The talk of being eaten in winter had dampened his appetite with its unfortunate implications, but Heeseong wasn’t concerned, planning to escape before then anyway.

As evening arrived, the doctor, who seemed like a drug addict, came to the house to examine the puppy, now with a swollen belly.

“The pheromone levels are almost undetectable again. It’s just a puppy, indeed.”

‘You quack.’

The haggard doctor, perhaps truly a drug addict, misdiagnosed Heeseong as a puppy. After reapplying the pheromone measurement device behind Heeseong’s neck and confirming the results, Yoon Chi-young watched with a subtle smile, though he made no further comment.

Nonetheless, the doctor seemed competent in his field. He treated the puppy with great care and made no mistakes, possibly due to Yoon Chi-young’s cool, watchful grey eyes.

“Fortunately, the wound is healing quickly. We can remove the cast today, and the stitches can come out next week. Walking might still be difficult, but activity should be possible around the time we remove the stitches.”

“……”

Heeseong wasn’t pleased to hear about his rapid recovery.

He had grown complacent, enjoying full meals and warmth, which wasn’t right, considering his brother. Frustrated, Heeseong bit Yoon Chi-young’s hand that was petting him, acting out.

Then Heeseong inspected his own legs. The stitched skin looked grotesque, and bruises dotted his small body.

‘It still seems difficult to transform back into a human…’

Beastmen healed faster in their original form. The body instinctively maintained the safest form while injured. Therefore, whenever Heeseong tried to transform back into a human, the pain from the wounds made him give up on the transformation. It was proof that his body was still in recovery.

Despite everything, Heeseong was determined to return to his human form as soon as possible, believing it would make any escape attempt much easier. During his recovery period, he firmly resolved to prepare for his escape.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young, whose hand had been bitten, asked the doctor,

“When can he start going for walks?”

‘…Is this jerk really raising me like a dog?’

Walks, of all things. Heeseong had no intention of ever wearing a leash Yoon Chi-young might offer. There had already been incidents where, upon being leashed, he would simply flop down in protest until it was removed. He had managed to escape neck collars and, as a sign of protest, spilled coffee or whatever else he could find. Even though Yoon Chi-young seemed to enjoy these moments enough to take photos, causing Heeseong irritation, not using a leash or dog accessories remained a point of pride for beastmen.

The doctor advised,

“Considering it’s the cold month of November and he is a patient, it might be best to refrain from walks for the time being…”

“Hmm…”

Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem particularly disappointed. He just carefully observed the puppy’s wounds, slightly squinting one eye. It seemed that the puppy’s rapid recovery wasn’t entirely good news for him either. The doctor, trying to gauge Yoon Chi-young’s reaction, was at a loss for what pace to set.

“Well, then…”

At that moment, the doctor cautiously approached Yoon Chi-young with the pheromone measurement device. Yoon Chi-young nonchalantly nodded without showing any sign of objection.

The doctor placed the device behind Yoon Chi-young’s neck, and a threatening mechanical sound repeated as a red figure appeared. 892. This was hundreds of times higher than the 4 or 5 that appeared for Heeseong.

The doctor, shocked by the reading, asked,

“The normal level is 200… Haven’t you returned to your original form recently?”

“Been busy raising a puppy.”

Yoon Chi-young responded indifferently, continuing to pet the puppy. The doctor, still retaining some professional integrity, poured out advice to Yoon Chi-young.

“Still, as a beastman, you should either return to your original form or manage your pheromones through sexual activity. Especially since you have a strong beastman’s power, you should do so at least once every two weeks…”

‘Once every two weeks?’

Heeseong lifted his head in surprise.

Beastmen were still close to humans. Returning to their original form to manage pheromones was usually sufficient every two months. But once every two weeks implied that Yoon Chi-young’s wolf lineage was particularly strong.

‘Is this guy seriously just a beast?’

Could the rumors of cannibalism be true?

As Heeseong pondered seriously, Yoon Chi-young, looking tired, sent the doctor out of the house.

As soon as the doctor left, Yoon Chi-young aired out the house. Heeseong noticed that Yoon Chi-young seemed to have a sensitive sense of smell, always ventilating the house after someone visited. He even disliked the smell of his own cigarettes, always washing his hands and carrying mint candies.

“

Sigh

…”

Returning to the bed, Yoon Chi-young lay down, hugging the puppy.

Heeseong climbed onto the pillow where Yoon Chi-young lay, contemplating as usual how to deal with this cannibalistic wolf.

However, today Yoon Chi-young seemed particularly exhausted.

‘…Is he sick?’

Yoon Chi-young was breathing heavily, and soon, black wolf ears and a tail small enough to be a puppy’s sprouted. Curious, Heeseong pressed his paw against his cheek, finding his skin hot.

‘Idiot.’

It seemed like his body was struggling due to not managing his pheromones. Yoon Chi-young could have transformed into a wolf, but perhaps to avoid frightening him, he stubbornly maintained his human form. Noticing the sharply protruding canines near Yoon Chi-young’s lips, Heeseong cautiously curled his tail.

‘I shouldn’t mess with him today.’

Heeseong was smart. Working in the gambling den, he had developed a sense of awareness. It was common knowledge that beastmen excited by pheromones could become more aggressive or sexually driven, so it was best to avoid provoking them.

Common knowledge. Suddenly, Heeseong recalled information he had overheard in the gambling den.

<Ah, the wolf brats are less active in winter, so the revenue’s down.>

<Why? Do they hibernate or something?>

<No.>

His brother had scoffed dismissively.

<Wolves go into their mating season when it gets cold. In the wild, it’s so they can have offspring in spring.>

Recalling these words, Heeseong felt a chill run through his body.

It was November, and the weather was gradually turning colder. Heeseong had heard that wolves, who are typically monogamous, either endure their mating season with medication or spend it alone until they find a mate.

This meant that Yoon Chi-young was approaching his mating season, which could lead to increased aggression. The thought of being beside a cannibalistic wolf made Heeseong’s heart chill.

‘…And his wolf blood is strong, isn’t it?’

The clever puppy climbed off the pillow and cautiously made his way onto Yoon Chi-young’s solid chest. His unusually long and slender legs were immediately noticeable.

And then… a significant bulge was evident in his lower half. Heeseong wished it were just a tail. Seeing its size made Heeseong shiver uncontrollably.

To be sharing a bed with a wolf on the verge of mating season.

‘If the mating season hits, he’ll attack me first.’

After all, Heeseong was also a male puppy. Being this close could provoke an attack from the wolf, whose territorial instincts might be heightened by the mating season.

Now was not the time to lament his quick recovery. For a different reason, Heeseong now had to pretend to be a puppy and escape as soon as possible.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young, still lying down, lifted the puppy to his face.

“Puppy…”

‘Let go, let go!’

Startled, Heeseong struggled, but his resistance was futile against the large hands.

Yoon Chi-young gazed at the puppy with his faintly visible pupils, then murmured as he nuzzled his smooth nose against the puppy’s belly.

“I don’t think I’ll eat you.”

‘Say it with some conviction!’

Indignant, Heeseong flailed his legs, but it was a meaningless gesture. Moreover, Yoon Chi-young’s seriousness was unusual, causing the puppy to soon stop resisting and tilt his head in confusion.

“No, wait…”

With only a dim light on, Yoon Chi-young’s distinct facial features were cast in deep shadows. Heeseong glimpsed his sharply defined eyes and the subtle shine in his gray irises, feeling a flicker of fear.

Seeing the stiff puppy, Yoon Chi-young faintly smiled.

“Whatever happens, I really won’t eat you.”

‘What…?’

Soon after, Yoon Chi-young placed the puppy back against his chest. Heeseong, feeling his belly sink into the warmth, sensed the steady heartbeat and the comforting body heat of Yoon Chi-young.

From his position, Heeseong eyed Yoon Chi-young suspiciously.

‘Has he figured out that I’m a beastman?’

Surely not. That would mean he knew Heeseong was a beastman yet chose to raise him like a puppy, which would be utterly insane.

‘…Or has he already grown that attached to me?’

Puzzled by the situation, Heeseong couldn’t fall asleep deep into the night, staring down at the already sleeping Yoon Chi-young, contemplating his inscrutable intentions.

But as a puppy, there wasn’t much he could do.

Eventually, overcome by sleepiness, Heeseong fell asleep draped over Yoon Chi-young’s eyes like a sleep mask, hoping that for tonight, at least, he would just sleep soundly.

He did, however, appreciate the promise that Yoon Chi-young wouldn’t eat him.

*

Next

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 5

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Ten days had passed since Yoon Chi-young began keeping Heeseong.

By now, Heeseong was getting groomed in the late morning to accompany Yoon Chi-young—who, being a gangster, had a rather flexible schedule—to work, spending the day in his arms like an ornament and being doted on.

What Heeseong had realized during this time was that Yoon Chi-young didn’t quite fit the mold of a gang boss.

Because what kind of boss talks to a dog that can’t even speak back?

“Do you know what my ideal type is, puppy?”

‘I don’t care. Not interested.’

On the way to work, in the car, Yoon Chi-young spoke affectionately to the puppy. Heeseong ignored him and watched the action movie playing on the smartphone.

Undeterred by the snub, Yoon Chi-young teased the puppy.

“Someone who always… gives me a thrilling stimulation.”

‘I said I’m not interested!’

Focused on the movie, the puppy suddenly attacked Yoon Chi-young’s fingers like a predator. No matter how much he bit and acted out, Yoon Chi-young seemed to find it amusing and laughed it off.

After venting his frustration, Heeseong returned to watching the smartphone. Over it, Yoon Chi-young gently stroked the puppy’s potato-sized head.

“When I see someone who’s both cute and sexy… Ah, you know that feeling when just making eye contact feels like you’re going to lose it?”

‘Here he goes again, this lunatic.’

Heeseong typically only cared about his own people and rarely listened to others. Naturally, he wouldn’t pay much attention to Yoon Chi-young, whom he considered a target for escape.

And Yoon Chi-young often spoke nonsense, as far as Heeseong was concerned.

“I felt the urge to suck that person off first.”

‘F*ck!’

“Shut your mouth!”

Irritated, the puppy sprawled on the ground, flailing its limbs. Biting Yoon Chi-young was futile, so that was the best it could do.

Eventually, the puppy, utterly bored on its way to work, decided against escaping and instead sought an alternative plan.

“

Noona

, take me with you.”

Heesung wagged his short tail at the wolf clan seated on the sofa, his black eyes gleaming. Coaxing Yoon Chi-young was humiliating, but it was different when the target was a woman.

“What’s with this puppy?”

Yoon Geon-young lifted the fluffy puppy with one hand, chuckling.

She was Yoon Chi-young’s sister, resembling him but with a distinctly different aura. Clearly a member of the wolf clan, she possessed a subtle elegance and sharpness akin to feline predators.

Her black, silky hair was incredibly sexy and stylish. Heesung eagerly wagged his tail at her, displaying his charm. He sensed Yoon Chi-young’s smile from the opposite sofa, but he didn’t care.

‘Yoon Chi-young’s sister would be stronger, right?’

So, taking the younger brother’s puppy should be feasible. Heesung was already smitten, wagging his tail uncontrollably in her arms.

Just then, Yoon Chi-young, pulling out a cigarette, muttered lowly.

“Now you’re blatantly flirting.”

“So, it’s true you have a soft spot for mongrels.”

Yoon Geon-young disdainfully spoke, placing the puppy back on the ground.

‘Pureblood supremacy is annoying, but the sister seems better than Yoon Chi-young.’

Now, the puppy lay on its back, diligently seducing her. Then, it noticed a man sitting next to Yoon Geon-young.

‘Why is he trembling at the sight of Yoon Chi-young?’

The blonde wolf clan man, accompanying Yoon Geon-young, couldn’t even meet Yoon Chi-young’s gaze and was shivering.

To the puppy, Yoon Chi-young’s intimidating presence was now overshadowed by his obsession with kisses and physical affection.

As Yoon Chi-young lit his cigarette and lazily exhaled smoke, he asked,

“You didn’t come to play with me, did you? Here to impress your lover?”

Hearing this, the blonde man clenched Yoon Geon-young’s hand tightly, gritting his teeth. He looked so delicate that Heesung wanted to comfort him, urging him to relax.

“Yoon Chi-young.”

With a no-nonsense tone, Yoon Geon-young spoke sternly as if admonishing.

“Our father has passed away; refrain from frequenting places of amusement.”

“Did sister come all the way here just to say that?”

“As the future leader, I’m advising you. There are many eyes watching, so act with decorum.”

“Ah… nagging, then.”

Yoon Chi-young exhaled smoke leisurely and chuckled, twitching the toes of his crossed legs. Even the mention of being the future leader didn’t seem to concern Yoon Chi-young much. Instead, he responded with a scoff.

“It’s been a week since I last went to a gambling den… You’re quite out of the loop.”

“Maintaining decorum also means getting rid of that mongrel.”

‘That’s harsh of sister.’

Feeling slighted, the puppy gave up on acting cute and briskly got up. It was as if it was reminded of the proud true nature of the wolf clan it had forgotten.

The puppy looked back and forth between the siblings with a suddenly serious face. The atmosphere was as if they were confronting an enemy. It was the first time the puppy saw Yoon Chi-young so openly hostile.

“Raising me as a fighting dog, and now you talk of decorum?”

‘Fighting dog? What does that mean?’

While the puppy was puzzled, Yoon Chi-young, with a smooth laugh, flicked the ash from his cigarette with his long fingers and asked,

“Is it fine for you to play around with the man your brother was seeing?”

Yoon Chi-young glanced at the wolf clan man. The blonde man seemed so terrified that he couldn’t control his emotions, revealing his yellow wolf ears.

Yoon Geon-young looked disdainfully at her brother and then said softly,

“You were probably planning to devour him.”

Yoon Geon-young brushed it off nonchalantly. The coldness in her eyes made it seem like she wasn’t dealing with a family member but viewing Yoon Chi-young as a mere adversary.

Watching this, the puppy felt puzzled.

‘…Why does she look at her own brother with such disdain?’

Heesung’s brother, though not related by blood, valued loyalty highly. He would never treat his sibling with hostility like Yoon Geon-young did. However, Heesung had heard that wolves have a strong sense of pack, much like dogs, but the pureblood wolves before him seemed ready to tear each other apart at any moment.

After a tense standoff, Yoon Geon-young stood up. Yoon Chi-young, too, continued to smoke elegantly without attempting to detain her. He merely left her with a veiled warning accompanied by a subtle smile.

“Congratulations on becoming the next leader, sister.”

“…….”

“I just hope I don’t end up killing you.”

Yoon Geon-young no longer engaged with her brother. A palpable hostility hung between the siblings.

Then, the blonde man attempted to straighten his coat that the puppy was sitting on. Heesung, absentmindedly, allowed himself to be moved as the man adjusted his position.

That’s when Heesung’s black eyes widened.

‘Oh…’

The right hand the blonde man had been concealing up his sleeve.

The gesture to move the puppy was clumsy, and the skin on the back of his hand was all torn up, as if mauled by a wild beast.

Yoon Chi-young, observing from across, laughed heartily at the sight.

“Getting good use out of that hand now?”

“…….”

With just those words, the blonde man’s face went pale, and he hurriedly left the scene.

The puppy looked on, dumbfounded.

‘Did he really… bite the person he was seeing?’

Even after they had left, Heesung continued to stare blankly at Yoon Chi-young.

Suddenly, his presence felt unfamiliar all over again.

*

Heeseong pondered deeply even after returning home from work.

‘Why does he prey on his own kind?’

From what Heeseong had observed so far, Yoon Chi-young had acted brutally but hadn’t attempted to devour beastmen. Of course, there could be another side to him… However, Heeseong, with his keen intuition and sensitive nose, didn’t believe the gourmet would taste uncooked creatures.

“I never knew our puppy had a liking for women…”

And to think he’d sulk over such matters, let alone be a cannibal.

The puppy, lying in bed with Yoon Chi-young, sighed out of the sheer annoyance it already felt.

Leaning on his arm beside him, Yoon Chi-young toyed with the puppy’s tail in a whiny manner and asked,

“You’ve never shown me affection, have you?”

‘What about it.’

“I was going to buy you shrimp tomorrow…”

At that, the puppy showed a reaction for the first time. It glanced at Yoon Chi-young and lazily wagged its tail, a kind of plea for the treat.

Pleased to receive even this small sign of interest, Yoon Chi-young smirked mischievously and brought his face closer to the puppy. Heeseong turned his head away, anticipating unnecessary comments from Yoon Chi-young.

“Have you ever mated, puppy?”

His hunch was right. Heeseong wanted to curse at the absurdity of asking a puppy such a question, expecting an answer. Yet, all he could express was a look of disdain and frustration towards Yoon Chi-young.

Yoon Chi-young, as if oblivious to Heeseong’s feelings, prodded him once more.

“Ah… you haven’t, have you?”

‘What’s it to you!’

The irritable puppy forcefully pushed Yoon Chi-young’s face away with its front paws. Scratching his clean skin with its tiny claws, Yoon Chi-young laughed as if he got the hint and stopped petting the tail.

“Your reaction says it all, you really haven’t.”

‘F*ck…’

This was why Heeseong disliked conversing with this man; it always left him feeling exasperated.

Heeseong had never mated. He was still young, and had been too busy working under his brother to even consider it. Moreover, in beastman society, females preferred strong and large males, naturally leaving the pale and delicate Heeseong out of the competition.

Yet, Heeseong wasn’t unpopular. Despite being canine-like, he was quite favored among men. When working in the gambling den, there were men who specifically called for Heeseong, handing him money and unbuckling their belts, or secretly gripping his buttocks tightly as they passed by.

Of course, Heeseong never held back in such situations.

When he heard my brother yelling, ‘Heeseong, you little rascal!’ I’d already have struck the customer by then.

Although Heeseong’s true form was that of a small toy dog, he was raised by fighting dog breeders involved in organized crime. As a result, there wasn’t anyone who messed with Heeseong and got away unscathed.

‘So is that why I’m sensitive to physical contact?’

Heeseong realized a newfound aspect of himself.

Living through such harassment at the gambling den made him sensitive to touch, and without thinking, he had lashed out at Yoon Chi-young, who had bitten him.

“That’s a relief.”

It was then that Heeseong heard Yoon Chi-young’s soft voice. Lifting his head, Heeseong’s eyes met Yoon Chi-young’s, who was gently stroking the puppy’s neck with a finger.

“It would have been slightly disappointing if I were the only one inexperienced.”

‘….’

You?

Doubt must have been evident in the dark eyes of the puppy, as Heeseong inadvertently tilted his head, which Yoon Chi-young found adorable. Yoon Chi-young smiled broadly, lifting the corners of his mouth and embracing the puppy.

Enveloped in Yoon Chi-young’s arms, Heeseong widened his eyes in disbelief.

Then what was the refined wolf tribe man who had his arm bitten about?

Moreover, the wolf clan man was afraid of Yoon Chi-young. The man couldn’t control his emotions to the point of revealing his ears and tail, and couldn’t even make proper eye contact.

‘Could it be… is he attacking me by seducing me into bed?’

It was plausible. Yoon Chi-young had a handsome face and a superior height as a male, making him inherently seductive.

Furthermore, rumors don’t circulate without reason. Based on Heeseong’s experience working in the gambling den, rumors that seemed likely were often false, while those that seemed far-fetched were often true.

“So, the rumors about the cannibalistic wolf might be true.” Yet, strangely, Heeseong no longer felt afraid of Yoon Chi-young.

While glaring at Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong cheekily rested his cheek against his embrace.

‘…No, he said he wouldn’t eat me.’

Somehow, the thought that he was a small dog that wouldn’t be eaten crossed his mind… But since Heeseong knew Yoon Chi-young wasn’t a liar, he felt reassured.

And to Heeseong, a cannibalistic wolf seemed better than a sister who despised her own family due to pureblood elitism.

If Heeseong had a real family, he would have cherished them without disdain.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 6

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Heeseong couldn’t even dream of escaping, spending 24 hours a day with the cannibalistic wolf. However, he didn’t give up and made thorough preparations for his escape.

‘This house is disgustingly big.’

The puppy had perfectly grasped the layout of Yoon Chi-young’s house during his time there. There were five rooms, and the terrace was as big as the living room. He even got trapped in the laundry room once—it was humiliating, but he had to bark to call Yoon Chi-young. Despite his limping leg, the puppy diligently wandered around looking for the best hiding places and escape routes.

‘The problem is that the living room is further away from the bedroom than I thought…’

Heeseong would sit on the living room carpet every day and simulate his escape. The living room and bedroom were far apart, making it difficult for a small puppy to run there, but the advantage was that the sound from the living room didn’t travel well to the bedroom. Additionally, Yoon Chi-young took an unknown medication before bed and fell into a deep sleep, making it the perfect time to escape while he was asleep.

However, sometimes, when he looked at the large, darkly decorated house, he felt a sense of desolation.

‘Why does this guy live in such a needlessly big place when he lives alone?’

The house was big, too big. And Yoon Chi-young was always there, alone. The puppy sometimes thought he looked very lonely when he was alone in the big, dark house. If it weren’t for him, there would be no noise at all in this house.

Heeseong looked at Yoon Chi-young sitting on the sofa and turned his head away when their eyes met, seeing his handsome face with a gentle smile. What’s the point of sympathizing with a guy like that? I’m going to escape from this place anyway.

After figuring out the escape route, he started preparing his escape funds.

Yoon Chi-young would sometimes pile up a stack of cash on the living room table and listen to reports from his organization members.

“Who contacted that racoon Soo-in? There must be more hidden than this money…”

Each time, Heeseong was able to pick up various bits of information. He also occasionally managed to pick up 50,000 won bills that were blown away by the accidentally slid down window.

Swoosh

.

The thieving puppy mainly operated under the dark sofa. He would watch Yoon Chi-young’s unnecessarily pretty collarbone, and when money occasionally fell, he would diligently pick it up. If he was lucky enough for money to fall right in front of him, he could just extend his white forepaw and grab the bill.

‘Isn’t this better than working at a casino?’

Heeseong hid the money he had collected in a space he had dug out under the sofa. It was a safe that only he could find, and it was soon filled with crumpled bills.

Although he had only stolen a little dust from a rich man’s barn, it seemed that Heeseong was making more money than when he worked at the casino. He felt a little resentful about that fact, but Heeseong decided that if he was going to steal, he might as well steal more boldly. That way, he would have some money to make up for the drugs he had lost when he returned to the casino.

The opportunity came as if from heaven.

Thud

.

With a thud, a bundle of bills fell right in front of the sofa. The black eyes of the puppy, who had been waiting for an opportunity, were filled with the sight of the yellow money.

Blinded by the money, Heeseong hurriedly came out and grabbed the bundle of yellow bills in his mouth. It was difficult to move with his small body, but he thought that with this much money, he could live without worrying about money for a few months.

“….”

As soon as he turned around with the money in his mouth, he met eyes with Yoon Chi-young, who was smiling broadly.

The surprised Heeseong stared blankly at those gray eyes and dropped the money he was holding in his mouth. Strangely, Yoon Chi-young was holding his hand up as if he had dropped something on purpose. The flustered puppy decided to act anyway.

Wow, woof!

As usual, he pretended to be a ferocious dog and gnawed at the snake toy on the carpet. He could feel the gazes of the other wolf organization members piercing his back, but fortunately, the attention that had been focused on Heeseong quickly disappeared.

“Well… let’s leave that racoon alone for now. Let’s catch her again when she’s gathered some money.”

Yoon Chi-young leaned back on the sofa, saying it as if he was enjoying himself. Heeseong felt a brief moment of sympathy for the racoon Soo-in, whom he didn’t even know, but he quickly gathered up the crumbs. As soon as there was an opening, he grabbed the bundle of bills again and quickly returned to the safe under the sofa.

‘Oh, man, that was close.’

He had almost gotten caught. Even after he had collected the money, Heeseong’s heart kept pounding. The fact that the entire interior of the house was black made it easy for his white fur to be seen. It was fortunate that he was small.

‘I guess I’ll have to stop here for today.’

But Heeseong knew how to wait for the right moment. He had seen many cases at the casino where people lost everything because they were too greedy. Heeseong carefully put the money he had collected into the hole under the sofa and went out, waiting carefully for the right moment.

As soon as Heeseong stepped out of the sofa, Yoon Chi-young, who had sent the organization members out, warmly hugged the puppy.

“The puppy is all dusty again… Shall we take a bath together?”

‘…Shit.’

As safe as the money was, there was a downside. He had to endure the humiliating baths by Yoon Chi-young, covered in dust every time. Heeseong cursed in his expression, showing his dislike, but eventually found himself sitting in a sink filled with warm water, like a bathtub, with a waterproof patch neatly applied to his injured leg.

“I should tell the cleaning helper to clean under the sofa well too.”

“……?”

The puppy, shrunk unattractively from being wet, turned to look at Yoon Chi-young with a pricked face.

Surely he didn’t notice the

safe

.

If that were the case, he would have had to move the money he had accumulated to a new safe.

Seeing that tense look, Yoon Chi-young smiled subtly. The action of lowering his hand with pronounced joints beneath his broad shoulders seemed suspicious.

“No… We’ll just bathe together.”

Saying so, Yoon Chi-young took off the nightgown he was wearing comfortably. The puppy immediately turned away with a scream. Naturally, he had seen Yoon Chi-young’s naked body from living together. The well-trained, tall body looked impressive to anyone.

The problem was seeing what he didn’t want to see.

‘Sh, shit. It’s too big…’

The puppy looked only at the corner of the sink, shuddering. When Yoon Chi-young said last time that his was bigger than even a water deer’s, he thought it was nonsense, but now he wondered if it might be true. Moreover, being in the form of a small puppy, everything seemed much bigger, making it even more dreadful.

Eventually, Heeseong didn’t go under the sofa for a while. He didn’t want to see Yoon Chi-young’s heavy thing ever again.

Moreover, the worst part was being envious of Yoon Chi-young’s tall and well-built body. Heeseong, who had a complex about his height, envied the impressive body with well-balanced muscles. Heeseong felt the unfairness of God and was unnecessarily more irritable towards Yoon Chi-young than usual.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 7

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

As Heeseong was getting used to commuting with Yoon Chi-young, he finally got a chance to be away from him for the first time.

“Um… No. I’ll go.”

Yoon Chi-young nodded after receiving a whisper from his guard. Then, he carefully placed the puppy he was holding on the leather chair he was sitting on.

“Just wait a bit. I’ll be right back.”

‘Come back late.’

Yoon Chi-young stroked the puppy who was staring at him ambitiously before walking out the door. Heeseong kept one ear up, listening for his footsteps to fade away.

Soon, the office became completely quiet. Heeseong felt like he could cry.

This is my chance.

He was finally going to be away from the annoying Yoon Chi-young. This was the first time in two weeks. The puppy was excited and nervous at the same time, but he didn’t miss the opportunity.

‘I just need to hide somewhere.’

Heeseong had already made a plan. Once he was away from Yoon Chi-young, he planned to hide in a corner and move around at night. The small size of a small dog, his only advantage, was perfect for hiding.

‘I have to run even if one of my legs breaks.’

The puppy carefully positioned himself to jump off the high chair, his front paws dangling. His hind legs were not fully healed yet and he had to limp, but he could not miss this opportunity. Soon, Heeseong bravely jumped down from the chair.

However, Heeseong’s body remained floating in the air as he jumped down.

Something was strange. He looked down and saw a large hand holding the puppy’s soft belly steadily.

“It’s dangerous to jump down.”

“…….”

Ji Young-bae gently placed the puppy back on the chair. He was a member of the organization who always misinterpreted the puppy’s words, causing Heeseong to distrust and resent him.

Only then did Heeseong look behind the high chair, which was like a cliff to him. He could see what was hidden from the puppy’s low field of vision.

‘Damn it… you cowardly wolf cub.’

Six members of the adult wolf clan were watching over the puppy. Heeseong sighed and looked away, feeling sorry for them. He felt that Yoon Chi-young had disappeared too easily.

In the end, the puppy gave up and curled up on the chair like a bagel. Following his uneasy mind, he huddled even smaller.

‘The gambling settlement is coming up soon. Will my brother take responsibility for my mistakes too….’

As time went on, Heeseong became more and more anxious. He was physically comfortable by Yoon Chi-young’s side, but his mind was always restless.

The Dog Clan valued loyalty above all else. And the motto of the canines was that even if you betray your family, you should not betray your packmates. To Heeseong, the brother who had taken him in after he was abandoned was always a being to whom he had to repay his debt.

‘My brother must believe that I didn’t run away….’

But if he didn’t go back forcibly and delayed like this, and eventually betrayed the loyalty between the Dog Clan… he might be abandoned by the pack as well.

Heeseong anxiously looked at the clock in the distance. If he could recover faster and turn into a human, he would have a chance to escape. He hated his small and weak body today.

***

“Boss! Long time no see.”

As Yoon Chi-young entered the visiting room, Park Geon-tae hurriedly stood up and greeted him. He had dressed up in a suit for the occasion and visited the Wolf Clan’s headquarters.

Yoon Chi-young simply nodded his head in greeting and sat down on the sofa in front. He didn’t offer Park Geon-tae a seat and left him standing there. Yoon Chi-young treated Park Geon-tae comfortably, just like he did at the casino, glancing down at his watch.

“Did you have to come all the way here?”

“Yes. I have something to tell you… Are you busy?”

“Very.”

Yoon Chi-young said without hiding it. It was because he had a puppy waiting for him. However, Park Geon-tae, who didn’t know about him, exaggeratedly said that he seemed to be busy lately, and asked if his business was going well these days. Then, he belatedly got to the main point.

“Yes, it’s about the goods we traded last time….”

“Hmm, drugs?”

“Yes, that’s right. Yes….”

Park Geon-tae was flustered by the direct question. He usually talked well and acted innocent, even though he was good at talking. That’s why it was difficult for him to ask for a favor.

“It seems that the person who was transporting the goods, Kim Heeseong, has stolen them….”

“Ah… your youngest?”

“Yes. So, if you could give us some time to pay the balance until we find our youngest….”

Park Geon-tae said with difficulty. He meant that it was difficult because they were also victims, so he asked for understanding.

Yoon Chi-young nodded with a smile, but his gray eyes scanned Park Geon-tae with contempt.

“Yes. It’s suspicious that the youngest disappeared from the wolf clan headquarters, and we don’t know where the goods went… So, I guess you’re saying you can’t pay the balance right away.”

“That’s not what I meant… haha.”

Park Geon-tae glanced at Yoon Chi-young’s expression, feeling like a naked man. The other person was a VIP of the casino and a wolf clan who held a lot of black money. However, Yoon Chi-young was a very unpredictable and perceptive person, so it was difficult to please him. Park Geon-tae cursed inwardly, but he pretended to be flustered in order to catch his eye.

Then, an unexpected question came.

“Where did you get that youngest from?”

“Yes. Kim Heeseong is… huh?”

When Park Geon-tae looked up, Yoon Chi-young was waiting for his answer with an expectant look in his eyes, as if he was listening to the most interesting conversation in the world. Park Geon-tae was surprised to see a seemingly sane psychopath in front of him, but he told him what he remembered.

“It was about 5 years ago, I think? We found a puppy living alone in a house in a redevelopment area.”

“…Was he abandoned by his family?”

“It’s not certain, but it was probably because it was a shantytown. He was so weak that he was about to die… So, I guess he was abandoned.”

“Ah, I see….”

Yoon Chi-young seemed to be sad, as if it was his own story. Park Geon-tae, who knew the personalities of the VIP guests one by one, nodded his head bitterly. Yoon Chi-young was more sensitive than he thought, and he often made a profit by keeping an eye on the members of the organization who were good at talking.

“Then what does he like?”

“Huh?”

“What does he like?”

Yoon Chi-young’s smile cooled slightly. Though it was just a subtle downturn of his lips, the quick-witted Park Geon-tae noticed the difference and hastily responded.

“Well, what Heeseong likes is…”

“Yes.”

“Um. It seems he generally likes all kinds of food…”

“……”

Even as Park Geon-tae rambled, Yoon Chi-young didn’t take his eyes off him, as if watching a poor play. His gray eyes shone coolly. If it were boring, one might look away, but when it’s pitiful, one tends to see how low it can go.

Yoon Chi-young subtly tilted his head and asked.

“Don’t know?”

“No, no, I know. He really liked ramen.”

“Ah… Ramen.”

Hearing the answer, Yoon Chi-young smirked and nodded. He was already looking down somewhere on the sofa with a face tired of it all, where a certain aggressive white mass used to be.

“And the birthday?”

“It was in the summer… Around July. He was a younger brother who always made sure to celebrate my birthday, even if it passed.”

“Well… I see.”

Even with the additional explanation, Yoon Chi-young seemed half-interested. His smile had faded, and he twitched his toes, coiled from the boredom, mumbling.

“You’ve had him for 5 years. Not knowing what he likes or even his birthday. Now, to be hit from behind and not even know where he is…”

“…Yes.”

Park Geon-tae felt a chill down his back. Strangely, he felt like he had made a mistake, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Moreover, he consistently thought that Yoon Chi-young was toying with him. And seeing Yoon Chi-young suddenly laugh as if enjoying himself alone confirmed his suspicion. This guy must have some other scheme.

“Alright, I got it.”

Then Yoon Chi-young easily rose from his seat.

“I’ll go. You don’t have to make a deposit until the youngest is caught.”

“Really? Thank you for understanding! Next time you come to the casino, we will…”

“My lover is waiting.”

Yoon Chi-young said with a subtly amused smile, excusing himself without hesitation. Park Geon-tae followed beside Yoon Chi-young, chattering amiably.

“So, that’s why you haven’t visited the casino lately. Next time, please bring your lover along.”

“Sure.”

Unruffled, Yoon Chi-young stood before the door. Expressionless Wolf Clan members opened the door and waited silently. Only Yoon Chi-young seemed unbothered by the heavy atmosphere.

“Ah.”

As if remembering something, Yoon Chi-young slowly exhaled and turned halfway.

“Your youngest likes grilled eel, right?”

He said with a grin.

Before the flustered Park Geon-tae could respond, Yoon Chi-young walked out into the hallway. The last thing Park Geon-tae saw was the hem of his black coat fluttering slightly with each step of his tall figure.

Even after Yoon Chi-young left, Park Geon-tae remained rooted to the spot for a while. Unpleasant tension crawled up his spine, and he cursed under his breath.

“…What the hell? That damn brat.”

Yoon Chi-young’s last words lingered in his ears. They could have been meaningless, but coming from a cunning wolf like him, it was different. Especially if it was Yoon Chi-young…

Park Geon-tae soon fled the Wolf Clan’s territory with a hardened face. Something didn’t feel right.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 8

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

‘Why are you so late!’

The dog barked as soon as Yoon Chi-young returned.

With six members of the organization staring at him, Heeseong felt like his whole body was burning under their gazes. Even the slightest movement was met with the wolves’ eyes following him, making it impossible to wag his tail properly.

Yoon Chi-young strode over at the bark and gently picked up the ball of fur, cooing at him.

“Did you wait for me?”

The dog didn’t answer, just bared his teeth and looked away. It was his way of saying, “Don’t talk to me if you’re annoying.”

In any case, being watched by six wolves was better than being with Yoon Chi-young, but he didn’t like that logic at all. He didn’t want to admit that he had waited for Yoon Chi-young.

Thinking the dog was sulking, Yoon Chi-young cradled Heeseong in his arms and stroked him, coaxing him like a lover.

“I was wrong, okay? Just forgive me this once.”

“……”

“I’ll never leave your side again. Promise.”

‘Don’t act cute!’

If he had just left him alone, he would have simmered down on his own. But by teasing him with that handsome face, he pushed the dog to the limit. Heeseong snapped and barked at Yoon Chi-young as soon as he saw his hand.

“What are you saying? That I’m too good? You want to go home quickly?”

Yoon Chi-young asked Ji Young-bae, his canine subordinate, as he stroked the dog. He continued to let the dog bite his hand, but he always thought romantically. And Ji Young-bae always answered honestly.

“Yes, sir…. He’s saying, ‘You bastard.’”

“He’s so cute…. I see, let’s go home quickly and be alone.”

Ji Young-bae only understood half of what Heeseong said, but he always understood the swear words. That’s because there’s no dialect in swearing. It was a little less frustrating for Heeseong, but the problem was that Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to be affected at all.

The tired dog became quiet as Yoon Chi-young got into the back seat of the car. He didn’t even want to see his face, so he buried his head in Yoon Chi-young’s firm abdomen and focused on his mission.

Yoon Chi-young stroked his head, which was as big as a potato, and asked.

“Do you like ramen?”

‘Do I like it?’

It was an out-of-the-blue question. Heeseong saw no point in answering and remained still.

He hated ramen. He had eaten it so many times at the casino that he was sick of it. That’s why Heeseong would rather have warm rice with soy sauce.

Even when ignored, Yoon Chi-young asked again, this time affectionately.

“Then how about grilled eel?”

“……”

Heeseong didn’t want to react. Really.

But then his white tail started to tremble, and soon the tip of his tail was wagging busily on Yoon Chi-young’s thigh. Yoon Chi-young burst out laughing at that honest reaction and lay down on the back seat with the dog in his arms. For the first time, Heeseong resented his own tail.

‘…I only like grilled eel. Only eel.’

The dog stubbornly thought and pressed his tail down with his front paw.

The first precious food he had ever eaten had melted Heeseong’s heart, if only a little. Maybe it was because it was food that someone had prepared just for him. It was the first time in his life.

Even so, Heeseong vowed not to let himself be swept away by the specialness, but the tail he held down with his front paw kept wagging like another creature.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 9

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

They returned to the house with an entirely black interior, and a lavish Korean meal was laid out. In the center of the table, grilled eel was set up ready to be eaten. Heeseong, who was extremely hungry, started whining at the table as soon as Yoon Chi-young washed his hands and sat down, begging to be fed.

Yoon Chi-young, who was feeding the dog porridge first – baby food for humans – said.

“I’ve never fed anyone like this before in my life.”

‘Do you think any other organization boss would feed me?’

Heeseong was now used to talking to himself. Yoon Chi-young seemed to be the same, as he tenderly spoke to Heeseong in an affectionate voice while peeling the eel with his long fingers.

“Puppy. I have to go somewhere I don’t want to go tomorrow… Will you come with me?”

‘No.’

Heeseong didn’t want to go. He had to somehow separate from Yoon Chi-young and try to escape, or at least try to turn into a human.

And in fact, the dog wanted to get away from Yoon Chi-young, who was crazy about skinship. Yoon Chi-young fondled the dog’s body so much that Heeseong had dreams of his body being crushed like clay. The dog needed some time alone too.

When the puppy didn’t react much and just stared at the eel, Yoon Chi-young said with a disappointed look.

“You’re not going to come? I can’t go anywhere without you…”

‘…Damn it.’

The eel dangled in front of Heeseong’s eyes like bait. The dog stood on two paws on the table just to get that far away from it.

The puppy looked up at Yoon Chi-young with murderous intent. But even more than Yoon Chi-young’s charming smile, the eel caught his eye first. The plump, red-hot flesh was cooked to perfection.

In the end, it was the tail that betrayed the puppy first. Heeseong, whose tail was wagging furiously, reluctantly accepted by snapping at the eel…

“So you’re coming with me?”

‘You would have taken me anyway.’

No matter how much the puppy acted up, Yoon Chi-young would have taken him everywhere. It was easy to predict, considering how he had been carrying the dog around in his arms for the past three weeks.

“Tomorrow, we’re going to my older sister’s inauguration ceremony as the head of the family.”

In a peaceful atmosphere, Yoon Chi-young spoke to the dog as he peeled grilled eel for him.

“I have two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger sister…”

‘Five wolf siblings? That’s more brutal than a fairy tale.’

“When I was young, I wanted to be the head of the family like my siblings.”

‘Yeah, right.’

The puppy listened half-heartedly and quickly ate another piece of grilled eel. Then he accidentally spilled eel on Yoon Chi-young’s pants, but Yoon Chi-young didn’t scold him. Instead, he told him not to eat the fallen food, cleaned it up, and peeled a new piece of eel for him.

“But I’m not in a position to do that.”

“……?”

It was a bitter remark. The dog looked up at Yoon Chi-young with a puzzled look.

‘Why?’

He tilted his head to show that he was curious, but there was no answer. Yoon Chi-young simply peeled the eel beautifully and placed it on the plate in front of the puppy. The puppy, feeling uncomfortable with Yoon Chi-young’s suddenly gloomy mood, pushed the plate back towards Yoon Chi-young.

‘Is he now complaining to me?’

He didn’t give up the eel to cheer him up. He was just a little full, and it bothered him that the guy who was always teasing him was now listless.

Only then did Yoon Chi-young burst into soft laughter as the puppy pushed the plate forward with his front paw. Then he ate the eel that the puppy had given him. He even tried to kiss him on the cheek, but Heeseong turned away in disgust.

Still, Heeseong couldn’t help but worry about him.

‘…Does this guy not have any family or friends he can talk to because he’s the boss of the organization?’

Mal Su-in, who was the closest thing he had to a friend, had personally broken his bones, and now he was talking to the puppy and giving him affection. His family situation didn’t seem good either. From what Heeseong had seen, Yoon Chi-young’s sister despised him, and most of the subordinates he met were afraid of him. Heeseong had a few friends in the organization, so he felt a little sorry for Yoon Chi-young, who was always alone.

The puppy, who was thinking about this, shuddered.

‘Why am I feeling sorry for this guy?’

What’s the point, he’s a filthy rich guy?

The puppy narrowed his eyes again and didn’t let his guard down.

Heeseong, who had worked in the casino, knew how much money Yoon Chi-young gambled in one night. He easily threw away the money that Heeseong would have to work for years to earn.

“Come on, have another bite.”

Just then, Yoon Chi-young offered Heeseong a piece of

tteokgalbi

(grilled marinated short rib) cut into the size of a baby’s fingernail, with a few grains of rice attached. The puppy, who had been looking at it carefully, grabbed the tteokgalbi and ate it. Then he looked around the table. The huge marble table was filled with luxurious food, but the only ones sitting there were Yoon Chi-young and himself.

‘…Still, this isn’t something that can be bought with money.’

Heeseong, who thought bitterly, walked across the table to Yoon Chi-young. Then he jumped straight onto Yoon Chi-young’s lap. It was the first time he had ever gone into the man’s arms first. Yoon Chi-young, knowing this, put the food aside and hugged the puppy.

Suddenly, his brother’s nagging came to Heeseong’s mind.

〈Heeseong, you fool, what are you going to do if you’re so weak to affection? Just because someone is nice to you doesn’t mean they’re a good person.〉

But Heeseong couldn’t leave it at that as he looked at Yoon Chi-young’s happy and handsome face.

‘…If my brother saw me like this, he would have nagged me again….’

Heeseong felt pathetic for himself, but he quietly stayed in Yoon Chi-young’s arms.

Yoon Chi-young enjoyed his late meal with the puppy in his arms. However, the puppy did get a little angry when he accidentally spilled some sauce on the it’s white head.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 10

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

The Wolf Clan’s event was elegant and splendid. It was held in a high-ceilinged hotel that Heeseong had never seen before. There, the puppy with the condiment stain on its head – which wouldn’t wash off – clung to Yoon Chi-young’s hand and watched the purebred wolves. There were famous baseball and soccer players, as well as high-ranking industry figures and movie actors.

The strange thing was that everyone came to greet Yoon Chi-young, at least superficially.

“Long time no see, Director. How have you been?”

Yoon Chi-young’s response varied depending on the person. Of course, the wolves’ reactions also changed each time.

If he answered, “I’ve been a bit busy, thanks to you,” the wolves would turn pale and fidget.

If he answered, “I’m the same as always,” the wolves would still find him difficult to deal with and smile awkwardly.

It seemed that the only way to pass was to answer, “I’ve been rather bored lately.” When the wolves who were talking to Yoon Chi-young heard that answer, their expressions would brighten slightly.

‘Do they all hate being noticed by Yoon Chi-young?’

After watching the scene from his arms so many times, the puppy was now able to analyze the wolves’ reactions. They all found Yoon Chi-young difficult to deal with or even feared him, and there was a hint of contempt in the depths of their eyes. On the other hand, it was strange that Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to find anyone particularly difficult to deal with, whether they were old or famous.

As time went on, the inauguration ceremony for the new leader began.

The purebred wolves sat in their seats with solemn faces, ready for the event. The surroundings were brightly and lavishly decorated, but Heeseong felt a subtle tension in the air. Perhaps it was because of the pheromones that were faintly emanating from the nervous wolves.

“Don’t you hate the smell here? Stay over there for a bit.”

For some reason, Yoon Chi-young seemed worried about the puppy and asked Heeseong to leave him somewhere else. His expression was full of displeasure. Heeseong, who wasn’t as sensitive to pheromones, didn’t really mind where he was, but he ended up being handed over to Ji Young-bae, one of the organization members who was standing by the wall of the event hall.

“Do whatever the puppy wants.”

Ji Young-bae, who had even received a special order, nodded seriously. As soon as Yoon Chi-young returned to his seat, Heeseong muttered what he wanted.

‘Get me out of here.’

“Do you want to go to the bathroom?”

“…….”

The puppy gave up right away. Since they could only understand each other halfway, Heeseong got tired after talking to Ji Young-bae for just a bit. He would rather talk to Yoon Chi-young, who muttered to himself.

The puppy, who was staring blankly ahead, noticed something strange.

‘What is that?’

The purebred wolves were sitting around round tables in groups of three or five.

However, at Yoon Chi-young’s table in the front, he was the only one sitting there gracefully.

Curious, Heeseong pointed to Yoon Chi-young with his front paw and asked Ji Young-bae.

‘Is he an outcast?’

“No.”

‘Oh, you understood what I just said?’

The puppy looked up, his black eyes shining. He saw Ji Young-bae’s usual expressionless and serious face.

“The director is not a potato, he is a wolf.”

‘You’re annoying too.’

Heeseong hit Ji Young-bae’s hand with his front paw and got angry. This was how it always was, and he gave up on the conversation.

Still unable to contain his curiosity, he used more precise body language this time.

‘Why. Is. He. Alone?’

Fortunately, Ji Young-bae seemed to understand this time.

“Ah. It’s special treatment. The director is the watcher of the clan, that’s why.”

‘Watcher?’

Since he couldn’t express the word “watcher” with body language, he deliberately made a big show of being puzzled. Fortunately, Ji Young-bae understood what he meant just by tilting his head.

“The wolf clan values purity and dignity, so it is strict about internal strife and betrayal.”

‘What’s that.’

“That’s why the wolf clan has a separate watcher who deals with troublemakers and traitors directly.”

‘…What?’

The puppy’s face became blank. In his black eyes, he could see Yoon Chi-young’s broad back and relaxed figure sitting alone at the table.

‘Then, the watcher is someone who… watches their own family members and kills them with their own hands if they betray them?’

Come to think of it, Yoon Chi-young had said to Yoon Geon-young last time that he didn’t want his sister to die. If he inferred the meaning of those words, it seemed that Yoon Chi-young had already had the experience of dealing with his own family members directly.

〈But that’s not a position that just anyone can have.〉

However, it didn’t seem like Yoon Chi-young had become a watcher on his own accord. Something was strange.

The puppy again waved his front paws and tail vigorously and showed Ji Young-bae body language.

‘What happens then?’

‘Who becomes the watcher?’

‘Why did he become it?!’

After a few communication errors, Heeseong finally got the answer he wanted.

“Ah, the watcher has always been the strongest one who inherited the wolf’s blood the most directly. Instead, they grow up separated from their family from a young age and receive special training.”

‘If he’s the strongest, why isn’t he the leader?’

Heeseong pointed to Yoon Geon-young, who was standing on the stage. He couldn’t understand why Yoon Geon-young, not the strongest Yoon Chi-young, was the next leader of the clan.

Ji Young-bae, as if he had anticipated that question, explained it in a deep voice.

“The leader of the wolf clan is chosen by the wisest one.”

‘…These crazy guys.’

Didn’t that mean that Yoon Chi-young was raised separately from a young age to be a part of the infighting among his own kind because he had the strongest wolf blood?

“…That’s why all the clan members are afraid of the watcher.”

And yet, everyone was wary of the watcher. Even though they were family. Heeseong stared at Yoon Chi-young’s back for a long time.

‘What kind of family ostracizes their own child?’

For some reason, the puppy was getting heated up about this situation. He didn’t know why. At least the hunters who had raised Heeseong hadn’t raised him separately to play a role in infighting. For the hunters who were united by loyalty, such a thing was out of the question.

‘I want to go to him.’

“Yes?”

‘To him. I’m going. Me.’

The puppy showed his body language very politely. His eyes also shone brightly. But Ji Young-bae hesitated, glancing back and forth between the puppy and Yoon Chi-young.

“But….”

The puppy glared sternly at the hesitant Ji Young-bae.

In the end, Ji Young-bae, unable to resist the puppy’s pleading eyes, carefully entered the solemn place. After all, he had to follow orders. The boss had said to do whatever the puppy wanted.

“Director.”

Ji Young-bae was the only one speaking and moving around in the middle of the ongoing inauguration ceremony. He cautiously held out the angry puppy to Yoon Chi-young, who turned his head with a bored expression.

“The puppy insists on going to the director….”

“Ah… Right. Come here.”

Yoon Chi-young smiled for the first time. He took the fierce-looking puppy and held him quietly in his arms. A few disgruntled clan members’ eyes gathered, but no one dared to speak directly to Yoon Chi-young.

Finally, Ji Young-bae didn’t forget to relay the message.

“And the puppy said… not to be discouraged.”

“

Gulp

,

gurgle…

!”

Yoon Chi-young, who was drinking wine, hiccupped. A red, clear liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth and left a red mark on the white puppy’s back like rose petals.

‘Hey, this….’

Heeseong, who had been hit with wine for no reason, frowned angrily and looked back and forth between his back and Yoon Chi-young. He was already annoyed by the delicious smell of the condiment stain left on his head that had been wafting all day, and now he had the fragrant smell of wine on his body.

But Yoon Chi-young wasn’t in a state to care about the angry puppy. Covering his face with his large hand, Yoon Chi-young was busy shaking his shoulders and holding back his laughter.

‘You’re spilling wine on my back and laughing now?’

Although he was dissatisfied, the puppy stayed in Yoon Chi-young’s arms until the end of the event. When he felt the unpleasant gazes of the clan members, he glared fiercely at the purebred wolves.

After the event, the puppy also did his own part.

‘You’re a puppy too.’

‘You too, damn it!’

Whenever the purebred wolves approached Yoon Chi-young with difficulty, the puppy would bare his teeth and try to bite their hands. The wolves, who saw the cheeky puppy, looked like they would tear him to pieces right away, but they would run away as if they were fleeing, seeing Yoon Chi-young’s cold expression.

“Ha, our puppy is getting rid of all the annoying wolves.”

For the first time, Yoon Chi-young laughed out loud in the spacious hall.

Then Yoon Chi-young saw his own reflection in the marble on the side. The sight of himself laughing happily under the golden chandelier was like a scene from a movie. And even the bad-tempered puppy in his arms felt perfect. It was a feeling he had never felt before at a family event.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 11

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

The Dog Clan’s casino opened for business at night. Park Geon-tae, who had arrived late in the evening, sat in his office with a serious face, lost in thought.

〈Your youngest likes grilled eel.〉

Yoon Chi-young had definitely said that last time. It could have been a simple remark, but Park Geon-tae couldn’t just let it go.

‘There’s no way that kid could have eaten something as expensive as eel.’

Heeseong worked 6.5 days a week and slept whenever he had a day off. He was the kind of guy who would rather sleep than eat, acting like a sleep demon. It was because his body was so weak. On top of that, he didn’t get paid much, since Park Geon-tae had taken it upon himself to manage his salary, so he probably didn’t have any money to buy food.

That’s why Park Geon-tae found Yoon Chi-young’s words unsettling. It could be a clue that the Wolf Clan was harboring the missing Heeseong.

‘If Gyeon Heeseong is alive… my boss will eventually find out that I embezzled the money.’

This time, Park Geon-tae had embezzled the drugs he had received from the Wolf Clan for his own personal gain. And he had pinned the blame squarely on Heeseong.

The drugs that Hyeon Heeseong had received that day were worth about 100 million won.

In the casino, the money that came and went wasn’t a big deal, but for Park Geon-tae, it was money he personally needed.

‘I thought I was finally getting the hang of this world… Damn it.’

In his youth, Park Geon-tae incurred a significant debt at the casino due to gambling and ended up working there with nothing to his name. Just when he had almost paid off his debt through hard work and even secured the position of casino manager, he found a new dream.

He met a woman he wanted to marry. Having lived his whole life as an orphan without a family, Park Geon-tae longed to build a happy home. To do so, he needed to fully settle his debts and leave this underworld before the woman discovered his true identity and ran away.

“Let’s do this one last job and then we’re out.”

The words he had said to Heeseong were actually meant for himself.

However, Park Geon-tae didn’t feel particularly sorry for deceiving Heeseong.

‘I took in that abandoned guy, fed him, sheltered him, cleaned up his messes, and raised him, damn it.’

Although he had used Heeseong’s earnings to pay off his own debts, Park Geon-tae felt he was fully entitled to do so. After all, hadn’t he taken care of Heeseong for five years? He had grown up entirely on his own.

With no guilt, he planned the job boldly. The wolves wouldn’t dare touch the leader of the Gyeon clan, so in their territory, they handled Heeseong and smuggled out the goods.

By delaying the final payment and making a fuss about looking for his “beloved brother” a while later, he expected the wolves, with their strong territorial instincts, to show their teeth for such a trivial intrusion. He thought that even the leader of the Dog clan would curse out the youngest for running away with the goods and let it slide.

“But what if… what if Yoon Chi-young is keeping Heeseong alive and taking him with him…

‘…Is that cannibalistic wolf cub threatening me?’

In any case, he might be seriously angry because I committed a foul deed in the werewolf territory.

‘But no matter what, there’s no way that psychopath cub would play with a dog, right?’

Geon-tae Park didn’t have the slightest thought that Yoon Chi-young would feel any affection for Heeseong. Even if he had taken Heeseong, it was clear that he would just play with him like a simple gambling interest and then throw him away. Heeseong’s personality was also dirty, so he wasn’t the kind of guy who could meet anyone normally.

However, even if it wasn’t a romantic relationship, it was dangerous if Yoon Chi-young was taking Heeseong with him. If this plan failed, he would become the target of the werewolves.

In the end, Geon-tae Park tried to get information through his connections. Fortunately, there was one crazy guy who was constantly looking for Heeseong.

“Damn it, why are you asking me about Yoon Chi-young? Bring me Heeseong!”

It was Kwon Ki-hyuk, the talkative one.

He had recently put a cast on his right arm and would only come to the casino drunk and look for Heeseong. Every time, his eyes would turn red and glow with madness, as if he was looking for his parents’ enemy.

“President Kwon. I’m really frustrated too…”

Geon-tae Park gently soothed and flattered him in a room attached to the casino.

In any case, Kwon Ki-hyuk was on good terms with Yoon Chi-young. Besides, he was looking for Heeseong like crazy, so he might give him some information if he dropped a hint.

“Actually, our Heeseong disappeared from the werewolf territory this time. But no matter how hard we look, we can’t find any trace of him…”

“In Yoon Chi-young’s territory, Heeseong?”

“Yes. He’s a small dog with a white body.”

“…”

Kwon Ki-hyuk’s brows furrowed as if something seemed off. Lost in thought for a moment, he took another sip of his drink and asked.

“Can an adult’s true form be a puppy?”

“Yes. Gyeon Heeseong was especially small. His father was a Jindo dog, but I heard his mother was a very small Maltese…”

Park Geon-tae spoke without hesitation about Heeseong’s secret, which he had kept hidden all his life. Given his current precarious situation, he needed to spill some information to grasp at any leads.

Kwon Ki-hyuk then chuckled.

“This situation seems f*cking hilarious… Hand me a pen.”

He searched for a pen and quickly sketched something on paper with his left hand. It was a crude drawing, resembling two potatoes stuck together with folded ears added on top. He then showed his creation to Park Geon-tae.

“Is his true form really this small?”

“…Yes.”

“Ha, damn. Then it’s true.”

Kwon Ki-hyuk laughed as if he hadn’t even considered the possibility.

“Yoon Chi-young recently started carrying around a white puppy. One with a limp in its hind leg.”

“……!”

That greatly increased the chances of it being Gyeon Heeseong. The people he had hired mentioned stabbing Gyeon Heeseong in the thigh. Park Geon-tae felt a chill. He didn’t know what Yoon Chi-young was plotting, but his own scheme couldn’t be discovered.

“Boss. If you could provide more details, we could…”

“I’ll tell you.”

Kwon Ki-hyuk leaned back arrogantly in his seat. Looking particularly haggard since his arm broke, he crumpled the paper and tossed it aside, saying,

“When you find Gyeon Heeseong, you must sell him to me.”

“……”

“I’ll give you everything, information or whatever, if you promise.”

Park Geon-tae caught sight of the crumpled paper. The roughly drawn puppy was visible on it. Although it was an uncomfortable topic, his “beloved brother” wasn’t worth trading his own life for. Besides, Park Geon-tae wanted to deal with this matter and wash his hands clean, once and for all.

Still, he asked, holding onto a sliver of hope.

“What do you intend to use Gyeon Heeseong for?”

“Why?”

Kwon Ki-hyuk chewed on his food and tilted his head loosely. His red eyes flashed in the whites of his eyes, which were bloodshot.

“I’m going to play with that hole until it breaks. Does the price change depending on how it’s used? How much do you want?”

“…No. We’ll hand him over as soon as we’re done with him.”

Park Geon-tae needed his help. Yoon Chi-young’s information was not only difficult to obtain, but since this talkative man also wanted Gyeon Heeseong, it was a win-win situation anyway.

‘How much will I have to hand over Heeseong to make up for my losses?’

Moreover, if he handed Heeseong over to this perverted talker, he would be able to make a lot of money.

That night, Park Geon-tae began to think carefully as he listened to all sorts of information from Kwon Ki-hyuk. In order to figure out the intentions of the cunning werewolf.

**

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 12

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

After the werewolf clan’s event, Yoon Chi-young didn’t go straight home.

“Puppy, just wait a minute. Okay?”

Instead, he left the puppy with Ji Young-bae and hurriedly disappeared somewhere. Heeseong watched Yoon Chi-young’s back as he walked away, wondering what was going on.

‘Is he giving me a chance to escape?’

Otherwise, there’s no way a guy who’s crazy about skinship would do this. It was strange.

The puppy was left in the quiet waiting room with three members of the organization. It was a relief that he was now being watched by three instead of six like last time. The puppy was so sleepy that he dozed off and fell asleep sideways on Ji Young-bae’s palm. Ji Young-bae, with his delicate hands, carefully covered the puppy with a puppy blanket – which was originally Yoon Chi-young’s handkerchief. It was very comfortable.

After a while, the puppy woke up and got up to wash his paws like a cat. He woke up quickly, probably because it wasn’t a big bed.

‘Hasn’t it even been an hour?’

The puppy checked Ji Young-bae’s watch with his paw and saw that an hour had passed. The puppy, who had woken up from a nap, rubbed his head, which was stained with seasoning, on the handkerchief.

At that moment, the door opened and a soft voice was heard.

“I’m here, did you wait?”

Yoon Chi-young, walking in quickly, appeared. Heeseong bared his teeth. He had waited for Yoon Chi-young for a whole hour. He was so sleepy he could die.

‘I waited for you, but you even changed your clothes?’

Yoon Chi-young even came dressed in a new suit. As soon as the puppy saw Yoon Chi-young from a distance of ten steps, he glared at him as if he wanted to kill him. Perhaps that look only looked sullen to Yoon Chi-young, because he smiled brightly in return.

“I’m sorry, I tried to deal with it quickly….”

‘You might as well leave me alone, why did you go with the werewolves…!’

The puppy’s limp body, which had been growling, suddenly froze.

He smelled a strong smell of blood from Yoon Chi-young, who had approached him. Although he seemed to be trying to cover up the smell of blood with the smell of soap and perfume after changing his clothes neatly, he could not fool the puppy’s sharp sense of smell.

‘There was no smell of blood before? …You have a sensitive sense of smell, so why did you put on perfume?’

The puppy’s face, which had been angry, became dazed. Even when Yoon Chi-young kindly told him that they should go home now, he did not react at all and checked his body odor again.

The puppy sniffed the hands that were close to him. It was faint, but it was definitely the smell of blood.

‘Who did you deal with?’

Since this was a place where pure-blooded werewolves gathered, Yoon Chi-young must have been doing his duty as a guard.

Along with the thought, a strong memory flashed through Heeseong’s head. The bloody man who had once collapsed in front of Yoon Chi-young. Along with the memory, the fear he felt that day came back with a chill.

“I came as soon as I could… Are you angry?”

“…….”

Even when Yoon Chi-young lifted the puppy up to his face and spoke, Heeseong could not bring himself to meet his eyes.

It wasn’t out of fear. In fact, even if he felt that way, Heeseong didn’t want to be afraid of him. He didn’t want to be like the pure-blooded werewolves who raised the child as a guard and gave him dirty work, and then despised and feared him.

However, he couldn’t help but stiffen up with tension. Heeseong grew up in the hands of dogs who valued loyalty. Yoon Chi-young, who had just dealt with his own kind, suddenly felt so far away.

“Have you ever been like that, puppy?”

Unbeknownst to his terrified heart, Yoon Chi-young hugged the puppy and kissed his fluffy back. His hands were as gentle as if he were handling a jewel, but as he got closer, the smell of blood became more pronounced. Hiccup. Eventually, the puppy started to hiccup.

Yoon Chi-young carefully stroked the puppy as he spoke.

“At first, to be honest, he was just a guy I liked a little bit….”

“…

Hiccup

.”

“Now I want to look good to him, so I’m even doing things I didn’t used to do.”

Yoon Chi-young touched his face and laughed, perhaps feeling embarrassed at what he had just said. Seeing a handsome face acting shy, he looked like an actor who was just starting to date, but the puppy just thought nervously.

‘…Who the hell is he trying to look good to?’

It couldn’t be himself as a puppy, so it could be his family at the banquet or someone else. Flinch. The puppy, overwhelmed with fear, hiccupped again loudly. His fluffy body stiffened for a moment before returning to its original shape. He still couldn’t meet Yoon Chi-young’s gray eyes.

Just a moment ago, he had told Yoon Chi-young not to be intimidated, but he was ashamed of himself for being so scared. It wasn’t like Yoon Chi-young had wanted to do it either.

‘Don’t you have to be a watchdog? Just do something like a potato….’

Heeseong wanted to say that for no reason. He didn’t know why he wanted to tell him that. However, fratricide was a huge wall that was most difficult for Heeseong to accept.

“Why is our puppy hiccupping so much?”

Yoon Chi-young looked at the puppy with concern, bringing his face closer. He held the puppy in his arms and stroked his back gently. It was clearly a loving gesture, but Heeseong had a hard time calming down and hiccupped for a long time.

“Puppy….”

Sensing something strange, Yoon Chi-young whispered as he held the puppy to his shoulder.

“I didn’t do anything bad.”

“…….”

“I really did. I just gave him a warning today.”

‘Is that the problem now?’

Heeseong wanted to argue that way, but he still felt a little less tense.

After all, Heeseong was used to the smell of blood. He had originally rolled around in a gambling den where accidents happened several times a night. Knowing the rules of this world, he could easily ignore what Yoon Chi-young was doing.

“You must;ve been very surprised…. I’ll have to feed you something delicious and put you to bed when we get home.”

Soon, Yoon Chi-young walked through the large hall with the puppy in his arms. The members of the organization followed him, and the pure-blooded werewolves stepped back with hardened faces to make way for Yoon Chi-young as he walked.

Heeseong watched the scene strangely. They were also werewolves with a keen sense of smell, so they must have smelled the blood that Yoon Chi-young was giving off. And they must have felt scared, just like himself, after noticing what Yoon Chi-young had just done. Even though it was a role they had been forced into.

‘…I’m not going to be afraid of you.’

Seeing that scene, Heeseong thought to himself as if he were making a vow. He was determined not to be afraid, as much as he hated himself for being afraid even after knowing Yoon Chi-young’s circumstances.

‘I’m a watchdog, so I’m not going to act cowardly like those wolves.’

After ruminating his thoughts, the puppy glared at Yoon Chi-young as usual.

“Are you just going to look at me now?”

Yoon Chi-young, who finally met his black and round eyes, smiled beautifully. He even took a video of the puppy hiccupping, thinking it was cute. Although the video did not contain any determination, the puppy’s eyes, filled with firm thoughts, were captured perfectly.

The round dog’s determination to judge him based on what he saw and experienced with his own eyes.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 13

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

After attending the werewolf clan event, Yoon Chi-young headed to the hotel, saying that his house was far away.

“No pets are allowed in the hotel.”

‘You can either leave me or take me with you.’

While the puppy was absentmindedly looking at the night view outside the car window, Yoon Chi-young had already found and implemented an alternative.

“This is better than my coat pocket, right?”

‘This again!’

This time, the puppy was put inside the suit jacket. Heeseong desperately struggled because he didn’t want to lean on the man’s chest, but Yoon Chi-young tried to appease him with a kiss, saying it was okay, so he had no choice but to voluntarily take refuge inside the jacket. Then, the left side of Yoon Chi-young’s chest bulged as if he had hidden a piece of bread there.

‘I’m tired….’

But once he settled down, it was quite okay. The puppy gradually flattened out in comfort. He hated to admit it, but it was quite comfortable and much warmer than his coat pocket. Yoon Chi-young took care of his body by having a separate room at home and exercising every day, so it wasn’t bad to sleep leaning on his well-trained chest.

Meanwhile, various sounds could be heard from outside. The sound of Yoon Chi-young entering the hotel lobby and the polite conversation of check-in could be heard. In addition, the sound of him greeting a young man he met in the elevator in a friendly manner could also be heard.

Yoon Chi-young whispered to the child he had met for the first time.

“Shall I show you something scary?”

No matter what noise was heard outside, Heeseong in his arms just fell asleep. Soon Yoon Chi-young bent down and slightly opened the jacket that wrapped the puppy. Wow, the sound of the child exclaiming with joy, saying that he was cute, followed. Heeseong’s ears twitched in surprise, but he didn’t wake up. He just thought that Yoon Chi-young didn’t really look like a gang boss.

Click

.

Soon, after the sound of entering the room, Yoon Chi-young’s voice could be heard talking to himself in the quiet space.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t feed you dinner….”

‘…You’re not talking about me, are you?’

The puppy opened his sleepy eyes dimly. It seemed like Yoon Chi-young had been talking to himself more strangely lately, but it was also ambiguous whether he was trying to be funny. In the first place, Heeseong was now a puppy.

Just then, a large hand reached into the jacket and carefully pulled out the warm puppy.

“Shall we eat and sleep together?”

‘I don’t want to go out!’

Yoon Chi-young interrupted his sleep just when he was perfectly comfortable. However, Heeseong didn’t have the energy to bite and attack him, so he just sat on the table as he was put down.

The hotel room service menu was spread out in front of the puppy.

“What do you want to eat?”

“……?”

The puppy just blinked his eyes at the question.

‘Are you crazy? Why does a bowl of

gukbap

cost 50,000 won?’

The price was unbelievable. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to care about the price and suggested eating Korean food before going to bed, pointing at the menu.

“Shall we eat a full-course

galbi

meals and sleep? I think the puppy can digest it, right?”

Heeseong had poor digestion, so Yoon Chi-young was always very careful about his diet. Heeseong, who was planning to eat a little anyway, nodded without thinking much.

Room service was set up by the time Yoon Chi-young came out of the shower. The puppy also washed his body briefly at the sink and came out wrapped in a towel like a burrito. As soon as he sat down, Yoon Chi-young fed the puppy some shredded galbi with a few spoonfuls of rice.

“How is it? Tasty?”

‘…Woah, wow.’

The eyes of the puppy, who had been drowsy, widened in astonishment.

The succulent ribs, thought to be a luxury because of their price, were the most delicious meat Heeseong had ever tasted in his life. In truth, he hadn’t had ribs many times, but that was the case.

‘More, give me more.’

For once, Heeseong clung to Yoon Chi-young’s wrist to receive the food. Yoon Chi-young happily fed the puppy the rib meat, and then belatedly laughed in resignation upon seeing the rib sauce smeared around the puppy’s mouth.

“I’m raising you so preciously, but you keep getting dirty…”

The puppy, not understanding, licked his nose and then saw himself in the mirror beside him. There he was, a stain-covered puppy with sauce marks on his head, wine stains on his back, and rib sauce around his mouth.

‘Half of those stains are your doing!’

As Heeseong squirmed and showed his teeth, Yoon Chi-young pacified him with more ribs. The puppy then quietly finished a satisfying meal.

After the meal, the puppy happily lay down on the plush bed. The hotel bedding felt as soft as lying on clouds.

‘I feel good…’

By now, Heeseong had gotten somewhat used to living with Yoon Chi-young and enjoying luxuries. All these were strange things he was experiencing for the first time in his life, yet he seemed to adapt quickly.

“……”

However, when he felt this way, Heeseong would become a bit melancholic.

It was because he was enjoying these things under false pretenses, things that weren’t originally his. If he had been discovered not to be just a puppy but the beastman Gyeon Heeseong, he wouldn’t have been enjoying these luxuries but rather busy dealing with the aftermath of his actions. Perhaps out of guilt, Heeseong suddenly missed being at the casino where he could be in his true form.

But then the puppy thought decisively.

‘No. …I won’t miss the casino, no matter what.’

Multiple reasons surfaced as to why he disliked it, even when he tried not to think about them. There were the customers who harassed him. The memory of those who tried to buy him with money and then cursed and abused him when he refused. And there was his older brother who had scolded him, telling him to just endure it. All of it was painful.

‘…I wish my brother was always on my side like Yoon Chi-young.’

The puppy shook his head quickly at the thought. Hee couldn’t compare his brother, who was of the same species and had taken him in, to this cannibalistic wolf. After all, his brother was Heeseong’s benefactor.

Belatedly, the puppy lifted his head, puzzled.

‘Why are you so quiet?’

Normally, Yoon Chi-young would cling to the puppy the moment he lay down on the bed, but today he was strangely quiet. The puppy, who had a suspicious feeling that he was up to something, approached Yoon Chi-young’s face with his fur raised all over his body due to static electricity.

‘…Are you sick again?’

Yoon Chi-young, his black wolf ears exposed like last time, was breathing heavily. He was hunched over to the side, his brows furrowed in a look of obvious pain.

The puppy had seen this sight several times before. The time Yoon Chi-young suffered in pain at night was gradually increasing. As the doctor had warned last time, it was probably the pain caused by his inability to suppress his pheromones.

“Ugh, haah….”

‘Why don’t you just transform? You can just turn into a wolf.’

Come to think of it, Yoon Chi-young had never shown Heeseong his true form. Even though they were together 24 hours a day, he hid his true form to the point of being obsessive.

Did he think he would be scared because he was a puppy? However, Heeseong had grown up among aggressive fighting dogs, so he wasn’t afraid of wolves.

“Hey, transform. I’m not afraid of wolves. If you keep accumulating pheromones like this, you’ll get pheromone shock.”

The puppy spoke to Yoon Chi-young. To him, it would just sound like a puppy growling, but Heeseong was serious.

For a purebred beastmen, pheromones were like poison if they accumulated in the body. They had to periodically return to their true form or release them through sexual intercourse.

If pheromones accumulated like poison and caused pheromone shock, a purebred would lose control of their aggression and become violent. In severe cases, it could even lead to self-harm. Therefore, it was extremely important for a purebred to regularly release their pheromones.

“Puppy….”

Yoon Chi-young smiled faintly at the puppy’s nagging. His hair was slightly damp with sweat, and he raised the corners of his eyes beautifully. Heeseong was annoyed that he was so handsome, but he obediently listened to him.

“I’m glad the puppy took my side today….”

‘Are you saying that when you’re in pain?’

“Now the puppy also… likes me, right?”

‘Don’t get the wrong idea.’

The puppy looked at him pitifully, but still licked Yoon Chi-young’s cheek lightly. Then Yoon Chi-young caught his breath and laughed softly. Only the gray pupils in his eyes shone sharply, as if observing the puppy’s reaction.

“Even if I’m in pain… I think it’s okay to keep living like this with the puppy.”

“……”

It sounded like a romantic line, but it was different when it came from a cannibalistic wolf. The puppy knew that he had come back today with the smell of someone’s blood on his hands.

Even though he wasn’t afraid of him anymore… Heeseong became more and more anxious. It seemed that the time was approaching when the cannibalistic wolf would have to return, the more he struggled to suppress his pheromones.

And Heeseong wanted to give him a different answer.

‘I’m scared of living like this…’

The pensive puppy quietly looked at Yoon Chi-young, then mustered all his strength to cover him with a blanket.

That night, Heeseong couldn’t fall asleep until late. Lost in thought, the puppy roamed back and forth on the bed. Being small, just that much felt like a decent walk.

Finally, burrowing under the blanket, the puppy curled up between Yoon Chi-young’s thighs and thought.

‘I’m afraid I might not want to go back to being human.’

Born as a beastmen, he wondered if it was truly right to deceive others and live as a small puppy.

Yet, Heeseong was also afraid of facing the consequences as a human. It was true that he had caused trouble for Yoon Chi-young, but being robbed of drugs and facing death felt too unjust and painful to be solely his fault.

But there was something he feared even more.

It was the fear of being condemned and turned away by the brother who had taken him in. Heeseong had already been abandoned by his family once. Knowing the pain all too well, he didn’t want to be abandoned by his family again.

‘…I don’t want to be cast out of the pack.’

Tears welled up in the puppy’s black eyes as he thought. But Heeseong curled up tightly, falling asleep in an effort not to cry, slightly resenting the comfort he found by the side of a man who had once been a predator to him.

***

[TL/N: Me rn இ௰இ]

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 14

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

The next day, Heeseong still felt drained of energy. He could only eat a small portion of the egg porridge he usually enjoyed in the morning and blankly stared out the window.

“It pains my heart when the puppy doesn’t eat…”

‘…Just eat it yourself.’

Heeseong pushed the teaspoon away with his front paw. It was the first time the puppy had leftovers of the egg porridge. Yoon Chi-young quietly stroked the puppy, checked the date, and examined the wound on Heeseong’s leg. The puppy had no energy to pay attention to such things and lay sprawled on his thigh.

The puppy was confused. The worries from last night lingered until the morning.

Yoon Chi-young engaging in fratricide, and Heeseong, who could understand it in his head but struggled to accept it in his heart.

And the increasingly strong pheromones of the wolf approaching mating season, and his own heart that feared returning to being human despite it all, were confusing.

Even at the office, Heeseong leaned against Yoon Chi-young’s embrace. Now, when someone received a warning from Yoon Chi-young and turned back in fear, or when he witnessed a scene where someone’s life hung by a thread, he felt nothing. It was partly because he had seen many cruel sights at the gambling den, but the main reason was that he had grown accustomed to this place.

‘At first, I didn’t want to get caught as the beastmen who punched Yoon Chi-young in the face…’

But now, deeper concerns filled his fluffy body to the brim. Heeseong always viewed situations without much hope. As a result, the worries he couldn’t resolve only deepened.

‘…Yoon Chi-young will try to kill me anyway when I turn back into a human.’

Even though it was obvious, it bothered Heeseong.

No matter how fond Yoon Chi-young had grown of him, it was affection for the puppy, not for “Heeseong the dog.” He had been lucky to deceive him by pretending to be a puppy, but if Yoon Chi-young found out that he was actually a beastmen, and the one responsible for the incident, he would abandon him without hesitation.

Heeseong didn’t expect anything more from Yoon Chi-young anyway, but it was strange that his heart kept growing heavy.

Just then, something was held out in front of the puppy’s nose.

“Here, nom nom.”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young offered him a dried sweet potato slice. Heeseong, who had been lying on the desk, only glared at Yoon Chi-young in annoyance for a moment before turning his head and refusing the snack.

“What’s wrong with the puppy…? Are you sick?”

Yoon Chi-young mumbled worriedly and lifted his puppy in front of his face. He seemed concerned about Heeseong’s unusual behavior. Unlike usual, when he would bite and throw tantrums when hugged, the puppy remained slumped and gloomy, tightly shutting his mouth.

Soon, Heeseong was placed back on the desk. Yoon Chi-young leaned his head close to the weakly sprawled puppy and asked gently, as if comforting a lover.

“If you’re sick, should we go home? Hm?”

“……”

“Or are you tired of this place? Should we go to the beach together?”

‘…No. Don’t bother me.’

Even at the question, Heeseong curled up his body and hid his head, as if he didn’t want to listen. Today, Yoon Chi-young’s kindness toward him wasn’t making him angry or happy. He couldn’t deceive him and live as a puppy forever anyway.

At that moment, one of the organization members cautiously spoke to him.

“Boss. I have a separate report to make.”

“Just say it.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke quietly while only stroking the puppy. His low voice was completely different in tone from when he doted on the puppy.

The organization member reported concisely.

“We’ve captured the racoon clan you mentioned last time. Also… the manager of the dog clan’s gambling den has come to see you.”

“……”

The one who reacted to those words was Heeseong. The puppy finally lifted his head and turned to look at the reporting organization member.

‘My brother came all the way here?’

Usually, the gambling den manager kept even the customers’ information secret, so he wouldn’t visit a customer unless it was absolutely necessary. Instead, he had to always be ready to welcome customers, as his brother used to confidently say.

But if he had come to the wolf clan’s headquarters, it meant there was a big problem that he had to resolve in person no matter what. For example, the issue of his own disappearance.

However, the decision-maker nonchalantly stroked the puppy and said.

“Send him away. Tell him I’m on a date.”

“Yes.”

A date, he said. It was clearly an excuse to ignore the gambling den manager. But the organization members left the room after giving a solemn answer. Only Heeseong, who had just shaken his body and stood up, became anxious.

Woof…!

If his brother had come all the way here, it must be a serious matter, and no matter how much he thought about it, the only reason could be the incident he had caused. But he couldn’t let him be turned away like this. Heeseong frantically scratched Yoon Chi-young’s arm and pulled his sleeve with all his might to stop him.

“Should we have jumbo shrimp together today?”

“……”

But Yoon Chi-young only languidly asked Heeseong. Seeing that, Heeseong realized that he had no choice at all. It was the consequence of remaining as a puppy.

Heeseong had a luxurious Korean meal and jumbo shrimp for a late lunch. He sat in Yoon Chi-young’s arms and ate the food he fed him. Most of it was high-end cuisine he was tasting for the first time in his life, but Heeseong had absolutely no appetite. Moreover, the lingering thoughts in his mind tormented him constantly.

‘My brother must have come here because of me.’

It had been almost a month since he disappeared. During that time, not only his disappearance but also the vanished drugs must have made the dog clan boss not leave his brother alone. He must have intimidated him with his typical bulldog personality to somehow resolve the issue.

The puppy ended up eating less than half of his usual portion.

Yoon Chi-young didn’t blame or scold the puppy for that either. He simply ignored all the reports that came in that day and kept the puppy in his arms without letting go.

Eventually, as if concerned about the slumped puppy, Yoon Chi-young lifted the puppy and asked.

“Should we go home early today?”

‘Why are you even asking?’

He was going to do as he pleased anyway. Yoon Chi-young always asked the puppy for his opinion. Sometimes he even asked about matters that involved someone’s life. His monologues had become a familiar part of Heeseong’s daily life.

“Let’s go home, eat something delicious, and get some good rest.”

As expected, Yoon Chi-young picked up the puppy in his arms and stood up. The puppy simply remained in his arms, disgruntled. He was confused, but this guy always seemed at ease, which only made him irritated.

Yoon Chi-young put on a fancy coat and headed toward the corridor. The puppy only gazed sadly at the scenery outside the window of the tall building. As it was evening, howling could be heard from somewhere in the wolf territory, as usual.

Awooo!

Howling was a common sound in beastmen society. It was heard every time there was a festival, and when the dog clansmen were bored after drinking heavily. That’s why no one in the wolf territory paid attention to the howling.

Awoo!

Except for the puppy who grew up among fighting dogs.

“…!”

Heeseong pricked up his folded ears. Modern beastmen only howled when they were extremely excited, but fighting dogs were different. The patterns of howling differed in each territory so they could find each other.

One long howl, followed by two short howls after a pause.

It was the howling pattern used by Heeseong’s organization. They used to do it at drinking parties or organizational gatherings, but it was the first time he heard them howling to find each other.

‘My brother is looking for me.’

Heeseong instinctively knew that his fellow clansman was searching for him. Otherwise, there was no way the gambling den’s dogs would howl near the wolf clan’s headquarters.

The puppy immediately tried to reveal his location.

Awooo-!

The puppy’s howling was somewhat clumsy. But it was also a sound that announced that he, too, was a proper fighting dog of the gambling den. Heeseong instinctively informed his fellow clansman of his location through howling. He hadn’t forgotten the howling he used to imitate among the large Jindo dogs. In fact, he couldn’t forget it. Dog clans had strong solidarity, just like wolves. Upon hearing the howling, Heeseong began to search for his fellow clansman more by instinct than reason.

At that moment, as if sensing an intense gaze from above, the puppy’s body was deeply buried in someone’s arms.

“Tsk.”

It was Yoon Chi-young.

He looked down sternly with his gray eyes and gave a warning. As if soothing a young animal. But Heeseong, far from calming down, tried to push him away hard with his front paws.

‘Who do you think you are!’

The puppy struggled and was desperate to look back at the window where the sound was coming from, even for a moment. Then Yoon Chi-young let out an unusually low sigh, different from his usual self. His expressionless face was unimaginable compared to when he usually acted affectionately toward Heeseong.

“Ha…”

With his gaze turned cold, he muttered to the organization members following behind him.

“Those howling right now, kick them out of our territory immediately.”

“Yes.”

As soon as he spoke, three organization members transformed into wolves. Three huge gray wolves ran out of the building at high speed and disappeared. After that, Yoon Chi-young completely covered the puppy with his coat and hid him in his arms as he got on the elevator.

‘Let go! Let me out!’

The puppy squirmed restlessly inside his arms. Unlike usual, Yoon Chi-young didn’t soothe the puppy and quietly stood with the coat wrapped around him.

Soon, the elevator door quietly closed in front of Yoon Chi-young’s face, which had frozen coldly.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 15

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Awooo-!

Even after returning home, Heeseong continued to look out the window and howl several times. Yoon Chi-young tried to soothe the puppy, but seeing his fierce resistance, he didn’t stop him. Heeseong saw him contacting someone else, but the puppy didn’t care either.

‘My brother was looking for me.’

Heeseong was recalling the howling of his fellow clansman.

The howling he had heard earlier was definitely not from just one or two. He thought they would assume he had betrayed the pack, but the fact that they had come to the dangerous wolf territory to search for him was proof that they were waiting for Heeseong.

Moreover, his brother had come to the wolf clan’s headquarters before. He must have been believing in Heeseong until the end and searching for any clues.

Heeseong grew anxious. While he was wasting time with unnecessary worries, his fellow clansmen must have been constantly searching for him. Feeling guilty, Heeseong howled a few more meaningless times. Although his fellow clansmen were unlikely to hear it, he signaled that he was still here.

Someone approached behind the puppy.

‘Why are you here again?’

The one who carefully lifted the small body was the drug-addicted doctor. Heeseong, who didn’t even know he had come home, resisted a few times, but seeing him struggle, he gave up. He had to receive treatment well for now.

Soon, the puppy was seated on a table with a clean cloth spread out. On either side of him stood Yoon Chi-young and the doctor.

“How is the puppy doing?”

“Fortunately, he’s recovering quickly. His nutritional status is much better than when I first saw him.”

The doctor spoke with admiration. However, Yoon Chi-young stood on the opposite side with a subtle smile, quietly alternating his gaze between the puppy and the doctor. His gray eyes seemed to be unusually lowered today.

The doctor, who had been watching Yoon Chi-young’s reaction, took out tools from his doctor’s bag and said.

“Then… I’ll remove the stitches. But the puppy must not strain his leg for a while.”

“I know.”

Yoon Chi-young simply answered while stroking the puppy. Heeseong hated the sensation of the doctor removing the stitches to the point of getting goosebumps, but he endured it while thinking of a scheme in his small head.

‘If the recovery is fast, it should be okay to try transforming into a human now.’

Then he could contact his brother first and let him know the situation. If given a little more time, he would safely escape from Yoon Chi-young’s side.

Soon, the stitches that had been left ugly on his leg were removed one by one. The puppy buried his head in Yoon Chi-young’s hand and endured the pain. He was used to enduring pain.

Fortunately, the treatment ended quickly. The doctor disinfected the wound and finally examined the puppy’s teeth, eyes, and ears.

“You must have taken good care of your pet dog so far. If you maintain it well like this, it should be fine.”

‘I’m not a pet dog.’

The puppy stubbornly thought while biting the doctor’s hand, knowing he wouldn’t understand.

‘I’m a fighting dog from the gambling den.’

As soon as the doctor put him down on the floor, Heeseong limped back toward the window. He felt Yoon Chi-young’s gaze quietly watching him from behind, but Heeseong only thought about what he would do tonight.

‘I have to wait until Yoon Chi-young falls asleep.’

Yoon Chi-young had sensitive senses when he was awake, but when he slept, he took unknown pills and fell into a deep sleep. That’s why Heeseong decided to wait for the moment when Yoon Chi-young fell asleep or had no choice but to leave him alone.

Late at night came after Yoon Chi-young sent the doctor home. As it was already late, Yoon Chi-young tidied up a bit, took his medication, and tried to go to bed with the puppy.

Lying on the bed, Yoon Chi-young stared at the puppy for a long time and muttered to himself.

“At first, I didn’t know it would turn out like this…”

‘What is it now?’

“The puppy likes me too, right?”

“……”

The puppy tried hard to pretend he didn’t hear his words. He just wanted Yoon Chi-young to fall asleep quickly, no matter what he said.

Fortunately, he didn’t moan from pheromones like last night, so it seemed he would fall asleep soon. The puppy curled up his body near Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder and spent time anxiously until the man-eating wolf quieted down.

“……”

Soon, the room became silent. Yoon Chi-young’s hand, which had been habitually stroking the puppy’s body, also stopped moving. Heeseong peered at his face that had become quiet and checked the time on his smartphone. 3 a.m. It was the time Yoon Chi-young usually fell asleep.

The puppy quietly got up from his place. Then, he slid down the high bed, biting the blanket like a rope. It was a method he had naturally learned while living as a puppy.

The puppy examined his hind leg first in the dim house after entering the quiet living room.

‘It seems to have almost healed to this extent.’

Indeed, it seemed to be time to try transforming into a human, contact his brother to report the situation, and attempt the escape methods he had explored. No matter how familiar and comfortable it was by Yoon Chi-young’s side, Heeseong had to return to his place.

And Heeseong knew he couldn’t live as a puppy forever. He didn’t want to either. Heeseong wanted to live as a proper beastmen. He wanted to study and live an ordinary life like others.

Moreover, his brother had come to find him in person today. Thinking about how worried his brother must have been, he felt so sorry.

‘But if I go back to the gambling den…’

Gloom clouded the puppy’s eyes as he thought.

When he returned to being human, he had to go to the gambling den first. If that happened, he would be interrogated about losing the drugs this time and would have to take responsibility. He might have to do dirty work at the gambling den again to that extent. Being sexually harassed frequently, being beaten up by someone for no reason, cleaning up dirty rooms, kicking out customers with no money… He would work without a day off and live considering sleep as his only rest.

‘…But my fellow clansmen are looking for me.’

Heeseong’s thoughts toward his fellow clansmen were blind. Having been abandoned by his family in the past, Heeseong never wanted to be abandoned by his pack again. Never again.

The puppy looked around after making his decision.

‘I have to transform without Yoon Chi-young knowing.’

Heeseong headed to the home theater room, which was the farthest from the bedroom where Yoon Chi-young was sleeping. It was a place where Yoon Chi-young, who loved movies, often enjoyed relaxing with the puppy, and it was suitable for carrying out his plan as the lighting was dim.

Tap, tap, tap. The puppy walked carefully to minimize the sound of his claws with each step. Then he stood in front of the full-length mirror in the hallway leading to the home theater room.

The puppy closed his eyes and tried to transform. As if stretching his whole body, he forcefully stretched his stiff body.

Then, he gradually felt changes in his body.

‘Ah, ugh…’

Excruciating pain was felt in his injured leg. Heeseong’s body was instinctively refusing to change. It was a signal that he still needed recovery.

But the puppy gritted his teeth and endured it.

‘I can endure this much.’

The puppy curled up his body, trembling and enduring the painful time. However, the pain was so intense that it felt like the skin on his injured leg was tearing, and Heeseong was about to give up on transforming.

‘Ah, it hurts…’

Heeseong, who had been panting in pain while lying down, barely lifted his body. Then he saw the full-length mirror in front of him.

“Huh…?”

Heeseong’s eyes widened. His familiar appearance was reflected in the mirror.

He had succeeded. Instead of a puppy wearing a white fur coat, he saw himself transformed into a human.

Upon turning into a human, his pure white naked body was revealed. However, he hadn’t completely turned into a human, so his white puppy ears and tail remained the same.

Heeseong didn’t particularly care about his naked body and looked at the mirror with a frown.

‘Only my hair has grown longer, but I’m the same.’

Heeseong always disliked his pale and gentle appearance.

Due to his soft-looking, handsome features, strange guys often flocked to Heeseong. If only he were a bit taller, but his below-average height and slim build were always Heeseong’s concerns.

That’s why Heeseong always frowned to look fierce on his gentle face. It wasn’t very effective, but it was the only way to have a fierce expression befitting a fighting dog at the gambling den. However, when he relaxed his expression, his round puppy-like eyes still stood out. Heeseong glared at himself in the mirror with dissatisfaction, then turned his head away sharply with a frown.

Pain was intensely felt all over his body. Heeseong looked down at his thigh, where something was flowing down, with a wrinkled brow from the pain.

‘No wonder it hurts again.’

The wound on his thigh, which had barely healed, had torn again. Although it wasn’t deep, blood was already dripping and staining the floor. This was why beastmen who were injured shouldn’t carelessly transform into humans. Excessive physical transformation worsened the wounds.

‘If the smell of blood spreads, Yoon Chi-young might wake up.’

Heeseong endured the pain stoically and looked for a cloth that could stop the bleeding. Among them, he found a towel and wrapped it tightly around his thigh to stop the bleeding. He put on Yoon Chi-young’s nightgown on his exposed naked body.

Soon, Heeseong frowned, panting heavily.

‘Unnecessarily huge wolf bastard.’

Yoon Chi-young’s nightgown, which had reached his calves, dragged slightly on the ground when Heeseong wore it. He knew there was at least a head’s difference in physique, but he couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied. Whether as a puppy or a human, height and build were always a complex for Heeseong.

Swallowing his annoyance, Heeseong set his goal first.

‘I have to contact my brother first.’

As expected, his first target was Yoon Chi-young’s cell phone.

Heeseong carefully moved in the darkness to steal. Every time he moved with his heels raised, the wound on his thigh throbbed, but he didn’t care. Heeseong aimed for the bedroom first, with his puppy ears perked up sensitively.

As he approached the bedroom, he saw Yoon Chi-young sleeping loosely. Heeseong carefully approached the bed and searched for his cell phone. The phone was placed right next to Yoon Chi-young’s pillow. However, it was on the inner side of the bed, so he had to reach his arm across the man-eating wolf’s body.

Heeseong glared at Yoon Chi-young’s refreshing features and pondered.

‘He doesn’t wake up well anyway, so it should be fine, right?’

Usually, Yoon Chi-young didn’t wake up even when the puppy stepped on his body or sat on his chest, plotting murder. However, he tended to talk in his sleep, which gave the puppy a hard time. Occasionally, while sleeping, the puppy would be kidnapped by Yoon Chi-young’s hand or have his folded ears bitten like a bolt of lightning.

‘Stay still, seriously. I’m in human form.’

Although nervous, Heeseong put his pride aside and gently placed his knee on the bed like a cat. The bed was annoyingly wide, so he couldn’t reach the phone just by stretching his arm.

Heeseong carefully extended his arm over Yoon Chi-young’s upper body. The wound on his thigh throbbed, but he gritted his teeth to avoid groaning. Fortunately, when he flexibly reached out his hand, Yoon Chi-young’s cell phone was within his grasp.

However, it wasn’t that easy.

Swish.

“…!”

Yoon Chi-young, in his sleep, slipped his hand inside Heeseong’s gown. Then he naturally caressed the pale buttocks as if touching the puppy. Heeseong immediately bared his canines and let out a small growl.

Then he was surprised at himself. It was strange that he didn’t immediately throw a punch at Yoon Chi-young.

‘…Is it because I’ve been living as a puppy for so long?’

How long had they been together that he had become accustomed to skinship with Yoon Chi-young? Heeseong felt miserable about his situation. He even hated that he had grown used to living in his small puppy form, which was his complex.

Nonetheless, it was fortunate that he didn’t throw a punch this time.

Heeseong carefully removed Yoon Chi-young’s rude hand. His hand was so large that it could easily cover one of Heeseong’s buttocks. Out of spite, he wanted to bite Yoon Chi-young as usual, but Heeseong decided to let it slide this time and carefully got up.

The thieving puppy, who had finally escaped the bed, clutched the cell phone in his hand and fled from the bedroom as if running away.

Heeseong went to the room farthest from the bedroom, put the phone down on the carpet, and took a deep breath he had been holding. Due to the tension, cold sweat formed on his forehead, and his heart pounded.

‘My brother’s number must be saved.’

When he finally calmed down and touched the phone, as expected, Yoon Chi-young’s phone had no lock. The phone’s wallpaper was his selfie with an angry puppy, which was unpleasant to even look at, but Heeseong calmly recalled his brother’s number and pressed it. Fortunately, his brother’s number was saved on Yoon Chi-young’s phone, but it was carelessly added as just “Gambling Den 2.”

Heeseong hesitated to press the call button, then took a deep breath and impulsively made the call.

And before the ringtone connected three times, the other person’s voice was heard.

Yes! Manager Yoon. I’ve picked up the call.

“……”

Is there something you need? If you’re coming, should I prepare a seat for you?

The high business tone of his brother’s voice was heard through the phone call. Heeseong anxiously looked at the dark doorway, although there was no way Yoon Chi-young could hear the sound. He put the phone back to his ear, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

‘…What should I say to my brother?’

Heeseong had been in Yoon Chi-young’s arms for nearly a month. What would his brother think of him, who had disappeared while losing the drugs during that time? Would it be better for his brother if he just disappeared? Or should he tell him everything as it is? Confused, Heeseong couldn’t bring himself to open his mouth.

……

But his brother on the other end of the call was also silent. Just as Heeseong, who had been gripping the phone tensely, was about to muster up the courage to speak.

“Bro…”

Heeseong?

“……”

Heeseong’s eyes widened in surprise. With Heeseong’s short utterance, Park Gun-tae seemed to have confirmed his identity and poured out his words as usual, dropping the business tone.

Heeseong. So you were really there.

“…Brother, I…”

I know, you bastard… How much you must have suffered.

“……”

Heeseong suddenly choked up. He wasn’t the type to show tears, but tears welled up in his black eyes. His brother was so affectionate that he felt pathetic for finding comfort in the man-eating wolf’s arms. Only then did Heeseong stammer in a low voice and speak.

“Brother, I… I’m s-sorry. It’s a long story, but I was attacked and injured while bringing the goods. So…”

Heeseong, it’s all okay. I know.

“……”

Just come back for now. Okay? Don’t stay with that man-eating wolf. No matter what, isn’t your life important?

With just a few kind words, Heeseong’s eyes finally turned red. For a moment, Heeseong caught his trembling breath.

“Brother, is it… okay for me to come back?”

Why are you asking the obvious, you bastard?

His brother spoke in a worried voice, as if sighing.

We’re from the same dog clan. Everyone was so worried about you. It’s all fine, so just come back first and let’s talk. Even if there’s a problem, I’ll handle it.

“……”

Heeseong nodded, gritting his teeth. He felt pathetic for hesitating until just a moment ago.

As expected, his brother was his family.

His brother must have taken all the responsibility alone while Heeseong was gone. But hearing his brother say this first made him feel so sorry and grateful.

As expected, he couldn’t let his brother take all the responsibility alone.

Heeseong wiped away his tears and answered with a firmer gaze.

“Okay, brother.”

How did you contact me? Can’t I contact you again? Or should I come pick you up?

“No. I’ll come now, brother.”

Heeseong spoke firmly, looking at the door. Then he slowly got up from his place, keeping his voice low.

“I’ll tell you everything when I get there. Just wait a bit…”

Heeseong, is it okay for you to come out recklessly…

Click.

Heeseong hung up without listening further. He couldn’t have a longer conversation anyway because of Yoon Chi-young. No matter how spacious the house was, Yoon Chi-young had sharp ears as well as a keen sense of smell. Even if he was asleep, it was better not to engage in suspicious behavior for too long.

Soon, Heeseong, who had made up his mind, acted quickly.

‘…Let’s go back home.’

Instead of putting Yoon Chi-young’s cell phone back in its place, he threw it far outside the terrace, fearing it might wake him up. The phone, thrown with all his might from the top floor of the apartment, had a high chance of not being found. Even if it was found, it would be shattered into pieces, and the call history would be unrecoverable.

Heeseong headed to the dressing room next. The house was dim, but Heeseong had become so familiar with the layout of this house that he could draw it with his eyes closed while living as a puppy.

‘It would be better to escape in a smaller form.’

Heeseong knew that organization members came and went or were on standby around this house as well. That’s why now was the time to actively use his small puppy form to escape.

Heeseong took out Yoon Chi-young’s T-shirt and the lightest pair of sweatpants. He bundled the clothes as small as possible into a bundle the size of a melon and held it in his arms. Then he took out several 50,000 won bills hidden under the sofa and stuffed them into the bundle. It was the money he had bitten and hidden when Yoon Chi-young had left a bundle of money that smelled of blood on the table before.

The preparations for returning to his brother were complete.

Lastly, Heeseong headed to the front door and looked toward the bedroom. It wasn’t that he had any lingering attachments, but he still cared about Yoon Chi-young.

He felt a little sorry for Yoon Chi-young, who would wake up alone around lunchtime, unlike usual.

However, knowing that Yoon Chi-young would be looking for the puppy, not him, Heeseong chose to escape. He couldn’t live as a puppy forever.

Click.

Heeseong carefully opened the door and went out, deliberately not using the elevator and walking down to the underground parking lot. More blood seeped from the wound on his thigh, but he ignored it and tightened the cloth wrapped around it for hemostasis. It was very cold as it was early December, but Heeseong didn’t care as he was going to turn back into a puppy that had finished shedding its winter coat anyway.

‘Fortunately, I didn’t run into anyone.’

Heeseong, who had safely reached the underground parking lot, transformed into a puppy on the last floor. He discarded the gown and the cloth that had been tightening his leg. Fortunately, turning back into a puppy was easy.

The small puppy started running vigorously through the parking lot with the bundle in his mouth.

No matter how much he ran, the exit didn’t seem to get closer, but Heeseong didn’t give up and ran diligently.

‘It’s almost done.’

Finally, Heeseong left the luxury apartment complex far behind and transformed back into a human in a public restroom, untied the bundle, and put on the thin clothes. The bitter cold that felt like his flesh was being cut by a knife every time the wind blew was felt, but he endured it.

Lastly, Heeseong headed to the road and hailed a passing taxi. After telling the destination, Heeseong shivered and curled up his body. Then the taxi driver looked in the rearview mirror and spoke worriedly.

“Oh my… Aren’t you cold in this winter, student?”

“It’s okay.”

“You transformed back into your original form after drinking, didn’t you? Right?”

“…Yes.”

The taxi driver rambled on, saying that he had experienced the same thing when he was young. Then he turned up the heater strongly. However, his words didn’t even enter Heeseong’s ears, and he was only concerned about the wound on his leg. Red blood was seeping into the gray pants he had changed into, which belonged to Yoon Chi-young. But Heeseong calmly ignored the wound and looked out the window.

It felt strange to come out alone after a long time. Even when he worked at the gambling den, he had never properly seen the outside. Unlike near Heeseong’s gambling den, the expensive and wealthy neighborhood where Yoon Chi-young lived was quiet and clean, without any drunks vomiting or shouting in the early morning.

‘…I can’t believe the escape was this easy.’

Heeseong felt like he was going to choke up with tears.

But he tried hard to ignore those emotions. Only his brother’s words saying it was okay to come back echoed in his ears.

When he heard his brother’s words, he felt a lump in his throat, and the dog clan’s instinct for returning strongly led Heeseong… But strangely, he kept feeling nauseous and had other thoughts.

He didn’t want to go back to the gambling den.

He was afraid of being interrogated about the unjust loss of the drugs, and he was also afraid of his fellow clansmen at the gambling den who might think he was a traitor. Just as Heeseong valued loyalty, they were the same. Heeseong might have to live with the misunderstanding or label of trying to run away from the organization in the future.

But he couldn’t turn his back on the only family-like existence he had left.

‘If I don’t go back… My brother will take all the responsibility.’

In the end, Heeseong had to go to the gambling den for his brother’s sake.

Resigned, Heeseong curled up his body and took a deep breath. For now, he should only think about returning to his brother. He stubbornly closed his mouth, trying hard to console himself.

“……”

The taxi sped down the early morning road. Soon, a familiar busy street came into view. Neon signs were lined up in a dizzying array, and various beastmans were soliciting customers on the street.

Looking at that sight, Heeseong remembered something completely different.

Strangely, he thought of Yoon Chi-young, who woke up late around lunchtime and tried to kiss the small puppy. His slightly hoarse voice asking what they would do today and the touch of his hands rubbing against his body were also vivid in his memory. He had always found it annoying and irritating, but now it felt a little different.

Come to think of it, it wasn’t a bad morning.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 16

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young woke up earlier than usual.

Normally, when his pheromones intensified, he would take strong medication and sleep more deeply than usual. It was strange.

As he woke up, Yoon Chi-young habitually felt around beside him. But the puppy that should have been softly grasped in his hand was not there. Yoon Chi-young half-raised his body in bewilderment. The puppy was so small that it took some time to find him even on the bed.

“…Puppy?”

Yoon Chi-young got up with a stiff face. Suspecting something, Yoon Chi-young looked around and focused his senses on his sense of smell, revealing his sensitive black wolf ears.

However, he couldn’t grasp where the puppy was. It was rather difficult to find him by scent because the puppy’s lingering traces were left all over the house.

Yoon Chi-young got up from his seat with eyes that had become sharp as if he had never opened his sleepy eyes.

He began to look around the house. Wolves usually don’t reveal their emotions with their tails, but his black wolf tail, which protruded below his waist, was twitching from a bad feeling.

‘There’s no way Heeseong would easily leave my side.’

Yoon Chi-young knew that the puppy had been anxious after hearing the howling of his fellow clansman today. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t think Heeseong would easily leave his side, so he had fallen asleep with trust. It was because he had noticed the puppy’s character of being weak to affection.

That’s why Yoon Chi-young deliberately showed even his weak side to draw the puppy’s sympathy. He didn’t hide his suffering from the pheromones. Then the puppy would stay by his side in his arms, resting his small face against his cheek. He had treated him softly on purpose because it was cute. He believed that the puppy would have grown attached to him and wouldn’t be able to leave easily.

And now, he thought the puppy relied on him a lot.

He naturally thought Heeseong would be reluctant to return to the dirty gambling den. But the puppy had disappeared after all.

“Ha.”

As if he had never worriedly searched for the puppy, Yoon Chi-young roughly ran his fingers through his hair, his gray eyes glinting coldly. His forehead was already bulging with veins, and even his breath deepened.

Park Geon-tae.

How did that stupid fighting dog use his brain?

There really was no puppy anywhere in the house. What Yoon Chi-young discovered was Heeseong’s blood stains left in the corridor in front of the home theater room.

Yoon Chi-young headed to the living room with a stiff face. With his missing cell phone, he picked up a tablet PC that was within reach. Sitting back on the sofa, he turned on the tablet, and the CCTV footage appeared. It was the CCTV near the parking lot of Yoon Chi-young’s house.

When he fast-forwarded the time, the puppy’s figure was caught very small on the CCTV screen. It was pitiful to see him limping away with a bundle as big as his body. It was already December, so the weather was very cold. He had gone out with an injured body. Yoon Chi-young got up from his seat with a furrowed brow.

Anyway, the place the puppy would head to was obvious. The dog clan’s gambling den. It was time to go there after a long time.

***

Heeseong, who had arrived at the gambling den, deliberately tried not to think about anything. He just walked barefoot through the dirty busy streets and entered the gambling den. It was through the back door used only by the staff.

Heeseong thought of only one thing as he smelled the musty scent of the gambling den for the first time in a while.

Whether he and his brother really had no way to escape from here. But it was clear that the way out of the gambling den would only become more distant due to this incident.

“Heeseong, you’re here?”

As he entered the office, his brother stubbed out his cigarette on the desk and got up hurriedly. Park Geon-tae, who approached closely, examined Heeseong, who was shivering from the cold, and draped an old jumper over his shoulders. The guards who had been glaring at Heeseong like a traitor also all stepped back. Heeseong felt like he was going to choke up with tears and apologized first, which he rarely did.

“…I’m sorry. Brother.”

“Yeah, you should be sorry. How worried I was during that time, you bastard. Couldn’t you even contact me? Hah…”

“……”

Heeseong bit his lips tightly and lowered his gaze. He wasn’t usually the type to show tears or weakness to others, but at his brother’s words, tears welled up in his eyes.

His brother didn’t ask Heeseong any particular questions. Heeseong was rather grateful for that, as it seemed to acknowledge his hardships.

“First, drink this. You’re fine now, so relax a bit.”

“…Okay.”

Park Geon-tae poured Heeseong a glass of alcohol. Heeseong calmly wiped the corners of his eyes and sat on the old leather sofa. The creaking noise of the old sofa and the dirty floor somewhere beneath it were visible. Only then did Heeseong feel the reality of returning to the gambling den.

Park Geon-tae also sat in front of him. He looked at Heeseong, who was quietly drinking, with eyes that seemed to understand everything, then carefully opened his mouth.

“Heeseong… You must have suffered a lot during that time.”

“…No. Brother. You must have had a hard time.”

Heeseong felt really sorry toward his brother. His brother must have suffered a lot because of his disappearance. Moreover, it must have been difficult to easily find Heeseong’s whereabouts since he had disappeared in the territory of the wolf clan, but he was grateful that his brother had called for him even through howling.

Looking at the oversized clothes Heeseong was wearing, Park Geon-tae carefully asked.

“Were you really with Yoon Chi-young during that time?”

“…Yes.”

“How did you end up being with him…? Did that bastard threaten you to give him your body or something?”

“Ah, no. I was living as a puppy because of my injury, and Yoon Chi-young… just treated me like a pet.”

At those words, Park Geon-tae visibly sighed with relief.

“I see. A pet. That’s a relief…”

“……”

Heeseong wanted to correct the word “pet” for some reason but held back. It was because he couldn’t say that his relationship with Yoon Chi-young was more than that. Yoon Chi-young had really treated him as a puppy and didn’t ask for anything.

That’s why Yoon Chi-young’s side felt comfortable instead.

As soon as he thought of that, Heeseong shook his head with a start. Now that he had returned to his brother’s side, he shouldn’t have such foolish thoughts.

When Heeseong, whose throat was burning, had finished his glass, his brother carefully opened his mouth.

“Then, anyway, Yoon Chi-young thought of you as just a dog.”

“……”

“Then it’s fine, Heeseong. You can just come back to the organization.”

Heeseong wasn’t happy about his brother’s words at all.

For the past five years, Heeseong had constantly told his brother that he wanted to leave this place. But he said it was okay to come back. He rather wanted to run away together and escape. With the money Heeseong had saved, they could safely leave the organization if they had just that.

However, that hope was shattered by Park Geon-tae’s following words.

“Brother. Let’s just… even now…”

“Half of the hole created by the missing goods has been filled with the money you had saved. Let’s start over with the rest, Heeseong.”

Park Geon-tae had also swallowed the money Heeseong had earned over five years along with the money from selling drugs, but he didn’t mention it. He had already learned how to deceive Heeseong with his glib tongue from Kwon Ki-hyuk. And it was easy for Park Geon-tae to target the cash and accounts Heeseong had saved. It was something he had prepared for a long time.

“…What?”

But it wasn’t for Heeseong.

He had returned to his brother risking his life, but it was like a bolt from the blue. With the shock slowing down his judgment, Heeseong had to stare at Park Geon-tae for a long time to understand the situation.

You poured all my money into that, so pay back half of it again?

With what? While doing the bottom-tier labor?

Heeseong, who had been standing in a daze, got up from his seat, staggering belatedly. It was unclear whether it was because he was in despair over the situation or because his leg injury made it difficult to walk. Heeseong asked his brother, stammering.

“M-my money, why? Brother, I… I’m the victim.”

“Heeseong…”

“With that money, we promised to get a house together and leave. Brother, why on earth?”

They had definitely made that promise three years ago. Park Geon-tae clearly remembered it too.

But now, Park Geon-tae only wanted to get a house with the woman he loved.

“Why on earth?!”

“Heeseong… Why are you yelling? Do you think you’re the victim now?”

“Then what is it?”

Park Geon-tae, who had been looking down at Heeseong, let out a long sigh. Park Geon-tae, who had been looking at Heeseong as if he were just young, hardened his expression.

“Don’t you think this is all something you brought upon yourself?”

“…What?”

“You lost the goods, and I’m saying I’ll resolve it nicely for you. Why are you acting like this? Huh?”

Park Geon-tae, who was sitting on the sofa like a delinquent, took out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. Heeseong staggered up to him and glared at Park Geon-tae.

“F*ck… Brother.”

Smack!

Heeseong forcefully slapped away the lighter Park Geon-tae was about to use to light his cigarette with his hand.

“Talk to me properly first.”

“Ah… This bastard’s temper.”

Park Geon-tae laughed in disbelief at that temper. Heedless, Heeseong glared at his brother and exhaled roughly.

During that time, Heeseong had saved quite a lot of cash, working day and night. Although he received the least amount of money in the organization, it had been five years. The money he had saved while enduring all sorts of humiliation from customers.

But he had given that money to the organization. And he was told to start working from the beginning again. It felt like the small hope that had sustained his sacrifices was shattering.

His brother patted Heeseong’s shoulder, who had become dazed from the shock, and said.

“Heeseong. Originally, you were about to die as soon as you returned, but I talked nicely to the organization to let it slide like this. If you had just brought the goods properly, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I told you, that was taken from me too! Suddenly, some guys I didn’t know attacked me…”

Thud. Heeseong’s knees collapsed while speaking.

It wasn’t because he was in despair over the situation. It wasn’t because of the leg injury either. Suddenly, his body lost strength, and it became difficult for him to even stand on his own. Seeing Heeseong like that, his brother didn’t ask if he was okay. He was just relieved, looking at his wristwatch.

“Brother, I… my body…”

“The drug sure takes effect late.”

Heeseong’s eyes widened, glazed over. He tried to lift his head, which had lost strength, but Heeseong instead toppled over to the side. Heeseong, who had collapsed on the dirty gambling den floor, shivered. He seemed to know why his body wasn’t listening to him.

The alcohol Park Geon-tae had given him a moment ago.

It must have contained drugs. Heeseong glared at his brother with bulging eyes like a fighting dog. It seemed like he would fall asleep at any moment, but Heeseong tried to move on his own, keeping his eyes open as if it were his last struggle. However, only his fingertips trembled, and a pathetic question leaked out of his mouth.

“…Why? Brother… why to me…?”

“Heeseong, f*ck. How much have I done for you?”

Park Geon-tae roughly dragged Heeseong’s body and got angry.

“I brought you in when you were half-dead on the cold streets, fed you, and raised you! Heeseong, why can’t you do give and take?”

Even after hearing those words, Heeseong didn’t care. It was something he often heard anyway. It was a rebuke his brother always made when he was drunk. That’s why Heeseong had stayed and worked at the gambling den that he hated to death for his brother’s sake.

However, from the following words, Heeseong could understand what Park Geon-tae really wanted.

“When a customer asks you to suck it, you can suck it, and when they ask you to spread your legs, you can spread them! Huh? Do you know how many customers and sales I’ve lost because of your temper?”

“…Ugh…”

“If you had been more flexible from the start, the sales would have tripled! You bastard.”

Heeseong finally understood why his brother had raised him.

His brother had initially brought him in out of an impulsive sympathy, and later, he had invested in him because of his good looks.

‘Brother had already abandoned me a long time ago…’

Heeseong, whose body had lost strength, collapsed and shed tears. He felt pathetic for clinging to a futile place. He had been desperately holding onto a place that he didn’t need to in the first place as if it were his last lifeline. Having been abandoned once by his family, he had desperately clung to someone he alone considered family, not wanting to be abandoned again.

Seeing Heeseong’s miserable tears, Park Geon-tae said bitterly.

“I’m sorry, Heeseong… But if you had done well, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“……”

It would have been better if there was no mercy at all. The clumsy mercy that had always kept Heeseong trapped in the dirty gambling den couldn’t feel more sordid. Heeseong, whose body had lost all strength, shed tears but glared at Park Geon-tae with hateful eyes.

Park Geon-tae avoided that gaze and tightly tied Heeseong’s hands behind his back. Even as his consciousness faded, Heeseong couldn’t understand why he was restraining him.

Park Geon-tae called someone separately to the office and said.

“Make sure no one sees as much as possible, and don’t use the back door. Go out through the side door near the kitchen.”

The person Park Geon-tae had ordered wasn’t a gambling den employee. Heeseong tried to move his body until the very end with bulging eyes, but he was already in a situation where his body was roughly wrapped in cloth and carried over someone’s shoulder.

‘No. If I fall asleep now…’

Heeseong tried to struggle and move his body somehow. But his consciousness only grew hazier. Unable to even open his eyes anymore, Heeseong trembled his eyelids and closed his eyes as if collapsing.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 17

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

How much time had passed? Heeseong was able to regain consciousness faintly. However, his vision was obscured by cloth, and he couldn’t move a single fingertip due to the effect of the drug. As if his whole body had been pickled in strong alcohol, he had no strength at all.

‘Where on earth are they taking me…?’

At least Heeseong had figured out that he had been moved somewhere after riding in a car for a long time. After that, the men had carried Heeseong and entered a building, took an elevator up, and entered a quiet room. Lastly, Heeseong was laid down on the bed as if thrown, and the cloth covering his eyes was removed.

‘This place is…’

Heeseong looked around with his faintly opened eyes to discern his surroundings. A bed and a shower stall separated by transparent glass came into his view. He had guessed it was a motel, but he could be sure of the location from the conversation of the men who had brought Heeseong.

“Are you really going to fuck a guy?”

“Seems like it. They said he put a whole bundle in the motel.”

“This is why those horse clan bastards are called disgusting…”

They left Heeseong roughly as he was and smoked cigarettes in the room. Lastly, they had a polite phone conversation with someone and left the room without hesitation.

Left alone in the room, Heeseong exhaled shallowly and tried to grasp the situation.

At least he could tell that it was early evening now. Since Heeseong had escaped at dawn, a full day had passed. Recalling that he had ridden in a car for a long time, Heeseong speculated that his brother had deliberately hidden him somewhere no one could find him. It was what the organization members did when someone rebelled.

“Haa, haa…”

How long had he spent taking shallow breaths?

Click.

The sound of the room door opening was heard. Heeseong could now weakly move his arms, legs, and tail as the drug’s effect had worn off a bit. Even so, it was a pitiful movement.

As he managed to turn his head, a disgusting bastard came into Heeseong’s view.

“My little mutt, I finally found you.”

It was Kwon Ki-hyuk, with a bandage wrapped around one arm.

He had his attendants stand outside the door and entered the room alone. Even though his whole body was pickled by the drug, Heeseong bared his canines as soon as he saw him.

“You… fuck… er…”

He showed aggression, but Heeseong’s soft white ears and tail were half exposed in his original form. Seeing that, Kwon Ki-hyuk smoked a cigarette with his intact left hand while looking at Heeseong. Only a sneer was on his lips, and his bloodshot eyes were gleefully looking down at Heeseong.

“My cute little mutt. Hey. Do you know how much I bought you for?”

Kwon Ki-hyuk approached and flicked Heeseong’s cheek. The cigarette ash that had been caught in his hand fell and burned the blanket black below Heeseong’s earlobe. Heeseong didn’t care about that and glared at him, panting heavily.

“Ha, I was looking for you for a while, not knowing that you were serving that Yoon Chi-young bastard.”

“……”

“You won’t have to see Yoon Chi-young anymore. This place is far away from that bastard’s territory.”

Kwon Ki-hyuk stepped onto the bed with his shoe and sat down on Heeseong’s chest, laughing as if he was quite happy.

Kwon Ki-hyuk’s heavily swollen crotch approached below Heeseong’s gentle face. Along with humiliation, Heeseong found it difficult to breathe as his chest was pressed. Gradually, Heeseong’s breathing became rough, and his face turned red.

Kwon Ki-hyuk turned Heeseong’s slender chin this way and that and said.

“Looking at you again, you’re so fucking arousing…”

“Ha, haa…”

“Hey. You’re 21 and a virgin? Am I the one taking it for the first time?”

“Get… off. You crazy… bastard…”

Heeseong cursed and tried to grab Kwon Ki-hyuk’s neck. But his arms could only reach forward. Kwon Ki-hyuk, who had been looking down at the scene while smoking, laughed slowly.

After roughly stubbing out his cigarette on the bed, Kwon Ki-hyuk put a finger into Heeseong’s mouth where his canines were exposed. Pressing down on the moist tongue, he laughed vulgarly, asking if it tasted good.

But this time too, Heeseong didn’t hold back.

“Aaaah! You little mutt!”

Heeseong, who had somewhat recovered from the drug’s effect, used all his strength to bite Kwon Ki-hyuk’s finger with his canines. To the point where blood gushed from Kwon Ki-hyuk’s finger. The canines dug in properly, painfully penetrating the flesh.

Kwon Ki-hyuk, who had barely pulled out his hand, gritted his teeth while looking at his finger. With veins bulging on his neck, Kwon Ki-hyuk roughly swung his hand at the small head.

Smack!

Heeseong’s head turned violently, leaving a red mark on his cheek. At that moment, Heeseong gritted his teeth and didn’t let out a single moan. He was just angry and resentful, and tears dripped down. It was so disgusting to see Kwon Ki-hyuk finally bursting into laughter at the sight.

“Ha… It’s okay that you made me bleed. Dogs are always like this.”

Kwon Ki-hyuk rambled quite mercifully while looking into Heeseong’s hazy eyes.

“I don’t mind that you spilled soup on my cock last time either.”

“……”

“This time, I’m going to fuck your hole with that cock until it’s torn. Then it roughly evens out, right?”

He leisurely unbuckled his belt with one hand and began masturbating with his thick penis exposed in front of Heeseong’s face. At the disgusting sight, Heeseong’s face contorted savagely. His hands and feet trembled, wanting to strike him right away.

“Haa, fuck…”

Perhaps aroused, Kwon Ki-hyuk hurriedly raised his body. He positioned himself below Heeseong’s waist and roughly spread his soft thighs. Even the clothes that were too big, which belonged to Yoon Chi-young, were easily removed.

“What, you came without wearing underwear? Were you waiting?”

“Fu… ck… Let go…!”

Heeseong cursed with a stiff tongue. But Kwon Ki-hyuk looked at Heeseong as if he was cute instead.

Heeseong wanted to bite him to death right away. He wanted to grind that smiling face on the floor and personally bite and tear his whole body with his canines. At least the drug’s effect had worn off, and he tried to push Kwon Ki-hyuk’s waist away, but not much strength went into it.

It was when Kwon Ki-hyuk was greedily caressing Heeseong’s white thighs.

Kyaaaah!

Suddenly, a scream was heard from outside. There were sounds of doors being broken everywhere, and people were heard fleeing in a panic. At that, Kwon Ki-hyuk’s eyes contorted with anxiety. As if he had a bad premonition.

“Fuck, what is it?”

His intuition was spot on in a bad way.

The moment Kwon Ki-hyuk turned his head, Heeseong mustered his last strength and kicked his face hard with his foot.

“Aaaah!”

Kwon Ki-hyuk fell off the bed in an unsightly manner. Heeseong turned into a small puppy as if he had been waiting. The clothes he was wearing were easily shaken off, and the puppy could immediately run towards the door, staggering. However, his body didn’t listen to him, and the puppy tumbled over several times.

Just then, the door opened as if it would break. Men in suits looked around inside and searched everywhere. But Heeseong, whose line of sight was much lower, could only see their black shoes. The puppy ran desperately down the hallway, unaware that blood was flowing from his leg again.

However, the hallway was already in chaos with guests who had run out of their rooms.

Thud!

The small cotton ball body was kicked by someone’s foot as they were running away. The small puppy was sent flying and tumbled to the floor. Fortunately, he was kicked towards the side where there were no people, but Heeseong was already out of his mind.

‘It hurts, it hurts…’

Even being kicked by a human foot was a big threat to the puppy. The impact caused a nosebleed to start flowing from his black nose. Heeseong felt dizzy and even nauseous, but he desperately got up and limped. The only thought was to somehow escape from this place. Fortunately, the room was on the first floor.

Heeseong managed to escape through the parking lot and ended up in the alley behind the motel.

Fortunately, at least the alley was quiet. The puppy limped and just headed towards a corner somewhere. Please, somewhere he could be safe.

“……”

Soon, Heeseong collapsed next to an air conditioner outdoor unit. The white fur that someone had preciously raised was a mess, and the puppy’s face, which was streaked with tears, was also a mess.

The concrete floor he barely lay on in the middle of winter was so cold. Looking at the alley covered in white snow the same color as his body, Heeseong had a premonition that this time, no one would be able to find him.

But it seemed okay even if no one could find him.

Heeseong didn’t want to be in pain anymore. He hated the reality that he had nowhere to return to now, and he hated and resented that he didn’t have a single reliable family even at the last moment before death.

At least Heeseong thought of Yoon Chi-young.

‘Yoon Chi-young… I’m sorry…’

Although Yoon Chi-young thought he was a puppy, the fact that he had preciously raised him was the only good memory in Heeseong’s wretched life. While staying by his side for a month, he learned the taste of valuable food and the feeling of being truly loved. Although it was affection he received while deceiving him, it was actually so happy that it was hard for the puppy to handle with his small body.

The puppy, who had been panting roughly while thinking of Yoon Chi-young, shivered intermittently. As his consciousness grew hazy, the last thing he saw in his vision was someone’s black shoes.

“Heeseong…”

“……”

“…Why did you go out alone?”

He called his name, somehow recognizing him as a puppy. He also heard a sound as if he was embracing the small body warmly and sobbing.

However, Heeseong fainted without being able to give him any answer.

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 18

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

When Heeseong was young, he was particularly weak.

If his food wasn’t meticulously and cleanly prepared, he would vomit everything he ate, and he was often taken to the hospital. However, Heeseong’s poor family couldn’t even take him to the hospital properly, so Heeseong grew weaker day by day.

On the other hand, Heeseong’s younger brother was healthy. Unlike Heeseong, who couldn’t eat well, he grew up quickly and even caught up to his older brother’s height early on.

One day, his father and younger brother left the house with large luggage. His mother held Heeseong in her arms and hid her expression.

“Heeseong, our Heeseong…”

Heeseong saw his mother crying, but he didn’t care because he knew she was usually tearful. Still, his mother crying was always sadder than him being sick.

His mother gave him an abundance of the snacks she always warned him about and said.

“Heeseong, if you’re hungry, eat this… and wait at home.”

“Okay!”

Heeseong was excited, childishly only looking at the snacks. Even though he would often vomit after eating just a few bites, he was excited at the thought of being able to eat the precious snacks to his heart’s content at home without his scary father.

At that moment, his father yelled at his mother as if scolding her.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and come out!”

“Honey…”

“Come out. That one is too weak to take with us!”

Heeseong stayed still inside the house, knowing that his father always found him unsatisfactory.

His sobbing mother kept stroking Heeseong’s cheeks, left an apology, and left the house. The sound of the truck driver and his father arguing for a few words was heard, and finally, even the noisy sound of the truck engine faded away.

After that, his family didn’t come back to get Heeseong.

They didn’t come back on the day Heeseong ate the snacks to his fill and vomited, nor on the day he saved snacks for his younger brother. Even though he wanted to call his mother, there was no properly functioning device at home.

The poor neighborhood where Heeseong lived also quickly became quiet. People packed their bags and left as if they were being chased, and the red letters “demolition” were written on the walls. Even when Heeseong went out to the streets during the day, the village with X marks sprayed on the walls was still. When he went out with a few coins due to hunger, the supermarket he often visited was closed, and soon the electricity at home was cut off.

There was little Heeseong could do alone. He tried to go far to seek help, but a man with a bulging belly tried to forcibly take the pale Heeseong away. Terrified, Heeseong barely managed to run back home and curled up in a corner.

“…Mom told me to wait.”

After that, Heeseong started waiting for his family indefinitely. He transformed into a puppy to conserve his energy. In fact, there was nothing much he could do without money.

After a few days passed and he lost the strength to move, someone barged into the house.

“What’s with this mutt? Is it dead?”

“Isn’t it a dog shapeshifter?”

Gangsters wearing shoes entered Heeseong’s house and strolled around. Among them was his brother. When Heeseong first saw his brother, he looked younger and more ordinary, but his clothes were exactly the same as a gangster’s attire.

The gangsters turned the eyeballs of the skinny, nearly dead puppy this way and that.

“This one is still alive?”

“What? That tiny thing survived until now?”

The gangsters were going to leave Heeseong alone, but for some reason, his brother carried Heeseong in his arms and took him. It was for a strange reason, saying it reminded him of his own childhood.

After eating for a few days there, Heeseong was finally able to regain consciousness.

Heeseong, who had barely turned back into a human, asked with a dry mouth.

“What about Mom?”

In response to the question, an elderly man next to his brother clicked his tongue and said, “Oh my.”

His brother flicked Heeseong’s dry cheek and bitterly explained.

“Listen well, you were abandoned. Understand?”

“……”

“What should we do with this one? Just raise him? He’s pretty, though.”

Heeseong stayed still in that spot, no matter what his brother said.

He didn’t cry. He had avoided thinking that he had been abandoned by his family all this time, but he accepted it calmly as if it was a moment he would face someday, like graduating from school.

Having graduated from a certain point in life, he had also learned something.

If you’re sick and weak, you get abandoned by the pack.

His brother told the organization that Heeseong would be useful and took him in. Other organization members viewed the weak Heeseong unfavorably, but Heeseong always tried to make himself useful.

He tried not to appear weak to anyone and desperately hid his sickness. He followed the fighting dogs that didn’t easily yield to the world in speech and behavior and hid his most vulnerable side even from his brother.

As time passed, Heeseong became an adult. During that time, Heeseong did his best with the efforts he could make in the environment given to him.

However, Heeseong was abandoned again. Because his value decreased as he didn’t act the way his brother wanted. In the first place, it was someone who wouldn’t recognize his value anyway.

Falling into despair, Heeseong kept having nightmares even while unconscious.

The nightmares tormented Heeseong with a mix of various terrible memories. Someone knocking on the door of Heeseong’s house where he was left alone as if to break it, someone approaching in black and beating Heeseong, or forcibly pulling his hand.

“Heeseong. You can just endure a little, can’t you?”

In the terrible nightmare, he also faced his brother. Heeseong stood in front of him and shed tears, hating reality.

***

It’s the quietest night since living with the puppy. Yoon Chi-young was looking at Heeseong, who was curled up on the bed. Unlike usual, his expression was cold and subdued.

He found the puppy a little late, contrary to his expectations.

Fortunately, he had put surveillance on Park Gun-tae, so he was able to quickly follow Kwon Ki-hyuk’s trail, but the puppy was already covered in wounds.

Yoon Chi-young hadn’t anticipated that Kwon Ki-hyuk would covet Heeseong to that extent. He thought Kwon Ki-hyuk would restrain himself, seeing the state of his family, as his father was going to prison soon anyway. But Kwon Ki-hyuk turned a blind eye to reality as if struggling, and eventually took Heeseong far away.

It was fortunate that Yoon Chi-young searched the motel he arrived at and found Heeseong. Otherwise, he didn’t know what would have happened to the puppy. Just thinking about it made Yoon Chi-young feel unpleasant, and he furrowed his brow. Losing control of his emotions, black wolf ears popped up on his head, and his canines protruded painfully, piercing his own lips.

“……”

Heeseong, perhaps because his injuries were less severe or because he had some consciousness left, stubbornly transformed into his human form when he briefly regained consciousness, then collapsed again. But in Yoon Chi-young’s eyes, Heeseong still looked like a small and soft puppy.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been stroking the white ears that popped up among the black hair, wiped the cold sweat from Heeseong’s forehead. Perhaps because he kept having nightmares, Heeseong let out groans of suffering.

“Mo… m…”

At that moment, Heeseong mumbled something like sleep talk. Yoon Chi-young, who had already been listening to his sleep talk for a while, carefully touched his gentle cheek. Seeing him return injured like this after being preciously raised made his chest feel stuffy and torn.

As warmth touched his cheek, Heeseong mumbled as if whimpering.

“I… I’m not sick…”

“……”

“Take me too… I won’t be sick…”

Yoon Chi-young’s brow contorted as if in pain. Wolves are originally taught not to show negative emotions on their faces, but this time, it couldn’t be helped. From Heeseong’s words, he could understand a little bit of the suffering the abandoned puppy had endured.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been quietly looking down at Heeseong, spoke coldly, unlike himself.

“Who’s going to take you?”

“…Ugh…”

“You have to live here with me forever now.”

At the resolute words, Heeseong trembled with his eyes tightly closed. He must be wandering in a painful nightmare, but he also reached out and tightly grasped Yoon Chi-young’s sleeve.

Yoon Chi-young quietly looked at that hand and tidied the black hair covering Heeseong’s forehead. Then, just this once, he whispered much more gently.

“You just stay as a useless puppy.”

“……”

“A well-fed puppy with a bad personality.”

As if those words were somehow sorrowful, Heeseong’s expression crumbled as if he was about to cry. However, he couldn’t wake up and fell asleep, curling up his body even more. In the dim room, Heeseong’s body lying on the wide bed looked particularly small.

Yoon Chi-young held Heeseong in his arms as usual and wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes. As the warm embrace touched him, perhaps feeling a sense of security, Heeseong stopped sleep talking and fell into a deep sleep.

Swish.

Confirming that Heeseong had fallen asleep, Yoon Chi-young quietly got up from his seat.

He didn’t want to leave the sick puppy, but he remembered something he had to do. He was thinking of preparing a special gift for the puppy. Yoon Chi-young quietly put on his coat and sat in front of the puppy.

“I’ll be right back.”

Yoon Chi-young, who spoke softly, kissed the puppy’s small head and left. It was late at night outside, but he didn’t care. It was the time Yoon Chi-young was active anyway.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 19

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

When Heeseong woke up again, it was early evening after the sun had set.

The crimson sunlight penetrated the house with particularly large windows. Heeseong looked around with his eyes faintly open. He saw the familiar scenery of the house.

‘This is Yoon Chi-young’s house…’

Heeseong sighed deeply. He felt a sharp pain from his leg, but he held back his groans and urgently looked at the digital clock. Three days had passed since he collapsed. Feeling something strange, Heeseong finally checked his appearance.

He was in his human form.

Moreover, he was wearing Yoon Chi-young’s oversized T-shirt. He was also wearing new briefs, and his white tail was visible. An IV was inserted into his arm, and a larger cast than last time was wrapped around his leg.

Heeseong, who had been looking down at himself, froze for a moment.

Yoon Chi-young had seen his human form.

Yoon Chi-young was quick-witted and had a keen sense of smell. He must have noticed that he was the puppy he had been caring for.

“No…”

Heeseong bit his lip and looked around anxiously. He didn’t know why Yoon Chi-young had brought him back to the house, but no hopeful thoughts came to mind.

Yoon Chi-young might simply want to play with him more, or he might want to take some kind of revenge. Or at best, he might intend to use him as a subordinate. Heeseong glanced around and limped toward the dressing room connected to the bedroom.

For now, it would be better to flee somewhere.

Heeseong frantically took out the clothes he could grab and tried to leave. But soon, Heeseong’s hand froze.

‘Where can I go? …I have nowhere to go, so why am I running away?’

Now, Heeseong had nowhere to return to. His brother had betrayed him and sold him to Kwon Ki-hyuk, and his family had already abandoned him long ago. His brother said he had used the money Heeseong had diligently saved to cover the cost of the lost drugs, so Heeseong was completely penniless.

“…Fuck…”

Even though crying was futile, Heeseong’s vision blurred. He had been living with the hope of saving money and escaping the organization, but everything had collapsed. He had ended up in the man-eating wolf’s den again, and his body was in no condition to do anything.

Soon, Heeseong wiped away his tears. Still, outside would be better than here.

Click.

But as if the heavens had abandoned Heeseong, he heard the sound of the front door opening. Although the noise was faint because the house was spacious, Heeseong sensitively perked up his puppy ears.

It was Yoon Chi-young.

Heeseong, who had been fidgeting, frantically looked for a place to hide. Although his body ached, he forcibly dragged his leg and entered the wardrobe. Yoon Chi-young’s expensive coats wrinkled and fell on Heeseong’s body.

Heeseong put on one of the thick coats. Then he gritted his teeth to avoid making any sound of breathing. He didn’t want to show Yoon Chi-young his tears or his human form. Even if he tried to turn back into a puppy, it was difficult because bandages were wrapped around his body.

Yoon Chi-young’s scent gradually became stronger to Heeseong’s shapeshifter nose. It meant he was getting closer. Heeseong, who had been curled up and focusing on his sense of smell, widened his eyes.

The smell of blood.

Yoon Chi-young had the smell of thick blood on him again.

This time, he didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it, as there was no scent of soap or perfume. He just carried the smell of the cold air from outside.

Heeseong knew that Yoon Chi-young had taken care of someone again. It should be something he was used to by now, but Heeseong, who was injured, absolutely couldn’t do that. Even though he tried to stay calm, his fingertips trembled, and his white tail tightly wrapped around his crotch.

“Ha…”

The sound of Yoon Chi-young’s sigh was heard nearby. The smell of blood also intensified.

Heeseong curled up even smaller inside the wardrobe. He knew the wolf with a keen sense of smell would find him soon, but he instinctively hid his body.

Yoon Chi-young gradually got closer. He must have been standing in front of the wardrobe, as his footsteps stopped, and his scent wafted from close by.

Heeseong silently took a deep breath and thought.

‘If he opens the door, I’ll punch him right away and run.’

Anyway, the man-eating wolf’s affection was only for the puppy, not for “Heeseong.” Since Heeseong had already decided not to live as a puppy, he had to escape from his embrace. Moreover, he had been kicked out of the dog clan’s gambling den, so he had to find a way to live on his own.

All by himself.

At that thought, Heeseong’s body lost strength. Like a puppy who had lost all hope.

Swish.

Then, the sliding door of the wardrobe gently opened. Heeseong was buried in Yoon Chi-young’s coat, hiding his tears. For a while, there was no word about what Yoon Chi-young was thinking when he saw him like that.

Belatedly, he called out to him.

“Puppy.”

The hem of the coat was carefully lifted. Then, Heeseong’s black hair and white puppy ears that had been curled up were revealed. The head that had been buried in his knees was slowly raised, and Heeseong’s frightened round eyes were carefully shown.

Heeseong immediately made eye contact with Yoon Chi-young, whose shirt was stained with blood. He was smiling at Heeseong as usual, bending his knees to match his gaze.

Heeseong, who had been curled up in fear, made the last struggle he could.

“Get away…!”

Heeseong stretched out his fist with all his might to push Yoon Chi-young away. It was a nimble and sturdy fist, unlike his physique.

However, Yoon Chi-young easily caught the fist. Rather, the rebound pulled Heeseong into his arms. Heeseong’s frightened black eyes were right in front of him.

Yoon Chi-young acted as usual toward such Heeseong.

“Let go! You crazy bas…!”

Heeseong’s words were gently muffled. Yoon Chi-young willingly embraced the puppy’s canines with his lips. He intertwined his tongue with the stiff Heeseong while happily squinting his eyes, even as blood flowed from his lips. Heeseong’s reaction was more sensitive than he thought, as if he was devouring an innocent boy with a wicked temptation.

Yoon Chi-young discovered the puppy’s weakness. The puppy, who always reacted with fisticuffs to skinship, was flustered and at a loss with just one erotic kiss. He tried to push Yoon Chi-young’s body away with his hands, but the difference in physique was something the puppy could never overcome.

“Ha, haa…”

Gradually, Heeseong’s body retreated into the wardrobe. Yoon Chi-young wrapped his arm strongly around Heeseong’s lower back as if supporting him. Heeseong’s fist, which he had grabbed with his other hand, still had strength, but Yoon Chi-young patiently intertwined his tongue until the puppy relaxed.

Soon, the tension gradually left Heeseong’s body.

Every time their tongues gently intertwined, his half-folded puppy ears fluttered like butterfly wings. Seeing Heeseong, who had his eyes wide open in surprise with their lips overlapping, Yoon Chi-young carefully covered his eyes with his palm.

Soon, Heeseong’s body collapsed and was softly buried in the pile of clothes in the wardrobe. On top of that, Yoon Chi-young looked down at the real Heeseong and smiled brightly.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“……”

Heeseong, who was buried in the pile of coats, blankly froze and moved his lips. Yoon Chi-young was carefully observing his expression with his annoyingly handsome face.

“You’re the same as when you were a puppy.”

Even at the embarrassing words, Heeseong couldn’t react at all. His brows, which had always been fiercely furrowed, were loosened in vain, and his black, round eyes stood out like when he was a puppy. Seeing that vulnerable expression, Yoon Chi-young burst into a delightful laugh, squinting his eyes. Heeseong’s startled and wide-eyed appearance looked exactly the same as when he was a puppy.

“You, you…”

“Yes.”

However, unlike when he was a puppy, this time they could communicate. Heeseong, who had fully laid his white puppy ears back, expressed his first kiss experience in his own way.

“Are you, are you, are you crazy…?”

In the end, Yoon Chi-young, who burst into laughter, buried his head in Heeseong’s shoulder and shook with laughter.

A puppy who could talk was much cuter than he thought.

***

Heeseong ended up leaving the wardrobe in Yoon Chi-young’s arms. Even when Yoon Chi-young put a large T-shirt on him, changed into clean clothes himself, and moved him to the dining table, he remained blankly frozen.

At first, it was because it felt natural for Yoon Chi-young to carry him, and next, it was because he was shocked at how accustomed he had become.

‘…Wasn’t he going to find me and kill me?’

The question he had taken for granted had been filling his mind.

Heeseong thought that if the puppy he had been raising turned out to be a shapeshifter who had deceived him, then… rather than wanting to kill him, he would have felt quite betrayed.

But Yoon Chi-young treated Heeseong kindly as usual, let alone feeling betrayed.

“Weren’t you hungry? It’s time for you to be hungry now, isn’t it?”

“……”

At that question, Heeseong sat like a doll that only breathed, as Yoon Chi-young moved him. He ended up sitting on Yoon Chi-young’s lap by chance, but his mind was so full of confusion that he didn’t even realize something was strange.

‘Did he grow that attached to me…?’

So he doesn’t even care that I’m a shapeshifter? Heeseong tried to grasp the situation by desperately racking his small brain.

Belatedly, he found a plausible hypothesis.

‘Could it be that he’s trying to keep me as a puppy like this?’

It made sense. Shapeshifters with a small original form like Heeseong were rare, and considering Yoon Chi-young’s crazy personality, there was no other possibility. And keeping Heeseong as a puppy itself was the biggest way to deceive him.

Heeseong, who had been fed egg porridge in Yoon Chi-young’s arms, couldn’t help but ask.

“You… why are you treating me like usual?”

“What do you mean?”

Yoon Chi-young asked, tilting his head closer as if he couldn’t understand. His languid yet soft voice distinctly penetrated his ear, making him flinch. Heeseong thought Yoon Chi-young was consistently acting natural because he still thought he was a puppy.

‘I’m a fighting dog.’

Heeseong, who had been nestled in Yoon Chi-young’s arms, abruptly got up. Then, with his puppy ears and wariness fully raised, he leaned against the chair next to him and aggressively asked.

“You’re thinking of keeping me as a puppy like this, aren’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Then why are you treating me like usual?”

Even when he asked angrily, baring his canines, Yoon Chi-young just had a puzzled look on his face.

Out of frustration, Heeseong spoke fiercely to him as if telling him to come to his senses.

“I… I had punched you in the face!”

“Ah… that.”

Yoon Chi-young mumbled in a calmly subdued voice. Heeseong watched him with great tension.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been gazing at the air somewhere as if looking at a distant star with his gray eyes, belatedly smiled faintly and muttered to himself.

“It was really thrilling…”

“……”

“I was so angry, but my heart was pounding so much… was it from then?”

Heeseong’s expression was a mixture of shock, surprise, and pathetic feelings. But Yoon Chi-young was used to even that gaze. He smiled nonchalantly and finished feeding Heeseong the egg porridge.

Heeseong naturally ate the egg porridge and then flinched in surprise. He hated that he had become accustomed to this bastard’s touch.

He wasn’t someone’s puppy.

“Stop feeding me!”

Heeseong snatched the spoon that Yoon Chi-young was trying to feed him again. Suddenly unable to bear the feeling, Heeseong pulled the chair roughly and backed away a little. The tail behind his back was also stiff, and the fur was standing on end. Heeseong spoke fiercely, holding the spoon like a weapon.

“Then, you… all this time…”

Heeseong’s face was flushed red as he stammered and asked. He was angry, but more than that, he felt humiliated all over his body.

“Knowing that I was the puppy, you, you raised me like a pet?”

“Me? When?”

Yoon Chi-young innocently widened his eyes as if it was absurd. Sitting with his legs crossed, he smiled elegantly, squinting his eyes.

“I always raised you like a lover.”

“You crazy bastard!”

As expected, Yoon Chi-young was a cunning wolf bastard. He had been warned by his brother and that Park Geon-tae son of a bitch, but he didn’t know why he had forgotten. Heeseong glared at him as if he would kill him, holding the spoon tightly.

So Yoon Chi-young had known all along that he was pretending to be a puppy. Yoon Chi-young seemed not only cunning but also vicious. Heeseong glared at Yoon Chi-young as if he would kill him, but he asked, trembling the tips of his ears in humiliation.

“Then why did you pretend not to know I was a shapeshifter at first?”

“That’s…”

At the question, Yoon Chi-young turned his head to the side as if embarrassed. He had been opening his mouth in a coy manner, but he spoke as if he was quite ashamed.

“Because you were so cute, I wanted to keep you by my side…”

“You, you…”

Heeseong couldn’t even curse anymore. Perhaps because anger had built up, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Heeseong held his chest and frowned. It was better when he was a puppy who couldn’t communicate with Yoon Chi-young. Now that they could even talk, he started to feel a thousand resentments boiling inside.

“Ugh…”

But the pain didn’t easily subside. Because of the injury he had suffered this time, even a small stimulation was difficult for his body to endure. As Heeseong held his chest and staggered, Yoon Chi-young got up and supported him in his arms.

“Are you okay, darling?”

“Get, get away! Because of you… it hurts more…”

It seemed like the pain of being kicked in the stomach remained. For now, Heeseong leaned against Yoon Chi-young’s chest and groaned in pain. Heeseong already had a weak body, so it wasn’t easy to maintain his human form while injured.

“I, I…”

“I’ll call a doctor. Let’s go to the bed.”

“It’s fine. Just… let me rest, and it’ll be okay… if you just shut up…”

As he spoke and groaned, Heeseong’s body gradually collapsed. Yoon Chi-young, who had been holding him, gently carried Heeseong in his arms as if anticipating what was to come.

And by the time Heeseong opened his eyes again, sweating coldly, he knew the change that had occurred in his body.

…Woof.

He had turned into a puppy again. The puppy sat weakly on Yoon Chi-young’s hand with a dejected face. He had anticipated that he would have to return to his original form because of his injury, but he didn’t know he would turn back with such a burning anger inside.

‘This is all because of you…!’

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

‘How could I be?’

Even at the worried question, the puppy bared his teeth at Yoon Chi-young and glared fiercely. Then Yoon Chi-young looked down at the cotton ball puppy as if he would die of cuteness and suddenly bit the white head as if he would eat it in one bite, but not painfully. Now the puppy had even become accustomed to that, so he sat there in resignation even as his head was being bitten.

Yoon Chi-young was really consistent no matter what form Heeseong took. To the point of being infuriating.

***

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 20

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

In the end, the puppy received a doctor’s examination and was put on an IV. After spending two full days like a greenhouse flower, the pain subsided a bit, and he felt like he could live.

After a good night’s sleep, Heeseong woke up with a much better body.

“You’re awake?”

Yoon Chi-young looked down at the puppy who had opened his eyes languidly, as if he had been waiting. Gently caressing the puppy’s folded ears, he spoke shyly.

“I have a gift prepared for you.”

‘I don’t want it.’

The puppy sullenly turned his head. Anyway, what Yoon Chi-young would end up giving him was skinship like kisses. Heeseong had already experienced it a lot, so he had no particular expectations.

Then Yoon Chi-young spoke as if he had anticipated the reaction.

“It’s not a kiss.”

‘…It’s not?’

“I think the puppy will really like it.”

While speaking, Yoon Chi-young suddenly checked his wristwatch. It was past 2 a.m. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t mind the late hour and asked the puppy in a voice filled with anticipation.

“Do you want to go see it together?”

‘Now?’

“We have to see it before it cools down.”

“…?”

The puppy tilted his head in puzzlement. Perhaps finding that cute, Yoon Chi-young slowly lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled. Doing that under the dim lighting made him look like a psychopath who had committed a suspicious act and was enjoying it alone. The puppy, who had only experienced his gentle side, now recalled that he was the organization’s boss.

It was bothersome, but he became a little curious. He said they had to see it before it cooled down. Heeseong thought maybe Yoon Chi-young had prepared a fancy meal for him.

“Let’s go.”

And so, the puppy ended up being dragged to Yoon Chi-young’s arms with his languid body.

The place Yoon Chi-young took the puppy to was about a 30-minute drive away.

Heeseong was lying in Yoon Chi-young’s arms in the car, dozing off. Perhaps because of the many unresolved emotions, he kept feeling drained. Especially the memory of being betrayed by his brother kept coming to mind, making him feel very heavy-hearted.

“I used some money and connections after a long time to give a gift to the puppy.”

‘What kind of gift even requires connections…?’

Fortunately, thanks to Yoon Chi-young, those desperate emotions subsided. Heeseong wondered what on earth this man-eating wolf was thinking, whether he really liked him, but gave up. There was no way to understand a lunatic.

The car stopped in front of an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. The wolf clan organization members quietly got out of three black cars, including the one Yoon Chi-young was riding in.

They all entered the abandoned building as if it had been prearranged. Heeseong was snuggled deep in Yoon Chi-young’s arms.

The old building was very cold even after entering. Although he had finished shedding, the white fur coat couldn’t block out the cold of December. The puppy, shivering from the cold, decided to use Yoon Chi-young as a heater.

‘Hold me.’

The puppy roughly scratched at his chest to convey the meaning of wrapping him in his clothes. Fortunately, he seemed to understand right away, and Yoon Chi-young tightly wrapped the puppy in his coat as if he had been waiting and asked.

“Are you cold, darling?”

‘Lunatic.’

Heeseong was now used to Yoon Chi-young’s nonsense, so he just ignored it.

The puppy ended up leaning the back of his head against Yoon Chi-young’s chest. The puppy’s small face poked out in the middle of the tall man’s coat. Behind the puppy, who was fiercely shining his eyes, the wolf clan organization members solemnly followed.

Yoon Chi-young walked into the abandoned building with his long legs. Inside the building, various materials were scattered around as if construction was about to begin.

‘A gift that even required connections is in a place like this?’

It was somehow suspicious. Heeseong tried to grasp the situation by turning his head that was poking out of the coat this way and that, but he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

The place Yoon Chi-young stood was in front of a warehouse closed with an iron door.

The puppy examined the suspicious iron door from his arms. From above, Yoon Chi-young had the organization members turn on the building’s lights. Several bright fluorescent lights were turned on, but the light was weak, so the building still felt eerie.

“Sit here and take a look.”

Finally, Yoon Chi-young laid out a blanket in front of the door and put the puppy down on it. Then he stood next to the iron door, which was about the same height as him, with a bright expression.

‘What kind of nonsense did you do again?’

The only audience, the puppy, had no particular reaction. He just sat there sullenly, looking ahead while wrapped in a blanket against the cold. In front of him, Yoon Chi-young spoke in a voice filled with anticipation, albeit shyly.

“This is the gift I prepared for the puppy.”

‘Just show it to me.’

As the puppy barked once as if urging him, Yoon Chi-young even counted to himself and opened the iron door. As the iron door opened with an eerie sound, a dim light from a distant bulb leaked out from inside.

When the iron door was fully opened, a collapsing warehouse came into view. It was an old place that looked like it would be used to store unused items. Seeing the inside, Heeseong could immediately recognize the identity of the gift Yoon Chi-young had prepared.

‘…Crazy bastard…’

Inside was the horse beastman Kwon Ki-hyuk, on all fours in his underwear.

The puppy’s eyes widened in surprise. Kwon Ki-hyuk’s body was covered in bruises, and his once clean face was a mess. Moreover, a strange rope was tied around his neck, and there were blood stains here and there. Still, he seemed to have some consciousness left, as Kwon Ki-hyuk trembled excessively whenever he heard Yoon Chi-young’s voice.

Standing next to him, Yoon Chi-young introduced the gift, feeling proud yet shy.

“Here, it’s your gift.”

“……”

“What do you think? Do you like it?”

Despite the barrage of questions, the puppy just stared at the inside of the warehouse with a shocked and frozen face.

‘…Fuck.’

The reason he deliberately restrained his reaction was because of Yoon Chi-young. He was standing next to the door, looking at the puppy with anticipation-filled eyes as if he wanted to see the reaction right away. Heeseong didn’t want to show the reaction Yoon Chi-young wanted. He felt like he would be losing for some reason.

Heeseong deliberately pretended to sigh. It was because it wasn’t a normal situation.

However, the puppy, who had suffered too much at the hands of the pervert horse beastman, thought with his black eyes shining.

‘…I like it…’

Following his thoughts, his short white tail was the first to wag rapidly. Seeing that reaction, Yoon Chi-young proudly wiped his own lifted mouth. The gift was a success. Yoon Chi-young believed that the puppy’s disposition was the same as his own.

Seeing the puppy’s honest reaction, Yoon Chi-young even suggested using it.

“Now, the puppy can do as he pleases.”

“Ugh…”

Yoon Chi-young roughly pulled the leash that was around Kwon Ki-hyuk’s neck without any consideration. It seemed to be painful as it was an unfinished rope, and Kwon Ki-hyuk groaned. But no one cared about Kwon Ki-hyuk’s pain. There were countless beastmen he had cruelly toyed with.

The puppy looked at the string neatly placed in front of him. Heeseong sullenly looked at the string, then gladly came out of the blanket and bit the string.

Woof!

The puppy, who had suffered a lot, wildly shook his head while biting the string like prey. He vented his anger to his heart’s content as much as he had been harassed by Kwon Ki-hyuk. The string only swayed a little, but still, the experience of seeing Kwon Ki-hyuk tremble while watching the tiny puppy was first-rate.

Yoon Chi-young, who found that sight cute, gladly asked.

“Do you want to keep him like this? Or should we eat him?”

At the question, the string fell from the mouth of the puppy who had been venting his anger to his heart’s content. Heeseong was the type who couldn’t do two things at once, so he needed time to think separately.

‘I don’t want to keep him.’

He had no interest in Kwon Ki-hyuk even if he were given a truck. Heeseong was already satisfied just by seeing the guy who had become a complete mess.

However, it felt a bit unsatisfying to end it here. Moreover, if Yoon Chi-young had even used his connections to bring him here, he could really do as Heeseong pleased.

A good idea came to mind.

Heeseong, who had been looking around, looked at each of the tall organization members one by one to find Ji Young-bae.

‘Translate for me.’

Heeseong, who had found Ji Young-bae, mumbled. He could have transformed into a human and spoken directly, but he chose the second-best option because he had no clothes.

“Yes.”

Fortunately, Ji Young-bae, whose translation success rate had improved, quickly understood the puppy’s words.

Ji Young-bae started translating while holding the puppy toward Yoon Chi-young.

‘That thing is too dirty to keep.’

“He says it’s too dirty.”

‘Ha…’

The puppy sighed deeply. He was used to translation failures, but it was a bit tiring to see Yoon Chi-young’s hurt expression.

Still, he persistently tried to communicate without giving up.

‘That thing! Is too dirty. To keep.’

“Ah. He says he doesn’t want to keep it because it’s dirty.”

“Ah… That’s true.”

Yoon Chi-young nodded as if he understood. His disappointed expression also softened considerably. The puppy now spoke with a dignified body language added.

‘So. Let’s pass it on.’

“So let’s throw it away.”

‘To my workplace.’

“To my workplace.”

The translation was sloppy, but anyway, Yoon Chi-young seemed to understand. At the mention of throwing it away, Yoon Chi-young, who had been measuring the height of the building outside the window, exclaimed “Ah” and nodded his head.

“You’re saying to put him in a place like the gambling den where the puppy used to work?”

‘That’s right!’

He couldn’t be happier that Yoon Chi-young understood after two or three tries. The puppy slowly wagged his tail and glared at Kwon Ki-hyuk distastefully. Working at the gambling den was really dirty and hard. That’s why Heeseong hoped that Kwon Ki-hyuk would experience at least half of what he had gone through.

Yoon Chi-young must have felt that it was okay, as he nodded his head and examined Kwon Ki-hyuk’s condition, then muttered as if talking to himself.

“Then, since it would be troublesome if someone recognizes him… I’ll have to put him in a gambling den in Southeast Asia where they don’t even speak the language.”

At those words, Kwon Ki-hyuk trembled excessively. He even raised his head and looked around fearfully. A gambling den where they don’t even speak the language. It was obvious what Kwon Ki-hyuk would suffer. At the gambling den, the employee who was naive and couldn’t talk well always ended up doing the dirtiest work. For example, cleaning the room that a customer like Kwon Ki-hyuk had made a mess of and left, or taking off clothes as he ordered.

“Ple-please. Not there…”

Despite Kwon Ki-hyuk’s plea, Yoon Chi-young just smiled happily and consulted with the puppy.

“For about… 3 years?”

Speaking softly, Yoon Chi-young approached to pick up the puppy who had been wagging his tail. The puppy was about to gladly fall into Yoon Chi-young’s arms but remembered something and asked to be put down on the ground.

The puppy, who had approached Kwon Ki-hyuk on all fours, firmly stamped his foot on the back of his relatively unharmed hand.

‘He shoved this hand into my mouth. Fuck.’

“…He says that hand was trying to be shoved into the puppy.”

“Ah…”

Ji Young-bae immediately translated the fierce mumbling. It was somewhat inaccurate, but anyway, the meaning was somewhat conveyed. However, that slight difference in interpretation must have been a very important issue for someone, as Yoon Chi-young’s face, which had been smiling happily, froze coldly. He walked toward Kwon Ki-hyuk with his long legs and said.

“You should have told me earlier.”

“Wa-wait, wait a minute… That’s not what I did… Aaaah!”

Yoon Chi-young’s shoe stamped precisely where the puppy had stamped his foot. The shoe stamped down two or three more times. The sound of the back of the hand being crushed and Kwon Ki-hyuk’s agonizing scream echoed.

Only then did Yoon Chi-young relax his stiff expression and lift the puppy into his arms.

“Let’s go.”

Behind him, the quick-acting organization members were moving Kwon Ki-hyuk like a piece of luggage.

The sound of Kwon Ki-hyuk’s despair continued to echo in the old building. Heeseong saw it over Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder, but he didn’t feel sorry for him. Anyway, Kwon Ki-hyuk would get back exactly what he had been doing. Thinking about it that way, 3 years seemed short.

Still, Heeseong felt a little refreshed. He actually liked Yoon Chi-young, who took his side, and his gift. Just this once, the puppy buried his cheek between Yoon Chi-young’s coat first. His heart was pounding.

2 - Puppy for a Day

DMWP V1C2 – Part 21

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

The puppy, who had gotten into the car feeling refreshed, occupied Yoon Chi-young’s lap.

‘…Could it be?’

Suddenly, one worrisome thing came to mind. It was also a topic that required direct conversation. The puppy immediately scratched Yoon Chi-young’s back of the hand and called out.

Woof.

“Why?”

‘I’m going to transform.’

The puppy signaled to Yoon Chi-young and transformed into a human himself. He felt pain from his wounds, but Heeseong was used to overcoming the pain.

“You want to do this anywhere?”

Rather, the one who was surprised was Yoon Chi-young. As Heeseong sat on his lap in his naked white body after transforming into a human, Yoon Chi-young hurriedly closed the partition connected to the front seat. Heeseong thought nonchalantly, what’s the big deal between men, and comfortably put on Yoon Chi-young’s coat that was on the seat next to him.

As soon as he put on the coat, Heeseong asked bluntly.

“Did you… by any chance touch Park Geon-tae too?”

“Why him?”

Yoon Chi-young asked with a subtly fading smile on his face. He wondered if Heeseong was worried about that guy. He wasn’t even worth worrying about.

Seeing those chilly gray eyes, Heeseong spoke fiercely without even blinking an eye.

“Don’t you dare touch him. I’ll take revenge on him myself.”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young stared at Heeseong, who had his eyes open sternly, and slowly lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled. Although there had been no frustration when he couldn’t communicate with the puppy, he wished he had lived together as humans sooner.

He didn’t know the puppy only said such pretty words.

It was so cute that he felt a thrill down to the back of his neck. Yoon Chi-young pulled Heeseong’s thigh into his arms and barely suppressed the urge to bite him.

He wanted to grant whatever Heeseong wanted. Yoon Chi-young slightly leaned his head on Heeseong’s shoulder and smiled weakly.

“I didn’t like Park Geon-tae either… Can you take revenge for me, puppy?”

“Why?”

“Park Geon-tae did something that made me feel fucked up.”

“…What is it?”

At the curiosity, the puppy’s ears twitched and popped up. Even that was cute, so Yoon Chi-young bit the white ear without hurting him. Heeseong, who had defended his annoyingly folded ear, asked fiercely again.

“What is it?”

“Well. It’s something I felt ever since the gambling den…”

Yoon Chi-young spoke while delicately looking at every part of Heeseong’s face. It wasn’t an expression of feeling hatred like Heeseong. As if he were deeply immersed in something, his gray pupils were hazy, and his reaction was slow as if he were mesmerized. Even when asked again, he didn’t tell the reason. Heeseong suspiciously stared at him for a while, then recalled that he was originally like this and stopped talking.

“…Just don’t try to stop me.”

Heeseong had no particular reason to refuse. In fact, he was a little relieved. He didn’t like feeling indebted to Yoon Chi-young whenever he took his side. If their intentions were the same, it was good for him.

Actually, even though Yoon Chi-young hadn’t given him any hints, the thought of leaving his house had taken root in Heeseong’s mind. He no longer wanted to rely on or trust anyone. He rather wanted to live in the world alone. Then, at least, he would never experience something like this betrayal again.

But a revenge partnership. It sounded plausible.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been watching Heeseong rack his brains fiercely, spoke as if coaxing him gently.

“I hate Park Geon-tae too, so make sure to take revenge for me.”

“…Okay.”

“We have to keep living together at our house.”

It did feel like some kind of condition, but Heeseong nodded for now. No matter how annoying his actions were, Yoon Chi-young was a reliable ally anyway. If their intentions were the same, it was good for him.

Still, he felt like he was getting caught up in Yoon Chi-young’s scheme… Heeseong seriously looked at somewhere on his knee with his eyes open. He was contemplating how to use Yoon Chi-young. He was still a novice at leading malicious acts.

“Ah, this one-day puppy, really…”

Seeing that serious expression, Yoon Chi-young laughed as if he would go crazy with happiness and buried his head in Heeseong’s nape. His gray eyes, which shone distinctly in the darkness at night, looked particularly eerie. However, what he did to the puppy was more persistent than usual. Heeseong looked at the guy rubbing his cheek against his neck, not knowing why he liked it so much.

Yoon Chi-young, who had rested his cheek on Heeseong’s neck, asked.

“Why are you so mean?”

“…Why?”

Heeseong felt intimidated for no reason. He felt the same way he did when he was scolded by that bastard Park Geon-tae. A dirty and depressing feeling as if everything was his fault no matter what.

But as expected, Yoon Chi-young was different.

“You look so sexy.”

“……”

Heeseong had no energy to respond now. Knowing that this guy was a weirdo for a long time, he just sullenly looked elsewhere.

Still, it was good that he didn’t tell him to endure.

Heeseong stayed still and let Yoon Chi-young rub the bridge of his nose against his neck even though it tickled. He felt much better.

Now, Heeseong had no intention of enduring anymore.

“While this place is so clean…”

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young spoke secretly to himself. Heeseong, who had been lost in thought, finally followed Yoon Chi-young’s gaze.

Yoon Chi-young’s gaze was on Heeseong’s crotch below his navel. In an instant, Heeseong’s face turned red hot, and he properly closed the coat.

In the end, Yoon Chi-young was hit on the shoulder with Heeseong’s fist. But it didn’t hurt much, so he burst into a long, ticklish laugh.

When they returned home, it was early morning, just as the sun was rising.

Since they had stayed up all night anyway, the two had breakfast. Heeseong deliberately didn’t go to bed and watched a movie because he kept getting depressed when he stayed still.

Park Geon-tae’s voice kept crossing his mind.

“I’m sorry too, Heeseong… But if you had done well, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“……”

Although he had firmly resolved to take revenge, the experience of betrayal left a deep wound on Heeseong. It was someone he had trusted and followed for 5 years during the most difficult period of his growth. Moreover, they were from the same dog clan pack who had promised to trust each other for a lifetime. Heeseong had a self-deprecating thought about why this had happened to him again, and then he curled up his body, exhausted from even that.

Heeseong stared at the screen blankly, not knowing how the movie was progressing. Even the wounds left on his body just felt dazed.

Still, the depression didn’t last long because Yoon Chi-young was by his side.

“…Stop biting me all the time!”

Heeseong, who had been sulking, burst out in anger. Beside him, Yoon Chi-young was tightly hugging Heeseong and constantly biting his neck, shoulders, or wrists without hurting him. His black wolf ears and tail had even popped out between his hair.

Heeseong had become somewhat accustomed to being bitten while living as a puppy, but today, Yoon Chi-young was clinging to him more annoyingly than ever. His eyes were hazy as if he were drunk, but Heeseong just thought it was particularly bad today and lost his temper as usual.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been burying the bridge of his nose in Heeseong’s neck even when pushed away, mumbled.

“I think your body scent is really nice…”

“You said it was a musty smell before.”

At the complaint, Yoon Chi-young lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled smoothly. He kept saying he liked Heeseong and hugging him with his whole body, but his wide embrace was warm. Heeseong, who had been struggling, gave up on pushing Yoon Chi-young away as drowsiness hit him.

In the end, Heeseong, who had been dozing off, collapsed on the sofa and fell asleep.

Then he felt Yoon Chi-young lying down and hugging him next to him. It was a consistent behavior since he was a puppy, so Heeseong fell into a deep sleep without much rejection.

But that was the problem.

He had gotten used to the man-eating wolf’s embrace.

How much time had passed like that? Heeseong, who had fallen asleep around lunchtime, woke up again when the sun had set.

His eyes didn’t open on their own, but because of a different sensation on his neck and an unfamiliar sound.

Grrr…

“……”

The white puppy ears that had popped up on top of Heeseong’s head pricked up. Something was strange. It wasn’t a sound that would be heard in Yoon Chi-young’s peaceful house.

In front of Heeseong’s eyes, which he had barely opened, a strange black creature was seen. It was difficult to distinguish the black thing in the darkness, so Heeseong focused for a long time and finally recognized its identity.

A huge black wolf was standing on all fours above Heeseong’s body.

‘…Yoon Chi-young?’

Heeseong recognized the identity of the beast by its gray eyes. Nevertheless, he couldn’t let go of his fear.

The beast seemed to be twice as large as the ordinary wolves he had seen in the wolf clan’s territory. With canines the size of Heeseong’s fingers, it kept sniffing the scent of the white neck.

It was an action to confirm the identity of what had entered its territory. One wrong move and he didn’t know when he would be bitten and torn apart.

Heeseong, who had been frozen stiff like postmortem rigidity out of fear, belatedly exhaled the breath he had been holding and pushed the beast away.

“Get, get away!”

The wolf didn’t move much. However, as Heeseong got up and threw the blanket, his vision was temporarily obscured. The sound of the beast growling lowly behind Heeseong’s back was eerie.

At that moment, the man-eating wolf pounced on Heeseong’s back with agility that didn’t match its size.

“Ugh…! Don’t, don’t get on top of me!”

Heeseong, who had been pinned down by the wolf, pathetically struggled. Heeseong also had lean, tightly packed muscles, but his slender body was tossed around by a single movement of the wolf’s paws. Fortunately, the wolf didn’t bite his neck as if he were prey.

Heeseong quickly transformed into a puppy.

The puppy, who had been struggling inside the pile of clothes, escaped from the clothes and ran with all his might, squeezing out every ounce of strength.

Snap!

At that moment, the wolf’s canines grazed the puppy’s tail. The puppy screamed and desperately crawled under the narrow bed. The puppy, who had gone all the way to the innermost part and was covered in dust, trembled and anxiously examined the outside.

‘It, it tried to attack me.’

In front of the puppy’s eyes, hiding under the bed, the wolf’s huge four legs passed by. Its thick paws were almost the size of the puppy’s torso, and sometimes the man-eating wolf would stick its teeth and nose under the bed.

‘You bastard…!’

The puppy, who had shed a few tears out of fear, timidly smacked the hateful wolf’s nose with his front paw.

It was really too scary.

The numerous beasts Heeseong had seen at the gambling den until now felt like nothing in comparison. The wolf in front of him boasted an elegant black fur, but kept walking around slowly and exhaling rough breaths. As if it was angry that it couldn’t catch its prey.

Rip!

The wolf finally bit the pillow on the bed and started tearing it apart.

‘Fu-fuck…’

Every time the wolf bit and shook the cushion, the white cotton fluttering looked like pieces of the puppy’s body, making him tremble.

‘Didn’t you say we should live together…?’

The puppy, whose eyes had become moist with fear, curled up his body small with his tail tucked between his legs.

In front of Heeseong’s black eyes filled with anxiety, Yoon Chi-young, the man-eating wolf, was scratching the carpet with his paw as big as his own body, as if digging a den.

It was clearly the behavior of a canine animal preparing a den for breeding.

▶️End of Arc 2◀️

Hi all. Thanks for reading this far. Since we’ve just finished Arc 2, I’m gonna take a 1-week break from translating this series. See you next time!

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 1

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Terrified, Heeseong lay curled up under the bed late into the night, unable to fall asleep. The man-eating wolf kept gnawing at the bed where the puppy was hiding, poking its nose through the gaps.

‘What kind of pheromone shock is he in…?’

Heeseong timidly barked a few times, trying to get the wolf to come to its senses, but no form of body language worked with the wolf. It was clear that the wolf was in a pheromone shock so severe that even it wouldn’t recognize itself. Upon seeing the wolf’s spine-chilling fangs once more, the puppy shed a few tears and thought,

‘I’ll just, I’ll just get away from this bastard and live on my own, damn it.’

Heeseong tried to think fiercely out of fear, but each time the wolf paced atop the bed above his head, the puppy squeezed his eyes shut and trembled finely.

After being tormented by fear for a long time, the puppy fell into a light sleep, curled up in a ball. It was possible only because the man-eating wolf on the bed had finally quieted down. Heeseong was indeed worried about Yoon Chi-young, but he didn’t have the courage to go out and check on him. For the puppy, it was truly a matter of life and death.

Thump

.

The puppy, who had been sleeping restlessly, was awakened by the noise.

“Puppy…?”

Upon opening his eyes at the distant call, the room was bright, as if the sun had risen. Heeseong blearily opened his drowsy eyes and perked up his ears. It seemed like he could hear Yoon Chi-young’s voice from afar.

“Puppy… Where on earth are you?”

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young, wearing only a hastily thrown-on robe, entered the bedroom, gripping the doorframe. He staggered as if he were drunk, and his movements were loose. On top of that, he was breathing unsteadily and roughly, just like last night.

‘Has he returned to his right mind now…?’

The puppy glared at Yoon Chi-young with a wary expression. Yoon Chi-young’s condition, with wolf ears and tail still exposed, was suspicious.

“Gyeon Heeseong. Gyeon Heeseong….”

Heeseong had intended to observe him for now, but Yoon Chi-young was desperately searching for him. Unlike usual, he couldn’t even use his sense of smell properly, trembling his fingertips and repeatedly calling out for Heeseong. His face, which was uncharacteristically pale, looked like it would crumble at any moment.

Feeling sorry for him, the puppy poked his head out a little from under the bed.

Woof… Woof.

As he timidly barked, Yoon Chi-young immediately turned around. He had been searching for the puppy in vain among the pillow stuffing scattered on the floor, but upon seeing the cotton ball with three black dots printed on it under the bed, he finally distinguished the puppy.

As soon as their eyes met, Yoon Chi-young let out a big sigh of relief and flashed a bright smile, revealing his vampire-like fangs.

“Ah… You were there? I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

‘Is he really okay…? He’s still staggering.’

As Yoon Chi-young approached, Heeseong glared at him with suspicious eyes, his ears pressed flat back.

Seeing the dust-covered puppy, Yoon Chi-young let out a sigh of relief and muttered,

“Thank goodness… I didn’t kill you.”

‘Cr-crazy bastard.’

The startled puppy backed further under the bed. Although Yoon Chi-young’s relieved appearance was somewhat strange, Heeseong still doubted whether he had truly returned to normal.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young knelt in front of the bed and opened his arms.

“Come here, darling.”

Seeing him talk nonsense, it was clear that it was indeed Yoon Chi-young.

Confirming that he was normal, the puppy’s eyes, which had been tightly curled up, became wide and round. Perhaps because he felt relieved, the fearful memories of last night struck his heart with a sense of unfairness. His tail also began to wag softly like a feather once more.

“There, it’s okay.”

Yoon Chi-young spread his arms even closer, as if telling him to come quickly. The puppy’s expression, which had been full of wariness, crumbled pitifully.

‘I was scared!’

The puppy barked as if crying and clung tightly to Yoon Chi-young’s embrace.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 2

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

“You really don’t remember anything…?”

Heeseong asked Yoon Chi-young as he fed him egg porridge. He was feeding him because he couldn’t stand seeing him pretending to be sick anymore. He wanted him to get better quickly.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been lying there weakly, pretending to be ill, said,

“Hmm… Just that when I woke up in the morning, the surroundings were a mess?”

“Then what’s your last memory?”

At the question, Yoon Chi-young pondered, holding his forehead, and then recalled his hazy last memory.

“Thinking that I wanted to knot you while you were asleep?”

“……….”

Heeseong abruptly stood up at the shameless sight without a hint of embarrassment. He didn’t want to get angry at a sick person, but he couldn’t help but feel his temper rise when he thought about how his life had been in danger last night.

“Then, do you not remember salivating as if you were going to devour me while I was sleeping?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You even climbed on my back like a hunter when I tried to run away.”

As Heeseong spoke fiercely, puppy ears sprouted on top of his head. In addition to being in a recovery period, he was tired from lack of sleep, so his beastman form easily emerged. The fact that he was unspeakably angry also played a big role.

Heeseong pointed at the pillow stuffing scattered around the bedroom and the ruined carpet with a spoon.

“This too! You ripped out all the stuffing and scratched the carpet like you were digging a burrow, ruining it all.”

“Oh….”

Yoon Chi-young let out a quiet exclamation as if he had no idea. Compared to the fuming Heeseong, he exuded only an elegant aura. Unable to bear it any longer, Heeseong asked exasperatedly,

“If you thought you were going into a pheromone shock, you should have taken medicine or something. Why did you stupidly endure it?”

At the question, Yoon Chi-young answered in a husky, cracked voice,

“That’s what I endured with medicine.”

“…What?”

Heeseong didn’t get angry this time at the unexpected answer. It reminded him of the conversation Yoon Chi-young had with the doctor before.

〈Have you not returned to your original form all this time?〉

〈I was busy raising a puppy.〉

Yoon Chi-young had said he hadn’t returned to his original form because of Heeseong.

Did that mean he had been taking medicine and enduring it for fear of attacking Heeseong?

Come to think of it, this morning, Yoon Chi-young had been relieved to see that Heeseong was safe. Before that, unlike his usual relaxed self, he had shown signs of extreme anxiety. It must have meant that he truly couldn’t control his reason at will.

Realizing that fact, Heeseong felt sorry for getting angry at him without restraint.

Heeseong sat back down on the bed and quietly fed him the egg porridge. His white tail also swayed gently in apology. Although it felt unfamiliar to feed him something, considering how Yoon Chi-young had fed and bathed him when he was sick, he could do this much for him. It was suspicious how Yoon Chi-young, who had looked ill, only seemed to regain his energy when being fed the egg porridge, but…

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young lightly rested his head on Heeseong’s lap. Heeseong was about to push him away immediately, but he let it slide since he was sick. Perhaps because he was happy to have successfully secured a lap pillow, black wolf ears twitched intermittently above his head.

“But you know what?”

“What?”

“If we summarize my behavior yesterday….”

Yoon Chi-young covered his forehead as if embarrassed. Fine strands of black hair fell on his forehead, beautifully concealing his refreshingly open gray eyes.

“I think my mating season might have come a bit early because of you… You’ll take responsibility, right?”

“……….”

Heeseong beat Yoon Chi-young with the pillow beside him as if cursing was a waste. However, hitting him with the pillow, which had lost most of its stuffing, didn’t even have an impact, let alone white stuffing just fluttering around. In the midst of that, Yoon Chi-young kept saying he had mistaken the stuffing scattered on the floor for the puppy, earning him more beating.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 3

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

In the end, Yoon Chi-young decided to go to the hospital.

Although he could have called a doctor to the house, he decided to go to the hospital in person to receive pheromone suppressants, as Heeseong could be in danger like last night if things continued this way. His expression as he made the decision was quite serious, to the point where Heeseong ended up taking care of Yoon Chi-young first.

There was a small obstacle in the middle.

“Only Yeong-bae, follow me today.”

Yoon Chi-young, perhaps sensitive to pheromone scents, dismissed all the other subordinates and said he would only take Ji Yeong-bae as his driver. The subordinates had already retreated far away as soon as they saw Yoon Chi-young in his half-beast state. Only Heeseong, unaware of why everyone was acting that way, stood there holding Yoon Chi-young’s hand, looking dazed as the sick man leaned on him.

At that moment, Ji Yeong-bae politely asked Heeseong,

“How should I address this person?”

He was asking who Heeseong was. It was understandable that he didn’t recognize Heeseong in his human form, as he had only lived as a puppy. Still, Heeseong felt a bit hurt inside, as if asking why he didn’t recognize him, and confidently said,

“I’m the puppy.”

“…Ah.”

As soon as he said it, Heeseong regretted it. His face flushed hotly, and Yoon Chi-young, who had been leaning against him pretending to be sick, turned his head away, biting his lips tightly to suppress his laughter. Even Ji Yeong-bae, whose expression was so lacking that one might wonder if he was a robot, twitched the corners of his mouth once.

‘Damn it. What grown man introduces himself as a puppy?’

While Heeseong was at a loss due to embarrassment, Ji Yeong-bae, who had regained his original expressionless face, said,

“So you were a beastman. I understand.”

“……?”

Heeseong thought it was strange how he could just brush it off so simply. Was this how professionals were? Even if the puppy he had been raising suddenly turned out to be a person, he just said he understood. Heeseong thought Ji Yeong-bae was truly taciturn, unaware that it was because of Yoon Chi-young, whose eyes had turned cold beside him.

The hospital was neither close nor far. However, it was completely different from the ordinary places Heeseong was familiar with.

The hospital Yoon Chi-young headed to had no waiting time to receive treatment, and the interior facilities were as elegant as a luxury hotel. There, Yoon Chi-young quickly underwent an examination, and Heeseong also received various tests along with him.

Thus, the two ended up having a consultation with a doctor from the wolf clan. Heeseong sat next to Yoon Chi-young on the opposite side of the doctor to hear the test results.

“The test results are a bit strange… I’ll measure your pheromone levels again.”

“Yes.”

The doctor, upon seeing Heeseong’s test values, looked puzzled and tried to hold the back of his neck to directly measure the pheromone levels. However, Yoon Chi-young, who had been sitting elegantly next to him, suddenly changed his behavior.

Grrr….

Yoon Chi-young abruptly warned, baring his teeth like a beast. He subtly revealed his fangs as if he would bite the doctor to death at any moment, pulling Heeseong into his arms.

“Ah, I apologize.”

The doctor immediately withdrew his hand and hastily stepped back. On the contrary, it was Heeseong who was taken aback.

“What’s wrong with you…?”

Heeseong’s heart also pounded loudly as Yoon Chi-young showed the same behavior as last night. Yoon Chi-young just smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, to the point where it seemed like this was natural.

The doctor, rather than Heeseong, said with an understanding tone,

“Wolf clansmen usually become very sensitive when they bring their mates around this time of winter.”

“We’re not mates.”

This time, it was Heeseong who spoke sensitively, subtly revealing his teeth.

However, the doctor didn’t take Heeseong’s words to heart. He thought they would soon become mates anyway, since Heeseong was Yoon Chi-young’s chosen partner. The reason he was certain Yoon Chi-young was only pretending to be sick was because of the pheromone levels. Right now, Yoon Chi-young, whose pheromones had accumulated to the maximum, would be in a situation where even he himself couldn’t control his overflowing strength.

“I’ll measure your partner’s pheromone levels. Then….”

After obtaining permission from the alpha, Yoon Chi-young, the doctor carefully checked Heeseong’s pheromone levels.

Heeseong’s level was 6, while in contrast, Yoon Chi-young’s was 1,210. Considering that 200 was normal, neither of them was normal.

This was a part that Heeseong was curious about anyway. If they were beastmen, their pheromones should be several hundred times higher than ordinary animals, so it was strange. Heeseong asked with a puzzled expression,

“Can a beastman have faint pheromones like me?”

“It’s rare, but possible.”

The doctor, who had sat back down, explained slowly,

“The pheromone glands develop the most during puberty. It’s similar to growing in height. Although genetics play a big role, the degree of growth can vary considerably depending on the environment.”

The doctor showed a few diagrams on the screen to the side. They were photos of the developed pheromone glands on the back of Yoon Chi-young and Heeseong’s necks.

Yoon Chi-young’s glands were developed with several strands like thick tree roots. However, next to it, Heeseong’s glands had a thread-like thin line that abruptly broke off in the middle, leaving nothing.

“Just as Director Yoon maintained only his original form during his growth period to develop his pheromone glands….”

‘…Then did he really live as a wolf for several years?’

The surprised Heeseong stared blankly at Yoon Chi-young.

If that was the case, was the special training to become a guardian that Ji Yeong-bae had mentioned before referring to the years he had lived as a beast?

It occurred to him that it might have been a more painful time for Yoon Chi-young than he had imagined. In Heeseong’s eyes, Yoon Chi-young was always an elegant and emotionally genuine beastman. To put it nicely, he was a humane guy. But if he had been forced to live in such a feral state during his growth period…

it must have been quite painful.

However, that thought was short-lived as the doctor’s next words made Heeseong stop worrying.

“On the contrary, if one doesn’t receive sufficient nutrition during the growth period, the pheromone glands may not develop properly.”

‘…Oh.’

It was a fact that Heeseong had been unaware of until now because he had stayed away from hospitals since childhood. It was because he had been very poor when he was young, and now that he was an adult, he was too busy.

Born frail, Heeseong had vomited out the food he ate since childhood, unable to digest it properly. After being abandoned by his family, he worked himself to the bone at the gambling den, rarely eating proper meals.

‘…It would have been better if I just didn’t know.’

In modern beastman society, it didn’t matter if one’s pheromones, which were proof of wilderness in modern beastman society, being faint. However, it still felt unsettling, to be honest.

And Heeseong was inwardly concerned about Yoon Chi-young, who was leaning on his shoulder. Although their situations were polar opposites, he somehow felt a sense of kinship.

‘If he also maintained only his original form while growing up… it doesn’t mean he grew up normally.’

It wasn’t as if Yoon Chi-young had wanted to become the guardian of his clan, but he had been raised as a complete beast through abnormal training.

Somehow, Heeseong felt sorry for Yoon Chi-young. He thoughtlessly placed his hand on Yoon Chi-young’s thigh, trying to offer some clumsy comfort, but he was startled when he felt something thick.

In the end, all his worries were pointless.

Yoon Chi-young was looking to the side with crazed gray eyes, as if he were moved that Heeseong had touched his shaft first.

‘D-damn it.’

Heeseong was startled and tried to shake off his hand, but Yoon Chi-young calmly pressed Heeseong’s hand firmly against his bulging front. Heeseong’s surprised face turned pale. He had mentioned mating season earlier, and it was true. It was too big, even though it was already big.

The doctor, unaware of the situation under the desk, spoke only of treatment methods with a serious expression.

“Fortunately, since your partner’s pheromone levels are very low, and Director Yoon is not showing any aggression for the first time….”

The doctor smiled kindly, as if it were a good thing.

“I recommend managing pheromones through sexual intercourse at least once a week.”

At the doctor’s recommendation, Yoon Chi-young grinned brightly, but upon seeing Heeseong’s tightly frowning face, he composed his expression.

He was also fundamentally a wolf. A cunning wolf would not rush in recklessly and ruin things. Yoon Chi-young calmly replied,

“Our darling is still young, so sex is….”

“Why would I have sex with you?”

With a single fierce remark from Heeseong, who bared his teeth, Yoon Chi-young quietly stroked his head as if he understood and spoke again.

“We’re in the early stages of our relationship, so such explicit recommendations are still….”

Bang

.

In the end, Heeseong stormed out of the consultation room. He was so angry that even the tips of his ears were red.

Yoon Chi-young nodded his head as if he had expected this. Then, he got up to follow Heeseong and casually ordered the doctor,

“Give me the pheromone suppressants for now. A mild dose.”

“Ah, I understand.”

“Thank you. …Oh, next time, do it a bit more properly than today.”

Yoon Chi-young, in his half-beast state, spoke while twitching one of his wolf ears. The fangs subtly revealed between his smiling lips were spine-chilling. The doctor bowed without even making eye contact with him. Before long, Yoon Chi-young was slowly wagging his black wolf tail and went to find the puppy that had run away.

Afterward, the doctor wiped the cold sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief. After all, the doctor was also part of the wolf clan under Yoon Chi-young’s surveillance. Although Yoon Chi-young’s request was minor, he couldn’t help but feel tense, given who he was dealing with. It was indeed not an easy task to assist someone’s love life without causing offense to the guardian.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 4

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

“I guess it’s easy for a doctor to make such recommendations. Here.”

“…Infuriating.”

Yoon Chi-young bought strawberry juice and gently coaxed Heeseong. Heeseong received the juice with a fierce frown on his face. Actually, he wanted hot chocolate, but Yoon Chi-young had bought him something else, saying he shouldn’t have chocolate, so he was dissatisfied.

Heeseong sat on the soft sofa in the lounge in a delinquent posture and drank the juice. He didn’t know why there was a luxury lounge inside the hospital, but he had long given up on understanding the world Yoon Chi-young lived in. Just as there were rock-bottom places like gambling dens, there would be even better places to match.

In the midst of that, there was a dissatisfaction that filled Heeseong’s mind.

‘How can I sleep with that huge wolf?’

Heeseong felt that the doctor’s recommendation was absurd.

The black wolf he had seen last night was so huge that its back reached up to the waist of Heeseong’s human form. It was a fearsome beast in itself, with a seething howl that made his knees tremble.

Moreover, even Yoon Chi-young, who was currently in his half-beast state, seemed to be half out of his mind. He was consistently leaning on Heeseong’s shoulder, sniffing his scent.

“Ah, this is driving me crazy….”

“Don’t cling to me.”

Although it was a slightly better situation compared to the kisses he had to endure when he was a puppy, Heeseong was inwardly scared. It seemed like Yoon Chi-young would turn into a wolf again at any moment. It appeared that last night’s incident had left a trauma. Even if he had gotten used to sleeping with Yoon Chi-young, having sexual relations was still an absurd idea.

Moreover, Yoon Chi-young had a suspicious history.

“But… have you been unable to sleep with your lovers all this time because of pheromone shock?”

That blond wolf clan man who had clearly followed Yoon Geon-yeong before had a hideous scar left on his arm. On top of that, rumors had spread that Yoon Chi-young engaged in cannibalism. Because of that, Heeseong found it amazing that he had been able to live safely with a man-eating wolf for over a month.

“No.”

Yoon Chi-young, who was comfortably leaning against Heeseong, said with a subtle smile,

“I saved myself modestly to meet the puppy.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Yoon Chi-young wondered why Heeseong treated his words as nonsense. It was sincere for a monogamous wolf. However, since Heeseong didn’t seem to be in the mood to play along, he behaved meekly. Now, catering to the puppy’s whims had become a familiar task.

Hesitating, Heeseong asked again,

“That blond wolf clan man before… wasn’t it because of pheromone shock that you injured him?”

“You remember that?”

At the question, Heeseong seriously furrowed his brows and nodded, as if asking how he could forget. It was naturally an unforgettable memory. How could he forget that Yoon Chi-young had bitten off the hand of the person he was dating?

“Mr. Yoon Chi-young?”

At that moment, a nurse called for Yoon Chi-young. As he got up from his seat and took off his black long coat, Yoon Chi-young left an unexpected remark.

“Half of it was intentional.”

“…What?”

“The ones who approached me all had a reason.”

Heeseong looked up at Yoon Chi-young with surprised, wide eyes. Yoon Chi-young looked at Heeseong as if he were cute, patted his head, meticulously wrapped his thick coat around Heeseong’s back, and left.

‘Then… was that all part of the guardian’s job?’

Heeseong became as cozy as when he was a puppy buried in a blanket. However, only deeper confusion remained in his black eyes.

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 5

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young entered the isolation room to receive the pheromone suppressants. Heeseong felt uneasy being alone, so he stood pressed against the glass window outside the isolation room, waiting for him.

Yoon Chi-young, who had entered the glass chamber, lay prone, receiving an IV in his arm and patches connected to lines on the back of his neck and various parts of his back, and fell asleep. His expression, which had looked sensitive, loosened somewhat comfortably, and his black wolf tail twitched intermittently. Seeing his relaxed face, Heeseong felt a bit relieved.

At that moment, a nurse approached Heeseong, who was watching the isolation room.

“Would you like to wait in the waiting room, guardian?”

“Ah, no. I’ll stay here.”

Although the word “guardian” felt unfamiliar, Heeseong brushed it off as if it were nothing. Looking at his own appearance reflected in the glass, it seemed that the word “guardian” didn’t suit him. To think that he, who was sloppily wearing Yoon Chi-young’s long coat that reached his ankles, had become his guardian. On the contrary, it was Yoon Chi-young who had been taking care of him all this time, so the reversal of roles felt unfamiliar.

Then, Heeseong accidentally glanced down at Yoon Chi-young’s medical card and was startled.

‘This bastard is 6 years older than me?’

Heeseong had expected Yoon Chi-young to be older than him, but seeing the actual numbers made him feel strangely unfamiliar. All this time, Heeseong had not only called Yoon Chi-young “hey,” but he had also lived by cursing at him and beating him up with his front paws to his heart’s content. And that too, to the guardian who controlled the black money of the wolf clan.

‘…I’ll just keep calling him hey.’

However, Heeseong didn’t dwell on it for long. He had decided not to care about others’ opinions anymore. He had nothing left to lose anyway, and his exhausted heart made even his worries feel powerless.

“……….”

The painful experience of being cast out of the pack for the second time had distorted Heeseong’s heart. It was partly because he had forcefully turned away from his sorrow, but Heeseong refused to acknowledge that pain.

Heeseong stubbornly thought that being betrayed by his brother wasn’t worth being sad about. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at the floor, but Heeseong bit his lip hard to hold back his tears.

It was his brother who had pretended to cherish him and tried to use him. So it was right for him to only think about revenge.

Thinking stubbornly, Heeseong looked at the isolation room again. Yoon Chi-young needed to recover quickly so they could go kill Park Geon-tae. Even if not for that, he felt much more at ease when Yoon Chi-young was healthy. Thinking about revenge made his heart increasingly impatient.

As he wiped the tears welling up in his eyes, Heeseong said to Ji Yeong-bae, who was standing beside him,

“I’m going to the restroom and will be back.”

“It’s dangerous for you to go alone.”

“I want to go alone. It’s close anyway.”

Perhaps because of his experience living as a puppy, Heeseong spoke casually to Ji Yeong-bae. Ji Yeong-bae didn’t particularly mind that point, but he seemed worried about Heeseong going alone and tried to follow him.

“Don’t follow me.”

Not wanting to be caught crying, Heeseong deliberately avoided Ji Yeong-bae and went to the restroom. The restroom was right around the corner anyway.

Seeing the stylish restroom made of black marble, Heeseong thought that they had really splurged money everywhere. It was a hospital restroom, but there was even a separate powder room. Hesitating like a small animal entering an unfamiliar place, Heeseong first approached the sink, put down the juice cup, and rolled up the coat sleeves that covered the back of his hands.

At that moment, someone approached from behind.

“You came with Director Yoon, right?”

“Pardon?”

As Heeseong raised his head, he made eye contact with a blond man through the mirror. It was the wolf clan man who had come with Yoon Geon-yeong before and had been afraid of Yoon Chi-young.

Turning around with a puzzled look, their eyes met. The man, who was half a span taller than Heeseong, was wearing a sleek suit today. However, he had several medical patches on the back of his hand, as if he had come to the hospital for treatment.

“I’m acquainted with Director Yoon, so I asked out of curiosity. I’m Yang Hye-chan.”

‘…Wow.’

Unable to even respond to the introduction, Heeseong inwardly admired him up close. Yang Hye-chan was a young man with a mature charm. The suit he wore also suited him well, and although Heeseong hadn’t noticed when he was scared, now that he had a relaxed smile, he looked like a well-bred noble young master. At a glance, he was a beastman with a different essence from Heeseong, who had rolled around and grown up at the bottom.

‘…So Yoon Chi-young used to date someone like him.’

Somehow, a corner of Heeseong’s heart felt uncomfortable. He just found it a bit annoying that the other person had been in a relationship with Yoon Chi-young.

Heeseong looked at the mirror to the side again and frowned. He saw himself, still looking pale and with remnants of boyishness. Wearing Yoon Chi-young’s oversized coat in an awkward manner made him look even more immature. The thing he hated the most was that the tears welling up in his black eyes had been caught by someone else.

Pretending as if nothing had happened, Heeseong turned on the faucet with a frown on his face.

“Gyeon Heeseong.”

“Are you from the wolf clan?”

“No. I’m from the dog clan.”

Heeseong answered perfunctorily while washing his hands. He even mentioned the fact that he was from the dog clan without hesitation. Anyway, it didn’t matter since the dog clan was a common species, making up 30% of beastmen.

However, as soon as Yang Hye-chan heard that answer, he looked down at Heeseong, who was sitting on the sink, with a condescending gaze.

“So you were a dog after all.”

Annoying purebred wolves. Here we go again.

Having suffered enough from species discrimination at the gambling den, Heeseong just finished washing his hands with a bothered expression. On the other hand, Yang Hye-chan continued speaking in a friendly and gentle tone.

“Director Yoon has been strangely bringing a dog around lately….”

“……….”

“Will it be okay? Seeing as he came to get pheromone suppressants, it seems dangerous.”

“Why?”

“That depends on the relationship… What’s your relationship?”

“We sleep together.”

Heeseong answered recklessly, not wanting to lose.

‘Why did I answer like that?’

Although he regretted it after saying it, it wasn’t a lie but the truth anyway. Heeseong had always slept in the same bed as Yoon Chi-young since his days as a puppy.

“You

sleep

together?”

However, Yang Hye-chan seemed to think it was a lie and had a subtle sneer on his face. That gaze, unique to purebred wolves, looking down on others, felt very repulsive.

“If you had that kind of relationship, Yoon Chi-young wouldn’t have gone into isolation.”

‘What’s it to you?’

Heeseong just glared at him through the mirror with a sullen expression. He had no idea what Yang Hye-chan was trying to say to him.

“He’s changed. He refused to sleep with me even if it killed him.”

Yang Hye-chan subtly emphasized that he had been in a relationship with Yoon Chi-young and appealed as if he had cherished him.

It was then that Heeseong realized that this bastard had started talking to him to spite him. Heeseong began to show a blatantly annoyed demeanor. Unlike at the gambling den, now he could express his feelings in front of customers, which was a small convenience.

“Seeing him bring a dog around with that personality, there must be a separate purpose….”

Yang Hye-chan looked Heeseong up and down, then lowered his voice and spoke as if he were very worried.

“He’s a man-eating wolf who even bites his own kind. Will you be okay?”

“Yes.”

“You look young, so I’m giving you a chance to run away.”

“Ah… Mind your own business.”

“If you received something from that beast….”

Whirring!

Heeseong ignored him and activated the hand dryer. Although Yang Hye-chan didn’t know since they had met when Heeseong was a puppy, Heeseong, who was acquainted with him, found him a bit clingy. It seemed like he was badmouthing his ex-lover.

‘Who are you calling a beast?’

Moreover, calling a beastman a beast was a great insult. Heeseong also inwardly thought of Yoon Chi-young as a beast, but he believed it was different from Yang Hye-chan.

And even if he cursed Yoon Chi-young, it was Heeseong who did it. Suddenly, Heeseong’s insides began to boil.

Heeseong knew quite a lot about Yoon Chi-young. Yoon Chi-young hadn’t become a guardian by choice, and it was the wolf clan who had excessively developed his pheromone glands during his growth period. However, when he heard words telling him to stay away under the guise of a warning, he got angry. Just like the wolves he had seen at family events, he wondered if Yang Hye-chan was also desperate to make Yoon Chi-young an outcast.

On the other hand, he didn’t understand why he was getting so angry, but Heeseong had no intention of leaving Yoon Chi-young after hearing such cowardly gossip. Anyway, Yoon Chi-young was the only… revenge partner left for Heeseong.

Still, he couldn’t cause a scene at the hospital.

‘…Let’s endure it for now. Yoon Chi-young is sick too.’

Taking a deep breath and barely holding back, Heeseong shook his hands and tried to leave the restroom. Behind his back, he heard Yang Hye-chan’s words as he twirled around.

“I clearly warned you. That guy is a man-eating wolf.”

“……….”

He really didn’t want to endure it after all. Come to think of it, there was no reason to. Heeseong now had no one to be mindful of and nothing more to lose.

Turning back around, Heeseong approached Yang Hye-chan with fierce eyes, taking big strides.

“Would you like some strawberry juice?”

“Hmm, no thanks….”

Before Yang Hye-chan could finish his answer, Heeseong poured the strawberry juice onto his face, which had a sneer on it. For the first time, the contempt disappeared from Yang Hye-chan’s face, and surprise and anger began to set in.

Putting the plastic cup down on the sink with a thud, Heeseong said, subtly revealing his fangs,

“Don’t badmouth Yoon Chi-young in front of me. I’m his guardian.”

“…Ah, you bi….”

“What? If you’re upset, bring your own guardian too.”

Leaving a warning, Heeseong left the restroom again. Behind him, the wolf’s growling sound echoed louder and louder in the restroom. Instinctively, Heeseong’s steps quickened. Having nearly been devoured by a wolf last night, he had become even more terrified of the sound of a beast’s howl than usual.

Quickly leaving the restroom, Heeseong urgently said to Ji Yeong-bae as soon as he turned the corner of the corridor,

“Yeong-bae

hyung

, I caused trouble.”

“…Pardon?”

Before Ji Yeong-bae could even understand the situation, Heeseong immediately transformed into a puppy behind the door of the guardian waiting room right next to him.

The puppy, who had haphazardly shoved his clothes behind the door, rolled his front paws and looked at a loss, then recklessly burrowed into Ji Yeong-bae’s pant leg and tightly grabbed his ankle wearing dress socks with his front paws. Although he could hide in the pile of clothes, clinging to Ji Yeong-bae was optimal to conceal his scent.

In the meantime, Yang Hye-chan’s rough voice echoed in the corridor.

“Did you see the damn dog that just passed by here?”

“I didn’t see it.”

Ji Yeong-bae pretended not to know without changing his tone of voice. Heeseong understood why the deer in fairy tales rewarded the woodcutter. Even though he had suddenly gotten involved in trouble, he was very grateful that Ji Yeong-bae took his side.

Afterward, Yang Hye-chan questioned a few more times, but Ji Yeong-bae’s answers were like an iron wall. The puppy, hiding in the pant leg, quickly wagged his short tail in tension and held his breath.

At that moment, Yang Hye-chan persistently asked,

“That dog Yoon Chi-young brought this time, are they really sleeping together?”

‘Why the hell is he prying into that?’

Heeseong found Yang Hye-chan to be really clingy. Asking around about his ex-lover’s rumors. In the meantime, Ji Yeong-bae answered heavily,

“That’s not something I can answer.”

“Ha, I guess they really are sleeping together.”

The puppy just found Yang Hye-chan pathetic, muttering as if he were amazed. Little did he know that he had informed the wolf clan’s guardian, who was monogamous, that he had found his lifelong mate. It would have been something that would make Yoon Chi-young so moved that he would cover his mouth if he knew.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 6

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Afterward, Yang Hye-chan questioned Ji Yeong-bae a few more times about Heeseong and Yoon Chi-young’s relationship before giving up. However, he seemed convinced that they were in a romantic relationship just by the fact that Yoon Chi-young had come to the hospital with someone, and he disappeared.

“You can come out now.”

When the corridor became quiet, Ji Yeong-bae took Heeseong out of his ankle. His characteristically delicate touch was particularly careful.

Soon, a white cotton ball rolled out of the pant leg. The puppy, with his fur in a mess, asked Ji Yeong-bae with sharp eyes,

‘Is he gone?’

“Yes.”

Ji Yeong-bae neatly combed the messy puppy’s head. Heeseong let out a sigh of relief and climbed onto Ji Yeong-bae’s hand. His expression was serious, and his tail was still trembling rapidly, unable to shake off the tension.

Anyway, he didn’t regret pouring juice on Yang Hye-chan.

Because he had badmouthed Yoon Chi-young in front of him first. However, the fact that Yang Hye-chan was the lover of the leader among the purebred wolves bothered him.

‘Will I be okay?’

As Heeseong pondered, he asked Ji Yeong-bae through body language.

It wasn’t that he was being mindful of Yoon Chi-young. It was just that the fact that Yoon Chi-young had become sensitive due to pheromone shock bothered him. He was already in poor health, so Heeseong was worried that giving him more shock might trigger another pheromone shock. On the other hand, he thought that he might be scolded by Yoon Chi-young for the first time. This time, he had messed with the lover of the leader among the purebred wolves, so it was indeed a big incident.

Unexpectedly, Ji Yeong-bae acted indifferently.

“You’ll be fine. If you were hit first.”

‘But I threw the first punch.’

He should have gotten hit first after all. Heeseong regretted not provoking Yang Hye-chan more. However, he didn’t regret throwing the juice.

At that moment, a call came from inside the isolation room.

“Guardian of Yoon Chi-young?”

Woof

.

When the puppy answered, Ji Yeong-bae carried Heeseong and moved him. The nurse tried to guide Ji Yeong-bae, but unable to understand the puppy mumbling “thank you” in his arms, she just smiled brightly, finding it cute. She hadn’t thought that the wolf guardian’s original form would be a puppy.

Just then, the doctor entered the isolation room with a chart.

“The guardian is….”

‘It’s me.’

Even when Heeseong answered by raising his front paws, the doctor couldn’t find the young-looking guardian he had seen earlier and started explaining Yoon Chi-young’s precautions to Ji Yeong-bae for now.

“First of all, the pheromone levels have dropped to 1,018 with the suppressants, but for the time being, you should avoid giving the patient excessive stimulation. If he feels threatened or anxious, there is a high probability of another pheromone shock.”

Woof

.

“Also, separation anxiety may occur, so it is recommended that the partner stays close as much as possible. The sense of stability can alleviate pheromone levels. Oh, and keep other beastmen’s pheromones away as much as possible, as they can increase aggression.”

Woof!

“N-Now, please stay by his side so that the patient can wake up stably and keep talking to him.”

Woof

.

“Then… please convey my words to the guardian.”

The doctor looked at the puppy, who was responding well, in bewilderment, and unconsciously patted his small head before leaving. Although he had directly examined Heeseong earlier, he couldn’t match the original form with the human form.

Regardless of the doctor’s confusion, Heeseong looked at Yoon Chi-young, who was lying in the glass chamber with his upper body undressed. He was still in his half-beast state, and the patches that had been attached to his back and the back of his neck had been removed.

‘Was the separation anxiety he showed after the pheromone shock last time?’

Heeseong recalled the sight of Yoon Chi-young falling into a panic while searching for him in the morning. Anyway, to avoid experiencing that terrifying pheromone shock again, he now had to stick to Yoon Chi-young and cherish him like glass art.

Heeseong enviously and irritably glared at his well-toned upper body, then looked at his face. Yoon Chi-young seemed to be slowly waking up, turning his prone body and lying straight with a pained frown on his face. Judging by the veins bulging on his arms and the cold sweat on his forehead, he still seemed to be in pain.

Following the doctor’s instructions, Heeseong tried to wake him up by saying anything.

‘Wake up. Buy me some shrimp.’

‘I said wake up.’

‘I beat your ex-boyfriend.’

As Heeseong mumbled, Yoon Chi-young gently relaxed his furrowed brows and looked to the side. As soon as he saw the small puppy, he smiled brightly. It was the same happy smile he showed every morning when their eyes met.

When their eyes met, the puppy hesitated for a moment, then pressed his front paws against the glass chamber. As if the gel on his paw pads stuck well to the glass, Yoon Chi-young caressed the spot where the front paws touched with his finger, smiling as if he found it unbearably cute.

“Were you waiting for me?”

…

Woof

.

Heeseong felt oddly flustered. This cruel wolf bastard’s face looked the best when he had just woken up. Whenever his usually elegant self looked slightly disheveled, it was like looking at a loosened gem. That’s why Heeseong thought Yoon Chi-young’s relaxed appearance in the morning was pleasant to see.

However, there was one concern.

‘How do I tell him I caused trouble?’

Seeing Yoon Chi-young smiling pleasantly, he felt a bit sorry to tell him that he had caused trouble. Heeseong gave a subtle glance to Ji Yeong-bae, who had lifted him up. It meant to translate well for him.

With a hint of apology in his heart, the puppy mustered up the courage to tell Yoon Chi-young,

‘But I caused trouble.’

“The puppy declared to Young Master Yang Hye-chan that he’s in a romantic relationship with you, director, and threw strawberry juice at him.”

‘Hey!’

Feeling a great sense of betrayal, the puppy barked loudly at Ji Yeong-bae. He would have preferred the usual messy translation rather than this transcendent translation.

Still, it was the truth, so he had no face to show. Heeseong began to gauge Yoon Chi-young’s reaction, but it was strange.

“Kuk kuk kuk kuk kuk….”

Yoon Chi-young was actually laughing with a subtle shaking of his shoulders, as if he had heard something cute. His loose laughter, made while half-asleep, seemed both comfortable and exhilarating. The puppy wagged his tail while looking at him, not understanding the situation. He felt relieved that Yoon Chi-young didn’t take it as seriously as he had thought.

After laughing for a while, Yoon Chi-young finally composed himself and asked,

“Ha, did you do that out of jealousy, puppy?”

‘Why would I be jealous?’

“Now you’re even getting jealous for me.”

The puppy looked at Yoon Chi-young pathetically.

Jealousy? It was absurd. Heeseong just thought Yang Hye-chan was annoying, he stubbornly believed.

Whirring

.

At that moment, the glass chamber slowly opened. Then, Ji Yeong-bae placed the puppy on Yoon Chi-young’s chest and left the isolation room as if running away. Heeseong knew it was to minimize exposing Yoon Chi-young to pheromones, but he felt a bit resentful towards him. Leaving him alone with a man-eating wolf.

However, there was a positive effect.

‘The pheromone levels are really going down?’

Perhaps due to the sense of stability, the pheromone levels displayed on the screen in real-time had slightly decreased to 1,013. Taking the opportunity, Heeseong sat on Yoon Chi-young’s chest in a round shape like a bun. He wanted the levels to drop further.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young stroked the puppy and said something incomprehensible.

“Well done. Our puppy took revenge for me.”

‘Revenge?’

Heeseong was puzzled, but since he was in his puppy form, he couldn’t ask further. It was a bit frustrating, but he deliberately maintained his puppy form for Yoon Chi-young’s sake. Anyway, when he was human, Yoon Chi-young would sniff his scent as if he were in heat, so maintaining this form seemed better, as it seemed to provide pet therapy for Yoon Chi-young.

Yoon Chi-young, who rested comfortably until he was fully awake, slowly left the hospital.

‘I took revenge for you.’

Until they got into the car, the puppy’s tail kept wagging. Heeseong was inwardly excited by the unusual situation. He had caused a big incident, but it had passed smoothly, and he had even received praise. It was something he had never experienced when living with that bastard Park Geon-tae.

Seeing that tail and smiling slightly, Yoon Chi-young began to take numerous photos of the puppy in his arms.

“Sometimes, I really feel like I’m going crazy….”

It wasn’t Heeseong who said that. It was Yoon Chi-young’s languid monologue. Even when the puppy looked up at him with pathetic eyes, Yoon Chi-young delicately brought the camera close and murmured,

“My lover is a puppy, and he even gets jealous.”

‘Lunatic.’

Heeseong thought sullenly but didn’t reprimand him. He was just happy that Yoon Chi-young had taken his side. Moreover, he felt elated at the mention of taking revenge. The puppy proudly sat on one of Yoon Chi-young’s thighs, puffing out his chest fur. Rather than liking how Yoon Chi-young had overlooked the situation without hearing the details, he was grateful that he had understood and said he had done well. It felt as if he now had a pack that could provide him with a sense of stability.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V1C3 – Part 7

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

When they returned home, there was a big change. Heeseong’s room had been created.

It seemed that the subordinates who hadn’t accompanied Yoon Chi-young today had renovated it. As soon as he saw his room, Heeseong, who had transformed into his half-beast form, surveyed the surroundings with rounded eyes. His black eyes sparkled, and his tail swayed gently at the sudden gift, but Heeseong, who wasn’t used to receiving, unconsciously asked in a sullen manner,

“Why did you suddenly make my room?”

“We’re going to live together. Of course, you need one.”

From behind, Yoon Chi-young hugged Heeseong’s shoulder while draping a robe over him. Even as his earlobe was bitten by Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong looked around the stylish room with an unfamiliar gaze.

Heeseong’s room was the second-largest after the bedroom. When he opened the built-in closet, it was packed with all kinds of new clothes and shoes from various brands, and next to it was a plush sofa, a table, and even a new laptop.

The puzzling point was that there was no bed in the room. Heeseong thought it didn’t matter since he slept with Yoon Chi-young anyway, but then he flinched. He wondered why it had become natural for him to sleep with Yoon Chi-young.

But there was a bigger dissatisfaction.

Heeseong glared at one side of the room with a tightly furrowed brow. There were colorful dog supplies and a popular fainting mat for puppies.

“Do you think I’m really a puppy?”

“Exactly. Our puppy is a fighting dog.”

Yoon Chi-young wondered what Heeseong was if not a puppy, but he played along for now. Anyway, everything the puppy said was correct. Heeseong looked at the puppy supplies with a dissatisfied and discontented expression, as if he didn’t like them. Although he pretended to dislike them, his black eyes were lively since there were many necessary items.

“……….”

Soon, Heeseong weakly averted his gaze. As expected, having his own room in the wolf’s den felt unfamiliar and strange. This wasn’t where he was meant to settle down.

“Don’t make my room without my permission.”

“Why?”

“I’m going to live independently anyway.”

At those words, Heeseong felt Yoon Chi-young’s quiet energy from behind. The chilling atmosphere made Heeseong afraid to turn around. It was too unfamiliar for Yoon Chi-young’s demeanor, which had always been friendly, to change so abruptly.

After a brief pause, Yoon Chi-young asked softly, as usual,

“Didn’t you say you’d live with me forever?”

“I never said that.”

Heeseong spoke while looking somewhere on the floor with a gloomy expression. A solemn silence flowed inside the stylishly decorated room.

Heeseong had changed a bit after being betrayed. He didn’t like having his own space in the house of Yoon Chi-young, his revenge partner. He disliked the feeling of being indebted and no longer wanted to rely on anyone. This kind of relationship was bound to fall apart someday, and when that happened, Heeseong would be the one to bear the burden, whether it was material or emotional. In that case, it was better to start alone with nothing.

“……….”

At the end of the silence, Yoon Chi-young released his hands that had been back-hugging Heeseong. Feeling puzzled, Heeseong hesitated and turned around, only to see his expressionless face. His gray eyes, looking down at Heeseong’s nape, were sharp and seemed to flicker with thirst. They were just like the eyes of the wolf he had seen the night before.

Heeseong felt an eerie chill and tried to take a step back, but Yoon Chi-young subtly pulled his waist with force. Then, he smiled weakly while making eye contact as usual. While Heeseong looked at him with an unfamiliar gaze, he offered a small compromise.

“Then at least use the clothes, puppy.”

“Clothes?”

“Yeah. My clothes didn’t fit you, right?”

That was true. Until now, Heeseong had been wearing Yoon Chi-young’s clothes, which were a few sizes too big, and it had been uncomfortable. Although hesitant, Heeseong decided to take a look at a few items since he inwardly wanted his own clothes. Yoon Chi-young finally let go of him and gently opened the built-in closet as if showing it off.

Inside the built-in closet were numerous clothes packed by season. For Heeseong, who had less than a box of clothes when he lived at the gambling den, it was like a different world.

‘My new clothes….’

Heeseong first took out the coat he had always wanted. He wanted to have clothes that truly fit him, not cheap suits or hand-me-downs from his brother. Heeseong stroked the texture of the high-quality coat. At a glance, it looked as luxurious as the one Yang Hye-chan wore.

Yang Hye-chan. Heeseong, who had unconsciously thought of him, asked hesitantly,

“But… who is Yang Hye-chan? Why did you say I took revenge for you earlier?”

In response to the question, Yoon Chi-young, who had been looking at Heeseong with delight, answered nonchalantly,

“Oh, nothing much. He just tried to kill me before.”

“…What?”

Heeseong turned around in surprise. He saw Yoon Chi-young sitting elegantly on the sofa, twitching the tip of his black tail. He spoke lightly about the serious matter as if it were a tedious memory.

“I had dealt with his older brother. So Yang Hye-chan teamed up with my older sister and deliberately approached me.”

“Why did your sister do that?”

“Leaders originally dislike it when the guardian becomes too strong.”

“……….”

Heeseong finally understood the real hardship faced by a guardian. He had thought it was difficult just to monitor and deal with the clan, but it was a role that also earned resentment from close relatives. Heeseong recalled how Yoon Chi-young wasn’t welcomed by anyone at the clan’s gatherings. It was a memory that angered him.

With a slight suspicion, Heeseong asked,

“Then, did you kill Yang Hye-chan’s brother?”

“No, I didn’t kill him. I just made him pay the price for his betrayal.”

“Ah, then well….”

Heeseong’s serious expression softened. Then, wasn’t the betrayer getting what he deserved? Having grown up among fighting dogs who valued righteousness, Heeseong naturally believed that betrayal came with a corresponding price.

‘So that’s why he said he intentionally bit Yang Hye-chan….’

Given Yoon Chi-young’s personality, he most likely deliberately let Yang Hye-chan approach him, tested him, and then took revenge. In Heeseong’s eyes, Yoon Chi-young was the most cunning among wolves. Fortunately, he only showed his foolish side, giving plenty of kisses to Heeseong as a puppy.

“……….”

However, one thing bothered Heeseong.

Even though Yoon Chi-young had only done the job assigned to him, he had earned the resentment of his own kind and was having his life threatened. Moreover, even his sister, who was family, had tried to kill him. But it didn’t seem like Yoon Chi-young had experienced such things only once or twice.

With his gaze darkening, Heeseong carefully asked while caressing his new shoes,

“…Aren’t you sad?”

“Why?”

“Your siblings, your sister tried to kill you.”

“Is the puppy sad?”

“Damn it, I’m not sad.”

Heeseong spoke stubbornly with a deep frown. In response, Yoon Chi-young just smiled with his gray eyes as if he were in love, making Heeseong even more upset. However, Heeseong didn’t want to act pathetically just because he had been betrayed. He stubbornly believed that he had no reason to be sad.

Yoon Chi-young, who had silently finished laughing, casually said while leaning his arm on the back of the sofa,

“It’s okay. I didn’t have any expectations anyway.”

“……….”

At those words, Heeseong was at a loss for words. Heeseong, who had lowered his gaze without a word, fiddled with the new shoes in his hand.

Perhaps it was because he had recently been betrayed by someone who seemed like family. He felt concerned about Yoon Chi-young, who said he was fine. He felt that way even more because he knew they were both dog and animal species with a particularly strong pack mentality.

That damn feeling of being abandoned or ostracized from the pack. Heeseong was in so much pain that he had nightmares every night, but for Yoon Chi-young, it was an everyday occurrence.

“…How can that be okay?”

“Well, I was angry, but….”

Yoon Chi-young smiled and gently reached out his hand. He grabbed Heeseong’s arm and carefully pulled him close.

“After meeting the puppy, everything became fine. I even quit gambling altogether.”

Come to think of it, Heeseong knew that Yoon Chi-young was a VIP at numerous gambling dens, but he had never been to a gambling den even once after meeting Heeseong. He had thought Yoon Chi-young was just working and living happily with the puppy by his side 24 hours a day. He had really changed after meeting Heeseong. It was something that felt special because it was so natural to be together.

Yoon Chi-young, who was sitting on the sofa, hugged Heeseong, who was standing in front of him. He rested his cheek on Heeseong’s waist and said while twitching his black wolf ears,

“So don’t leave me alone….”

“……….”

“You’re my guardian, aren’t you?”

Every time he spoke, Yoon Chi-young’s black tail swayed behind his back. As far as Heeseong knew, wolves didn’t wag their tails, but the man-eating wolf was imitating the puppy. Imitating each other was a sign of being of the same kind.

“……….”

Heeseong dazedly kept his eyes open and carefully embraced Yoon Chi-young’s head, which was nestled in his arms. The wolf ears were laid back for easy petting, and Yoon Chi-young also closed his eyes comfortably.

However, the puppy’s eyes, who hadn’t fully grasped the situation, were filled with confusion. But there was also a glimmer of expectation in them.

If Heeseong left this place, he would be alone, just as Yoon Chi-young would be alone. Even if the future was uncertain, right now, we only had each other.

Heeseong, whose heart had warmed up to Yoon Chi-young a little, deeply embraced his head in his arms. His heart was beating fast. Beastmen had very strong innate instincts. The instinctive sense of fulfillment from belonging to a pack captivated Heeseong. The puppy spoke firmly as usual, not knowing that his quickened heartbeat was being conveyed to Yoon Chi-young.

“Don’t try to coax me with those words.”

“Did you notice?”

Yoon Chi-young smiled cunningly with his eyes curved. He pulled Heeseong’s body, which was hanging in his arms, even closer. Heeseong, whose body was drawn in, ended up sitting on Yoon Chi-young’s lap on the sofa.

Outside the window, the sun was slowly setting, and a subtle light seeped in. In the stillness, Yoon Chi-young bit Heeseong’s white cheek and made ill-mannered nibbles. The sound of flesh brushing against each other was particularly unfamiliar as they pushed and pulled each other playfully with their hands.

In succession, Yoon Chi-young playfully bit Heeseong’s thin chin. When Heeseong laughed without much rejection, he smiled joyfully, raising the corners of his mouth. Soon, Yoon Chi-young overlapped his lips with Heeseong’s as if giving a bird kiss.

“You….”

The startled Heeseong flinched and parted his lips. Although he had kissed Yoon Chi-young to the point of getting tired of it when he was a puppy, it was still unfamiliar to kiss him in his human form. However, Yoon Chi-young frowned his beautiful brows pitifully as if asking what the problem was.

“Why?”

He tilted his head and asked with a very pitiful gaze,

“It’s just the two of us… Can’t we?”

“……….”

The words “it’s just the two of us” particularly resonated with Heeseong. It wasn’t simply that it was just the two of them in this space, but it seemed like Yoon Chi-young was the only one on his side in the vast world.

People who had always approached Heeseong had high expectations just by looking at his gentle appearance. Among them, those with bad intentions expected special services. No one had ever accepted Heeseong for who he truly was.

But Yoon Chi-young was different. Even though he was a man-eating wolf with a veiled past, he was the only person who readily accepted all of Heeseong’s sides and showed him unconditional affection. Heeseong looked at various parts of Yoon Chi-young’s handsome face with attentive eyes. Yoon Chi-young, who had been biting his lips as if enduring something, closed his eyes while pressing his forehead against Heeseong’s. As if asking Heeseong to look at him, he subtly tightened his grip on Heeseong’s waist.

As expected, Heeseong didn’t want to push him away.

For the first time, Heeseong reciprocated what he had received from Yoon Chi-young. Although he hesitated for a moment, he soon pounced on Yoon Chi-young’s lips without much skill. At that clumsy sight, Yoon Chi-young smiled, raising the corners of his mouth, then willingly embraced Heeseong and gently intertwined their tongues. He wrapped his arms tightly around Heeseong’s body as if to imprison his entire being.

Soon, Heeseong accepted his kisses without much rejection, just like when he was a puppy. However, he didn’t intentionally deepen the kiss because Yoon Chi-young’s breath was quickly becoming rough.

Heeseong, who had been biting his lips, pulled away slightly and said,

“But why did you spare the leader…? Can’t we kill him along with Park Geon-tae?”

“Should we? I spared him because he didn’t do anything reckless, but….”

In response, Heeseong pondered and then whispered seriously that they should keep an eye on him.

At that sight, Yoon Chi-young smiled brightly while pressing his forehead against Heeseong’s. Heeseong’s appearance, with all his sincere schemes, looked so lovable. Taking the opportunity, Yoon Chi-young pulled Heeseong’s nape and intertwined their tongues.

“Mmm, wait….”

As their emotions intensified, the kiss deepened. Yoon Chi-young’s breath also became rough again. Gradually, Heeseong’s face turned bright red, and he pushed Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders to escape from his embrace.

Heeseong, who had gotten up from his seat, hurriedly tied his half-loosened robe. His body, with even the fur on his white tail standing up, clearly appeared to be in heat. Even as Yoon Chi-young, whose pupils had already dilated, tried to draw his body in again, Heeseong pushed his hands away as if urging him and said sternly,

“No, the doctor said not to stimulate you.”

“Physical affection helps release pheromones anyway.”

Woof!

Before he could finish his sentence, Heeseong transformed into a puppy as if running away. Then he left the room first without any lingering attachment.

“……….”

Left alone, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t even stand up due to his aching lower body and covered his forehead with his large hand. Thick veins bulged on his forehead.

‘They clearly told him to cooperate.’

Although he knew Heeseong needed time to approach him on his own, Yoon Chi-young wanted to get rid of the doctor who was of no help at all.

〈To be continued in Volume 2〉

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 1

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Chapter 1

Yoon Chi-young decided to visit the hospital the next day as well.

It was because Heeseong had refused to sleep with Yoon Chi-young. A puppy that saw the wolf asleep sneakily left the bed and ended up sleeping on the fainting cushion in its own room. When Yoon Chi-young, who woke up in the middle, brought the puppy back to the bed cushion and all, Heeseong couldn’t fall back asleep, worried.

“What if he has another pheromone shock?”

Even though Yoon Chi-young was asleep, he occasionally breathed roughly, as if in pain. Anxious, the puppy licked his cheek and lay down across his eyes like a blindfold. Only then did Yoon Chi-young start breathing evenly again and fell into a deep sleep.

Eventually, the next day at noon, the puppy came to him with the medical card in its mouth, intending to take him to the hospital.

Thud.

“Why? Want to go to the hospital?”

‘You need to go.’

The puppy answered resolutely. For some reason, Yoon Chi-young liked that and ended up getting a barrage of kisses, causing the puppy some trouble. Eventually, the puppy, with its fur all messed up, ran back to the room and turned into a human. Whether in human or puppy form, it was hard to handle Yoon Chi-young’s aggressive affection.

Dressed in new clothes, Heeseong took Yoon Chi-young to the hospital. It was natural, as he was his guardian.

***

Upon arriving at the hospital, Yoon Chi-young went in again to get an anti-pheromone shot. Just yesterday, his pheromone level had dropped to 1,013, but today, it had shot up to 1,083. The doctor was alarmed at how it could rise so much in just one day.

Heeseong felt a bit guilty. After all, he felt a strong sense of responsibility as the guardian. He had followed the precautions, but he hadn’t expected the levels to rise this much.

‘Do we really need to have sex to ease his separation anxiety?’

Heeseong shook his head vigorously at that thought.

The idea of having sexual relations with Yoon Chi-young. Not to mention the size difference, just the thought of him being a man-eating wolf made it seem far off. Heeseong found it strange that he was even considering such thoughts and shook his head vigorously to dispel them.

Then, he saw someone standing at the end of the hallway.

‘Why is that guy here again?’

Yang Hye-chan was in sight. Heeseong tensed up inwardly at the sight of him but pretended to be unfazed in the hallway. After the last incident, he was ready to give as good as he got if Yang Hye-chan started anything. After all, he had tried to kill Yoon Chi-young, making him an enemy to Heeseong as well.

But Yang Hye-chan just sneered faintly at Heeseong and didn’t do much else.

However, Heeseong felt uncomfortable as Yang Hye-chan seemed to be muttering something into his phone as if he was having a conversation. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but it made him feel uneasy.

He decided it was best to stay out of Yang Hye-chan’s sight for a while. This time, Heeseong spoke to Ji Young-bae, who was the only one to accompany him to the hospital again.

“Hyung, can I go get some juice?”

“What will you use it for?”

“…To drink.”

Heeseong thought he’d use it as a weapon, but given his history of causing trouble, he kept quiet and answered.

Ji Young-bae glanced at his wristwatch, then nodded and moved heavily with Heeseong. It would take at least 30 minutes for Yoon Chi-young to come out of isolation anyway.

The cafe was on the first floor of the hospital. At the counter, Heeseong mentioned Yoon Chi-young’s name and got an orange juice. Strangely, mentioning his name was enough to get any menu item.

Heeseong handed a juice to Ji Young-bae as well — technically, it was bought by Yoon Chi-young — and sat on a sofa to chat. However, it was a bit awkward because Ji Young-bae stubbornly stood behind him at a diagonal angle.

“Hyung, how did you end up working with wolves being from the dog tribe?”

“Director Yoon personally hired me.”

“Really? How come?”

“I… killed a member of the wolf tribe.”

Heeseong’s black eyes widened in shock at the unexpected answer.

It seemed like a hiring based on ability, but the circumstances were a bit delicate. Heeseong took a sip of his juice and glanced at Ji Young-bae. The idea of a canine who had killed a wolf… Suddenly, Ji Young-bae’s large and sturdy figure felt imposing.

“……?”

Noticing Heeseong’s cautious glance, Ji Young-bae gently stroked his head. Heeseong felt odd, remembering how Ji Young-bae seemed to find him endearing after hiding behind his hem last time. Yet, he remained silent, not minding the affection since he knew Ji Young-bae to be a kind figure.

Then, Heeseong spotted something odd outside the window.

“…What’s that?”

Beyond the hospital was a beautifully maintained walkway by the river, with affluent neighborhoods and the city beyond.

But on the walkway, a familiar figure appeared. A yellow dog. The dog was looking directly at Heeseong. It could have been a stray, but Heeseong’s instinct told him it was more than that.

The dog from the gambling den.

Rising from his spot, Heeseong headed outside, drawn to the dog. Ji Young-bae gently held his shoulder, cautioning him.

“You shouldn’t go out recklessly.”

“Just need to check something.”

Heeseong muttered, moving towards the outdoors, and the dog distanced itself accordingly, yet its eyes remained fixed on Heeseong.

Heeseong recognized the dog instantly. It was a friend from the gambling den, close to him.

The dog communicated through body language, clearly signaling.

“I have something to say.”

“…….”

Heeseong’s hesitation was evident in his widened eyes. It was risky for a beastfolk to roam the city in their true form, yet his friend had come this far, surely with an urgent message.

Glancing back at the hospital building, Heeseong was conflicted about leaving Yoon Chi-young, but the desire for revenge that always lingered in his mind propelled him forward.

To seek revenge against Park Geon-tae, any information was crucial.

And the secretive manner of his friend’s visit indicated there must be a significant reason.

“Hyung, I’ll be back shortly.”

“That’s not allowed.”

“Just for a moment.”

Heeseong ran off, following the dog as it seemed to beckon him. As he dashed, the dog led him onward, and Heeseong quickly followed.

As Heeseong ran, Ji Young-bae, surprised, shifted into his beast form to catch up swiftly. The sturdy shepherd stayed close to Heeseong, vigilantly surveying the surroundings. Hesitant but determined to catch up with his friend, Heeseong crossed a bridge over the river. Beyond lay a part of the city known for its affluent neighborhoods.

December, Heeseong entered the snow-covered affluent area. It was a quiet neighborhood with high fences.

“It won’t take long, right…?”

Fortunately, the hospital remained visible even after crossing the bridge. The distance covered didn’t seem too daunting, giving Heeseong confidence for a swift return. Steadying his heart, Heeseong approached the dog loitering in the dim parking lot.

Ji Young-bae, in his true form, circled around Heeseong, offering a sense of security. With his presence reassuring, Heeseong felt slightly at ease and moved towards the parking lot.

Crunch

.

However, Ji Young-bae bit his clothes, stopping him. Heeseong stood before the dim parking lot, staring at his friend. The narrow street nearby was unusually deserted.

It was wise not to enter the parking lot. The dogs from the gambling den appeared there.

Several large canine beastfolk, all guards from the gambling den, were familiar to Heeseong but not in a good way. The guards, who often punished or took out their frustrations on the troublemaking Heeseong, were not friends.

One guard with a scar on his forehead spat out, disdain clear in his voice.

“Traitor.”

Heeseong’s expression turned fierce. He knew his sudden disappearance might have led to misunderstandings, but he hadn’t expected a trusted friend to lure him out this way.

The guard from the gambling den delivered a message that felt like a verdict.

“Thought you’d be safe siding with the wolves after betraying your pack?”

“Fuck, who betrayed who.”

Heeseong bared his teeth in retort, but the guards remained unflinching. They were convinced of his betrayal.

‘Was this a plan to eliminate me secretly, away from the wolves?’

The reason for luring him out using a friend was clear. They wanted to deal with the traitor without crossing paths with the wolves. The guard spoke to Heeseong as if making a formal announcement.

“Heeseong, admit to your betrayal before we kill you here.”

In the canine tribe, where loyalty was paramount, betrayal was the gravest of offenses. Although not as vigilant as the wolves, traitors were always made to pay a heavy price. In particular, the canine tribe would often cripple a limb of the betrayer as punishment.

But Heeseong, despite knowing this, was unafraid.

Having come this far, he needed to gather any information he could. Heeseong bluntly asked the guard, not mincing his words.

“Did Park Geon-tae order you to take care of me without the wolves knowing?”

“Answer our questions first.”

“Your intelligence network sucks. How did you know I was with the wolves?”

Heeseong’s brazen question was met with a threatening response from the guards.

“No matter what a traitor does, we know everything. Just confess.”

Heeseong ignored their words, flicking one ear, lost in thought. The canine tribe’s organization was much less tight-knit than the wolves’. If they had information on him, it meant there was a separate informant.

“…Who’s collaborating with that blockhead again?”

Heeseong grumbled through gritted teeth, and the guards lost their patience.

“This fucking mutt!”

Two guards transformed into German Shepherds and lunged at Heeseong. The fighting dogs, about the same size as Heeseong, bared their sharp fangs and tried to tear at his throat. Heeseong instinctively raised his arms and ducked.

Kang!

Ji Young-bae bit and easily subdued the two German Shepherds. However, two more German Shepherds suddenly emerged from elsewhere and targeted Heeseong. It all happened in an instant.

‘Oh no.’

By the time he noticed, the German Shepherd’s sharp fangs were already right in front of Heeseong’s eyes. His instincts told him to run away, but Heeseong knew that turning his back would be even more dangerous. He had to either block or attack, even if it meant risking losing the use of his arms.

‘Too close.’

Gritting his teeth, Heeseong reached out with all his might. He planned to somehow grab the German Shepherd and throw it to the ground. He would surely get bitten somewhere by the other one, but he had to stop at least one of them.

The sharp fangs seemed about to tear Heeseong’s shoulder at any moment. Far from being frightened, Heeseong was prepared to get bitten and tried to grab its scruff. Just as the German Shepherd’s fangs barely grazed his new clothes—

Boom!

Two wolves rushed in from the side and tore the German Shepherds apart. The German Shepherds howled as if screaming, and the unharmed few tried to flee in a hurry. Heeseong took a deep breath to calm his tension and looked around at the scene that unfolded in an instant.

Before he knew it, a pack of wolves more than twice the size of the German Shepherds had silently gathered. Unlike dogs, the wolves bared their fangs and charged at the gambling den’s dogs without making a sound as they pounced on their prey.

‘How did the wolves get here?’

Heeseong looked around in surprise. He was amazed that the wolves had flocked this far, but the sight before him scared him. The ends of his black hair, damp with cold sweat, clung thinly to Heeseong’s tense forehead.

It was not a fight between the fighting dogs Heeseong usually saw. It was a one-sided hunt by beasts. The wolves bit the legs of the German Shepherds trying to escape over the wall and chased the fleeing dogs to the end. Heeseong stepped back little by little, catching his tense breath.

Then someone forcefully pulled Heeseong into their arms.

“Ugh…!”

Surprised by the powerful strength, Heeseong gulped and turned to look at him.

It was Yoon Chi-young with unstable eyes. He seemed to have run over in a hurry, breathing heavily in a disheveled state unlike usual.

“Yoon Chi-young…?”

“Gyeon Heeseong.”

Perhaps it was because his gray eyes had vertically elongated pupils, but Heeseong found his voice particularly chilling. His voice, lower than usual, and his rough breathing hit Heeseong with bone-chilling intensity. Goosebumps rising, Heeseong grabbed Yoon Chi-young’s arm that was tightly holding his waist, eyes wide open.

As their eyes met, Yoon Chi-young stared at him expressionlessly. Heeseong’s gaze fell on his distinctly reddened eyes. Yoon Chi-young, subtly gritting his fangs, seemed to have difficulty speaking as usual.

“Why do you keep suddenly disappearing like that?”

Although his words were laced with concern, something was off. The arm wrapped around his waist was squeezing with overwhelming strength. When Heeseong touched the back of that hand, he felt a temperature so hot it startled him.

Something was wrong. Yoon Chi-young seemed far too unstable. It seemed he might go into pheromone shock at any moment.

Forgetting about nearly getting torn apart just moments ago, Heeseong grasped Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders.

“Yoon Chi-young, are you… alright?”

Heeseong barely managed to ask, and Yoon Chi-young met his eyes. He was smiling, but that expression seemed even more terrifying.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Now that I found you.”

“For now, calm down. I didn’t mean to go far…”

“I want to calm down too, but…”

Yoon Chi-young laughed unsteadily, taking a deep breath, then swept back his disheveled black hair. As his reddened eyes were revealed, his nails grew long and black. It was a sign his body was trying to revert to its original form.

Heeseong tried to somehow calm him down and hugged Yoon Chi-young. He was sure this had lowered Yoon Chi-young’s pheromone levels before.

Then he heard a rough voice like a beast’s cry in his ear.

“You almost got hurt again… How can I calm down?”

“……”

“Huh? Gyeon Heeseong. Answer me.”

Heeseong’s face froze in shock. He could tell that Yoon Chi-young feared him getting hurt and crouching with his small body in an alley more than him disappearing. The whimpering sound Yoon Chi-young made before passing out last time Heeseong was injured was proof of that.

Soon, black cars stopped in front of Heeseong.

They were cars of the wolf organization members. Yoon Chi-young got in the backseat, holding Heeseong tightly. The force was too strong, but Heeseong obediently followed him.

Looking up at him from Yoon Chi-young’s arms, Heeseong’s eyes trembled with unease.

***

The car quickly headed home.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young painfully struggled to control his increasingly heavy breathing. Although Heeseong’s body stiffened at the thought of Yoon Chi-young transforming into a black wolf, he did his best to hold him close and stay by his side.

However, none of Heeseong’s attempts at conversation or skinship to soothe Yoon Chi-young worked. Gradually, the vague fear residing in Heeseong’s heart grew.

He wasn’t sure in what state of mind he made it home. Only after dragging Heeseong into his domain, the house, did Yoon Chi-young finally face Heeseong with barely focused eyes. It was winter when the sun set early. The two gazed into each other’s eyes in the dim space.

“Baby…”

Yoon Chi-young called out to Heeseong with a sigh-like laugh, as if wanting to calm down. But up close, his gray eyes looked strange. Even his words were sticky, tinged with a smoky sound like a growling beast.

“If you keep disappearing like that, I think I’ll really go crazy.”

“I didn’t intend to run away and leave you.”

“Yeah, I know. I know, but…”

Yoon Chi-young barely managed a smile. The corners of his mouth trembled slightly, his fangs protruding. Heeseong warily observed his eerie appearance and took faltering steps backward.

Heeseong leaned against the wall, his puppy ears drooping back nervously. His white tail was also anxiously curled.

Yoon Chi-young pulled Heeseong into a tight embrace as if to catch him and whispered,

“I’d rather be the one getting hurt…”

“……”

“If someone hurts the puppy again, I think I’ll really lose it.”

Although his words were clearly affectionate, a chill ran down Heeseong’s spine. It felt as if a man-eating wolf had grabbed him by the nape. Mumbling incoherently, unable to control his strength, Yoon Chi-young already seemed out of his mind.

But Heeseong didn’t want to fear him. He had made Yoon Chi-young unstable in the first place. Even now, Yoon Chi-young was just temporarily in pain. Heeseong clenched his trembling hands tightly and tried his best to speak as usual.

“It won’t happen anymore. I won’t get hurt.”

“No. It’s already happened twice…”

Yoon Chi-young’s hot breath touched Heeseong’s nape. Heeseong lowered his head to the opposite side and buried his forehead against Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder. Sensitive heat circulated wherever Yoon Chi-young’s skin touched him.

On the other hand, Heeseong thought he understood why Yoon Chi-young was so anxious.

‘Gyeon Heeseong, Gyeon Heeseong…’

The uncharacteristically uneasy behavior of Yoon Chi-young when Heeseong disappeared after he first transformed into a wolf last time stood out in his mind. Recalling his desperate appearance then, Heeseong felt apologetic. Yoon Chi-young was of the same species as him. Perhaps he was more than that.

“…Calm down.”

Heeseong understood Yoon Chi-young’s unease. He had said Heeseong was all he had.

Even if the cunning wolf’s words were just superficial flattery, Heeseong knew that at least half of what Yoon Chi-young said to him always contained sincerity.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll never leave you.”

At Heeseong’s steadfast words, Yoon Chi-young buried his face in Heeseong’s nape and laughed darkly. He didn’t seem to believe what Heeseong said. The strength of the arm around Heeseong’s waist intensified.

The situation only worsened. Yoon Chi-young’s fangs grew even longer in his mouth. Every time he exhaled, a boiling sound rang out. It meant he was struggling to control himself.

If Heeseong couldn’t calm him down here, he might go into pheromone shock again.

“Yoon Chi-young…?”

Heeseong raised his head from Yoon Chi-young’s embrace.

His puppy ears, drooping back from anxiety, twitched, and his eyes were glazed with tension. In front of him, he saw Yoon Chi-young’s tired gray eyes, full of pain.

Heeseong wanted to soothe him. It wasn’t just out of a sense of responsibility. A feeling more poignant than that compelled Heeseong to act.

Hesitantly, Heeseong lifted his heels slightly and returned the affection he had received thousands of times from him.

He brushed Yoon Chi-young’s smooth jaw with his lips and gently bit the side of it. Compared to the kiss they had last time, this was nothing more than a playful touch. His tongue barely grazed Yoon Chi-young’s lower lip.

Silence

.

Even that was enough to widen Yoon Chi-young’s eyes. The tail of the wolf, said to be unshakeable, bristled and doubled in size. Heeseong felt a thrill so intense that his neck tingled at the sight of Yoon Chi-young’s surprised expression.

Heeseong was the first to pull away. Yoon Chi-young’s breathing had calmed down somewhat, and his hand was frozen, gripping Heeseong’s waist. Only the black wolf’s tail was twitching like an electrode.

Heeseong mustered up the courage to speak.

“Calm down.”

Silence.

Yoon Chi-young’s hazy eyes slowly shifted towards Heeseong. His slit pupils barely focused. He tilted his head slowly, looking at Heeseong, and a smile appeared on his lips, revealing his fangs.

“…Yoon Chi-young?”

Heeseong’s kiss seemed to have the opposite effect.

“Ah…!”

Yoon Chi-young pounced and showered him with kisses like a downpour. Heeseong tried to calm him down, but Yoon Chi-young was beyond reasoning. Heeseong’s clothes were stripped away as if torn, and Yoon Chi-young’s large hands gripped his small hips as if to crush them.

Heeseong trembled with fear, but soon relaxed, realizing that Yoon Chi-young would not bare his teeth at him. He closed his eyes and entwined his tongue with Yoon Chi-young’s. If it was to lower his pheromones, it couldn’t be helped.

No, if it was only Yoon Chi-young, it was alright. With that thought, Heeseong willingly surrendered himself to Yoon Chi-young.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 2

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Heeseong always wondered. Did this cunning wolf simply like small puppies, or did he like Heeseong himself? Or was it possible that all his actions were just a game? Doubt crept in.

However, that doubt vanished in an instant. The moment he saw Yoon Chi-young smile while intertwining their tongues, Heeseong realized that even this concern was exactly what Yoon Chi-young wanted. He also felt there would be no stopping Yoon Chi-young.

“Mmph…”

Perhaps aware it was inevitable, Heeseong clumsily closed his eyes tightly and pressed his hand against Yoon Chi-young’s firm chest.

Yoon Chi-young took half a step closer, completely trapping Heeseong who had been leaning against the wall. As Heeseong mixed tongues while on his tiptoes, the shadow of wolf ears loomed over his head.

Gasping for breath, Heeseong pressed against Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders as if to push him away, but Yoon Chi-young stood firm, not budging an inch. Instead, he placed one thigh between Heeseong’s legs and firmly applied pressure to his crotch.

“Hngh, don’t press…”

Exposed to the blatant stimulation, Heeseong bit his lip, breathing heavily. With his heels raised, once the thigh wedged between his legs, he couldn’t move at all. Yoon Chi-young tightly coiled around Heeseong’s body like a snake and sweetly sucked on his earlobe.

It felt exactly like being bitten by a beast in heat.

That was no exaggeration. Below, Yoon Chi-young was subtly rubbing his thick bulge, and the growling breaths of a predator unfamiliarly penetrated Heeseong’s ears.

At this rate, wouldn’t Yoon Chi-young transform into his original wolf form?

Fear crept in, but Heeseong also felt a sense of responsibility. Yoon Chi-young would be the one most devastated if Heeseong was violated by a man-eating wolf.

“Haa, you… can’t turn into a wolf.”

“Mm, don’t change?”

Yoon Chi-young, who had been licking Heeseong’s white collarbone and chest, laughed lowly. He didn’t seem to fully understand the meaning, perhaps just echoing Heeseong’s words because he liked hearing his voice. This was evident from how he strongly sucked on Heeseong’s small nipples and stripped off his pants and underwear in one go.

“Ah, hngh…!”

Heeseong was left wearing only a loose long-sleeved shirt, his white buttocks exposed.

The cold air grazed his milky thighs, and Yoon Chi-young’s hot hands touched him there. The large hands toyed with Heeseong’s soft thighs as if teasing him, greedily trying to grasp his small buttocks with one hand. That pervert. Faced with such unfamiliar teasing, Heeseong cursed and grasped Yoon Chi-young’s stone-like arms.

Though his eyes trembled with tension, Heeseong tried his best to speak fiercely.

“If you turn into a wolf, I won’t do it.”

“How can you not?”

Yoon Chi-young growled. He undid his belt and took out his rock-hard erection from between. The erect penis, thick veins wrapped around it, stood tall enough to touch his firm lower abdomen. The base was already slightly swollen as if preparing to knot. Heeseong’s expression stiffened like never before upon seeing the penis as thick as his own forearm.

“The puppy has to help for me not change…”

Ignoring him, Yoon Chi-young guided Heeseong’s hand to grasp his penis. Even that seemed extremely stimulating as Yoon Chi-young furrowed his brows tightly and let out a rough breath.

“Ah, haa…”

Groaning, Yoon Chi-young covered Heeseong’s hand that held his penis and moved it up and down as if masturbating. After just a few strokes, clear liquid seeped from the tip of his stiff cock. Heeseong’s startled gaze was fixed on the glans, as big as a child’s fist.

Soon, Heeseong flattened his puppy ears back and looked up at Yoon Chi-young.

He saw the expression of an overgrown wolf pup, a full head taller. He was grinning darkly, his face flushed with heat. Even though he might soon lose control.

Heeseong’s expression grew serious. For now, out of a sense of duty, Heeseong clumsily moved his hand while asking hesitantly, unable to hide his fear,

“Are you really going to put it in me…?”

At the question, Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter, as if he was on the verge of madness, his breath ragged.

“Why?”

“Ah, I don’t think it’s going to work.”

He said, braving the embarrassment. Heeseong was certain he couldn’t take such a thing inside him.

“No, you can take it.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke nonsensically. He thought he was sane, but his response was strange, and his gray eyes seemed to have turned dull, as if they had rolled back. Something was definitely off. Heeseong moved agilely when Yoon Chi-young loosened the grip on his arm.

Heeseong tried to escape sideways through that small gap.

However, Yoon Chi-young lightly caught him and pushed him towards the bed. Heeseong, wearing only a long-sleeved shirt, was pushed onto the bed, his arms bracing his fall.

“Ah, huh…”

In front of Chi-young’s eyes was Heeseong’s groin, hopelessly covered by a white tail that couldn’t even hide his testicles, making the scene particularly lewd.

Yoon Chi-young fixed his gaze there and laughed as if he had seen a light tantrum. Then he sat down below Heeseong’s hips, pressing down on his back. His movements were quick, uncharacteristic of his large build.

“Puppies always seem to get shy at times like this.”

“Yo-you crazy…”

Heeseong weakly bucked his hips at the rough touch of a genital against his buttocks. Yoon Chi-young rubbed his member between Heeseong’s buttocks as if he had already inserted it. Trying to fit something so large, Yoon Chi-young truly had no conscience.

Yoon Chi-young climbed on top of Heeseong and started taking off his clothes. The sound of thick winter clothes falling was heard, and even his pants seemed to have been removed, as his bare skin pressed against Heeseong’s thighs. Heeseong shivered at the feeling of a body so different from his own, one that was filled with muscles.

Even as Heeseong trembled, Yoon Chi-young seemed to have no intention of comforting him. He massaged Heeseong’s small buttocks and spread them apart, murmuring lowly.

“Puppy’s buttocks are really small…”

“Sh-shut up…”

Heeseong hated that comment. Any mention of his size being small was displeasing to him. Annoyed, he flicked his white tail like shaking off dust, tickling Yoon Chi-young’s firm abdomen.

As Heeseong struggled to escape again, moving his legs, Yoon Chi-young did something outrageous.

“Ah, oh…!”

Yoon Chi-young bit down naughtily on the buttocks. His hot and damp tongue lazily licked the small opening.

It was an unfamiliar and strange sensation. Heeseong tried to crawl up the bed, driven by a weird yet tingling feeling, but his thighs were firmly held, and the tongue delved deeper. Yoon Chi-young tenderly stroked Heeseong’s partially erect member in succession.

“Stop, it’s weird…”

It was his first time experiencing such sensations. Heeseong’s legs kept giving way, and his white tail stood on end, trembling. He found himself panting like a dog, sticking his tongue out.

Heeseong wasn’t without sexual desires. In fact, he had plenty, considering his youthful vigor. However, he was used to concealing it and dealing with it alone, so receiving such caresses from someone else was unfamiliar.

“Ah, ah, hmm…”

The feeling was oddly pleasant, more than he had expected.

With each touch of Yoon Chi-young’s tongue to the opening, Heeseong wanted to feel that tingling sensation even more. He wished Yoon Chi-young’s hand would grasp his member a bit more firmly. He hadn’t realized how good it felt to be caressed by someone he had feelings for.

Gradually, Heeseong’s strength ebbed away, and his body completely collapsed onto the bed. That’s when Yoon Chi-young released his member. Out of frustration, Heeseong writhed against the bedclothes, rubbing his member. His white tail, unlike before, stood upright, revealing the flushed opening.

Yoon Chi-young then said something unexpected.

“Alright, should I put it in now?”

“Just, wait, hold on…”

Startled, Heeseong tried to pull away, but Yoon Chi-young firmly held his waist with both hands. Seemingly unable to hold back any longer, he started to press his glans against the tight opening, adding weight.

“Uh, ouch! Stop, it hurts…!”

As the glans forced its way in, Heeseong struggled. It was clear that the size was too much to be accommodated. Furthermore, the base was already slightly swollen, intensifying the fear.

However, every time Heeseong twitched his waist in terror, it only served to stimulate Yoon Chi-young’s member even more.

Unable to hold back any longer, he plunged it in all at once.

“Ah! Ahh, hmm…”

“Ha… Heeseong.”

Heeseong shuddered, emitting a scream-like moan. Yoon Chi-young, having thrust in his member, momentarily lost consciousness and closed his eyes, coming to a halt.

“Ah, ahh, ugh…”

Heeseong trembled, saliva trickling down thinly. His member filled the dry abdomen to the point of outlining its shape. Yoon Chi-young’s member had instantly poked the innermost point.

It felt like an electric shock just before ejaculation. Heeseong, who had leaked copious amounts of fluid, curled up, trembling and clutching the blanket. Yoon Chi-young let out a long, satisfied sigh above him.

“Look how tight it is.”

Even to such perverse words, Heeseong couldn’t retort. He just wished that the member inside him would stop moving, wondering why it had grown even more. The only sounds that escaped his lips were moans collecting his reactions and a few words.

Soon, Yoon Chi-young leaned over, enveloping Heeseong’s thin back.

White puppy ears fluttered before Yoon Chi-young’s nose. The fur bristled with tension, and every time he thrust, the ears twitched adorably. Yoon Chi-young laughed lowly and nibbled on those ears gently, ensuring not to hurt.

“You’re really delicious…”

“Don’t, press… Ah, ugh…!”

“How have I managed to hold back this long?”

With each word, Yoon Chi-young thrust deeper. Heeseong’s entire body shook, and his peak was relentlessly crushed. Saliva trickled thinly down Heeseong’s jaw as he moaned almost like a scream.

Heeseong felt a tingling pleasure in his lower abdomen, something he had never experienced with self-stimulation. Even the pain felt like pleasure. Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth, mixed with groaning moans. It seemed not Yoon Chi-young, but he himself was the beast. His white tail rapidly tapped Yoon Chi-young’s lower abdomen, revealing the affection he tried to hide.

Yoon Chi-young, as if driven mad, began pounding vigorously.

“Uh, ah! Too, hard… Hah!”

Heeseong couldn’t comprehend what the beast behind him was thinking. It felt like being tenderly embraced one moment and impaled the next, almost to death. His lower abdomen was hotter than ever, and his strange moans were alien to him. His mind felt warped.

Yet, amidst it all, he wished Yoon Chi-young would keep thrusting hard. Keeping up with his hopes, Yoon Chi-young’s thrusts quickened.

“Ah, Heeseong…”

Yoon Chi-young then pressed down on Heeseong’s crown as if enveloping it.

It was to prevent Heeseong from being pushed away. Yoon Chi-young made sure Heeseong took every thrust against his inner walls. The pounding was savage, like that of a beast. The member drilled in at sharp angles, pressing the opening in different directions.

Overwhelmed by sensations too intense to handle, Heeseong lamented as if crying.

“Uh! Ah… It hurts, damn you…”

“Ha… What?”

Hearing the curse, Yoon Chi-young laughed darkly. Even without eye contact, Heeseong imagined his crazed gray eyes. Surely, those eyes were gazing down at him even now.

Yoon Chi-young, sitting up, spoke with a roughened voice.

“Should we really do it like a dog, then?”

“No, don’t lift, don’t…!”

Yoon Chi-young, dog-like, lifted one of Heeseong’s legs to the side. Then, he positioned one foot on the bed and started pounding furiously.

The sound of flesh colliding was louder than before. The position particularly allowed their testicles to touch frequently. Heeseong let out a strained moan he hadn’t heard from himself each time their sticky testicles clashed.

“Ah, Heeseong… it feels too good.”

“Hah, uh. Ah, ah.”

“I don’t want to bite… just want to thrust more.”

Yoon Chi-young lifted his member swiftly, his voice intoxicated.

Overwhelmed by an unprecedented intense pleasure, physiological tears streamed down Heeseong’s face. An unbearable heat gathered in his lower abdomen. His hardened lower abdomen clashed with a sound, causing his buttock, soft as tofu, to jiggle resiliently. Despite the humiliating posture, each time Yoon Chi-young thrust, an agonizing thirst emerged.

Unable to endure any longer, Heeseong, teetering on the edge of climax, erupted.

“Uh, that’s, enough, ah, agh…!”

Throughout Heeseong’s climax, Yoon Chi-young didn’t stop, thrusting with intensity. His muscular thighs, filled with horse-like strength, mercilessly struck Heeseong’s. As Heeseong gasped and attempted to crawl forward, Yoon Chi-young simply gathered his wrists behind him, securing them together. The bed shook violently with each jerk.

“Hah, ah…”

Completely spent from the continuous pounding, Heeseong’s head drooped powerlessly.

His pupils were dilated with a white haze, and saliva dripped thinly from his dry jaw. Beneath him, like a dog being mounted, he could see the evidence of his own climax.

Rather than feeling humiliated, Heeseong shivered with the residual sensations lingering in his body. His only thought was a desire not to part from Yoon Chi-young in this state.

It seemed Yoon Chi-young harbored the same primal urge.

“Heeseong…”

“Ugh, gah…”

“Let’s knot.”

Yoon Chi-young’s laughter was low, filled with an undeniable force in his grip around the waist. The air charged with an extraordinary tension, Heeseong’s pupils dilated.

“No, can’t, don’t…”

“Why?”

Despite Heeseong’s stammering protests, Yoon Chi-young didn’t heed him. Instead, he thrust deeply once more, cutting off any further speech. Heeseong’s body shuddered violently, still trembling from the aftermath of his climax, the sensation of being filled anew was foreign and intense.

Yoon Chi-young withdrew and turned Heeseong to lie on his back.

He spread Heeseong’s pale thighs wide under the ceiling gaze, sliding his member in smoothly with one thrust and began to rock his hips slowly. Beneath him, Heeseong’s body, now limp and yielding, bounced with each movement.

“Stop, can’t, knot…”

“Let’s do it.”

Heeseong weakly shook his head, trying to push Yoon Chi-young’s firm waist away.

But Yoon Chi-young seemed far beyond rational thought.

His beautiful face, even the smile, sank into something more serious. He looked down at Heeseong with eyes drunk on satisfaction, his trained muscles tensed as if crushing Heeseong beneath him with each thrust.

The pace quickened beyond Heeseong’s ability to respond. Heeseong tried to shake his head, but the sound of their flesh slapping together accelerated. Heeseong’s head tipped dangerously back, the pleasure nearly fracturing his spine.

At the climax of their bestial coupling, Yoon Chi-young’s release came as Heeseong’s head was pushed to the bed’s headboard.

“Stop, enough…!”

“Ugh, hah…”

Yoon Chi-young exhaled deeply, pressing down on the junction as if to embed his testicles inside, his breath roughening into a beastly growl.

“No, ah, can’t…”

Heeseong’s thighs trembled as he gasped for air, the member inside him swelling further.

The thick glans hardened more, the veins around the shaft and the base bulged. The member was firmly lodged inside Heeseong’s walls. Yoon Chi-young, too, seemed overwhelmed by pain and pleasure, trembling violently as if baring his teeth like a wolf.

“Hah…”

“If it grows more inside here…”

Overwhelmed by the intense pleasure, Heeseong started to sob softly.

It felt as if even the testicles were embedded inside him. The member was so entrenched within his inner walls that his lower abdomen bulged noticeably. Desperate, Heeseong clawed sharply at Yoon Chi-young’s chest, the pleasure seemingly endless within him.

Above him, Yoon Chi-young, like a wolf sated, gently rotated his swollen member.

“Feels like I’m melting… Shall we continue like this?”

“Do, don’t… ugh, ah…!”

Barely pleading, Heeseong’s member spurted again. Trembling with the climax, Heeseong grasped Yoon Chi-young’s arm.

“Does it hurt much?”

Perhaps regaining a bit of his senses, or attempting some late consolation, Yoon Chi-young leaned his arm beside Heeseong’s head. He kissed the tears from Heeseong’s eyes and gently stroked the puppy ears, but Heeseong, barely able to open his eyes, pleaded with a spent voice.

“Take it out, quickly…”

“That might not be possible…”

Yoon Chi-young chuckled softly, rolling his hips gently. Heeseong, overwhelmed, pressed his forehead against Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder, sobbing softly.

“Then, stay still. Huh. You bad, guy…”

Heeseong heard Yoon Chi-young’s faint laughter but was too overwhelmed to rebuke. Engulfed in overwhelming pleasure, his consciousness flickered like a candle in the wind.

Heeseong lost consciousness with one final deep kiss from Yoon Chi-young, but the memories of this night didn’t end there.

*

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 3

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Heeseong awoke several times in the middle of the night. Cleaned up but half out of his mind, not just from being thoroughly ravaged by Yoon Chi-young, but also because they were still physically connected. Heeseong was engulfed in heat as if Yoon Chi-young’s rut had infected him.

Each time he woke, they seemed to fuse again, engaging in sex at least a couple more times. Knotting lasted at least an hour each time, allowing Yoon Chi-young to hold him throughout the night.

“Ugh, hmm…”

Initially, Heeseong welcomed more, accepting Yoon Chi-young’s kisses willingly. His mind muddled, he even licked Yoon Chi-young’s member offered to his lips like ice cream.

“Ah, even sucking is cute.”

Yoon Chi-young, unlike before, wasn’t in a hurry. He savored Heeseong slowly, devouring him with leisure. Sitting beside the lying Heeseong, he offered his member to Heeseong’s mouth while stimulating him below. Heeseong, lying with his thighs spread, moaned shamelessly, climaxing.

“Ugh, hmm…!”

“Good job. Now you take it from behind well.”

Each time, Yoon Chi-young praised him, thrusting his member deep. The blurred vision of the beautiful Yoon Chi-young flickered before Heeseong’s eyes. He felt every kiss and caress as if Yoon Chi-young was handling a precious gem.

“You know you climaxed on your own again, puppy?”

“I, know…”

“Do you like it that much?”

Breathing thinly, Heeseong nodded unknowingly. His first experience with sex and knotting wasn’t bad; it felt addictive. Heeseong reciprocated the affection, leaving small bite marks on Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders and willingly presenting himself for more by draping his upper body over the bed.

As time passed, Yoon Chi-young treated Heeseong more tenderly. Yet, Heeseong sometimes curled up with a pillow, tensing up. The growling in his ear from Yoon Chi-young, and the heavy shift of the engorged member pressing deep within, made him feel overwhelmed, as if subdued by a beast.

Growl…

Something behind him bit gently into Heeseong’s nape. It wasn’t painful, and he knew it was undoubtedly Yoon Chi-young, but Heeseong instinctively tensed, gripping the blanket tightly and laying his white ears flat in fear.

“Yoon, Yoon Chi-young… ah, hmm.”

He wanted to assure himself that the one exploring him was Yoon Chi-young. Heeseong tried to catch a glimpse of Yoon Chi-young’s reflection in the window beside them. The sight of him, much larger and fiercely advancing, was blurry. The thick, black tail and the low growling left Heeseong murmuring almost tearfully.

“Let go, stop. Ah… don’t turn into a wolf.”

Trembling with fear, Heeseong buried his face in the blanket, his breath hot and rapid. The knot made the shape of Yoon Chi-young’s member alter, bringing a different kind of pleasure. Yet, Heeseong found this sensation alien and frightening, causing him to curl up even more.

“I haven’t changed. Look. Okay?”

Even as Yoon Chi-young’s reassuring voice came from behind, Heeseong couldn’t respond, panting heavily. Despite knowing Yoon Chi-young was as caring as ever, the subtle fear kept him tense.

But even in his fear, Heeseong didn’t push Yoon Chi-young away. Instead, he kept calling out his name, licking his fingers, and drawing him closer. Seeing this, Yoon Chi-young felt his reason fading, yet his desire for Heeseong only grew stronger.

*

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 4

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

The next day at lunchtime, Yoon Chi-young woke up earlier than Heeseong.

Upon waking, he habitually checked for the puppy’s presence in bed first. The start of the day, always gloomy before, had become the most anticipated time since Heeseong arrived.

Oddly enough, whether in human form or transformed into his original shape, the puppy seemed to be made of a ball of fluff. Looking closely, one could see the tufts of fur dotting his cheeks, and his round, gentle appearance was just like a puppy. Yoon Chi-young thought his ideal type was someone mature, but after meeting Gyeon Heeseong, he realized that wasn’t the case. He liked a fierce puppy with a bad personality who was always harboring thoughts of revenge.

Even now, as soon as Heeseong woke up and their eyes met, he fiercely scowled, but a joyful smile leaked from Yoon Chi-young first.

“You beastly bastard…”

Even hearing curses, Yoon Chi-young smiled and kissed Heeseong’s hair.

“Did you sleep well?”

Despite the honey-sweet affectionate question, Heeseong glared at him sideways. His expression clearly said, ‘You beastly bastard, how could I have slept well?’ Yoon Chi-young knew being called a beast was a grave insult among beastmens, but strangely, even when Heeseong cursed at him sincerely, it only sounded cute. Perhaps it was because he saw the slight tension in Heeseong’s firm eyes within his round ones.

“…How long is a wolf’s mating season?”

“All winter.”

“……”

As soon as he heard the answer, Heeseong’s eyes froze in shock. It was still December. There were two more months until spring arrived. Fear. Confusion. Distrust. All sorts of emotions froze and trembled in his black eyes.

After a brief silence, Heeseong rolled his body to the other side of the bed.

“Don’t transform.”

Before Yoon Chi-young could hug Heeseong and turn him over, Heeseong acted first.

Whoosh.

He instantly transformed into a puppy. Yoon Chi-young forlornly gazed at the tiny puppy left in his arms.

Even looking with pleading eyes, the puppy was heartless. The puppy, who boldly went to the edge of the bed without hesitation, bravely jumped off below. It could have been dangerous, but thankfully there was a cushion underneath.

“We just spent our first night together, are you really going to be like this…?”

Even when Yoon Chi-young asked pitifully, the puppy ignored him, lying on the cushion with its pink belly exposed like a human. The puppy knew that being in its original form was the best defense. It was a clever puppy.

Feeling disappointed, Yoon Chi-young lifted the cushion onto the bed. He had no intention of having more sex anyway, but out of spite, he gently stroked the puppy’s neck and teasingly muttered,

“After enjoying it together all night…”

‘Shut up!’

As if admitting it was embarrassing, the puppy bit his hand. But it didn’t hurt at all, and when Yoon Chi-young gently stroked its neck and belly, the puppy that had been biting hard fell asleep as if fainting from exhaustion. Its pink tongue was even slightly sticking out.

Yoon Chi-young lay down next to the puppy and stroked its tiny body with one finger for a long time. Strangely, the more he did that, the flatter the puppy’s body seemed to become. That sight was so adorable that Yoon Chi-young even gently bit its front paws. However, the puppy, exhausted from the night’s ordeal, only twitched its front paws without waking up.

Ding.

Then a text message arrived. Yoon Chi-young lay on his side and checked his phone without much interest. There were numerous missed work-related messages from yesterday, but he left them as they were, knowing the organization members would handle them anyway.

However, the message that had just arrived caught Yoon Chi-young’s attention.

[Did you eat that mutt?]

The number the message was sent from wasn’t saved, but he could sufficiently guess who it was. It would be either one of his brothers who were wary of him or Yang Hye-chan.

Yoon Chi-young stared at the message without much interest, then turned on his camera and took a cute selfie with the puppy sleeping as if passed out. As expected, the puppy was photogenic. It turned out like a pictorial, as if spending a peaceful morning with a puppy sticking out its tongue and sleeping while the atmosphere was relaxed.

[Photo sent]

Yoon Chi-young could easily predict what the other person would think after seeing the photo. They would think he was crazy for doing this while being a monogamous wolf, or that he was toying with them. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t care what they thought of him.

Rather than pondering over the person picking a fight, Yoon Chi-young found it more entertaining to take photos of Heeseong and took a few more pictures of the sleeping puppy. Even when the exhausted puppy half-opened its eyes while sleeping, it only looked adorable.

Happily smiling while checking the photos, another text arrived.

[Does that mutt know you really ate a person?]

“Haa…”

Annoyed, Yoon Chi-young ignored the message and carelessly tossed his phone aside.

Flopping down on the bed, Yoon Chi-young pressed the puppy that had been lying on the cushion right against his cheek. Perhaps very tired, Heeseong didn’t open his eyes even when Yoon Chi-young rubbed his face against its body.

Yoon Chi-young gently bit the puppy’s ear, not enough to hurt. As if annoyed by the disturbance, the puppy mumbled and kicked Yoon Chi-young’s face with its paw. Based on previous experience, what it was saying now was mostly rough curses, but Yoon Chi-young was just happy and gently stroked the puppy’s neck before closing his eyes. In fact, he couldn’t believe this moment.

Even after sleeping together, he hadn’t shown any aggression towards Heeseong.

Yoon Chi-young smiled and pressed the tip of his nose against the puppy’s small, white head. Then the purely gentle scent he had smelled on the day they first met wafted up.

〈Doesn’t it smell like a puppy somewhere?〉

That day, he felt it was just a simple coincidence, but now Yoon Chi-young considered that moment to be fate. Just being able to show no aggression, which he himself had detested, to the person he loved felt like an undeserved blessing to Yoon Chi-young.

Yoon Chi-young wrapped his hand around the puppy’s body in a circle and happily closed his eyes. He had no idea that liking someone just as he truly was could be this blissful. For the first time, he didn’t feel disgusted by his own original form. He felt that now he could accept, even slightly, the appearance that even his family couldn’t accept.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 5

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Heeseong lay in bed all weekend.

Knotting, which he experienced for the first time, was no ordinary matter. Heeseong curled up and lay down, constantly feeling a subtle sensation as if he were carrying a hot egg in his belly.

Next to him, Yoon Chi-young fed Heeseong with nourishing food all weekend and filleted sea bream for him twice. He also constantly watched over Heeseong with worried eyes, staying close to him as he only slept. It was a good thing he consistently and sincerely took care of Heeseong; otherwise, Heeseong might have viciously bitten him out of resentment.

Ding.

After two days passed like that, late at night, Heeseong woke up to the sound of a smartphone vibrating.

Looking next to the bed, Yoon Chi-young’s phone, which was carelessly tossed aside, was ringing. Knowing it wasn’t a call for him anyway, Heeseong leaned his body against the fluffy side and comfortably shifted his position.

‘It’s warm…’

The back felt very soft and warm. Heeseong almost thought he was lying on the cushion in his puppy form.

But something was strange. Yoon Chi-young’s heavy arm was wrapped around Heeseong’s waist. But was it really an arm? It was very hot and heavy, and the texture was definitely different from a human arm. Heeseong blankly looked down at the black thing encircling his waist, then slightly turned his head to check what the fluffy thing was.

A black wolf was snugly wrapped around Heeseong’s body.

“Ack!”

Horrified, Heeseong gasped for breath and got out of bed. His naked white body was barely covered by a gown that had fallen to the floor.

In that state, he backed away without ever turning his back. He shouldn’t show his back to a wolf. If he accidentally showed a gap, he could be hunted. Heeseong, extremely tense, first checked Yoon Chi-young’s condition.

“Y-Yoon Chi-young…?”

The wolf just quietly watched Heeseong while lying on the bed. He was simply gazing at Heeseong with a serene and elegant posture. Unlike last time, he didn’t rush at Heeseong recklessly, and he crossed his front paws in an X shape, his gray eyes shining. The glossy black fur covering his body looked very stylish.

Moreover, when their eyes met, the wolf deliberately wagged his tail. Heeseong’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you in your right mind…?”

At the question, the wolf laughed. His fangs, as thick as Heeseong’s finger, were exposed as if threatening his opponent, but that face overlapped with Yoon Chi-young’s usual vampiric smile. The wolf was truly in his right mind, not in pheromone shock.

Heeseong nervously gulped and approached the wolf step by step. Until then, the wolf lowered his gaze and waited obediently while lying in place. That alone meant he welcomed Heeseong entering his territory.

Approaching him, Heeseong gently stroked the wolf’s fluffy head.

“Wow…”

The fur was very soft. Moreover, the black wolf with gray eyes was the very embodiment of Heeseong’s aspiration. An alpha with a lion-like aura. Heeseong admired the black wolf’s appearance with a mixture of envy and jealousy. His own original form as a puppy seemed smaller than the wolf’s bushy tail.

At the same time, the grudge from last night came to mind.

“…You attacked me last time knowing you could be this docile?”

As soon as he spoke with resentment, the wolf pounced on Heeseong. Startled, Heeseong crumpled and collapsed ungracefully with an “Eek!” sound. The wolf had merely pressed his front paws against him, but Heeseong couldn’t resist and was pinned under the heavy body. Heeseong’s ears turned bright red. He was embarrassed that he had crumbled so easily, and he felt apologetic and self-conscious for being startled even though he knew Yoon Chi-young was normal. Knowing the feelings of a beastmen with a complex about their original form, he wanted to show as little fear as possible in front of Yoon Chi-young.

Then a soft, half-drowsy voice was heard from above his body.

“This is the first time in 10 years that I’ve been in my right mind while in my original form.”

“What…?”

When Heeseong dazedly raised his head, he saw Yoon Chi-young, who had transformed into his half-human state at some point. He seemed genuinely happy. Lying on top of Heeseong and hugging him, he was busy leaving affectionate kiss marks on Heeseong’s earlobe and the nape below it from the morning. Heeseong twitched one eye at the ticklish sensation and asked,

“Then… have you endured pheromone shock for 10 years?”

“I relied a lot on the power of medicine, but yes.”

“……”

Numerous emotions clouded Heeseong’s eyes upon hearing the answer.

Inwardly, Heeseong felt sorry for Yoon Chi-young. He knew that Yoon Chi-young had always endured with potent drugs. He was also vaguely aware that the purebred wolves had forced Yoon Chi-young’s pheromone glands to become overdeveloped.

“…Why did you pick me up so late?”

Heeseong spoke as if reproaching him out of heartache. Yoon Chi-young brightly burst into laughter while saying, “I know, right,” and left a peck kiss. Seeing the puppy’s serious expression, Yoon Chi-young soothingly stroked his eyes, but Heeseong silently gazed at him for a long time without saying a word. Thinking of Yoon Chi-young falling asleep alone for the past 10 years, enduring the pain, made Heeseong feel miserable.

As much as he felt sorry for Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong quietly hugged him and patted his back. Yoon Chi-young pretended to be in pain but couldn’t stop giggling, seemingly elated for some reason.

Ding.

Then Yoon Chi-young’s smartphone rang again.

It rang only once briefly, so it seemed to be a text message. Due to the continuous contact, Heeseong pushed Yoon Chi-young aside and sat on the edge of the bed, intending to hand him the smartphone.

However, he couldn’t possibly ignore the content of the message he saw.

[Is it true that you’re seeing someone?]

Looking at the saved name, it was Yoon Chi-young’s mother. Heeseong’s puppy ears pricked up sharply, and his head tilted with a flood of questions.

He glanced back again. He saw Yoon Chi-young happily wagging his wolf tail and hugging Heeseong’s waist. Unlike the peaceful Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong’s eyes turned into fierce triangles.

‘…Is this bastard seeing someone else besides me?’

If he was a purebred wolf with a particularly strong pack mentality, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had a separate fiancée. Of course, it wouldn’t be himself, a puppy.

Suddenly, Heeseong felt a strange discomfort. The suspicion made him want to viciously bite, curse at, and interrogate Yoon Chi-young. If he were in his puppy form right now, he would have done so immediately.

Then Yoon Chi-young asked,

“What does it say?”

“…Should I read it to you?”

“Sure.”

Yoon Chi-young simply closed his eyes and pressed the tip of his nose against Heeseong’s waist, sniffing his scent. Above him, Heeseong read the message in a fierce tone, enunciating each word as if confronting an unfaithful lover.

“‘Is it true that you’re seeing someone?’ Sent by Mother.”

“How did she find out so quickly?”

Yoon Chi-young simply mumbled in a good mood. Seeing him being the only one at peace, Heeseong felt the urge to bite and tear at his wolf ears, which were happily twitching. He was disappointed in Yoon Chi-young, suspecting the worst. In fact, Heeseong wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but he just felt hurt. He thought he and Yoon Chi-young had become a pack with no secrets between them, but…

Just then, another message arrived. It was a message with a photo attached. Heeseong, who had the phone in his hand, ended up seeing the photo by chance.

[(Photo)]

[Is this the right mutt tribe member?]

“…?”

The photo showed Yoon Chi-young and Heeseong sitting close together in the hospital’s luxurious lounge. Yoon Chi-young was clinging to Heeseong happily, while Heeseong was glaring at Yoon Chi-young as if scolding him.

“Hmm…”

At some point, Yoon Chi-young had risen from behind Heeseong and was checking the photo together. As if he had expected this, he nodded his head and hugged Heeseong from behind. Chuckling subtly, his murmur was ambiguous.

“Yang Hye-chan comes in handy sometimes.”

“What, what is it?”

“It seems the rumor that we sleep together has spread.”

Why was Yang Hye-chan suddenly mentioned here, and what was this about being helpful? Did Yang Hye-chan spread this photo? Heeseong asked falteringly with a perplexed face.

“A grown-up can sleep with their lover, why is your mom specifically asking?”

“Well, wolves are strictly monogamous.”

“C-c-crazy…”

Only then did Heeseong recall the tenacious characteristic of purebred wolves and shudder. He felt Yoon Chi-young’s hurt gaze from behind, but he couldn’t pay attention to his confused feelings.

Finding the situation unbelievable, Heeseong abruptly stood up and asked as if arguing,

“Even though we’ve only slept together once?”

“Then of course we have to get married.”

Yoon Chi-young laughed shyly. To Heeseong, it only looked thoroughly revolting. It was because while speaking, Chi-young was fondling Heeseong’s buttocks with a white tail under the gown.

Yoon Chi-young spoke as if truly looking at the person he promised to marry, smiling happily.

“Wolves mate for life and remain chaste before marriage.”

“Not me, we only slept together once, what do you mean marriage!”

Even when the puppy fiercely argued, Yoon Chi-young only pretended to be pitiful. Seeing that disgusting expression, Heeseong couldn’t bring himself to curse more and stood there awkwardly frozen. Yoon Chi-young dropped his head pitifully, as if to annoy Heeseong, and continued,

“…You pounced on me first.”

“Y-you…”

“Don’t tell me you were thinking of eating me once and throwing me away?”

Heeseong finally swung a pillow at Yoon Chi-young’s handsome face. It was because he discovered a subtle smile at the corner of his mouth. This man-eating wolf bastard was definitely happy.

After beating him to his heart’s content with the cotton ball for a while, Heeseong spoke fiercely while panting.

“I didn’t think that. I just wanted to try it a bit more.”

“Ah, so you wanted to taste more before deciding…”

Yoon Chi-young laughed slyly, curling the corners of his eyes. Being born a wolf, that bloodline couldn’t be denied. Heeseong, red to the tips of his ears, clenched his fists tightly. He was embarrassed that his intentions had been seen through.

Anyway, Heeseong was also a virile male of the mutt tribe. The first experience of sharing body heat and intertwining flesh with someone was so thrilling it made his toes tingle. Moreover, although he hated to admit it, Yoon Chi-young’s lips that had caressed him, his warm embrace, and everything about them losing their minds and entangling their bodies together felt heart-wrenchingly delightful. In fact, the puppy had always yearned for someone’s warmth.

However, Heeseong lacked the talent to directly express such lovely feelings. Yoon Chi-young was also a crazy bastard who liked to stimulate such a puppy.

Suddenly, Yoon Chi-young got up from his spot and strode towards Heeseong. As Heeseong, a full head shorter, faltered back, Yoon Chi-young slipped off the gown draped over his body and said subtly,

“Then shall we taste a few more times?”

“You psycho!”

Heeseong, red to the tips of his ears, quickly tied the front of the gown Yoon Chi-young had been undoing. He didn’t want to see that disgusting thing that had tormented him all night again.

Anyway, that wasn’t the point right now.

“Stop joking around, the issue is marriage and monogamy or whatever!”

“I was never joking though.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke calmly. Within his handsome face, gray eyes holding a gentle yet soft smile were situated. Heeseong had a memory of seeing this expression before when he first met Yoon Chi-young. Back then, it seemed utterly lifeless, like a statue, but seeing it now, the feeling was completely different. The gray eyes that held Heeseong definitely radiated warm affection.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 6

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

However, such sentiments had to be set aside for now. Heeseong, red to the tips of his ears, clutched his throbbing head.

Heeseong was suddenly discussing marriage with the person he had pounced on because of monogamy. As a fighting dog, couldn’t he handle the responsibility of one companion? But it was a different story if that companion was a man-eating wolf. Moreover, Heeseong couldn’t shake off the feeling of being drawn in by Yoon Chi-young’s shy smiles, making the marriage talk feel even more awkward.

Ding, just then, another text arrived next to the fuming Heeseong.

Once again, it was from Yoon Chi-young’s mother. The content poured oil onto the fire of Heeseong’s burning emotions.

[Your sister is very angry. If you’re going to spread rumors like this, she says to hold a formal meeting between the families instead.]

Heeseong blankly froze, checking the unfamiliar term several times, then belatedly bombarded Yoon Chi-young with questions.

“Why is your sister…? Why is she already mentioning a family meeting?”

Heeseong couldn’t understand at all. In this day and age, discussing a family meeting after sleeping together once? No matter how extreme the purebred wolves were, this was way too much.

However, Yoon Chi-young, the person in question, plopped down on the bed as if he had expected it and pulled Heeseong, a hand span shorter, onto his lap.

“It’s okay. It’s not sincere, it’s all politics.”

“What on earth!”

“Well, they’re trying to suppress my power by attaching a mutt tribe member who looks weak as my guardian’s companion.”

At those words, Heeseong’s face looking up at Yoon Chi-young stiffened terrifyingly. The puppy ears on his head were flattened back, and his white tail that had been wagging from agitation also went limp. His complex had been properly triggered.

“…Do I look weak to you?”

“No, baby, you look super strong…”

Although Yoon Chi-young hurriedly soothed him without even making eye contact, the puppy was so angry he gnashed his teeth. To the point his body, which had been ravaged by knotting all night, couldn’t take it.

Whoosh!

In the end, Heeseong, who had transformed into a puppy, threw a fit with all his might. He wildly flailed his front paws and viciously bit Yoon Chi-young’s cell phone and wolf tail. It was no use though, as Yoon Chi-young’s black tail could send him flying with one swish. Anyway, he was angry and made a fuss, so Yoon Chi-young ended up being kicked out of the bedroom.

“Puppy… should I leave?”

Woof!

Two months into living together, Yoon Chi-young now understood some of the puppy’s words. Go, get lost, don’t touch, shrimp. Among them, what the puppy was saying this time was clear.

‘Leave!’

At the stern order, Yoon Chi-young pretended to be sullen and answered, then went out to the terrace, grinning. The white fluffball kept throwing a fit on the bed, but he knew the hot-blooded puppy would make a wise decision once he cooled down anyway. Yoon Chi-young found even the waiting time enjoyable.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 7

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

For the first time in his life, Yoon Chi-young was walking on eggshells. It had been an hour since he was kicked out of the bedroom, but unlike usual, the puppy didn’t call him to talk or come out first. He seemed to be really furious today.

“Puppy… should I not come in yet?”

“……”

There was no answer. Rather, only irritated sounds like scratching the wall were heard. Yoon Chi-young pretended to fidget appropriately in front of the bedroom, then sat on the terrace and smoked a cigarette.

Although it was the first time he was being cautious, he felt fine. The corners of his mouth curled up leisurely as he smoked, and his expression as he exhaled the smoke simply looked content.

Fighting with the puppy over marriage wasn’t bad. On the contrary, it felt shy and sweet, like something real lovers would do.

The contact from his mother had confused Heeseong, but Yoon Chi-young had already mentally prepared himself from the moment they shared a bed because monogamy was a natural instinct for him.

Waiting for the puppy’s anger to subside, Yoon Chi-young looked at the text that had been the cause of their fight again.

[Your sister is very angry. If you’re going to spread rumors like this, she says to hold a formal meeting between the families instead.]

A formal family meeting. No matter how much wolves were monogamous and pure-blooded, there was no need to rush.

‘I guess she tried to show off in front of Mother, pretending to be the pack leader…’

Yoon Chi-young just laughed as if it was amusing.

His sister had an excuse to straighten out a promiscuous pack member as the leader, and his mother had always been submissive to the leader. It had been consistent even when his father was the leader, so it wouldn’t change just because his sister became the leader. It was something Yoon Chi-young had somewhat expected, so he wasn’t particularly hurt.

Yoon Chi-young leisurely smoked a cigarette and read the organization members’ reports on his tablet. A subtle smile played on his lips. The situation was becoming clear to some extent.

Yang Hye-chan, the leader’s fiancé. It was evident that the rumor had spread through him.

‘Yang Hye-chan used his head a bit.’

Yoon Chi-young exhaled a long puff of cigarette smoke. Behind his back, his wolf tail occasionally twitched languidly. It seemed he would have a lot to do from now on.

“Haa…”

Yoon Chi-young let out a long, tired sigh. The guardian and the leader were always in opposition. It was the best way for the advancement of the pack, but honestly, this relationship was exhausting.

The leader who must lead the pack and the guardian who could monitor and deal with even the leader. In soccer terms, the leader was like the captain and the guardian was no different from a referee.

Naturally, if the referee was enticed or weakened, the captain could run wildly and freely on the field. However, Yoon Chi-young, the guardian of this generation, was particularly strict in monitoring the leader’s behavior. It was because the leader had already received a yellow card.

‘Last time, they tried to kill me. Are they trying a different method this time…?’

The current leader already had a history of trying to keep the guardian in check and kill him. However, they had been extremely careful and used Yang Hye-chan, so Yoon Chi-young lacked clear evidence and grounds to bring down the leader.

At the very least, as a warning, he had bitten off Yang Hye-chan’s right-hand man to the point of shattering, but that didn’t seem to be enough. Once again, they were trying to use him to suppress the guardian. Yoon Chi-young let out a short, cold laugh.

This time, they were probably thinking of attaching a weak-looking mutt tribe member as a companion to weaken his power in the long run.

‘They know one thing but not the other two…’

Yoon Chi-young smiled slyly and lowered the tablet from his hand. With his legs crossed on the table, he swept his black hair back from his forehead. The feeling of his own wolf ears winding around his hand felt pleasantly unfamiliar.

Right now, he was in his half-form state, yet he didn’t become sensitive or show aggression. It was all thanks to the puppy. He had finally found a companion who could healthily control his pheromones, and he could maintain a sound mind even when reverting to his original form. To that extent, Yoon Chi-young could now fully utilize the power of his original body. To the point where it would be even more difficult for the leader to handle the guardian.

‘Then I should do as they wish.’

Thinking joyfully, Yoon Chi-young stubbed out his cigarette and got up from his seat. Since the leader wanted it, he was willing to prepare a setting to introduce the puppy as his companion, although it was a bit earlier than expected.

Preparations were needed for that.

Yoon Chi-young organized the tasks in his mind. He had to buy nice new clothes for the puppy, challenge the nail trimming he hated so much again, along with grooming. And most importantly, he had to persuade his companion to come to the formal family meeting.

“Puppy?”

Yoon Chi-young called for the puppy as he entered the living room. However, the puppy still seemed to be sulking, as there was no answer. It had been unusually quiet for a while, and if it weren’t for the occasional scratching sounds on the wall, he would have thought the puppy was asleep.

Yoon Chi-young washed his hands and went to the bedroom to appease the puppy directly.

“Baby?”

The puppy was nowhere to be seen in the bedroom. For a moment, Yoon Chi-young’s smile stiffened. The unsettling memory of the puppy disappearing on his own last time flashed through his mind.

Fortunately, there was no need to worry this time.

In his half-form state, his sensitive sense of smell clearly caught the puppy’s scent. Moreover, he faintly heard the puppy’s grumbling murmur. Perhaps he was hiding under the blanket or behind a pillow.

“Are you still angry, baby?”

Yoon Chi-young began searching for Heeseong himself. It was easy to find the white fluffball in the bedroom, which was entirely decorated in black according to his taste. He just had to lift the ink-colored blanket and move aside the fluffy pillows.

As expected, the puppy was somewhere on the bed.

“Ah…”

On the side of the bed, in the gap between the mattress and the wall, a small lump with a pink belly was wedged in.

…Woof.

When their eyes met, the puppy glared at Yoon Chi-young as if to say, “What are you looking at?” Yoon Chi-young, avoiding that gaze and quietly suppressing his laughter, rescued the puppy. He was already accustomed to it, as it was the second time he experienced this.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 8

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young took the flattened puppy to receive special care. The first place they went was a beastmen grooming shop.

Beastmen grooming shops were all-in-one. You could get the care you wanted, whether in human form or your original form. Among them, Yoon Chi-young, who had gone to a high-end care shop, sat in front of the mirror. In his arms, the puppy, whose pride was hurt, had his face buried in Yoon Chi-young’s arm, hiding his expression.

Yoon Chi-young didn’t mind and just said with a bright smile,

“Please trim the puppy’s nails and give him basic grooming.”

“Then, will the guardian please wait separately in the waiting area?”

“Ah.”

As the groomer tried to take the puppy, Yoon Chi-young smiled softly and pulled the puppy into his arms.

“He has separation anxiety.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Then, please stay with him, guardian!”

“…?”

The groomers spoke readily as if they understood. The puppy listening to that conversation found it absurd.

‘This muscle lump is the one with separation anxiety.’

Even when the puppy grumbled with a frown, the groomers prepared for grooming, saying that could happen with puppies. Heeseong wanted to be a bit apart from Yoon Chi-young because of the morning’s events, but he resigned himself and received care in his arms. In fact, Heeseong found Yoon Chi-young’s embrace the most comfortable.

Afterward, the puppy received nail trimming, which he hated and screamed about―it was scary because Park Geon-tae often made him bleed while cutting his nails―and his white fur was fluffed up nicely. After stylishly leaving the long fur on his folded ears, he could leave the pet shop with an even rounder appearance.

For their next course, the two went to a department store.

“What new clothes should we buy for the puppy?”

‘…Why is it just you and me here?’

The puppy looked around, puzzled. He had come to an unfamiliar private space in the already unfamiliar department store. A personal shopper was accompanying them, and Yoon Chi-young and Heeseong just had to sit on the sofa and look at the clothes he introduced.

Among them, the puppy picked out all the clothes the personal shopper introduced just by wagging his tail.

“How about this coat? Do you want to try it on, baby?”

The puppy, secretly excited, had completely forgotten about the morning’s events and went into the fitting room. There, he personally transformed into a human and tried on new clothes. It was proof that his anger had mostly subsided.

When he came out wearing the new coat, Yoon Chi-young, who had been waiting, smiled brightly with satisfied eyes. Although Heeseong was on the shorter side, his white complexion and good body proportions made the long coat look adorable on him. It was a different feeling from the model-like, tall Yoon Chi-young.

“Do you like it?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then let’s wear it out.”

Yoon Chi-young smiled brightly and hugged Heeseong from behind as he stood in front of the mirror. Yoon Chi-young seemed to like this situation even more than Heeseong wearing new clothes.

Feeling a bit guilty, Heeseong looked down at his expensive new clothes and asked,

“Why are you buying me clothes? It’s okay…”

“I’m buying them for my own pleasure.”

Heeseong’s anger had subsided, but he hesitated to apologize to Yoon Chi-young. He felt like he would look materialistic if he apologized now.

‘My anger didn’t subside because of the clothes, but because you treated me like usual…’

Hesitating to apologize, Heeseong held Yoon Chi-young’s hand tightly as they walked instead. Even when Yoon Chi-young looked at him with a smile, asking if his anger had dissipated, Heeseong couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes, but fortunately, that seemed to be enough for Yoon Chi-young.

Afterward, Yoon Chi-young acted affectionately as he usually did when he was in a good mood. He stamped kisses on Heeseong’s face and black hair several times, but still, Heeseong was glad that he didn’t bring up the marriage talk that made his heart uneasy.

Instead, Yoon Chi-young brought up a more important topic in the car on the way back.

“Why did you suddenly disappear from the hospital last time?”

He must have been referring to when Heeseong disappeared from the hospital alone last time. It was an issue they needed to discuss seriously in their relationship.

Yoon Chi-young and Heeseong were just the two of them, but they were one pack. However, Heeseong had left his sick packmate behind. Although it still didn’t seem quite right to call Yoon Chi-young his packmate, as a mutt tribe member with a strong pack mentality, it was an act he felt sorry for.

Heeseong hesitated to answer for a moment, but soon decided to answer honestly out of guilt.

“A dog from the gambling den had come to the hospital looking for me. He was my friend… He called me out directly, saying he had something to tell me.”

“So you directly followed him?”

“…Yeah.”

Heeseong answered softly. And since he had already opened up, he explained everything to Yoon Chi-young about how he ended up leaving the hospital. From his friend from the same species at the gambling den coming to find him, to being captivated and following him, and meeting the guards who tried to dispose of him as a traitor, he told him everything.

At the end of the story, Heeseong couldn’t even meet Yoon Chi-young’s eyes and struggled to say the words he was worst at.

“I-I’m sorry for going out alone.”

“You’re sorry?”

Yoon Chi-young chuckled and rested his head on Heeseong’s shoulder at the apology. Heeseong tried to push him away, thinking he was teasing him, but the broad-shouldered, sturdy body didn’t budge an inch. Nothing went Heeseong’s way. The puppy cursed softly, asking what he was teasing about, and looked out the opposite car window. Yoon Chi-young, who had been openly gazing at Heeseong, spoke in a languidly drowsy voice,

“It’s okay. The puppy took responsibility for me all night, so what’s the big deal?”

“……”

Heeseong’s face turned bright red. It was a fact he didn’t want to acknowledge.

Anyway, it was Heeseong who had first kissed Yoon Chi-young to calm him down, and it was also true that he had been swept away by Yoon Chi-young’s pounce, slept with him, and enjoyed it. Even now, when he recalled the passionate sensations from the night before, his newly sprouted white ears twitched, following the excitement of that day. Still, it was only annoying that Yoon Chi-young was teasing him.

Then Yoon Chi-young, with his head resting on Heeseong’s shoulder, spoke secretively,

“But you know… The puppy will have to attend the formal family meeting with me anyway.”

“Why is that?”

At Heeseong’s absurd question, the wolf ears resting on his shoulder fluttered. The wolf ears brushed against Heeseong’s cheek. The texture was soft, but the smile beneath them looked somewhat cunning.

“If the dog from the gambling den knew we were at the hospital and came to find us, it’s pretty obvious who gave them the information…”

“…Yang Hye-chan?”

Yoon Chi-young smiled as if it was the correct answer. His elegant smile was definitely beautiful, but his gray eyes felt eerie.

“Then if we dig into Park Geon-tae, my sister might come up. The opposite is also true.”

“……”

Come to think of it, it was strange for a dog from the gambling den to find him at such a high-end hospital. Moreover, it was only the second place Heeseong had been to in his life, yet he met an acquaintance there. Heeseong’s white ears twitched as he noticed the oddities.

Originally, Park Geon-tae was petty and good at cozying up to people here and there. But if a powerful wolf leader asked for information about Heeseong first, saying it would be good, Park Geon-tae might have readily provided it and said he would follow their intentions. It was easy to guess the other party’s nature after all.

And if Yang Hye-chan had investigated Heeseong even a little, Park Geon-tae would have naturally come up. Since Heeseong had directly told Yang Hye-chan his name last time, it would have been easy to find information about him.

In that case, it was obvious. Heeseong muttered blankly,

“Then… the wolf leader and Park Geon-tae could be connected.”

“That’s right.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke, secretly shining his eyes. He was now sitting upright and lightly pulled the pondering Heeseong onto his lap. Heeseong flinched at first but soon sat comfortably on his lap like when he was a puppy.

In that embrace, Heeseong thought absentmindedly. Anyway, if Park Geon-tae and the leader had united, he would take revenge together with Yoon Chi-young, and even if not, Yoon Chi-young would be with him.

However, if it were the former, Heeseong wanted definite revenge.

“If your sister and Yang Hye-chan are really connected to Park Geon-tae… will you take care of it?”

It was a cruel question. Heeseong regretted asking if he could kill his own blood relative. He thought it could hurt Yoon Chi-young, who was a guardian.

But Yoon Chi-young rather laughed satisfactorily, raising the corners of his mouth wide. Laughing loudly for a long time, he lowered his head, kissed Heeseong’s hair, and said,

“Ha, of course…”

“……”

“They tried to touch my puppy.”

Even after hearing the clear answer, Heeseong couldn’t shake off the eerie feeling. The way Yoon Chi-young spoke as if it were natural felt unfamiliar, but a subtle excitement lingered.

Right now, there was something that felt as sweet as revenge to Heeseong. It was the trust and affection of a packmate he could believe in.

Moreover, this was the first time he had a packmate with such similar tendencies and intentions. The heart of the small puppy, who had always had to fight alone or endure while crouching, couldn’t help but be delighted.

“Then let’s go meet your sister. …It’s not a formal family meeting.”

Heeseong spoke with determination. Yoon Chi-young happily scheduled a visit to the wolves’ base, saying anything was fine. It was tomorrow.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 9

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young was in a very bad mood after leaving the meeting.

He was always like this after meeting his family. It felt like an unsolvable problem in his life, and he felt the frustration of facing an enemy he could never defeat. Even though he was raised as a guardian, Yoon Chi-young was also a wolf clan member with a strong sense of kinship. No matter how many times he experienced it, he never got used to being despised and guarded against by his family.

‘I miss Gyeon Heeseong…’

At times like this, Yoon Chi-young particularly wanted to see his lover. Just seeing Heeseong not be afraid of him gave Yoon Chi-young a lot of comfort. Moreover, that white and round being who had given his whole heart to Yoon Chi-young for the first time made him feel heartachingly fond.

Naturally, his steps quickened. Yoon Chi-young, who had even given up on smoking a cigarette, headed to the separate building. The sound of clear water flowing and the familiar howling of wolves could be heard from afar. But the brave puppy would not be afraid of the howling and would be waiting for him without fearing the wolves.

And on his way there, he saw the puppy sooner than expected. Heeseong was sitting outside the door of the separate building, facing the cold air.

Oddly enough, Heeseong was muttering that the black and proud wild wolf looked like Yoon Chi-young.

“Looks like Yoon Chi-young…”

“…?”

“You seem a bit unpleasant too.”

Behind Heeseong, the organization members were on standby at a certain distance as if protecting him. The new clothes Yoon Chi-young had dressed him in were loosely draped over his shoulders. Yoon Chi-young, who burst out laughing, approached Heeseong slowly, finding even that appearance adorable.

Then Heeseong staggered to his feet. Perhaps sensing his presence, Heeseong turned to the side and their eyes met. Heeseong’s black eyes narrowed upon discovering Yoon Chi-young.

“It’s Yoon Chi-young.”

“Puppy?”

The way Heeseong got up seemed somehow different from usual. His staggering appearance and groggy smile were a bit suspicious. Yoon Chi-young, sensing something strange, watched the puppy from five steps away.

Heeseong soon grinned dazedly.

“Yoon Chi-young. Even your name is fucking weird.”

Then he staggered and threw himself at Yoon Chi-young. He even rammed his small body thump into Yoon Chi-young’s arms. The scent of clean soap mixed with the smell of alcohol wafted over.

Yoon Chi-young, without budging an inch, hugged Heeseong in his arms and wrapped his body with his coat. Heeseong, with his head resting on the warm chest, was looking up at Yoon Chi-young with shining black eyes. His flushed cheeks, perhaps from being drunk, looked particularly red.

“Why are you only coming now? You’ve been leaving me alone a lot lately?”

“Why? Did my puppy miss me?”

“I didn’t miss you.”

His words were blunt, but the white tail behind him wagged so fast it seemed like it would fly off. At the adorable sight, Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter as if he didn’t know what to do with himself. Heeseong’s delinquent charm that made Yoon Chi-young’s heart flutter up and down. Moreover, his tail that couldn’t hide his emotions was so sweet it made him want to bite it.

“I said I didn’t miss you.”

“You didn’t miss me but you’re this happy?”

“What? What?”

Heeseong retorted again to the unsolicited comment and rested his cheek against Yoon Chi-young. When he stroked that head, the puppy ears slanted back slightly as if the sensation was pleasant. It was as if he was asking to be petted more.

For now, Yoon Chi-young had to set aside even that delightful feeling. He had been particularly mindful of the puppy’s diet for the sake of his health, but things had gone awry. Yoon Chi-young looked around with cold eyes, his smile fading.

“…Who gave alcohol to the puppy?”

All the organization members stiffened and froze. There was no answer to the question. In the space where even breathing couldn’t be heard, the only movement was the white tail swishing busily.

Sensing something strange, Heeseong rambled in a drunken voice,

“I drank the alcohol myself, so what? Do you want to drink too?”

The misunderstanding was easily resolved. The wolf organization members behind him were also standing by in affirmation.

Understanding the situation, Yoon Chi-young hugged Heeseong as if he had never been sensitive, gently enveloping the back of his head. When he told the organization members behind him that they had worked hard, they all relaxed and quietly stepped back. Now it was time for him to be alone with the puppy, free from the intense pheromone stimulation.

Yoon Chi-young sighed lightly and easily lifted Heeseong in his arms. Even though he had fed him plenty of sea bream, Heeseong was still on the lighter side. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t show any such sentiments in front of the fighting dog and gently asked,

“Our puppy shouldn’t drink alcohol…”

“No? Even mutts can drink alcohol.”

“Not that. You’re in recovery, remember?”

There was a specific reason why Yoon Chi-young had been particularly mindful of Heeseong’s diet. It wasn’t just to tease the puppy, saying he shouldn’t eat hot chocolate or alcohol.

Heeseong already had a hard time digesting food, and when Yoon Chi-young first brought him home, he would wake up in his sleep as if having a fit and gag while vomiting. Yoon Chi-young was the only one whose heart ached, worried that this fist-sized being might choke to death.

But Heeseong seemed to be just excited to drink alcohol after a long time.

“Fighting dogs! Should always know how to enjoy alcohol.”

At the rough drunken rambling, Yoon Chi-young suppressed his laughter and kissed Heeseong’s hair. In addition to being raised by fighting dogs, Heeseong seemed to have a naturally rough personality.

Even when Yoon Chi-young bought him toys, Heeseong would mostly pounce on them as if hunting—although they played together more often—and bite them, and he liked martial arts for sports and only action or thriller movies. In contrast, everything emotional seemed to be Yoon Chi-young’s role. Because he was busy dying of cuteness while watching the puppy stomping his feet while watching martial arts.

“I wasn’t planning on putting him to bed today. Should I just put him to bed early…?”

Yoon Chi-young had intended to scold Heeseong for drinking alcohol, but his heart softened upon seeing his gentle face. Entering the house, Yoon Chi-young laid the roundest fighting dog in the world on the bed. Heeseong, seemingly pleased with the fluffy blanket, rolled over on his stomach and busily wagged his white tail sticking out from his pants. Seeing this, it seemed like there wasn’t much difference between when he was human and when he was a puppy.

“Drunk and can’t even recognize your lover.”

Yoon Chi-young lightly spanked Heeseong’s bottom. The puppy turned back, baring his teeth, but that was it. Yoon Chi-young began to undress Heeseong one by one, starting with his socks. After being surrounded by intense pheromones and having a battle of wills, he just wanted to smell Heeseong’s pure scent.

Perhaps because he was drunk, Heeseong asked various things he never usually asked.

“Hey… Yoon Chi-young. Why do you keep being nice to me?”

“Why? Can’t I even take off my lover’s socks?”

“What… We never even agreed to be lovers.”

Heeseong grumbled and turned over. The gentle face looking up at the ceiling seemed flushed from the alcohol and showed dissatisfaction. Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter. He even straddled Heeseong’s body and brought his face close, asking secretively,

“Ah… our puppy needed a gradual process.”

“Haa…”

Heeseong avoided Yoon Chi-young’s gaze, looking disgusted. He now seemed too lazy to even respond to such remarks.

But to Yoon Chi-young, it seemed like Heeseong was agreeing. That he needed such a process. As proof, Heeseong was weakly resting his cheek on Yoon Chi-young’s arm placed next to his head as if he were upset.

Soon, Heeseong, who had closed his eyes, mumbled with imprecise pronunciation,

“It’s weird…”

“What is?”

“I… have always wondered why you like me.”

I’m so happy I could die. As soon as he heard Heeseong’s words, Yoon Chi-young bit his molars and suppressed his laughter of joy.

Yoon Chi-young deliberately didn’t answer that. The puppy was finally subtly showing that he liked Yoon Chi-young and grumbling, so if he teased him as usual, he might ruin the confession.

He wanted Heeseong to say what was on his mind and realize it himself a bit more.

“All I’ve shown you so far… is just my beastly side.”

You knew, huh? Yoon Chi-young thought the puppy was indeed smart. He didn’t know Heeseong was good at self-objectification too.

Not knowing that sentiment, Heeseong, with his eyes closed, rambled on, tapping his arm on the bed.

“Before we knew each other, I threw chips at Kwon Gihyeok’s face first… I punched you first… When I hadn’t been in human form for long, I ran away and then picked a fight with Yang Hye-chan.”

“……”

“I’ve lived as a fighting dog, so that’s all I can do… Why do you like me?”

“I guess I’m attracted to bad boys.”

It was a sincere remark, but Heeseong opened his eyes drowsily with a dissatisfied expression. His eyes looking up at Yoon Chi-young, who was straddling him, were filled with annoyance and contempt. But he didn’t push Yoon Chi-young away and exhaled a drunken sigh. Even though he was in human form and had no reason to be wedged next to the bed, he didn’t run away.

“I get it, I won’t do that anymore.”

Still, Yoon Chi-young was quick-witted. He couldn’t act carelessly anymore when the puppy sincerely wanted to talk.

This time, he hugged Heeseong tightly in his arms. Even though it might feel suffocating, Heeseong didn’t push Yoon Chi-young away but rather gently wrapped his arms around his waist. The hand stroking Yoon Chi-young’s broad back, seemingly satisfied in his embrace, was gentle.

Yoon Chi-young bit Heeseong’s earlobe and said,

“Our first meeting was in the gambling den corridor, remember?”

“Gambling den corridor? Ah… yeah…”

Heeseong answered with little interest. He seemed to be drunk not only on alcohol but also on peacefulness, as if he would fall asleep at any moment.

Yoon Chi-young arranged Heeseong’s hair and quietly said,

“I have a strong wolf bloodline, and for several years, I couldn’t properly control my pheromones, so I was particularly sensitive to pheromones even in human form…”

Yoon Chi-young spoke in a husky yet calm voice. Puppy ears twitched on top of Heeseong’s black hair. His pleasant-sounding voice always made Heeseong feel at ease, if only the content wasn’t included.

“Then one day, I met a beastmen who only gave off a gentle scent even when passing by.”

“…Puppy scent?”

“Yeah. Puppy scent.”

“Puppy scent…”

Heeseong mumbled along as if he didn’t understand. He had no idea what his own scent felt like.

But Yoon Chi-young, who had inherited the wolf’s blood so intensely that it was painful, was different.

“Living among beastmens wearing strong perfume, I thought I would go crazy from pheromone shock and end up killing everyone or hurting myself…”

Yoon Chi-young lifted his head as he spoke. In his warm embrace, the puppy looked even more pliant. Although his expression was a bit dazed, it was adorable how he focused only on what Yoon Chi-young was saying. The sound of his tail busily brushing against the blanket underneath must have been his tail. Yoon Chi-young fiddled with Heeseong’s puppy ears and smiled brightly.

“Then I met our puppy.”

“…Oh please.”

Heeseong turned his head, finding it absurd. Still, Yoon Chi-young seemed to be just happy, nibbling on his own fingers. From the black wolf ears sprouting on top of his head to his gray eyes full of laughter and the corners of his mouth raised in joy, everything was the same as when he was biting Heeseong in his puppy form.

But something didn’t sit right with Heeseong. Lying weakly, Heeseong slightly pulled out his hand that Yoon Chi-young was nibbling on and turned his head.

“It just means you were born with a body that rejects all other beastmens…”

“But I was born to only like puppies.”

“…Psycho.”

His words were rough, but his folded puppy ears twitched. Heeseong seemed to want to hide his expression, so he buried his head deeply in Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder again. But Yoon Chi-young had already noticed that Heeseong’s ears had turned red to the tips. They were always just white before, so they definitely hadn’t turned red because of the alcohol. Yoon Chi-young spoke as if it were a new revelation, a smile playing on his lips.

“You know I’m only into puppies, right?”

“……”

But there was no answer. The sound of his tail busily brushing against the blanket had also subsided. Something was strange. Yoon Chi-young’s smile faded in puzzlement.

“Puppy?”

“Hey… you…”

Heeseong seemed to want to say something, hesitating. Yoon Chi-young was even more concerned about his uncharacteristic hesitation. He lifted his body a little from the embrace to see Heeseong’s face.

The look in Heeseong’s eyes, which had been excited from the alcohol, had changed. Unlike before, his eyes were downcast with a hint of moisture. When Yoon Chi-young brought his face closer, Heeseong briefly made eye contact but quickly averted his gaze and mumbled,

“…Never mind.”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young sometimes remembered seeing this expression on the puppy. After being betrayed by Park Geon-tae, he had often seen Heeseong looking miserable with these dead black eyes. Even though Yoon Chi-young wanted to comfort him, Heeseong would push him away, so he couldn’t even bring up the subject.

“…I don’t believe those words.”

“Why?”

“I…”

Yoon Chi-young was anguished every time Heeseong hid his true feelings like this. It felt like watching a frightened puppy crouching and curled up tightly. When Yoon Chi-young reached out his hand, Heeseong would act rough and be wary, but in fact, Yoon Chi-young knew that Heeseong wanted affection more than anyone else.

Yoon Chi-young quietly waited for Heeseong. He gently stroked Heeseong’s cheek, silently telling him it was okay to speak. As expected, the puppy needed time.

After waiting patiently, Heeseong spoke in an unsteadily trembling voice without even making eye contact.

“Even Park Geon-tae was nice to me at first…”

“……”

“He also said I was his only family.”

Moisture began to cloud Heeseong’s voice. The drooping puppy ears were lifeless, and his face crumpled miserably as if he were about to cry.

“But after he started dating a pretty noona, he changed…”

“……”

“How do you know you won’t become like that too?”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young looked down at Heeseong with silent, downcast eyes. And he inwardly felt sorry for the puppy. He had heard that mutt tribes, especially fighting dogs, valued loyalty, so betrayal must have been an even greater shock. It seemed he hadn’t given the puppy enough time to process this sorrow. It was his fault for keeping Heeseong by his side, citing pheromone shock and separation anxiety.

“But… monogamy and marriage, what the hell. I, I… don’t believe you.”

Heeseong spoke with tears welling up in his black eyes. The way he held his breath tightly, not wanting to be caught crying, and the way he bit his lip also looked precarious.

Yoon Chi-young knew that Heeseong had a lot of pride. But to say such things. It must have been a chronic pain caused by the wounds of being abandoned twice in the past, along with the alcohol. His heart ached. Yoon Chi-young was willing to wait until Heeseong’s trust formed, no matter how long it took.

This time, he brought his face close to Heeseong and spoke as if whispering,

“You don’t have to believe me, puppy. Believe me when you want to believe.”

“……”

“It doesn’t matter because I’m suggesting everything because I like you.”

At those words, tears finally spilled from the corners of Heeseong’s eyes. Yoon Chi-young deliberately didn’t react at all for Heeseong’s sake and just watched.

“You’re so unpleasant….”

Heeseong couldn’t even hide his tears, perhaps because he had a lot weighing on his heart. Rather, he buried his head in Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder again and weakly sobbed.

“Hic….”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young quietly embraced Heeseong. He had only been mindful of his own pain due to pheromone shock. He was so sorry for recognizing Heeseong’s wounds this late.

Heeseong, who had been crying while holding back, spoke between sobs,

“It’s okay that my mom and dad abandoned me. Because I was, ya know, weak and sick.”

“……”

“But this time… it’s different. I really tried my best… I tried to fulfill my purpose….”

Heeseong forcibly turned back into a puppy, not wanting to show his weak side. Inside the neatly dressed new clothes, a fist-sized lump was protruding. After staying like that for a long time without coming out, Yoon Chi-young directly lifted the clothes and took out the puppy.

The puppy was crying. Even when Yoon Chi-young gently picked him up, the puppy was limp, tears streaming from his large eyes.

“Ah….”

Yoon Chi-young sighed and lay down, placing the puppy against his forehead. What could make this tiny thing cry so miserably? It felt like a lump was forming in his own chest.

Yoon Chi-young knew that Heeseong was still very young. But this young one had been abandoned twice in his life. Yoon Chi-young knew about the puppy left alone in a house where no one came, and about Heeseong who only looked for his brother even after being betrayed by him. But seeing him cry like this, regret he had never felt before surged in his heart.

“I really want to kill Park Geon-tae….”

If only he had been by Heeseong’s side sooner. If only he had dealt with Park Geon-tae earlier… Futile thoughts followed endlessly. Yoon Chi-young sighed and wiped away the puppy’s tears.

The puppy, who had been crying miserably, howled towards the wall. A sad, whimpering howl rang out softly. Yoon Chi-young stayed by his side, letting the puppy cry to his heart’s content. Until the little one cried himself to exhaustion and fell asleep.

That day, the puppy burrowed into Yoon Chi-young’s clothes and fell asleep for the first time. Without any premonition of the painful events that would unfold the next day.

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 10

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

‘Ugh…’

Early in the morning, Heeseong woke up with a dizzying headache and nausea. The puppy, who had woken up with a disheveled face, looked around with drowsy eyes.

‘Where the hell is this…?’

It was partly due to the darkness, but his surroundings were indistinguishable as if he were trapped inside a blanket.

Fortunately, the puppy, who had often gotten lost inside blankets, knew that he could escape by moving forward somehow. Heeseong, staggering forward with a hangover, finally reached the exit.

Woof…

The place the puppy emerged from was around the neckline of Yoon Chi-young’s white long-sleeved t-shirt.

Exhausted, he lay on his side with just his potato-sized face poking out. In that state, Heeseong looked up at Yoon Chi-young’s firm neck, ruffling his fluffy body. Seeing Yoon Chi-young, the events of last night started coming back to him one by one.

‘What did I say to him last night…?’

Unfortunately, Heeseong wasn’t the type to blackout just because he got drunk. Once he started recalling, his despicable and weak behavior from last night came flooding back.

It seemed like he had affectionately rubbed his cheeks against Yoon Chi-young’s chest out of sheer happiness, said all sorts of strange things… and even cried miserably in his arms. It was unthinkable for a proud fighting dog. Unable to believe the reality, the puppy wildly kicked Yoon Chi-young’s t-shirt like a blanket.

‘Ugh, my head hurts…’

But a single intense movement caused the hangover to surge hotly. The puppy whimpered and lay limp from the dizzying headache. As much as he hated to admit it, Heeseong was weak to alcohol, so his hangovers were severe. He just wanted to lie down on Yoon Chi-young’s neck and sleep more, but his stomach hurt too much to do so.

‘Hey…’

In the end, Heeseong wriggled out from inside the clothes and crawled onto the pillow. Thanks to the mood light on in the bedroom, Yoon Chi-young, who was only an angel when sleeping, could be seen with his eyes closed. The puppy unsteadily poked his button-sized nose bridge against Yoon Chi-young’s eyelids and mumbled weakly.

‘Yoon Chi-young… I’m sick…’

Heeseong spoke and was surprised at himself. It was the first time he had told someone he was sick since his mother.

So far, if he showed even the slightest weakness at the gambling den, he would be scolded or urged that a fighting dog should endure it, so he naturally bore it. Perhaps because he had exposed everything, even his inner thoughts, to Yoon Chi-young in an unsightly manner last night, it didn’t feel strange to say he was sick. At least it was a bit of a relief to say it in his puppy form, which the other party couldn’t understand.

While he was at it, the puppy mustered a bit more courage and tried saying more.

‘I have a terrible stomachache…’

It was strange. The more the puppy grumbled, the more something hot surged up in his chest. The fact that he also had a pack to lean on felt scorchingly warm, along with the sorrow he had endured. Oddly enough, just having someone to say this to made him feel better. The puppy, who had been resting his small head against Yoon Chi-young’s cheek, was about to transform into a human to at least drink some water.

Just then, Yoon Chi-young furrowed his brows. The puppy’s drowsy eyes widened in puzzlement.

Suddenly, Yoon Chi-young sat up abruptly. Waking up groggy, he urgently asked the puppy in a low, hoarse voice,

“Baby, are you sick?”

‘What…?’

Before the puppy could even be surprised, Yoon Chi-young sighed and brought his face close to the puppy, gently scratching his cheek.

“It’s because you drank alcohol yesterday…”

“……”

“That’s why puppies shouldn’t drink.”

Even when being scolded, Heeseong just stared up at Yoon Chi-young with surprised eyes. It was amazing that Yoon Chi-young had understood his words about being sick. And although it was clearly nothing special, this kind of thing always felt significant to the small puppy.

‘…How did he understand?’

Looking up at Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong smoothly transformed into a human.

Next to him, Yoon Chi-young ordered something on the phone that was on the bedside table. He was asking for honey water and soup, which were good for hangovers.

Looking at his broad back, Heeseong absentmindedly listened to the phone conversation. Is it for the young master? Then did you spend the night drinking with your lover? You did really well. Then I’ll have to prepare it. Whether it was an employee close to Yoon Chi-young, it was impressive how they chatted with appropriate concern and accepted the request even at such an early hour.

‘He treats me well even when I’m not in my puppy form…’

Feeling ticklish and pleased for no reason, Heeseong gently bit and fiddled with Yoon Chi-young’s bushy black wolf tail. They were now used to each other even in their half-transformed state. It felt like they were really lovers.

Then Yoon Chi-young, who had ended the call, turned around with a loose chuckle.

“Are you trying to seduce me?”

“…You’d be halfway there if you just kept your mouth shut.”

“Why? You were the one who touched my tail first.”

“Sigh…”

Heeseong, who had been lying down, sullenly tossed away Yoon Chi-young’s tail. But the jet-black tail spun back around and gently brushed against Heeseong’s flushed face. Achoo. Heeseong sneezed from the ticklishness and turned his body. The tips of his ears were red. He couldn’t believe he was doing something lovers would do.

The sensation of a beastmen’s tail was similar to their ears. Grabbing and pulling it was naturally unpleasant and painful, just like the ears, and gently touching or biting it could also have a sexual meaning to that extent. That’s why touching a beastmen’s tail was a playful act between lovers and a sexual appeal. It was natural, as it was attached above the buttocks, and many beastmens, like Heeseong, had tails as erogenous zones.

But now they had reached a point where touching each other’s tails felt natural.

Although this kind of relationship felt quite unfamiliar to Heeseong, he obediently took Yoon Chi-young’s hand that was helping him sit up. Yoon Chi-young, who still seemed sleepy, rubbed the tip of his nose against Heeseong’s neck like a complaint while stroking his skinny back. Feeling the affectionate touch, Heeseong, who had been moving his lips, asked just in case,

“But… how did you understand what I said earlier?”

“I learned. From Young-bae…”

Yoon Chi-young answered languidly in a drowsy voice. Perhaps because he was weak to sleep, he was acting loose. Still, Heeseong was surprised that he had woken up like this. He knew that Yoon Chi-young hadn’t even woken up last time when Heeseong had run away with a bundle in his mouth.

Yoon Chi-young’s breath kept brushing against his neck. Heeseong, who had been flapping his white ears from the ticklishness, asked,

“When did you learn it?”

In the meantime, Yoon Chi-young, who had gotten up, wrapped a cozy gown around Heeseong and said,

“I was curious about what the puppy’s whimpering words meant when he was sick. I asked and memorized it.”

“……”

Somehow, Heeseong felt like his weakness had been exposed. And yet, he wondered why he had been hiding his vulnerable side from Yoon Chi-young, who was his packmate. Perhaps Heeseong had been relying on Yoon Chi-young for quite a long time already.

In the meantime, Yoon Chi-young had moved a table in front of Heeseong, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Heeseong wondered why he was setting the table so early, but by then, the employee had brought the honey water first. And while Heeseong drank the honey water to settle his stomach a bit, a spicy bean sprout soup, warm rice, and a simple meal were served. Heeseong was amazed at how the table was set like this regardless of the time.

Heeseong thought he could just eat, but Yoon Chi-young sat on the edge of the bed, holding him. He tried to personally feed Heeseong rice with a spoon in his disheveled state.

“Feeding me and hugging me. Just like when I’m a puppy…”

“Let go. I’ll eat by myself.”

“Here, ah.”

“I’ll eat it myse… Sigh. Ah.”

Heeseong tried to snatch the spoon but gave up. It was annoying, but Yoon Chi-young’s arms were longer, so he could never win in this kind of tug-of-war. Heeseong was used to being fed anyway, so he sat still and ate comfortably.

Yoon Chi-young’s touch as he took care of Heeseong was gentle and not much different from when he was a puppy. It was exactly as he said, taking care of him as a lover. As this situation had become unfamiliar, Heeseong wondered if he deserved this kind of care.

No matter how much the giver wanted to, Heeseong now wanted to give back to him, even if just a little. Since his own heart was too shabby to reciprocate, Heeseong wanted to show it through actions.

“…Hey. Yoon Chi-young.”

Heeseong grabbed Yoon Chi-young’s hand that had been wrapped around his waist. It was a hand twice the size of his own fist, but it always intertwined fingers with Heeseong’s hand as he held it.

Heeseong ate a spoonful of the soup Yoon Chi-young fed him and settled his stomach a bit. Following his somewhat calmer stomach, he felt like his head was clearing up a little. Unlike when he had woken up limply, Heeseong spoke with a much firmer face.

“Anyway… even if you picked me up for some sinister purpose, you’re still my savior.”

“How does picking up and raising an injured puppy become a sinister purpose…?”

Even when hearing words akin to slander, Yoon Chi-young just laughed it off lightly. After receiving another spoonful of warm soup, Heeseong spoke in an increasingly serious tone,

“What do you want me to do at the formal family meeting?”

“Is there a need to match that?”

“Of course.”

Rather than the leisurely attitude, Heeseong looked up at him and spoke as if reminding him,

“You and the leader are in an adversarial relationship.”

“You’re smart, puppy.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke in a drowsy voice and kissed Heeseong’s hair. Perhaps because he hadn’t shaken off his sleepiness yet, he started rambling with his gray eyes half-open.

“Just do as you usually do. As if you like me to death.”

“I’ve never done that.”

“You did that all the time.”

Is this bastard dating other puppies besides me? Heeseong scratched his neck with a sullen face. Still, he could guess what Yoon Chi-young meant by that, so he didn’t have any particular misunderstandings. He knew that no matter what he did in his puppy form, Yoon Chi-young loved it to death.

Then Yoon Chi-young asked,

“Puppy. Is it burdensome?”

“…A little.”

“Then you don’t have to go to the formal family meeting.”

“What?”

What kind of nonsense was this after coming this far? Heeseong asked back as if it were absurd, furrowing his brows. Even seeing that expression, Yoon Chi-young calmly wiped the soup Heeseong had spilled with a tissue and said,

“I’m going as a warning anyway.”

“What warning?”

“Hmm…”

Yoon Chi-young smiled subtly and looked down at Heeseong. The bedroom, lit only by the mood light, was dim, and the shadows darkened, accentuating Yoon Chi-young’s gray eyes and somewhat numb-looking smile. Heeseong thought that whenever he made this face, it seemed like he was angry about something.

“A warning not to mess with my lover anymore, whom I cherish enough to bring to a formal family meeting like this?”

“……”

Heeseong didn’t know he had that kind of intention too. He thought he had come here to see if there was a connection between Park Geon-tae and the leader’s side, but Yoon Chi-young had his own intentions. He was inwardly surprised.

In fact, Heeseong thought that the scary thing about Yoon Chi-young was that he was very cunning, even though he might seem like a loose good-for-nothing. In fact, Heeseong was the only one who saw him as easy-going and loose without realizing it.

Then Yoon Chi-young spoke as if talking to himself,

“But now that I think about showing you to my family. I kind of regret it…”

“…Why?”

“Because I only want to show you my good side.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke and hugged Heeseong tightly from behind. Heeseong’s skinny body was snugly nestled in his broad embrace. Heeseong, whose head ached from the hangover, frowned slightly and grasped Yoon Chi-young’s stone-like arm. Still, Yoon Chi-young’s whispered words, as if he didn’t want to let go, felt heartbreaking.

“I wish you could only see my good side like this…”

“…When did you ever show me your good side?”

Heeseong grumbled but slyly held Yoon Chi-young’s hand. It was because he kind of understood why he was saying this.

Perhaps at tomorrow’s formal family meeting, a situation might unfold where Yoon Chi-young’s family would keep Heeseong in check. He didn’t expect a harmonious family meeting anyway, but still, Heeseong didn’t want to see Yoon Chi-young being restrained by his family. Strangely, just thinking about it made him angry as if he had been treated unfairly. As someone who knew Yoon Chi-young’s circumstances, and as his packmate, he couldn’t understand them.

‘I can understand pheromone shock, though…’

Heeseong had seen a lot, being the closest to Yoon Chi-young all this time. He knew how to enjoy art and loved that side of himself. But he seemed to detest his original form that couldn’t control his reason due to pheromone shock. He was always on guard against his own consciousness and habitually fell into anxiety. Feeling sorry for him, Heeseong sat in Yoon Chi-young’s arms, which had quieted down, for a long time.

“…Yoon Chi-young.”

Heeseong, who had finished eating, spoke as if making a resolution to himself.

“No matter what the leader’s side says, I’ll only believe what I see with my own eyes.”

“Really?”

“…Yeah.”

The sound of Yoon Chi-young chuckling could be heard from behind. He seemed to think it was just a sweet, empty promise. But Heeseong was sincere. The puppy, who had firmly grasped his hand, spoke firmly.

“A fighting dog doesn’t speak with a forked tongue.”

***

3 - Man-Eating Wolf

DMWP V2C3 – Part 11

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

The meeting was set for early evening.

Considering the nature of the occasion, Heeseong put some effort into his appearance before heading out. Yoon Chi-young’s demeanor was somewhat more subdued than usual, but he still attentively took care of Heeseong since morning, holding his hand as they left the annex together.

The meeting place was located on the outskirts of the werewolf territory, a beautiful spot next to a pretty pond. Now that he had actually arrived, Heeseong felt nervous, but fortunately it started snowing. Wagging his tail, he walked along the pebbled path, finding some comfort in the snowfall, as he had always loved snow.

The beastmen gathered for this meeting were all formidable individuals.

Seated at the table were the Watcher, Heeseong, the Clan Leader, Yang Hye-chan, and Yoon Chi-young’s mother. The dining table was extremely large and packed with high-end Korean cuisine. However, even the sight of plump shrimp couldn’t stimulate Heeseong’s appetite due to the palpable tension in the air.

‘This feels more like a confrontation than a meeting.’

Heeseong glanced around surreptitiously. The Clan Leader and Watcher, seated across from each other, were exchanging icy glares, while Yang Hye-chan still couldn’t even meet Yoon Chi-young’s eyes and was just glowering at some spot on the table.

Then, with a nonchalant expression, Yoon Geon-young made a backhanded compliment.

“Seeing you like this, I can tell you suit being with a puppy quite well.”

“Same to you, sis. I didn’t realize you two had already exchanged engagement rings. Looks nice, since I played the role of go-between.”

Though their conversation seemed ordinary, their eyes told a different story. Yoon Geon-young’s gray eyes were consistently cold, and while Yoon Chi-young wore a smile, his gray eyes were frigid.

Thankfully, Yoon Chi-young’s mother, seated in the middle, took the lead in the meeting. Beautiful and benevolent, she treated Heeseong comfortably without prejudice despite him being of a different race.

“This is the first time a beastman of a different race has attended an occasion like this. Please eat comfortably.”

“Th-thank you.”

Heeseong replied with difficulty as he picked up his fork and knife. Unable to feign coyness or cuteness due to his personality, his expression was somewhat stiff, but the atmosphere wasn’t bad. Inwardly, Heeseong felt fortunate that he had learned basic table manners while working at the casino. Otherwise, with his tendency to let his thoughts show through his actions, he might have appeared awkward from the very act of eating.

Feeling slightly more at ease, Heeseong did his best to support Yoon Chi-young as he wished, showing that they were head over heels for each other.

“Have some meat.”

Heeseong cut the steak and placed it on Yoon Chi-young’s plate. His actions were quite awkward. Heeseong was used to being served, so offering food to Yoon Chi-young was a first. Moreover, Heeseong wasn’t good at such insincere acts of affection. Well aware of this, Yoon Chi-young, who had been seated the whole time, cracked a genuine smile for the first time.

Then, gazing at Heeseong with adoring eyes that could melt him, he shamelessly said,

“Feed me. Like you always do.”

‘…Fucking hell.’

Cursing inwardly, Heeseong glared at him with displeasure and shock in his eyes. He was asking if Yoon Chi-young was serious. However, Yoon Chi-young just stared at Heeseong brazenly as if asking what the problem was.

“…Here.”

In the end, Heeseong stabbed the meat with a fork, wanting to stab Yoon Chi-young instead, and fed him. The high-quality steak, overflowing with juices, entered Yoon Chi-young’s mouth. As he chewed, he gazed at Heeseong with affectionate eyes. If not for Heeseong averting his gaze with a dumbfounded and disgusted look, they would have seemed the epitome of a loving couple.

Deceived by the scene, Yoon Chi-young’s mother remarked with satisfaction,

“You two seem to have a good relationship.”

“Ah, that’s… yes.”

“The meeting date was set rather quickly, but do you have any other family to introduce to us?”

“……”

At the casual question, Heeseong’s black pupils froze. Family. For Heeseong, it was a word that made his heart feel like it would crumble just hearing it.

Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young answered for him. It was a brutal reply.

“You’ve probably already met them…”

This time, Yoon Chi-young’s gaze turned to Yang Hye-chan. The moment their gray eyes met, Yang Hye-chan’s face turned ashen as he lowered his gaze. The ends of his blond hair trembled pitifully. His previous arrogant attitude, to the point of being splashed with strawberry juice by Heeseong, was nowhere to be found.

Unconcerned, Yoon Chi-young continued,

“The person who raised our puppy for 5 years.”

“What are you talking about…?”

This time, Yang Hye-chan appeared to have steeled himself, retorting to Yoon Chi-young’s words. However, to Heeseong, he still couldn’t hide his fear of Yoon Chi-young. Perhaps his injury was also throbbing, as he clumsily dropped the chopsticks he had been holding in his right hand. In the end, the Clan Leader sitting next to him directly assisted with his meal.

Finding the scene quite amusing, Yoon Chi-young leaned back in his chair and asked,

“Does our young master enjoy gambling?”

Feeling it as contempt, Yang Hye-chan narrowed his eyes fiercely.

“I don’t enjoy such filthy games.”

This time, Yang Hye-chan didn’t tremble while looking at Yoon Chi-young. Considering the rumors of Yoon Chi-young’s fondness for gambling, it seemed he said it to disparage him.

However, as expected, Yoon Chi-young had a different intention.

“Then what pleasant conversation did you have with Park Geon-tae?”

“I didn’t have any conversation with him.”

“Ah…”

Before the answer could continue, Yoon Chi-young tightly grasped Heeseong’s hand under the table. His large hand was warm, but Yoon Chi-young was slyly smiling as he pressured Yang Hye-chan.

“How do you know the casino’s floor manager well enough to say you didn’t have any conversation first…?”

‘This guy’s personality, seriously…’

Listening to the conversation, Heeseong felt things had come to a head. He was surprised that Yoon Chi-young was pressuring Yang Hye-chan without any regard for the situation. Similarly, Yang Hye-chan’s eyes visibly trembled, showing his agitation.

Though surprised, Heeseong fiercely glared at Yang Hye-chan out of resentment.

As expected, Yang Hye-chan was connected to Park Geon-tae. Indeed. Their encounter with Yang Hye-chan and the casino’s dogs at the hospital that day was absolutely not a coincidence, and Park Geon-tae wouldn’t have missed the Clan Leader’s offer. Heeseong was sick and tired of their despicable games.

“Yoon Chi-young.”

At that moment, the Clan Leader intervened in the conversation. She was still looking at Yoon Chi-young with cold eyes. However, Yoon Chi-young simply gazed directly at his sister with a relaxed smile. A heavy tension hung between the siblings. Even their mother couldn’t figure out how to intervene and was fidgeting anxiously.

Belatedly, Yoon Geon-young spoke as usual,

“I didn’t expect you, who used to be absorbed in gambling, to bring a partner to an occasion like this.”

“Right. I didn’t know either.”

Yoon Chi-young elegantly sipped from his glass as he replied. Inwardly, Heeseong felt relieved that he seemed to consistently maintain the upper hand in the conversation. Feeling at ease, Heeseong was freely glaring at Yang Hye-chan as if on guard. He even had rough thoughts of directly retaliating against Yang Hye-chan once the meeting was over.

But then, Yoon Geon-young’s next words caused Yoon Chi-young to show agitation for the first time.

“Father would have been so happy to see you personally bring a puppy as your partner.”

“……”

In an instant, Yoon Chi-young’s face hardened.

It was a different expression from his usual smile fading. His lack of expression felt eerily unfamiliar, more spine-chilling than if he had openly expressed anger.

‘Why is he acting like this…?’

Heeseong examined under the table. Something was strange. Yoon Chi-young’s hand, holding Heeseong’s, was exerting excessive force. His eye shape, usually soft, was fiercely raised and glaring as if he would kill his opponent. However, to Heeseong, he looked so precarious, as if he might crumble at any moment.

Belatedly, Yoon Chi-young spoke while gazing at his sister,

“…Right. Father would have been thrilled.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke as if sighing, catching his rough breath. Holding a glass in the opposite hand, he laughed like a sigh after a long while. The remaining red wine in the glass was creating fine ripples.

“He’s the kind of person who would congratulate me for becoming a Watcher even if I engaged in cannibalism.”

‘What…?’

Heeseong’s eyes widened. Yoon Chi-young’s words didn’t make sense to him. A father who would congratulate him for becoming a Watcher even if he engaged in cannibalism. He couldn’t even fathom what kind of life Yoon Chi-young had lived.

However, he couldn’t dwell on such thoughts for long. Sensing a change, Heeseong urgently called out to him.

“Yoon Chi-young?”

Yoon Chi-young seemed to be losing control of his emotions and reverting to his half-beast state. His fangs clattered as they emerged, and the glint in his gray eyes was spine-chilling. With veins bulging in his neck, he growled with each breath, resembling a wild beast. Moreover, unable to control his strength, even the glass he was holding shattered.

Clang!

“Chi-young!”

“Hey, you…!”

His mother and Heeseong rose from their seats in surprise. However, seeing Yoon Chi-young in his half-beast state, his mother couldn’t thoughtlessly approach him. Only Heeseong hurriedly took the broken glass from his hand and examined the wound. Fortunately, the glass shards had only grazed the calluses on his palm, so it wasn’t bleeding heavily, but blood was seeping from various spots, looking dangerous.

“Is there a first-aid kit? Someone, hurry and…!”

Heeseong called out urgently and looked around. However, he couldn’t finish his words at the abnormal sight.

Including the staff, everyone had distanced themselves and was just fearfully looking at Yoon Chi-young. Only the Clan Leader remained seated, expressionlessly gazing at her brother, and Heeseong was the only one who stayed by his side.

“Come here, let’s go and get you treated.”

In the end, Heeseong forcibly took Yoon Chi-young and left the scene. The staff was too afraid to approach, so Heeseong received the first-aid kit and treated him directly.

Even then, Yoon Chi-young was painfully exhaling rough breaths. Seeing that sight, Heeseong felt upset and heartbroken. Just like long ago when his mother cried because he was sick.

***

“If you’re angry, you should have thrown the glass instead. Why did you break it in your hand…?”

Heeseong spoke as if reproaching him. However, despite his words, his face beneath his drooping ears was full of concern.

No one helped, so Heeseong was tending to Yoon Chi-young’s hand. Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young had his nose buried in Heeseong’s shoulder, evening out his rough breaths. Perhaps because his pheromones hadn’t stabilized yet, his body couldn’t endure the severe emotional agitation. If he received any more shocks here, he might have even gone into pheromone shock.

However, Heeseong wasn’t afraid of him. He just felt sorry for Yoon Chi-young, who was desperately leaning on him. Seeing how his family treated Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong thought he understood why Yoon Chi-young had given his whole heart and relied on him, a mere one-day puppy.

Then, rubbing his heated forehead against Heeseong’s shoulder, Yoon Chi-young spoke,

“Puppy… Are you worried about me?”

“Of course I’d be worried, wouldn’t I?”

Heeseong retorted. However, Yoon Chi-young laughed faintly as if he liked it. Beads of cold sweat glistened on his forehead, but fortunately, he seemed to have calmed down a bit now that he was alone with Heeseong.

Still, worried about him, Heeseong carefully suggested,

“Do you want to just go back to your original form…? Will you be able to return to your right mind?”

“I could probably do that… But why go back?”

Yoon Chi-young took off the coat he was wearing, as if his body was hot, and draped it over Heeseong. His breath, rough from the rising fever, and his reddened lips looked particularly seductive. Though he must have been struggling, he spoke in a flattering tone, caressing Heeseong’s waist,

“You can calm me down with your body.”

“…You’re injured, and that’s what you’re saying now?”

Heeseong scolded him and finished applying medicine to his hand. Fortunately, the wound wasn’t deep, but Yoon Chi-young’s consistent cuteness when he was like this was resentful. If he was in pain, Heeseong wished he would honestly say so, rather than trying to lighten the mood. It made him feel even more sorry for Yoon Chi-young.

For now, Heeseong stood up to stabilize him. He had to find a place where Yoon Chi-young would feel even a bit more comfortable.

“…Let’s go back to the annex for now. Come here.”

Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young obediently followed Heeseong. It was early evening, and the sun was still setting, so it was a bit bright outside. Feeling relieved, Heeseong walked along the snowy path with Yoon Chi-young.

Behind them, Yoon Chi-young looked back, his eyes glinting coldly. At the end of his gaze was precisely the main building where the Clan Leader resided.

Yoon Chi-young stared at the window with the light on for a long time, and when Heeseong spoke to him, he acted as he usually did. He didn’t want to show aggression in front of his puppy.

***

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 1

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

When Heeseong and Yoon Chi-young returned to the annex, a fair amount of snow had accumulated.

In the tranquil courtyard in front of the annex, Heeseong took a deep breath with Yoon Chi-young’s hand in his. The cold air, mixed with the scent of grass, filled his lungs. Having been in a tense state after witnessing bloodshed in that chilling space, returning to the annex felt like a breath of fresh air.

“It seems you’ve calmed down a bit.”

Yoon Chi-young seemed to feel the same, holding onto Heeseong’s hand more steadily than before. Despite everything, Heeseong decided that today, he would take care of Yoon Chi-young sincerely.

Noticing Heeseong’s concern, Yoon Chi-young suddenly scooped up a handful of snow from the ground. Heeseong tried to stop him, knowing his hand was injured, but Yoon Chi-young had quickly formed a snowball.

“Look at this, puppy… your true form.”

“Hey.”

Heeseong’s gaze turned fierce, and anger made his hair stand on end, revealing white puppy ears atop his head. He wanted to retort, but the snowball’s size and color were indeed similar to his own, leaving him feeling unjustly accused.

Yet, the puppy didn’t hold back his temper. He snatched the snowball from Yoon Chi-young and threw it at his face. Annoyingly, Yoon Chi-young dodged it with ease, his agility belying his size.

“You’re big for nothing!”

Teasing Yoon Chi-young for his wolf’s shortcomings, Heeseong threw another snowball. However, Yoon Chi-young, far from being hit, simply smiled as if he found the puppy adorable, and then tried to envelop Heeseong in a big hug. Heeseong, finding it intolerable, swiftly transformed back into a puppy.

Woof!

Although he hadn’t shown it, Heeseong actually loved snow and quickly became excited. The puppy pranced around in the snow, its ears flopping with each leap, leaving a trail of small paw prints behind.

Yoon Chi-young then transformed into a wolf and chased after Heeseong. Initially, the puppy ran in genuine fear, but soon it was playfully tumbling under the black wolf’s nose.

The enormous wolf nuzzled and playfully licked the puppy, tickling him incessantly. Despite the puppy’s playful bites and attempts to escape, the wolf quickly caught up and playfully flipped him over to expose his pink belly.

“Ticklish!”

Lying back in the snow, the puppy laughed with its tongue out, and the wolf, lying beside him, continued to nuzzle him as if giving kisses. After a while, Heeseong, reinvigorated, began to chase the wolf in return.

Woof!

The sight of a grand wolf being chased by a tiny puppy was amusing, with the wolf lowering its tail as if in defeat. Heeseong pursued with all his might, aiming for the wolf’s long tail.

The puppy’s tenacity was evident as it clung to the tail upon catching it, surprising the wolf into spinning around and sitting down as if in surrender. The wolf, conceding defeat, gently touched the puppy with its massive paw, resembling the puppy’s own size. The triumphant puppy, after releasing the tail, buried itself in the wolf’s majestic mane, gazing up at him.

The excitement subsided as the puppy wagged its tail slowly, and snow quietly fell upon them. Heeseong, pressing his cheek against the wolf’s mane, gazed at him with dark eyes.

“Have you finally found some peace?”

In this snowy winter scene, the black wolf seemed like a painting. Heeseong stared at the elegantly seated wolf against the white backdrop, envying the beautiful form and regretting that Yoon Chi-young had hidden such beauty. Perhaps if he had seen his true form sooner, he would have grown fond of him more quickly.

Feeling inexplicably shy, the puppy stood up and ran off in the opposite direction. The wolf followed, nudging the puppy back towards the annex.

“Ah, why!”

Whether trying to stop the play or not, the black wolf kept nudging the puppy with its snout. When Heeseong attempted to flee again, the wolf quickly caught up and gently bit his scruff.

Startled by the bite, even though it wasn’t hard, the puppy yelped in surprise. The fear of the wolf’s bite was still a trauma for him. Yoon Chi-young, slightly startled himself, let go but then gently licked Heeseong’s neck and picked him up by the scruff again.

“Scared, huh?”

Startled, Heeseong looked around with wide eyes as he was carried by the wolf. He could see the snow-covered courtyard below. Worried that the wolf might drop him, the puppy held on tightly, tucking his tail between his legs.

With a powerful leap, the wolf cleared the fence.

Yoon Chi-young headed towards the hot spring that was connected to the annex. Despite the stone wall, the wolf effortlessly jumped over the fence, as high as Heeseong, with impressive agility and strength.

“You’ll catch a cold doing that.”

Yoon Chi-young transformed back into his half-beast form in front of the hot spring. His shoulders broadened, and his well-defined muscles became visible in his impressive nudity. The puppy, looking up at his tall figure, transformed into his half-beast form too. Though leaner and more boyish, Heeseong felt dissatisfied with his own pale body.

“You were having fun too, despite being injured…”

Mumbling, Heeseong poured warm water over himself. Although playing was fun, the sight of the hot spring made him eager to dive in. It was his first time experiencing a hot spring bath.

After a quick rinse, Yoon Chi-young carried Heeseong into the hot spring. The spring wasn’t very deep; the water reached Yoon Chi-young’s chest when he sat down.

Sitting on his lap, Heeseong leaned back comfortably against him. He was not used to such tranquility, having lived a life on constant alert.

Heeseong didn’t want to lose this peaceful moment either. Resting his head on Yoon Chi-young’s neck, he cautiously asked, “Hey, Yoon Chi-young…”

Instead of answering, Yoon Chi-young pressed his lips to Heeseong’s cheek and the nape of his neck, gazing down at him with a longing expression as if he had been waiting for this moment. Struggling with the affectionate kisses, Heeseong hesitated to ask the question he had in mind.

He wanted to ask about Yoon Chi-young’s past and what had happened with his father.

But it was clear that this was a sensitive topic for Yoon Chi-young. Given his current unstable state, provoking him might trigger a pheromone shock.

Eventually, Heeseong chose a different question, one he could bear not knowing the answer to for Yoon Chi-young’s sake.

“What will you do about Yang Hye-chan?”

They had obtained clues earlier about Yang Hye-chan’s collaboration with Park Geon-tae. Knowing Yoon Chi-young’s cunning nature, he would have already investigated these clues through his men. Heeseong was certain of this, given the increase in reports Yoon Chi-young had been receiving lately.

Yoon Chi-young, stroking Heeseong’s damp cheek, casually replied, “I have to make those who touched our puppy pay.”

“Will the leader let it slide?”

“Who knows…”

Yoon Chi-young smiled smoothly, wrapping his arms around Heeseong from behind and nibbling at his ear.

“It’s better if he interferes. It gives us an excuse to deal with him too.”

Heeseong looked at Yoon Chi-young’s calm smile, unable to hold his beautiful grey eyes for long, and looked away.

It felt strange. Even though Yoon Chi-young promised revenge, Heeseong wasn’t entirely thrilled or happy.

To put it bluntly, even if the target was his own sister, Yoon Chi-young was willing to ‘deal’ with her. Heeseong wished that Yoon Chi-young would not have to commit fratricide, not out of guilt, for if that were the case, Heeseong wouldn’t have considered revenge against Park Geon-tae at all.

He was more concerned about Yoon Chi-young suffering from harming his own family.

Both of their natures were akin to beasts, born with a strong instinct to protect and be with their pack. As evidence, despite knowing his parents had abandoned him, Heeseong couldn’t bring himself to hate them, which was troubling. While he felt no such affection for Park Geon-tae, who had betrayed him first, it was different for Yoon Chi-young, who, despite being a guardian, would surely suffer emotionally for considering his own sister an enemy.

“Yoon Chi-young.”

Heeseong whispered, holding Yoon Chi-young’s hand tightly underwater.

“Should we just… go away for a while, just the two of us?”

“Where to?”

“I don’t know.”

Even though he had suggested it, he couldn’t pin down where he wanted to go.

All Heeseong knew was that he didn’t want to push the currently unstable Yoon Chi-young towards revenge. He wished for both of them to be free from thoughts of vengeance, at least until they were in a better state.

“How about we take a break somewhere, just the two of us, away from everyone else?”

There was no reply, only the clear sound of water trickling in the hot spring. Heeseong felt Yoon Chi-young’s gaze on him but couldn’t meet his eyes, looking down instead.

After a while, Yoon Chi-young gently washed Heeseong’s white puppy ears and asked lazily, “What scared our puppy so much?”

“I didn’t say I was scared.”

Heeseong stubbornly retorted.

Seeing this, Yoon Chi-young quietly chuckled and nibbled at his ear. He knew the puppy struggled with expressing his emotions and seemed to understand the fear Heeseong was feeling.

Before one is stained with blood, fear is a common feeling, and having something precious makes one hesitate even more. Yoon Chi-young wanted to ask if Heeseong was cherishing him that much, but seeing the puppy’s serious, almost tearful expression, he held back.

“Puppy, do you know something?”

Yoon Chi-young decided to start with the most important fact.

“I’ve always wanted to spend a day at peace with the puppy.”

“What are you talking about… We are doing that.”

“No. You have nightmares every night.”

“…”

Heeseong looked up with a stunned expression.

He saw Yoon Chi-young reverted to his half-beast form, fangs bared, chewing on his red lips. The gray of his eyes was menacing. Heeseong knew this look among the wolf clan; it was the rage shown when their pack was threatened.

Why hadn’t he thought of it before?

To Yoon Chi-young, the pack he needed to protect wasn’t his family; it was Heeseong himself. This realization sent shivers down Heeseong’s spine.

“Our puppy whimpers every night, saying it doesn’t hurt, begging not to leave… How could I possibly sleep peacefully knowing you’re having such nightmares?”

Yoon Chi-young kissed him gently, his fangs brushing Heeseong’s delicate skin without leaving a mark. Even his whisper was sweet.

“Just wait for me.”

“…”

“After everything is settled, let’s go somewhere truly peaceful, where no one else is.”

Heeseong was forced to confront the reality he had been too scared to fully acknowledge. Ignoring the need for revenge and merely enduring wouldn’t change anything. He was left with only his nightmares and the sorrow of his unjust past.

With a somewhat composed gesture, Heeseong wiped his eyes. He felt like he finally understood what they needed to do as a pack. Being each other’s only family, they couldn’t afford to lose sight of their goals at crucial moments.

“Then, Yoon Chi-young.”

“Yes.”

Regaining his resolve, Heeseong offered one final compromise. Despite Yoon Chi-young’s gaze flickering with instability, Heeseong had something he desperately wanted to promise.

“Promise me… you won’t get hurt.”

“…”

“And that you won’t recklessly harm yourself like before, promise me, ah…!”

Before Heeseong could finish, Yoon Chi-young showered him with kisses, holding him as if he would never let go of his breath or his white body, caressing his soft flesh.

“Ah, stop…!”

Heeseong whimpered, touching Yoon Chi-young’s muscular arms that were bulging with tension. But Yoon Chi-young seemed to have lost half his sanity already. Every breath he took was accompanied by a low growl, frightening Heeseong, who splashed water around in panic. Yet, Yoon Chi-young held him close, pressing kisses to his white neck.

“Is that all you want me to promise? Really?”

“Ah, it hurts, ah…!”

“Of course, I can promise that. Of course…”

With those words, Yoon Chi-young gently lifted Heeseong. Caught off guard, Heeseong found himself helplessly pushed down, facing away from Yoon Chi-young, without even realizing his backside was exposed to him.

Not giving him a chance to react, Yoon Chi-young bit into his flushed backside, much like one would bite into a peach.

“Ah, huh!”

Startled, Heeseong’s tail shot up. As Yoon Chi-young’s tongue languidly explored between his legs, Heeseong’s tail stiffened, trembling at the tip. He hadn’t expected Yoon Chi-young to so thoroughly explore his most sensitive areas.

“Yeah, ah, why there… huh.”

Overwhelmed by both shame and a hazy pleasure, Heeseong’s legs gave way. But Yoon Chi-young supported Heeseong’s waist, continuing to ravage his sensitive spot with his tongue. Heeseong flushed deeply, gasping for air. He couldn’t focus due to the rich movements of Yoon Chi-young’s tongue, and the tension in his entrance gradually eased.

Yoon Chi-young then rose to stand behind Heeseong, stroking his own erect member before aligning it with Heeseong’s flushed entrance.

“Your entrance is so tight…”

“Don’t say that…”

“I want to thrust in right now.”

Yoon Chi-young growled with a suppressed voice, eager to bury his heavy shaft inside, trying to wedge even just the tip into the tight space. Frightened by its size, Heeseong felt a chill run down his spine. Even his white tail curled between his legs was pulled aside by Yoon Chi-young to expose him fully. Soon, Yoon Chi-young’s finger delved in, gently coaxing the soft inner walls to relax.

“Don’t just put it in… ah, haak!”

Fingers probed deeper, gently teasing the sensitive flesh. Heeseong’s strong retorts turned into broken moans. Yoon Chi-young growled deep in his throat at the sensitive response, then withdrew his fingers. Without the usual care to soothe his lover, the hefty tip pressed halfway into the yielding entrance.

“Ah, it’s too big…”

Heeseong tried to pull away, trembling. Each attempt to breach him sent waves of languid shivers through him.

Muscles outlined in tension, Yoon Chi-young pressed firmly at the junction. The warmth from the hot spring made the interior unusually welcoming, tightly wrapping around him. A long sigh escaped as blood rushed to his member, further engorging the already tense tip that teased Heeseong’s insides.

“Ah, why so tight, puppy.”

Yoon Chi-young slammed in forcefully, repeatedly grinding against Heeseong’s small backside. Heeseong sobbed, even reaching back to grasp his hand.

“Be gentle, gentle… ah! It feels weird…”

The more Heeseong pleaded, the more force Yoon Chi-young applied. He gazed down at his member engulfed by the peach-like buttocks as if he could taste it through the skin. The warm flesh seemed to gulp down his entirety, squeezing and stroking him perfectly.

Yoon Chi-young gripped the buttocks tightly, fixing the twitching white tail along with the waist. No thoughts crossed his mind, only a thirst to devour everything within this man, to fill him up completely.

What followed was a relentless pounding that made Heeseong lose his breath.

With each sharp thrust, Heeseong’s cries scattered into the air. Yoon Chi-young’s arms, strained with effort, clutched the slender waist. Only primal instincts remained within him, an urge to delve deeper into Heeseong, to fill him with his seed, ensuring only his presence within. With the intent to scrape away any trace of others, Yoon Chi-young stirred and scratched the inner walls with his glans.

“Ah, ah! Ah, ah…!”

Each time he thrust, lifting the flesh, Heeseong screamed in ecstasy. His own member was already erect, leaking sticky pre-cum. Yoon Chi-young mischievously smiled, roughly handling Heeseong’s member until it weakly ejaculated. Heeseong’s eyes brimmed with tears, trembling finely.

“Ah, that’s, ah… ah…”

Heeseong’s faint words were incomprehensible. Yoon Chi-young’s only desire was to pour his heat into Heeseong. A faint notion that this might be part of a pheromone shock, urging him to stop, crossed his mind, but his body was already gripping Heeseong tightly. Twisting the collapsing waist, he lifted Heeseong entirely.

“I hate this position.”

Losing the ground beneath his feet, Heeseong wrapped his legs around Yoon Chi-young’s waist, clinging to him instinctively. Yoon Chi-young lightly lifted Heeseong, drilling back in with his member. Adjusting the position to thrust up sharply a few times, Heeseong arched back, trembling finely with pleasure.

“Yoon Chi-young,… I… huh!”

“It’s okay, ah… it’s okay.”

“Don’t knot, stop getting bigger…”

Heeseong sobbed, clinging tightly. Yoon Chi-young understood his words, but the preparing knot swelled even larger. It felt as though an extra testicle was forming at the base of his shaft.

But he couldn’t stop. Grinding his fangs, Yoon Chi-young rubbed his member recklessly. Then Heeseong’s voice changed, no longer weakly pleading, but gasping as he clung to Yoon Chi-young’s thick shoulders and whispered, tightening around him.

“Ah, yeah… feels, good.”

Yoon Chi-young was spurred on by those words. The mere fact that Heeseong was accepting him brought immense satisfaction.

What followed was a blur. The sound of water and any subtle presence faded away. Yoon Chi-young hated himself for how violently he was shaking Heeseong, thrusting wildly as if using his body as a tool. The recoil from his solid lower abdomen forced Heeseong down onto him, his thigh muscles bulging as he did not stop until the climax.

“Ugh, hoo…”

With a final powerful thrust, his member swelled to lock its position, starting the knotting. Yoon Chi-young endured the painful pleasure by biting into Heeseong’s shoulder. Within his embrace, Heeseong couldn’t make a sound. His waist was tense and pale, trembling finely with each deep ejaculation from Yoon Chi-young. The cum splattered several times from the tip of his member.

“Puppy…”

After knotting, Yoon Chi-young sighed contentedly and sat beside him. For the next hour, his member would not detach. Heeseong, sobbing, clung to his shoulder, and Yoon Chi-young soothed him. He regretted that his member had grown too large but hoped that Heeseong would accept all of his cum. Yoon Chi-young smiled thinly, gently massaging Heeseong’s reddened backside.

“Why do you always have to go and… huh?”

Heeseong, sobbing, lifted his head. His reddened eyes and trembling puppy ears looked pitiful. Yoon Chi-young, having regained some sense, kissed Heeseong’s face tenderly, asking,

“Are you struggling? Should I pull out?”

“Just stay still. Ah…”

Heeseong’s waist was gently stroked over his member, which was still overly sensitive, making Heeseong almost scream. Even a slight touch filled him with intense pleasure.

Heeseong then clung to Yoon Chi-young as if he didn’t want to let go, exactly what Yoon Chi-young had hoped for.

“Don’t pull out. You, you’re so bad…”

Heeseong’s rough words were followed by him closing his eyes, seemingly passing out. Yoon Chi-young chuckled softly, gently biting Heeseong’s ear. Then, with a more serious expression, he shifted within Heeseong, securing the knotting.

Yoon Chi-young cherished Heeseong in his arms, finalizing the deep knotting. Though feeling refreshed, a thirst for Heeseong lingered. Yoon Chi-young realized he needed to hasten their revenge for both their sakes. Once was far from enough; his obsession with Heeseong only deepened.

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 2

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Swish…

Some time after Heeseong fell asleep, Yoon Chi-young, who had been sleeping with him on the bed, got up and left alone.

‘Where’s he going…?’

Heeseong thought absentmindedly, half-awake. However, his body was too exhausted to stop Yoon Chi-young. It was because he had been relentlessly tormented by Yoon Chi-young on the bed until he fell asleep.

Barely opening his eyes to look at the clock, it was one in the morning. Going out at this hour. Heeseong could guess what he had to do.

There was a high chance he was going to deal with Yang Hye-chan.

Heeseong got up from his spot in a disheveled state. Then, he blankly looked around the quiet surroundings. Without Yoon Chi-young, his mind was filled with thoughts of him. Disappearing while he was asleep like this. Heeseong was inwardly upset.

‘Does he not want to show me his side as a Watcher…?’

He already knew about Yoon Chi-young’s cruel aspects. Moreover, he knew what kind of work Watcher did, so he couldn’t understand why Yoon Chi-young was hiding it from him like that. Of course, it would be out of concern that Heeseong would be shocked… but Heeseong wished that as a pack, Yoon Chi-young wouldn’t conceal such matters. Rather, to Heeseong, Yoon Chi-young’s family was the more incomprehensible existence.

Feeling frustrated, Heeseong decided to go out and wait for Yoon Chi-young. Although he knew nothing serious would happen, he was still worried about him. Not worried that he would be harmed by the Clan Leader, but that he would be tormented by his own actions when he returned. No matter how he was, there was no way he would be okay after confronting and opposing his relatives. If Heeseong waited for him, it might provide some comfort.

“……”

Snow was still falling softly as he reached the front door. In his small puppy form, Heeseong blankly looked up at the night sky. In the past, he might have had gloomy thoughts like feeling there was no place for him in this world while gazing at the night sky. Now, his first thought was of Yoon Chi-young. He was concerned about him going out alone in the middle of the night.

‘Still, if he really loves me, he would show me everything…’

He hesitated, wondering if he should go look for Yoon Chi-young now. However, even that seemed unfeasible as it might interfere with Yoon Chi-young’s business. The puppy discontentedly looked ahead and tried making small pawprints in the snow piled up in front of the door. The sensation of the snow, cold enough to make him shiver, was immediately felt, making him lift his paw. As the night grew late, the temperature had dropped sharply, making it terribly cold even with a fur coat on.

Then, a shadow fell over the puppy’s body. Looking up in bewilderment, the puppy’s eyes widened.

‘Why did he come all the way here?’

Seeing the unexpected individual, the puppy froze like a small snowman.

In front of him was a familiar yet unfamiliar presence. It was the man Heeseong had seen at the meeting.

“What’s with this puppy… I thought it was a ball of tissues.”

It was Yoon Jin-young, Yoon Chi-young’s second older brother.

He was a sharp and stern-looking handsome man wearing glasses. His physique was half a hand’s width smaller than his younger brother Yoon Chi-young, and his tightly closed lips somehow seemed irritable. Perhaps his personality wasn’t very good either, as he was currently poking the puppy, smaller than his foot, with the top of his foot.

‘Oh, did this family sacrifice their humanity in exchange for being born with good looks?’

Heeseong, who had lived with a cannibalistic werewolf, wasn’t afraid of him, just annoyed. He thought he should treat him well on the surface since he was his lover’s brother, but he decided to just ignore him because he disliked his impolite behavior of pushing him with his foot and his sensitive-looking gray eyes.

When the puppy didn’t budge and just remained still, Yoon Jin-young grumbled fastidiously,

“What kind of puppy has no cuteness?”

‘What’s he on about?’

Heeseong pretended not to hear and casually scratched his ear with his hind leg. Seeing how it was itchy again, it seemed the time had come to ask Yoon Chi-young for a blissful ear cleaning. Come to think of it, even though his lover’s brother had come, Heeseong was only having such irrelevant thoughts.

Actually, Heeseong was distracted, not waiting for Yoon Chi-young. He kept looking around just in case, with a lingering feeling. Considering Yoon Chi-young’s personality, there was no way he would leave Heeseong in a dangerous environment, so it was strange that Yoon Jin-young had come this far.

As expected. Looking towards the entrance of the annex, he saw the organization members waiting with cautious expressions. Realizing he wasn’t alone, Heeseong felt relieved and tried to grasp the situation.

‘He must have entered forcibly, being stubborn.’

Looking closely at Yoon Jin-young’s face, he was definitely checking the reactions of the organization members standing behind him. He seemed to have received warnings from the organization members.

However, the organization members didn’t appear to be having much difficulty, just contemplating as they looked at Yoon Jin-young. Perhaps they were hesitating to forcibly drag him out because he was not only Yoon Chi-young’s brother but also a blood relative of the Clan Leader.

The organization members exchanged glances and showed Heeseong a single hand signal.

‘Weak.’

The puppy immediately understood why the organization members were troubled.

Yoon Chi-young’s organization members had quite a bit of decision-making power. Yoon Chi-young had such wise organization members by his side, and they had to have excellent judgment as they often judged other werewolves beside the Watcher. Perhaps they thought there would be little difference whether they forcibly stopped Yoon Jin-young or not, considering they let him in.

‘He’s also Yoon Chi-young’s brother, but he’s being mindful of his younger brother.’

Moreover, Yoon Jin-young couldn’t even properly talk to his younger brother at the meeting, and judging by his actions, it seemed he had many reservations about the Watcher. He would naturally be cautious in his actions as well.

‘I’ll just roughly stay as a puppy and send him away.’

Having reached a conclusion, Heeseong blankly looked ahead and waited only for Yoon Chi-young. The organization members also exchanged glances and returned to their waiting state. However, they were at a distance where they could rush to Heeseong at any time.

Perhaps Yoon Jin-young had come to meet his younger brother, but if there was only a single puppy, he might think it was a pet and just leave.

That would have been the case for a normal beastman. As expected, Yoon Chi-young’s brother was different.

“It’s cute… Should I raise it?”

Yelp…!

Yoon Jin-young swiftly lifted the puppy by the scruff of its neck. The startled puppy cried out as if screaming in pain. When Yoon Chi-young had gently carried him in his werewolf form, it didn’t hurt, but when this jerk suddenly grabbed and pulled the scruff of his neck, it felt like all the white fluff would be plucked out.

Yoon Jin-young examined the puppy, curled up in pain, by twirling it in midair, and grumbled crankily,

“Is this fully grown? How did they feed it for its belly to be so round?”

‘Fuc…king hell… I don’t want to transform into a human.’

The puppy thought, blinking back tears from the pain. Its small body curled up in a crescent shape, and its tail tucked between its legs.

Glaring at him as if to kill, Heeseong saw the organization members over Yoon Jin-young’s shoulder. They looked ready to rush over at any moment, but Heeseong shook his head to hold them back. If something went wrong, it might be revealed that he was Yoon Chi-young’s lover.

‘Just go away!’

It would be troublesome if Yoon Jin-young stayed like this when Heeseong thought he would leave after a bit. However, he didn’t want to transform into a human now. He also didn’t want it to be revealed that the small white puppy was the true form of the younger brother’s lover he had met at the gathering today. Heeseong wanted to appear to him as a reliable partner capable of taking responsibility for Yoon Chi-young.

Fortunately, Yoon Jin-young soon lowered Heeseong into his arms. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he rapidly examined the small head of the puppy trembling lean. He seemed quite pleased, not letting go of Heeseong from his hand.

“When it has puppies, I should ask for one too.”

‘They would be your nephew, would I even give them?’

While Yoon Jin-young had maintained proper decorum at the meeting, his actions behind the scenes were utterly childish. His behavior seemed like coveting his brother’s toy. Heeseong glared at Yoon Jin-young in annoyance, then glimpsed urgency in his sharp eyes behind his glasses. They were eyes he often saw in people cornered at the casino. Heeseong knew in his bones that he shouldn’t get involved with such people. They had the eyes of those who would surely cause trouble.

In the meantime, the softly falling snow had now piled up to the point where the puppy couldn’t walk alone. The puppy waited for a chance and attempted to escape from Yoon Jin-young’s arms a few times by jumping out, but it was easily caught and returned to his arms. As expected of brothers, Yoon Jin-young was terribly persistent just like Yoon Chi-young.

‘Argh!’

“Why do you keep trying to run away?”

Yoon Jin-young, who had spoken rudely, rummaged through his pocket and took out a plump beef jerky. A jerky as long as the puppy’s body was placed whole in front of Heeseong.

“Here. Try eating it.”

‘…He must see me as a simple puppy.’

Although it was a relief, Heeseong carefully examined the jerky packaging just in case. It could have had poison on it, and he disliked dog treats. Fortunately, Yoon Jin-young opened a new one right in front of him. After confirming it was for human snack use, Heeseong hesitated for a moment, then snatched the jerky and bit into it like a beast.

‘Enticing with food is the same.’

Heeseong had a personality of not rejecting what was given to him. Moreover, he happened to be hungry, so he ate the jerky deliciously. His teeth were small, so he kept dropping it while trying to chew properly, but a savory beef flavor rose in his mouth with each bite. It was even more delicious as it was a delicacy he couldn’t usually eat. Yoon Chi-young always fed him soft and finely cut pieces, so he occasionally craved something like this.

“It’s really eating it?”

‘Then should I pretend to eat it?’

Mumbling while chewing the jerky, Yoon Jin-young stroked the puppy as if he found it quite cute. His touch was rather delicate like Yoon Chi-young’s.

However, the feeling was a bit different. While Yoon Chi-young cherished each strand of white fluff, Yoon Jin-young kneaded the puppy as a whole as if enjoying a hand toy. It was unpleasant enough that the puppy occasionally bared its teeth and bit Yoon Jin-young’s fingers while chewing the jerky, as a warning.

Then, Yoon Jin-young, who had been fiddling with the tip of the puppy’s tail, asked offhandedly,

“Do you like quizzes?”

‘What’s he on about?’

The puppy ignored him, busy chewing the jerky. It was preoccupied with biting and tearing the jerky, holding it firmly with its front paws.

“I’ll give you a quiz. If you get it right, I’ll give you one more jerky.”

‘He’s also just saying whatever he wants, like Yoon Chi-young.’

While the puppy was thinking absentmindedly, Yoon Jin-young twirled the puppy’s short tail with his finger and said,

“It’s a quiz about a mad werewolf. Try guessing who that werewolf is.”

Crunch, the puppy cut the jerky with its small teeth, ignoring the quiz. Even while easily biting off small pieces, the conversation continued.

“Long ago, when a mad werewolf was born, his father isolated the werewolf and trained him.”

‘What kind of quiz is this supposed to be?’

“The training was difficult, but the mad werewolf had three close friends who gave him affection, promising to escape together and a future…”

Gulp

. The puppy finally swallowed a piece of the jerky. It was a slightly large piece, so it felt stuck in its throat. Unconcerned, the puppy busily chewed the jerky again. The story continued in Yoon Jin-young’s characteristic gentle voice.

“Actually, those friends were supervisors assigned by the father and greatly feared the mad werewolf. It’s a natural thing. After all, he was someone who periodically lost his mind and attacked others.”

“……?”

Sensing something strange, Heeseong put down the jerky and raised his head. Something felt déjà vu. The story of the mad werewolf and the harsh training. The father who tried to control him, and the despised werewolf….

It might be the story of Yoon Chi-young.

The puppy’s eyes fiercely narrowed, and one folded ear stood up sharply. It even dropped the jerky it had been holding in its mouth onto Yoon Jin-young’s lap.

Seeing that reaction as interesting, Yoon Jin-young held one of the puppy’s front paws as if shaking hands and spoke gleefully,

“So, when the friends tried to dispose of the mad werewolf to survive, the mad werewolf noticed and became enraged, biting off the friends’ arms and eating them. After becoming a Watcher, he even dethroned the father from the position of Clan Leader.”

“……”

“The friends he had known for 4 years and the parents who tried to correct him.”

‘…So what?’

Guessing it was Yoon Chi-young’s story, Heeseong felt angry as if it had happened to him. If he had been betrayed by the friends he had poured his heart and affection into, just as Heeseong had been betrayed by his brother… Everything would have felt futile. To the point of only thinking about revenge.

Then, pushing up his glasses, Yoon Jin-young asked mockingly,

“Now, who do you think that cannibalistic werewolf is?”

‘…Damn it.’

Heeseong finally understood Yoon Jin-young’s intentions.

Yoon Jin-young had known Heeseong’s true form from the beginning. Yet he treated him like a dog, enticing him with jerky, and arbitrarily revealed the past Yoon Chi-young had tried to hide.

It wasn’t the behavior one should show to their younger brother’s partner who had come. Heeseong’s face hardened with anger.

“Our new family member, I heard your true form is a very small puppy… Just the right size for Yoon Chi-young to carefreely give affection to.”

Yoon Jin-young spoke while poking the puppy with his fingertip as if handling something trivial. Heeseong glared at Yoon Jin-young as if to kill him, gritting his teeth. However, Yoon Jin-young just smiled brightly as if he found it quite cute. The siblings had similar smiles, but unlike Yoon Chi-young who was simply beautiful, his smile seemed somewhat arrogant.

For now, the puppy calmly used its head.

‘Why is he telling me such things?’

In any case, Heeseong wasn’t bothered at all even if he knew Yoon Chi-young was a cannibalistic werewolf. He had already guessed that Yoon Chi-young was likely a real cannibalistic werewolf. When he first saw him during the pheromone shock, he had been completely convinced.

‘Yoon Chi-young must have lived suffering from pheromone shock.’

His brother, who should have been a supportive figure, had come to spread rumors about such a tragic incident first and even came to disparage his younger brother’s lover. Heeseong felt genuinely disgusted by him. In front of his younger brother, the Watcher, he couldn’t even properly speak out of fear, yet he went around badmouthing him behind his back like this. Heeseong had seen many such two-faced people at the casino. People who deceived and lured others, revealing their true colors in front of money. They were the type Heeseong never wanted to get involved with.

Unaware of Heeseong’s turned heart, Yoon Jin-young brought the jerky the puppy had dropped back to its mouth. This time, the puppy didn’t even glance at the jerky and pushed it away, hopping down from his lap onto the floor. It no longer wanted to converse with Yoon Jin-young.

“You might also get eaten soon.”

Did he come all the way here just to make such a threat? The puppy turned to look at Yoon Jin-young, fully revealing its dumbfounded expression.

A mere threat was nothing to Heeseong, who had been through all sorts of things at the casino. Moreover, he knew how to uniquely release Yoon Chi-young’s pheromones and return him to normal, so it wasn’t particularly scary. If he had truly been afraid of the cannibalistic werewolf, Heeseong would have run away from Yoon Chi-young’s side long ago.

Feeling it wasn’t even worth conversing anymore, the puppy turned around to enter the room.

Thud.

At that moment, Yoon Jin-young dropped something in front of the puppy. It wasn’t jerky like before, but a thick envelope of money.

“I’m not expecting much from a puppy.”

“……”

“Unlike the crazy werewolf, as long as it’s someone I can somewhat communicate with…”

As he spoke, he pushed the money envelope closer. The contents seemed quite hefty. Following its interest, the puppy’s tail stood up high, and one ear twitched.

Heeseong sat in place for now. He decided to listen to him a bit more.

Smiling satisfactorily, Yoon Jin-young spoke as if doing a favor.

“From now on, just report to me periodically about Yoon Chi-young’s activities and whether the family is monitoring him.”

‘…He wants me to be his snitch?’

So he had come to entice him. Heeseong finally understood precisely why Yoon Jin-young had come. The puppy’s eyes turned triangular.

‘Does this jerk think I look that easy?’

Actually, it made sense. After all, Heeseong was the closest to the Watcher and a penniless puppy. He looked like an easy target to entice with money to anyone.

Moreover, considering he knew Heeseong’s true form, he seemed to have gathered quite a bit of information. It meant he knew how to use his head that much. Heeseong thought this guy was also a purebred werewolf.

The puppy fell into contemplation for a moment. That appearance was fully revealed in the action of rolling its black eyes. The puppy flicked its tail once and slightly lifted the opening of the money envelope with its front paw to check the amount. Inside, yellow 50,000 won bills were tightly packed.

20 million won.

Having lived at the casino, Heeseong gauged the amount with a single glance. Without even a change in expression.

Then, rolling its eyeballs slightly, it glanced to the side. It saw Yoon Jin-young impatiently tapping his knee with his finger. Moreover, looking at his expression above that, Yoon Jin-young was nervously observing Heeseong’s reaction.

Heeseong fully utilized his 5 years of experience working at the casino.

I have the upper hand in this game.

The puppy, having reached a conclusion, immediately showed a reaction.

Thud.

As if displeased, the puppy pushed the money envelope with its front paw. It even turned its head away and lay sprawled on its side. As if baring its pink belly.

In the humiliating situation, Yoon Jin-young gritted his teeth. It was terribly embarrassing for him to be negotiating with a one-day puppy among the puppys.

Still, it was the lover the Watcher had brought to a formal meeting for the first time. Moreover, Yoon Jin-young desperately needed a snitch because he had been secretly using the werewolf clan’s funds. He had to avoid the Watcher’s eyes at all costs.

Yoon Jin-young started enticing the puppy again.

“…I’ll add a bit more and give you an extra 200 each time you provide information.”

To those words, the puppy showed only one reaction. It wagged its short tail once as if interested.

“A mere puppy…”

Yoon Jin-young glared at the puppy, raising the veins on his sensitive face and neck. The fist-sized thing had an immense greed for money. He wanted to threaten the puppy, but then the tiny thing might get scared and scurry away to report to the Watcher. Yoon Jin-young had to prepare somehow, as much as he feared the Watcher.

“…I’ll give you double now and hand over 500 each time you provide information.”

Thud

. Another thick envelope of money was placed in front of the puppy. Now the thickness was about the size of the puppy’s body.

The puppy, which had been agonizing, slightly raised its head to gauge the amount and seemed to have made a decision.

Woof!

The puppy nodded its head and, as a sign of the contract, pressed its damp nose bridge once on the back of Yoon Jin-young’s hand. It was a sign of trust commonly used among beastmen.

Barely catching his breath, Yoon Jin-young smiled, subtly revealing his fangs. As expected, it was easy to persuade a rootless mutt. There was no way enticement with money wouldn’t work.

“…Contact me at the number written on the envelope. Make sure to do it once every half month.”

Woof.

The puppy, answering halfheartedly, bit one of the money envelopes and dragged it into the house. Yoon Jin-young looked at the sight as if dumbfounded. The tiny thing was quite clever.

However, regardless of how the other party viewed it, the puppy calmly moved the rest of the money envelopes and barked once at Yoon Jin-young as if telling him to get lost now.

Woof!

“Right now, we just happened to run into each other and had a simple exchange of greetings.”

The puppy nodded as if telling him not to worry.

Its expression looked sullen, but its tail was rapidly wagging. It was clearly a serious deal, but Yoon Jin-young didn’t like that excited-looking tail at all.

As a final sign of threat, Yoon Jin-young locked eyes with the puppy for a long time. In the wild, making eye contact meant a challenge and threat. Since it was a small puppy, he expected it to be easily overpowered and show its tail between its legs.

“Remember that the Watcher is most sensitive to betrayal.”

It meant its life would be in danger if this matter was discovered.

However, even at the quiet words, the puppy scratched its folded ear with its hind leg again and ran into the room.

Yoon Jin-young turned around, feeling somewhat deflated. Still, it was fortunate that he could plant a snitch next to the Watcher.

‘…Even if the Watcher finds out, that traitorous dog bastard will be taken care of.’

In any case, Yoon Jin-young was in a position that couldn’t be easily touched as a blood relative of the Clan Leader. Having a backup was a huge gain. Although he was at a loss because the budget was larger than expected….

Still, he would somehow avoid the Watcher’s annoying eyes. Yoon Jin-young left the courtyard quietly, feeling reassured. Footprints formed on the snow with each of his steps.

***

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 3

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Heeseong went inside and transformed into his human form.

Rising with a smooth, bare white body, Heeseong quickly put on a white nightgown. His expression looked rushed yet quite excited. After inserting his recklessly wagging tail into the tail hole of the nightgown, Heeseong squatted in front of the living room table and counted the amount of money again.

’40 million won…!’

He finally had some money.

It was an amount he would have had to work tightly at the casino for over a year to earn. Heeseong busily wagged his white tail as he counted the 40 million won over and over. He was happy and reassured to finally have some funds.

At that moment, the organization members who had seen Yoon Jin-young leave came looking for Heeseong. The two members checked if the puppy was alright, and upon seeing him handling a large sum, asked in surprise,

“Where did this money come from?”

“Yoon Chi-young’s brother gave it to me.”

The members’ faces hardened. They knew Yoon Jin-young wasn’t the type to take a loss and that he was the kind to cunningly scheme. If he had handed money to the young and pure Heeseong, there must have been a condition.

Worried, Ji Young-bae examined the puppy with suspicious eyes and asked,

“Did you perhaps make a deal?”

Heeseong nodded as if it were obvious and neatly divided the money into 5 million won stacks. He had an attitude of not caring about the members at all.

“I agreed to monitor Yoon Chi-young’s activities and periodically pass on information to him.”

At Heeseong’s excited words, Ji Young-bae’s face turned ashen.

He knew the Watcher’s tendencies better than anyone as he followed him. The Watcher was particularly merciless when it came to betrayal. That’s why he had to save the innocent puppy.

For the first time, Ji Young-bae spoke to Heeseong with strict eyes.

“Do you know that’s an act of betraying the director?”

“……?”

Heeseong’s hand, which had been rapidly counting the money, stopped.

Finally laying his puppy ears back, Heeseong raised his head. His round, black eyes were slightly furrowed as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.

Heeseong spoke, delinquently twitching one ear.

“Young-bae

hyung

. I’m going to use this money to buy Yoon Chi-young something delicious.”

“But the money was obtained by selling the director’s information through the current deal…”

Heeseong cut him off as if it were absurd.

“I collected it.”

“……”

“Yoon Chi-young will like it too, since he now has a real excuse to deal with his brother and also got money, right?”

The puppy, who had gotten up from his spot, put the neatly organized money in the annex’s safe. He didn’t forget to prevent the members from seeing the password settings. Although his true form was clearly a puppy, he had an attitude of having handled a lot of money before. It was natural, considering he had worked at the casino.

The members looked at him somewhat unfamiliarly but refrained from saying anything more for now. As those who moved alongside the Watcher, they could tolerate the puppy’s delinquent behavior.

Still, Ji Young-bae asked about the part that worried him the most, in case Heeseong faced any repercussions.

“How did you leave evidence of the contract?”

“I pressed my nose bridge.”

Ji Young-bae nodded as if that was enough. It was a verbal contract. In that case, even if Heeseong gulped down the money, the other party couldn’t touch Heeseong and would have nothing to say. They would only have to be more mindful of the Watcher. It seemed Yoon Jin-young hadn’t left proper evidence of the contract because he was too wary of the Watcher.

Then, checking the late hour, Heeseong led the way ahead of the members.

“

Hyung

. Let’s go find Yoon Chi-young. The time is already too late.”

Heeseong spoke while getting dressed. Behind him, Ji Young-bae looked at him with complex feelings and spoke as if resigned.

“You two really suit each other well.”

“……”

The puppy turned around with a face as if he had heard a curse. Ji Young-bae stood there with his usual heavy, expressionless face. He couldn’t carelessly reveal his expressions to the clever puppy.

Fortunately, the puppy, who had acquired a sum of money as thick as his own body, quickly shifted his attention elsewhere.

“What does Yoon Chi-young like? Is it gold?”

Heeseong asked chattily, sticking close to another member. On top of the footprints where Yoon Jin-young had walked away reassured, Heeseong’s much smaller footprints were imprinted again. It was yet another victory for Yoon Chi-young, who had been quietly waiting.

***

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 4

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Unlike Heeseong’s worries, Yoon Chi-young was having a pleasant time.

“So? What did the puppy say?”

Leaning sideways against a display cabinet, Yoon Chi-young asked in an expectant voice. In the dimly lit reception room, with only mood lights on in the distance, he stood with his back to the light. However, his excited gray eyes, like those of a child, were clearly visible, and behind him, the organization members who followed the Watcher stood in the darkness. It was a fearsome situation where a werewolf who knew the Watcher’s duties would hardly guarantee their life.

Then, the man who was sitting crumpled on the reception room sofa spoke haltingly,

“Wh-when I said, I, I would ne-never sleep with you… He didn’t even make eye contact and… fr-frowned.”

It was Yang Hye-chan. He was trembling severely and couldn’t raise his head. With a pale face and stuttering speech, he looked pitiful. At least if the Clan Leader hadn’t been beside him, he wouldn’t have been able to speak like this.

In front of him, Yoon Chi-young asked with his palm on his mouth, like an excited boy.

“Was it jealousy after all? Did it seem like jealousy?”

“Ugh…”

“It must be jealousy. You told him first that you had briefly met me, right?”

Yoon Chi-young treated him with an attitude full of anticipation, as if talking about a lover with an old friend.

However, Yang Hye-chan was in no state to have a proper conversation. For him, Yoon Chi-young’s existence was trauma itself. The memory of the pitch-black beast tearing off his right arm like a cotton doll in the past was so terrible that he constantly suffered from nightmares.

Yang Hye-chan trembled helplessly. Before he knew it, he had reverted to his half-beast state, revealing wolf ears on his blond hair, and his long tail below his waist tightly wrapped around his thigh.

“So? What did the puppy say while throwing a drink at you?”

“…Th-that, since he’s your guardian… n-not to touch you….”

“Guardian… He said guardian. Kuk kuk kuk. The shabby puppy says he’ll be my guardian.”

Yoon Chi-young laughed as if ticklish, lowering his head. Unable to hide his happiness, he repeated the word “guardian” while shyly covering his cheeks. He didn’t even pay attention to Yang Hye-chan, who was waiting for his disposal with a pale face.

Unable to bear it any longer, another voice intervened from the side.

“Yoon Chi-young. That’s enough.”

“……”

It was Yoon Geon-young, who had been holding Yang Hye-chan’s hand the whole time. The corners of Yoon Chi-young’s mouth, which had been wearing a delightful smile, slowly sank.

This time, Yoon Chi-young’s gaze turned to the Clan Leader. His smile had turned cold.

“Sis… Did you forget?”

He warned, tilting his head insensitively.

“The Clan Leader cannot interfere with the Watcher’s affairs without a valid reason.”

“What you’re doing now is not the Watcher’s job.”

“Why not? It’s related to my guardian, whom Yang Hye-chan tried to kill.”

It was an attitude that made it unclear whether he was being sarcastic or joking. The Clan Leader just kept her seat expressionlessly without answering. She already knew that Yang Hye-chan was guilty. It was clearly an unfavorable situation for the Clan Leader. If she made a mistake, even the Clan Leader could be interrogated by the Watcher.

However, the Clan Leader did not leave Yang Hye-chan’s side.

“Interrogate me instead.”

Rather, as if protecting Yang Hye-chan, she confronted the Watcher with a stern face.

“What the…”

Seeing that, Yoon Chi-young stared at her with eyes devoid of any particular emotion, then smiled and asked as if it were a novelty.

“Sis… You two have been sticking together so much, have you really developed feelings for each other?”

“…Don’t speak recklessly.”

“You’re really protecting him. Ah… I’m sick and tired of always being the villain.”

With just a few words, Yoon Chi-young grasped his sister’s true feelings. If his calculating sister, obsessed with the position of Clan Leader, acted so irrationally, there could only be an emotional reason.

It was both pleasing and strange. All his life, Yoon Chi-young thought his sister, unlike him, was upright and wise, which was why she had become the Clan Leader. But as expected of siblings, they had something in common. His sister, like him, was also willing to break the rules to protect her lover.

Yoon Chi-young spoke teasingly with a smile.

“Come to think of it… Yang Hye-chan did listen well to you, right? I heard you even put a collar on him in bed now. I guess it’s true?”

“Rolling around with a mongrel…”

The Clan Leader spoke sternly, baring her teeth. However, Yoon Chi-young just laughed as if he found it quite fun.

Until now, the Clan Leader and Yang Hye-chan had been nothing more than a cooperative relationship to Yoon Chi-young. They both hated him and were desperate to kill him.

In the past, Yoon Chi-young had dethroned the previous Clan Leader, his father, from his position. For his sister, who respected their father, that alone was enough to hold a grudge against him. Moreover, Yoon Chi-young was too powerful as a Watcher. He was bound to be a thorn in her side.

To Yang Hye-chan, he was the enemy who had ruined the life of his only brother. That’s why when his calculating sister said she was meeting Yang Hye-chan, Yoon Chi-young had long noticed that their purpose was his life.

Knowing the reasons they were after his life, Yoon Chi-young was fine with them threatening him. Even if they developed real feelings for each other and got married in the process, he didn’t care.

However, he absolutely could not forgive them for trying to touch the innocent puppy.

Yoon Chi-young took out a cell phone from his pocket and said,

“With evidence, will it be okay? The risk will be high.”

“……”

Seeing the evidence, the Clan Leader’s face noticeably hardened. It was a rare sight.

The cell phone was Yang Hye-chan’s, nothing more than an ordinary prepaid phone. However, if Yang Hye-chan, who had clumsily committed a crime, had used it, it was a different story. It had become a piece of evidence on which someone’s life depended.

Yoon Chi-young carefully examined the cell phone with a smiling face.

“But fortunately…”

Yoon Chi-young muttered while swiping his hair back and touching the phone screen.

“He didn’t try to feed poison to our puppy… didn’t get him drunk and push him off the railing. Didn’t try to lure him to bed and stab him with a knife.”

“……”

“Our puppy kind of hates knives, you know. He’s been quite afraid of them since getting stabbed once.”

Yoon Chi-young rambled nonchalantly about the things he had almost experienced, only worrying about the puppy. In the past, Heeseong had been stabbed in the thigh with a knife, so he was afraid of sharp knives. Once, he saw a blade larger than his puppy body and froze, unable to eat for a while.

Anyway, there was no direct threat to Heeseong’s life, so Yoon Chi-young was going to let it slide that Yang Hye-chan had simply picked a fight with Heeseong.

That was before he discovered his contact with the puppy casino.

“This is also the puppy casino. Casino… I think he underestimated the puppy too much….”

Yoon Chi-young muttered while checking the cell phone. It had taken quite some time to find, but since the places Yang Hye-chan could hide it were all the same, he just needed an opportunity.

There wasn’t much content. Just a text message notifying that Yang Hye-chan had made a deposit. Checking the account, the amount was paltry. Yoon Chi-young sighed and dropped the cell phone with a thud.

“Our puppy’s life was only worth 10 million won?”

He stared at Yang Hye-chan, muttering dejectedly. Yang Hye-chan hid his bitten right hand in his arms and kept breathing unstably. He knew what would happen to him next. The Watcher might bite off his heart this time.

Even seeing his fear, Yoon Chi-young just recited as if he found it quite disappointing.

“That’s too much… Even though you know he’s a precious existence to me.”

“……”

“What… Did you want to experience the same pain, thinking of doing it with such a sloppy idea?”

Asking, Yoon Chi-young giggled as if he found it funny. His nasty personality of deliberately cornering and insulting Yang Hye-chan was quite despicable. However, if Heeseong had been even slightly hurt, Yoon Chi-young would have killed Yang Hye-chan without any such playfulness.

But then, at that blatant ridicule, Yang Hye-chan finally showed a reaction.

He raised his head, trembling lean. It was a delicate face that seemed to have lived a life without doing any rough work. Even being shocked by such words, his trembling appearance only seemed immature to Yoon Chi-young.

“You, now…”

Yang Hye-chan glared at Yoon Chi-young with trembling eyes. As much as he wanted to kill Yoon Chi-young, although he was pale with fear, his eyes were filled with hatred.

“Do you think what you did to drive my brother crazy… is the same as that?”

“……”

“You…!”

Yang Hye-chan swallowed his words with a gasp, as if he was out of breath. It was a pitiful sight. Yoon Chi-young stared at Yang Hye-chan with a face devoid of any particular emotion, standing askew. He now spoke through gritted teeth with a face a mess with tears.

“How can you liken the acts of ruining my brother’s life to being the same as that mongrel?”

“Ah…”

Yoon Chi-young let out a quiet exclamation, furrowing his beautiful brows. He sighed regretfully, tilting his head, and tossed the cell phone he had been holding onto the nearby sofa.

“A mere mongrel?”

Yoon Chi-young repeated it, thinking it was an absurd phrase. How could Heeseong be defined with such words? That fist-sized existence was now his everything.

Staring blankly into the air with gray eyes, Yoon Chi-young smiled casually. Suddenly, he understood with what kind of feelings Yang Hye-chan had hated him and wanted to kill him.

Just as the puppy was the only existence for him, for Yang Hye-chan, it was only his brother. Thinking about that, it made sense for him to say such stupid things. That didn’t mean he regretted nearly killing his brother in the past, though.

As Yoon Chi-young showed no particular reaction, Yang Hye-chan spoke haltingly with hatred.

“If, if you hadn’t eaten my, my brother’s limbs… At least my brother could have lived without becoming a cr-cripple.”

“……”

“If it weren’t for you… my brother could have become the Watcher.”

“Hmm…”

Yoon Chi-young slowly nodded, letting out a quiet exclamation. It wasn’t that he was tormented by guilt or anything; his attitude was rather nonchalant, as if he had even forgotten that memory.

He now understood Yang Hye-chan’s feelings.

However, even so, Yoon Chi-young had never regretted the past. Because from the beginning, he had no choice.

“I know. If it weren’t for me, your brother really would have become the Watcher. Then it would have been easier for you to act as the Clan Leader….”

Belatedly, Yoon Chi-young smiled as if it couldn’t be helped, gazing into the distance.

He lifted his back from the display cabinet he had been leaning against and quickly glanced at his wristwatch. Time had been delayed more than expected while talking about Yang Hye-chan and the puppy. It was about time to return to the puppy, who would be falling asleep alone. He, too, was getting hotter as he failed to restrain his pheromones.

Having sorted out his leisurely thoughts, Yoon Chi-young spoke casually.

“But what can we do? He got eaten by me because he did something stupid.”

“You…!”

“You also ended up like this because you did something stupid… Anyway, it’s true that it was done out of simple grudge.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young received something from the organization member standing in the darkness. It was a knife. The eerie gray blade flashed.

“Let’s finish this quickly. Our puppy might cry if he wakes up and sees I’m not there.”

Yoon Chi-young gripped the knife, speaking of trivial worries. He skillfully twirled the sharp blade in his hand as he moved towards the target.

“St-stay away… Get lost, aaargh, aaaah!”

Yang Hye-chan screamed as if having a seizure. The boiling screams pierced the ears even though nothing had been done yet.

With his senses already heightened due to the accumulated pheromones, Yoon Chi-young frowned and tightly gripped the knife. He thought he should deal with it quickly, if only because of those screams.

Yoon Geon-young stood in front of Yoon Chi-young as if pushing him away.

“Yoon Chi-young. Don’t go too far.”

“Too far?”

Yoon Chi-young was no longer smiling. With bloodshot and reddened eyes, his gaze was beastly. Having already reverted to his half-beast state, he gritted his fangs and spoke to his sister who blocked him, as if in warning.

“Yang Hye-chan tried to kill an innocent puppy. If someone tries to kill, they should at least be prepared to die, shouldn’t they?”

“I, I….”

As if he had something he wanted to say, Yang Hye-chan stammered and opened his mouth. However, when his eyes met Yoon Chi-young’s, his mouth stiffened and he couldn’t utter a word. In the end, Yoon Geon-young spoke in a calm yet firm tone, keeping Yang Hye-chan behind her.

“…Let’s negotiate.”

“We are negotiating. I just need Yang Hye-chan’s life.”

“I’ll offer a different price.”

Yoon Geon-young looked calmer than ever. She held Yang Hye-chan’s hand behind her back until the end. However, Yoon Chi-young knew how much his upright sister had lowered herself and come forward just by mentioning a price to him now.

Yoon Geon-young spoke, unable to hide the tension in her trembling gray eyes.

“If you let this matter go and marry that puppy… I will never confront you as the Clan Leader again.”

“……”

It was a shocking statement. The Clan Leader saying she wouldn’t confront the Watcher meant she would hand over control of the clan to some extent.

Moreover, his proud sister was suggesting a negotiation to Yoon Chi-young for the first time. It was an unimaginable sight just a few years ago.

However, the condition his sister presented was ridiculous. Marriage with another race. Yoon Chi-young let out a hollow laugh.

“Haha….”

Although it was clearly a bright laughter, it echoed spine-chillingly in the dim space. Yoon Chi-young loosened his grip on the knife-wielding hand and casually wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Yoon Geon-young stared at the Watcher, whom she couldn’t control at all, with expressionless and sharp eyes.

At the end of his laughter, Yoon Chi-young spoke softly.

“Sis… Is that a negotiation? You proposed it thinking I would become docile if you married me off to another race….”

The Clan Leader stood with a stiff face even after having her intentions seen through. That meant she was unusually tense.

Now Yoon Chi-young couldn’t understand why the Clan Leader was protecting Yang Hye-chan, who had nothing but a weak and specious appearance, to this extent. Not confronting him as the Clan Leader. It was quite a good condition for him too. It was a statement that discarded all of the Clan Leader’s pride.

However, it was never a condition equal to Heeseong’s life. Yoon Chi-young laughed long as if he would die of joy.

“I’m sparing a life here. Then you should have at least stated a condition our puppy would find acceptable.”

At the casual question, cracks formed on the Clan Leader’s hardened face. Her sharp and keen gaze crumbled, and her brows fiercely furrowed. As the tension loosened in dismay, hatred even swirled in her eyes looking at her brother, perhaps because anger had risen.

“Are you opposing me this much just because of that one puppy?”

“Then what other reason would there be?”

Yoon Chi-young asked back as if he couldn’t understand at all.

For him, killing Yang Hye-chan was a natural thing to do, and the sight of the Clan Leader even putting forth a negotiation because of that was simply absurd.

However, that attitude enraged the Clan Leader.

“No matter how I look at it, you are unfit to be the Watcher.”

The Clan Leader instantly twisted Yoon Chi-young’s arm holding the knife upward and pushed him away.

“Even when you dethroned Father from the position of Clan Leader, you didn’t act for the sake of our clan because of your own grudge.”

At the surprise attack, Yoon Chi-young’s body was roughly pushed against the wall. Yoon Chi-young had his back slammed against the smooth marble and even had the knife taken away by the Clan Leader. It was a perfect suppression technique. It was possible because the Clan Leader, like Yoon Chi-young, had grown up receiving rigorous training.

“Step down from the position of Watcher.”

“……”

A tense atmosphere hung in the reception room. Yoon Chi-young’s organization members tried to close the distance but couldn’t recklessly intervene. The knife was pointed at Yoon Chi-young’s throat.

The sharp tip of the knife touched his neck, causing blood to flow thinly. Even so, Yoon Chi-young maintained an expressionless face rather than showing any tension. He just found it curious that his sister had come at him like this. She attacked first even though she was at a disadvantage in hand-to-hand combat.

However, the side that acted without fear always tended to gain the upper hand over the wise one.

“Sis….”

Yoon Chi-young, who called out her name with a sigh, grabbed the blade of the knife Yoon Geon-young was holding.

Yoon Geon-young’s eyes widened in surprise at the action. Blood flowing from Yoon Chi-young’s hand trickled down his wrist and stained even Yoon Geon-young’s hand red.

“How can I step down from the position of Watcher?”

Yoon Chi-young spoke in a calm but lowly cracked voice. The unwavering gaze within his tired-looking face seemed decadent. He simply spoke sarcastically, unable to understand his sister who had taken the position of Clan Leader he had dreamed of. For Yoon Chi-young, who had been robbed of an ordinary life since childhood, the position of Watcher was now an irreversible past and regret.

“If I were going to do that, I wouldn’t have killed anyone or engaged in cannibalism.”

“Ugh…!”

Yoon Chi-young tripped the Clan Leader’s leg.

Mounting the body of the Clan Leader lying on the ground with her back down, Yoon Chi-young pointed the knife at his sister in reverse.

He had managed to point the knife again, but the situation wasn’t good. The bleeding from Yoon Chi-young’s palm was getting severe. The blood that flowed and dripped from his hand gradually stained Yoon Geon-young’s neck red. The blood looked as if it was flowing from his sister’s neck. At the fishy smell of blood, even Yoon Geon-young breathed roughly, unable to hide her tension.

However, Yoon Chi-young asked without even paying attention to his own injury.

“Shall we go over the terms of the contract we mentioned earlier?”

But he couldn’t continue speaking for long. He felt Yang Hye-chan’s gaze, who had been crouching frightened on the side, turning somewhere else.

Yoon Chi-young had keen senses. Sensing something, he looked towards the reception room entrance with hardened eyes.

“……”

As Yoon Chi-young turned around, he saw someone wearing a thick coat.

Although he was hiding in the shadows, Yoon Chi-young’s keen eyes could see the man’s shocked gaze, his white ears laid back, and his steps faltering backward.

“Puppy….”

“……”

It was Heeseong.

When on earth had he come? The expression disappeared for the first time from Yoon Chi-young’s face, which had been leisurely all along.

“Ah….”

Yoon Chi-young lowered his gaze, finely trembling his pupils. The terrible sight Heeseong had just witnessed came into view.

Himself pointing a knife at his sister.

The blood flowing from his hand drenched Yoon Geon-young’s neck, making it look as if he had tried to kill his family. Next to that, even Yang Hye-chan, trembling in fear as if having a seizure, seemed like his own karma.

Yoon Chi-young felt as if the world was turning white before his eyes. He had shown Heeseong the appearance he should never have been caught in.

“Puppy… I, I. I mean.”

“……”

Plop.

Yoon Chi-young dropped the knife to the floor and stood facing Heeseong, forgetting the situation he was in. He turned his back on the Clan Leader. He tried to smile awkwardly and defuse the situation, but Heeseong’s large, black pupils were already trembling finely, filled with fear.

Until now, Yoon Chi-young had already shown Heeseong many of his cruel aspects. But the puppy hadn’t even blinked an eye.

There was one thing that Heeseong couldn’t accept. It was internecine strife.

Last time, when Yoon Chi-young had dealt with his relatives and came back reeking of blood, the puppy had been so shocked that he couldn’t even make eye contact and hiccuped. Knowing that Heeseong had already been betrayed and hurt by his brother who was like family, Yoon Chi-young had tried to hide at least that cruel appearance.

But he had shown himself pointing a knife at his sister in the same way.

“It’s not the situation you think, puppy. I, I was trying to negotiate….”

“…Yoon Chi-young.”

Heeseong raised his head with a stiff face. Although he was much smaller in stature and could have felt threatened in this situation, his gaze seemed much firmer than before. As if he had made up his mind about something.

Yoon Chi-young knew that although Heeseong had grown up as a fighting dog, he had an upright heart. He also knew that Heeseong greatly abhorred those who committed cowardly crimes.

“You don’t need to… make excuses to me.”

“……”

At the resolute words, Yoon Chi-young’s face became hurt. It was completely different from how he treated Yang Hye-chan. Yoon Chi-young’s diluted gaze was crumbling as if he would cry.

“…Why?”

Blood kept flowing from his clenched fist. Perhaps because he had lost too much blood, Yoon Chi-young’s body staggered as he approached Heeseong. Heeseong watched Yoon Chi-young without even backing away, his eyes hardened.

Soon, Heeseong spoke in a weakly trembling voice, looking at the floor somewhere.

“I’m going to… anyway.”

Before he could finish his words.

“You have to pay the price too.”

An angry voice intervened from behind. At the same time, Yoon Chi-young, his eyes hardening, hastily pulled Heeseong into his arms.

Squelch.

A knife plunged into Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder. Yang Hye-chan seemed surprised that he had stabbed Yoon Chi-young, trembling and staggering backward. Heeseong looked at the knife stuck in Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder as if it were unreal.

“You…!”

Heeseong supported Yoon Chi-young’s staggering body with wide-open eyes in surprise. The hot blood flowed and wet Heeseong’s hands that wrapped around his back. To Heeseong, who somehow held his body, Yoon Chi-young asked in a hurt, trembling voice,

“Do I really… not need to make excuses?”

Without even waiting for an answer, Yoon Chi-young felt a change in his body. The beastman’s body couldn’t endure the injury.

Gradually, long fangs protruded in his mouth. They were long and sharp beast’s teeth that pierced Yoon Chi-young’s lips. Along with the blackly growing claws, Yoon Chi-young felt his vision turning red and his reason dimming.

The pheromone shock was coming.

His body was turning into a black wolf, losing its reason. The situation was dangerous. With his breath already rough and black claws growing long, Yoon Chi-young spoke to the organization members as he handed Heeseong over.

“Take… Heeseong away right now.”

“Yoon Chi-young, get a hold of yourself!”

Heeseong spoke desperately, trying to stop the bleeding. However, the organization members quickly left the scene, forcibly taking Heeseong away as per Yoon Chi-young’s orders. Under the dim lighting, Heeseong could be seen gritting his teeth with a face that looked like he would cry. Yoon Chi-young took in that expression of Heeseong’s beyond his dizzy vision. Hoping the puppy would be safe when he woke up again.

***

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 5

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

As a young child, Yoon Chi-young was very happy.

Born as the fourth of five werewolf siblings, Yoon Chi-young’s earliest life memory was of mingling and playing with his fluffy siblings.

They would chase each other’s tails, play hunting games, and have tug-of-war with dolls. The victor was always either Yoon Chi-young or occasionally his older sister, Yoon Geon-young. Adults praised Yoon Chi-young and Yoon Geon-young as the next clan leader candidates, saying they were born with it.

〈As expected, Geon-yeong and Chi-young were born with strong pheromones, so they’re growing fast.〉

〈Then am I similar to my older sister?〉

As a child, Yoon Chi-young was simply happy to be told he resembled his sister. To Yoon Chi-young, his sister was a friendly rival, a friend, and a trustworthy family member. All the siblings felt the same way, so the five wolf pups got along well without any sense of competition, caring for each other.

Among them, Yoon Geon-young was calm and intelligent from a young age.

〈From now on, don’t leave my side and be careful. As the Clan Leader’s children, we can be attacked at any time.〉

〈Why…?〉

At the eldest sister’s words, the second oldest, Yoon Jin-young, shrank back, curling his tail and asking. The other siblings also gathered around, fluff pressed together, and listened intently to their eldest sister’s words.

〈The faction opposing the Clan Leader, aiming for the position, might bite us to death.〉

〈Like in the wild?〉

Yoon Chi-young asked lightly with a smile.

In the wild, male wolves often killed cubs of a different bloodline upon sight. As beastmen were born with strong animal instincts, it was something that could never be ignored.

However, Yoon Chi-young, who was the strongest and largest, wasn’t afraid of anything.

〈Even if that happens, I can protect you all!〉

At the blackest wolf’s words, the siblings chattered noisily. Still, I want to stick with my big sister, I’m with the fourth! Me too. They were just dividing sides with their words, but the five wolves were always together.

Even those trivial daily moments were happy memories for Yoon Chi-young.

Because that day’s happiness didn’t last long.

Afterwards, Yoon Chi-young experienced three nightmarish events.

The first nightmare was around puberty.

‘What’s this smell…?’

Late at night, Yoon Chi-young woke up to a subtle smell. There was a smell of blood in the air, like when he had a nosebleed. Looking around, an eerie silence hung in the dark, spacious room.

〈Hyung… Where are you?〉

Young Yoon Chi-young naturally looked for his older brothers first. Since childhood, the three brothers had been close and often fell asleep together in the same room.

However, the second oldest brother’s appearance was different from usual. His brother was collapsed in a strange state in front of the doorknob.

〈…Hyung?〉

Yoon Chi-young approached his brother step by step. The room was dark, but with his keen eyesight, Yoon Chi-young could clearly make out his brother’s appearance. Looking closely, his brother’s figure was distinctly visible in the moonlight seeping through the window.

The second oldest brother was lying in a pool of blood, his pajamas torn horribly as if attacked by a beast. Next to him, the eldest brother could also be seen hiding under the desk. He was crouching, unconscious, with blood flowing from his leg.

〈Hyung… Hyung! Are you okay? Hyung! …Mom… Dad!〉

Yoon Chi-young immediately hugged his second brother and sobbed. At the sound close to a wail, lights came on one by one in the vast Clan Leader’s residence late at night. Yoon Chi-young was 13 years old at the time.

Afterwards, Yoon Chi-young lived in the hospital for a while to stabilize.

Out of anxiety, he would constantly grab the staff and ask them things, or eagerly wait for his family to answer his questions, but no one told Yoon Chi-young anything. He couldn’t see his parents for a while and could only meet them on the day of discharge.

However, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t return home. On the day of discharge, his father took his young fourth son to a secluded region.

〈Father, why am I not going home?〉

〈……〉

〈Who attacked my brothers? It was the anti-Clan Leader faction, right…?〉

His father didn’t answer the question. He was the clan leader of wolves who valued silence and courtesy. Yoon Chi-young, who had been sick and tired of that teaching since childhood, followed his father with disappointment. His father wouldn’t give him any answers anyway.

However, Yoon Chi-young only understood his father’s intention that day when he was fully grown. His father simply didn’t want to get attached to his fourth son.

That day, without any other answer, his father gave Yoon Chi-young a condition.

〈Chi-young. If you complete the training well, you can return home.〉

〈Training? What training?〉

〈…It’s the Watcher’s training.〉

After informing the young wolf pup, his father took him to a house in a remote countryside. The house was surrounded by a lush forest, but it was a place devoid of human warmth. Yoon Chi-young, terrified, clung to his father and asked,

〈I want to be the Clan Leader. Father… I don’t want to be a Watcher. Can’t I stay at home too?〉

〈Chi-young.〉

Leaving his fourth son there, his father persuaded the child who was anxiously looking around.

〈If you do well in the Watcher training here, you will be able to protect your family.〉

〈Family…〉

At those words, the young wolf erased the anxiety in his gray eyes with effort.

Surely it must have been the anti-Clan Leader faction that attacked his brothers. Firmly believing that, Yoon Chi-young nodded, trying to act mature.

〈Father… Then I’m staying here until I finish training?〉

〈…Yes.〉

〈What about my brothers? Will they be okay?〉

〈……〉

Without answering, his father entrusted Yoon Chi-young to a governess. Watching his fourth son awkwardly holding the governess’s hand and standing there, trying to be composed, his father spoke with eyes devoid of emotion.

〈Your brothers are fine now.〉

And so, Yoon Chi-young came to live with a governess in an unfamiliar place.

Fortunately, life in the new place wasn’t bad. Yoon Chi-young spent most of his time comfortably in his true form, and the governess and staff took care of him with utmost devotion.

However, the loneliness of being separated from his siblings was inevitable.

Awooo!

Every night, Yoon Chi-young howled in search of his siblings. Although he was just getting stronger and growing in size quickly, Yoon Chi-young missed his siblings and was afraid to be alone.

〈Governess… Why do I have to stay in my true form?〉

〈Young master…〉

〈When will the training end? I miss my brothers…〉

〈…You can briefly return home after this winter’s training ends. It will be alright.〉

The governess was by Yoon Chi-young’s side as his family and teacher. She was a former soldier and very strong. Although old, the wise and steadfast governess cared for Yoon Chi-young, who was growing weary from loneliness, with love.

However, after 3 years, the second nightmare came.

〈What the…?〉

It was early dawn before sunrise.

Yoon Chi-young, who had fallen asleep as if collapsing from dizziness, woke up on the hard floor instead of the bed. Puzzled, he looked around and felt a subtle sense of déjà vu. The surroundings were unusually quiet, and there was a taste of blood in his mouth. His head also throbbed as if it would split, and he barely got up from his spot with a rough breath.

〈Governess…〉

Getting up, Yoon Chi-young looked for the governess first. He had a bad feeling.

And Yoon Chi-young’s intuition was not wrong.

〈Governess…?〉

The governess, who had been nagging as usual until he fell asleep, was stopping the blood flow from her shoulder in the bathroom. Yoon Chi-young’s eyes widened in shock.

〈Governess, governess! Are you okay?〉

〈Young master…〉

Yoon Chi-young approached in surprise, but the governess couldn’t meet his eyes. She just tried to hide her wound and act composed.

〈I’m alright, young master… Nothing, happened.〉

〈Don’t lie, you’re bleeding so much…!〉

Yoon Chi-young spoke with eyes that looked like he would cry. The governess was Yoon Chi-young’s only family and teacher in the unfamiliar place. However, the wound she had received was deeper than he thought. It was unbelievable that she, a former soldier, had been attacked like this. Yoon Chi-young gave her first aid with worried eyes and called an ambulance, trembling at his fingertips. At that time, Yoon Chi-young had not yet fully shed his boyish appearance.

〈…Governess, do you know who attacked you?〉

〈……〉

〈If we tell Father, he definitely won’t let this slide.〉

〈…Young master.〉

Even while gasping for breath in pain, the governess quietly stared at Yoon Chi-young. After a moment of silence, she stroked the boy’s head and smiled with composure.

〈I’m really alright.〉

〈Governess…〉

〈This is no one’s fault.〉

The governess spoke stubbornly and moved to the hospital. Even afterwards, she never told him what had happened that night.

However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t let the incident slide. He informed his father, the Clan Leader, and said it must be the work of the anti-Clan Leader faction. His father accepted Yoon Chi-young’s opinion and said he would definitely “resolve” the matter.

After that day, security was tightened at the house where Yoon Chi-young lived.

Moreover, he gained three same-age friends. They were all wolves who had come for training like Yoon Chi-young, to receive Watcher training.

However, amidst the rigorous training, the four became closer friends than anyone else. Upon hearing the most important condition to pass the Watcher’s test, they even made a promise together.

〈How can the condition to pass the Watcher’s test be directly judging the clan? I don’t like it. I can’t do it.〉

〈I can’t do it either…〉

〈Me neither. I want to be the Clan Leader.〉

Yoon Chi-young agreed. The condition to pass the Watcher’s test was to personally deal with a relative who had tarnished the clan’s honor.

Horrified by the cruel selection criteria, he promised his three friends to reject the Watcher’s test altogether. The adults could handle it if there was no next-generation Watcher, he thought.

Then, not long after Yoon Chi-young came of age, the third nightmarish night came to him.

‘I can’t move my body…’

Waking up on the cold floor, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t even move a fingertip. As if it wasn’t his own body, each muscle was strained with excessive force. Struggling to lift his head and look at himself, he was covered in wounds.

However, the situation around him was even more serious. The house reeked of blood, making it difficult to breathe, and the sound of someone gasping in pain could be heard. Yoon Chi-young’s mind was hazy from the headache, but he managed to get up and stagger into the living room.

It was a sea of blood.

His friends, as well as the staff who attended to them, were all collapsed and bleeding. Yoon Chi-young stood in the middle of it, his face deathly pale. He couldn’t respond to the surreal sight. A sharp ringing filled his ears along with a terrible headache.

‘I’m dizzy…’

Yoon Chi-young staggered, painfully holding his forehead. It felt like his mind was fogged, and it was hard to even keep his balance due to the strong nausea. Looking at his leg in the throbbing pain, he too was injured and bleeding from his leg. However, Yoon Chi-young tried to recall his memory without even paying attention to the wounds.

Something was strange. It was spine-chillingly eerie that he couldn’t remember anything even though he was injured and the surroundings had turned into a sea of blood.

‘Before I fell asleep… What was my last memory?’

Fortunately, the memory just before losing consciousness was vivid.

‘I’m sure the governess… was being attacked by my friends…’

Yoon Chi-young looked around with hazy gray eyes. It was an unfamiliar sight. However, among the friends who had collapsed with their legs horribly twisted, the words Yang Hye-chan had said lingered in his ears.

‘Ji-chan said it was the Clan Leader’s order…’

Yoon Chi-young looked at the friend who had easily betrayed him with indifference.

Staggering, Yoon Chi-young barely contacted the Clan Leader’s people. Saying his friends were hurt. Begging them to help. Insisting that someone must have broken in.

This time too, his father came without much comment.

The injured beastmen were transported to the hospital, and Yoon Chi-young was taken in by the Clan Leader’s people. However, the way they did it was strange. They confined the injured Yoon Chi-young to a room, barely giving him food, and thoroughly monitored him without even talking to him until he recovered.

As soon as he regained his energy, Yoon Chi-young sought out his father. Fortunately, the Clan Leader’s beastmen called his father for him, and he was able to meet him.

Yoon Chi-young’s mind was hazy, but one thought was clear. The thought that he couldn’t forgive his father.

〈Father… Why did you stand by and watch?〉

Upon meeting his stern father again, Yoon Chi-young got angry first.

〈You’ve been condoning it since the governess was attacked.〉

〈……〉

His father stared at Yoon Chi-young with a terribly expressionless face. Throughout the three nightmarish events Yoon Chi-young experienced, his father’s reaction was always the same. Yoon Chi-young had long realized that his father was someone he couldn’t expect anything from, but this time, he couldn’t help but blame him. Otherwise, he felt like he would go crazy. He felt that he needed to at least know where this incomprehensible threat had started from in order to breathe.

〈You definitely promised to resolve it.〉

〈……〉

〈I told you it was the work of the anti-Clan Leader faction!〉

〈…Chi-young.〉

After a long while, his father spoke softly. The way he looked at the situation as if he were a third party was terribly insensitive. Yoon Chi-young couldn’t hate his father’s gray eyes, which were the same as his, more than anything.

〈Do you still not understand?〉

〈…Understand what?〉

His father kept silent for a moment as if pondering. It wouldn’t be to give his son a moment. If he really did, he wouldn’t have delivered the following words like an announcement and wouldn’t have neglected Yoon Chi-young all this time.

〈It was you who attacked your brothers, attacked the governess, and turned your friends into half-bloods.〉

〈……〉

〈Think carefully from the beginning, Chi-young.〉

〈……〉

It was a shocking statement.

Strangely, his understanding was slow. Yoon Chi-young glared at his father without any reaction. Rather, he thought it was an absurd story his father had made up to punish him.

However, an eerie sense of déjà vu crept up his spine like goosebumps. The sight of his siblings, his governess, and his friends getting hurt, which he occasionally dreamed of as nightmares, couldn’t have been his doing, he thought.

Yoon Chi-young trembled, clutching his head. His head ached as if it would shatter. His heart raced, and the wounds he had suffered were reopening, bleeding again.

〈…N-no. Father. I, I don’t have such memories…〉

〈Chi-young.〉

His father didn’t comfort his son. Yoon Chi-young was used to that, having experienced it ad nauseam since childhood. However, the feeling of his life being shaken in the hands of his cunning father was so disgusting and difficult to bear.

〈You’re smart, but you’ve always had trouble grasping situations properly because of your emotions.〉

〈……〉

〈I’ll give you some time to recover, so pull yourself together and come out.〉

His father left Yoon Chi-young alone in the room. Even as Yoon Chi-young crawled on the floor, suffering from nausea, his face deathly pale as he looked down at his trembling hands, his father left him be. He thought it was just one of the processes his son had to endure alone.

The path to becoming a Watcher was painful and arduous. To the point where everyone refused, and the Clan Leader had to create one.

〈Congratulations on passing the Watcher’s test.〉

With those words, his father closed the door. Shortly after, beyond the door, a rough breathing sound of a wolf and the noise of an animal roughly destroying objects could be heard. However, no one opened the door for him.

*

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 6

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

After being appointed as the Watcher, Yoon Chi-young was able to escape the grueling training.

‘Now I can return home…’

The exhausted Yoon Chi-young passed the time with only the hope of returning home. After waiting day by day, when the promised day finally arrived, he set out. His always kind mother would welcome him. He believed his siblings would still be as close as ever. Yoon Chi-young wanted to meet his family somehow and rest within the safety of his pack.

Coincidentally, the day of his return was his older sister’s birthday.

‘What does my sister like now? Dolls?’

Although Yoon Chi-young had grown into an adult physically, he personally chose a gift reminiscing about his childhood sister. For Yoon Chi-young, it was a gift signaling a new beginning and a sign of delight.

In the car on the way home, Yoon Chi-young fiddled with the gift box with his exhausted eyes. He couldn’t help it as he hadn’t slept properly. If he fell asleep and woke up, he was afraid someone would collapse and bleed, so he couldn’t even close his eyes for a moment. He tried forcibly relying on sleeping pills to sleep deeply, but to no avail. Rather than passing time, it felt like he was dying within time.

Still, there was hope.

‘Maybe things will get better when I’m with my family…’

As wolves were pack animals, they had excellent solidarity within the pack. They naturally thought they were born in the arms of the pack and died in the arms of the pack. For Yoon Chi-young, returning to his pack and hometown was his only hope and comfort.

‘Even being the Watcher… If I say I don’t want to accept it, Mother will listen.’

And so, Yoon Chi-young arrived at the main house of the large werewolf clan, believing his training was now over.

Although he arrived late at night, lights were on everywhere as it was his sister’s birthday. It was like a romantic Christmas day. With the gift in his hand, Yoon Chi-young entered the house with hope.

And Yoon Chi-young still cannot forget the moment he entered the hall where the birthday party was being held.

〈……〉

The surprised gazes of the relatives gathered discreetly on Yoon Chi-young.

They stared at Yoon Chi-young with eyes filled with surprise and contempt, as if looking at an intruder. There was even fear mixed in. Someone grabbed the hand of a relative and stepped back, while someone blatantly revealed a wary gaze.

In the midst of it, Yoon Chi-young stood still and observed his surroundings. He took in everything, from the way his relatives avoided his path as he walked to the shocked expressions of his family standing at the end.

〈…Chi-young.〉

It was his eldest sister. However, the star of the birthday party did not welcome her younger brother. The changed gazes of his family were no different from those of another wolf pack.

Looking down at the gift box in his hand, Yoon Chi-young had a premonition.

Everyone here knows what he has done.

The fingertips holding the box trembled finely. His gray eyes wavered weakly, then turned pale as if resigned. Biting his lip, Yoon Chi-young laughed as if giving up. Of all days, he had come to clearly see reality.

〈……〉

With darkly and dimly sunken eyes, Yoon Chi-young approached his sister.

Everyone stepped back one step at a time as they watched Yoon Chi-young. He could feel gazes filled with contempt, fear, disgust, and occasionally even admiration. However, Yoon Chi-young could sense that even the admiration wasn’t with pure intentions.

It was strange. Yoon Chi-young had definitely undergone the Watcher’s training to protect his family. However, Yoon Chi-young himself had become a rejected existence.

In any case, he could never return to his pack again.

Having cleanly given up, Yoon Chi-young swept away useless emotions and grasped the situation. Now he had to look at them not as a wolf belonging to the pack, but as an outsider.

From the beginning, his father would have had no intention of hiding from the pack what Yoon Chi-young had done.

That way, the Watcher’s power would become stronger, making it easier for the next-generation Clan Leader to lead the clan. Thinking about it, it was obvious.

〈…Sister.〉

Standing in front of his sister, Yoon Chi-young slowly raised his head. His sister, their father’s favorite trophy. His sister had also grown up as elegant and tall as him. However, her eyes looking at her younger brother were filled with contempt and a hint of sympathy. Even his mother, standing beside her, was fidgeting but unable to approach her fourth son.

After resignation came acceptance.

Now Yoon Chi-young had no hometown to return to, no family waiting for him. He simply had to face them as the next Watcher.

〈…Happy birthday, it’s a gift.〉

Yoon Chi-young smiled and handed over the gift. His sister quietly thanked him but didn’t receive it herself, instead having an attendant beside her receive the gift. Although Yoon Chi-young had exhausted and tired eyes, he quietly left the scene after exchanging final greetings with them. Behind Yoon Chi-young, whispers followed for a long time.

Stepping outside, Yoon Chi-young got in the car and told the attendant,

〈I want to go home.〉

〈…Yes.〉

The driver quietly drove the car. The destination was the terrible place where Yoon Chi-young had been training all this time.

With tired eyes, Yoon Chi-young leaned his forehead against the car window and looked at the mansion of the werewolf clan. It was a place filled with childhood memories, but now it was a place where no one waited for him. That feeling of losing his hometown always left Yoon Chi-young’s heart empty.

After that, Yoon Chi-young accepted the path of the Watcher. If he couldn’t return, he had to adapt.

***

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 7

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

…It was not long before he met the puppy.

Yoon Chi-young went to visit his father, who was hospitalized with a chronic illness. He didn’t visit for the sake of family affection or for appearances, but simply because he was curious about something.

That day, Yoon Chi-young met him again for the first time in several years since becoming the Watcher. On the hospital bed lay a healthy-looking middle-aged handsome man, making one wonder if he was really sick. He didn’t even look pleased to see the face of his son who resembled him. Yoon Chi-young had always disliked that he resembled him.

Without any particular greeting, Yoon Chi-young pulled a chair and plopped down, saying,

〈Father. Do you know?〉

〈……〉

〈This time, my sister even used people to try to kill me.〉

Beside his father lying in the hospital bed, Yoon Chi-young spoke leisurely as if conveying boring news. His father remained lying like a rock until the end, staring only at the ceiling. It was a place where no one welcomed each other.

Yoon Chi-young continued speaking indifferently, wiggling the end of his crossed legs.

〈She’s making a fuss about me dethroning you, whom she respects so much, from the position of Clan Leader.〉

〈……〉

〈It’s all because you sacrificed the clan’s children, bringing it upon yourself… Isn’t it strange?〉

His father showed little reaction even after hearing the reasons that sounded like charges. He just stubbornly closed his eyes tightly. At that sight, Yoon Chi-young, who had been acting leisurely, gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t understand this man’s mind at all. He couldn’t understand why he had become the Clan Leader with only his own beliefs, or why he turned away from him until the end.

Now he had no expectations. However, Yoon Chi-young wanted to resolve one thing he was curious about before the man died.

〈…Since it’s the last time, I’ll ask one thing, Father.〉

After growing up, Yoon Chi-young learned many things.

Just like him, his sister was also born with strong pheromones. However, unlike Yoon Chi-young, his sister grew up normally. He learned the reason through his sister’s governess. There was a separate measure taken by his father.

〈My sister was also born with strong pheromones like me.〉

〈……〉

〈But why… did you only raise my sister with suppressants?〉

His father didn’t answer. Although he stubbornly kept his eyes closed, he definitely wasn’t asleep. It was evident from the way his brows were stubbornly furrowed.

Gradually, the habitual smile on Yoon Chi-young’s lips faded. His gray eyes turned fiercely sharp, and the sound of teeth grinding could be heard from his tense jaw.

Among beastmen, children born with strong pheromones were common. And as modern medicine had advanced, if pheromone suppressants were consistently administered during the growth period, the child could grow up normally. It meant the probability of experiencing pheromone shock would also decrease.

However, his father had neglected Yoon Chi-young. He had left him to suffer from painful nightmares and writhe in self-loathing.

〈If you had given me the medicine the same way as my sister… I could have grown up normally too.〉

Yoon Chi-young’s breath gradually roughened as he asked calmly. He clenched his fist tightly on his elegantly crossed leg. Thick veins bulged and protruded, and his eyes turned as sharp as a beast’s. Beside him, his father’s employee could be seen fidgeting anxiously. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t care and stared straight at his father, asking,

〈Why did you do that?〉

〈……〉

〈Why on earth!〉

〈…Chi-young.〉

Even at the call, Yoon Chi-young first caught his rough breath. It was just surprising that this iron-willed man was finally going to say something.

His father spoke.

〈Your sister is intelligent, but she only acted to gain my favor.〉

〈Ah… So you’re not senile? Praising my sister until the end.〉

〈On the contrary, you were too aggressive and acted on your own accord based on your mood.〉

〈It’s all because I take after you. Why? Did you hate it because it was like looking in a mirror?〉

Even at the sarcasm, his father simply opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Even now, as he revealed the truth, he was like a machine speaking only because the timing was right. Yoon Chi-young had never expected anything from him anyway, but he felt like all the blood in his body turned cold at the words he continued to say.

〈You were strong, but you lacked the qualities of a Clan Leader. So I thought living as a Watcher suited you best.〉

〈So.〉

〈As a parent, I simply found the most suitable path for my child.〉

〈…So.〉

〈…Chi-young. I have no regrets.〉

〈……〉

Yoon Chi-young slowly clenched his tense fingertips, then leisurely got up from his seat with emptily sunken eyes.

With his hands loosely tucked into his dress pants pockets, he approached the hospital bed. Looking down at his sick father, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t feel any emotion. Now he felt pathetic for thinking of him as a son and considering the last family affection.

〈Did I… ever want the path of the Watcher?〉

〈……〉

〈I’m asking if I ever wanted it.〉

His eyes were bloodshot with anger. Sensing something unusual, the employee nearby approached and told him to calm down. However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t care. His father also didn’t back down, opening his eyes that had been staring only at the ceiling until the end.

〈Even if you didn’t want it, if it weren’t for the path of the Watcher, you would have been nothing more than a rotten good-for-nothing with that talent.〉

〈Ah… Like you?〉

Yoon Chi-young spoke as if it were absurd, casually wiping the corner of his mouth after a hollow laugh. He was smiling, but only an eerie feeling lingered. It was a face mocking himself. Yoon Chi-young was pathetic for having expected something from his family until the end. Now his gray eyes trembled and sank unstably.

〈I thought… you had some other intention.〉

〈……〉

〈Towards me…〉

I thought you had affection as a parent. But even that was absent. Yoon Chi-young’s eyes, which had been flaring fiercely, wavered thinly. However, that aspect was only momentary, and Yoon Chi-young laughed as if collapsing in dismay.

He thought his father had separated him from his family and dumped him in the countryside because of accidents caused by pheromone shock. But to his father, those incidents were all things he had to naturally experience as a Watcher. It was all done out of his own greed, like clipping the tips of a bird’s wings so it couldn’t fly far.

〈Are you proud? You gilded your children like trophies and displayed them well. In reality, the sister who became the Clan Leader has an Electra complex, and I, who became the Watcher, am no different from a rabid dog.〉

〈……〉

〈Still, my curiosity has been satisfied. Thanks, Father.〉

Yoon Chi-young, who spoke calmly, brushed his hair back and put on his outer clothing. Then he left a message to the man lying in the luxurious hospital room.

〈Since it’s the last time, say your goodbyes to my sister. She’s the only child who respects you.〉

He was someone who wouldn’t live long anyway due to his chronic illness. Yoon Chi-young decided to be content with having dethroned him from the position of Clan Leader. He was too tired to even hate him anymore.

After that, Yoon Chi-young lived without any expectations.

He spent his days emptily immersed in gambling and willingly stained his hands with blood. The more he found his true form disgusting, the more he gathered his self-love and tightly wrapped himself up. If he didn’t do that, he couldn’t live even for a moment.

When he was too exhausted, he wanted to go back to the past, return to his hometown or family, but he couldn’t even do that. Yoon Chi-young always felt like he was standing alone at the edge of a cliff.

But there was no one waiting for Yoon Chi-young. Having lost even his hometown, Yoon Chi-young always lived with emptiness, absorbed in gambling.

Until he met a small, shabby puppy. At the end of waiting, there was always an opportunity.

***

4 - Epilogue 1

DMWP V2C4 Part 8

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

“……”

When Yoon Chi-young woke up again, it was early dawn.

With the sickening pain rushing through his entire body, Yoon Chi-young exhaled heavily and surveyed his surroundings. The position of lying on his side felt unfamiliar, but upon a second look, he realized he was lying in the form of a pitch-black wolf.

He had awakened as a terrible beast. Along with the pain, his breath gradually roughened as he found himself repulsive.

An IV line was uncomfortably connected to his thick front paw. However, the wolf didn’t care and fumbled around with his front paw, scratching with his claws. It was to search for Heeseong.

Thud

.

As he stretched out his front paw, it hit a transparent glass wall. Perhaps he was receiving pheromone suppressants, as the bed was surrounded by a circular glass enclosure. It seemed to be an isolation room.

‘If it’s an isolation room, visitors wouldn’t be allowed…’

When receiving pheromone suppressants, visitors were not allowed for the sake of stability, so it was a place no one could enter unless the puppy sneaked in or persisted. Still, he had hoped for Heeseong to be by his side. It was an unavoidable situation.

The disappointed wolf limply lay down and began to look around, exhaling rough breaths.

‘Who on earth put this blanket here…?’

Normally, no items were allowed in the isolation room, but there was a micro-fleece blanket covering the bedding. It was a blanket Heeseong loved so much that he would rub his body against it intensely just by looking at it. The only person who would put such a thoughtful item here was Ji Young-bae, who had a lot of consideration. He seemed to have brought it for the sake of stability.

However, there was no trace of Heeseong anywhere, only the blanket he liked. The black wolf’s eyes sank desolately. Each time he exhaled roughly, his elegant mane puffed up and settled.

‘The puppy… must be hurt too.’

Driven by the rushing anxiety, he tried to recall his last memory somehow. However, the only thing that came to mind was Heeseong’s innocent face looking at him before losing consciousness. The sight of him stepping back upon seeing Yoon Chi-young, his eyes trembling with unease, and the frightened face he couldn’t hide in the end. Even if Heeseong wasn’t hurt, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t find any hope in that last memory.

There was no memory after that. Having lost his reason and transformed into a wolf again, someone might have been injured or killed. The nightmarish incident repeated itself. Even after taking medicine, he couldn’t control it. The wolf’s body began to tremble intermittently with a sense of futility and self-loathing.

‘I want to stop doing this…’

Yoon Chi-young found this situation itself more painful than the wound on his shoulder. Whenever he lost consciousness due to pheromone shock, someone precious who stayed by his side got hurt and bled. The gray eyes of the pitch-black wolf wavered thinly. Still, he didn’t want to let at least the small puppy, the person he loved, get hurt because of him.

‘Heeseong….’

The body was always influenced by the mind. Gradually, his breath quickened and dizziness surged due to the anxiety that swelled in his chest. However, his strength didn’t fade. Rather, the heavy muscles all over his body tensed up so hard that his fangs were exposed in pain as he clenched his jaw fiercely. He could hear his own heartbeat as blood circulated rapidly. It was a precursor symptom of pheromone shock.

‘Heeseong….’

Grrr…

A beastly sound like soot came out between his rough breaths. Yoon Chi-young tried to move his legs and get up himself, forgetting even the painful injury. If he didn’t check Heeseong’s safety right now, he felt like he would break and destroy everything around him due to anxiety.

Thud

.

His front paw caught on the glass wall. The sound of claws scratching continued spine-chillingly, then weakly cut off again. It was difficult to lift his body as excessive strength entered his muscles. Gradually, his heart began to beat loudly, and his body started to heat up.

‘Heeseong… Haa.’

The wolf let out a low, painful howl along with his rough breathing. Regardless of whether the wound reopened or not, he tried to return to his human form immediately. However, his body wouldn’t listen at all, so he ended up only scratching the sheet with his thick front paws. He didn’t want to stay in this terrible form even for a moment.

Then, a hectic bark was heard from somewhere.

Woof, woof.

The eyes of the wolf, which had been contorted in pain, widened. He was certain he heard a barking sound nearby like an auditory hallucination, but he couldn’t find the puppy at all. Yoon Chi-young looked around, exhaling roughly, and soon realized where the puppy was.

Something wriggled frantically inside the blanket, within the luxuriant mane of the wolf lying on its side.

Soon, as if it had lost its way inside the bedding, a fist-sized lump could be seen wandering around in a daze. Then, as if making a big decision, it tried to escape the bedding by climbing over the lush mane. Even while his wound was painful, the wolf felt his breath gradually stabilizing at that ticklish sensation.

Soon, a cotton ball with its fur all staticky poked its head out from the side of the bedding.

Woof!

It was Heeseong. The puppy, transformed into a small dog, rapidly approached Yoon Chi-young’s face, wagging its tail as if it would fly off. It was so delighted that it even touched noses with him, whimpering “awoong, awoong,” and climbed onto the wolf’s nose bridge, rubbing its cheeks frantically.

Yoon Chi-young willingly accepted the puppy. He tried to lick its pink belly and stroke it with his front paw. However, the puppy would fall off with a thud, so he had no choice but to stay still. All he could do was lick the small body slightly and make delighted sounds.

But even that was enough to make him happy. Heeseong was safe. The body that had been stiff with muscles to the point of aching relaxed. Just a moment ago, he had only thoughts of turning everything upside down and destroying it to find Heeseong, but now the wolf’s eyes became so docile that it seemed he couldn’t even win against the small puppy.

‘Puppy…’

The huge wolf whimpered weakly, unlike his usual self. His gray eyes gleamed discreetly under his elegant black ears. The puppy leaned closer to those eyes. In the dark and quiet hospital room, the two were fully feeling each other’s warmth.

Yoon Chi-young knew Heeseong wouldn’t understand anyway, but he asked the question he most wanted to ask.

‘Did you… wait for me?’

The sound that came out was only a rough, painful growl of the wolf. If it were a small animal, it would have tucked its tail and run away, but the fearless one-day-old puppy showed a delighted reaction, wiping its nose with its pink tongue.

Woof!

The white one glared at Yoon Chi-young as if reproaching him, then smacked his nose with its front paw. Even though it felt like a warm cotton ball pressed against him, Yoon Chi-young tightly closed his eyes and laid his black ears back as if pretending to be in pain. It had become a habit to pretend to be hurting like this, as Heeseong would then lick him apologetically, as if kissing him.

As expected, the puppy couldn’t be fierce towards the weak, even though it was the most ferocious. The puppy, which had lightly licked the wolf’s jaw, looked around as if finding a spot, then slowly changed its form while laboriously climbing the hill of the wolf’s luxuriant black mane fur.

“…Hey, Yoon Chi-young.”

Heeseong, who had leisurely transformed into his half-beast state, called out softly. He was in a position straddling the wolf’s body, which was lying on its side. However, Yoon Chi-young only felt his weight as light as a feather. Heeseong had a small build, whether as a puppy or a human, so he only felt like a cotton ball.

With concern and resentment in his black eyes, Heeseong asked fiercely,

“You, did you ask me again if I waited for you?”

“……”

How on earth did he understand? Yoon Chi-young wondered if he had been asking such obvious questions all along. Or perhaps he had only wanted one answer so much. As it was an obvious question, Yoon Chi-young hoped Heeseong would quickly give him the obvious answer.

As expected, the puppy hadn’t changed.

“Then… would I have not waited for you?”

Heeseong spoke as if reproaching him. Worry was evident in his eyes, which were unusually fiercely raised. His thinly spread black pupils even trembled with moisture, looking young and tender.

With that one answer, Yoon Chi-young’s entire body relaxed as if melting.

The puppy had really believed in him and waited for him. Along with the relief, even his heartbeat settled calmly. Just the fact that Heeseong stayed by his side without getting hurt or changing made his heart ache and his eyes hot. His nightmare could change.

Beside him, Heeseong roughly stroked the wolf’s mane and spoke as if nagging,

“You were asleep for 3 whole days. You know?”

“……”

“What kind of sleep talk do you do so much? Every time you suddenly growled, how much I… Are you, are you crying?”

“……”

Heeseong asked, startled. It was difficult to notice unless looked closely because of the black fur, but the wolf that had been lying limply was pitifully shedding tears. The sight of the huge wolf crying silently looked quite strange, but rarely, Heeseong widened his innocent-looking eyes in surprise and wiped away the tears. Then, as the wolf struggled with rough breaths, Heeseong awkwardly embraced the crying wolf’s head to comfort him.

“Hey, hey… Males shouldn’t cry except when howling.”

‘You can’t even howl properly…’

“Wh-what are you saying…? Did you curse at me?”

Fortunately, Heeseong couldn’t understand because he spoke in wolf form. Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter even while crying silently. Even though it only made his mouth slightly tear to the point of revealing the wolf’s fangs, he was truly happy to have Heeseong by his side.

“Or are you crying because it hurts? Should I call the doctor? Hm?”

In the meantime, Heeseong was flustered and at a loss. He wiped the wolf’s eyes with the bedding, but his touch was rough. Yoon Chi-young groaned in pain as if it hurt, but he liked that too because it was so like Heeseong.

I should transform into my half-beast form after all.

Not being able to speak in his true form, which couldn’t transform, was inconvenient to the point that it was surprising how Heeseong had been living as a puppy all this time. Yoon Chi-young roughly tore off the IV line with his teeth, forgetting the pain. Heeseong tried to stop him, saying he shouldn’t, but Yoon Chi-young’s form was already changing. The muscles on the huge wolf’s body flexed, and his already large build grew even larger. His expression was contorted in pain. As he had a wound, the transformation itself was extremely painful.

“Puppy….”

“You, you… What if your wound reopens if you transform so recklessly?”

Heeseong spoke as if reproaching him and tried to stop the bleeding on the back. However, Yoon Chi-young, lying on his side, pulled Heeseong into his arms and kept him there. Then he licked Heeseong’s forehead, who was nagging, and carefully kissed him. Perhaps sensing that solemn atmosphere, Heeseong also quietly remained in his embrace.

Clearing his locked throat, Yoon Chi-young tried to speak calmly as usual.

“When the puppy confesses that he’ll only look at me… I can’t stay in my true form.”

“I, I never confessed that… Stop distorting my words….”

“Ah, no….”

Heeseong rubbed his forehead against Yoon Chi-young’s chest, looking embarrassed. He deeply leaned his forehead against Yoon Chi-young’s chest as if wanting to hide his expression. But his puppy ears twitched as if he liked the confession. Looking closely, even his white fur was all standing up. Yoon Chi-young let out a long, ticklish laugh. Heeseong always acted the toughest in the world, but when it came to such expressions of affection, he was the most vulnerable.

After some time in the ticklish atmosphere, Heeseong suddenly called out in a sunken voice, hesitating,

“By the way… Yoon Chi-young.”

Yoon Chi-young noticed Heeseong’s intention to speak with just one hesitant call. The puppy had never properly hidden his emotions even once. Such a mild call was definitely made when he had caused trouble.

Yoon Chi-young’s intuition was not wrong.

“I… I caused trouble.”

“Okay. You caused trouble?”

“…Yeah.”

“…What is it?”

The prediction was correct. Yoon Chi-young pretended as if the atmosphere had sunk. It was the only time he could see Heeseong clumsily trying to read his mood. And in fact, even if Heeseong said he had caused trouble now, Yoon Chi-young only felt his heart flutter and excited. He was really in deep.

“It’s about the guy currently hospitalized in another hospital….”

Hospitalized? This incident seemed to be quite large in scale. Unlike his usual self, Heeseong was timid, unable to even make eye contact.

And contrary to expectations, this time Heeseong caused trouble not as a puppy, but as a lover.

“I went to find Yang Hye-chan and… be-beat him up quite a bit.”

In the end, Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter and tried to tightly hug Heeseong.

However, perhaps out of embarrassment, Heeseong quickly turned back into a small puppy. The shy little puppy dug into the bedding, burrowed into it, and lay down with only his steamed bun-like bottom exposed to Yoon Chi-young’s chest. Even when Yoon Chi-young poked that bottom, asking why he was doing that, and tried to coax him, the puppy never showed his face with its fur standing up, only occasionally biting his finger.

Hugging the puppy with one hand, Yoon Chi-young quietly fell into thought.

The puppy waited for someone even in a collapsing, dilapidated house, and waited for someone even when abandoned and injured.

And he had wandered after losing his hometown, searching for the one existence that would wait for him. Desperately, while trembling thousands of times since he was a very black and small wolf.

Now Yoon Chi-young was certain that Heeseong was where he would settle down. That’s why he vowed to love and protect him for a lifetime. Yoon Chi-young carefully pulled the puppy’s body and kissed him. It was to repay the puppy who had expressed his love in his own way.

“You did well, I love you too.”

“……”

The puppy didn’t answer. Instead, he hesitantly tapped Yoon Chi-young’s jaw with his front paw, then licked his lips as if hesitating and went into the bedding. Yoon Chi-young, who burst into laughter, curled up in pain but still enveloped the puppy with his hand. Heeseong also tightly held Yoon Chi-young’s wrist with his small strength. As desperately as they had waited for each other for so long.

<Epilogue 1 ends!>

5 - Epilogue 2

DMWP V2C5 Part 1

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

It had been a fortnight since the incident. The two had been quite busy during that time.

To be precise, it was Heeseong who had been busy. He had to nurse Yoon Chi-young, who was discharged from the hospital after a week—though it seemed like an exaggeration—and also handled some of the organization’s work. As a result, the living room table became the puppy’s work desk. The puppy would periodically make wise judgments to the organization members who came to report. One bark meant “proceed,” and two barks meant “don’t do that.”

Among the tasks Heeseong handled, the most important one was “locating Park Geon-tae.”

“Young-bae hyung, how far have you traced Park Geon-tae?” Heeseong asked, emerging from the bedroom with a disheveled appearance. As skilled as Ji Young-bae was at tracking, he was well-suited for this task, and when he heard what Park Geon-tae had done to Heeseong, he readily accepted the request.

While Yoon Chi-young was injured, Park Geon-tae had gone into hiding and disappeared.

He had a keen sense indeed. Park Geon-tae, who had been attached to the casino leader, may have sensed that he would be discarded or heard rumors that Heeseong had met Yoon Chi-young’s parents. Without any lingering attachments, he left the casino where he had devoted his body to work for ten years.

On top of that, he even did something audacious.

〈…He even took all the casino money and disappeared?〉

As the saying goes, “a fox who betrays a dog grows up to eat a tiger’s back.” Park Geon-tae had taken all the money from the dog beastman casino and fled.

Judging by how cleanly he had concealed his whereabouts, it seemed he had been preparing countermeasures for a long time. He had even taken the woman he loved so much and eloped with her. When Heeseong heard the information, he was dumbfounded and felt like exploding with rage.

〈If I find that bastard, seriously….〉

Since that day, the puppy, whose fur stood on end from anger, had begun searching for Park Geon-tae in earnest.

Fortunately, the tracking abilities of the wolf organization members were exceptional, and within less than a week of searching, Park Geon-tae’s location was being pinpointed. Heeseong’s information network also played a significant role. No matter how much Park Geon-tae flew or crawled, Heeseong, who had been by his side for five years, could see through what he would do.

“That bastard has nowhere to go. With his many prior convictions, he can’t leave the country anyway, so starting from his hometown of Busan that I mentioned… Hngh!”

Suddenly, Heeseong let out a subtle moan and turned around. There stood a giant wolf taller than Heeseong’s waist. Unlike its elegant appearance with a sleek black coat, the joy was evident in the wolf’s gray eyes.

“Hey, stop licking my thighs!”

Heeseong snapped angrily and tightly wrapped the bathrobe around his lower body.

With this injury, Yoon Chi-young spent more time as a wolf. The problem was that old habits die hard. Whether as a wolf or human, he would always lick Heeseong’s flesh as if tasting it. He was particularly interested in the soft flesh between the thighs. There was a reason why Heeseong reacted with disgust and anger. The wolf had been biting so much that Heeseong’s white thighs were covered in red and purple teeth marks, stinging to the touch.

“Ah, anyway, Young-bae-

hyung

…”

Heeseong pushed the wolf away and looked at Ji Young-bae again, his ears flushed red. Now that he had lashed out, he felt embarrassed. Of all times to show such a sensual sight while having a serious conversation. Heeseong thought he might need to put a leash on Yoon Chi-young.

Fortunately, Ji Young-bae was not paying attention to such playful antics between lovers. He was just looking at Yoon Chi-young, who had transformed into a wolf, with extreme caution. The distance between them as they conversed was far, from one end of the bedroom door to the other end of the living room. It couldn’t be helped, as Yoon Chi-young still had a strong sense of aggression when in his original form, and only Heeseong could be safe by his side.

Heeseong roughly pushed the pitch-black wolf away and spoke.

“That bastard Park Geon-tae is crafty, so you need to be careful too,

hyung

.”

“Yes.”

“It’s okay if the tracking is slow, so please do it with caution.”

“No, I will handle it as quickly as possible.”

“…Aren’t you supposed to talk to me informally now, hyung?”

Heeseong asked hesitantly while making the request. His actions were a bit clumsy as he tried to push away the black wolf’s snout wedged between his thighs. However, Heeseong found the formality from Ji Young-bae more bothersome than this embarrassing situation.

Strangely, Heeseong had no qualms about treating Yoon Chi-young casually, but he felt a bit guilty receiving formal speech from his hyung in the organization. Heeseong now wanted to be close with the wolf organization members who were always kind to him. The organization members had even become quite friendly, patting the puppy’s head once before leaving.

However, as always, the organization members spoke politely, conscious of the pitch-black wolf’s gaze.

“…I apologize for that. I will be going first.”

It was the answer Heeseong had expected. Still, he didn’t feel any sense of distance. Ji Young-bae had carefully handed Heeseong a nice new outfit before leaving.

In the middle of winter, Ji Young-bae had bought a padded jacket for Heeseong, who was sensitive to the cold. Heeseong held the jacket, which was only slightly larger than his palm, and saw Ji Young-bae off. Despite his gruff exterior, Heeseong was grateful to him for always taking good care of him.

‘Park Geon-tae, you bastard. Just try to make the

hyungs

work harder….’

Heeseong, clutching the puppy-sized padded jacket, gritted his teeth as he headed inside the house. His small mind was filled with nothing but hatred towards Park Geon-tae.

Behind him, the black wolf approached silently like a predator with its large body. It was to continue what had been interrupted when Ji Young-bae came up to report the situation.

“What? I’m going to take a shower.”

‘Okay, go shower.’

The wolf wagged its tail as if to say it understood. Heeseong suspiciously looked at Yoon Chi-young, who was suddenly being obedient, and quickly went to the front of the bathroom to take off his bathrobe. The cunning wolf was lowering its head furtively and prowling around the side, as if looking at prey. It seemed suspicious somehow. It felt like he had to escape to the shower room as quickly as possible.

“Don’t follow me. It’s hard to wash with you, ah…!”

As expected, Yoon Chi-young didn’t miss the opportunity. He firmly pushed Heeseong’s firm, lean waist with his fluffy head, causing Heeseong to lose his balance.

With a few movements from the giant wolf’s body, Heeseong’s body collapsed helplessly. The giant wolf climbed on top of Heeseong, who had fallen on all fours on the carpet after losing his balance. Heeseong, sensing what was coming, struggled to escape from under the black fur, but whether in puppy form or human form, Heeseong was always overpowered by Yoon Chi-young.

“Let go, let go! We did it so much, why again… Mmph, hey…!”

In the end, Heeseong was punished all evening. The charge was for arbitrarily receiving Ji Young-bae’s report during the act. On top of that, another bizarre charge was added for enjoying it during the punishment, and he was severely tormented by the wolf. To the point where he even temporarily forgot his anger towards Park Geon-tae.

***

…It was a night when Heeseong slept deeply without even having nightmares for once.

Having dealt with Yoon Chi-young, whose pheromone levels were fluctuating all night, he fell asleep as if he had passed out, not even knowing when he had fallen asleep.

It was in the quiet early morning when Heeseong heard a faint phone conversation.

“Just… send me the location. Yeah… I got it.”

Perhaps he had returned to human form by now. Yoon Chi-young was having a low, hoarse phone conversation next to him.

Even in his sleep, Heeseong wanted to nag at him, asking why he was taking calls at this hour. Most of the late-night calls were related to his work as a Gamshija. Knowing the hardship of working while sick, Heeseong didn’t like Yoon Chi-young working while injured.

However, the nagging only lingered in his mouth. Heeseong, who had been tormented by skinship all day, couldn’t open his eyes and was curled up holding Yoon Chi-young’s hand. Yoon Chi-young embraced Heeseong from behind, kissing his hair and gently calling out to him.

“Baby, baby?”

“…Mm.”

“I need to go out for a bit… Can I take you with me? If you’re sleepy, you can sleep in puppy form.”

“……”

Heeseong’s white puppy ears twitched.

He really intended to go out. Heeseong wanted to tell him right away that he couldn’t, but it seemed like Yoon Chi-young would go out alone even if he tried to stop him. Moreover, a call that came at this late hour was an important matter that required Yoon Chi-young’s presence.

In the end, Heeseong let out a faint sound, “Heu,” and rolled over, suddenly sitting up.

“I’ll… go with you.”

“Aren’t you tired? You can just stay and sleep…”

“How can I sleep when you’re going out with an injured body?”

Heeseong spoke sternly, getting up unsteadily. He was so unsteady that he would have fallen over if Yoon Chi-young hadn’t supported his waist, but his attitude was stern.

Yoon Chi-young, suppressing a quiet laugh, took care of the disheveled puppy, brushing back his hair. He wanted to take care of Heeseong attentively all night, but he had to go to the location without being late.

***

5 - Epilogue 2

DMWP V2C5 Part 2

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young drove himself for some reason. Accordingly, Heeseong also sat in the passenger seat in human form, not in his comfortable puppy form. It couldn’t be helped since there was no puppy car seat.

Heeseong even insisted on driving himself instead of the injured Yoon Chi-young, but Yoon Chi-young said something incomprehensible about Heeseong not knowing the way and the situation constantly changing.

‘Is it such a dangerous job?’

During the drive to the destination, Heeseong sat in the passenger seat with a stiff face. On days like this, someone’s life could be lost at the whim or decision of Yoon Chi-young.

The car drove on the road for nearly an hour.

‘We’re going far…’

Heeseong dozed off the entire time. Yoon Chi-young would occasionally call out to him, “Puppy, baby,” and caress his thighs, putting his hand under his T-shirt, saying he was cold, but Heeseong could only react as if shooing away a fly. Like Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong was also sensitive to sleep and couldn’t stay awake at all.

After some time, the car stopped at a remote place with only two or three containers at the foot of a mountain. The only thing visible in the dark was a large, crude-looking building that seemed to be a warehouse in the distance.

Two black cars followed and stopped far behind.

Heeseong looked at the cars with a tense expression. It was so dark that he couldn’t tell what kind of cars they were or who was inside. If they were dangerous guys, he was going to step up instead of the injured Yoon Chi-young.

“Wait here for a bit.”

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young kissed Heeseong’s cheek and got out of the car. He didn’t even turn off the engine.

As always, Heeseong was a little disappointed by Yoon Chi-young’s nonchalant attitude. Still, he watched Yoon Chi-young with a sense of vigilance until the end. He was going to run out if something happened.

Then, wolf beastmen also hurriedly got out of the other cars.

‘What…? Why are the

hyungs

here?’

Fortunately, the ones who got out of the cars were not dangerous wolf beastmen, but members of Yoon Chi-young’s organization. Among them was Ji Young-bae, who looked somewhat anxious.

Relieved, Heeseong sat comfortably in his seat and observed them. Yoon Chi-young and the organization members exchanged a few words, and then Ji Young-bae handed something wrapped in a cloth to Yoon Chi-young. They had a short conversation as if it was an urgent situation, and the organization members got back into their cars and quickly reversed out of the place.

‘Did they hand over some smuggled goods…?’

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have handed it over in such a hurry. Heeseong couldn’t shake off his worried expression because Ji Young-bae looked uncharacteristically serious.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young returned with his usual languid expression.

“Ah, it’s cold. Baby.”

“Eek… Get your hands off!”

Yoon Chi-young buried his face in Heeseong’s neck and put his hands under his T-shirt. When the cold fingertips touched his defenseless chest, Heeseong cursed and tried to pull out the rock-solid arm. However, Yoon Chi-young suddenly bit Heeseong’s white earlobe, exhaling roughly, and laughed.

‘He’s doing this again…’

Heeseong’s body stiffened, but he didn’t push him away anymore. He knew that Yoon Chi-young was sensitive to pheromones and equally struggled with it. Whenever he smelled the pheromones of other wolf beastmen, he would become violent, so Heeseong had to give him time to settle himself.

After a while, Yoon Chi-young buried his nose in Heeseong’s neck for a long time, and then spoke affectionately with a noticeably calmer sigh.

“Keep this well.”

He placed the thick cloth bundle he had brought in his arms onto Heeseong’s lap. It was a rather careful gesture. Heeseong looked down at his lap, hiding his flushed face from the warning and embarrassment. No matter what, Yoon Chi-young’s unchanged playfulness was hateful.

“Got it, so let’s go home quickly.”

“Why? In a hurry? …Then shall we do it once here?”

“…Drive.”

Heeseong muttered in a low voice, baring his canines. He really was a skinship-crazed bastard. Heeseong wondered how he could make such jokes when they had done it several times before going to bed.

Still, with Yoon Chi-young’s usual banter, Heeseong’s tension eased. The car also started driving towards home, and drowsiness was creeping up on him again.

Heeseong let out a comfortable sigh and looked down at the bundle in his arms. The bundle was the size of his two hands clasped together.

“But what is this…?”

Heeseong looked at the bundle with a puzzled expression. He was curious about what kind of precious item the organization members had handed over in such a hurry. Yoon Chi-young spoke languidly with one hand on the wheel.

“Open it and see.”

“…?”

Was it really okay to open it so easily? Heeseong held his pounding heart and carefully touched the bundle. Inside, there must be drugs, precious jewels, or something that could be used as leverage against someone.

However, what was inside the bundle was completely different from Heeseong’s expectations.

“…A puppy…?”

Inside the bundle was a chubby puppy with golden fur, sound asleep. Its yellow fur was fluffy, as if it had been doused in rice cake powder.

Although the puppy seemed young, it was a large breed puppy that appeared to be larger than Heeseong’s original body. However, as it was still young, its snout and tail were short. The yellow puppy curled up into a ball, wriggling when Heeseong’s hand touched it.

Even after seeing that adorable sight, Heeseong only looked down at the puppy, frozen in a daze. In the peaceful and quiet car, Heeseong’s black eyes began to tremble fragilely.

Unaware of that reaction, Yoon Chi-young spoke as if he was simply excited.

“How is it? Cute, right?”

“……”

“What should we name it… Its brown paws are like walnuts, so how about Hodu[1]?”

“……”

No matter how affectionately Yoon Chi-young spoke, Heeseong couldn’t bring himself to answer.

He was just lost in a confusion he couldn’t understand.

‘Was I not enough as a puppy…?’

Heeseong didn’t even know why he was shocked, and his eyes began to tremble as his fingertips shook.

“……”

In the end, Heeseong maintained a heavy silence all the way home.

He just kept watching the sleeping puppy in his arms to avoid looking at the brazen Yoon Chi-young. Otherwise, he felt like he would beat Yoon Chi-young to death due to the inexplicable anger boiling in his chest.

‘…Let’s stay calm.’

For now, Heeseong exercised the patience he had developed while living with Yoon Chi-young.

He couldn’t just beat Yoon Chi-young in front of the young puppy without even knowing why he was angry. First, Heeseong decided to eliminate the worst-case scenarios.

Heeseong, taking a trembling breath, called out to him in a low voice.

“…Hey, Yoon Chi-young.”

“Yeah, you’re not asleep?”

Yoon Chi-young, who was driving with one hand, asked nonchalantly. Heeseong wanted to argue how he could sleep now, but he was so choked up that no words came out. He realized for the first time that when a beastman is too shocked, they can’t even speak.

Heeseong, trying to ignore his own burning insides, asked what he feared most.

“Is this… your puppy by any chance?”

“

Pfft

….”

Yoon Chi-young burst out laughing as if he couldn’t hold it in. Heeseong, who had mustered up the courage to ask, glared at him as if he would kill him. At least for Heeseong, this was not a joke right now.

Seeing that fierce look, Yoon Chi-young barely contained his laughter and said,

“If it were my puppy, wouldn’t its fur be gray?”

“Why? You’re black.”

“You’re white.”

“Do you… think breeding puppies is like mixing paint!?”

How could this bastard make such jokes in this situation? Heeseong gritted his teeth and argued, sounding like a barking dog.

“And how can you and I give birth to a puppy!”

“We could. Medical technology is advanced these days….”

Yoon Chi-young, smiling furtively, slyly pulled Heeseong’s hand and rubbed it gently against his firm stomach. Startled Heeseong immediately removed his hand. This crazy bastard seemed to be serious, not just empty words, making his skin crawl.

In beastman society, there was indeed technology that allowed lovers of different species to have children together. Gender didn’t matter either. However, even with such technology, Heeseong was not prepared at all. Just the fact that Yoon Chi-young had brought a puppy home was shocking enough.

To put it bluntly, it felt like his lover had revealed that he was actually a married man and brought home a child he had hidden away with his partner. Naturally, Heeseong couldn’t help but be angry.

“You… think before you speak! What the hell is this puppy? Don’t tell me you’re even taking hostages?”

“A hostage… I don’t do such cowardly things.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke with an unusually serious face. As he asserted, Yoon Chi-young may have been cunning, but he never did cowardly things.

However, Heeseong could no longer trust him. Just bringing another puppy without even discussing it with him was cowardly, vicious, crafty, and shocking enough.

Of course, Heeseong also knew that bringing a puppy was not a serious matter. There could be a reason. However, deep in Heeseong’s heart, a familiar anxiety kept rising. It was his innermost fear of being abandoned, which he had been ignoring the most.

Meanwhile, the car entered the house’s parking lot. Yoon Chi-young parked the silver sports car they had been riding in next to his own parking spot, which had three of his cars. Heeseong was still gritting his teeth, trembling with anger and melancholy. He wanted to leave the puppy right there, get out of the car, and drive away. If the puppy hadn’t been asleep, he would have shouted at the yellow puppy to live well and left.

Just then, Yoon Chi-young, who had unbuckled his seatbelt, gently took Heeseong’s hand and asked affectionately,

“Baby, are you perhaps angry…?”

“…Angry?”

Heeseong, who had been glaring ahead, muttered with a fierce expression.

If asked if he was angry, of course he was. But when Yoon Chi-young asked, it felt terribly trivial and annoying. It was as if he knew Heeseong was already angry and deliberately asked to see his reaction. Heeseong turned to look at the driver’s seat, and Yoon Chi-young was indeed looking at him as if gauging his reaction. To Heeseong, even that seemed hateful, and he almost raised his fist as he did when he was a puppy.

However, he couldn’t just get angry. It wasn’t a situation to be angry about, and in fact, Heeseong himself didn’t even know exactly why he was angry.

‘Am I… perhaps jealous of a puppy?’

It was nonsense. Heeseong bit his teeth hard.

‘I’m not a puppy, so why would I?’

Heeseong was a proper adult dog. It didn’t make sense to be jealous of a young beastman. However, he couldn’t help but want to curse and beat Yoon Chi-young. If it weren’t for the sleeping puppy in his arms, he would have beaten Yoon Chi-young to death long ago.

For now, Heeseong forcibly found the most common reason for being angry and rambled incoherently.

“I’m… I’m angry because you brought a puppy without even telling me.”

“I had to bring it urgently too….”

Yoon Chi-young gently covered the back of Heeseong’s hand. He began to coax his puppy, looking pitiful and gauging his reaction.

“It’s just taking care of a homeless baby for a while, can’t we do that?”

“…Whose baby is it? Is it a beastman you know?”

“Yes. A beastman caught up in a dangerous situation.”

Yoon Chi-young whispered the following words while covering the ears of the sleeping Hodu. That action alone made Heeseong’s heart surge with an inexplicable sense of disappointment.

‘Son of a bitch.’

Heeseong thought Yoon Chi-young was only affectionate to him. Turned out he was like that to all puppies. Gradually, tears welled up in Heeseong’s pitch-black eyes. Feeling overwhelmed, Heeseong clenched his teeth and stared out somewhere.

Unaware of that, Yoon Chi-young spoke as if coaxing him.

“We only need to keep it for five days… If our puppy doesn’t like it, I’ll leave it somewhere else.”

“……”

Heeseong stared out the car window without answering. If he opened his mouth now, his voice would likely tremble with sorrow. Moreover, he didn’t even like the fact that he had become the decision-maker now. It was also ambiguous to leave a homeless puppy somewhere else in this cold winter.

Eventually, Heeseong spoke in a low voice as if giving up.

“…You said five days.”

“Yes, five days.”

Yoon Chi-young held out his pinky finger to Heeseong without being told. Heeseong looked down at that hand and muttered fiercely.

“If you don’t keep your word, your finger will be cut off.”

“Since it’s yours, do whatever you want with the puppy.”

Even with the threat, Yoon Chi-young just answered as if he liked it. Leaning on the passenger seat, he softly kissed Heeseong with a gentle smile on his face. However, Heeseong wasn’t appeased at all, and he only found him detestable for not being afraid of the warning.

“Let’s go inside.”

Yoon Chi-young, leaving a kiss, got out of the car first. Heeseong was about to follow him out, but before unfastening his seatbelt, he looked down at his arms.

The yellow puppy, wrapped in a cloth bundle due to the cold weather, was curling up and wriggling its nose. As expected of a large breed puppy, even though it was still a puppy, it was as big as a water bottle, and its body temperature was warm. Still, perhaps because it was also a puppy, the more he watched it, the more he felt a certain affection.

Indeed, as an adult, it would be right to act mature. Heeseong, who had been staring intently at the puppy, wrapped the cloth bundle again carefully and muttered in a low voice.

“…I’ll let it slide because you’re young.”

“……”

“I’m not good with kids.”

His words were stern, but his gesture of gently lifting the puppy was cautious. Heeseong got out of the car, holding the puppy gently in his arms so as not to wake it up. Yoon Chi-young, who held the door open next to him, watched with a smile on his face as if he found the sight adorable.

“A puppy taking care of a puppy.”

“You, be quiet.”

The two entered the elevator carefully, lowering their voices. Then they looked down at the yellow puppy together. They exchanged many whispers.

“It’s cute… But you’re cuter.”

“Shut up, be quiet.”

“Are you not cursing because there’s a kid here?”

Yoon Chi-young laughed annoyingly and opened his coat to hug Heeseong from behind. It was no use even when Heeseong hit his solar plexus with his elbow. Perhaps awakened a little by the noise, Hodu smacked his lips and flailed his front paws. But he didn’t wake up. He seemed to be having such a wonderful dream that he was even sleep talking. Unaware that he had fallen into the arms of a man-eating wolf and a small fighting dog.

***

5 - Epilogue 2

DMWP V2C5 Part 3

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Hodu was a young dog beastman who couldn’t even transform into a human yet.

A beastman lived in their original form from a young age and could only gradually transform into human form when they were about six or seven years old. Because of that, Hodu, who was still young, had no choice but to spend all day in the form of a puppy.

As expected of a large breed puppy, the yellow puppy was plump and overflowing, filling up Heeseong’s two hands. On top of that, he was at an age where he still ate baby food, so he required a lot of attention. Fortunately, he was at an age where he had been weaned.

The problem was that Hodu was a young child who had suddenly come to an unfamiliar place.

Awooo! Awoo, awooo!

As soon as Hodu woke up in the morning, he began to cry uncontrollably.

The young puppy was wary of Heeseong and feared Yoon Chi-young, who was taller and more imposing. Even when they tried to comfort him with snacks, Hodu desperately hid behind the curtains, trembling with his plump tail curled up. It was heartbreaking to see.

In front of him, Yoon Chi-young spoke quite affectionately while holding a bowl of egg porridge.

“It’s okay, Hodu. Come on. Let’s eat.”

Even when Yoon Chi-young gently coaxed him, Hodu panicked and hid his eyes behind the curtain.

It was understandable. Yoon Chi-young maintained a half-beast state due to his injury. Putting aside his pitch-black wolf ears and finger-length canine teeth, his characteristically strong pheromones were revealed, causing Hodu to instinctively avoid him. Hodu would howl and even shed a few tears, scratching at the glass door whenever Yoon Chi-young’s hand approached. No matter how friendly Yoon Chi-young acted, Hodu only saw him as an enemy.

“Why is he only afraid? I even suppressed my pheromones as much as possible….”

“……”

Behind the lamenting Yoon Chi-young, Heeseong delinquently hung his arm over the back of the sofa and thought with dissatisfaction.

‘Does that bastard think food is all it takes for a puppy?’

Heeseong didn’t want to help Yoon Chi-young.

In fact, if he followed his heart, he wanted to tell him to raise the puppy on his own and leave. He hated the sight of Yoon Chi-young fawning over and being kind to a puppy other than himself. Heeseong, who was sitting curled up on the sofa, turned his gaze away with a tight expression.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young brushed back his black hair and muttered worriedly.

“Strange. I’m good at taking care of puppies….”

“Good at taking care, my ass.”

Heeseong openly sneered. Yoon Chi-young’s arrogance was ridiculous.

Of course, Yoon Chi-young was indeed good at puppy care. He was good at grooming, cleaning ears, and meticulously taking care of meals.

Skinship

… Affectionate, gentle words were also frequent, and he truly raised the puppy like a king. Thinking about it, Heeseong’s irritation soared. Come to think of it, he had the right to be arrogant.

‘…It’s annoying.’

But now, the fact that his affection was directed towards another puppy kept making Heeseong feel petty and sad.

He vaguely felt that this was jealousy, but he didn’t want to assert that it was such a simple emotion. Strangely, Heeseong felt a greater sense of anxiety than that.

It was the anxiety he had felt when he thought his father would sell him off because he was frail, or when he thought he might be expelled from the pack if he didn’t prove his worth to his brother. Although Heeseong knew that those days were different from now, he didn’t like this situation itself.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young approached the sofa listlessly and sat next to Heeseong.

“Baby. Can’t you help me with the puppy a little…?”

Yoon Chi-young opened his eyes pitifully and rested his cheek on Heeseong’s shoulder. Meanwhile, Hodu’s whimpering and crying continued incessantly.

He brought the puppy on his own, and now he’s asking for help. Heeseong turned his head away, hiding his eyes that looked like they were about to cry. For Heeseong, Yoon Chi-young’s disgusting request and Hodu’s crying were both stressful. He had no idea what he was supposed to do.

“Well. You brought him, so figure it out yourself.”

Heeseong got up heartlessly and went to the kitchen to take out a glass of water.

Behind him, Yoon Chi-young seemed to be sulking, but he didn’t urge Heeseong any further. He was trying to comfort Hodu on his own again, talking to him. But Hodu just kept crying miserably.

Awoo, awoo!

As a fellow dog beastman, Heeseong could understand every word the young puppy was crying. Commonly used words could be understood even if they grew up in different packs.

‘Mommy… Daddy! Where are you?’

“……”

Tak

.

Heeseong, who had taken a sip of cold water, put down the glass irritably. His eyes were sunken with sorrow above his tightly closed lips.

Heeseong didn’t want to hear Hodu crying. It kept reminding him of the times he was left alone in a house where no one ever returned. The days when he felt only despair, knowing that crying was useless and he would be alone forever.

Indeed, he couldn’t leave things like this.

In fact, the child was not at fault. And Heeseong didn’t want another puppy to feel the same way he had felt that day. If he got angry, it should be at Yoon Chi-young, and the child should be comforted first.

Having made up his mind, Heeseong strode into the living room and transformed into a small puppy.

In an instant, his stride became smaller, and the pile of clothes he was wearing collapsed. A white puppy emerged from within, wriggling, and after dramatically shaking its body, it headed towards Yoon Chi-young.

Woof

.

‘You, go away.’

“You’ll take care of the puppy?”

Heeseong roughly nodded his head and approached Hodu. He pushed Yoon Chi-young’s thigh with his front paws to make him go away—although it had no effect—and directly approached behind Hodu’s back.

Heeseong also knew, as he was the same kind of puppy. When in puppy form, seeing a person caused tremendous pressure due to the difference in physique. From a puppy’s low perspective, only the person’s hands or feet that were held out closely were visible. It was impossible to tell who was who, and it was only frightening in an unfamiliar place, no matter how many kind words were heard.

Indeed, it was best for a similar species to comfort him.

The white puppy plopped down behind Hodu, who was pointlessly hiding his eyes behind the curtain.

‘…He’s really big even though he’s young.’

As expected, a large breed was a large breed. Now that he had transformed into a white puppy, Hodu was twice the size of Heeseong. On top of that, judging by his refined appearance, he seemed to be from a foreign Retriever family, but then again, his ears were standing upright, so he wasn’t. In any case, he was definitely a young master, but his mother and father seemed to be of different breeds.

Heeseong was curious about what breed Hodu was, but for now, he decided to calm the child first as a senior puppy.

Woof!

The white puppy barked bravely. It was to speak puppy to puppy.

At that, Hodu, who had been whimpering and crying, finally showed a reaction. He looked back with teary eyes and seemed to be intrigued by the white puppy. His short tail, which had been hidden the whole time, was also slightly raised and wagging.

Soon, Hodu approached Heeseong and carefully sniffed him with his body lowered. Still, he didn’t stop his whimpering cries, so Heeseong had to personally scold him.

Woof!

‘You! Why are you crying? Are you a baby?’

The white puppy frowned and stomped his front paw. He had intended to scold him, but when he actually saw the young one in front of him, his heart softened, and he couldn’t be too harsh.

Soon, the white puppy spoke to himself with a serious face, looking somewhere else.

‘…Well, he is a baby.’

In front of him, Hodu whimpered and lowered his body, trying to bury his nose in Heeseong’s fluffy chest fur. When the twice-as-large body pushed with its weight, the cotton ball-like body swayed. Heeseong, who had barely regained his balance, shouted at the puppy again sternly.

‘But a puppy over 1kg shouldn’t cry!’

After speaking firmly, Heeseong looked somewhere else with a serious face again.

‘…This one seems to have been over 1kg since birth.’

Meanwhile, Hodu knocked Heeseong over and buried his face in the white fluff. He must have been so happy to meet a fellow species that his short tail wagged busily, and his incessant crying subsided. The white lump only found it burdensome.

‘Ugh… Just do whatever you want.’

Heeseong was about to push Hodu away but eventually gave up. He didn’t want to be harsh on the child like he had experienced at the casino.

Moreover, he didn’t like that he seemed like the scary father he had been scolding Hodu a moment ago. The child is a child, so he should cry. Rather, it would be much more beastman-like and happier for a puppy to live by being honest and crying whenever he needed to.

Meanwhile, Hodu snuggled into Heeseong’s fluff. Since he was only young in age but twice the size of Heeseong, the white puppy struggled to be buried under Hodu as he fell over. Heeseong sighed as he barely escaped from the troublesome puppy’s embrace. Still, Hodu wasn’t crying anymore.

Now that he was comforted, it was time to feed him.

‘Come on. Let’s eat first.’

When Heeseong first showed an example by eating the egg porridge Yoon Chi-young had handed over, Hodu also ate the egg porridge with relief. Perhaps he was hungry on the inside, as he emptied the bowl of egg porridge as big as Heeseong’s body.

After eating to the point of licking the bowl clean, Hodu immediately tried to lean against Heeseong and hide in his fluff. Perhaps the stress of coming to an unfamiliar place was significant, as he excessively relied on and clung to Heeseong. Heeseong tried to push him away in annoyance, but the young one was so strong that it was insufficient to move him away like when he was buried under a pillow.

In the end, it was Yoon Chi-young who rescued the white lump buried under Hodu.

“I was wondering where my puppy went again.”

‘Stop kissing me! I hate you the most!’

Even though the puppy flailed, Yoon Chi-young showered kisses all over the white body. He didn’t forget to move the puppies to the bed and take several photos. Heeseong, who was already exhausted, had to comfort the large one snuggled up in his fluff while lying on his pink belly. Hodu was looking for his mother with babbling even after eating his fill.

‘Mommy, Daddy…’

‘…Call me

hyung

.’

‘Mommy…’

‘I said call me

hyung

.’

While the white puppy was muttering in resignation, Hodu suddenly fell asleep. He was curled up on his side, tightly holding the white lump’s body with his front paws.

Yoon Chi-young looked at the two with adoring eyes and gently removed Hodu’s front paws from the puppy.

“It’s cute… Shall we just raise him?”

‘You raise him on your own.’

The white puppy turned his head away as if sulking. Heeseong was still angry. He still hated the sight of Yoon Chi-young being happy.

Yoon Chi-young kissed the puppy’s forehead and spoke worriedly.

“Baby.”

‘What.’

“But I think I can only see a puppy of our own now… How should I take care of Hodu?”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young, who was lying next to Heeseong, gently stroked the puppy’s forehead with his fingertips. He had a smile on his face that wouldn’t leave, as if he was so happy about something.

The white puppy, whose mood had improved a little, lay down, slightly holding his wrist. The two black eyes also became misty with sorrow and relief. Heeseong had no idea why Yoon Chi-young’s simple words made him feel so reassured.

***

5 - Epilogue 2

DWMP V2C5 Part 4

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Two days had passed since living with Hodu.

During that time, both Heeseong and Yoon Chi-young had a hard time. They were so busy taking care of Hodu for two days straight. They had no idea that having a young puppy at home would cause so many accidents. It was thanks to Hodu’s strength and overflowing energy. He was indeed a puppy of a large breed.

Still, it was fortunate that Hodu quickly adapted to the house. Perhaps he had let his guard down after seeing Heeseong’s original form, as he repeated the cycle of eating, sleeping, playing, and eating again, draining the souls out of Heeseong and Yoon Chi-young. Thanks to that, the white puppy had to lie down like he was passed out, sticking his tongue out, as soon as it was Hodu’s bedtime. He had no idea that childcare would be more physically draining than work.

Naturally, there was no room to maintain the sensual atmosphere with Yoon Chi-young.

“Puppy.”

When evening came, Yoon Chi-young gently approached Heeseong, who had just finished showering.

Following him into the dressing room, his gaze on Heeseong’s clean and pure white back was unusual. Heeseong saw those eerie gray eyes through the full-length mirror but tried to ignore them and put on his clothes. He was still not entirely appeased with Yoon Chi-young for bringing another puppy.

“Shall we go on a date?”

“What about Hodu?”

“Ah…”

Yoon Chi-young’s eyes suddenly turned blank, and he shyly rubbed the corner of his mouth.

“We were kind of like a married couple…”

“……”

Heeseong didn’t even respond and finished putting on his pajamas. He knew that Yoon Chi-young’s mind was now filled with a flower garden.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young gently hugged Heeseong from behind and bit his neck. Heeseong shrunk his head in the opposite direction at the sensual sensation. Looking at the full-length mirror in front of him, he saw himself snugly nestled in Yoon Chi-young’s wide embrace. Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders, spread wide at a right angle due to the difference in physique, particularly stood out.

Below that, a brief struggle ensued. Heeseong pushed away Yoon Chi-young’s rock-solid arm that had reached his waist. However, Yoon Chi-young paid no attention and stood still, spreading his legs moderately and pressing his heavy crotch against Heeseong’s buttocks. Before long, Yoon Chi-young’s face became impatient. He growled in a low, husky voice in Heeseong’s ear.

“I’ve held back for a long time…”

“It, it’s only been two days.”

Heeseong retorted curtly, but his ears turned red. Whenever Yoon Chi-young acted like this, Heeseong also easily got aroused with a sensual feeling. Heeseong’s sexual desire was just as overflowing as Yoon Chi-young’s, if not less.

“We can just leave Hodu with someone for a bit…”

“Still, he’ll be anxious without us, mmph…!”

As if he couldn’t hold back any longer, Yoon Chi-young pulled Heeseong’s chin and hastily kissed him. Without giving him a chance, he slipped his hand under Heeseong’s pajamas and groped his scrawny chest. With his other hand, as if asking Heeseong to calm his own thing down, he pulled Heeseong’s hand and made him gently stroke the hard shaft inside the gray sweatpants.

Feeling the chilling sensation, Heeseong pressed against the rock-solid arm as if pushing it away. Seeing Yoon Chi-young act so roughly, his usual relaxed demeanor seemed like a complete lie. Heeseong, who ended up standing with his back against the mirror, took a moment to catch his panting breath. As Yoon Chi-young bit his lower lip and desperately begged, the heat spread to Heeseong as well. Just as Heeseong was about to grab Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders and kiss him…

Crash!

Woof! Wo, woof!

Suddenly, an ominous sound of something falling was heard. It was followed by Hodu’s fierce barking. The eyes of the two, who had been mixing their lips as if they would devour each other, widened. They had only left Hodu alone for about 10 minutes, but an accident had occurred.

“Hodu?”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young had no choice but to go outside and assess the situation. Left alone, Heeseong leaned against the mirror in a daze and sighed, then went outside powerlessly to take a look.

The accident had occurred in the living room. Hodu was covered in milk from head to toe, eagerly licking the bowl, while Yoon Chi-young was squatting with his large frame, carefully cleaning up the surroundings.

In the absurd situation, Heeseong asked while adjusting his pajamas.

“What is it this time?”

“I put some milk on the table to let it cool down a bit….”

Omitting the rest of the sentence, Yoon Chi-young laughed as if introducing the culprit of the accident proudly, lifting Hodu with his hands as if he was cute.

Hodu, who was drenched in warm milk and wagging his tail in excitement, was visible. Heeseong had intended to scold him sternly, but seeing Hodu so excited, an empty laugh of absurdity and cuteness escaped him.

“Go wash Hodu first. I’ll finish cleaning up.”

“No, I’ve cleaned everything. Right, Hodu?”

Yoon Chi-young smiled brightly as he lifted Hodu, who was soaked in milk. That action was affectionate. It was not much different from how he treated Heeseong when he was a puppy. Seeing that, Heeseong’s tail instantly went cold. It seemed like a lie that just a moment ago, Yoon Chi-young had been acting as if he would devour Heeseong and asking to be alone together.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young, who had organized the surroundings, left a kiss on Heeseong, who was sitting crouched, and got up. He seemed to be going to the bathroom to wash Hodu.

“You go to sleep first. I’ll wash Hodu.”

“……”

Left alone, Heeseong stood there for a long time with a frown on his face, listening to the sound of Yoon Chi-young carefully washing the puppy. His round, black eyes turned into triangles. Dissatisfaction was evident on Heeseong’s white and youthful face.

‘…If you’re going to be monogamous, shouldn’t you act modestly like a monogamous person? What, is it okay to have multiple partners if the partner is a puppy?’

Even Heeseong, who was struggling with childish thoughts, had his own accident. Huffing and puffing, he threw the towel next to him on the floor for no reason. However, since it was a complaint that no one acknowledged, Heeseong’s anger only deepened endlessly.

***

That night, the white puppy climbed onto the pillow and stared intently at the sleeping Yoon Chi-young.

“……”

Even in the darkness, the puppy’s eyes were cloudy. Heeseong couldn’t sleep all night due to worries, but Yoon Chi-young, who was sleeping so comfortably like this, was hateful.

‘…Son of a bitch.’

…Woof.

The puppy mumbled slightly. Even when cursed at, Yoon Chi-young just rubbed his head against the pillow with a comfortable face. Even in his sleep, he turned his head and pressed his upturned nose against the puppy’s fluffy chest. As his soft expression relaxed, his graceful features became even more prominent.

Looking at that handsome face, Heeseong’s eyes wavered anxiously. Yoon Chi-young. A guy with a cunning personality who even commits cannibalism when he loses his mind, and when having sex, he literally turns into a dog… But still, he was the only person and pack that Heeseong wanted right now.

‘Why are you bringing another puppy when you have me…?’

The puppy lowered his head, thinking miserably.

In fact, he knew deep down. It was no big deal for Yoon Chi-young to kindly take care of a homeless puppy. Heeseong also thought it was natural and poured his heart into treating the young Hodu well.

However, the more affectionate Yoon Chi-young was to other puppies, the more anxious Heeseong became.

It was strange. Heeseong had only come to like Yoon Chi-young, but it felt like his life was being held hostage by him. The trauma of never wanting to be abandoned again constantly shook the small puppy’s world and heart. Heeseong would be sad alone, then hate Yoon Chi-young, and get so angry that all the fur on his body stood on end.

‘…You bad bastard.’

The puppy’s panting breath roughened with sorrow. When he shed a few tears alone, the fur around his eyes became damp. The puppy looked down at Yoon Chi-young, and even his handsomeness was hateful, so he swung his front paw hard.

‘You son of a bitch!’

The puppy hit the sleeping Yoon Chi-young’s forehead hard. Still not appeased, he took three deep breaths and hit him again with his front paw. Yoon Chi-young’s softly flowing bangs touched the fluffy fur and fluttered. Each time, Yoon Chi-young’s forehead twitched.

Still, after hitting him a few times, the anger subsided. The puppy felt a little sorry and licked Yoon Chi-young’s forehead. Then, Yoon Chi-young, who had been wriggling, opened his sleepy eyes and spoke languidly like sleep talk, laughing slowly.

“Mmm… Did you give me a kiss?”

‘…Thi, this fucking….’

It was so hateful he could die. Heeseong fiercely bit Yoon Chi-young’s detestable earlobe. Yoon Chi-young pretended to be in pain, but he kissed the puppy’s pink belly and even blew a raspberry on it, unable to hold back, laughing slowly.

‘Ahhhhh!’

The puppy screamed and flailed at the fatal skinship. Even a simple belly fart was like being hit by a rough wave with his bare body for the puppy. Heeseong kicked Yoon Chi-young’s head wildly as he kept giving kisses.

‘Let go, you philandering bastard!’

“Mmm… I love you too.”

“……”

Yoon Chi-young rested his cheek against the puppy and muttered languidly as if he was just happy. The frequency of him doing this had increased since he was injured last time. The number of times Yoon Chi-young had said he loved him in the past week was more than Heeseong had heard in his entire life.

In the end, the puppy decided to let Yoon Chi-young slide just for today.

‘Needlessly increasing your cuteness….’

Though thinking delinquently, the puppy climbed onto the pillow and curled up round next to Yoon Chi-young’s ear. He circled the spot a few times to find the optimal angle to curl up, but then suddenly bit Yoon Chi-young’s earlobe hard when he wasn’t pleased with him. Each time, Yoon Chi-young would smile happily even in his sleep and gently stroke the white lump to soothe him.

That night, Heeseong poured out all sorts of sorrows while Yoon Chi-young stroked his back for a long time. Until Yoon Chi-young whispered that he loved him again. Only then could he finally feel at ease.

***

5 - Epilogue 2

DMWP V2C5 Part 5

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

‘He finally fell asleep….’

Lying on his side, Yoon Chi-young carefully stroked the puppy curled up on the pillow with his fingertips. Heeseong had been so annoyingly fussy for a while that he had completely woken up.

Yoon Chi-young smiled a tired smile, recalling the sensation of Heeseong hitting his head and the sound of him growling. The fist-sized puppy said he hated him, and honestly, while he felt sorry, he also felt sad. He was happy that Heeseong, who had been so reluctant to open his heart, was now even jealous of him, but he hadn’t expected to be hated so much for bringing Hodu.

‘Still, it’s a bit unfair…’

Yoon Chi-young had no choice but to suddenly bring Hodu. Rather, he had hidden Hodu’s identity for Heeseong’s sake.

For now, Yoon Chi-young carefully laid the white puppy in the middle of the spacious bed. He didn’t forget to cover him with his favorite microfiber blanket. The option of laying Heeseong next to Hodu was not even considered due to childish jealousy. Yoon Chi-young was a shameless guy who could be brazen even to a young child.

Exiting the bedroom, Yoon Chi-young headed to the study. There was something he needed to check.

In the dimly lit study with only the lamp on, Yoon Chi-young leaned back on the recliner sofa and called someone. While the ringtone continued, he rummaged through his pocket, wanting to smoke, but then he remembered the puppy who would nag him if he smelled the cigarette smoke, so he gave up with an annoying laugh. Due to his injury, Yoon Chi-young was being overprotected by the white puppy.

Just then, the call connected, and a familiar voice was heard.

…Yes. Director.

It was Ji Young-bae. Yoon Chi-young brushed his black hair back over his forehead with a sleepy face. His smooth nose ridge stood out, and a languid, hoarse voice flowed out.

“What’s the situation?”

We almost caught him again today but let him escape.

“Did you leave his body intact?”

We broke one of his arms.

“Ah… Nice.”

Yoon Chi-young burst into a pleasant laugh. He always handled such matters when Heeseong was not around. It was because even if the puppy didn’t show it, he would subtly keep his distance when he saw Yoon Chi-young’s cruel side.

However, this news seemed like something the puppy would like, so he felt proud. It was about Park Geon-tae.

Shall we catch and release him one more time?

“Just keep pretending to track him. That way, our dog will be stuck in a place easy for him to catch.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke leisurely while looking at his long fingers.

Park Geon-tae had already been fully tracked so that he could be caught at any time. However, Yoon Chi-young had caught and released Park Geon-tae a few times precariously, causing the forces following him to disperse.

As expected, during the tracking process, Park Geon-tae took only the large sum of money he had stolen from the casino and abandoned his followers one by one. In the end, he even left behind his girlfriend, whom he had promised to marry, after being beaten up in the parking lot, showing how desperate he had become.

Now, Park Geon-tae was completely alone, holed up in an abandoned house with barely any electricity. All that was left was to find him and finish it off whenever they wanted. The process so far was similar to preparing a big shrimp for the puppy to eat.

However, one troublesome problem had also arisen. As Heeseong had advised, Park Geon-tae was indeed crafty.

“Preparations for going into hiding?”

All preparations are complete. We plan to go in starting tomorrow morning.

Ji Young-bae answered monotonously. For the next three days, Ji Young-bae had to hide his body somewhere no one knew. The reason was because of Park Geon-tae.

“I didn’t know Park Geon-tae could use his brain like that…”

Yoon Chi-young muttered tiredly as if it was bothersome. Still, as the casino manager, Park Geon-tae had quite good information power. He had discovered a serious crime Ji Young-bae had committed in the past and tipped off some reporters and the police.

The past Ji Young-bae had unintentionally committed a crime while trying to protect his wife. It was an incident where he had killed a wolf clan that Yoon Chi-young had been trying to deal with. If Yoon Chi-young hadn’t accepted him as a member of the organization, he would have gone to prison long ago.

While the reporters could be blocked with money, the police were chasing Ji Young-bae for results, so he had to go into hiding. In the process, his identity would be forged.

I… Thank you. Director.

Ji Young-bae implied his gratitude. Yoon Chi-young rubbed his sleepy eyes and just smiled slowly. It felt new to hear one of the hardest words to hear from the very taciturn Ji Young-bae. Indeed, it seemed that anyone changed when they had someone precious, just like himself.

By the way, how is Hyeon…?

“You mean Hodu?”

…Yes.

It seemed like Ji Young-bae was about to ask, and their words overlapped. Yoon Chi-young nodded his head as if he had expected it.

Hodu was the son of Ji Young-bae, a single father who cherished him dearly. However, as Ji Young-bae was being chased by the police, he had to leave his son in a safe place separately. He was too young to be on the run and needed care.

Ji Young-bae had also worried the most about where to leave his son, but Yoon Chi-young had offered to take care of him personally. As Yoon Chi-young’s arms were the safest and most reassuring place, Ji Young-bae willingly entrusted his son to him.

Yoon Chi-young spoke in a friendly manner.

“Hodu is doing well. He cried a lot as soon as he arrived… But when the puppy personally took care of him, he ate well and played together on the carpet.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young turned to look at the mirror on the side. He could see his earlobe that the puppy had bitten.

Perhaps because Heeseong had bitten it earnestly, there was a small bite mark the size of a baby fingernail on his earlobe. Yoon Chi-young couldn’t help but laugh. The puppy was the problem. No matter what he did, he was cute, and even when he did something bad, he only looked cute and sexy.

Ji Young-bae asked gently.

Does Heeseong-

nim

know that Hyeon is my son?

“I didn’t tell him. So he keeps suspecting if it’s my child. Earlier, he was hitting me while I was sleeping….”

Yoon Chi-young spoke sullenly while rubbing his ear. At first, he really thought Heeseong had kissed him and woke up, but when he looked at the sleeping puppy again, he saw tears welling up in his eyes and realized that he had done it because he was really upset. Realizing Heeseong’s feelings to some extent, he felt like his heart was crumbling.

Still, Yoon Chi-young and Ji Young-bae thought it was better to hide Hodu’s identity.

Anyway… It’s probably better to keep it a secret. If the information accidentally spreads, you might get involved in this matter….

“Hmm…”

Yoon Chi-young nodded slightly, frowning. Concern was evident on his expressionless face with deepened shadows.

If Heeseong had known about this backstory from the beginning, he would have been deeply upset, thinking that Ji Young-bae had gotten involved in a dangerous situation because of him. In that case, it was better for Yoon Chi-young to be the bad guy.

Yoon Chi-young said with a sigh.

“Anyway, things have gotten a bit troublesome. Are you okay with that?”

It doesn’t matter. It’s something I had to do someday anyway.

Ji Young-bae spoke indifferently. He even said it was better to deal with it while his son was young.

For Yoon Chi-young, hiding it was also the way to make Heeseong live without worries for now. Yoon Chi-young’s top priority was to make the puppy with a deep inner self live without worry.

With that, Yoon Chi-young received a few more reports and ended the call. After checking the situation on his tablet, he returned to the bedroom. Looking out the window, he could see the sun gradually rising. As Yoon Chi-young and Heeseong woke up and started their day in the afternoon, now was the time to sleep well.

Returning to the bed, Yoon Chi-young checked on the sleeping puppies.

‘Hodu’s sleeping habit is much more well-behaved…’

Hodu was still sleeping flat on his back like a passed-out cushion, while the white puppy was sleeping on his side in the corner of the bed. He had definitely laid him well in the middle of the bed before leaving, but in that short time, he had rolled and tumbled to the corner.

Yoon Chi-young suspected if the bed was tilted, and carefully laid the puppy back in the middle of the bed. The sight of him sticking his tongue out a little while sleeping was lovely, and even his sleeping habit of hugging and biting Yoon Chi-young’s fingers with his front paws when Yoon Chi-young gently touched him was endearing.

“Puppy… Don’t hate me too much.”

Yoon Chi-young, who had placed the puppy in the middle of the bed, curled his tall body in the corner and whispered. Then, lying on his side, he gently stroked the puppy’s chin.

“I’ll feed you a huge shrimp soon.”

“……”

“A very delicious shrimp.”

As he spoke with a subtle smile, Heeseong twitched his snout. Whether he reacted to the word shrimp or was dreaming about eating shrimp, he lightly bit Yoon Chi-young’s finger and licked it a few times.

At that cute sleeping habit, Yoon Chi-young buried his face in the pillow and held back his laughter for a long time. He looked forward to Heeseong’s reaction when he fed him a giant shrimp.

***

Chapter 6

On the third day since Hodu came to the house, a small problem arose.

Arrr

….

Hodu, who had seen Yoon Chi-young’s original form, began to be wary of him.

However, his appearance was a little pitiful. Even though the huge wolf didn’t even enter the room, Hodu was startled and bared his teeth, and if Yoon Chi-young moved even slightly, Hodu would tremble with his tail curled up.

In the end, Heeseong had no choice but to stay by Hodu’s side and comfort him.

“He played well with Yoon Chi-young until yesterday….”

Yoon Chi-young, who had transformed into his wolf form, was lying dejectedly outside the bedroom door with his front legs crossed. The elegant wolf lay down as if guarding the door, leaving no room to pass.

Even though Hodu was afraid, Yoon Chi-young had no choice but to transform into a wolf today. It was due to the doctor’s recommendation.

Originally, he should have naturally stayed in his original form due to the injury, but Yoon Chi-young had arbitrarily remained in a half-beast state. Although Heeseong tried to stop him several times, Yoon Chi-young stubbornly refused to transform into his original form. Seeing that, Heeseong realized that Yoon Chi-young still disliked his own original appearance.

As a result, it had a negative impact on Yoon Chi-young’s body.

〈As your pheromone levels have spiked again, you must spend the next two days in your original form. If your physical condition deteriorates like this, pheromone shock can occur more easily.〉

It was a warning given by the drug-addicted doctor while trembling in front of the pitch-black wolf. That’s how much Yoon Chi-young needed to have a recovery period. No matter how fast he healed, an injured beastman had to return to their original form and rest.

Heeseong didn’t mind Yoon Chi-young staying in his original form, so he brushed it off, but the problem was Hodu.

Whimper, whimper….

Hodu, who had seen the huge wolf, clung to Heeseong and wouldn’t let go. He even growled as if protecting Heeseong, and if Heeseong tried to leave the bedroom even slightly, Hodu would cry as if he would collapse and cling to Heeseong’s wrist with his whole body.

“That wolf is not scary. You played together yesterday too.”

Even when Heeseong tried hard to comfort him, Hodu wouldn’t leave Heeseong’s side. Heeseong’s face was filled with an adoring smile at that cute appearance.

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll get hurt too?”

Hodu bit Heeseong’s collar with teary eyes and pulled him inward as if protecting him. To Heeseong, that alone made Hodu seem brave and admirable. It was natural to instinctively try to hide when seeing something unfamiliar at his age, but his attempt to protect his fellow species looked courageous. That alone was proof that he was born with the qualities of a bold dog beastman.

‘What breed is Hodu exactly?’

Heeseong knew that distinguishing beastman breeds was a discriminatory perspective, but he couldn’t help but be curious. Since wolf beastmen were greatly influenced by their bloodline, their personality and instincts differed according to their parents’ breeds.

Out of curiosity, Heeseong picked up the tablet on Yoon Chi-young’s desk.

Then he carefully looked at Hodu. A puppy with rice cake-colored fur and elegantly upright ears. Heeseong thought about what breed Hodu might be and first searched for the candidates that came to mind. From yellow Jindo dogs to Pomeranians, and even foxes just in case, he showed Hodu the photos one by one.

“Hodu, look at this.”

Heeseong comforted Hodu in his arms and flipped through the photos one by one. Perhaps because he was still young, when his attention was diverted elsewhere, Hodu quickly focused on the photos with teary eyes. Heeseong found Hodu adorable, and it also reminded him of his younger brother, who was bigger than him even at a young age, making him feel even more affectionate.

The black wolf outside couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction at that affectionate sight. With eyes that showed not only anxiety but also loneliness, he tried to draw Heeseong’s attention.

Grrr….

“Shh. You, be quiet.”

“……”

Heeseong spoke curtly without even looking at him. As if that attitude was lonely, there was a sound of the wolf roughly tearing something thin. Surprised, Heeseong looked to the side, and fortunately, it was a towel that could be torn. Heeseong turned his attention away from the wolf again and carefully showed the photos to Hodu.

Just then, there was a photo that Hodu reacted to by slightly raising his tail.

‘Mommy! Mommy!’

“Wow… So you’re a Retriever.”

With his mother being a Retriever, Hodu was truly the son of an aristocratic dog beastman family. Heeseong was curious about why such a child had met a father with upright ears and how he had come to this place… But there was no way the wolf-transformed Yoon Chi-young would answer.

‘He’s so sulky, how could he even answer….’

Now Yoon Chi-young had turned his head away, sulking and lying down. He wouldn’t even make eye contact when called, but in fact, his whole body showed signs of wanting attention.

When a beastman returned to their original form, they sought their pack more. It couldn’t be helped. In a state where they couldn’t use their hands and feet, the help of the pack became essential. Heeseong also knew that desperation, so even if Yoon Chi-young sulked, he left him alone for now without saying much.

The problem was that the wolf also had separation anxiety.

Awooo…!

Suddenly, the eerie howling of the wolf echoed throughout the house.

Even Heeseong’s tail stood on end at the low howling. Surprised, with his ears completely flattened, he looked outside the bedroom with a doubtful feeling, and the pitch-black wolf was standing there, wagging his tail slowly as if asking for attention.

“Wh-what’s with the sudden howl? You startled me….”

Heeseong stuttered, unable to hide his surprise. Although he had occasionally heard wolf howls, it was the first time he had heard Yoon Chi-young’s howl. It was a low and deep sound that one would expect to hear on a night with a full moon.

Heeseong stroked his pounding chest and first wrapped Hodu in his arms to comfort him. Fortunately, as Heeseong was a fighting dog, he was only startled to this extent, but Hodu couldn’t even make a sound and was frozen, having an accident on Heeseong’s body. Seeing the traces, Heeseong snapped angrily at Yoon Chi-young.

“You scared the kid!”

“……”

“I’ll have to wash Hodu with me….”

Heeseong grumbled and roughly cleaned up the accident with tissues before heading to the shower room.

Then the black wolf looked at Heeseong sullenly. Yet, for some reason, he was dissatisfied and scratched the carpet threateningly, walking around the surroundings roughly while growling.

Heeseong, who now knew Yoon Chi-young better than anyone else, could clearly see his inner thoughts.

‘Is he angry just because the kid accidentally marked a little?’

Sighing, Heeseong thought and took a shower first. While at it, he filled the bathtub with warm water and took a half-body bath. He wanted to soak his body a bit due to the fatigue caused by Yoon Chi-young. He put Hodu in the sink with an appropriate amount of water, just as Yoon Chi-young usually did for him. Fortunately, Hodu’s tension was also relieved by the half-body bath, and he was busy playing with a rubber duck.

Finding a moment of peace, Heeseong leaned back comfortably in the bathtub.

Outside, the wolf seemed to be still throwing a fit, as the sound of objects being dropped could be heard. Heeseong found Yoon Chi-young childish and pathetic. What was he trying to do by being jealous of a young puppy? It was not only childish but also….

‘Huh…?’

Heeseong suddenly froze, staring into the air while thinking.

‘…That’s what I’ve been doing until now.’

Being jealous of a young puppy and unable to hide it, showing it with his whole body. It was all what he had been doing.

‘I didn’t know it looked so trivial….’

Seeing Yoon Chi-young being jealous, Heeseong realized how childishly he had been acting and felt embarrassed. There was no need to be jealous or anxious in the first place.

Heeseong sank into the bathtub and became lost in thought while washing his puppy ears.

‘We’re lovers anyway, so there’s no need to be jealous of such things….’

Perhaps because their positions were reversed, Heeseong found the jealousy he had felt trivial and insignificant. It didn’t mean Yoon Chi-young’s hateful deeds disappeared, but after hearing the wolf’s howl for the first time, his thoughts changed.

The wolf was clearly calling out to him, feeling lonely. Even Hodu, whom he had taken care of with all his heart, didn’t recognize him and was only afraid, and now the wolf was alone, unable to even live properly without Heeseong. Heeseong also knew from experience how much the presence of a fellow species was needed and how lonely it felt when returning to the original form. Belatedly recalling his own curt behavior, he felt sorry towards Yoon Chi-young.

‘…Today, I should put Hodu to sleep and stay with Yoon Chi-young.’

Heeseong, who had finished washing his white ears, thought.

Now that his ears were clean, it was time to act like a mature puppy. Heeseong was the worst at being affectionate, but he vowed to do at least half of what Yoon Chi-young had done for him. Thinking that way, many things became easier.

***

5 - Epilogue 2

DMWP V2C5 Part 6

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

On the third day since Hodu came to the house, a small problem arose.

Arrr

….

Hodu, who had seen Yoon Chi-young’s original form, began to be wary of him.

However, his appearance was a little pitiful. Even though the huge wolf didn’t even enter the room, Hodu was startled and bared his teeth, and if Yoon Chi-young moved even slightly, Hodu would tremble with his tail curled up.

In the end, Heeseong had no choice but to stay by Hodu’s side and comfort him.

“He played well with Yoon Chi-young until yesterday….”

Yoon Chi-young, who had transformed into his wolf form, was lying dejectedly outside the bedroom door with his front legs crossed. The elegant wolf lay down as if guarding the door, leaving no room to pass.

Even though Hodu was afraid, Yoon Chi-young had no choice but to transform into a wolf today. It was due to the doctor’s recommendation.

Originally, he should have naturally stayed in his original form due to the injury, but Yoon Chi-young had arbitrarily remained in a half-beast state. Although Heeseong tried to stop him several times, Yoon Chi-young stubbornly refused to transform into his original form. Seeing that, Heeseong realized that Yoon Chi-young still disliked his own original appearance.

As a result, it had a negative impact on Yoon Chi-young’s body.

〈As your pheromone levels have spiked again, you must spend the next two days in your original form. If your physical condition deteriorates like this, pheromone shock can occur more easily.〉

It was a warning given by the drug-addicted doctor while trembling in front of the pitch-black wolf. That’s how much Yoon Chi-young needed to have a recovery period. No matter how fast he healed, an injured beastman had to return to their original form and rest.

Heeseong didn’t mind Yoon Chi-young staying in his original form, so he brushed it off, but the problem was Hodu.

Whimper, whimper….

Hodu, who had seen the huge wolf, clung to Heeseong and wouldn’t let go. He even growled as if protecting Heeseong, and if Heeseong tried to leave the bedroom even slightly, Hodu would cry as if he would collapse and cling to Heeseong’s wrist with his whole body.

“That wolf is not scary. You played together yesterday too.”

Even when Heeseong tried hard to comfort him, Hodu wouldn’t leave Heeseong’s side. Heeseong’s face was filled with an adoring smile at that cute appearance.

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll get hurt too?”

Hodu bit Heeseong’s collar with teary eyes and pulled him inward as if protecting him. To Heeseong, that alone made Hodu seem brave and admirable. It was natural to instinctively try to hide when seeing something unfamiliar at his age, but his attempt to protect his fellow species looked courageous. That alone was proof that he was born with the qualities of a bold dog beastman.

‘What breed is Hodu exactly?’

Heeseong knew that distinguishing beastman breeds was a discriminatory perspective, but he couldn’t help but be curious. Since wolf beastmen were greatly influenced by their bloodline, their personality and instincts differed according to their parents’ breeds.

Out of curiosity, Heeseong picked up the tablet on Yoon Chi-young’s desk.

Then he carefully looked at Hodu. A puppy with rice cake-colored fur and elegantly upright ears. Heeseong thought about what breed Hodu might be and first searched for the candidates that came to mind. From yellow Jindo dogs to Pomeranians, and even foxes just in case, he showed Hodu the photos one by one.

“Hodu, look at this.”

Heeseong comforted Hodu in his arms and flipped through the photos one by one. Perhaps because he was still young, when his attention was diverted elsewhere, Hodu quickly focused on the photos with teary eyes. Heeseong found Hodu adorable, and it also reminded him of his younger brother, who was bigger than him even at a young age, making him feel even more affectionate.

The black wolf outside couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction at that affectionate sight. With eyes that showed not only anxiety but also loneliness, he tried to draw Heeseong’s attention.

Grrr….

“Shh. You, be quiet.”

“……”

Heeseong spoke curtly without even looking at him. As if that attitude was lonely, there was a sound of the wolf roughly tearing something thin. Surprised, Heeseong looked to the side, and fortunately, it was a towel that could be torn. Heeseong turned his attention away from the wolf again and carefully showed the photos to Hodu.

Just then, there was a photo that Hodu reacted to by slightly raising his tail.

‘Mommy! Mommy!’

“Wow… So you’re a Retriever.”

With his mother being a Retriever, Hodu was truly the son of an aristocratic dog beastman family. Heeseong was curious about why such a child had met a father with upright ears and how he had come to this place… But there was no way the wolf-transformed Yoon Chi-young would answer.

‘He’s so sulky, how could he even answer….’

Now Yoon Chi-young had turned his head away, sulking and lying down. He wouldn’t even make eye contact when called, but in fact, his whole body showed signs of wanting attention.

When a beastman returned to their original form, they sought their pack more. It couldn’t be helped. In a state where they couldn’t use their hands and feet, the help of the pack became essential. Heeseong also knew that desperation, so even if Yoon Chi-young sulked, he left him alone for now without saying much.

The problem was that the wolf also had separation anxiety.

Awooo…!

Suddenly, the eerie howling of the wolf echoed throughout the house.

Even Heeseong’s tail stood on end at the low howling. Surprised, with his ears completely flattened, he looked outside the bedroom with a doubtful feeling, and the pitch-black wolf was standing there, wagging his tail slowly as if asking for attention.

“Wh-what’s with the sudden howl? You startled me….”

Heeseong stuttered, unable to hide his surprise. Although he had occasionally heard wolf howls, it was the first time he had heard Yoon Chi-young’s howl. It was a low and deep sound that one would expect to hear on a night with a full moon.

Heeseong stroked his pounding chest and first wrapped Hodu in his arms to comfort him. Fortunately, as Heeseong was a fighting dog, he was only startled to this extent, but Hodu couldn’t even make a sound and was frozen, having an accident on Heeseong’s body. Seeing the traces, Heeseong snapped angrily at Yoon Chi-young.

“You scared the kid!”

“……”

“I’ll have to wash Hodu with me….”

Heeseong grumbled and roughly cleaned up the accident with tissues before heading to the shower room.

Then the black wolf looked at Heeseong sullenly. Yet, for some reason, he was dissatisfied and scratched the carpet threateningly, walking around the surroundings roughly while growling.

Heeseong, who now knew Yoon Chi-young better than anyone else, could clearly see his inner thoughts.

‘Is he angry just because the kid accidentally marked a little?’

Sighing, Heeseong thought and took a shower first. While at it, he filled the bathtub with warm water and took a half-body bath. He wanted to soak his body a bit due to the fatigue caused by Yoon Chi-young. He put Hodu in the sink with an appropriate amount of water, just as Yoon Chi-young usually did for him. Fortunately, Hodu’s tension was also relieved by the half-body bath, and he was busy playing with a rubber duck.

Finding a moment of peace, Heeseong leaned back comfortably in the bathtub.

Outside, the wolf seemed to be still throwing a fit, as the sound of objects being dropped could be heard. Heeseong found Yoon Chi-young childish and pathetic. What was he trying to do by being jealous of a young puppy? It was not only childish but also….

‘Huh…?’

Heeseong suddenly froze, staring into the air while thinking.

‘…That’s what I’ve been doing until now.’

Being jealous of a young puppy and unable to hide it, showing it with his whole body. It was all what he had been doing.

‘I didn’t know it looked so trivial….’

Seeing Yoon Chi-young being jealous, Heeseong realized how childishly he had been acting and felt embarrassed. There was no need to be jealous or anxious in the first place.

Heeseong sank into the bathtub and became lost in thought while washing his puppy ears.

‘We’re lovers anyway, so there’s no need to be jealous of such things….’

Perhaps because their positions were reversed, Heeseong found the jealousy he had felt trivial and insignificant. It didn’t mean Yoon Chi-young’s hateful deeds disappeared, but after hearing the wolf’s howl for the first time, his thoughts changed.

The wolf was clearly calling out to him, feeling lonely. Even Hodu, whom he had taken care of with all his heart, didn’t recognize him and was only afraid, and now the wolf was alone, unable to even live properly without Heeseong. Heeseong also knew from experience how much the presence of a fellow species was needed and how lonely it felt when returning to the original form. Belatedly recalling his own curt behavior, he felt sorry towards Yoon Chi-young.

‘…Today, I should put Hodu to sleep and stay with Yoon Chi-young.’

Heeseong, who had finished washing his white ears, thought.

Now that his ears were clean, it was time to act like a mature puppy. Heeseong was the worst at being affectionate, but he vowed to do at least half of what Yoon Chi-young had done for him. Thinking that way, many things became easier.

***

After the bath, Hodu finally fell asleep.

Heeseong, who had caught his breath, quietly left the bed. Now, as the doctor had said, he had to give Yoon Chi-young his medicine.

Click

.

Heeseong, who had silently headed to the door, opened the bedroom door. Then the wolf lying in front of the door jumped up. He was waiting in the hallway like a puppy. Heeseong asked with a dumbfounded face.

“What…? Why were you waiting so pitifully?”

At the question, the huge wolf silently leaned his head against Heeseong’s waist and rubbed his cheek. The gray eyes, which usually only looked fierce, seemed quite sad. Normally, Heeseong would have only said blunt words and passed by, but this time, he bent his legs and hugged the black wolf, enjoying the peace for a while.

He felt sorry for leaving the sick Yoon Chi-young alone because of Hodu. Still, the wolf seemed to have his loneliness resolved with just one hug. The thick black tail was wagging slowly, and seeing that, Heeseong thought that the wolf only looked like a wolf on the outside, but on the inside, he was no different from a silly puppy.

Heeseong, who had been playing and kissing the wolf for a while, got up from his seat with difficulty.

“Come here. You have to take your medicine.”

Grrr….

The wolf seemed reluctant to part, breathing roughly like throwing a tantrum and circling around Heeseong. He followed Heeseong closely, even biting his butt gently, and sat elegantly next to him, waiting for the medicine. Heeseong, who had bent his knees, barely stopped the wolf from constantly licking his chin and lips, demanding kisses, and said,

“You should also take your medicine and sleep well. Don’t endure the pain.”

Heeseong prepared the medicine, although he was reluctant. The pheromone suppressant was a strong medicine. If Yoon Chi-young took the medicine, he would probably fall asleep quickly. Heeseong thought that Yoon Chi-young might be the one suffering the most since Hodu came. If it were just the two of them, the pheromones would naturally be released through sexual intercourse. He hadn’t expected a situation where he had to endure with medicine due to the combination of injury and childcare.

Heeseong thought of getting through today with just medicine and gave the medicine to the wolf. The wolf, who had swallowed the medicine obediently, was leaning his head against Heeseong’s chest as if throwing a tantrum. Heeseong stroked his long neck to help the medicine go down smoothly and slyly asked something he was curious about.

“By the way… Did everyone else find your original form this scary?”

Grrrr

….

The answer was just a growl that sounded like a tantrum. Perhaps the medicine was starting to take effect, as the wolf blinked slowly and couldn’t even stand properly. The huge wolf bumped into walls and chairs with his body while staggering, so Heeseong had no choice but to support him with difficulty and lead him to the bed in the guest room.

“Ugh… Heavy.”

Heeseong worked hard to move the huge wolf and lay him down on the bed. Then the wolf lay on his side with a thud and let out a languid sigh.

Grrr

….

Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to be in a bad mood. Even while exhaling his boiling breath, the wolf heavily rubbed his forehead against Heeseong’s chest. It was an affectionate gesture that the wolf only showed to his companion. Heeseong hugged the beast tightly and stroked his mane largely. Yoon Chi-young kept opening his sleepy eyes to confirm Heeseong’s presence.

“I’ll be by your side, so just sleep.”

“……”

“I said sleep. What kind of bed-sized wolf is acting cute?”

Even when Heeseong spoke curtly, the wolf just happily thumped his tail against the mattress. His tail was really huge and whip-like. Heeseong gently stroked the wolf’s head and stayed by his side until the medicine took effect. He had to hold the wolf’s snout with his hand to put him to sleep because Yoon Chi-young kept licking Heeseong’s lips, asking for kisses.

Soon, the wolf fell asleep peacefully. His peacefully closed eyes looked much more comfortable.

“……”

Heeseong gazed at Yoon Chi-young’s sleeping face for a long time.

A black and elegant wolf. The more he looked, the more beautiful and mysterious he seemed, like a divine creature from mythology. And such a being was feeling separation anxiety because of him. It was an ironic situation.

Heeseong gently stroked the wolf’s fluffy head and took a closer look at his appearance for once.

The luxurious mane, the elegantly upright black ears, and the finger-thick canine teeth were admirable, and the bear-like paws were also fascinating. The tail was so fluffy that at a glance, it looked as thick as Heeseong’s thigh. Despite being so sturdy, his front paws were wrapped around Heeseong’s waist, just like when he was human. He was a truly stubborn wolf. Heeseong, who had been letting out a chuckle, soon had a puzzled expression.

“…Strange.”

Looking at the wolf, who had no part that wasn’t cool, Heeseong muttered to himself unknowingly.

“Why were people so afraid of such an elegant and cool being?”

Heeseong was startled by his own words.

Originally, Heeseong was the type who had no interest in others. He was even less capable of giving compliments. But to think that he alone had recognized this aspect of Yoon Chi-young. The insight of the wolf beastmen who had only treated this elegant wolf as a scary beast without seeing his true self was completely wrong. Heeseong felt quite annoyed thinking that at least he had seen his true self.

Then Heeseong felt a subtle sense of déjà vu. It seemed like he had heard these words somewhere before….

That whisper came to mind when he saw the wolf’s fluffy upright ears.

〈Strange… Why did they abandon this cute one?〉

“……”

Yoon Chi-young had said those words when he first picked up Heeseong as a puppy. The kind eyes that looked at the puppy raised to eye level and the soft smile that drew the soft lines of his eyes were as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

Perhaps Yoon Chi-young had fallen head over heels for him from the very beginning. It would have been the same feeling as Heeseong being unable to escape from his true self and falling for him again.

‘…That’s right.’

Heeseong stroked the blackest and most elegant wolf in the world and slowly returned to the form of a small puppy. The whole world became gigantic, and the huge wolf looked even bigger until he transformed into his original form.

Heeseong, who had turned back into a puppy, worked hard to escape from the clothes. Then, with his chin comfortably resting on the huge wolf’s snout, he gazed at Yoon Chi-young with calm, settled eyes.

‘Yoon Chi-young didn’t like me just because I’m a puppy.’

The puppy rubbed his cheek warmly against Yoon Chi-young’s snout and thought.

‘…He liked me, Gyeon Heeseong, with a bad personality.’

Heeseong, who had been indifferent to all the cool wolf beastmen he saw at the casino, had a different impression of Yoon Chi-young. As the saying goes, knowing leads to love, and he changed after getting to know the real him. Just like himself, it wouldn’t be that Yoon Chi-young was drawn to all puppies. There was no need to be jealous of Hodu or fall into anxiety in the first place.

The puppy, who had been happily rolling around, buried his body deep into the sleeping wolf’s mane. Yoon Chi-young’s embrace was warm and fluffy, whether he was human or wolf. A strange guy who fell head over heels for a puppy with a bad temper and grumpy personality. But Heeseong didn’t mind that uniqueness. Rather, he was grateful to Yoon Chi-young for letting him know that he could also be loved by someone.

That’s how meaningless his jealousy and anxiety had felt.

In fact, Heeseong seemed to have been afraid. Afraid that later, Yoon Chi-young would also leave him in an empty house and go, or suddenly bring another puppy and lose interest in him. Even though he had thought he would be fine with it, the puppy’s heart still ached to the point of tears just by imagining it. So when Yoon Chi-young brought Hodu, he had been overly anxious and hated him that much.

However, when Heeseong started seeing him through the same eyes as Yoon Chi-young, he realized it was a nonsensical imagination.

And if he didn’t want to be abandoned in the first place….

‘…I can just take responsibility for him and live with him.’

The puppy, who had been buried in the black mane, raised his head with a determined face.

A new path seemed to flash before his eyes. Heeseong decided that he had to keep Yoon Chi-young by his side in his own way.

For a fighting dog, love is something to be won.

The qualification to welcome a beautiful and honest companion is given through one’s own efforts. Heeseong was a dog beastman who had received and grown up with that teaching. But after meeting Yoon Chi-young and even getting involved in meeting his parents, they were together without any promises as lovers.

‘I definitely need to leave a mark that he’s my lover.’

Indeed, it was necessary to establish the relationship. To do that, a confession was essential. Moreover, to capture his lover’s heart, he had to prove to some extent that he was a prepared puppy.

Fortunately, Heeseong had income and had already prepared the optimal safe to hide money.

First, he had to check the money. The puppy carefully left the room, leaving Yoon Chi-young behind, and headed to his own safe.

‘My money should be safe, right?’

The safe was a place Heeseong had prepared since he first came to Yoon Chi-young’s house, and it was a place where only Heeseong, as a puppy, could enter. The puppy, who had come to the living room, wriggled his butt and went under the sofa.

In the dim place, Heeseong raised his head and rummaged through the hole in the sofa bottom with his front paw. Then, heavy envelopes of money fell with a thud. It was the money Heeseong had collected by stealing the money Yoon Chi-young dropped or meticulously collecting from Yoon Jin-young, and finally, there was an occasion to use it for Yoon Chi-young.

In the meantime, thankfully, whenever Yoon Chi-young’s brother gave useless false information, he would send money. Thanks to that, Heeseong was able to securely collect money as thick as a puppy’s body every month.

‘Great….’

Fortunately, it seemed possible to prepare for the confession without further collecting money. Relieved, Heeseong grabbed the money envelope with his mouth and worked hard to move it to his room. The money was quite heavy and in large quantities, so he had to rustle around for a while. Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young was deeply asleep, intoxicated by the medicine.

Achoo!

The puppy, who had organized all the money, sneezed. It was a dusty place, so he kept sneezing. Still, Heeseong responsibly organized the money to the end. Thinking of accepting Yoon Chi-young as his official lover and supporting him, the money felt precious.

‘How will I support him….’

Yoon Chi-young had so much money that it was rotting, but he also had a severe habit of wasting money. Moreover, with a history of gambling addiction, Heeseong was deeply worried about whether he could handle the living expenses with this delinquent act.

The puppy soon shook his head to shake off his worries.

‘…No. Still, I have to support my own lover by myself.’

Heeseong strengthened his will, thinking like a fighting dog.

Heeseong had always been abandoned and betrayed by someone precious. But this time, he wanted to take responsibility for Yoon Chi-young until the end and treat him well. It was the first companion he had chosen for himself. For a puppy who never had a say in relationships, this confession held great meaning.

‘Yoon Chi-young likes shiny things, so a ring would be perfect for the confession, right?’

Now the puppy could do something for someone for the first time. The puppy emerged from under the sofa, thinking with excitement that made his whole body’s fur stand on end. After meeting Yoon Chi-young, he had gained weight, and his belly kept getting stuck in the gap, but he tried to ignore it.

***

<Epilogue 2 ends!>

6 - Extra 1: Puppy’s Shock

DMWP Extra 1 Part 1

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young hadn’t had sex for the past five days while caring for Hodu.

As a result, he had accumulated a considerable amount of pheromones. Normally, he would have endured it with medication, but the fatigue from his knife wound had built up, diminishing his patience. Yoon Chi-young had become extremely sensitive, baring his teeth whenever another beast human emitting pheromones merely passed by Heeseong.

This inclination surfaced even during a brief stop at a rest area.

Grrrr….

“What’s wrong with you again…?”

As someone brushed past Heeseong’s shoulder, Yoon Chi-young pulled Heeseong close to his chest, teeth bared. The startled passerby, likely a herbivore beast human, quickly distanced himself with hasty steps. Heeseong, who had been munching on a hot bar, looked up at Yoon Chi-young with incomprehension. The passerby seemed to have only glanced at the hot bar in Heeseong’s hand, yet Yoon Chi-young had abruptly become irritable, baring his teeth.

“Is it because of the hot bar?”

“…Yeah.”

At the puppy-like deduction, Yoon Chi-young smiled affectionately as if he had never bared his teeth. Perhaps due to his nearly nonexistent pheromones, Heeseong wasn’t easily agitated and found Yoon Chi-young’s behavior peculiar.

Still, Heeseong always took his lover’s side. Boldly extending the hot bar he had taken a bite of, Heeseong confidently declared, “Don’t get angry at some random beast human, just eat it all.”

“Then feed it to me yourself.”

“Don’t you have hands? You always want me to feed you.”

Grumbling, Heeseong nonetheless fed the hot bar into Yoon Chi-young’s mouth. It was Yoon Chi-young’s first time trying a hot bar. The cheap meat texture filled his mouth, but he pretended to eat it with satisfaction. He wanted to know how the snack his puppy had begged for at the rest stop tasted. However, having tried it, his only resolution was to ensure his puppy would only taste better meat for the rest of his life.

As they headed to the car together, Heeseong asked, “Are you struggling with pheromones again? Want me to drive if you’re tired?”

Today, the agitated Yoon Chi-young had instructed his men to keep their distance as much as possible. Naturally, they had taken separate cars, and he had driven himself. Pheromones were proof of his feral nature, so it couldn’t be helped. Not only was it his mating season, but with Heeseong as his mate, Yoon Chi-young’s territorial instincts had heightened to the extreme, making him tense whenever he sensed other pheromones nearby.

Fortunately, Heeseong was by his side. With Heeseong, who had barely any pheromones, Yoon Chi-young could maintain his composure and act more like his usual self.

“Can a puppy even drive?”

“How else would I have come to meet you the first time if I couldn’t drive? I drove a lot for work.”

Heeseong matter-of-factly replied, snatching the car keys from Yoon Chi-young’s hand.

“You look tired. I’ll just drive.”

With that bold declaration, Heeseong confidently headed for the driver’s seat.

Watching him walk with his puppy ears fluttering, Yoon Chi-young wanted to thoroughly bite and suck on him in the car. However, he restrained himself and got into the passenger seat. He planned to endure a bit longer until they reached home, where he wouldn’t let go of Heeseong all night.

Throughout the drive home, Yoon Chi-young sat twisted toward Heeseong. He couldn’t take his eyes off the puppy occasionally twitching his folded ears as he drove.

“It’s fascinating to see a puppy driving.”

“Why?”

“Usually, when you get in the car, you sit on my right thigh and hit me.”

“Why do you have to specifically mention the right thigh…?”

Heeseong grumbled, furrowing his brows fiercely. When in his original form, he had only sat on Yoon Chi-young’s right thigh, and the reason was quite awkward to explain.

In the past, when Heeseong was in pain and living as a puppy, he had inadvertently rested his head on something thick on Yoon Chi-young’s left thigh while sleeping. Upon belatedly realizing what it was, he had vehemently avoided it in disgust. If he accidentally stepped on it, he would scream and frantically wipe his paw, hitting the innocent Yoon Chi-young.

It could have ended with just disliking it, but when Yoon Chi-young shyly told him to feel free to use it, Heeseong developed an utter revulsion. If only Yoon Chi-young would keep that dog-like, brazenly speaking mouth shut, he could live up to his handsome face. Seeing him act shamelessly even after becoming lovers, it was evident that it was his true nature.

“I only mentioned the thigh because you put your hand there while driving.”

“…You’re the one who pulled my hand there!”

Eventually, Heeseong snapped, fiercely baring his teeth. However, Yoon Chi-young gleefully kissed each of Heeseong’s fingers. He couldn’t help but adore Heeseong, who always held his hand despite his grumbling.

Throughout the journey back, Yoon Chi-young endured his agitated temperament by watching the puppy drive sexily and adorably. Seeing Heeseong excited about driving such a nice car for the first time, Yoon Chi-young passed the time pleasantly contemplating what car to buy him for their next anniversary.

As soon as they arrived home, Yoon Chi-young’s trembling fingertips reached for the medicine bottle.

Pheromone Suppressant

The gray eyes gazing at the medicine were sharp with agitation, and sharp canines were visible inside his slightly parted lips. Taking deep breaths to steady himself, Yoon Chi-young attempted to swallow the pills dry.

A small, white hand stopped him.

A hand with unexpected calluses wrapped around the back of Yoon Chi-young’s hand. Turning to the side with shadowed, weary eyes, he found the small Heeseong looking up at him with an innocent face.

“…You’re taking the medicine?”

At the worried question, Yoon Chi-young’s lips curved into a faint smile despite the persistent heat rising in his body.

For now, Yoon Chi-young nodded weakly, smiling as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He couldn’t possibly say he wanted to lay Heeseong on the nearby table and devour him right then and there.

“Your body is hot again?”

“Yeah, very.”

Yoon Chi-young didn’t hide it, putting on a pitiful air as if asking Heeseong to take care of him. In truth, it required considerable patience to even say this much.

Perhaps finding his lover’s distressed state heartbreaking, Heeseong’s ears drooped back. Seeing the concerned expression made Yoon Chi-young want to bite every inch of his body. Yoon Chi-young’s chest heaved with rough breaths from arousal. Heeseong seemed slightly intimidated by the sight, hesitating as if gauging the situation, but soon resolutely snatched the medicine from Yoon Chi-young’s hand.

“Don’t take the medicine. The ingredients in this drug are really harsh.”

“……”

“Now, you have me, don’t you?”

It was a reliably reassuring sight that would have moved anyone.

The problem was that his lover was saying such things with a face as round and gentle as a puppy’s. Whenever this happened, Yoon Chi-young wanted to bite off Heeseong’s puppy-scented ears. Heeseong was clearly lovable and endearing, but Yoon Chi-young couldn’t understand why he kept feeling these violent urges in moments like these.

In the end, Yoon Chi-young pulled Heeseong into a tight embrace, overlapping their lips as if to devour him. He gently bit Heeseong’s lower lip and deeply intertwined their tongues. Cradling the back of Heeseong’s white neck, he refused to let go, as if to consume even Heeseong’s elated breaths.

“Mmph, wai…”

The kiss only ended when Heeseong turned his head and pulled away. His cheeks and lips were flushed red, likely from shortness of breath. Yoon Chi-young’s arousal was even more evident. In addition to being in a half-beast state, his gray eyes were dilated, and his breaths carried a growl like a wild animal. He deliberately guided Heeseong’s hand to blatantly rub against the heavily bulging front of his pants.

Seeing these ominous signs, Heeseong hurriedly wiped his mouth with his sleeve and spoke urgently.

“Shit, let’s do it after washing up. Don’t you know I’ve been driving for a long time?”

“I can’t hold back anymore….”

“Still, do it after washing up!”

Yoon Chi-young reached out to embrace Heeseong somehow, but Heeseong quickly fled to the bathroom. His white tail, raised above his pants, seemed to have puffed up to nearly twice its usual size, likely from tension.

Eventually, Yoon Chi-young leaned his heated head against the doorframe, swallowing a frustrated sigh. The smile on his face as he had laughed in front of Heeseong had completely vanished.

“Ha….”

It was incredibly difficult to maintain his sanity.

Staggering, Yoon Chi-young gripped the table and brushed his hair back. Glancing at the mirror to the side, he saw a depraved-looking man with shadows under his eyes, as if he had taken drugs.

Indeed, his physical condition was far from good. However, when his one and only lover told him not to take the medicine and to wait, he had to endure it for now.

‘Just a little longer….’

Yoon Chi-young mustered his patience and headed to another bathroom. If he saw Heeseong now, he felt like he would pounce on him without restraint. Yoon Chi-young entered the bathroom, not even remembering how he had removed his clothes, ultimately tearing off the cuff of his sleeve that wouldn’t come off easily.

In the shower stall, he first doused his heated body with cold water. His penis was already painfully erect, standing upright enough to touch his lower abdomen.

He considered masturbating while thinking of Heeseong but refrained out of fear that his lover would be jealous. Yoon Chi-young was envious even of the Heeseong in his imagination touching himself. So, Heeseong would surely feel the same. Yoon Chi-young’s overheated mind raced with his unique logic that Heeseong disliked. However, conversely, it made him so dizzy that Yoon Chi-young had to lean against the shower stall for a while.

After barely washing his body, he put on a robe and returned to the bedroom. Cold droplets fell from the ends of his black hair.

“Baby… Are you still washing up?”

He called out upon returning to the bedroom, but Heeseong wasn’t there. The sound of running water indicated that Heeseong was still in the other bathroom. Even normally, Heeseong took a long time to shower, meticulously washing his folded puppy ears.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been staggering, slowly toweled his wet hair and picked up Heeseong’s coat that had been casually draped over a chair, then headed to the bed. It was the coat Heeseong had worn today, and when he pressed his nose against the lining, he could still feel its warmth.

‘Heeseong’s scent….’

Groaning, he hugged the coat and lay on the bed. The smell of Heeseong’s skin, mixed with his soap fragrance, wafted heavily from the clothing. Yoon Chi-young roughly rubbed his forehead against the coat, panting with ragged breaths at the scent alone.

“Nngh, ha….”

He gripped his painfully erect penis and frantically masturbated. However, he didn’t ejaculate. He intended to save that much for Heeseong.

Only for his puppy.

With that thought, Yoon Chi-young languidly rubbed his lower body against the coat. The waiting time was sweet torture, but it wasn’t bad. In the past, when his body was hot, he would be anxious about a pheromone shock, unable to sleep for days. But just having Heeseong nearby, Yoon Chi-young could feel at ease.

Click.

Just then, the sound of the bathroom door opening indicated that Heeseong had finished showering. The room was filled with the refreshing scent of water. Heeseong’s footsteps approached as he shook the water from his hair.

“…Asleep?”

At the question, Yoon Chi-young deliberately remained silent, lying down and groaning pitifully to appear helpless. He was curious about the reaction of the puppy, whose emotions were straightforwardly displayed.

Heeseong could be felt climbing onto the bed on all fours, approaching him. He seemed to be carefully examining the area around Yoon Chi-young’s face, his panting breaths felt close to his cheek, just like when he was a puppy.

“Are you really asleep?”

There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.

Sensing that tone, the corners of Yoon Chi-young’s mouth almost lifted. He wanted to wait a bit longer for Heeseong’s reaction and then tease him about what he had been expecting.

“……”

When Yoon Chi-young showed no response, Heeseong was felt cautiously lifting the blanket.

Then, he felt Heeseong poking his exposed chest through the gap in the robe, as if checking the ripeness of a fruit. The sound of nervous gulping could be heard, like a child doing something naughty.

Soon, the finger poking his chest increased to three, slowly caressing his solid abs. The touch of fingertips continued downward sensually.

“Your body is unnecessarily fit….”

It seemed Heeseong liked the sensation, as his puppy tail wagged back and forth, the breeze it created brushing against Yoon Chi-young’s thigh. Yoon Chi-young knew Heeseong enjoyed his well-trained body, so he endured the ticklish sensation and waited, pretending to be asleep.

‘Just a little closer….’

Although his body was burning to the point of dizziness, Yoon Chi-young waited for Heeseong to snuggle into his arms, intending to roughly pounce on him the moment he did.

And with the thought of not letting go of Heeseong all night, Yoon Chi-young contentedly welcomed the warmth of Heeseong nestling into his embrace. He wanted to knot Heeseong, filling his small belly to the brim.

Just as his reason was fading,

Yoon Chi-young’s memory abruptly cut off, flickering.

***

6 - Extra 1: Puppy’s Shock

DMWP Extra 1 Part 2

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

“……”

When Yoon Chi-young opened his eyes again, he was awakened by the clear sound of birdsong. His body felt incredibly refreshed, and the sunlight seeping through the gaps in the blackout curtains felt unusually significant.

However, simultaneously, a gut feeling that something was amiss swept through his entire body.

‘…What is it?’

Strangely, the room was bright.

It was definitely late at night when Yoon Chi-young returned home with Heeseong. He had only closed his eyes for a moment, but now it was morning. He thought this was rude to Heeseong. He firmly believed that Heeseong must have been looking forward to their time in bed as much as he had.

Nevertheless, it seemed that Heeseong’s expectations had been met. Yoon Chi-young rarely opened his eyes wide in surprise as he looked down at his embrace.

“Ah…”

In his arms, Heeseong was lying naked, his body in a complete mess. There were bite marks all over Heeseong’s fair and smooth body. His entire body was covered in red and purple marks, one side of his chest was swollen, and his buttocks were particularly ravaged. His bottom was still flushed red, and the vicious bite marks were vivid.

“……”

Moreover, their lower bodies were still connected.

These were common traces that appeared after intense lovemaking. Yoon Chi-young stared in disbelief at the small buttocks tightly enveloping his manhood. Suddenly, he felt not only wronged but also horrified.

‘What on earth happened?’

He couldn’t remember anything from last night.

To have had sex with his lover and have no memory of it at all. Yoon Chi-young, with a gravely stiffened face, tried to recall his memories. However, nothing came to mind in the pitch-black darkness of his mind. Even when he tried to recall his last memory, it ended with Heeseong coming out of the bathroom and caressing him.

Then, there was only one possibility.

Pheromone shock.

Yoon Chi-young, his face turning pale, hastily checked Heeseong’s body first.

He pulled back the blanket, counted the ten fingers of Heeseong who was lying on his side to make sure they were all there, and checked his fair and soft body several times for any other injuries. However, apart from the red and purple erotic marks, Heeseong was fine.

Rather, as their connected genitals moved, perhaps stimulated, Heeseong breathed erotically and opened his eyes, looking disheveled.

“……”

“…Darling?”

Yoon Chi-young, whose eyes met Heeseong’s, erased his serious expression and smiled awkwardly. However, Heeseong’s relaxed face crumpled instantly, and eyes filled with anger could be seen.

“You beast…”

Heeseong, who had murmured quietly, immediately pushed Yoon Chi-young away and escaped from his embrace. As he pulled out his penis, he let out a faint moan and fled, immediately climbing onto the dog bed below the bed and transforming into a puppy.

However, the puppy seemed so exhausted that it struggled to climb onto the dog bed. In the end, Yoon Chi-young had to support the round buttocks with his hand first. Heeseong, as if even that was resentful, fiercely bit Yoon Chi-young’s hand, but soon fell asleep as if fainting, biting his fingers and lying on the cushion.

“Ah…”

Beside him, Yoon Chi-young was frozen, unable to even think of comforting Heeseong.

Although his body definitely felt refreshed, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t help but be shocked by the new pheromone shock symptom.

***

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Yoon Chi-young couldn’t properly remember what happened the night before. It was the same during their first time having sex.

However, it wasn’t as if he couldn’t remember anything at all like this time, and his memory was patchy as if he were drunk. He vaguely remembered that Heeseong had felt so good that day that he had thrust into him like a dog. Or that he had really become a beast. Since his memory of that night was hazy, he was unsure of what he had been like.

As his memory was fragmented, there were many unfamiliar traces as well. Once, when he hugged Heeseong from behind in the elevator, Yoon Chi-young’s eyes changed upon seeing the tooth marks left on the back of his fair neck.

〈…Who did this?〉

Yoon Chi-young asked in a low voice as he pulled down the collar at the back of Heeseong’s neck.

〈……?〉

However, far from being surprised, Heeseong looked back with a pitying face. Then, with that gentle and innocent face, he even bared his canine teeth and asked softly.

〈…Who else could it be?〉

〈Is it someone I know?〉

〈It’s you, you did this!〉

That day, Yoon Chi-young was scolded quite a bit by the puppy.

However, Yoon Chi-young really couldn’t remember, so he asked several times if he had really done it, if Heeseong was hiding something. Thinking it was a joke, Heeseong transformed into a puppy when they got home that day, stepped on Yoon Chi-young’s face as he lay down, and bit his proud nose. Yoon Chi-young was happy no matter how the puppy expressed its anger, but on the other hand, a corner of his heart felt uneasy.

He was afraid that one day he might hurt the puppy and not remember it.

From that day on, Yoon Chi-young started taking pheromone suppressants again. At least when he took the medication, he had clear memories of what happened throughout the night.

Moreover, Yoon Chi-young also sought advice from his attending physician. The once-renowned doctor nodded, saying it was something that could sufficiently happen.

〈Director Yoon, you have a naturally strong pheromone, and since you are currently in heat, it’s possible that you can’t control yourself and your memory may be inaccurate to that extent.〉

〈Even though we had relations more than once a week as recommended?〉

At the question, the specialist looked at Yoon Chi-young, who had only been afraid all his life, like a young boy for the first time.

〈Wolves who have welcomed their first companion often lose self-control.〉

It meant that as his first experience was late, his body was heated and he had difficulty regulating it.

Such a thing was common among purebred wolves, but Yoon Chi-young, who had always been alone, had no adult to advise him and had not known until now.

Still, since Heeseong had not been hurt, Yoon Chi-young tried to endure with medication. He believed that once this winter passed and his heat ended, there would be no problem.

However, the incident occurred just 5 days after he stopped taking the medication.

“……”

Yoon Chi-young had not been in his right mind since he woke up that morning.

Even while lying in the bubble-filled bathtub, he couldn’t relax his serious expression.

Splash.

In contrast, the puppy was splashing around near his broad shoulders, trying to find the optimal spot for a half-bath and leaning against him. Since waking up, Heeseong had been staying in his original form due to exhaustion.

However, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t even think of washing the puppy as usual, lost in deep thought.

‘What was my last memory from last night?’

Yoon Chi-young tried to recall the memories of the previous night with a gravely stiff face. He had even made love to Heeseong. Moreover, the puppy had first snuggled into his arms, but he had no memory of what happened after that.

Honestly, Yoon Chi-young felt as if he had just slept and woken up refreshed. If his manhood hadn’t been buried in Heeseong’s buttocks when he woke up, he would have thought the puppy was deceiving him, as his memory was a clean blank. It was exactly like the symptoms of pheromone shock.

“…Ha.”

Frustrated, Yoon Chi-young brushed back his wet hair and pressed his forehead. A new symptom of pheromone shock had appeared. He felt disgusted with himself, as if he were no better than a beast. He frowned painfully with despair and clenched his teeth, creating thick lines on his cheeks.

Perhaps concerned about Yoon Chi-young, the puppy that had been lying languidly on his shoulders licked his cheek slightly. Yoon Chi-young, who had finally gained a sense of reality, poured warm water on Heeseong’s round back and asked.

“Darling.”

Woof…

The puppy on his shoulder responded weakly as if asking why he was calling. Yoon Chi-young didn’t want to disturb his exhausted lover, but there was something he had to know for sure.

“You really aren’t hurt anywhere?”

As he asked, he gently lifted the lump on his shoulder with his hand. Although the puppy looked smaller with its wet fur, it was baring its teeth slightly, covered in bubbles like cotton candy. Its furrowed brows clearly showed that it didn’t want to be bothered.

However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t give up and checked the puppy’s body here and there. He examined its four legs, plump pink belly, and even lifted its tail to check its bottom. Of course, the puppy didn’t stay still either.

Woof!

‘Stop it!’

Now, Yoon Chi-young could understand about 5 of the words the puppy said most often. Moreover, Heeseong was struggling with all his might, so he had no choice but to let go. Yoon Chi-young could never win against Heeseong’s temper.

The puppy, which had settled back on Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder, still seemed dissatisfied and leaned its body against one of Yoon Chi-young’s knees that protruded like an isolated island while swimming through the bubble water. That sight was so cute that Yoon Chi-young wanted to hug it right away, but he had to solve the serious problem first.

“I wasn’t scary last night, was I?”

“……?”

Yoon Chi-young asked with a tired face, resting his head on his arm on the edge of the bathtub. Perhaps reading his anxious tone, the puppy looked back, and their eyes met. It seemed to have belatedly sensed that something was amiss.

Eventually, Heeseong, who had been in puppy form all along, shook his body and slowly transformed into his half-human form. Yoon Chi-young could never take his eyes off him whenever he changed into a human. The fist-sized puppy transformed into a handsome man with fair skin, blinking his gentle eyes and looking closely at Yoon Chi-young’s face. Heeseong was sitting on Yoon Chi-young’s waist, frowning as if puzzled.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young.”

Heeseong called out first, but Yoon Chi-young first traced the red and purple kiss marks left on his collarbone with his fingertips. He couldn’t believe he had left traces that he had no memory of. His grey eyes were frozen in shock.

Heeseong brought his gentle face close to Yoon Chi-young as if telling him to get a grip.

“Are you… having trouble remembering again because of the pheromone shock?”

“……”

Belatedly, Yoon Chi-young nodded with a tired face. His handsome features, imbued with the lines of a beautiful man, were filled with melancholy.

Perhaps feeling sorry for him, Heeseong sighed and pressed his forehead against Yoon Chi-young’s. Even though he wouldn’t even spare a glance when Yoon Chi-young was usually begging for attention. Yet when Yoon Chi-young’s heart was heavy, Heeseong would approach him, making his heart warm. This was why Yoon Chi-young couldn’t help but fall for Heeseong over and over again.

Heeseong, who had been rubbing foreheads, snuggled deeply into Yoon Chi-young’s broad embrace.

“I’m fine, so stop worrying.”

His whispered voice was resolute as always, but it trembled slightly as if shy.

“An, anyway, it, it was good, so it’s fine.”

“It was good?”

“…Yeah.”

At the hesitant answer, interest gleamed in Yoon Chi-young’s eyes.

Disbelieving those words, he tried to lift Heeseong slightly to see his face, but Heeseong clung tightly to his embrace and wouldn’t let go. Yoon Chi-young couldn’t suppress his laughter upon discovering the reddened tips of Heeseong’s ears.

“What was good? Hm?”

“…Are you teasing me? If it was good, then it was good. Stop asking.”

Perhaps irritated by the laughter, Heeseong spoke forcefully with a flushed face.

“You don’t think I can handle that much?”

Belatedly lifting his head, Heeseong asserted his pride.

Yoon Chi-young shouldn’t have probed or asked further here. He wanted to respect and be loved by his lover, who had grown up as a fighting dog. But he could be more careful from now on by taking more medication.

“I’m just worried the puppy might have gotten hurt.”

“After leaving so many kiss marks, you’re pretending to be worried…”

Heeseong grumbled but showed no signs of displeasure. His complexion also just looked tired, the same as usual.

Only then did Yoon Chi-young feel relieved and carefully engaged in a kiss with Heeseong. Thinking that Heeseong’s kissing skills were gradually improving, he licked the tiny canine teeth with his tongue and left butterfly kisses. Soon, he whispered with a hint of laughter.

“Still, for the time being, I should stay in my wolf form to stabilize my pheromones completely…”

“You’re that concerned?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t mind your mistakes…”

“What mistakes?”

At the question, Heeseong didn’t answer. There was only a hesitant air about him. However, he didn’t say anything more and just leaned against Yoon Chi-young’s embrace.

Yoon Chi-young hugged Heeseong tightly. He knew that Heeseong wouldn’t speak for his sake anyway. This was why he had to reduce his pheromones even more. He never wanted to experience again not remembering the mistakes he had made to his lover all night.

“What if you get hurt next time because of this?”

“What is there for me to get hurt by…”

Although Heeseong grumbled without much concern, he couldn’t dissuade Yoon Chi-young any further. He knew that Yoon Chi-young was suffering from pheromone shock.

However, he also knew that pheromone suppressants were strong medications, so he thought it would be better for Yoon Chi-young to stay in his original form. Although his own burden would increase if Yoon Chi-young stayed as a wolf, he wanted to take responsibility for Yoon Chi-young as a pack, just as he had always comfortably stayed as a puppy.

Heeseong wiped Yoon Chi-young’s cheek with bubbles.

“Do as you like.”

As soon as he said that, Yoon Chi-young, who smiled comfortably, kissed him. The bubbles that touched each other’s cheeks rubbed softly.

“Kiss me.”

“Stop being so cute.”

Heeseong spoke brusquely, even though Yoon Chi-young hadn’t even acted cute. That meant he cherished Yoon Chi-young that much, so Yoon Chi-young shared affectionate butterfly kisses with Heeseong, the corners of his mouth raised.

However, Yoon Chi-young’s fingertips holding Heeseong’s waist under the bubbles were trembling anxiously.

“……”

He was indeed afraid because he had no memory of last night.

To be precise, he was afraid that he might have done something terrible to Heeseong. And knowing that Heeseong, who only knew how to look at one person as a puppy, tended to hide the truth for his sake, he couldn’t feel at ease at all even when told that it was alright.

In the end, after getting out of the bathtub, Yoon Chi-young immediately called his attending physician. It was to examine Heeseong rather than himself.

***

6 - Extra 1: Puppy’s Shock

DMWP Extra 1 Part 3

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Yoon Chi-young voluntarily decided to stay in his wolf form.

As his injuries had not yet fully healed, he should have remained in his original form for a while. Even the drug-addicted doctor didn’t spare Yoon Chi-young from nagging.

“Your pheromone level is… 682. It’s the lowest level I’ve seen from you, Director Yoon, but due to your injuries, I think you should stay in your original form for at least 5 days. If you keep transforming, the wound recovery will inevitably be delayed.”

The doctor recommended staying in his original form for at least 5 days. The goal was to take this opportunity to stay in his original form while recovering from his injuries and lower his pheromone levels to normal.

Consequently, the position of the Watcher was vacant for 5 days. Yoon Chi-young had already taken time off work due to his previous injury, and now he was unable to handle work again.

However, he didn’t completely let go of work. Since the Watcher had a companion, he could officially entrust the work to him.

“Do I really just have to hand over the documents?”

Grrrr.

Heeseong, who had taken the position of the Watcher, asked skeptically. Beside him, Yoon Chi-young, who had transformed into a huge wolf, was comfortably resting his head on Heeseong’s chest as he sat on the chair.

The puppy, who would be taking on the role of Watcher today, seemed very unfamiliar with Yoon Chi-young’s work. Originally, all he did was play on the cushion placed on one side of the desk and threaten the troublemakers. But now that he had the Watcher’s job in his hands, he was deeply moved.

“When I first came here, you were killing people by beating them…”

‘I didn’t kill them back then.’

The wolf growled words that Heeseong couldn’t understand. As he innocently opened his grey eyes, Heeseong carefully read the documents while roughly petting the wolf’s head with his other hand. Seeing his beautiful brows furrowed, it seemed he felt burdened by taking on the job.

On the other hand, Yoon Chi-young’s eyes were delighted.

‘It looks like the puppy has more aptitude for the Watcher’s job than me.’

When he dressed the puppy in a sharp black suit and even had his hair brushed up over his forehead and seated him in the chair, he looked exactly like a young boss. His handsome face looked bright and sharp, but due to his intense black eyes befitting a fighting dog, he didn’t look easy to deal with at all. The wolf smiled leisurely and slowly rubbed his head against Heeseong’s chest. He liked both the puppy whose toes barely touched the floor due to the height difference when sitting in his own chair and the puppy skillfully giving orders to the wolf organization members. He wished he had entrusted Heeseong with the role of acting Watcher sooner.

“So… do I really work like you?”

‘Yeah.’

The wolf nodded his head as if entranced and quietly accepted Heeseong’s touch. He wanted to agree to anything because Heeseong looked sexy in a neatly fitted suit.

Anyway, the tasks Heeseong would be doing today were selectively easy, so there were no worries. Even if someone came to the Watcher’s office, Heeseong just had to blankly show his face.

However, as soon as the first visitor, a bear beastman, arrived, Heeseong really worked like Yoon Chi-young.

“Are you… the acting Watcher?”

“Yes.”

The bear beastman, unable to hide his bewilderment with his large build, only looked at Heeseong’s fair and gentle face and smiled inappropriately, unlike usual. He casually sat in the front seat with his legs spread and easily brought up the main point.

“I had something to report anyway.”

“Something to report…”

“I want to roll over the money I borrowed last time for another month.”

“……”

Unlike when facing Yoon Chi-young, the tone used when dealing with Heeseong was severely light. It seemed he was being arrogant, unaware of the existence of the wolf transformed Yoon Chi-young lying at Heeseong’s feet.

Yoon Chi-young, wondering if the puppy’s feelings might have been hurt, was about to raise his head slightly to see his expression. He was about to bare his canine teeth, thinking he should step in.

“You’re boldly saying you’ll embezzle money.”

Clang!

Heeseong smashed the bear beastman’s head with an ashtray. There was no way a fighting dog would let a remark that seemed to look down on him slide.

Yoon Chi-young rarely watched the situation with surprised eyes, his wolf ears flattened back in excitement. Heeseong was confidently approaching the bear beastman, who was twice his size.

“President Shin, just because you don’t see Yoon Chi-young doesn’t mean you can break your promise about the money.”

“Ugh… that’s not what I meant, ack!”

Heeseong kicked the bear beastman’s stomach, and managed to receive the payment on the spot. His skill at taking the lead and threatening was not ordinary.

Moreover, he didn’t forget to convey cautionary greetings to the purebred wolves who came to pay their respects, just like Yoon Chi-young. When he spoke while exerting his energy like a fighting dog and stroked the wolf lying on the black sofa to the fullest, the visitors, one hundred out of one hundred, couldn’t hide their tension and lowered their tails. It was partly because they were seeing Yoon Chi-young’s huge original form for the first time, but they couldn’t easily deal with Heeseong who gently handled that wolf. They knew that as wolves were one body and mind, the Watcher’s companion held that much power.

“Phew, work is quite tiring.”

Heeseong, who had excellently finished his work, said while gently loosening his sternly hardened face.

“I didn’t know you worked so hard. I thought you were always playing with the beastmen.”

‘I was playing with them, darling.’

Yoon Chi-young mumbled words that Heeseong couldn’t understand and beautifully rested his cheek on his waist. Even though Heeseong must have been exhausted from being tormented by him last night, he worked hard, so Yoon Chi-young found him lovely and was grateful.

And the puppy also seemed quite satisfied, as if he felt a sense of reward from doing a job that suited his aptitude. Heeseong, who had comfortably unbuttoned the top of his shirt, said ambitiously as he took out a black card from his wallet.

“Since I earned money, I’ll buy you a meal.”

‘You’ll buy me a meal? With my card?’

The wolf couldn’t hide his delight at the words of the one-day puppy. Wagging his tail, he circled around Heeseong and licked his cheek. Although the organization members were startled to see that aegyo, Yoon Chi-young didn’t care about their gazes and went to a restaurant with Heeseong. They chose a menu that would be nutritious for Yoon Chi-young.

However, there was one obstacle.

“They say entry is prohibited for those in their original form for the consideration of other customers…”

Heeseong, who had been searching on his phone, said regretfully. It was a place Yoon Chi-young frequently visited, specializing in beef dishes.

Usually, beastmen didn’t often reveal their original forms in public places, but even if they did, they didn’t mind much. Since the original form was an appearance they comfortably maintained at home, other beastmen would view it as, “That person came all the way here in their pajamas.”

However, in situations where formality mattered, beastmen in their original forms were often not accepted. Especially predators were more likely to be rejected.

“What should we do? Should we sneak you in…?”

Still, Heeseong seemed to want to bring the wolf, slightly lifting the coat he was wearing. It seemed he was trying to imitate how he usually carried Heeseong inside his jacket.

Yoon Chi-young was just happy that Heeseong was taking care of him, regardless of how he brought him along, so he rested his head on Heeseong’s chest and looked up at his face. By entrusting the lead to the puppy like this, life felt easy for the first time.

In the meantime, Heeseong couldn’t find a way to sneak Yoon Chi-young in. But he didn’t give up and went to the restaurant.

“I, I’m sorry, but our restaurant prohibits entry for those in their original form.”

The restaurant staff trembled but dissuaded Heeseong. Although the wolf next to him, larger than an adult man, would be frightening, it was admirable how he mustered up the courage to stop Heeseong.

However, Heeseong was a customer who had even made a reservation.

“He’s a patient and needs to stay in his original form.”

The wolf, listening to Heeseong’s words, pondered for a moment and slightly lifted one front paw, pretending he couldn’t use it. There were also stitches on his shoulder, so he was indeed a patient. However, the staff refused again, perhaps because they had already seen him walking fine.

Heeseong didn’t give up and tried to persuade them.

When he said, “He’s not ferocious at all and is well-behaved. He’s very affectionate,” the staff still looked troubled and shook their head.

Even the words, “He has a lot of muscle, so he doesn’t shed fur,” didn’t work at all.

Heeseong, deep in thought, belatedly recalled an important fact.

“He’s Yoon Chi-young.”

“We will guide you to the private room.”

Only then did the staff politely guide them.

Come to think of it, the restaurant belonged to Yoon Chi-young. This building itself was his property, and Heeseong wondered why he had forgotten that.

Still, the fearful gazes of the beastmen couldn’t be avoided. The staff, seeing a wolf as large as a wild bear, were all busy lowering their tails and backing away. One staff member even screamed in the hallway and dropped the cup they were serving. The wolf silently stood in front of them and waited until they cleaned up the cup. He could maintain a calm attitude because it was a familiar situation.

Rather, it was Heeseong who expressed his dissatisfaction, frowning fiercely.

“Why are people afraid of you? I don’t understand.”

Heeseong, who witnessed the scene, muttered incomprehensibly while roughly stroking the huge wolf’s mane.

“You’re so fluffy.”

‘Am I a mattress?’

The wolf, upon hearing Heeseong’s words, chuckled with a growl. Although it was a ridiculous remark, he was just happy knowing it was Heeseong’s own way of expressing affection, albeit clumsy.

Food was served in front of the two who entered the private room. As it was a place Yoon Chi-young frequented, the course meal was immediately prepared without an order. Among them was a shrimp dish that Heeseong liked.

“Shrimp isn’t on the menu here, but I’m so glad it comes out by default.”

‘I specially added that.’

“Huh? What did you say?”

‘You’re cute when you can’t peel shrimp well.’

Yoon Chi-young thought it wasn’t bad to mumble to himself. He seemed to understand why the puppy stubbornly mumbled even when Yoon Chi-young couldn’t understand. It was quite fun to say anything when the other person reacted attentively even if they couldn’t understand.

“Here, you eat the shrimp first.”

Heeseong gave the poorly peeled shrimp to the wolf first. For the first time, Yoon Chi-young felt a strong conviction that the puppy loved him.

Afterwards, Heeseong continued to diligently take care of Yoon Chi-young. He personally cut the beef into large pieces and fed it to him, and even separated the meat from the abalone that came with it. Unlike when Yoon Chi-young took care of the puppy, Heeseong’s touch was rough, but still, Yoon Chi-young found it strange how well Heeseong took care of him.

‘Aren’t you afraid of me?’

The wolf, who had been obediently receiving the food, asked through body language.

Sitting on the chair in the form of a huge wolf, he ended up looking down at Heeseong. However, far from being scared, Heeseong even held out the meat in front of the canine teeth as big as his own fingers. The staff serving the food couldn’t hide the fact that they were frightened, but it was amazing how Heeseong, who had almost been in danger the previous night, was unfazed.

Heeseong said while eating ribs.

“What are you saying? I can’t understand, so speak human language.”

‘I’ve never told the puppy to speak human language.’

“Are you cursing? …Do you want to keep growling at your lover?”

‘Am I your lover? Even when I’m in my original form?’

Happy with those simple words, the wolf leaned his head against Heeseong and fluttered his fluffy tail.

Seeing the other person unfazed even by his original form, he couldn’t help but act like a puppy. Even when Heeseong pushed him away, saying he was heavy, the wolf persistently wagged his tail and acted cute. Since he couldn’t express it in words, he had to show it through actions.

‘Puppy… do you like me even if I can’t remember my night work?’

The wolf asked, intently gazing at Heeseong with his gray eyes. The black eyes seemed exceptionally deep as if taking in the wolf at a glance. Yoon Chi-young met his eyes as if being drawn into them. He couldn’t take his eyes off Heeseong, who looked at him without a care in the world with his gentle puppy-like face.

Soon, Heeseong puffed up the charming fat under his eyes and smiled playfully.

“Did you ask something like if I still like you?”

“……”

“I like it because you eat well, so eat quickly.”

Heeseong smiled brightly and held out a large piece of meat.

Upon seeing that, the elegant wolf abandoned table manners for the first time. The wolf gently bit Heeseong’s hand without hurting him. Among wolves, it meant they cherished and loved you, but for Heeseong, it was just startling.

“Ack!”

Heeseong, who was surprised, perking up his puppy ears, seemed embarrassed by his own surprise and huffed with a flushed face. Still, when the wolf expressed affection by rubbing his head and saying he loved him, he seemed to calm down a bit.

“Are you a puppy? Why do you keep causing trouble and acting cute?”

‘The puppy I know used to cause trouble and curse….’

The wolf slyly spoke his true thoughts, but fortunately, Heeseong couldn’t understand. Thinking it was just aegyo, Heeseong, who had been violently stroking the huge wolf’s ears as if pulling out a radish, said.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young. I realized something this time…”

Then, sighing as if there was no choice, Heeseong exhaled. It wasn’t a sign of displeasure. Rather, he put his arm around the wolf sitting next to him and spoke softly.

“When I was living as a puppy, no matter how much trouble I caused, you always laughed and said it was okay.”

‘Because you’re my puppy.’

He spoke as if it were obvious, and Heeseong smiled quite maturely.

“I think it’s my turn this time.”

The puppy said as if he would fully accept Yoon Chi-young, but in Yoon Chi-young’s eyes, he just looked cute. Heeseong was definitely in human form, but he still looked small, so it felt like a one-day puppy was trying to take care of him.

Still, there was one thing that bothered him.

‘Are you doing this because of the trouble I caused that day?’

The wolf tilted his head towards Heeseong out of curiosity. It seemed he had made some mistake last night, but since he had no memory of it at all, he was only puzzled.

He wondered if he had made a mistake when his pheromone shock was triggered, but since it was obvious he would have acted like a beast, that in itself would have been the mistake. Yoon Chi-young thought that for the sake of Heeseong, who understood him, he should definitely reduce his pheromones this time.

…The ordeal came at night.

Something more difficult than not being able to use his hands occurred to Yoon Chi-young. It was none other than Heeseong’s unintentional seduction.

“Why are you trying to sleep separately? Sleep with me.”

The wolf flinched at Heeseong’s bold request.

Yoon Chi-young was preparing to sleep on the floor next to the bed, not on the bed. Heeseong seemed quite disappointed by that.

“Are you really going to sleep on the floor?”

The wolf slowly blinked his eyes, indicating that was indeed the case. Heeseong, who had learned a bit of the wolf’s body language from the organization members, such as “yes” and “no,” made a face of incomprehension.

“Why sleep separately? Is it too hot when I hug you?”

‘If that were the only reason, I would have just slept with you.’

Yoon Chi-young was puzzled. Clearly, last time, Heeseong had been ravaged by him when he lost his mind, but he seemed unfazed.

‘Is it because he grew up as a fighting dog and has no fear?’

Or perhaps it was because he was truly a one-day puppy and had no fear. However, when Yoon Chi-young first experienced pheromone shock, he recalled the puppy even hiding under the bed in fear, so he didn’t think that was the case either.

In the end, the only reason that came to mind was that trust had formed because they had become lovers.

“Just sleep together. Come here.”

If that weren’t the case, Heeseong wouldn’t have fearlessly lain on the gray bedding with his white body, seducing Yoon Chi-young.

In fact, Heeseong had spoken as usual, but even that was fatal to the wolf, whose body was already heated up. Heeseong’s white gown was open, fully revealing his plump, fleshy thighs. Yoon Chi-young, who knew the soft touch of the inside of those thighs, was going crazy. Due to the habit of rubbing his genitals there countless times, it seemed his eyes were spinning just from seeing the white flesh.

As the wolf shook his head, circling the room as if anxious, Heeseong said with a mischievous smile.

“You can’t sleep without me anyway.”

Grrrrr.

In the end, only Yoon Chi-young became impatient. Even the sight of Heeseong resting his cheek on the soft duvet and smiling playfully was lovely. The hesitating wolf approached Heeseong, who was wagging his tail as if enchanted. It was unfortunate that the bedding and interior were all grey, so he couldn’t take his eyes off the uniquely white Heeseong.

Standing by Heeseong’s side and looking down intently, Heeseong, who was lying on his side, spread his arms and spoke quite reassuringly.

“I won’t do anything tonight.”

‘You think I’ll do something, you one-day puppy.’

The wolf fidgeted restlessly, scratching the innocent carpet with his claws. He couldn’t understand why Heeseong was acting so mischievous, as if he would let something slide. Yoon Chi-young, hating himself for desperately staring only at Heeseong’s flesh, breathed roughly as if panting and walked around the room in circles. Now he understood why the doctor had looked at him like a child. Mindlessly going into heat at the sight of his companion, he was none other than a beast blinded by his first time having sex.

On the other hand, Heeseong spoke with an endlessly languid face.

“You’re not lying down? I’m really just going to sleep?”

‘Sleep quickly before I devour you.’

Despite the sincere warning, Heeseong chattered that the wolf was being unnecessarily stubborn like a puppy, then nodded off and closed his eyes.

Confirming that he had fallen asleep, the wolf dejectedly approached the bed and sniffed around Heeseong’s face. Smelling his lover’s gentle scent was the best skinship he could enjoy right now. If he went any further, he felt like he would fiercely pounce on Heeseong.

The wolf gently rested his head on Heeseong’s wrist, which was sprawled on the bed.

‘He really fell asleep….’

Yoon Chi-young found it amazing that Heeseong had fallen asleep with him, a wolf, by his side.

Despite experiencing a rough night of sex last time, he truly trusted Yoon Chi-young and fell fast asleep. Strangely, the wolf found solace in the fact that Heeseong wasn’t afraid of him. It seemed like a lie that he had become numb to such emotions and his wounds had healed. At this moment, it felt like he had returned to being around 17 years old. If he had met the puppy then, he thought he would have lived a much different life.

However, his current life as the Watcher wasn’t bad either.

It was enough that he had become the Watcher and met the small, white puppy. My fighting dog, whom I wouldn’t regret accepting as a lifelong companion. Yoon Chi-young gazed at him with affectionate eyes and gently licked his cheek for a kiss. It was his own way of expressing that he would cherish him for a lifetime.

The wolf rubbed his fluffy head against Heeseong’s small hand for a long time, then lay down on the floor next to him, using the cushion as a pillow. He wanted to sleep with Heeseong wholly as himself once his pheromones had completely stabilized after enduring for a few more days.

***

6 - Extra 1: Puppy’s Shock

DMWP Extra 1 Part 4

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

“……”

The next day around lunchtime, Heeseong woke up in a disheveled puppy form.

He truly had no strength to even move a toe. Trembling as he barely lifted his head, Heeseong had to sit in a daze for a while, finding even that difficult. His body was so exhausted that he felt he should spend the day in his original form. The aftereffects of having all his energy drained by the vampire-like guy last night were quite severe.

The puppy, who had struggled to scratch his folded ear with his hind leg, looked at the beast-like creature lying next to him.

‘…Damn bastard….’

Seeing the face sleeping peacefully to the point of being hateful, rough words automatically tumbled out in a mumble. Yoon Chi-young’s handsome features, his lips, the sharp canine teeth newly revealed, and even the way he languidly flicked his black wolf ears from time to time were irksome.

After glaring at him for who knows how long, perhaps sensing the gaze, Yoon Chi-young’s beautiful brows twitched and his eyes opened in a crescent shape. The subtle gray eyes within his handsome face looked mysterious. As the puppy stared fixedly at that good-looking face without avoiding it, he soon formed a much more comfortable smile and gently stroked the fist-sized puppy’s head.

He asked shyly in a languid, sleepy voice.

“Did my puppy… sleep well?”

“……”

One of the puppy’s brows twitched.

Hearing those words from a truly beast-like guy was just infuriating. However, lacking energy, as he bared his small canines as a sign of threat, Yoon Chi-young used a tissue next to him to wipe the eye crust from Heeseong’s eyes and asked.

“The puppy seems to have no energy again…”

“……”

“After acting so rough yesterday.”

‘…Are you crazy?’

The puppy retorted, having heard enough. Unlike Yoon Chi-young’s clear and low voice, a pitiful sound as if he were ill came out. Clearly, it was Yoon Chi-young who had acted worse than a beast last night, but seeing him pin that behavior on Heeseong was irksome.

Heeseong didn’t hide his resentful emotions even when his energy had hit rock bottom.

The puppy, holding a grudge, climbed onto the headboard made of cushion material and, spreading his front paws wide, jumped down onto the face of Yoon Chi-young, who had been checking his phone for a moment.

“Ah….”

Yoon Chi-young, who unexpectedly got hit in the face by a pink belly, let out a long, dumbfounded laugh. Asking if he was his flying squirrel and carefully removing the puppy that had fallen on him like a blindfold, he was busy laughing as if he couldn’t be happier.

“Why are you so angry from the morning, should I buy you shrimp? Or do you want a bubble bath?”

‘Forget it, let me go!’

Anyway, Yoon Chi-young thought everything would be solved with shrimp. The irritated Heeseong left Yoon Chi-young behind and carefully descended the bed using the bedding. Barking loudly to warn the guy trying to follow him not to come, he came to the living room and sat on the sofa using the puppy stairs.

There, Heeseong turned on Yoon Chi-young’s tablet PC.

Using his front paws to operate the touch screen, he easily opened a website. There was a previously opened internet window, so he could check it with just a few touches.

In the internet search bar, traces of Heeseong’s searches after experiencing a serious incident remained.

Lover accidentally urinating when excited

Wolf beastman urinating when excited

While taking care of the wolf, Heeseong had posted questions here and there with all sorts of worries.

To Heeseong, Yoon Chi-young was a mature lover six years older than him, albeit with some shortcomings. However, following the previous time, last night, he had gotten excited and urinated a suspicious liquid on Heeseong’s body. Although there was no smell, it seemed to be urine, and Heeseong was very worried about his lover who even had accidents when excited.

Just then, there was a reply to the question Heeseong had posted. The puppy, after several failed attempts, struggled to touch the question with his front paws and checked the answer.

Title: Do wolf beastmen urinate when excited?

Author: chlrkdxnrus729

Content: My lover is a wolf beastman and had an accident on my body when he got excited;

I managed to clean it up and move on that day, but I’m still flustered….

I’m a different species, so I’m confused, but is this normal for wolves? Or is it a urological problem?

ㄴ Another wolf fetishist

ㄴ Why is a wolf even dating a beastman of a different species in the first place, they’re monogamous and believe in pure bloodlines lolololol

ㄴ Seeing purebred wolves being consumed by these fetishes, it’s starting to feel a bit pitiful….

‘Fuck, what wolf fetish!’

The puppy got angry and tried to throw the tablet.

However, being in puppy form, he couldn’t throw it and could only vent his frustration by striking the tablet screen with his front paws. What did they know? He was actually dating a purebred wolf, but he didn’t expect them to not believe the premise in the first place.

“Hmm….”

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young plopped down next to the sofa. Wearing a nightgown over his tall and handsome body, he picked up the tablet PC while holding a hand-brewed coffee in one hand. The startled puppy tried to stop Yoon Chi-young with his whole body, but Yoon Chi-young was already busy smiling, lifting the corners of his mouth as if he found it quite amusing.

“Darling, when did you even write a question like this?”

‘You go away!’

The puppy barked fiercely and charged, but it was insufficient. Yoon Chi-young, who had already read the content without missing anything, slowly let out a delighted laugh and even checked all of Heeseong’s search history. Moreover, after watching a video titled “Everything About Fetishes” among the browsing history, he laughed so hard that he had difficulty holding his coffee cup properly.

“Ha, did you think your lover couldn’t even control his bladder all this time?”

At the end of his laughter, Yoon Chi-young put down the coffee cup and asked while holding the puppy in his arms.

Heeseong was quite shocked by his nonchalant attitude. Accidental urination was a very embarrassing thing for beastmen, but Yoon Chi-young had an attitude as if saying, “I have a mole on my neck, isn’t it pretty?”

Moreover, he seemed to enjoy Heeseong’s reaction.

“But I don’t think I can ever fix this… what should I do?”

‘Cr, crazy bastard.’

As the puppy looked at him in shock, Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter and took a picture with the tablet. It seemed he didn’t feel any sense of shame at all.

The confused puppy backed away step by step, but Yoon Chi-young placed the puppy back on his lap and rummaged through the side table to take out pet care products. He seemed to want to clean the puppy’s ears, which he did once a week for the puppy who had a hard day today.

Before long, a peaceful weekend afternoon atmosphere flowed through the living room. Only the puppy was lost in serious contemplation. In front of him, Yoon Chi-young generously soaked cotton in ear cleaning solution and asked.

“But isn’t it better than me getting excited because of pheromones and attacking you?”

‘…Are you serious?’

The puppy mumbled with a doubtful face. Now that Heeseong had known Yoon Chi-young for a long time, he could at least distinguish what mood he was in even though he was always smiling. Yoon Chi-young truly seemed unfazed. Rather, he seemed to be enjoying it. Heeseong began to wonder if he was the only one who had been seriously dealing with it all this time.

The first time Yoon Chi-young accidentally spilled a strange liquid on Heeseong’s body, Heeseong thought it was a secret he would take to the grave.

〈I wasn’t scary last night, was I?〉

And the next day, when Yoon Chi-young couldn’t remember the incident, Heeseong really thought he was lying. He thought Yoon Chi-young was so embarrassed by his accident the previous night that he was saying he would stay in his original form and settle his pheromones this time. Because it was a bit cute and pitiful, Heeseong tried to take care of him maturely.

But last night, Yoon Chi-young made the same mistake again.

Heeseong recalled Yoon Chi-young leaving messy traces on his body at that time. His flushed face, his breath rising to his chin, his lewdly smiling face, and his crazed gray eyes were vivid. Just remembering it was so erotic that it seemed to transfer the excitement, so the puppy raised his tail and bristled his fur all over his body. Secretly, a strange desire to see it again arose.

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young lifted the puppy’s folded ear and said.

“That’s not pee anyway.”

‘If it’s not pee, then what… Hng, ah.’

Then, the wet cotton entered the puppy’s ear. Heeseong received the ear cleaning with a face that had loosened as if melting. Whenever Yoon Chi-young meticulously wiped his ear, his hind legs trembled. It was very refreshing because Yoon Chi-young thoroughly cleaned even the itchy spots that he couldn’t scratch on his own.

In succession, Yoon Chi-young gently wiped the puppy’s other ear and sweetly soothed him.

“Anyway, since you only urinate when excited, can’t you just understand?”

‘Are, are you crazy….’

“Since you’re the one making me excited and causing me to urinate, it’s partly the puppy’s fault too.”

‘Just, fix it… Hng, hngah.’

Whenever the cotton burrowed into his ear, it felt like even his brain was refreshed. The puppy was in ecstasy, feeling Yoon Chi-young’s meticulous touch, and as soon as the ear cleaning was over, he languidly collapsed. In fact, he was completely fooled without knowing that this was Yoon Chi-young’s second-best trick after shrimp to melt the puppy’s heart.

Before long, the puppy, half-opening his eyes, lay limply on his lover’s lap, having forgotten even his lover’s mistake.

On top of that, Yoon Chi-young blissfully massaged the fist-sized puppy and spoke in a much more composed, settled voice.

“I’m rather relieved that I didn’t hurt you.”

“……?”

The puppy, who had been lying in a trance at the murmured words, lifted his head.

Heeseong looked up at Yoon Chi-young with questioning eyes. He saw Yoon Chi-young carefully massaging the puppy as if lost in thought. With his handsome features, he seemed to live thoughtlessly when you looked at the smile he always had on. But at times like this, it seemed he sometimes dwelled on needless worries alone.

Unable to bear it any longer, Heeseong shook his body like a sieve and got up. Although his body was strained from being ravaged by a beast last night, he felt he needed to say what he had to say, even if he had to transform into a human, to feel at ease.

Heeseong, who had slowly transformed into his human form, ended up sitting on Yoon Chi-young’s lap, who was seated on the sofa. Sitting face to face with him, their eye levels became roughly similar. Heeseong started nagging Yoon Chi-young, who draped a nightgown over his shoulders.

“You, you were worrying about that all this time?”

At the nagging, Yoon Chi-young rested his cheek on Heeseong’s shoulder, pretending to be pitiful. In his upward gaze, there was a look of great disappointment that Heeseong didn’t understand his feelings. It was ironic that he didn’t look weak at all even when he acted cute or vulnerable like this. Perhaps it was because he was someone who played with people’s attention.

Still, he must have been genuinely worried to some extent. Heeseong asked with a serious frown on his face, as if he couldn’t understand.

“Why are you worrying about pheromone shock when I’m here…?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Yoon Chi-young’s voice became unusually low. Rather, as if scolding Heeseong for being insensitive to danger, he spoke while making direct eye contact.

“I could unconsciously attack the puppy, so how can I not worry?”

“No, I’m telling you there’s no need to worry?”

“Darling….”

Yoon Chi-young leaned back against the sofa backrest again. With a tired face, he patiently explained to Heeseong.

“When pheromone shock hits me, I completely lose my reason. After that, I don’t remember anything at all.”

“No, of course I know that. Listen.”

Heeseong cupped Yoon Chi-young’s cheeks as if telling him to listen, making eye contact again. Staring sternly, he definitely caught his attention. His hair was disheveled, and one puppy ear was flipped inside out, but determination could be seen in his gentle, round eyes.

“You know you cherish me so much even when you lose your mind?”

“…What?”

At Heeseong’s words, one of Yoon Chi-young’s brows curved in bewilderment. As if in disbelief.

But it was true. All this time, Heeseong hadn’t been treating the wolf comfortably because he was unaware of the severity of pheromone shock. He had ceased to fear Yoon Chi-young because of the way he had treated him even when he lost his reason.

“Of course, it’s hard when you lose your mind and have sex like a beast….”

Heeseong recalled the night that Yoon Chi-young couldn’t remember at all last time.

That day, even though Yoon Chi-young was completely unable to communicate like during pheromone shock, he tried to cherish and protect Heeseong.

“Clearly, I couldn’t even talk to you, but throughout the entire lovemaking, you kept hugging and licking me, trying to soothe me.”

“……”

“So I haven’t been afraid of you at all all this time. Because even though you can’t communicate, what you do is similar to usual.”

“……”

Rarely, the smile completely disappeared from Yoon Chi-young’s face. Even the composure he always had wasn’t visible, and his grey eyes trembled faintly. Heeseong understood that it was hard for him to believe. It was another aspect of himself that he didn’t know, so it would be difficult to feel reassured with just these words.

Heeseong, who had been lost in thought, told all the trivial things that had happened during the nights, just in case.

“From before, do you remember how you always followed me whenever I woke up to go to the bathroom?”

“…No.”

“Then, when I secretly stole sausages while you were sleeping… and dropped the container, making a loud noise, do you remember transforming into your original form and coming to check if I was okay first?”

“……”

“At that time, you patrolled the entire house, so I had a really hard time putting you back to sleep. You don’t remember?”

Belatedly, Yoon Chi-young laughed as if he had lost. There was a tired look in his eyes, but rather, he seemed much more relaxed than usual. All this time, these were things Heeseong had only thought of suspiciously and let pass. He felt a bit sorry for only telling him now.

“You cherish me so much even when you’re unconscious. …So don’t worry.”

Heeseong spoke and snuggled into Yoon Chi-young’s wide embrace. In fact, he had intended to hug Yoon Chi-young, but due to the difference in physique, he ended up being hugged instead. Still, as if Yoon Chi-young felt secure, his heartbeat gradually slowed down. The action of firmly kissing Heeseong’s hair was filled with affection.

With a calm sigh as if relieved, he embraced Heeseong.

“I’m completely bewitched by the puppy….”

“Why do your words turn out like that again?”

“It means I recognize you even when pheromone shock hits me… because you’re my companion.”

“Doesn’t it make you cringe to say such things…?”

Heeseong turned his head and grumbled but didn’t dislike it. He liked that Yoon Chi-young expressed his feelings of cherishing and loving him without hiding them. It was something he could never do because he lacked the courage.

Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young seemed to have completely shaken off his worries. He languidly intertwined his tongue with Heeseong’s and didn’t let go for a long time. Heeseong didn’t dislike it either, and instead held Yoon Chi-young’s shoulders tightly and engaged in countless kisses. As the days passed, Yoon Chi-young’s kissing skills improved, and he learned ways to make Heeseong impatient to the same extent, so it was impossible to let him go.

Yoon Chi-young, who had been sharing butterfly kisses, whispered with a mischievous smile.

“Then keep pouncing on me in the future when I’m sleeping.”

“…I won’t do that anymore.”

“Why? You like me more when I’m asleep anyway.”

At the teasing, Heeseong lightly bit Yoon Chi-young’s lower lip as if angry and let go. He was embarrassed to have his preference exposed. Even when he acted fiercely, it seemed like puppy aegyo to Yoon Chi-young. Even the words he clumsily said as an excuse were lovely.

“I pounced on you because I like it more when you’re not saying such things and being quiet. Is that enough? Are you happy?”

“Yeah, I’m happy.”

Yoon Chi-young, who let out a long chuckle, deeply intertwined his tongue with Heeseong’s with a face that had lost its composure. Even though he knew Heeseong was struggling to breathe, he put more strength into the arms embracing Heeseong. When his lover told him that he liked even his darkest side, there was no way he could let him out of his embrace.

At the end of the sticky kiss, Heeseong, whose face had turned red, glanced around as if reading the atmosphere and finally asked the worry he couldn’t let go of.

“…But can you really not fix urinating when excited?”

In the end, Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter and embraced him as he lay down. While teasing Heeseong for being a one-day puppy, he liked even that side of him and stayed entangled on the sofa for a long time, hugging Heeseong. Heeseong’s reactions were so cute that he had intended to gloss over it for the time being, but he even heard Heeseong say, “Then I’ll try to understand.” No matter what choice he made, it was for Yoon Chi-young’s sake, so he couldn’t help but love the upright and innocent puppy.

End of Extra 1!

7 - Extra 2: Gyeon Heeseong

DMWP Extra 2

by BlossomTLDon’t Mess with the Puppy!

Part 1

As the first dog to have a companion in his life, Heeseong had many concerns. Sitting on the couch in the corner of the office, he asked Ji Youngbae, who was passing by.

“Youngbae-hyung.”

“Yes.”

“How can I become a good head of the family?”

Ji Youngbae flinched at the serious question. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand the dog’s words, but looking at the small back of the dog’s head sitting on the sofa in front, he just thought he might have misheard. It was an abrupt thing to say while looking down at the sleeping Hodu.

But the dog was sincere. Heeseong licked the head of Hodu, who had come to play in the supervisor’s office for a change. Recently, Hodu had been attending a beastman daycare and would come to play in the office for a bit after school.

However, when he saw the baby dog sleeping – now three times his size – he was reminded of the responsibility he carried. It was because Heeseong also had a thoughtless lover who only looked at him, just like Hodu.

Unable to find the words to say in response to Heeseong’s question, Ji Youngbae asked.

“Why are you worrying about that?”

“Well…”

The dog whimpered, unable to continue, and muttered worriedly.

“Yoon Chi-young is more careless and weak-minded than I thought.”

“……”

“Even when big things happen, he only thinks about going out to play with me. He doesn’t properly respond to the Clan Headpa kids…”

“That’s.”

Ji Youngbae only half understood what the dog was saying.

However, he did understand the dog mumbling about Yoon Chi-young not responding to the provocations of the Clan Headpa. But for Ji Youngbae, who had watched Yoon Chi-young for a long time, that way of thinking itself was new and shocking. Ignoring the provocations of the Clan Headpa was Yoon Chi-young’s response and authority itself.

But he didn’t say much more. It seemed better to leave the dog’s misunderstanding as it was. Couples didn’t need advice anyway.

“Just protecting the Watcher now is enough.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

It was superficial encouragement, but the dog was at least able to worry a little less. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility in one corner of his heart.

As purebred wolves are monogamous, when they get married, their companion is also given the status that the wolf has. Just as Heeseong worked on behalf of Chi-young last time, the dog was already in the same position as the Watcher. As such, Heeseong always became tense, worried that Yoon Chi-young would be disrespected because his companion was a small dog. It was quite a strain on his small body, but he couldn’t relax his tension at all today.

It was because today was the day the Clan Head was coming to visit.

“But Youngbae-hyung. Is it okay for Hodu to be here today?”

When Heeseong mumbled and asked, Ji Youngbae carefully laid the half-asleep Hodu next to Heeseong and answered.

“Nothing big usually happens on the days when the punishment is discussed.”

“…That’s true, but.”

As Ji Youngbae said, today the Clan Head was scheduled to come to receive punishment from the Watcher. Such days tended to pass calmly without bloodshed or violence. The problem was after the punishment was decided.

Still, receiving the punishment itself was humiliating for the Clan Head. Anxious that an incident might occur, Heeseong called Yoon Chi-young, wang. Then, Yoon Chi-young, who was looking at documents on the opposite sofa, came over and offered his lap. Hodu, who had just woken up, also followed Heeseong to Yoon Chi-young’s lap. Yoon Chi-young ended up holding two warm dogs in his arms.

Petting the soft lumps, Yoon Chi-young just looked peaceful and languid. He didn’t seem at all like he was facing a big event.

“I don’t want to meet the Clan Head… Shall we just go shopping instead?”

“How does he manage being the Watcher with this attitude?”

Heeseong said disparagingly. Ji Youngbae didn’t bother translating those words either. He understood both the Watcher ignoring the Clan Head and the dog looking down on such a Watcher.

Not long after, they saw the Clan Head and Yang Hye-chan walking on the CCTV. Since the entire floor was Yoon Chi-young’s office, it took a while for them to arrive.

But for some reason, Yang Hye-chan was walking with his tail curled and looking listless in the form of his original wolf. The Clan Head also seemed haggard, having been criticized by the clan for what he had done, instead of the noble appearance he had before.

Watching them on the screen, Yoon Chi-young nonchalantly asked the dog as if inquiring about the lunch menu.

“Did you beat up Yang Hye-chan a lot last time?”

“I don’t know.”

Heeseong growled, baring his teeth.

Heeseong still didn’t like Yang Hye-chan. He resented that he had tried to kill Yoon Chi-young several times in the past. On top of that, he dared to stab his man with a knife. Heeseong could never forget the anger of that day, and had already taken plenty of revenge.

The day after Yoon Chi-young lost consciousness from being stabbed, Heeseong went to the senior members of the organization and made one request. It was a request to let him meet Yang Hye-chan.

At that time, the members were startled by the sudden request and had a brief meeting, but when the Watcher loses consciousness, many of his decision-making powers are passed on to them. Thanks to that, Heeseong was able to easily find the house where Yang Hye-chan was hiding.

When Heeseong arrived there, Yang Hye-chan greeted him with his usual condescension.

“Did you come to deliver news of the Watcher’s death?”

Heeseong didn’t hold back that day either.

“Even calling you a son of a bitch is a waste.”

“What?”

Before Yang Hye-chan could finish his answer, Heeseong threw a punch right at his pretty face.

After that, it was a one-sided beating. Although Yang Hye-chan, as a grown male wolf, did fight back, Heeseong knew exactly how to hit a person. He was a dog who grew up learning how to fight in the gambling den from the beginning. On top of that, fighting dogs would risk their lives to protect their pack and companion no matter what. But Yang Hye-chan dared to touch Yoon Chi-young, who was included in both, and showed a brazen attitude.

The enraged Heeseong showed no mercy. He struck Yang Hye-chan’s pretty face with his fists and kicked the stomach of the bastard who rolled and fell. Yang Hye-chan was beaten by Heeseong, who was smaller than him, and screamed for his life, trying to somehow escape.

But Heeseong straddled Yang Hye-chan’s body and held him tight, not sparing him until the end.

“You stabbed and tried to kill someone, and this hurts? Does it hurt?!”

In the end, Heeseong made an example of the bastard until Yang Hye-chan’s employees came running to stop him.

He was the one who had been beaten like that, but today he looked a little different in his decent original form.

Yang Hye-chan was a wolf with light brown fur, and when he was in the sun, his fur shone golden and looked cool. But to Heeseong, he looked unimpressive for a wolf.

“As expected, he’s small for a male wolf.”

In fact, Yang Hye-chan was on the larger side among wolves in his original form, but Heeseong, who usually spent time with the huge Yoon Chi-young, only saw him as small. On top of that, today Yang Hye-chan couldn’t even lift his head properly and had his tail curled up, so he looked severely out of shape.

Even so, the dog was much smaller than the wolf, but he didn’t care at all. Hierarchy wasn’t determined by size anyway.

Wang! Wang!

As soon as Yang Hye-chan entered his territory, the angry Heeseong barked fiercely and rushed out. Hodu, who was dozing off, also mindlessly ran after Heeseong and threatened the wolf.

The huge yellow wolf immediately ran away to the corner with his tail between his legs, startled. Yang Hye-chan was completely cornered by the dogs, barely larger than his paw, unable to even make proper eye contact. With his tail pitifully shriveled between his legs, he couldn’t even put one front paw on the ground properly, holding it up awkwardly.

But the dog didn’t stop barking savagely.

“How dare you come here!”

At the rebuke, Yang Hye-chan didn’t even answer and hid his face towards the wall. He was completely cowed after being beaten badly by Heeseong last time. On top of that, he suffered external damage, and his status as a pureblood wolf was on the line for attacking the Watcher in collusion with the Clan Head. Everything he had was precarious, so he was afraid of any response.

Because of that, Yang Hye-chan’s usual confident spirit was bound to be broken. He was afraid of the small dog, couldn’t even lift his head properly, and belatedly gave the Clan Head a pitiful look as if begging him to help. But Hodu rushed to bite his front paw, so he gave up on that too. Heeseong glared at Yang Hye-chan as if he would kill him and barked at him incessantly.

In the end, it was Yoon Chi-young who stopped the small lumps.

“Let’s forgive him this once, okay? Baby.”

“Bad, that, dog, bad son of a wolf.”

Heeseong sharply criticized. Hodu was there, so he couldn’t curse too harshly, but still, Yang Hye-chan looked completely cowed, so he was somewhat satisfied. Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young praised him for being cool and gently stroked his head, so he felt a little better.

“If you try to attack Yoon Chi-young again.”

But Heeseong didn’t let his guard down easily. The Clan Head and Yang Hye-chan were targets that he wouldn’t mind tearing apart right now. He didn’t understand why the two held a grudge against Yoon Chi-young in the first place.

The Clan Head hated Yoon Chi-young for overthrowing and killing his father, the former Clan Head. Yang Hye-chan wanted revenge because Yoon Chi-young had attacked his older brother.

But to Heeseong, both cases seemed like they brought it upon themselves. The former Clan Head was excommunicated for using young wolves in the Watcher’s training, and Yang Hye-chan’s brother was punished for attacking Yoon Chi-young’s innocent nanny. The two’s resentment seemed endless.

But that was old news now.

The Clan Head, whose position had become precarious, could no longer carry out her revenge. This was because rumors had spread that she had tried to kill the clan’s Watcher out of personal resentment. For the pureblood wolves who valued the clan, attacking the Watcher was bound to cause resentment.

And it was the Watcher’s job to punish such a Clan Head. It couldn’t be the worst situation for the Clan Head.

“Sister, it’s been a while.”

“……”

Unlike the relaxed Yoon Chi-young, the Clan Head looked haggard. Dressed in a black suit, the Clan Head sat silently in front of the Watcher. With her gray eyes sunken in gloom and her head turned away, not making eye contact with her opponent, there was no trace of her former confident spirit.

“Bad Clan Head.”

The dog approached the Clan Head’s feet and growled fiercely. He didn’t show affection to the Clan Head like last time. If only Hodu wasn’t there, he would have said crueler things. Recently, Hodu had been trying to follow everything Heeseong did, so he had to censor himself.

The Clan Head quietly looked at the dogs growling at his feet, then, keeping the trembling Yang Hye-chan close to her, said softly.

“…Tell me the punishment.”

“We’re having a family meeting after a long time. No greetings?”

“……”

Even at Yoon Chi-young’s languid question, the Clan Head couldn’t answer. The Clan Head, who had already been harassed by the elders for days, looked exhausted.

Then Yoon Chi-young asked quietly, without solemnly treating the Clan Head or being friendly as usual.

“I’ll give you a choice.”

She didn’t move a muscle. Only Yang Hye-chan kept giving the members surrounding them and Yoon Chi-young a frightened look. In front of them, Yoon Chi-young said with a face devoid of any emotion.

“If you want to remain in the Clan Head position, reveal what you’ve done to the entire clan and atone for it. As a price, I’ll only confiscate half of your assets.”

“……”

“Or you can give up the Clan Head position.”

At those words, the Clan Head slowly raised her head. Her lifeless eyes turned to Yoon Chi-young.

The atmosphere was unusual. Heeseong immediately went to Yoon Chi-young’s feet. As soon as he hugged him, Heeseong subtly bared his teeth in Yoon Chi-young’s arms and threatened the Clan Head. Heeseong was anxious that Yoon Chi-young might be attacked again. Even if his companion was a powerful Watcher, a fighting dog should never let his guard down.

But the Clan Head lowered her gaze again and said as if giving up.

“Why ask me when the answer is already decided?”

“Choice is also a price.”

At Yoon Chi-young’s expressionless words, the Clan Head smiled miserably for the first time and turned her head.

“…The clan will gladly follow a Clan Head who has become a puppet.”

Heeseong was too quick to understand the conversation, but from the following procedure, Heeseong could tell that she had become a puppet Clan Head who had lost trust.

From that day on, the Clan Head accepted the punishment and maintained her position, but completely lost the trust of the clan as her past deeds were revealed.

The Clan Head’s subsequent downfall was not spectacular. Her life as a Clan Head was slowly and persistently shattered. Because of that, the Clan Head’s appearance looked more miserable to Heeseong, but it didn’t feel satisfying either. He felt that way even more because he knew of Yoon Chi-young’s wounds.

After that, the dog traveled to many places with Yoon Chi-young and met people. He saw the Clan Head acknowledging her wrongdoings and accepting punishment at the place where she had held the succession ceremony, and also confirmed the paperwork process in which half of her assets were given to Yoon Chi-young as compensation. On top of that, as the Clan Head lost trust, the Watcher was also given decision-making power over important matters of the clan.

Wang.

Each time, the dog stayed with Yoon Chi-young in his arms. He protected Yoon Chi-young everywhere, and bared his teeth at anyone who showed even the slightest threat to the Watcher. Heeseong knew that Yoon Chi-young relied on him even when he pretended to be relaxed, so he often rubbed his body against his hand to emphasize his presence.

They spent about half a month busy like that.

If Yoon Chi-young hadn’t wanted to handle the matter quickly, the Clan Head’s punishment would have taken longer.

Finally, Yoon Chi-young, who received the settlement money from the Clan Head, was looking at the document without any change in expression. Heeseong was worried that he didn’t look happy even after receiving compensation.

It was evening when the two were left alone in the office. Heeseong, who had slowly transformed into his human form, approached Yoon Chi-young and asked.

“…Now that it’s all over, aren’t you happy?”

The document showed that most of the hotel shares owned by the Clan Head had been transferred to Yoon Chi-young. Strangely, assets were also allocated to Heeseong, but he was more concerned about the expressionless Yoon Chi-young. Yoon Chi-young’s expression seemed to have more variety when he saw Heeseong approaching him.

Even at the question, Yoon Chi-young only stared at the document with boredom.

“Money is nothing anyway.”

“…Why is it nothing? It’s all yours. Do you think that way because you gamble a lot?”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Even at the scolding, Yoon Chi-young just laughed comfortably. Then he hugged Heeseong, who had put the document down on the desk. Heeseong ended up sitting awkwardly on his lap and was inwardly uncomfortable, but stayed still for his sake.

“I had plenty of money anyway… And all I wanted was you.”

“……”

Heeseong also knew that fact. But Heeseong knew that having a lot of money didn’t mean being that happy, so he felt sorry for him. It would have been nice if the Clan Head had at least acted as an older sister to Yoon Chi-young when being punished….

Later, Yoon Chi-young whispered with a languid sigh.

“Now that you’re safe and I’m safe, it’s enough.”

“Safe…”

Heeseong recited the unfamiliar word.

The words that seemed furthest in his life stuck in his heart.

“……”

But it was strange. Even though it was clearly what Heeseong had wanted the most, it didn’t feel joyful. Not knowing why, Heeseong blankly looked at the dark night sky outside the window over Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder and asked again.

“Are we safe now?”

“Yeah.”

“No more fights with the Clan Head…?”

“That’s right.”

Yoon Chi-young answered again with a chuckle. He also kissed Heeseong’s ear a few times. In his arms, Heeseong lowered his head without a word.

Even if he’s safe, Yoon Chi-young is still the Watcher. Rather, as the Clan Head has become a hollow position, he has become an even stronger Watcher. Now there were no enemies that could threaten him.

But Heeseong kept feeling dazed. A sense of déjà vu crept in, and anxiety seemed to grip Heeseong’s heart tightly.

“Then… What is my use now?”

Thinking that, the dog shuddered. It was strange to even have such thoughts.

However, the familiar anxiety made him so restless that he couldn’t keep his fingertips still. When did he feel this emotion? It was the anxiety he felt when his drunk brother openly discussed his usefulness.

“…No. I don’t need to think like this anymore.”

Heeseong gritted his teeth and hugged Yoon Chi-young tightly. Then, he closed his eyes in Yoon Chi-young’s arms, who was affectionately kissing him, and thought.

“It’s different from then and now.”

***

Part 2

Contrary to his resolution, Heeseong spent the whole day in a daze even after that day.

Originally, he was taught that to live as a fighting dog, one must never stop struggling. For Heeseong, who was like that, life was always about fighting, biting, and clinging to targets. A fighting dog doesn’t give up and unconditionally trusts and protects his pack. That was the motto that made Heeseong live with pride.

But after Yoon Chi-young became stable, Heeseong’s life seemed to have suddenly stopped. Heeseong sat in Yoon Chi-young’s arms in the form of a dog, and suddenly looked at his reflection in the mirror on the desk. He saw a chubby, well-groomed small dog. Clearly, he was happy with his companion, had a lot, and was safe, but Heeseong suddenly felt like he had lost his way.

Perhaps noticing that the dog was depressed, Yoon Chi-young didn’t work with Heeseong today. As if giving him his own time, he let Heeseong wander around the office as he pleased without bothering him.

The dog, who was sitting alone on the desk like that, suddenly asked Ji Youngbae, who was passing by.

“Youngbae-hyung.”

“Yes.”

Even though the dog called out mumbling, Ji Youngbae willingly stopped for him. Heeseong hesitated about what to say to him, who was standing heavily behind him, and then asked an impulsive question that suddenly came to mind.

“Youngbae-hyung, why are you protecting Yoon Chi-young, who is already strong enough?”

“……”

Ji Youngbae didn’t answer. Wondering if he might not have understood, the dog glanced back, but he was lost in serious thought. Usually, Ji Youngbae would answer right away even if he misunderstood the words, so now he must have understood the dog’s words and was pondering.

As expected, Ji Youngbae gave a simple answer after a very brief thought.

“To feed Hodu.”

“…You’re annoying.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ji Youngbae just said he was sorry and patted the dog’s head as if he found him cute, then left. After getting close to Hodu, Heeseong had also become much closer to Ji Youngbae. However, the answer he gave was not helpful to Heeseong, who was now holding anxiety.

In the end, the dog spent the day in a daze, curled up on the desk. Occasionally, he heard Ji Youngbae and Yoon Chi-young unusually talking quietly behind him, but he didn’t care. The Watcher’s office was sufficiently safe and peaceful. His intervention would not be necessary.

After some time passed like that, Yoon Chi-young picked up Heeseong, who was curled up and sleeping. Heeseong woke up in a disheveled state and yawned loudly.

As Yoon Chi-young was removing the sleep from the dog’s eyes with a tissue, he asked.

“Puppy.”

“Why…”

“Shall we get off work?”

He asked as if he would get off work whenever he wanted anyway, so it was incomprehensible why he was asking. It was still early evening – Yoon Chi-young usually went to work late for lunch and got off work at night – but it wasn’t a time he couldn’t leave.

“Okay… Let’s do it.”

The dog nodded and tried to get back into his arms. But Yoon Chi-young neatly placed the white lump on the desk and placed his personal clothes next to it. They were thick winter clothes that the dog could use as a blanket.

“Then let’s go on a date.”

The dog couldn’t refuse the words said with a bright smile. Thinking that if his companion wanted to go on a date, he had to do it, Heeseong transformed into a human and put on the clothes.

On the date they went on like that, Yoon Chi-young was a little different from usual.

He didn’t bring any members of the organization, drove himself, and went shopping with Heeseong at a department store to his heart’s content. Heeseong didn’t choose many clothes because he was feeling listless, but he was drawn to a new pair of sneakers and bought one pair. They were white sneakers that got dirty easily, which he wouldn’t have bought in the past.

After shopping, the two got in the car. Heeseong fiddled with the new sneakers he had bought on impulse in his arms.

“Did I buy new shoes for nothing…?”

He was a little excited when he bought the shoes on impulse while shopping. But when he got in the car and the surroundings became quiet, he became lost in thought again. Among them, the same anxiety he felt when he was living in the gambling den didn’t go away, making him feel helpless. It was strange because he was satisfied just being with his companion now. Heeseong didn’t know that the helplessness he had only felt during hard times would persist so tenaciously.

Now Yoon Chi-young was safe. The Clan Head’s position had become extremely narrow and was not even a threat to the Watcher anymore. Yoon Chi-young’s strategy of not selecting the next Clan Head was excellent, but the dog kept feeling confused as if he had lost his goal in the unexpected peace.

“What are you thinking about, baby?”

“……”

“Puppy?”

At the call, Heeseong finally flinched and lifted his head. He was so lost in thought that he couldn’t even hear the call. Looking beside him, Yoon Chi-young, dressed in a white shirt, was waiting for an answer. Unlike himself, he looked comfortable and languid.

Looking at him calmly, Heeseong quietly asked.

“Yoon Chi-young.”

“Yeah.”

“If you weren’t the Watcher, how do you think you would have lived?”

“Hmm… Well.”

He laughed casually as if he had never thought about it and said.

“I’ve never thought about it.”

“…Why?”

“In the past, I couldn’t see any other path, and after meeting you, life as the Watcher became better.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke comfortably while driving with one hand. When the car was caught at a signal, he would kiss Heeseong, who was sitting in the passenger seat. But Heeseong’s expression didn’t change much. He just fiddled with the new sneakers in his hand and muttered softly.

“Will life as a fighting dog get better for me too…?”

Fortunately, Heeseong’s voice was buried softly by the surrounding noise. Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to hear Heeseong’s words either, as he focused on driving for a while. Heeseong inwardly thought it was fortunate that he didn’t hear what he said. It was a confusing concern for himself too. He didn’t want to show such a weak side of himself to his companion.

But belatedly, Yoon Chi-young held his hand.

“……”

He just held his hand out of habit while driving. But when Heeseong felt his warm body temperature, he felt relieved. Heeseong, who had been fiddling with the new sneakers, opened the car window and looked at the cityscape. The destination Yoon Chi-young mentioned was seen in the distance. It was an amusement park in the middle of the city.

***

It was a peaceful evening. As closing time was approaching, there were hardly any rides available, and an announcement was being made over the speakers that the parade would begin.

“Why did we come here? We’re not even kids….”

“To set the mood a little.”

Yoon Chi-young answered lightly and went to the terrace on the 3rd floor of a castle-shaped building. It seemed to be a place where you had to pay extra to enter, but it was nice to be able to see the beautifully decorated amusement park scenery and parade from an open spot.

As Heeseong leaned on the railing, Yoon Chi-young hugged him from behind and looked at the amusement park. Seeing the surroundings decorated in childish pink and blue, Heeseong felt as if he had entered some kind of toy land. There was no further impression beyond that.

Yoon Chi-young tried to strike up various conversations with Heeseong, who was still sulking.

“I think they’re baby beastmen.”

“I guess so.”

“They don’t seem to be able to shapeshift into humans yet. Cute.”

“Yeah….”

Heeseong looked at the beastmen running around the amusement park indifferently. They seemed to have come with their families, and their walk through the amusement park looked harmonious. Heeseong, who had no such memories with his family, watched the families pass by with eyes half filled with envy and half with sadness.

Behind him, Yoon Chi-young kept chattering close to Heeseong’s ear, leaning on the railing of the castle, not knowing his inner thoughts.

“With you like this, you really look like the prince of the puppy kingdom.”

“If only you would say less of those things….”

“I’m the knight who sleeps with the prince instead of the princess every night.”

“……”

Heeseong looked back with a pathetic expression. But Yoon Chi-young was nonchalant even after talking nonsense. Rather, he grinned in the darkness, kneading Heeseong’s round butt as if nothing had happened.

Heeseong did show irritation, baring his canine teeth, but he felt a little better because it was so absurd. He smiled slightly, sighed, and leaned on the railing again.

“What is this? I feel a little better….”

It was new that Yoon Chi-young took him to the amusement park for no reason. Although he had never been here with his family, he thought it was enough to come here with his lover, even belatedly.

After some time passed like that, the night parade of the amusement park began. Heeseong didn’t have much expectation, but after seeing the sparkling fluorescent lights and the splendid parade, he began to wag his tail vigorously. He waved from afar and was secretly excited to watch the parade.

Yoon Chi-young enjoyed the parade while hugging Heeseong from behind. Heeseong was warm because he wrapped his body in his coat and hugged him. Perhaps because he felt a little relaxed, Heeseong thought it would be nice to spend every day like this, going out to play without any worries, leaning on his arms.

While having such a thoughtless idea, Yoon Chi-young’s languid call was heard.

“Baby.”

“Why?”

Between the conversations, the noise of the parade and the sound of children rejoicing were also heard. Heeseong, who was excited, also pointed to the middle of the parade, telling him to look over there. Although the amusement park was crowded, when the parade started, the splendid atmosphere felt as if they had come to the middle of a festival.

Yoon Chi-young hugged Heeseong’s waist and said softly.

“Ordinary people go home to their families like that after work.”

“…Yeah.”

Family. It was too distant a story for the dog, so it only felt unfamiliar. He just wondered why Yoon Chi-young was bringing up words that only felt unfamiliar.

Then Yoon Chi-young spoke to Heeseong in a soft voice.

“Shall we try that too?”

“…Huh?”

When Heeseong asked back in bewilderment, Yoon Chi-young turned Heeseong, who was watching the parade, towards the people. In the dog’s view, he saw children excitedly waving their hands while watching the parade in their father’s arms. Next to them were ordinary couples and groups that looked like friends.

Looking at the scene together, Yoon Chi-young said.

“Not always living as the Watcher and a fighting dog….”

“……”

“Work when working. After work, let’s go back to being lovers who thoughtlessly adore each other.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young gently stroked the dog’s head. Heeseong’s black eyes, which were looking at the harmonious family, sank deeply.

“How about that?”

“A life not as a fighting dog….”

Heeseong thought quietly and felt a little more at ease just with that.

Even though he knew better than anyone that being the Watcher wasn’t everything to Yoon Chi-young. Why couldn’t he think the same about himself?

Then Yoon Chi-young asked kindly in a pleasant voice.

“How do you want to live with me after work?”

“……”

“Shall we go out to play like this every day or go on a trip somewhere far away?”

Heeseong was dumbfounded, unable to answer. He became lost in thought.

The dog realized that the direction he had been trying to go was wrong. Just as he was taught that as a fighting dog, he must always fight to live, Heeseong had to confront reality and always fight with his own weakness. But after meeting Yoon Chi-young and his life changed, he had to protect him to become a reliable companion. As his companion was the Watcher, there were enemies lurking everywhere, and he couldn’t relax.

But if it’s a life without such worries….

“Then, I….”

“Yeah.”

The dog comfortably leaned the back of his head on Yoon Chi-young’s chest. The height difference, which he used to always complain about, felt okay today. If Heeseong leaned on his chest, Yoon Chi-young could rest his chin on Heeseong’s head. Although Heeseong thought it was a funny posture, he whispered while looking at the splendid parade.

“I don’t like noisy cities… I don’t want to face other beastmen anymore.”

“Is that so?”

Even though Heeseong spoke in a dissatisfied tone, Yoon Chi-young calmly answered him. Because he consistently accepted him gently, Heeseong could relatively easily reveal the small wishes he had hidden in his heart.

“I want to try living in a quiet house with few people, where no one is around.”

“I see.”

Yoon Chi-young replied in a languid voice. Heeseong liked him for listening even to his lover’s pointless words. Even though he had never listened to others’ pleas to spare their lives. He was the one who only showed a lovely side to Heeseong. It was childish, but such specialness often reassured Heeseong.

Heeseong listed the hopes he had dreamed of long ago, crouched in the corner of a dirty sofa in the gambling den.

“I think I’d like a countryside that’s safe, without enemies… Where I don’t need to be wary of anyone.”

“……”

“When bored, we can go for a drive in a blue sports car… We can swim together, just the two of us….”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young answered diligently as if trying to remember all of Heeseong’s words. Countryside, that’s nice. Then it should be a three-story house. A swimming pool is a given. He chimed in agreeably. Soon, Heeseong relaxed and laughed, and Yoon Chi-young laughed along with him.

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

“What? You have to live in the city to be the Watcher….”

Heeseong mumbled, but his expression became much lighter. He liked the comfortable feeling of Yoon Chi-young gently patting his stomach. He wanted to tell Yoon Chi-young that he was actually fine with the way things were now. But it was still embarrassing to say that much.

He no longer had to fight anything. After work, the two of them were lovers, not a fighting dog and a supervisor. The dog felt that such peace was unfamiliar just by thinking about it. But he also knew that he had been constantly looking for meaningless things to fight.

“My life….”

For the first time, the dog tried to become Heeseong, not a fighting dog. Heeseong leaned on Yoon Chi-young’s chest and let out a comfortable sigh. Even when he heard someone passing by, he didn’t act savagely, and enjoyed the attentive touch of his honest lover. As he finally relaxed, he heard Yoon Chi-young muttering to himself.

“I guess the puppy is finally relieved now.”

“What are you saying… Come here so we can go home.”

“But we’re going to have a course meal now?”

“No. Let’s go home.”

Heeseong said, taking Yoon Chi-young’s hand. He couldn’t abandon the aspect of a fighting dog rushing towards what he wanted, but there was a playful glint in his black eyes looking up at Yoon Chi-young. They were lovely eyes, shining black, only shown to his uniquely comfortable lover.

“I’m going to play prince and knight with you at home.”

Heeseong said as he took the lead. His steps were light in the new sneakers that fit his feet comfortably. Behind him, Yoon Chi-young quickly matched Heeseong’s pace, saying he should have said so earlier. A day that made them look forward to tomorrow was passing by.

End of Extra 2! 1 more to go! The last extra will be released in another 2 weeks 🙂

I’m too lazy to split the chapters. Enjoy.

Don’t Mess with the Puppy!

DMWP Extra 3

by BlossomTL

Extra 3

Part 1

Even if Heeseong had personally picked out his lover, there was one thing that was hard to accept.

It was separation anxiety.

“…I want to go to the bathroom alone.”

Heeseong stared blankly at the wolf who had followed him into the bathroom. Even though the bathroom was quite spacious, it felt cramped with the wild bear-sized wolf inside.

Although he was used to it by now, Heeseong wanted to use the bathroom alone, even if his lover had separation anxiety. About to take off his clothes to wash up, Heeseong looked at the unmoving wolf with disbelief.

“I’m going to wash up.”

Grrr.

The wolf growled as if telling him to go ahead and wash, nodding its head. As if asking what the problem was, the mountain-sized wolf innocently widened its gray eyes. Seeing its blatant intention to watch, Heeseong flared up.

“I’m going to pee too.”

This time, the wolf sat down on its butt. Its expression was solemn as it stared at Heeseong’s crotch. That area it always teased for having no hair and where it always put its mouth. Heeseong, who was going to let it slide, finally exploded.

“What are you sitting for! Get out quickly!”

He yelled and pushed the wolf’s back, but it didn’t budge. The wolf stood firm, pretending to be wary as if reading the room, looking up at Heeseong pitifully. But Heeseong knew its true intention was ‘Let’s look at your smooth naked body together,’ so he didn’t fall for it. After a strenuous struggle, Heeseong finally drove the wolf out the door.

“Haa… It’s tiring.”

Heeseong wearily leaned against the door, finally alone in the bathroom. Although he had kicked Yoon Chiyoung out, just thinking about how he would stubbornly wait outside until Heeseong came out made him sigh. As he listlessly took off his clothes, Heeseong thought with a worried face.

‘How the hell do I fix separation anxiety?’

At this rate, it seemed like Heeseong would never have any time to himself in his life.

Of course, being with his lover was a happy thing, but it felt like it was stealing not only his own time but his lover’s life as well, leaving him uneasy.

He thought it would get better as they lived together. But there were no signs of Yoon Chiyoung’s separation anxiety improving, and Heeseong’s worries only deepened by the day.

***

Even in Heeseong’s eyes, Yoon Chiyoung had changed positively.

First, Yoon Chiyoung had broken free from his severe gambling addiction. He still spent money extravagantly, but just quitting gambling made it seem like he had become a proper person in the puppy’s eyes. It was because he had seen so many people fall into ruin at the gambling den.

But Yoon Chiyoung, who had quit gambling, fell into another addiction.

‘Why the hell is his separation anxiety only getting worse?’

Strangely, there were no signs of Yoon Chiyoung’s separation anxiety improving.

Rather, it worsened day by day to the point where he wouldn’t entrust Heeseong to the hands of his trusted subordinates. Before, he would sometimes leave Heeseong alone with Ji Youngbae, but now it seemed he disliked even that, taking the puppy with him wherever he went or leaving five or six subordinates with him to feel at ease.

Moreover, even waking up from sleep, he constantly checked for Heeseong’s presence.

Once, Yoon Chiyoung seemed to be having a nightmare, breathing roughly in his sleep, then woke up drenched in cold sweat and hugged Heeseong tightly beside him. Heeseong, who had been abruptly woken up, patted his back without knowing what was going on. Even if it was annoying, he couldn’t ignore Yoon Chiyoung’s unstable state. He truly seemed to fear losing Heeseong.

‘But if it’s to the point he can barely sleep now, isn’t that serious?’

Heeseong fell into deep thought with a grave face.

They had clearly confirmed each other’s feelings and even had a formal meeting with family to become official partners. Heeseong had even given a romantic confession in front of the sunrise over the sea with a ring. Yet Yoon Chiyoung was increasingly unable to let Heeseong out of his embrace as the days passed. Rather than because he loved him so much, it seemed like he was suffering from anxiety over losing Heeseong.

‘Could it be… my confession wasn’t convincing enough….’

Heeseong fiddled with the ring on his ring finger, feeling upset. He had vowed to take responsibility for Yoon Chiyoung for life, but it must have felt lacking to him.

‘Or is the separation anxiety worsening because we’re together too much?’

Heeseong grew more and more impatient. The more severe Yoon Chiyoung’s separation anxiety became, the harder it was for his pheromone levels to stabilize easily. At times like this, Heeseong even had the absurd worry that his very existence might be poison.

Then an opportunity arose for Heeseong to try a certain possibility.

“I think I have an overseas business trip next week….”

“A business trip? For how long?”

“About 3 days. Want to go together and play for another week after?”

3 days for a business trip.

Actually, it was a short period if it was short, but to Heeseong, it seemed like an opportunity to try and fix the separation anxiety.

‘If we’re apart for 3 days, maybe Yoon Chiyoung will realize something?’

It would be good if he could make Yoon Chiyoung understand that it’s okay to leave him alone by living disconnected from each other. On top of that, Yoon Chiyoung might realize that even lovers need time alone.

It seemed like he shouldn’t miss this chance. After a moment of silence, Heeseong approached him, his eyes shining black, and asked.

“Yoon Chiyoung, do you want to go on the business trip alone?”

“……”

At the question, Yoon Chiyoung, who had been sitting loosely in the study, looked up at Heeseong. He was definitely wearing a soft smile, but because of his pale gray eyes that made it hard to focus, an indecipherable wall could be felt. An iron wall that said being apart wasn’t even an option.

“Ah, you don’t want to go, puppy? Then I’ll cancel the flight.”

“No, hey.”

Heeseong put down the shrimp crackers he was eating and sat on the desk in front of Yoon Chiyoung delinquently. They were looking at each other from above and below. Yoon Chiyoung’s gaze was fixed on Heeseong’s shoulders revealed through the loose t-shirt. Heeseong thought he should have worn Chiyoung’s oversized t-shirt and persuaded him in a calm tone so as not to get angry at his unruly attitude.

“Try going on this business trip alone. I’ll stay home for 3 days.”

“Then I’ll stay home too.”

“How can you not go when it’s for work? I’m telling you to go alone?”

“I’m working just by existing, so it’s fine. I don’t want to go.”

Heeseong’s white tail drooped down at the ironclad words.

“…Are you going to keep being stubborn?”

“Me? When was I ever stubborn….”

Yoon Chiyoung chuckled and wrapped his arms around Heeseong’s waist. He gracefully narrowed his eyes and flashed a charming eye smile, even slowly wagging his black tail behind him to act cute. He was quick-witted. It was obvious that he had realized Heeseong was trying to live apart just this once.

“Hey. Yoon Chiyoung.”

But even when his lover acted cute, Heeseong didn’t back down. He had become sufficiently desensitized to cuteness by looking in the mirror every day.

“Your separation anxiety has only been getting worse. So let’s try living apart just this once. I think it might be getting worse because we’re together too much.”

“……….”

When Heeseong spoke seriously, Yoon Chiyoung no longer avoided the conversation. He leaned against the back of the chair with a tired expression, lost in thought, then voiced his own conclusion.

“Are you trying to punish me for laughing when you got trapped on the veranda earlier?”

“…Why would I punish you? It was infuriating, but…”

Heeseong said through gritted teeth. Yoon Chiyoung had slyly tried to change the subject, so Heeseong brought it back.

“Just go on the business trip alone. It’s only 3 days apart.”

“It’s a whole 3 days apart.”

“What are you saying, we won’t die from being apart for 3 days.”

“You might not die, but I’m not so sure about myself.”

The ever-present smile disappeared from Yoon Chiyoung’s face. Just that made his sculptural features stand out and appear cold. It was a rare serious look, and Heeseong almost wavered, but he didn’t back down because the reason was absurd.

“I said we won’t die! What the hell are you so afraid of?”

Yoon Chiyoung spoke without changing his expression.

“What if someone else thinks you’re cute while I’m gone and kidnaps you?”

“Kidnap…?”

“Or what if the puppy leaves me for another woman…”

“……….”

Yoon Chiyoung preciously hugged Heeseong as if the mere thought was unpleasant. It sounded like whining, but he was actually holding a grudge, so Heeseong’s expression was disgruntled. Yoon Chiyoung kept bringing up something from a month ago like it was yesterday and annoyingly pestered him about it.

Last time, Heeseong had thoughtlessly chased after a cool

noona

(older girl) in the hotel lobby.

Yoon Chiyoung had assigned his subordinates to the puppy and had gone to take care of some other business for a moment. The puppy, who had been dozing off sleepily in the hotel lobby, fiercely opened his eyes upon seeing something.

A woman who seemed to be the boss was passing by.

〈You came to harass my lover again!〉

The puppy not only interrogated the woman, but also barked fiercely at her, asking how she followed them here, that she was suspicious, what scheme she was plotting this time, truly keeping watch like a fighting dog. Even the subordinates protecting Heeseong couldn’t stop him, that’s how small and desperate his threat was.

But then something unexpected happened.

〈Eek, a puppy!〉

〈Huh…?〉

The cool noona wasn’t the boss, but a cat beastwoman with a similar style.

Actually, when in puppy form, humans looked tall so they all seemed similar, but when a cool noona passed by, he had mistaken her for the boss.

〈Why is a puppy here alone? Want to come home with me?〉

The cat beastwoman didn’t even realize the puppy was threatening her and patted and fawned over him. Heeseong felt bad for barking and keeping watch for no reason, so he blankly let himself be hugged, but then Yoon Chiyoung, who had finished his business and come back, saw that scene.

That day, Heeseong had hurriedly appeased Yoon Chiyoung and somehow moved past it. The problem was that Yoon Chiyoung kept bringing it up and holding a grudge afterward.

Like a moment ago, he would whine about Heeseong possibly leaving him for another woman over the slightest thing. At times like that, he would blatantly stare as if expecting Heeseong to say “I won’t ever go anywhere without you,” but Heeseong was bad at saying such embarrassing things and was tired and fed up.

“Are you going to live like this forever, even following me into the bathroom?”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“Yeah.”

Yoon Chiyoung elegantly smiled at the solid answer and proposed a compromise.

“Then I’ll wait outside the bathroom from now on.”

“Hey!”

Heeseong felt like he would burst at this rate. He wondered how the conversation about separation anxiety had come to this.

“I don’t like it, I feel suffocated. We can’t live like this forever!”

“……….”

As soon as he shouted, Heeseong regretted it. Yoon Chiyoung truly looked hurt. He was just gazing at Heeseong with a smile that had cooled a little from usual, but Heeseong saw melancholy seep into his eyes.

In the end, Heeseong avoided his gaze and mumbled sorry, his head drooping, unknowingly feeling guilty. He didn’t want to hurt his partner whom he had vowed to take responsibility for in life.

Belatedly, Yoon Chiyoung got up from his seat and gently hugged Heeseong, who was a hand span shorter than him. Heeseong was snugly enveloped in his broad chest, just like when he was a puppy. Yoon Chiyoung didn’t forget to kiss all over Heeseong’s face to soothe him.

Even while receiving the skinship, Heeseong had a disgruntled expression the whole time. He knew Yoon Chiyoung, as a purebred wolf, regarded cheating as a very crass thing to do. But because he had brought Walnut home on his own last time, he was suspicious.

“If you bring home another puppy… I’ll know to lock you up for life.”

“Will you lock me up, puppy?”

Yoon Chiyoung asked with an elated tone as if the mere thought made him ecstatic. He was smooching Heeseong’s lips and smiling, but Heeseong just got angrier that his threat didn’t work. He simply couldn’t understand Yoon Chiyoung’s way of thinking. He was seriously thinking of tying Yoon Chiyoung up, but Yoon Chiyoung was just happily acting like he had received a confession from a puppy for a day.

‘You can’t understand a lunatic.’

But they came to a compromise. Relieved, Heeseong was excited to rest and play as much as he wanted while alone. He thought he hid it so his lover wouldn’t feel sad, but in fact, his tail had been wagging in excitement since the talk of the villa, exposing everything. In the end, Heeseong had to stick close to Yoon Chiyoung without being able to be apart for even a moment until the overseas business trip.

Part 2

On the day of Yoon Chiyoung’s business trip, Heeseong found himself at a villa in Gangwon Province.

“When did you build such a luxurious villa…?”

As soon as Heeseong saw the three-story villa, he was stunned and couldn’t take his eyes off it.

The villa was located halfway up a mountain in Gangwon Province. Although it was in a remote place, the facilities were not just luxurious but abundant. The villa had high ceilings with a loft-style design, and one wall was made entirely of glass in a modern style.

Moreover, the interior was finished with high-end white marble, and not only were there various entertainment facilities, but the kitchen was stocked with all sorts of ingredients for a week’s worth of meals. A brand-new blue sports car was parked in the yard, and it was surrounded by lush mountain forests, looking like the only remaining modern house in a secluded world. It was exactly the kind of house the puppy had dreamed of. Heeseong wagged his tail uncontrollably as he busily looked around the villa.

Yoon Chiyoung, who had moved a 30-inch carrier into the house, said,

“Do you like it?”

“It’s a bit extravagant… Wow, a swimming pool!”

Heeseong, who had discovered the indoor swimming pool, ran over with his black eyes shining. To think he would be staying here alone for 3 days. Secretly, he thought it would be fine if Yoon Chiyoung returned from his business trip even later.

However, there was one thing that bothered him. He wasn’t sure if this place was safe.

Heeseong went out to the terrace and looked at the lush mountains. The villa was situated halfway up the mountain with an open view. Although it was a remote place, he wondered if it would really be safe.

“But is it really safe here? It’s halfway up a mountain.”

“Yeah.”

Yoon Chiyoung, who had followed Heeseong to the terrace, hugged him from behind.

Resting his chin on Heeseong’s shoulder, he turned Heeseong slightly to the side and said,

“This mountain is called Wolf Mountain, and it’s where hundreds of wild wolves live….”

“Wild wolves….”

The puppy, startled to see that place, perked up his tail with a twitch.

At some point, two wild wolves had entered the villa’s yard and were sniffing around to check out the new scent. They were clearly young, curious scouting wolves. Heeseong, a stranger, couldn’t help but feel tense.

Fortunately, there was no need to fear the wild wolves. When Yoon Chiyoung bent his knees first and extended his hand, the wolves quickly approached, sniffed, and soon flopped onto their backs. They looked even more puppy-like than the puppy.

“This is my territory, so all the wild wolves are my subordinates. I grew up here.”

“Wolves really think everything is theirs….”

While feeling dazed, Heeseong squatted down with Yoon Chiyoung and touched the wild wolves as guided by Yoon Chiyoung’s hand. Their fur was rough but warm, and the wolves were utterly tame. Even though Heeseong’s presence should have been unfamiliar, the wild wolves didn’t reject his touch.

“My scent is heavily imprinted on you, so the wolves will protect you.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chiyoung draped his long coat over the shoulders of the squatting Heeseong. Although it was a bit uncomfortable as it reached Heeseong’s ankles when he stood up, he didn’t take it off because it was warm and had Yoon Chiyoung’s scent.

Moreover, knowing that the mountain was safe put him at ease. Rather, it was nice that it was quiet and devoid of people, unlike the city. The excited puppy wagged his tail wildly as he stroked the wild wolves and said,

“Got it. Now go on your business trip.”

“You’re sending me off like this?”

“Then what?”

When Heeseong looked back, he saw Yoon Chiyoung standing with his hands in his suit pockets. As he raised his gaze along his tall stature to his face, he saw a handsome face that didn’t hide his disappointment. His sensitive-looking gray eyes and tightly closed lips seemed to be demanding something from Heeseong. After some thought, Heeseong said goodbye once more.

“Have a safe trip. Don’t cause any trouble on your business trip.”

After saying that, Heeseong petted the wild wolves again. In the meantime, the number of wild wolves around him had increased to five or six, making him excited and thrilled. Knowing for sure that the wolves were on his side made them feel like his subordinate, giving him a sense of reassurance.

In the meantime, it was well past the time for Yoon Chiyoung to leave for his business trip. Yet Yoon Chiyoung couldn’t leave Heeseong’s side, clinging to him from behind.

“I can’t leave the puppy alone. What if something terrible happens….”

“…I saw all the vital sign cameras you installed inside the house, so hurry up and go.”

Heeseong found it annoying that Yoon Chiyoung was acting presumptuous just because he was tall. But Yoon Chiyoung truly looked like he was struggling, so Heeseong couldn’t even yell at him. His usually pleasant voice was low and hoarse, and his sensitive-looking gray eyes reflected a tired look.

“I miss you already….”

“Yeah, okay.”

“What if I miss you so much I feel like I’m going to die?”

“Look at the photo album on your phone. You took all sorts of pictures of me, didn’t you?”

“……….”

It was a half-joking, half-serious remark, but Yoon Chiyoung didn’t respond. When Heeseong looked back, thinking it was strange, he couldn’t see any focus in Yoon Chiyoung’s eyes. Seeing that expression, Heeseong became serious. He looked like he was having trouble breathing, his complexion stiff.

“Hey, Yoon Chiyoung.”

In the end, Heeseong had to get up and give Yoon Chiyoung a big hug to comfort him.

“Then come when you really, really miss me so much you feel like you’re going to die.”

Heeseong earnestly implored him before Yoon Chiyoung could say he felt that way right now.

“Really, only when you miss me so much you feel like you’re going to die.”

“……….”

“You know we need times like this too.”

When Heeseong spoke emphatically, Yoon Chiyoung finally followed his lover’s wishes.

He left butterfly kisses on Heeseong’s plump cheeks, nose, and lips, then let out a long sigh. It was the first time Heeseong had seen him struggling like this, so it felt quite strange. To think that the watcher of the clan would feel separation anxiety because of a mere puppy. It was something the beastmen who feared him couldn’t even imagine.

As expected, the anxious Yoon Chiyoung handed Heeseong a black card and said,

“I’ll really come back… Make sure to have fun and buy everything you want.”

“When you’ve already prepared all sorts of entertainment at home….”

“I’ve also hidden treasures in the villa, so make sure to find them.”

“Treasures?”

He had remodeled the house so the puppy could comfortably move around, and he even hid treasures. Heeseong was grateful that Yoon Chiyoung had meticulously prepared everything for him. He felt sorry to see Yoon Chiyoung off when he was hugging Heeseong with all his might.

In the meantime, Yoon Chiyoung had finally made up his mind.

“It’s an investment I’m making since I’ll be seeing you for the rest of my life.”

“Okay.”

Lastly, before leaving, Yoon Chiyoung took the scarf Heeseong had been wearing the whole time. Heeseong had no choice but to give it to him when Yoon Chiyoung said it had Heeseong’s scent on it, so he could at least find some stability with it.

Heeseong did scold him, asking if he was a baby, but he personally wrapped the scarf around Yoon Chiyoung’s neck. He even gave him a kiss and pretended to be a bit sad to see him off. Although his tail kept wagging excitedly behind his back, giving it away, Heeseong was also a little reluctant to see him go.

After seeing Yoon Chiyoung off like that,

‘I’m finally alone…!’

Heeseong, who had barely sent Yoon Chiyoung off, looked at the beautiful villa like an amusement park.

He was really the only one left in the luxurious villa. There were no subordinates who stubbornly spoke to him politely, and he was completely alone without any surveillance. Although it felt a bit empty, Heeseong transformed into his puppy form and solemnly stretched his body.

Three days were not enough to have fun to his heart’s content. Now that he was alone, he had to rest efficiently. The puppy first ran around the villa, exploring his surroundings.

‘What could the hidden treasure be?’

The puppy sniffed around with his sensitive nose. He had wondered what treasure Yoon Chiyoung had hidden, but as soon as he saw the utility room next to the refrigerator, he knew. It was filled to the brim with shrimp crackers, stacked up to the ceiling.

The excited puppy roughly grabbed a bag of shrimp crackers like prey and went to the bedroom.

‘Was this the bedroom?’

The next place he entered was a bedroom with warm sunlight streaming in. The puppy climbed onto the bed, passing a rug the same color as his fur. -There were puppy stairs placed here and there, seeming to have been prepared in advance-Lying on the fluffy bed and looking up, it was fantastic. There was a wide-open window in the ceiling, allowing a clear view of the sky. Although heavy clouds hung as if it would snow, the puppy happily wriggled his body, finding even that delightful.

Normally, he would have been showered with kisses by Yoon Chiyoung and received a full-body massage by now. With the surroundings being so quiet, he couldn’t help but feel peaceful and content. The secretly excited puppy thought while lying on his back with his pink belly exposed, wagging his tail.

‘I should look around the house a bit, watch a movie, and eat some snacks if I get hungry. Ah, there’s a car too, so I should go out for a drive and buy some food. Should I drive to the department store?’

Since Yoon Chiyoung had given him a card before leaving, he thought about swiping a large amount to surprise him. Just imagining it was satisfying, so Heeseong rolled around on the bed excitedly, eating shrimp crackers. The bedding was so soft that it felt like lying on a cloud, making him drowsy.

Without realizing it, he fell asleep and woke up to find that three hours had passed.

Feeling hungry, Heeseong got up disheveled.

‘I should eat first.’

Thinking of the abundant kitchen, Heeseong leaped out to the living room. The excited puppy’s steps were as light as a feather.

However, the puppy’s face, which had been happily excited, gradually fell.

‘It’s really quiet….’

The living room, which was not only empty but also had modern art pieces hanging on the walls, felt unfamiliar. The puppy, slowly scratching his folded ears, looked around in his disheveled state.

“……….”

Somehow, it felt a bit empty.

When Yoon Chiyoung was by his side, the world seemed full, but now that he was gone, it felt like the world was empty. Even the luxurious villa felt like an unfamiliar world. To the puppy left alone, everything seemed difficult to touch and too high.

When Heeseong first arrived at the villa, he was excited at the thought of being alone, but now he couldn’t understand why the beautiful house only seemed desolate. Heeseong unknowingly kept looking around.

Awoo….

The puppy, realizing once again that he was alone, whimpered softly in disappointment. The sorrowful voice echoed through the quiet space made of marble. The puppy looked around with drooping ears and a gloomy face. He searched every corner, wondering if there might be a subordinate hidden by Yoon Chiyoung, but there was truly no one. The sound he weakly let out, “nying,” was tinged with loneliness.

‘Yoon Chiyoung…?’

The puppy looked around every corner of the villa with anxious eyes.

Among them, there was a storage room behind the kitchen. Worried that he might get trapped, Heeseong unconsciously entered through the pet door installed there.

The dark storage room smelled musty, and there was nothing but cleaning tools and a boiler. It just felt like the surroundings were cluttered.

However, Heeseong’s body froze at the familiar scent he caught in the storage room.

It wasn’t that he became scared like a child because he was alone. Just looking at the dusty storage room, a terrible memory suddenly flashed before his eyes.

〈…Mom told me to wait.〉

It was as if he could see a vision of himself huddled alone in an abandoned house, waiting for someone. Belatedly, Heeseong tried hard to shake his head and push the thought away. But he couldn’t help but look around anxiously.

In the end, Heeseong ran to the bedroom as if escaping and curled up his small body on top of the coat Yoon Chiyoung had left behind. His sorrowful black eyes were round and pitiful.

‘I’ve never really been alone all this time….’

Even when Heeseong was alone at the gambling den, he always heard unpleasant noises from the next room. He had never been completely alone.

So he didn’t know that such terrible memories would torment him. Heeseong buried his face in Yoon Chiyoung’s coat, which still had his scent. He didn’t want to be left alone in a house full of snacks.

‘…I don’t want to be alone at home.’

In the end, Heeseong couldn’t stand the silence and got up.

He thought about contacting Yoon Chiyoung, but seeking him out after only three hours seemed absurd. And he could surely shake off such terrible memories with other actions.

Heeseong went outside without hesitation and took a deep breath.

The cold mountain air penetrated deep into his lungs. After taking a few deep breaths, Heeseong’s face became much more refreshed. Seeing the wild wolves prowling around and the well-tended garden, his mood improved considerably.

‘It does feel a bit better now that I’m out.’

Since he was already out, he thought he should also enjoy the mountain scenery. Hearing the clear sound of birds in the distance, he felt like even his mind was being cleansed. Heeseong wagged his tail and admired the blue sports car parked nearby, then looked around the mountain with a puzzled expression.

‘But why is there snow piled up here even in March?’

Heeseong looked up at the mountain in wonder. It seemed like some time had passed since it snowed, as the snow showed signs of melting considerably, but it was snowing again on top of it. Heeseong thought it was amazing how different Gangwon Province was from Seoul.

The puppy ventured a little further along the mountain path out of curiosity.

Somehow, he liked this mountain that was said to be Yoon Chiyoung’s territory. It was a mountain that was much more lush and had a somehow magnificent spirit compared to the place where the wolf clan’s main house was located. Knowing that such a place belonged to Yoon Chiyoung made Heeseong feel proud and elated for some reason.

While looking around the mountain, Heeseong discovered something strange.

‘Is that building also Yoon Chiyoung’s villa?’

In the distance, there was one more building with a similar style to Yoon Chiyoung’s villa. Moreover, the two villas were built together side by side, making them seem unusual. Although it looked more weathered than the villa Heeseong was staying in, it was a stylish house that didn’t appear old at all.

Suddenly, Heeseong recalled Yoon Chiyoung’s words about the person he trusted the most being near the villa.

‘Could it be that the person Yoon Chiyoung mentioned is over there?’

Heeseong’s tail perked up in curiosity. The puppy looked around at the villa that seemed too big, then glanced back at the other villa. He didn’t want to be left alone in Yoon Chiyoung’s villa. Exploring his curiosity seemed much better than that.

‘Should I go and take a look?’

Although it was snowing a little, it didn’t seem far, so it would be fine to go alone and come back quickly.

The puppy, who had solemnly turned his body, climbed the mountain for the first time in a long while. It was a bit cold, but he was fine since he was wearing his fur coat. And after scouting and returning, it seemed perfect to melt his body in the whirlpool bath.

‘If there are other subordinates, I’ll scold them for keeping watch.’

Heeseong thought sternly, but his tail wagged and swayed excitedly with anticipation. As he climbed, Heeseong recalled the last time he had seen the clock. 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Thinking there was plenty of time, the puppy began climbing the mountain where sleet was falling. He hoped to meet someone, anyone, at the villa beyond, as he didn’t want to sleep alone.

‘This is crazy, isn’t it?’

Heeseong, who had been climbing the mountain, thought with a shocked face. The path to the villa was more treacherous than he expected. Not only was it difficult to climb due to the snow, but the villa was much farther than anticipated.

‘The building was big, so it looked close, dammit.’

Heeseong felt like he had been fooled for no reason. He thought about just going back as the sun was slowly setting on the mountain, but it was ambiguous to go back down due to the slippery snowy path. The snowy path was already difficult, so going down seemed even more dangerous. It would be better to rest at the villa, which was a bit closer now. However, there was no sign of the villa appearing, and Heeseong gradually grew anxious.

‘Could it be that this isn’t the right path…?’

The puppy stopped and looked around anxiously. There had been a fork in the road when Heeseong was climbing up. But as expected of Yoon Chiyoung’s private property, there were no signposts. The puppy confidently walked in the direction where the villa seemed closer, but the path veered to the side of the mountain rather than going upward, as if it were a hiking trail. Heeseong, who was walking hesitantly, looked up at the sky with worry. The sun was gradually setting on the mountain. He had to hurry as it would be dangerous to be left alone on the mountain. But Heeseong’s four legs were already frozen stiff.

‘It’s, it’s too cold.’

The puppy shivered and sneezed twice in a row. It was so cold that his teeth chattered. He was sure to catch a cold tomorrow.

‘It’s cold even after transforming into a puppy….’

Originally, when a puppy wore a fur coat, it became quite resistant to the cold. But the mountains of Gangwon Province, where sleet was falling, were not to be taken lightly. The puppy thought about going back to Yoon Chiyoung’s villa, but the way back seemed even more dangerous, so he walked forward again. Still, it wasn’t scary as the wild wolves kept prowling around and following the puppy at a constant distance.

How long had he been walking like that?

It was when the mountain had become quite dark. Just as he thought he would freeze to death, something appeared at the end of the path.

‘A villa…?’

He couldn’t tell what kind of building it was, but it was a villa with warm light seeping out. The relieved puppy barely moved his four paws, which had already lost sensation. Each step was so arduous that he resented his weak body. The puppy, who had staggered closer to the villa, sat down exhausted on the threshold.

‘Please, someone, anyone, come out….’

The puppy, who had been thinking, couldn’t even make a sound to call for someone and sat down powerlessly. With no strength in his body and his head feeling hot, it seemed like a terrible cold would come.

‘I miss Yoon Chiyoung….’

The puppy, who had collapsed and curled up, heard the sound of some beast sniffing beside him. Perhaps it was a wild wolf living in the mountains, licking his body with its tongue and restlessly circling around. Awooo! Beyond his fading consciousness, Heeseong heard the howling of a wild wolf. Heeseong desperately wished for someone, anyone, to pick him up and passed out.

Part 3

“…….”

How long had he slept like that?

Heeseong felt the place he was lying on boiling. It was so hot that it felt like his flesh would melt, making Heeseong think he had arrived in hell for treating his lover coldly.

The puppy wriggled in the heat and finally came to his senses, sat up, and looked down. He was puzzled by how hot it was, but it was just a bed. However, when he looked again, finding the texture hard, it was a stone bed. Startled by the unfamiliar furniture, the disheveled puppy looked around.

‘Where the hell is this…?’

The puppy woke up, surprised to see the unfamiliar place, with the fur on one side of his face flattened. The surroundings, which emitted a strong scent of wood, were very warm despite being in the middle of winter. Heeseong, who sneezed, “achoo,” kicked off the blanket with his foot because his body was hot, then looked around again.

Perhaps it was a wooden cabin, as there were hardly any electronic devices in sight. Puzzled, the puppy went to the edge of the white, angular bed. The surroundings were filled with old wooden furniture, but rather than looking old, they had an antique elegance. Although it was a cabin, Heeseong thought it was simply a villa belonging to a wealthy old couple due to the graceful charm.

Then the puppy noticed the medals hung on the wardrobe with knife-like precision.

‘What’s this? Is it a house where a soldier lives…?’

The wardrobe had an old-looking military uniform, medals, and a neatly hung national flag. There was also a black and white photograph of a solemn-looking middle-aged woman in a military uniform receiving a medal. However, next to it was a contrasting color photograph taken with a boy. The boy was a bright-faced young master from a wealthy family.

‘I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before….’

Just as Heeseong was going to the edge of the bed to take a closer look at the photograph, an abrupt voice came from behind.

“Finally awake, are you?”

He was startled. He hadn’t even noticed someone entering the room, but there stood a middle-aged, no, elderly woman who looked exactly like the one in the photograph.

She had graying white hair and wrinkles on her face, but her posture was very upright. Her steady gait also seemed too vigorous to think of her age, and there was discipline even in the way she set down a bowl of porridge in front of the small puppy. To Heeseong, she seemed old enough to be called a grandmother, but just as the puppy was about to open his mouth, he couldn’t due to her thick eyebrows and strong-looking eyes.

“A patrol wolf of our clan brought a puppy, I see.”

‘Puppy…?’

“Yes. I’m talking about you.”

Heeseong wanted to retort, asking if he looked like a baby puppy, but he couldn’t muster much reaction as he had no strength in his body. His nose was stuffy, and his head was dizzy. It seemed like he had a severe case of the flu.

The unidentified grandmother spoke.

“You’ve caught a bad cold, so you’ll need to rest for 3 days.”

‘3 days… I’m supposed to be having fun….’

“Why would a frail-looking thing like you come out in the snow….”

Although the grandmother scolded him, she held the warm porridge to his mouth, so he ate it little by little. It was beef porridge, and while the taste was bland, it was good. Thanks to that, even Heeseong, who had no appetite, was able to eat quite a bit of the porridge. Seeing him eat well, the grandmother praised him, saying he would recover quickly thanks to his appetite.

Heeseong, who had finished the porridge, looked toward the glass-walled terrace with hazy eyes.

‘There’s this much snow?’

The world was completely white. The snow that had been falling like sleet yesterday had now piled up to his ankles. Heeseong looked around at the unfamiliar sight in a daze and groaned.

Whine….

‘Yoon Chiyoung must be worried….’

No matter how much they had agreed to spend time apart, Heeseong was still worried about Yoon Chiyoung.

Then, as if she could understand the puppy’s words, or perhaps sensing his worried look, the grandmother deliberately said, “There, there.”

“Even if you want to go out, you can’t go down the mountain because of the snow. Since you’ve already caught a cold, rest well before leaving.”

As expected, the sight was unusual, and he couldn’t even dream of going down the mountain. Then Heeseong wondered why the grandmother was living alone on Wolf Mountain.

‘Why is the grandmother living in Yoon Chiyoung’s territory…?’

The puzzled puppy mumbled a question.

‘Who are you, Grandma?’

“Who else? I’m someone who lives on this mountain.”

‘This mountain belongs to the Watcher….’

“Yes, I know.”

“……?”

Heeseong was surprised by the answer. He didn’t know she could understand puppy talk. Although dog beastmen were the most numerous among beastmen, there were many dialects, so even when returning to their original form, it wasn’t common for them to understand each other. Moreover, Heeseong had become accustomed to the wolves not understanding body language, so he found it even more amazing.

Seeing his surprised expression, she vigorously ruffled the puppy’s head and said,

“What’s so surprising? To be a mountain guardian, you need to at least understand the language of other beastmen.”

‘No, how do you know Yoon Chiyoung… Ow, it hurts…!’

Heeseong, who had been curious, protested against the hand that was intensely ruffling his head. She ruffled his head so hard that the whites of the puppy’s eyes above showed. She said she was a mountain guardian, and her grip was no joke.

While the puppy rubbed his flattened head against the blanket to fluff it up again, he heard an unfamiliar fact.

“I raised that kid myself. So don’t worry and rest.”

‘What…?’

He looked up at her with a face full of static, puzzled, but her face was just upright without a hint of falsehood. Heeseong was left with an even bigger question. He had already met Yoon Chiyoung’s mother at the formal family meeting. If she had raised him, wouldn’t that make her his mother? But there was another one. The puppy was confused, thinking Yoon Chiyoung might be hiding something from him.

However, looking again at the boy in the photograph on the side, his bright smile definitely resembled Yoon Chiyoung’s. It didn’t seem to be a lie.

‘…Anyway, I guess it means she’s a safe person?’

Heeseong barely reached a conclusion with his dizzy head and panted, lacking strength. The flu was so severe that he was tired even from thinking for a long time. Still feeling anxious, he tried to at least check his cell phone, but the grandmother kept tucking the fist-sized puppy into the blanket.

“You need to rest well. Why do you keep moving when you’ve caught such a bad cold?”

‘I just want to check my phone.’

“Just sleep, you rascal!”

‘Ah, I said I just want to check my phone…!’

Woof!

The puppy barked weakly but kept being stubborn. However, the grandmother was no pushover either. Whenever Heeseong crawled out from under the blanket, she put him back in place. Even when the puppy barked and barked that he could handle it himself, she scolded him for talking back and tucked the blanket well around his whole body.

‘Tsk, what kind of grandmother is this strong….’

In the end, the puppy lost to the grandmother’s stubbornness. The puppy kept panting even while lying down, unable to handle the grandmother’s unyielding personality. It felt like meeting his match.

The puppy, who had been grumbling like that, fell asleep in no time. The cold was terrible, and even in an unfamiliar place, his body was already exhausted and couldn’t help but fall into a deep sleep. Still, Heeseong thought it was much better than being left alone in a luxurious villa.

Part 4

The next day, after resting all day, Heeseong was finally able to wriggle around a bit.

Thanks to that, he learned the exact layout of the cabin. The puppy, who had been snooping around every corner, was shocked.

‘What is this place…? Why is it as big as Yoon Chiyoung’s house?’

He thought it was a small cabin where a retired soldier grandmother lived alone, but the villa was spacious enough for a large family to live for days without seeing each other’s faces. The wooden building consisted of two structures, and the one Heeseong was staying in was the largest three-story wooden house. Next to it was a two-story building that looked like a luxury pension.

Moreover, there was a sauna room connected by an outdoor corridor. The puppy, who had been snooping around the warm sauna room, began to suspect that the grandmother really had a lot of money as Yoon Chiyoung’s adoptive mother. However, it was certain that the grandmother was a safe person.

Relieved, Heeseong fully enjoyed the luxury.

“Are you cold? I should get you some clothes.”

‘Clothes?’

Although the grandmother’s words were gruff, she took meticulous care of Heeseong. Seeing the puppy with a cold shivering and wandering around, she tried to give him clothes.

‘Is she trying to give me clothes Yoon Chiyoung wore as a child….’

Heeseong was fine with just his fur coat, but he still followed the grandmother with a pitter-patter, thinking it would be better to wear clothes to recover from the flu. She was so vigorous that her walking speed was very fast, just like her actions.

The grandmother started touching some fabric in the study, which looked luxurious at a glance. Looking around the place, which was furnished as magnificently as Yoon Chiyoung’s study, Heeseong felt more and more that the grandmother’s identity was unusual. There were many books in foreign languages on the bookshelves, and the corners were even worn out. Her lifelong efforts were evident in her life.

On that bookshelf, there was also a photograph of a boy.

‘There’s a photo of Yoon Chiyoung here too….’

It was hard to see in detail in his small puppy form as it was placed high up, but it was definitely Yoon Chiyoung. He appeared to be in middle school, and even at a glance, one could tell he was a young master with a noble air. It was a photo of him when he was older than the one in the bedroom, and although his face had lost some of its liveliness, perhaps due to puberty, he was still smiling listlessly. Next to it, the grandmother in her younger days was standing with her chest out, smiling proudly.

Looking at that photo, Heeseong recalled one piece of information.

‘Could it be that purebred wolves entrust their children to a nurse like in the wild?’

He had heard that in the wild, only the alpha couple could have puppies, and they would have a nurse for communal child-rearing. And the orthodox purebred wolves were likely to follow the habits of the wild. Thinking of that, he seemed to know the grandmother’s identity. If she had raised Yoon Chiyoung, there was one possibility.

‘She was Yoon Chiyoung’s nurse….’

Heeseong felt a little sorry for Yoon Chiyoung. To think he grew up in the hands of a soldier with that carefree and unrestrained personality of his. As Heeseong observed the grandmother, he understood Yoon Chiyoung’s words about her being the person he trusted the most after Heeseong and also the one he couldn’t beat.

However, Heeseong was curious as to why the grandmother, the nurse of the Watcher, was living here alone.

‘Won’t she feel lonely living here alone….’

Heeseong felt the same way he did when he first went to Yoon Chiyoung’s house. Back then, he also felt sorry for Yoon Chiyoung living alone in a spacious and desolate house. Heeseong thought he had a lot of unnecessary sympathy, but knowing what loneliness and solitude were, he couldn’t help but feel melancholic.

That bitter thought evaporated as soon as he put on the clothes.

“There, it’s all done. Now wear this and go around.”

‘The clothes are already done?’

While he was muttering questions, the grandmother lifted the puppy onto the desk and struggled to dress him.

She carefully inserted his four legs into the holes and made sure his face was properly out. The thick fabric wrapped around his body in an extraordinary way. Since the material was quite stretchy, the grandmother had to adjust the fit of the clothes on the puppy’s body several times.

And, seeing the clothes in the mirror on the desk, Heeseong barked abruptly.

‘What the hell is this!’

Heeseong immediately lost his temper. He had secretly hoped for knitting or perhaps some leftover puppy clothes, but in reality, it was not just sloppy but trivial. The puppy standing in front of the mirror frowned deeply, threw a fit, and wriggled.

‘I’m not wearing anything like socks!’

“Stay still!”

Heeseong’s body was dressed in sturdy socks. They were even cheerful and bright sleeping socks. To call it puppy clothes just because they had holes for the four legs to stick out. Fortunately, the socks looked new.

Still, he hated what he hated. The puppy began to kick and struggle in annoyance. But annoyingly, the socks fit the puppy’s body perfectly. What was even more irritating was that they were warm. However, a fighting dog would not wear anything like socks. Heeseong bared his tiny teeth and looked above the mirror. The grandmother tried to put the socks back on tightly, saying it was fortunate they fit well.

‘I said I’m not wearing this!’

“Keep them on, so you can stay warm!”

Despite the stern order, the puppy, whose pride was hurt, tried to take off the socks right away. He struggled and wriggled, trying to take off the clothes that his front paws couldn’t even reach. However, the socks maintained their snugly rounded shape thanks to the fat he had healthily gained.

Seeing the puppy’s dislike, she clicked her tongue and remarked,

“Not knowing that saving is the way to live well. What an ungrateful rascal….”

Although her words were scolding, her face was full of a smile that seemed to say he was so cute she could die. But Heeseong hated the sleeping socks with the light pink pattern so much that he lay down on his back in protest. It was a demonstration demanding they be taken off immediately. If he did this, Yoon Chiyoung would take a few photos while laughing but ultimately do as Heeseong wanted.

But the grandmother was a formidable opponent.

“Since you have a cold, stop doing useless things and come out to eat snacks.”

‘I’m telling you to take them off!’

In the end, Heeseong waddled after the grandmother, who coolly left the room. He tried barking irritably, but the grandmother took out red strawberries from somewhere and held them out to the puppy. Unconsciously taking a bite, Heeseong’s eyes sparkled at the sweet juice filling his mouth, and he temporarily quelled his temper. His body did feel a bit better now that it was warm.

‘…I’ll only wear them until Yoon Chiyoung sees me.’

The grandmother seemed to have no intention of taking them off, so there was no choice. Thinking he had no choice because of the cold, Heeseong tried not to look in the mirror as much as possible.

That day, Heeseong had his fill of porridge and snacks under the pretext of having a cold and became even more unable to take off the socks. Lying down with his plump belly wrapped, Heeseong thought it was better to be here than to be left alone and fell asleep as if passing out. A day of enjoying luxury passed by.

Part 5

‘It snows here even in March….’

The puppy sat in a daze, staring out the window.

Gangwon Province was still in the middle of winter in March. The snow that had been slowly falling had now accumulated much higher than the puppy’s height. If Heeseong went out into the yard, he would have to jump to move around because the path was so blocked. It wouldn’t be a problem for the tall Yoon Chiyoung, but it seemed impossible for a car to make it up here.

‘What if the snow doesn’t melt by the time Yoon Chiyoung comes back….’

Heeseong was worried about Yoon Chiyoung and kept thinking about him, but he couldn’t bring himself to contact him first. They were already trying to spend time apart to fix the separation anxiety, so if he contacted him even once because he was worried, Yoon Chiyoung might immediately return to the country and take a helicopter to come here.

Soon, the puppy made up his mind.

‘…No. Yoon Chiyoung is coming tomorrow night, so I just have to wait a little longer.’

Since they had already decided to try and treat the separation anxiety, he thought he should endure it a bit more.

Having woken up early in the morning, Heeseong scouted around the quiet house and went outside in his disheveled state. He heard the sound of wood being chopped and thought it couldn’t be, but there was the grandmother, chopping firewood. It was the middle of winter, and she was wearing only a long-sleeved t-shirt on top.

‘Wh-what a scary grandmother….’

The puppy bounced through the snow and sat on top of the pile of chopped wood. It seemed she had been chopping firewood since early in the morning, as the amount of stacked wood was quite substantial. As if pleased that he had come to greet her, the grandmother smiled but bluntly pretended not to know.

“You’re up already, puppy? Why? Go sleep in a bit more.”

‘I know you’re nagging me….’

Heeseong mumbled as if whining with sleepy eyes. Just from her tone, he could tell the grandmother was scolding him for being lazy. Yoon Chiyoung, who seemed to be a natural-born loafer, must have heard it even more than him growing up. He was even more stubborn than Heeseong, so if he had lived with the grandmother, every morning must have been like a war.

She seemed to find the puppy talking back simply adorable, so she came close and vigorously ruffled Heeseong’s head with her gloved hand. It was still a rough touch that exposed the whites of the puppy’s eyes. If the puppy hadn’t thrown a fit telling her to stop, she would have ruffled him until he was flattened on the ground.

The grandmother, who had been laughing and saying how small and cute he was, spoke.

“If you’re hungry, go find something to eat on your own.”

‘On my own? I’m a puppy, you know.’

Heeseong grumbled. He had grown accustomed to being pampered in Yoon Chiyoung’s arms and treated like a master. For a moment, Heeseong thought to himself that he had really become spoiled. The grandmother had taken care of him all day yesterday, feeding him five meals and snacks. Feeling guilty for talking back, he began to gauge her reaction.

But the grandmother just laughed out loud and pointed to the furnace.

“Go to that furnace and dig up some sweet potatoes to eat.”

In the back, there was a makeshift furnace made by placing stones. A large pot was placed on top, and there were traces of a fire being lit. Through the black ashes, the scorched aluminum foil could be seen here and there.

‘Sweet potatoes…?’

Heeseong got down from the firewood and walked through the snowy path. Even though the sun had risen, it seemed colder than last night. He wanted to warm his paws by the remaining embers.

‘Sweet potatoes….’

The puppy approached the furnace and sniffed with his nose. A subtle scent of sweet potatoes wafted from the ashes. As he pawed around with his front paws, the ashes flew up. It wasn’t hot but warm, as if the fire had been out for a while. Heeseong found sweet potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil among the burnt firewood.

After rummaging for a while, the puppy rolled out the biggest sweet potato with his front paws. It was too hot to keep his paws on for long, so he had to move the sweet potato carefully. As he was digging around for a long time, the grandmother, worried, approached from behind.

“So greedy, you dug up one as big as your own body.”

‘Don’t scold me and peel it for me.’

Heeseong pushed the sweet potato with his front paws. Then the grandmother laughed heartily, mumbling how cute he was and that she couldn’t hate him, and peeled off the aluminum foil. The puppy, who had heard countless times from Yoon Chiyoung that he was cute, only stared at the sweet potato with a scorched skin. Perhaps it was because he had been eating fancy cuisine with Yoon Chiyoung all the time, but seeing a well-roasted sweet potato after a long time made his mouth water.

Soon, the grandmother split the large sweet potato in half and pushed aside the skin, revealing the steaming, golden flesh inside.

“It’s hot, so wait a bit, puppy….”

Woof!

“See, I told you it’s hot!”

Before she could finish speaking, the puppy bit into the sweet potato and flailed around from the heat. The grandmother only scolded him verbally but couldn’t stop laughing. The puppy, despite trembling from burning the roof of his mouth, ate the sweet potato again with difficulty. Having experienced severe hunger in his childhood, Heeseong developed a habit of stubbornly eating food. Although he couldn’t eat much due to his weak digestive system, he always overcame his lacking digestion with a strong appetite.

Seeing the puppy greedily eating the sweet potato, the grandmother remarked as if impressed.

“You’ll live a long life, thanks to that appetite of yours.”

‘I have someone to take responsibility for, so I have to live long.’

“Yes, that’s how it should be.”

She laughed as if she really liked what he said. In front of her, Heeseong chewed the sweet potato and thought of Yoon Chiyoung. Had his separation anxiety gotten a bit better now, or had he tried to come back to Korea because he missed Heeseong but gave up? Once the thought came to mind, it kept lingering.

Heeseong thought he was the type to be indifferent to others, but his worries about Yoon Chiyoung never ceased. He found himself constantly looking outside whenever he had a chance, to the point where he wondered if he was the one with separation anxiety.

‘…No. Still, we need some time apart.’

That way, Yoon Chiyoung would also realize that it’s okay for them to be apart. Heeseong was here, eating sweet potatoes with difficulty and doing well. The puppy raised his head and looked somewhere in the sky, hoping Yoon Chiyoung would work hard and come back.

Heeseong also drank the milk the grandmother brought him, filling his belly to the brim. The milk tasted really good with the sweet potatoes. He wanted to give some to Yoon Chiyoung, who had a very refined palate, to try.

‘Thinking about Yoon Chiyoung again….’

The puppy, lost in thought, looked down at the sweet potato he hadn’t even eaten half of with a sad expression.

It was delicious, but eating alone didn’t feel good. Normally, Yoon Chiyoung would have eaten with Heeseong, wiped around his mouth, and praised him for eating well. He used to find it bothersome, but now that he wasn’t here, it felt empty.

However, the grandmother’s words made his dejected thoughts evaporate.

“Your white fur is all covered in ashes, what do we do?”

‘Ashes?’

The puppy looked up with a puzzled expression. Hearing that he was black, he couldn’t gauge his own condition and was confused, but when he saw his reflection in the scorched stainless steel pot, he understood.

‘Sh-shit….’

The white puppy’s body had become grimy with charcoal soot. It was the consequence of rummaging through the furnace to eat the biggest sweet potato. His front paws and chest fur had turned completely black, and his face had become a spotted puppy with the area around his snout and the middle black like a Siamese cat.

It was a big problem. From experience, Heeseong knew that once his white fur got dirty, it took a very long time to clean. Heeseong tried rubbing his body hard with the towel the grandmother had temporarily brought, but the charcoal soot only spread evenly all over his body.

‘Ah, Yoon Chiyoung will definitely make fun of me if he sees this.’

Heeseong, who had tried to wipe his fur, ended up sprawled out in a daze, having become the perfect image of a country dog. If Yoon Chiyoung had seen him, he would have laughed to his heart’s content, said he was so cute he could die, and taken videos and photos to tease him, saying he had to record it forever.

Just thinking about it was annoying, but Heeseong realized he was thinking about Yoon Chiyoung again and rubbed his forehead with his front paw, feeling embarrassed.

‘…I guess I was the one with separation anxiety after all.’

But admitting it made him feel at ease. A puppy who thought it was okay to miss his lover sat down on the firewood, feeling drained.

Like that, he spent the whole morning thinking about Yoon Chiyoung and stayed by the grandmother’s side until she finished chopping all the firewood. She told him to go inside and wait first, but he couldn’t act heartlessly after receiving sweet potatoes. The puppy helped out by biting small branches and piling them on top of the firewood. Just that made the grandmother praise him greatly, making him feel proud.

Then, as the grandmother finished chopping all the firewood, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and said,

“Thanks to you, I finished quickly. Now, let’s go eat breakfast.”

‘Wasn’t the sweet potato breakfast…?’

While Heeseong was dumbfounded, the grandmother easily carried the puppy with a full belly into the house with one hand. Heeseong, whose stomach was already stuffed, refused, saying he wouldn’t eat breakfast, but at the stern order of why he was wasting food he hadn’t even eaten, he ended up eating all the rice too and passed out flat. It was a luxury, no, an extravagance that left no room to even miss Yoon Chiyoung.

Part 6

The mountain guardian of Wolf Mountain had many tasks.

As Heeseong was digesting his breakfast, a pregnant wild wolf came to the mountain guardian seeking help. It seemed to be asking for assistance as it couldn’t find food in the winter mountains.

“Just play around, puppy.”

Heeseong naturally thought the grandmother would give food from the villa, but she transformed into her original form and headed for the mountains. The startled puppy tried to follow her, but the grandmother, who had turned into a red wolf, pushed the puppy back into the house. The puppy couldn’t move anyway due to the accumulated snow.

In the end, Heeseong waited at home and watched the mountain guardian’s work. The mountain guardian seemed to teach the wolves how to find food in the winter mountains and organize their hierarchy. Still, perhaps because of Heeseong, she returned quickly. Heeseong belatedly began to look at the agile and wise red wolf with admiration.

After spending a peaceful day, the night that came to the villa was tranquil.

Outside, the snow continued to fall with no sign of stopping. The puppy, who had become a Siamese cat pattern from rummaging through the furnace, sat in a daze, staring out the terrace.

‘Yoon Chiyoung will only return tomorrow night….’

Tomorrow was already the day of Yoon Chiyoung’s return. But if it snowed this much more, the path might be blocked, and he might not see him for another week. Perhaps because the villa was so peaceful, the waiting time felt even longer. Moreover, with his body sick, he missed his lover even more. Heeseong wished he could fly to Yoon Chiyoung.

When even watching the snow fall became tedious, the puppy lifted his butt and got up.

‘What is the grandmother doing?’

When he went to the living room out of curiosity, the grandmother was sitting in an armchair reading a book. Heeseong didn’t want to be alone, so he scratched her ankle with his front paw. It was a request to be held. Having experienced being alone this time, Heeseong realized that he actually disliked being left alone, so such demands became natural to him.

Whether she understood his feelings or saw the puppy’s listless expression, the grandmother readily hugged him. Heeseong lay on her thigh and blankly stared out the window at the heavy snowfall. The snow, which had barely reached his ankles when Heeseong climbed the mountain, was now piled up to his knees. Accordingly, worries accumulated in the puppy’s black eyes.

‘I miss Yoon Chiyoung… At this rate, we won’t be able to come or go.’

Since they had been apart, Heeseong couldn’t stop thinking about Yoon Chiyoung. But time passed slowly, and heavy snow fell. Somehow, Heeseong felt like he was being punished for treating his partner coldly.

Then, perhaps seeing the puppy looking gloomy, the grandmother remarked,

“Originally, heavy snow often falls here even in March.”

“……”

“But in March, the snow melts quickly. Before long, a perfect spring scenery will unfold.”

‘Not that…’

Regardless of whether the snow melted quickly, he missed Yoon Chiyoung right now. The puppy buried his head in his front paws with a sorrowful heart, making a small sound. His body was sick, and without his lover by his side, he only felt lonely. Although the winter mountain scenery was beautiful and the occasional visits from wild wolves were refreshing and nice, Heeseong couldn’t muster any energy no matter what he did.

Unable to bear it any longer, the grandmother asked as she closed her book,

“What, are you bored?”

‘I wish time would pass faster…’

That way, the snow would melt, and he could see Yoon Chiyoung sooner. Heeseong nodded his head, thinking the meaning was similar anyway. Then, as if finding him cute, the grandmother gently scratched the puppy’s neck, set him down on the floor, and said,

“Then I’ll show you something fun. If you see it, you’ll like it too.”

‘I hope she’s not going to make me wear socks again…’

The puppy followed the grandmother, waddling without much expectation. He had been eating three meals a day plus snacks so diligently that he had gained more weight in the meantime. The sleeping socks he wore on the first day felt even tighter, but Heeseong tried to ignore it and followed the grandmother to the study.

She was rummaging through the bookshelf. As if it was preciously kept, she took out a luxurious leather box from next to the safe right behind the desk. Not knowing what was going on, Heeseong scratched his ear with his hind leg and waited obediently.

Soon, a thick album emerged from the box. Heeseong thought the grandmother might be bragging about her family. As expected, it wasn’t anything fun. Until the grandmother spread the album in front of him, Heeseong sat there disgruntled, without much anticipation.

“I took it out to show you my son.”

‘Photos of Yoon Chiyoung? Or does she have another child?’

If he was going to look anyway, he hoped it would be childhood photos of Yoon Chiyoung. Yoon Chiyoung told Heeseong many things, but strangely, he didn’t talk much about his past or childhood.

Heeseong was curious about his childhood, which must have been the opposite of his own. He expected it to be abundant and happy since he was a young master from a wealthy family. Soon, an old paper scent wafted strongly as the album spread in front of the puppy, and a photo album with worn edges opened.

“How is it? He has a great appearance, right?”

‘Huh…?’

The photo album was filled with pictures of a boy who looked to be in middle school. As if he had gone to a wedding, there was a photo of him standing side by side with the grandmother in a formal attire at what seemed to be a hotel. His height was similar to the grandmother’s, but even in the low-quality photo, it was evident that he had a handsome face and a good appearance. He had distinct features that were sure to grow up to be a beautiful man.

‘Yoon Chiyoung was pretty even then….’

Heeseong’s eyes sparkled, recognizing Yoon Chiyoung. His tail wagged and swayed just from seeing his lover’s childhood photos.

In the photo, Yoon Chiyoung had refreshingly long eyes under thick eyebrows, with a sharpness in one squinted eye and a confident smile. It was an unfamiliar yet new sight to Heeseong. Somehow, he thought Yoon Chiyoung was always an elegantly polished person, but seeing his childhood photos, he seemed to have the impression of someone who would have caused a lot of trouble.

In the meantime, the album slowly turned, and the grandmother’s explanations continued.

“Back then, he mainly stayed in wolf form. He was so wild as a child that he would live in the mountains for a week at a time. Seeing him living like a human now, it’s truly remarkable.”

‘Wow, a week…’

The puppy listened with fascination and examined the album. She also looked at each photo with affectionate eyes. As the pages turned, the boy in the photos grew little by little.

There were many photos of him in wolf form, still seeming to be in his growth period. The pitch-black wolf looked smaller and more agile than the one Heeseong knew. The photos were diverse, with one showing the wolf holding a pheasant in its mouth, standing proudly against a forest background, and another showing him howling with other wild wolves. Strangely, there was also a photo of him sleeping stretched out on the hood of a sports car.

The more Heeseong saw, the more amazed he became, even pressing his front paw on the album before it turned, saying he wanted to look at it more before moving on. Each time, the grandmother would chuckle, gently stroking the puppy, and say,

“He’s not my bloodline, but I still raised him like a real son.”

There was a hint of bitterness in her affectionate words. When Heeseong looked up at her, puzzled, he saw her face looking at the photos with sorrowful eyes.

“I thought his innate wildness was a blessing and hoped he would become the guardian who protects the clan… But in the end, he didn’t want that path until the very end.”

“……”

“Still, thanks to you, puppy, he said the position of the guardian has finally become good. He’s so grateful to you…”

‘…Thanks to me?’

The puppy was puzzled. Yoon Chiyoung had never said such a thing to him. Moreover, he seemed to be merely accustomed to the guardian’s work, not particularly fond of it. It was a strange thing to say.

As the album turned to the back, the passage of time could be felt. However, the boy in the photos gradually lost his expressions.

‘Huh…?’

Even the puppy’s wagging tail stopped moving.

As Yoon Chiyoung grew older, he noticeably became more haggard and didn’t even put on an artificial smile when taking photos. It was a slightly unfamiliar sight to Heeseong. He wondered what kind of experiences Yoon Chiyoung had gone through during this period.

The grandmother vaguely told that story.

“Actually, he grew up quite lonely. Even though he was an exceptionally talented child, he was shunned by his own family.”

‘Shunned…’

Heeseong looked at the photo of Yoon Chiyoung in his school uniform, leaning against a wall with an expressionless face. Although his body was almost fully grown, his expression was so dark that he looked like a completely different person from now. Yoon Chiyoung’s lips were turned down, expressionless, and his dark circles under his sensitive-looking gray eyes only seemed tired. To put it bluntly, he looked more unhappy than before Heeseong met him.

‘His expression back then is similar to the one I had as a child…’

Heeseong began to rethink Yoon Chiyoung. He thought Yoon Chiyoung had grown up in a wealthy family, living a smooth and easy life, but unexpectedly, he had many similarities to Heeseong. He was shunned by his family and walked a path he didn’t want. He must have wanted the same things as Heeseong.

‘I should have hugged him more when he was suffering from separation anxiety…’

Rather than the shock therapy of living apart, he needed a word of affection. Growing up, he must have been as lonely as Heeseong, who was always alone.

The puppy looked at him in the photo, who seemed lonely and desolate, with a sorrowful face for a long time.

‘I miss Yoon Chiyoung….’

He wanted to run to Yoon Chiyoung right now and tell him that he missed him. He wanted to hug him tightly first, making up for all the times he couldn’t express it because he was clumsy.

But reality was not favorable. The news said the snow would continue to fall heavily throughout the night. The puppy whimpered softly, “awoo,” looking at the photo in sorrow. Yoon Chiyoung would return tomorrow morning. If more snow accumulated than now, he might not be able to climb the mountain. But it was the first time Heeseong missed him so much. He wished he could even hang onto a helicopter and go down.

That’s when it happened.

Awooo…!

In the middle of the night, a distant howling was heard from afar. The puppy’s ears perked up sensitively.

It was a common howling without any signal or pattern. In Wolf Mountain, it was a sound heard more frequently than birdsong.

‘Could it be?’

But Heeseong, with his keen senses, realized at once that it was different from the howling of wild wolves. The puppy stared out the window with his round eyes that had been pitiful moments ago. The howling he had heard just now was definitely the howling of a wolf Heeseong knew.

A howling with a deep and heavy resonance. Moreover, there was a subtle scraping sound mixed in with the thick cry.

Awoo-!

It was definitely Yoon Chiyoung.

Convinced but in disbelief, Heeseong desperately stared out the terrace. Yoon Chiyoung’s return was supposed to be tomorrow, and unless he was crazy, there was no way he would climb the snow-covered mountain in the middle of the night.

But Yoon Chiyoung was the only strange one who would think of climbing the wild mountain. Another howling was heard from a slightly closer location.

‘Yoon Chiyoung?’

The puppy, convinced, frantically scratched at the terrace door. Then the grandmother clicked her tongue as if she had expected it and opened the door. The puppy, who had dashed outside, couldn’t go to the yard where the snow was piled higher than his height, so he stood on the terrace steps, wagging his tail and butt, barking wildly.

Before long, something large and black emerged through the heavy snowfall. Normally, the puppy would have run away, thinking a wild beast had appeared, but knowing its identity, Heeseong couldn’t help but greet it excitedly, his front paws trembling. A wolf with black mane and white snow like sugar covering its entire body. Even through the falling snow, Heeseong recognized him just by seeing his silhouette.

‘Yoon Chiyoung!’

He wanted to nag at him, asking how he came all the way here in this heavy snowfall, but the joy came first. Heeseong kept howling and calling for Yoon Chiyoung, sneezing repeatedly.

Awoo, awoo!

Unable to contain his joy, Heeseong barked wildly, forgetting his own appearance. He was desperate to show his delight, saying he was here and had waited so long. Having heard that small howling, Yoon Chiyoung responded with a howling that had a considerably higher range. He was clearly happy too.

As they got closer, their shapes became clearer to each other. The wolf also barely distinguished the white puppy through the falling snow and hesitated.

“……?”

Then he tilted his head first. Heeseong, forgetting that he had become a Siamese cat pattern due to the ashes and was wearing tight sleeping socks, howled several times to make his presence known.

Barely recognizing his partner, the wolf approached leisurely with a sly smile. Despite the considerable amount of snow, he easily walked with his long four legs. As soon as he reached the terrace, Heeseong greeted him with a nose kiss and rubbed his body all over him. The two, who had exchanged greetings, entered the outdoor corridor with a warm fire lit to escape the falling snow. It was an outdoor corridor connecting to the sauna of another building.

The wolf, who had shaken off the white snow on his body, licked the spotted puppy a few times, then slowly transformed into his human form. He stood up tall, put on a sauna robe hanging on the wall, and let out a refreshed sigh.

“Baby.”

He bent his knees and called out affectionately, extending his hand. Not wanting the puppy to be cold, he couldn’t touch him properly with his frozen hand and carefully wrapped him in the inside of his arm. The puppy, who had clung to his wrist, was wrapped in another towel as he asked,

“Did you wait for me?”

‘Of course I waited! Right?’

The puppy mumbled intensely, not knowing what to do. He couldn’t hide his joy and was busy tapping his front paws. Yoon Chiyoung’s signature elegant smile and his shameless words in a low and clean voice were all delightful. The impatient puppy groaned and demanded something. Fortunately, he seemed to understand the meaning quickly, as Yoon Chiyoung struggled to take off the tightly worn sleeping socks. The puppy, who had vigorously turned his body, immediately transformed into his human form.

“Yoon Chiyoung!”

Heeseong, who had gotten up with sparkling puppy ears, hugged him with shining eyes. He felt like he would fly away with his tail spinning like a propeller behind his back. Yoon Chiyoung, who had put a sauna robe on Heeseong first, wiped his grimy cheeks and smiled with the corners of his eyes curved.

“Why is the puppy so happy? I secretly came early, prepared to be scolded.”

“If you know you’ll be scolded, why did you come up this late at night? Why, why?”

Although his words were scolding, Heeseong rested his chin on Yoon Chiyoung’s chest and looked up at him with sparkling black eyes. Unable to hide his joy, he was busy rubbing his forehead hard against Yoon Chiyoung’s shoulders. Overwhelmed with affection, Yoon Chiyoung couldn’t resist and hugged Heeseong, kissing him all over his face first. His words, spoken while hugging him tightly, were filled with affection.

“Didn’t I say to come when you miss me so much you feel like you’re going to die?”

“Even so, how can you climb the mountain in the middle of the night?”

Heeseong spoke his mind even while unable to hide his joy. It was because he had almost died climbing the mountain himself. After nagging him with a voice full of worry, Yoon Chiyoung sniffed the puppy scent from Heeseong’s puppy ears and whined,

“I had to come because I couldn’t even sleep properly….”

“How much sleep did you get?”

“Barely an hour. I couldn’t sleep because I couldn’t hear the puppy’s snoring….”

As if it wasn’t a lie, dark circles were subtly visible under Yoon Chiyoung’s eyes, and his eyes were red with bloodshot veins. He seemed to have really struggled to sleep.

Feeling sorry for him, Heeseong whispered very softly that he had come well then, nestled in his arms. He wanted to tell him that he had missed him too, but hesitating to say such a cheesy expression, he ended up just patting Yoon Chiyoung’s back. For now, going inside was a priority because of the cold weather. He couldn’t let Yoon Chiyoung catch a cold too.

Moreover, behind them, the grandmother had come out to the terrace and was standing with her hands clasped behind her back. Although her eyes were looking at them as if they were quite a sight, there was a smile on her lips as if she found them truly delightful to see. As their eyes met, Yoon Chiyoung lightly lifted Heeseong, who was barefoot, like a princess and headed towards the terrace.

“Nanny, I’m here.”

“Welcome, young master.”

Even from ten steps away, her face was sternly stiff. The polite speech was also unfamiliar, making Heeseong puzzled beside them. He had thought that although they didn’t see each other regularly, Yoon Chiyoung and the grandmother were very close.

At that moment, Yoon Chiyoung quietly spoke so that only Heeseong could hear.

“She’s angry because I came after a long time.”

“S-scary….”

While Heeseong muttered to himself without realizing it, the nanny, who had glanced up and down at Yoon Chiyoung, spoke with a dismayed face.

“You really climbed the mountain through the heavy snowfall in this blizzard. If you had this much persistence, you should have quit gambling long ago. What a pity.”

“Didn’t you tell me to bring my lover when I find someone to marry? I listened to your words, Mom.”

At his shameless remark, the nanny finally gave a hearty laugh as if giving up. The atmosphere became gentle in an instant. She opened the terrace door wide as if telling them to come in quickly. Her gaze was warm as she looked at the grimy Heeseong awkwardly held in Yoon Chiyoung’s arms.

“Welcome. You brought the lucky charm well too.”

“You two already introduced yourselves?”

“I already accepted him as my new son. There’s no room for you in the house, so figure it out and stay over.”

“Oh no. Should I seduce this house’s new son and sleep with him…?”

Heeseong was dumbfounded after hearing their conversation. The two of them, who were like water and oil, seemed to be fighting, but they were clearly bantering based on affection. The precarious conversation between the nanny and Yoon Chiyoung came to an end with the puppy calling her “mother-in-law.” It was a night that finally felt warm in a long time.

Part 7

After exchanging pleasant greetings with the nanny, Yoon Chiyoung entered the warm bath to thaw his body.

His body was frozen from wandering through the snow for a long time, and he was not in good condition. The nanny directly measured Yoon Chiyoung’s pheromone levels, then hurriedly hit his back hard, telling him to transform into a wolf.

“Your pheromone levels have skyrocketed like this, and you thought of climbing the mountain. You must have had a death wish.”

Grrr.

Yoon Chiyoung, transformed into a wolf, was busy pressing his cheek against his lover’s waist and sniffing his scent all over his body, regardless of whether Heeseong nagged or not. Just that alone made his pheromone levels drop little by little, so Heeseong decided to bathe the wolf himself. Although the huge wolf’s body was daunting, Yoon Chiyoung was considerate by nature, so it didn’t require much effort.

Heeseong led the pitch-black wolf to the bathroom. In the meantime, he had become familiar with the layout of the vast house, truly leading Yoon Chiyoung like a new son.

“Come here, your body is still cold.”

Grrr….

The wolf raised its front paws in front of Heeseong as if asking what was so good about being cared for. When the wolf stood on two feet, it was much taller than Heeseong. Barely holding the heavy wolf, Heeseong was kissed until his cheeks were wet, then managed to lead the wolf to the edge of the bath. Still, even when Yoon Chiyoung showed brutal affection out of joy, Heeseong was only delighted.

But something was strange. Heeseong, who had been admiring the wolf’s elegant fur, asked with a surprised face as he lifted the black mane.

“Why do you have so much white fur?”

Originally, Yoon Chiyoung’s original form was so pitch-black that it seemed like he had been dipped in ink, but now, white fur was noticeably visible all over his body. It had grown innumerably like gray hairs, but he hadn’t noticed at all earlier because the fur was covered in snow.

Yoon Chiyoung just wagged his tail as if it was no big deal and kept lifting Heeseong’s t-shirt with his nose bridge. Heeseong scolded him, telling him to stay still for a moment, and closely examined the black fur that he usually loved the most. While he had become a gray puppy from being covered in ashes, Yoon Chiyoung had truly grown white fur from the roots.

“Do wolves also grow gray hair…?”

While he was puzzled, the answer was provided by the grandmother who brought the bath towel.

“That happens when he’s under stress.”

“Ah….”

“How weak. I never raised him like that… Tsk.”

When the nanny scolded him, Yoon Chiyoung roughly exhaled as if throwing a tantrum. Perhaps wolves could understand each other, as the nanny retorted, asking if he was talking back. Although the tone was fierce, the atmosphere was only warm. Only Heeseong was examining Yoon Chiyoung with sorrowful, sunken eyes.

‘It’s because of the separation anxiety….’

In just 3 days of being apart, the days of Yoon Chiyoung, who couldn’t even sleep properly and was lonely, flashed before his eyes. Heeseong regretted telling him to try being apart without much thought. He wished he had considered other measures or called for him as soon as possible, even after going on a business trip.

Saddened, Heeseong silently entered the bath with Yoon Chiyoung and hugged him tightly. Under the warm yellow light, his black eyes, filled with thoughts, were trembling narrowly. His heart ached to think of him enduring loneliness alone in a foreign place, unable to sleep.

This time, Heeseong recalled that Yoon Chiyoung had a past similar to his own.

Yoon Chiyoung was always alone and didn’t even have a family to share his heart with. Being separated from the first companion he formed a group with must have been painful. Heeseong had pushed him away, thinking it was suffocating to receive too much love.

Rather, he should have reciprocated Yoon Chiyoung’s expressions of affection. Then there would have been no reason for Yoon Chiyoung’s separation anxiety to worsen. Heeseong pulled the wolf into his arms and gently stroked his body while whispering.

“…Without me, you’ll become a white wolf.”

Grrr.

It was a remark made with a sorrowful heart, but perhaps thinking it was a joke, the wolf licked Heeseong’s cheek.

Still, Heeseong’s gloomy expression showed no signs of lifting. He felt sorry for treating his beloved lover harshly. He had only experienced such things in his life, so he ended up reciprocating the same way. If he truly knew what coldness was, he should have made sure his partner would never feel such emotions….

Suddenly, Yoon Chiyoung’s words brushed past his ears.

〈You might not die, but I’m not so sure about myself.〉

〈What if the puppy leaves me for another woman…〉

Since when did he think the size of their hearts was different? Heeseong hugged him tightly, as much as the size of his regretful heart.

Now, Heeseong decided not to hesitate to express affection just because he was clumsy at it. If you don’t show it and express it, the other person won’t know. Even earlier, despite his resolution, he couldn’t say a single word to Yoon Chiyoung that he had missed him. Heeseong resolved to fully show his affection to Yoon Chiyoung, for his sake and for his own sake.

Cheesy words were hard to say, but it would be enough to reciprocate even just half as much as Yoon Chiyoung did.

“Hey, Yoon Chiyoung….”

Expressing affection. Despite his resolution, as soon as Heeseong called out to him, his words got stuck in his throat.

Expressing one’s feelings to a lover was a natural thing. Saying it and showing it as much as you like them, but he couldn’t understand why it was so difficult. Until now, Heeseong had lived feeling that if he showed affection for the other person, it was like handing over his own weakness.

But not being able to say what needed to be said was not like a fighting dog. Heeseong, who had made up his mind again, decided to honestly confess his feelings.

“You know, that… You see.”

Grrr.

As Heeseong hesitated to speak, the wolf, perhaps puzzled, poked his moist nose bridge against his neck. It was a rare case for Heeseong to hesitate, so it seemed like he thought Heeseong was going to say something very serious. The mountain-sized wolf was about to shake off its body and get up, ready to run anywhere if something had happened to the puppy.

Perhaps because of that, he couldn’t even show his usual shameless reaction to the puppy’s clumsy confession.

“After being apart this time, I realized… I don’t think I can be apart from you anymore.”

“……”

Rarely, the wolf’s eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time Heeseong had seen such an expression on Yoon Chiyoung, who was always composed. Seeing Heeseong avoiding eye contact and being embarrassed, the wolf, perhaps excited, slowly wagged its lush tail in the water. Heeseong’s confession turned even the wolf into a puppy.

Overcoming his embarrassment, Heeseong stammered and continued his confession.

“Uh… Honestly, I think I could live without you.”

Grrr….

“Listen until the end.”

The wolf growled as if whining. It was amazing how he could act cute so well in such a beastly appearance. Heeseong spoke as if soothing him, ruffling Yoon Chiyoung’s mane.

“Even if I can live, it’s just… It doesn’t feel like living.”

“……”

“Even when I was so sick with a cold that I thought I would die, I was worried about you first… Even while enjoying sweet potatoes, I only thought of you. Also, even when wearing socks as clothes, the first thought that came to mind was that you would have liked it if you saw it.”

At those words, the wolf let out a long, languid sigh. He was clearly happy. As if wanting to be closer to Heeseong, he deeply leaned his head into Heeseong’s embrace. With the fluffy sensation, Heeseong also gradually softened and found it easier to express his inner thoughts.

“Even when apart… Far from spending my own time, I only thought of you.”

“……”

“I, I think I like you a lot too.”

The more Heeseong confessed, the stranger he felt. Even though he was only telling Yoon Chiyoung his true feelings, he felt like his own past was being comforted instead. And even though it was embarrassing, he knew that expressing his feelings left no regrets compared to hesitating. Feeling relieved, Heeseong smiled comfortably, flapping his puppy ears.

The response to the confession came back intensely.

“Mmph, hmm…!”

In an instant, Yoon Chiyoung, who had transformed into his human form, kissed him. The bathwater rippled and overflowed like someone’s heart. For the first time, Heeseong had the composure for skinship and soothed Yoon Chiyoung, who was mixing his tongue as if yearning. Having waited as much as Heeseong had, he accepted him without regret.

Part 8

For once, Yoon Chiyoung slept soundly without waking up to look for Heeseong.

‘Ugh… I’m tired.’

However, Heeseong was exhausted from enduring Yoon Chiyoung’s shower of kisses and knotting throughout the night. Waking up in puppy form in the morning, Heeseong could only sit blankly due to fatigue.

In contrast, Yoon Chiyoung woke up with a very refreshed face, and as soon as he saw the dazed puppy, his expression turned serious.

“…What’s with you?”

..

.Whine.

Yoon Chiyoung asked in a low, serious voice. At the rare sight, Heeseong also tensed up nervously and glanced at him.

“You… Why are you so cute?”

“……”

“Hmm? Why are you cute from the morning?”

‘Fucking bastard.’

Suddenly, Yoon Chiyoung rubbed his cheek against the puppy and acted flirtatiously. Heeseong forgot his resolution from last night and cursed at his lover, baring his teeth in annoyance. But he couldn’t push him away. In fact, he didn’t even have the strength to push him away. The cold and flu still lingered, and all his energy had been drained from bathing the wolf and enduring the skinship last night.

After peacefully rolling around on the bed for a while, the two finally got up only after feeling hungry. Heeseong, who belatedly transformed into his human form, thought he looked worse than when he first caught a cold and flu on the first day after looking in the mirror.

The nanny, whom they met at the dining table, seemed to think the same. She clicked her tongue after seeing Heeseong’s disheveled appearance, not his words.

“My goodness, bringing a much younger kid and biting him….”

“I’m fine though….”

“Fine, my foot.”

No one believed his words. As Heeseong resolutely grasped the chopsticks, he dropped one side, making a pitiful clattering sound. Heeseong felt a bit upset about showing a weak appearance in front of his mother-in-law.

The nanny brought a fork to Heeseong, then glared at Yoon Chiyoung, who was sitting at the table with a bright, wrinkle-free face, and hit his back hard. Calling him a thief, she hit him, but Heeseong considered it a good sight and ate the sausage with a fork. It was the first time he had seen Yoon Chiyoung being helplessly beaten by someone other than himself.

Only after his back had turned red from being beaten did Yoon Chiyoung, who was sitting at the table, whine with a thick skin.

“There’s no way I would bully my lover. Mom, you’re too much….”

“Why don’t you directly look at the puppy’s condition and say that?”

‘There they go again….’

Having lived together for a while, Heeseong was now used to the sound of the two bickering. Rather, it was nice to see Yoon Chiyoung looking comfortable. Sometimes, he heard that Yoon Chiyoung called the nanny “Mom.” In fact, he had never heard him call his biological mother that way. While Heeseong thought this was the position he should be most mindful of, he had also grown fond of the nanny, so it was ambiguous what attitude he should take.

‘I’ll just be the new son.’

Heeseong thought with ease and ate up the grilled fish the nanny offered. He also passed various side dishes to Yoon Chiyoung, who was eating slowly with large bites. The nanny praised him profusely, saying he had chosen his partner very well and that he was pretty for eating abundantly. Heeseong, not knowing that the reason he earned points from his mother-in-law was his cuteness, thought he had done well to eat with his own hands instead of Yoon Chiyoung’s, as usual.

Like that, they spent the afternoon chatting with the nanny about various stories and ate strawberries, a specialty of Wolf Mountain. The two, who had spent a long time with the nanny, decided to go down the mountain only when the sun was about to set.

“It will be dangerous with the accumulated snow. Is there anything else I should pack for you?”

“No, Nanny. The snow will melt quickly, so it’s fine.”

“Not for you. I’m worried about the puppy.”

“Only caring for the new son. You’re too much….”

Yoon Chiyoung whined without actually feeling sad. Heeseong also said he was fine with a reliable tone. The snow had mostly melted, and if they took a different path than the one Heeseong had climbed up, it would only take about 30 minutes to reach Yoon Chiyoung’s villa.

By the time they stood at the door, Yoon Chiyoung’s hands were full of luggage. Heeseong also carried a small piece of luggage and vigorously bowed to the nanny.

“Well, Mother-in-law. I’ll come again next time. Thank you for everything.”

When he bowed with his puppy ears flapping, both the nanny and Yoon Chiyoung laughed out loud. But Heeseong became even more excited. He was happy to finally meet Yoon Chiyoung’s family-like family. It felt like he had gained a family of his own. It was a new and strange feeling.

While going down the mountain, they held hands tightly, saying it was dangerous, and deliberately carried the luggage in one hand. The mountain path, which had been only difficult and scary when climbing alone, looked beautiful when walking with Yoon Chiyoung. The lush vegetation and the wild wolves that followed them out of curiosity from a distance were also grateful and nice. When Heeseong told Yoon Chiyoung that the wolves had saved him, he even said he should give them beef as a reward.

While talking like that, Yoon Chiyoung asked as if he had thought of something.

“By the way, puppy.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you find the treasure I hid at the villa?”

“Huh? Yeah.”

Heeseong answered, wagging his tail excitedly. Although his answer was nonchalant, in fact, thinking of the villa filled with shrimp crackers, he was secretly excited. He thought about asking Yoon Chiyoung to stay at the villa for a week and fully enjoy it. The puppy, who liked anything, vigorously waved Yoon Chiyoung’s hand in the direction he was pulling and said,

“I saw it packed with shrimp crackers. It’s decorated just like the dream I had last time, right?”

Last time, Heeseong had said he dreamed of falling into a field of shrimp crackers. He had mentioned it in passing as a trivial story, but he remembered Yoon Chiyoung particularly liking it.

This time too, Yoon Chiyoung smiled broadly as if adoring Heeseong and lightly touched his forehead.

“You thought the treasure was just snacks?”

“Huh? It wasn’t?”

“Seems like you didn’t see the kitchen table….”

Yoon Chiyoung couldn’t hold back his laughter. As if finding him cute, he even bit the puppy ears that stood up on Heeseong’s head. Heeseong, not knowing what was going on, asked bluntly what the hell it was. He would have been perfectly satisfied if the hidden treasure was shrimp crackers, but it seemed there was something more. Heeseong thought maybe he had hidden jewels among the piles of snacks.

As they carefully descended the mountain, Yoon Chiyoung began giving hints like a game of twenty questions.

“Among the things you saw at the villa, tell me something more precious than snacks.”

“Uh… Game consoles?”

“Something better.”

“A huge TV.”

The mountain, where the sun was gradually setting, was peaceful. Holding hands tightly as they walked, Yoon Chiyoung kept telling him to say something better, something bigger. Heeseong, who was continuing to answer, was made to say the most expensive thing he saw in the house.

“Then… That art piece I said felt nice?”

“That’s expensive too. More.”

“What the hell is it? …Could it be the sports car?”

Heeseong stopped abruptly, his eyes sparkling.

The brand-new blue sports car that looked like a painting parked at the villa came to mind. He naturally thought it was Yoon Chiyoung’s car, but could it have been a gift? Heeseong’s white tail stood up straight in anticipation. His black eyes, filled with anticipation as he looked at Yoon Chiyoung, widened and sparkled.

Yoon Chiyoung gazed at Heeseong like that, then smiled subtly and said something unexpected.

“Something even bigger.”

“……?”

Heeseong’s brow furrowed somewhere between disappointment and anticipation. Seeing that, Yoon Chiyoung, who had been chuckling, whispered softly into Heeseong’s ear.

“The villa and the car, they’re all the puppy’s.”

“……”

“Everything is a gift I prepared for our puppy.”

“…Huh.”

The puppy ears lying flat behind Heeseong trembled.

Only then did the peculiarities of the luxurious villa come to mind. Any furniture or door. There were stairs placed so that even a very small puppy could move around easily. Moreover, the art pieces placed in the house were the ones Heeseong had once unconsciously said he liked, and the car was the one he had raved about as his dream car. In addition, as he had said he dreamed of being immersed in shrimp crackers, the utility room was packed with snacks. There were even all sorts of game consoles and a private pool that Heeseong had said he wanted.

“Y-Yoon Chiyoung….”

Heeseong learned for the first time in his life that when you’re too happy, you can’t even speak properly and even your tail breaks down. His tail, which was always honest, could barely twitch at the end with all its fur standing up.

Yoon Chiyoung, who had been watching that sight with delight for a while, kissed Heeseong’s fingers and smiled with his eyes curved.

“Let me sleep over at your house.”

My house. At the unfamiliar word he heard for the first time, Heeseong’s face turned bright red. To think that the playground he had thought of as a dream house was his own. As he grasped the reality, his tail, which had barely broken down, wagged rapidly. He was so excited that he tightly grasped Yoon Chiyoung’s hand. In the distance, his new house was in sight. Beautiful, with Yoon Chiyoung’s wolves guarding the yard.

Dazed, Heeseong unknowingly followed through with yesterday’s resolution. The puppy, looking up at the back of Yoon Chiyoung’s tall head, spoke in a stammering tone, too excited.

“You’re really, really. A cunning bastard.”

“Why?”

“You make it so that I, I can’t help but like you immensely. To the point where I can’t refuse… So nicely.”

At the intense confession, Yoon Chiyoung’s laughter rang out loudly. After exchanging butterfly kisses at the end of their laughter, the two walked towards the villa, wagging their tails. Heeseong rambled on about his true feelings in joy the whole way. He shamelessly confessed that he wanted to live here with Yoon Chiyoung forever when they were old, and he also said that what he wanted to do most was go for a drive.

However, among Heeseong’s countless sincere words, what Chiyoung liked the most was the confession, “No matter how nice the villa is, it’s only good with you.” Heeseong, who no longer felt embarrassed to express affection, looked even more upright and solid than when he acted stern and fierce.

Thanks to that, Yoon Chiyoung didn’t regret the time they had spent apart to try and fix his separation anxiety. Although being apart from Heeseong was extremely painful, just being able to see his young lover’s growth made the investment for a lifetime worthwhile. A lifetime. At the end of the wait, the sweet time that remained for Yoon Chiyoung .now seemed as lush as endless vegetation.

〈Don’t Touch the Puppy〉 Side Story Ends

Phew. That’s all from this series everyone! Thanks for reading, and see you all soon in my next project!!!

Side Story 2 Chapter 1

Rumble….

Hee-sung woke up with a start at the sound of thunder.

It was early dawn, and the outside was pitch black, shrouded in dark clouds. Having woken up disheveled in the form of a small puppy, Hee-sung stared blankly outside. Usually, when he looked out the window of the villa he visited with Yoon Chi-young, the whole world seemed covered in lush green vegetation, but now, due to the fog, the surroundings were obscured as if submerged in dark clouds.

Hee-sung always tossed and turned on days when it thundered like this.

It wasn’t because he was afraid of thunder itself. It was simply that painful memories of the past surfaced on their own. Of all things, they were the memories Hee-sung hated most.

Back then, on the day he was abandoned alone in a derelict house, thunder had struck like this too.

“…….”

The black eyes of the puppy looking out the window sank gloomily. Suddenly, a rain shower began, and raindrops beaded up against the large glass window. As the sky flashed again, memories of the past seemed to flicker vividly before Hee-sung’s eyes.

Strangely, Hee-sung hadn’t cried when he was abandoned. With hollow eyes that looked as if they were dying, he stared out the cracked window, slowly realizing the stubborn fact that he had been abandoned by his family and left alone in the world.

Hee-sung had been so young that even sadness was a luxury; he was exhausted and wounded.

Those were days spent escaping into forced sleep, hoping he wouldn’t wake up the next morning.

Even now, years later, he could never forget that day. This was true even though Hee-sung now knew he wasn’t alone. Although he had met a Companion to spend his life with, he had realized that he had to tend to his own wounds.

Feeling a bit lonely in that reality, the puppy climbed weakly onto the chest of the sleeping Yoon Chi-young. Still, the fact that he could lean on his lover when things were hard provided some solace.

Thump, thump.

As he used his front paws to nudge aside the nightgown and lay flat against the center of the chest, he felt Yoon Chi-young’s heartbeat through his pink belly. Only then did Hee-sung feel at ease.

Unable to fall back asleep, the puppy gazed out the window for a long time. It seemed he would lose sleep today.

Perhaps because of his Jindo dog blood, on days like this, Hee-sung felt resentful toward the family that abandoned him, yet he couldn’t help but miss them.

Whine….

Hee-sung suppressed a lonely howl that tried to leak out unconsciously and lay down weakly. It was a day when he particularly hated his own weakness for still being unable to overcome the wounds of the past.

Two years had already passed since Hee-sung took Yoon Chi-young as his Companion.

During that time, Hee-sung had traveled to many places with Yoon Chi-young through every season. He met Dog-kin who had lived their entire lives as shepherds in New Zealand and talked about life, and he once spent all his pocket money gambling in Macau. In Saipan, he got engaged to Yoon Chi-young against the backdrop of an emerald sea, and in Australia, the two of them went on a road trip across the desert for a week in a single luxury camper van.

Among those, the scenery the puppy saw in the remote desert remained the most memorable. Every night, Hee-sung would lie sprawled across Yoon Chi-young’s chest on top of the camper van, taking in the brilliant, multicolored Milky Way with his eyes. When he saw the Milky Way stretching across the night sky, filling the black eyes of the small puppy, Hee-sung felt happy to be with Yoon Chi-young in this vast and lonely world.

He had spent such happy days.

Yet, whenever it rained, Hee-sung would still be seized by memories of the past and grow vacant. Even after waking up around noon, seeing that the weather was cloudy, Hee-sung sat alone on the terrace.

Yoon Chi-young approached from behind and draped the nightgown he was wearing over his Companion’s back.

“Honey.”

“…….”

“Honey?”

“…Yeah?”

Hee-sung responded belatedly to the call.

Perhaps because it had rained overnight, the villa halfway up the mountain, shrouded in fog, looked exceptionally quiet and peaceful. With only Yoon Chi-young and himself around, it felt even more like another world.

However, despite it being his favorite place, Hee-sung’s expression was dark. Noticing the sign, Yoon Chi-young pulled a chair close, sat beside him, and caressed Hee-sung’s cheek.

“What are you thinking about that you didn’t even notice me coming? Here, say ah.”

Yoon Chi-young fed Hee-sung a warm omelet.

Hee-sung opened his mouth blankly and accepted it habitually.

Having been raised as a cherished lover for two years now, Hee-sung had become quite a spoiled puppy. In the past, he had survived on ramen almost every day, but now he wouldn’t even touch food unless it was gourmet cuisine fed to him by Yoon Chi-young, and because he was carried by Yoon Chi-young every day, even the calluses on his hands and feet had softened. To the point where it was hard to imagine his scruffy and fierce days, the 23-year-old Hee-sung had become a puppy Beastman who practically oozed elegance.

Furthermore, Hee-sung, who had found his own pack and learned what happiness was, wasn’t always happy. As Hee-sung continued to be lethargic, Yoon Chi-young moved the plate to the side of the table.

Pulling his chair closer, he supported Hee-sung’s waist and sat him on his lap. Without much resistance, Hee-sung leaned his head deeply into the crook of his neck, just as he did when he was a puppy. Due to the difference in build, Hee-sung fit perfectly within his broad embrace.

Yoon Chi-young leaned his head close, massaging each joint of Hee-sung’s fingers, while asking worriedly,

“Why is the puppy in a bad mood today… Is it because it rained last night?”

He guessed correctly. Over time, Yoon Chi-young had noticed to some extent that Hee-sung became particularly lethargic on rainy days. On days when rain was forecast, he would even make reckless suggestions to go abroad where the weather was clear.

However, Hee-sung wanted to treat his past wounds as if they were nothing. He felt that only then would the pain of the past eventually dull. Hee-sung rubbed his forehead hard against his chest, trying to act strong as usual.

“There are just days when you feel a bit down in life.”

“Still. …Honey, do you want to skip the Wolf Clan event today and just rest?”

“…By myself?”

“Yeah.”

One of the puppy ears atop Hee-sung’s head twitched.

There was only one schedule today. It was a charity event party held periodically by the Pureblood Wolves, and not only the Wolf Clan but other wealthy Beastmen who frequently interacted with them were expected to attend. Of course, Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young, as Watchers of the Wolf Clan, had to attend as well.

But to go alone. It was a kind offer, but Hee-sung felt uncomfortable. It was because this was a topic that had been subtly bothering him lately.

It had been quite a while since Yoon Chi-young had stopped taking Hee-sung to family events like this.

Because he couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, Hee-sung didn’t feel that the offer was an act of consideration.

“Do whatever you want.”

However, Hee-sung found it awkward to ask the reason.

It was because he didn’t want to doubt his only pack. The obsession born from the instinct of not wanting to be abandoned led Hee-sung to unconsciously avoid problems.

…Woof.

Hee-sung intentionally transformed into a puppy and burrowed into his embrace. As expected, the puppy form was best for hiding his expression. As he curled his body into a ball, tucking in his tail, Yoon Chi-young gently stroked and comforted the moody Hee-sung.

“Then I’ll go and come back quickly by myself this evening. You just rest.”

Yoon Chi-young gave the puppy a tender kiss, laid him on the bed, and then headed to the study. He was likely going to check the list of people attending today’s Wolf Clan event. Since the Watcher’s duty was to keep an eye on their current status, he was usually busy on family event days.

‘…I’m not that sleepy.’

Hee-sung lay under the blanket with a dazed expression for a while, then slipped out and approached the study. The blanket that had been wrapping the puppy hung from his back like a cape, dragging along.

Having reached the threshold of the study, Hee-sung peeked out halfway from a corner and monitored Yoon Chi-young. His face was full of suspicion, to the point where he didn’t even realize one of his ears was folded over.

‘…Why is he not taking me to the family event this time either?’

The puppy’s gaze sharpened at the suspicion. Even though he observed diligently to see if there was anything fishy, it was frustrating that he couldn’t figure out his inner thoughts at all.

Out of upset, Hee-sung glared at him, then, feeling deeply hurt, he dropped his head and let out a small, sad whine. Whether Yoon Chi-young heard that small sound, he looked up from his tablet. It was just as Hee-sung, startled, looked up again.

“…….”

“…….”

For about three seconds, they locked eyes—his intense grey eyes meeting Hee-sung’s—in silence.

Hee-sung froze in place, half-hidden with only one front paw raised. A glimpse of madness could be seen in Yoon Chi-young’s subtly flushed grey pupils. Sensing the action that would follow, Hee-sung hurriedly tried to ditch the blanket and flee.

But Yoon Chi-young was faster, stepping forward and grabbing the puppy.

‘Aaaagh!’

As soon as he was caught in those hands, the puppy was flipped onto his back and bombarded with a barrage of kisses. He even got nagged about why he was monitoring him so cutely and why he was looking at him so lovably. Far from replying, Hee-sung was so overwhelmed that he could only flail his four legs and escape.

Having been dealt with to the point of losing his soul, Hee-sung hid under the bed, panting heavily. Due to the intense expression of affection, his white fluff was a mess, as if he had been struck by lightning. From under the bed, Hee-sung watched Yoon Chi-young pace back and forth looking for him, and then confirmed that he said one last thing before heading back into the study.

“If you want more kisses, come monitor me again.”

‘You… you crazy bastard….’

Even after two years of having him as a Companion, Hee-sung couldn’t change his thought that he was a lunatic.

Still, his conviction that Yoon Chi-young loved him remained unchanged. It was because he received a consistent, madness-fueled expression of affection.

However, even though he received affection, there were suspicious points that made his heart uneasy. Once the puppy calmed down, he let out a long sigh and curled up.

‘What’s the point of cherishing me like this every day. When he doesn’t even show me to his family and relatives….’

Hee-sung trusted his Companion as a Fighting Dog, but since this wasn’t just a one-or two-time occurrence, he couldn’t help but feel hurt.

The puppy tried to count how long it had been since Yoon Chi-young stopped showing him to the Wolf Clan. Four, four… counting the toes on his front paws, excluding the dewclaws. Only after counting everything did he realize.

It had already been eight months.

In truth, Hee-sung wasn’t lacking in intuition.

While he was generally indifferent to others, he tended to react meticulously to his Companion. The experience of being abandoned and betrayed by a pack made Hee-sung react keenly to even the smallest changes in his Companion.

The first time Hee-sung felt something strange about Yoon Chi-young was around the New Year.

At the time, Yoon Chi-young left Hee-sung separately in the annex and went to give New Year’s greetings to the elder wolves.

At a glance, it seemed like nothing, but Yoon Chi-young suffered from separation anxiety. Despite that, he left Hee-sung alone in a safe place and went by himself. That alone made Hee-sung notice that he had some other intention.

‘Is it because he thinks I’ll be uncomfortable around the elders?’

Though he wondered, he didn’t think it was that strange at the time.

Naturally, because he trusted Yoon Chi-young, he could let it slide, thinking it was no big deal. He even thought Yoon Chi-young was unnecessarily considerate. Since the elder wolves were famous for being old-fashioned, they were indeed uncomfortable figures from Hee-sung’s perspective.

However, as time passed, Hee-sung began to view Yoon Chi-young with suspicion.

‘He went alone again this month, leaving me behind….’

Wolf Clan events occurred on average every one or two months. They held charity parties for the purpose of donations, or social gatherings to interact with other Beastman packs. Since friends Yoon Chi-young had known since childhood—though they feared the Watcher more than they viewed him as a friend—also gathered there often, Hee-sung increasingly felt it was strange that he went alone. It felt as if he didn’t want to show him to his family and relatives.

Suspicious of this, Hee-sung started with the most common suspicion.

‘…Could he be cheating?’

At the events, arrogant Pureblood Wolves gathered to boast about various affairs. Hee-sung imagined the possibility that Yoon Chi-young met a beautiful wolf behind his back. Imagining him stroking another wolf’s head like he did for him, sensually touching a tail, and smelling the scent of their ears. Just the thought made him so angry that a surge of heat filled his body along with a suffocating sense of sorrow.

But he folded that suspicion immediately.

‘No. With his personality, it would be a miracle if he didn’t play with someone.’

Setting aside the fact that Yoon Chi-young looked only at him intensely, first of all, wolves considered cheating extremely shameful.

From what Hee-sung had observed, wolves viewed cheating on their chosen Companion as disgustingly as betrayal. This was because it was an act of betraying the most important pack: the family.

Perhaps that was why Yoon Chi-young couldn’t understand cheating at all.

On his end, rather than wolf instinct, he would argue how anyone could look elsewhere when they had such a pretty and handsome puppy lover, but regardless, Hee-sung completely dismissed the possibility of him cheating.

The next possibility was whether it was because he was a small dog. Since a small dog like himself sat in the position of the Watcher, there was a possibility that Yoon Chi-young went alone to maintain dignity. Although he trusted his Companion, a long-standing complex continued to torment Hee-sung even when he tried to ignore it.

Having spent the whole day lost in thought under the covers, Hee-sung let out a sigh.

‘…What’s the point of worrying about this alone.’

In fact, it could be something truly trivial. Even if they were Companions, there might be secrets one wanted to hide.

Hee-sung also had secrets from Yoon Chi-young. He didn’t want him to find out the reason why he hated cats. It was because he had a memory of fighting a stray cat in his True Form and losing. Thinking that Yoon Chi-young might also have such a shameful memory, Hee-sung deliberately thought of unlikely possibilities, trying to ignore Yoon Chi-young’s secrets.

Just then, he heard Yoon Chi-young saying something to the organization members on his phone.

“Protectors, stand by both inside and outside the house. Report to me immediately if anything happens.”

He seemed to be designating protectors for Hee-sung. It was a procedure Yoon Chi-young always followed before going out alone. Hee-sung crawled out from under the blanket and went to the entrance barefoot. After spending the day lazily, it was already evening by the time he got up.

‘He’s leaving a bit late….’

Having woken up disheveled, Hee-sung found Yoon Chi-young dressed splendidly at the entrance.

He was wearing a grey suit with a check pattern over a shirt. Seeing him pull off the colored suit so sophisticatedly, Hee-sung felt a bit shabby. This was because he was wearing only one of Yoon Chi-young’s baggy t-shirts and shorts riddled with holes from tooth marks—the work of some perverted wolf.

Just as he was refastening his cufflinks, Yoon Chi-young turned and their eyes met. As if he had been waiting, he smiled, his eyes curving elegantly. Perhaps because he was wearing a suit and had naturally swept his black hair back from his forehead, his already handsome face looked much more polished. Feeling his heart flutter slightly, Hee-sung approached, fiddling with one of the puppy ears atop his head.

“Honey, how long will you be at the party?”

“Huh?”

“I asked how long you’ll be at the main house before coming back.”

Hee-sung habitually hugged him and looked up with a pouty face. Since there was a height difference of more than a head, this posture was familiar.

However, there was no answer. Yoon Chi-young let his hand drop, looked down at Hee-sung’s clear face as if possessed, and then suddenly said, caressing his cheek as if he would grant anything,

“…Should I just not go?”

“…When did I say don’t go?”

“You said it so desperately….”

“What are you talking about.”

Hee-sung, feeling he was pathetic, tried to put the suit jacket on Yoon Chi-young himself. He wondered when the rose-colored glasses over Yoon Chi-young’s eyes would finally come off. He acted as if he would grant anything just by Hee-sung looking at him with round eyes, but in truth, Hee-sung didn’t dislike it. Rather, in those moments, he didn’t want to leave his side even more.

Still, it would be problematic if Yoon Chi-young didn’t attend today’s event. It was a major event for the Wolf Clan, and if the Watcher was absent, it might create a perception that he was negligent toward the clan. Once or twice might be fine, but Hee-sung didn’t want the Watcher’s power to weaken.

“Go do your work. I’m going to play games alone.”

Thinking only of reality, Hee-sung tried to push him away coldly.

Perhaps feeling sorry for leaving the puppy alone, Yoon Chi-young assigned double protectors. Accustomed to overprotection, Hee-sung pushed him out the door, fearing he might be late.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Soon, Yoon Chi-young showered Hee-sung with kisses and went outside. As he opened and closed the door, cold air rushed in, and silence soon fell over the house.

Even after Yoon Chi-young left, Hee-sung stood in front of the entrance for a while. Unaware that the entrance light had turned off, he slowly walked back into the house. Although he had pushed Yoon Chi-young to leave as if it were nothing, he couldn’t help but feel lonely remaining in the house alone.

Thanks to Hee-sung’s efforts, Yoon Chi-young’s separation anxiety had improved a lot.

Of course, Yoon Chi-young still wanted to go to the bathroom with Hee-sung, and even being apart for half a day was enough to stress him out to the point where white wolf fur sprouted. Still, as long as he was certain that Hee-sung was safe, being apart to some extent was acceptable.

This change was all thanks to Hee-sung’s affection-expression therapy.

Hee-sung was clumsy at expressing affection, but he had found his own way to let his feelings flow freely. It was to tell Yoon Chi-young his inner thoughts just as the man was falling asleep. When Yoon Chi-young’s eyes were closed in sleep, Hee-sung finally found the courage to express his tender heart.

When he was in puppy form, he would mumble by his side and lick his cheeks, telling him how much he cherished him. When in human form, he would peek up from within the man’s embrace and tell him what he liked about him that day and how much he loved him. In most cases, Yoon Chi-young’s reaction was merely a faint smile in his sleep, but very occasionally—perhaps having pretended to be asleep—he would suddenly pounce on Hee-sung as if to devour him, startling him. In those moments, Hee-sung felt embarrassed that his inner thoughts had been discovered, but he could fall asleep happily, feeling that just the two of them in the world was enough.

The strange thing was that this alone had a positive effect. First, Yoon Chi-young stopped having nightmares, and his separation anxiety was alleviated. It seemed that a strong sense of pack consciousness had formed, assuring him that Hee-sung would never leave his side.

Thanks to this, Yoon Chi-young gained the courage to attend the Wolf Clan events alone. On such days, Hee-sung would be overjoyed at the prospect of having some time to rest by himself, but today was different.

‘I wonder what Yoon Chi-young is doing right now….’

Hee-sung, who had been clicking through channels with the TV remote, lost interest and flopped onto the sofa. Perhaps wondering why Hee-sung seemed so listless, Ji Young-bae approached him and offered some Shrimp-zzang, Hee-sung’s favorite snack.

“Thanks, Young-bae hyung….”

“It is nothing.”

Grateful for the thoughtfulness, Hee-sung accepted the snacks despite his lack of appetite.

With the rustling bag of snacks in his arms, Hee-sung fell into a daze of contemplation. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“…Young-bae hyung.”

“Yes.”

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“…….”

Now that it came time to actually say it, Hee-sung hesitated. He felt as if he were being too sensitive, even doubting the consideration Yoon Chi-young had shown him all this time.

However, he felt he could trust and ask Ji Young-bae, who had served Yoon Chi-young for a long time. Sensing that this was a serious conversation, Ji Young-bae dismissed the other organization members waiting in the house. That alone made Hee-sung feel much more comfortable opening up.

“You know… I feel like Yoon Chi-young is hiding something from me.”

“Hmm….”

Ji Young-bae fell into deep thought over the speculation. His expression looked genuinely clueless, and seeing that reaction, Hee-sung suddenly felt embarrassed for bringing it up. It wasn’t like a Fighting Dog to distrust his companion and voice those doubts to an outsider first.

Fortunately, Ji Young-bae listened to Hee-sung’s concerns seriously.

“What do you think the Director is hiding?”

That attitude gave Hee-sung the courage to reveal a bit more of his inner thoughts. In truth, the fact that Ji Young-bae was the only other Dog-kin like him made it easier to open up.

After confirming that only he and Ji Young-bae were left in the living room, Hee-sung began to fidget with the remote in his hand and spoke.

“Since the New Year’s event this year, Yoon Chi-young hasn’t been taking me to the Wolf Clan events.”

“Ah… yes.”

“Could it be… that he’s ashamed to show me to his family and relatives?”

Ji Young-bae shook his head as if the idea were absurd.

“That cannot be. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have brought you around in the first place.”

“But you’re a Shepherd, hyung. I’m… a small breed.”

“You must not think that way. To think so is to insult the Director, who trusts us.”

“…Okay.”

Hee-sung whispered a small, “Sorry, hyung.” Still, he thought for a moment that it was a steadfast answer befitting a Shepherd, momentarily caught up in breed discrimination.

“Hee-sung nim.”

Perhaps feeling sorry for the intimidated Hee-sung, Ji Young-bae sat down on the sofa diagonally across from him.

Having assisted Hee-sung for over two years, Ji Young-bae knew about the puppy’s complexes and how he became weak specifically for his companion. Therefore, he needed to strip away the tinted glasses of inferiority and address the realistic aspects first.

“Think about it again. When do you think the Director started changing?”

“Probably… during the family event at the end of last year.”

“Did something happen then?”

“Nothing special happened….”

“Yes, since nothing special happened, please tell me slowly.”

Lost in thought, Hee-sung recalled the day he first met Yoon Chi-young’s relatives at an event.

It was last winter. Since he had become Yoon Chi-young’s companion and a joint observer, Hee-sung had participated in the Wolf Clan event as an observer.

The event, held at a hotel owned by the Wolf Clan, was conducted in a traditional, rigid manner. The elder wolves tended to wear hanbok, and the younger wolves moved about, greeting family and relatives with proper etiquette.

Hee-sung also attended. He greeted Yoon Chi-young’s relatives with familiarity and meticulously observed their behavior as a joint observer. Perhaps intrigued by his intense gaze, there were many wolves who were particularly eager to strike up a conversation with him.

Hee-sung exchanged greetings with the wolves and even received an unusual proposal from a handsome singer among them.

<I didn’t know you were so stunning. If you weren’t an observer, I definitely would have suggested we work together.>

The wolf, who was around Hee-sung’s age, praised the puppy’s appearance. Moreover, they shared a similar interest in cars. Excited, Hee-sung enjoyed the conversation so much that he almost semi-transformed and let his tail pop out. Barely suppressing his emotions, Hee-sung finished the pleasant chat with his peer and looked to his side.

Strangely, Yoon Chi-young’s smile was slightly colder than usual.

<Do you happen to want to debut in the entertainment industry?>

<Huh? Not really. Why?>

<Because you seemed to be enjoying the conversation so much.>

At the time, Hee-sung didn’t think much of it. Though his face was quite flushed with excitement, he answered indifferently as usual, fearing the man might be jealous.

<He’s just my age, so I was glad to meet him and chatted happily, that’s all.>

<…….>

<We get along well. He likes cars just like I do.>

Hee-sung thought it was a good idea to come to the Wolf Clan event. Although the atmosphere was stiff, the young Beastmen acted comfortably, talking to those their own age. In particular, many Beastmen approached him, wanting to get close to Hee-sung, the joint observer. Since they were peers and shared the same canine roots, they communicated well, which he liked. Although Yoon Chi-young kept his arm around Hee-sung’s shoulder and clung to him excessively, he simply brushed it off as jealousy. It was something he experienced twenty times a day, so he was used to it.

However, the gathering wasn’t entirely easy.

When meeting and speaking with the elder wolves, who were Yoon Chi-young’s senior relatives, he felt as if he were sitting on a bed of needles.

<So you’re the child who rose to the position of observer as Chi-young’s companion.>

This was what an elder wolf, Yoon Chi-young’s great-aunt, said bluntly. Her intense gaze and aura were no joke, so Hee-sung, feeling a bit intimidated, bowed politely and replied, “Yes.” He wanted to make a good impression on the other elder wolves standing beside her, as they were also Yoon Chi-young’s relatives.

<…….>

However, the elder wolves said very little, to the point where the atmosphere became awkward. They seemed to be cautious with their words for Yoon Chi-young’s sake, yet they left behind comments with a strange nuance.

<…Too young to be having pups.>

<It is still a time to see and experience many things.>

<Still, considering the generation, it’s time to think about a second generation… tsk.>

They weren’t compliments, but they weren’t wrong either. He only remembered the adults staring at him with displeased faces.

Hee-sung just stood there with an awkward expression. He knew that in this improved world, there was technology that allowed pregnancy regardless of gender, but he hadn’t expected the adults to bring up pregnancy without even caring that he was a Dog-kin.

<You’re all being hasty again.>

If Yoon Chi-young hadn’t stepped in with a relaxed tone to change the subject, a suffocating silence would have lingered. Still, Hee-sung had maintained his manners toward them before leaving.

That was the extent of what happened on the day of the New Year’s family event. Hee-sung had simply concluded that visiting a companion’s paternal family was indeed a difficult ordeal.

And since Yoon Chi-young didn’t have to dispose of anyone, it had been a peaceful event….

…He still couldn’t figure out what the problem was. Hee-sung tried to guess the most suspicious part.

“Uh… I think the elder wolves didn’t trust me much.”

“The elder wolves are naturally rigid people… How did the Director react?”

“He seemed the same as usual….”

Hee-sung stared into the void, lost in thought. At the time, Yoon Chi-young had been clinging to him to an annoying degree, as usual. Then, he had wrapped his arm around Hee-sung’s shoulder and seemed to pass by the elder wolves with annoyance….

“Sigh.”

As expected, fretting alone didn’t suit his temperament.

Lost in thought, Hee-sung felt a stifling frustration he could no longer bear. No matter how much he thought about it, he felt he had greeted the adults well that day. In fact, he was happy to have made a wolf friend his own age. He had no clue what mistake he had made to make Yoon Chi-young change.

Tugging at his puppy ears along with his black hair, Hee-sung eventually looked up with eyes full of determination. He hated just guessing like this.

“…Young-bae hyung.”

“Yes.”

“Just take me there, hyung.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Take me to the party where Yoon Chi-young is.”

He couldn’t go on like this. Rather than falling into doubt and fretting alone, Hee-sung wanted to face it head-on. He hated doubting Yoon Chi-young, and since he was going to spend his life as his companion, he didn’t want to carry this lingering unpleasantness.

However, Ji Young-bae seemed quite flustered.

“But….”

“With your rank, you can get in. As an observer’s aide.”

Secretaries or aides often accompanied them to events. Since Yoon Chi-young usually took a few organization members with him, there would be little suspicion if Ji Young-bae suddenly went.

Ji Young-bae naturally knew this, but deceiving his boss was problematic. He stammered, feeling overwhelmed by Hee-sung, who was smaller than him.

“It’s not that, but the Director explicitly told me to protect Hee-sung nim at home.”

“Hyung.”

“Uh… yes.”

Hee-sung sprang up from his seat and stepped half a pace closer to Ji Young-bae, staring at him intensely.

“I’ll take full responsibility. I’m an observer too.”

“…….”

“I don’t want to keep doubting Yoon Chi-young. Just help me this once.”

Speaking reliably, Hee-sung waited for Ji Young-bae’s answer. Whenever he looked at them with such firm determination in his eyes, whether it was Yoon Chi-young or Ji Young-bae, they eventually gave in to what he wanted.

The bear-like man struggled with Hee-sung’s words, but perhaps because they were both Dog-kin, he understood Hee-sung’s intent. Once again, Ji Young-bae could not win against Hee-sung’s sparkling eyes and reluctantly nodded.

“…I understand. Then first, I’ll contact the Director and….”

“No, I’m going to infiltrate.”

“…What?”

It was before Ji Young-bae could even process it.

Hee-sung’s appearance changed in an instant.

The comfortable t-shirt and shorts he was wearing collapsed, and a small, round lump squirmed within them. Soon, a white puppy emerged from the clothes, shook its body vigorously, and then stood on two legs, spreading its front paws while looking up at the much bulkier Ji Young-bae.

Woof.

It meant: pick me up and hide me. While Ji Young-bae was at a loss for what to do, Hee-sung seriously mumbled that he also had to hide his scent.

Eventually, Ji Young-bae hid the cotton ball inside his suit jacket as requested. Once the puppy settled flat against his chest, his already broad chest became even broader.

Settled in that embrace, Hee-sung sensed that the infiltration would be more difficult than expected.

‘It’s… tight.’

Yoon Chi-young’s embrace was also quite tight due to his thick chest muscles, but Ji Young-bae’s muscles were even more developed, making Hee-sung feel as if he were wedged into a crack in a wall.

However, Hee-sung did not give up and pushed through with the infiltration. This hardship felt far better than waiting in a state of anxiety.

Fortunately, the travel time to the party venue was not long. Using his authority, Ji Young-bae was able to leave his protective post without issue and reach Yoon Chi-young without any difficulty.

Furthermore, the organization members who saw him every day didn’t notice that a puppy was hidden inside Ji Young-bae’s suit jacket. The fact that he had a bulky chest became an unexpected advantage for Hee-sung.

Having infiltrated, Hee-sung could roughly grasp the situation through the various noises heard from the outside.

“You are the observer’s attendant. Please enter.”

This was the sound of Ji Young-bae easily gaining permission to enter the charity event party.

“By the way, where is the Director?”

“He should be in Hall 2.”

As Hee-sung wanted, he heard Ji Young-bae’s voice immediately searching for Yoon Chi-young. Hee-sung grew tense whenever he heard familiar voices nearby. He didn’t want his small puppy form to be discovered by Yoon Chi-young’s family and relatives.

“…….”

Soon, Ji Young-bae came to a stop in a quiet place. Perhaps having taken the elevator alone, he spoke in a low voice.

“Hee-sung nim.”

…

Woof.

Hee-sung answered timidly on purpose to avoid being detected. Fortunately, since Ji Young-bae was alone, no other noise or presence was felt nearby.

“Whatever the Director is hiding, it must be for your sake, so I hope you aren’t too hurt.”

“…….”

The doors are opening.

Following his words, the sound of the elevator doors opening was heard.

Then came the sound of elegant piano music from the party hall, people chatting happily, and the clinking of glass. Hee-sung told himself not to doubt Yoon Chi-young and began to focus on the surrounding noise.

Fortunately, Ji Young-bae seemed to have found Yoon Chi-young quickly.

Or perhaps Yoon Chi-young had approached first.

“Where is the puppy?”

The voice asking Ji Young-bae bluntly was low and cold, unlike when he dealt with Hee-sung. Hidden against the chest, Hee-sung instinctively tightened his round bottom to avoid wagging his tail. Fortunately, his tail did not wag; it remained stiff and only trembled slightly.

He could feel Ji Young-bae’s heart rate increase against his cheek, but fortunately, he said the words they had rehearsed.

“He said he was in a bad mood and wanted to sleep, so he told me to follow the Director.”

“You added more protectors, right?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

Perhaps because he trusted Ji Young-bae, Yoon Chi-young accepted this quickly, though he mentioned he would just give brief greetings to the adults before leaving. Since they were the targets Hee-sung was most concerned about, he pricked up his ears and focused on the various sounds. Ji Young-bae would likely follow Yoon Chi-young, staying one step behind as an attendant.

Soon, the sound of someone greeting them and the sound of dress shoes walking down the hallway followed. Then, after hearing Yoon Chi-young grumble to Ji Young-bae that it looked like it would rain tomorrow as well, a different conversation was heard.

The first thing he heard was a dignified woman’s voice. It seemed Yoon Chi-young had come to meet the elder wolves.

“Chi-young… you’ve come.”

“Yes.”

The elder wolves also seemed to find the presence of an observer difficult. Yoon Chi-young leisurely sipped something and spoke affectionately, as if glad to see them.

“Everyone seems to be doing well. Has the art business been successful?”

“…….”

It was a simple greeting, but perhaps because it came from an observer, the surroundings fell silent for a moment. Even the hidden Hee-sung felt the suffocating atmosphere. Hee-sung was certain that Yoon Chi-young was currently looking at someone specific with a subtly hardened expression. There was clearly a target the observer was monitoring.

Still, there seemed to be a diligent elder wolf who could remain composed before an observer. Wanting to change the mood, someone cleared their throat and spoke to Yoon Chi-young.

“How old is Chi-young now, is it twenty-nine?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Fortunately, as the conversation opened up, several dignified voices could be heard.

“To think that little thing is already twenty-nine.”

“Time truly flies.”

“It seems it’s high time; shouldn’t you be thinking about having pups now?”

“Yes, I believe it’s been a while since you took a companion.”

Hee-sung felt his breath hitch, even though he was eavesdropping. Although there was no mention of him being a Dog-kin, it was highly likely they were being cautious because the opponent was Yoon Chi-young. Previously, Yoon Chi-young had cruelly punished a colleague for the crime of insulting an observer after the colleague had gifted dog treats to Hee-sung as a joke.

As expected, Yoon Chi-young brushed off the useless questions with ease.

“Thanks to having so much work, I can’t even dream of planning for children.”

“…….”

“Everyone, please help me out. I want to see a pup that looks like my beautiful companion.”

After he spoke warmly, the sound of him drinking something could be heard. He praised the taste of the wine, but the surroundings remained silent.

Seeing how the atmosphere grew quiet over such a trivial comment, it seemed there were those seeking their own petty gains. Hiding away, Hee-sung wagged his tail in pride, pleased that Yoon Chi-young had handled things well as a Watcher, but he stopped when Ji Young-bae awkwardly adjusted the area around his chest. He had almost been discovered due to his tail, which was still at the level of a five-year-old.

“Then I’ll be going. Please stay healthy until next time.”

After leaving those ambiguous words, the sound of Yoon Chi-young turning away was heard.

Afterward, he moved through various halls, exchanging monotonous greetings. Every conversation was that of a Watcher—ordinary to the point of being peaceful.

‘What, nothing much is happening?’

To be this peaceful. Hee-sung was beyond bored; he was starting to get sleepy. It felt almost futile to have gone through the trouble of infiltrating when Yoon Chi-young wasn’t even cheating—though he had suspected it by about 2%—and the adults had only been slightly annoying by urging him to have pups. Other than that, nothing was happening.

Then, as Yoon Chi-young walked toward a certain hall.

“I wonder what Puppy is doing right now…”

Yoon Chi-young grumbled in a bored tone, heading somewhere. Moreover, the sound of him draining his glass in one gulp could be heard, as if he were starting to get irritable. It was around the time Hee-sung thought his separation anxiety was acting up again.

Having met his peers, a flood of welcoming greetings poured toward Yoon Chi-young.

“Yoon Chi-young, you’re here?”

“Our Watcher has arrived. Let’s have a drink. Drink up.”

The surroundings became noisy as several people exchanged greetings. Hee-sung heard some familiar voices; they were likely Yoon Chi-young’s peers whom he had only seen a few times. Already tired of their predictable greetings, Puppy let out a large yawn. Ji Young-bae’s narrow embrace had become not just familiar, but warm, causing him to keep nodding off.

Meanwhile, the wolves of Yoon Chi-young’s age chattered away about topics they weren’t even particularly interested in.

“My kid succeeded in Humanization this time, and called me ‘Dad’ within two days!”

“Must be nice. I don’t know how busy we are getting our kids ready for elementary school.”

“I think my kids will enter school next year. Wasn’t the waiting list for that private school you told me about incredibly long?”

‘What… why are they only saying such boring things?’

Hee-sung now just wanted to go home. Just as he was considering whether to tell Yoon Chi-young that he had actually infiltrated the party because he was so sleepy, a call directed at Yoon Chi-young suddenly rang out.

“But Chi-young, you…”

A chilly silence momentarily hung over the area.

It was a short silence, but Hee-sung could feel the atmosphere shift the moment the attention turned toward the Watcher. The puppy leaning against Ji Young-bae’s chest pricked up his ears to hear better. Unlike before, a question was asked with a touch of caution.

“When are you planning to have pups?”

“You’re a bit… quite late…”

It was unclear whether they were worried or mocking him. The puppy’s whiskers twitched. It was a simple question, but it felt as if his Companion was being looked down upon, and his canines sharpened.

Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young responded with composure.

“Late? You were just fast. Even the adults were surprised that a wolf got pregnant outside of winter.”

“Ah… haha. Does the timing even matter these days?”

“Just. It’s funny considering how much of a fuss you made about not wanting an arranged marriage.”

“……”

Hee-sung realized that gathering with friends at a party wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Furthermore, he now understood a bit why Yoon Chi-young had kept him away from family and relatives. Earlier, the adults had pressured him to have pups, and now his brothers and cousins were bragging about their children, fighting for dominance over topics he couldn’t even relate to, like kindergartens and elementary schools.

Hee-sung was dumbfounded by the unexpectedly futile reason.

‘What…? He attended family events alone just because of the pressure to have pups?’

The puppy, who had been tense, felt the strength leave his body out of sheer emptiness. Pressure to have pups was something all adults did anyway. He wondered why Chi-young had hidden it.

While there were differences between species of Beastmen, wolves tended to marry and have pups early. Perhaps because they were lifelong monogamists, it was common to have pups in their mid-twenties.

In comparison, Yoon Chi-young was now 29 and Hee-sung was 23. They had been too busy traveling and dating for the past two years to even think about having pups. Considering that the pups of wolves Yoon Chi-young’s age were already entering kindergarten, he was indeed on the later side.

Still, there was no need to hide this. Just as Hee-sung was beginning to think Yoon Chi-young was cute, the atmosphere shifted due to a joke someone made.

“I mean, the Companion is very young, so maybe pregnancy is a bit much for now?”

Light laughter could be heard from around them. Teasing comments about it being “the prime of youth” were heard, as well as the word “thief.” Because everyone was laughing, a playful atmosphere began to persist.

“He is very young; isn’t there a nine-year difference between the Companion and him?”

“Wow, if my son said he wanted to marry someone nine years older, I would have stopped him at all costs.”

“…It’s a six-year difference.”

Yoon Chi-young barely managed to reply, but it had the opposite effect. The excited chatter around him grew louder.

“Is there really a difference between six and nine years?”

“Looking at them, it does seem like a nine-year difference.”

“Right, I saw him before and he was young and handsome. Our Watcher intentionally snatched him up while he was still naive to the world, right?”

“Eh, kids these days know everything. Still, with a six-year difference, wasn’t Chi-young a college student while he was in elementary school? Hahahaha!”

“……”

Now Hee-sung understood the atmosphere. The puppy, listening in hiding, began to pant with rage and grit his teeth.

Everyone was simply excited to have found material to tease the feared Watcher.

What fueled the fire was Yoon Chi-young’s reaction. When he was pressured to have pups earlier, he had ignored it, but at being treated like a thief, he couldn’t move, looking like someone who was truly stung.

‘Is he actually feeling guilty about the age difference?’

It was absurd. It was even more so because the two of them usually didn’t care about the age gap.

Hee-sung had always intended to spend his life with Yoon Chi-young as his head of household. Occasionally, because Hee-sung looked so young, he was mistaken for a high schooler or had his ID checked—which actually happened every time he drank—but other than that, there were few instances where the age difference was palpable.

Meanwhile, the “concern” from those around them continued.

“I heard that if the age gap is too large, it’s hard to have children even with procedures…”

“No, technology is good these days, so it’s all possible. You should start persuading your Companion.”

“Eh, how can you bring up pregnancy when the partner is still so young?”

“…Everyone has too much useless interest.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke softly, but the voices around him only grew louder. They made ridiculous excuses, claiming they were saying it out of concern.

‘Why are you just taking it!’

Hee-sung grew increasingly angry at the situation. It would have been fine if Yoon Chi-young had hit someone or cursed, but hearing him endure such absurd teasing made Hee-sung’s whole body heat up. Was this why he hadn’t introduced him to his family all this time? Hee-sung had simply thought he didn’t want to show him because he feared Hee-sung would become a laughingstock to the relatives. But coming here in person, he saw that it was actually Yoon Chi-young who was the target of the ridicule.

‘Stop them! I said stop them!’

Enraged, Hee-sung frantically beat Ji Young-bae’s thick chest. Ji Young-bae, flustered by the violent commotion, shyly covered his chest with his hand, but soon realized the intent and fell into deep thought. It was not polite to recklessly interrupt a superior’s conversation.

However, when the puppy even used his teeth to tear at the shirt, he moved hurriedly. He realized he couldn’t stop Hee-sung’s will.

“Um, excuse me. Director…”

“…What?”

Ji Young-bae cautiously intervened. Yoon Chi-young, with a tired face, sat and glanced to the side.

Ji Young-bae lifted one side of his suit jacket at an angle where others couldn’t see and showed the inside to Chi-young.

“…Ah.”

Inside, Yoon Chi-young locked eyes with a puppy whose fur was flattened like a pancake. Faced with those small, white, yet more intense eyes than anyone else’s, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t hide his flustered and excited expression.

Ji Young-bae closed the lapel and quietly stepped back. Yoon Chi-young immediately took a large gulp from the glass in his hand and stood up. Unlike his usual self, his expression was solemn, as if he were facing a great task.

“I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Why? Did something happen to your partner?”

“Must be nice, so fresh and youthful.”

At the question, those around him laughed mischievously, saying it must be great to meet a young partner. This time, Yoon Chi-young didn’t just listen to the jokes. Unlike before, he left after saying one thing with a tired smile.

“Everyone, laugh your fill now. You should enjoy your days while you can.”

“……”

“It was good to see you all.”

The atmosphere turned cold in an instant. Hee-sung wondered how it could become so quiet after having so many different voices just a moment ago. At least because he said one last thing, the puppy felt relieved.

However, that didn’t mean his anger had subsided. Even afterward, unable to soothe his fury, Hee-sung continued to huff and puff against Ji Young-bae’s chest for a long time.

“Is our Boss very angry?”

Yoon Chi-young asked Ji Young-bae jokingly. He specifically referred to Hee-sung as ‘Boss,’ and Ji Young-bae, feeling guilty, stiffened completely.

No matter how much Yoon Chi-young had softened after meeting Hee-sung, Ji Young-bae knew better than anyone that he was still extremely moody and possessed a cruel streak.

But Yoon Chi-young seemed to truly care only about Hee-sung’s mood. He looked at the door of the guest room where Hee-sung was waiting with a serious, troubled expression. It was a face Ji Young-bae had rarely seen while assisting him for a long time.

“…Yes. It seems his mood is, well, somewhat spoiled.”

“How angry is he?”

It was difficult for Ji Young-bae to speak easily. Since Hee-sung was usually in a state of anger, it wasn’t easy to measure the level.

Fortunately, there was one appropriate example.

“He seems angrier than when you teased him about being afraid of cats last time.”

“Ah, I’m going crazy…”

Yoon Chi-young, with a face anxious in a way that was unlike him, took a cigarette out of his pocket.

Previously, there was a time when Hee-sung had frozen up completely upon seeing a cat, and Yoon Chi-young, finding it cute, had teased him relentlessly. He had adored him, asking if he hated Tiger Beastmen because he was afraid of cats, and if there was actually something our Fighting Dog was afraid of.

But that seemed to have been Hee-sung’s reverse scale.

<…I’m not going to see you today.>

After saying that softly, Hee-sung had turned into a puppy and hidden somewhere in the vast house, which was torture for the separation-anxious Yoon Chi-young. Thinking back, it was like teasing a puppy from a Fighting Dog background for being a coward, so he had brought it on himself.

That day, Yoon Chi-young had to howl inside the house for two hours before he could find the tiny puppy. He had been inside a torn gap under the sofa where he usually hid money, making him impossible to find.

Recalling the agony of separation anxiety from that day, Yoon Chi-young stepped out into the sky garden connected to the hallway. First, to soothe the precious Companion he had raised with such care, he needed to grasp the exact information. Yoon Chi-young blindly voiced the guesses that came to mind.

“Why is he angry? It’s the first time Puppy has followed me. Could he think I’m cheating? Or did he come as a surprise event because I left him alone at home and then suddenly got angry?”

Ji Young-bae noticed that his Director hoped Hee-sung had followed him out of jealousy. That emotion was clearly visible in those subtly flushed gray eyes.

But reality was never that easy. It was Ji Young-bae’s job to make that starkly clear.

“It seems his pride was greatly wounded by the fact that the Director did not bring him to the Wolf Clan events.”

“Ah…”

This was an emergency. For Hee-sung, who came from a Fighting Dog background, to have his pride wounded.

Yoon Chi-young put a hand to his forehead, his face becoming anxious. In his distress, he put a cigarette in his mouth while facing the cold night air. Then, Ji Young-bae quietly lit it for him.

Taking a deep drag of the cigarette, Yoon Chi-young exhaled the smoke with a long sigh. The noise of cars passing in the distant city could be heard, and the cold air brushed his cheeks. Standing in the midst of it, Ji Young-bae couldn’t bring himself to say anything and just stood quietly, until he finally managed one word.

“…I’m sorry.”

Ji Young-bae couldn’t help but apologize because he felt he understood Yoon Chi-young’s feelings. He too had a lovely but very scary Retriever wife.

“Whew… it can’t be helped.”

At the apology, Yoon Chi-young finally smiled as if he had reached a state of transcendence. His innate composure was visible in his smooth, smiling eyes. Soon, as if he had decided, Yoon Chi-young began to take off his suit jacket with the cigarette still in his mouth. Every time he moved to remove the clothes, the trained muscles were subtly visible beneath the black shirt.

“He was bound to find out eventually anyway.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke candidly and handed the jacket to Ji Young-bae. As he took off his watch and even his leather shoes neatly, Ji Young-bae became anxious that he might jump off the sky garden just like this.

Fortunately, Yoon Chi-young was intending to use an unexpected method.

“Hold my clothes for a bit.”

“Pardon? Ah…”

Before he could even understand, Yoon Chi-young’s form changed. Before he knew it, he had returned to a black wolf the size of a wild bear and was vigorously shaking his body. Ji Young-bae looked at the giant wolf with a bewildered face and then slowly backed away. No matter if it was the True Form of someone he trusted and followed, it was inevitable to feel a sense of alarm when facing a large predator.

Leaving Ji Young-bae behind, the black wolf strode down the hallway toward the door of the guest room where Hee-sung was. With every step, a luster flowed from his black, elegant mane, and not even the sound of his footsteps could be heard. His appearance possessed a nobility and majesty, like a Divine Beast from a myth.

That majestic posture of the wolf vanished the moment he stood before the door.

In his nervousness, the wolf scratched the carpeted floor two or three times with one front paw and lowered his head and tail as much as possible. Then, he clumsily opened the guest room door with his front paw. The image of him leisurely roaming the party hall as a Watcher had completely disappeared.

Watching this, Ji Young-bae felt an unexpected sense of kinship as he gathered Yoon Chi-young’s clothes. He thought that even a Watcher was helpless before their Companion.

As he stood before the guest room door, Yoon Chi-young’s heart beat rapidly.

The only other time his heart had beaten this fast was when he was first punched by Hee-sung. It was exactly like that time when his heart felt tingly and his whole body grew hot. Despite feeling such tension, Yoon Chi-young thought that he missed his scary puppy so much. He realized he wasn’t quite sane either.

The hesitating wolf concluded that he couldn’t keep his Companion waiting any longer and placed his front paw on the doorknob.

Click.

The guest room door opened smoothly, as if it had already been unlocked.

Yoon Chi-young intentionally opened the door only a tiny bit and poked his pitch-black snout inside. He was deliberately making it obvious that he was testing the waters. If the puppy were only moderately angry as usual, he would have heard a growl, but there was no sound from inside. This time, Yoon Chi-young even poked his wolf ears inside to peek. Perhaps because his head was lowered so much, his light gray eyes, searching for a reaction, looked particularly prominent.

As luck would have it, Hee-sung was sitting on the sofa, visible as soon as the door opened.

“……”

As if saying ‘come in if you dare,’ Hee-sung was looking at him with a very bored expression, leaning his arm on the armrest. The moment Yoon Chi-young faced that fierce face, he felt an intense sense of crisis.

The puppy was truly angry.

Unable to even move his front paw, Yoon Chi-young barely poked his head into the room and sniffed the floor for no reason. Then, glancing at Hee-sung, he slowly squeezed his bear-sized body inside. Fortunately, as if Hee-sung permitted him to enter his territory, he only threw a sharp gaze and showed no other reaction.

“……”

Once the burly wolf had completely entered the room, the door closed on its own. After the sound of the door closing neatly, neither of them said a word. The pitch-black wolf hovered hesitantly around the room, sniffing the surroundings and gauging Hee-sung’s mood. For now, he didn’t know what he had done wrong, but regardless, he didn’t want to offend the puppy.

‘Could he possibly think I’m having an affair?’

Looking at Hee-sung’s murderous expression, his face was so serious it really looked like he suspected infidelity. For Yoon Chi-young, who was monogamous and viewed the puppy as a being more important than religion, this was an unfair and nonsensical misunderstanding.

As expected, he had to actively clear up the misunderstanding. Unable to even meet Hee-sung’s eyes, Yoon Chi-young strode over and sat down by his feet.

Because his build was so large, their eye levels were roughly similar, but he deliberately looked at him cautiously and placed a thick front paw on the puppy’s thigh. Hee-sung’s thigh was completely covered by the paw, which was as large as a bear’s.

‘Honey. Honey….’

“…….”

Even so, when Hee-sung showed no reaction, the wolf, who had been anxiously licking his nose, pretended to trip and leaned his massive head heavily into Hee-sung’s embrace. Lying slightly across his thigh, he looked up. The gaze Hee-sung cast down was so cold that Yoon Chi-young felt a heartache so sharp it felt as if his chest were tearing. If it were him, the moment Hee-sung approached him in his True Form when angry, all his emotions would melt away like snow. But his Companion remained unmoved by this level of aegyo.

After staring down at the wolf for a long while, Hee-sung finally spoke. His tone was flatter than expected, as if he found the whole thing absurd.

“Are you a puppy? Why are you acting so clingy?”

‘Well, I am a canid….’

Just the fact that Hee-sung had spoken to him first made the wolf wag his tail softly. He slowly rubbed his head against Hee-sung’s chest, and fortunately, Hee-sung didn’t push him away. Far from being afraid of a wolf larger than himself, Hee-sung looked down at him with a look of pity, which Yoon Chi-young took as an opportunity to slide up onto the sofa. With both Hee-sung and the wolf sitting on the three-seater, the space was completely filled.

Hee-sung sighed as he watched the wolf lean his head deep into him, begging for attention, wagging his black tail like a puppy. Still, he couldn’t stay angry at a Companion who was expressing his love with his entire body.

However, it seemed he wouldn’t be satisfied until he asked the one thing he was curious about.

“…Hey, Yoon Chi-young. Let me ask you one thing.”

Hee-sung began in a low voice. Uncharacteristically nervous, Yoon Chi-young’s wagging tail stiffened, and he waited seriously for the next words while keeping his head pressed against Hee-sung’s cheek. Yoon Chi-young had never been this nervous in his life; his heart leaped between heaven and earth with every shift in Hee-sung’s expression. Unsure if it was excitement or tension, the wolf unconsciously gave Hee-sung’s wrist a gentle, painless nip and a lick, urging him forward with aegyo.

Hee-sung composed his lingering resentment at the display of affection and finally asked.

“What is the real reason you haven’t shown me to your family and relatives all this time?”

Despite asking something so simple, Hee-sung couldn’t bring himself to look at Yoon Chi-young.

Even though he had discovered through tailing Yoon Chi-young that it wasn’t a major issue, he couldn’t help it. For Hee-sung, who had experienced being abandoned by his pack twice, issues related to family were difficult problems he wanted to avoid as much as possible. Consequently, his voice began to tremble as he asked.

“Don’t tell me… is it really because of the pressure to have pups?”

Grrr.

“Or is it… because I’m a small dog, were you, were you ashamed?”

The wolf, desperate, hurriedly stood up from the sofa. He paced around Hee-sung anxiously, moving across the backrest and the floor—a pitiful display that didn’t suit his large frame. Not only had Hee-sung misunderstood something ridiculous, but his ears flattened back and his eyes grew red as if he were about to cry, making the wolf frantic. To make matters worse, his emotions were so heightened that Humanization was difficult.

Hee-sung seemed to realize it was a ridiculous misunderstanding just by the wolf’s desperate behavior. However, perhaps because of the sorrow he had endured, his voice still trembled slightly even after realizing it was nothing.

“It’s just strange… it seems like nothing, but to not show me to your family and relatives….”

“…….”

“Just tell me the whole reason honestly. Since I’m your Companion, I’ll try to understand everything….”

Driven by the words heavy with suppressed sorrow, the wolf shook his body vigorously. He was trying to force Humanization. Finally succeeding, Yoon Chi-young hurriedly threw on a robe.

“Wait, ugh… honey.”

Having rushed the transformation, Yoon Chi-young frowned in pain. The sudden shift in his body left his muscles aching and stiff. But that was less important than the fact that his puppy was upset.

Quickly tying the belt of his robe, Yoon Chi-young knelt below the sofa and looked up at Hee-sung. As he wrapped his arms around Hee-sung’s waist and lifted his head, their eyes were nearly level. Yoon Chi-young tried to make eye contact, but Hee-sung flicked his clear face away as if he hated him. That alone made Yoon Chi-young feel like he was dying of anxiety.

“Puppy, look at me, please?”

“Just tell me the reason first….”

“I get it, I’ll tell you everything. I’m sorry.”

Yoon Chi-young began to confess his inner thoughts haphazardly.

“Actually, the reason I didn’t take you since the New Year was….”

“…Yeah.”

As if it were difficult to bring up, Yoon Chi-young rested his head in Hee-sung’s lap for a moment before finally speaking.

“My peers had already had pups and raised them to some extent, and this year, even my younger sister… had pups.”

“…Why is that? That’s something to celebrate.”

Hee-sung asked back with a look of total incomprehension. With only bewilderment on his face, he couldn’t understand why someone would avoid telling the truth because of such a thing.

To think it really was about the issue of having pups. Hee-sung felt a sense of futility that such trivial pressure from those around them had caused this.

But Yoon Chi-young was in a position where he couldn’t think so simply. From a wolf’s perspective—and especially from the perspective of a wolf who was a Watcher—it was a very tiring matter.

“Listen carefully. It’s a tradition for wolves to have pups around the same time in each generation. That way, they can engage in communal rearing.”

“I… I know that, I’ve heard of it.”

“Right. So, among this generation of wolves, we’re the only ones who haven’t had pups yet.”

“Yeah… that’s true.”

He understood up to this point. Forgetting his teary eyes, the puppy listened with a serious expression. As if to make Hee-sung understand, Yoon Chi-young continued to explain step-by-step from the puppy’s eye level while remaining on his knees.

“That means our power could start to look weak.”

“…What?”

“First, the pack loses out in numbers, and the later the pregnancy, the younger the pups will be compared to other packs. It means we’re gradually becoming marginalized in the generation.”

“…….”

At those words, Hee-sung remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes wide.

Fortunately, the puppy seemed to understand the content. The puppy ears poking through his hair flicked back occasionally, and the fine hairs stood up. It meant he had become alert to something.

A moment later, with an agitated face, Hee-sung yanked Yoon Chi-young’s robe down below his shoulders and spoke.

“Hey, what’s this? Let’s have pups right now. We can’t lose.”

“Right. That’s why I didn’t take you to the family events.”

“…….”

“Because you, more than anyone, are wary of the Watcher’s power appearing weak.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke as he adjusted the robe over his exposed chest and broad shoulders.

In any case, from Yoon Chi-young’s perspective, it wasn’t the right time yet. Even if he ignored tradition, he didn’t want to rush into having a child with Hee-sung simply because the elders were pressuring him or because everyone else was doing it.

Yoon Chi-young wanted to have a child when his Companion truly wanted one.

“I didn’t want to put the pressure of having pups on you, and I hated the idea of you becoming impatient like this.”

“…….”

“I didn’t care if the Watcher’s power looked weak, because I can cover that sufficiently. Instead, I want our child to be born when you truly want it.”

“…….”

Hee-sung had never seen Yoon Chi-young this serious. Perhaps that’s why his sincerity touched him even more deeply.

Hee-sung felt a pang in his heart.

No matter how much of a Watcher Yoon Chi-young was, he was still a Beastman who lived in a pack; he must have felt impatient and suffered under the pressure of those around him. Yet, for Hee-sung’s sake, he had blocked it all out alone. Though it was an excessive amount of protection, hearing his words made Hee-sung realize there was a deeper intention.

‘He hid it even considering my complex….’

Ji Young-bae knew about Hee-sung’s small-dog complex, so there was no way Yoon Chi-young wouldn’t know. If Hee-sung had continued to attend family events, he might have brushed off the elders’ pressure to conceive, but if he had entered a competitive dynamic with peers, his attitude would have changed.

He likely would have let his complex about not wanting to look weak ignite, and he would have pestered Yoon Chi-young to have pups immediately, just as he had a moment ago.

“Yoon Chi-young….”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Hee-sung quietly hugged Yoon Chi-young’s head. He hadn’t known that the man would think of him so deeply. Tears came easily when it came to his Companion, and with reddened eyes, Hee-sung nibbled on his soft wolf ears and spoke.

“You should have just told me, I didn’t even know….”

“Why would I? It’s better for the puppy to think only of me instead of thinking about having pups.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke playfully. Though it seemed half-serious, Hee-sung couldn’t help but feel sorry for having doubted him.

“Still. This just makes me upset….”

“Why is the puppy upset? It’s fine.”

“The elders were all pressuring only you… and the other wolves your age were just bragging about their kids.”

“Other than that, they’re people I can’t even hold a conversation with anyway. It’s fine.”

It was true, but Hee-sung couldn’t forget the words the wolves had poured out, eagerly jumping at the chance to mock the Watcher. For a wolf Beastman who lived in a pack, the mere act of not fitting in must have been a great source of stress.

Moreover, remembering how Yoon Chi-young had acted as if he truly had a weakness, Hee-sung felt curious.

“…But why couldn’t you even respond properly when they called you a thief?”

“Ah….”

“Is it because that actually stung?”

“…That’s.”

Uncharacteristically, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t answer smoothly; he turned his head and touched the corner of his mouth as if troubled.

Hee-sung had thought he was a man born with composure, and that he had thrown away his conscience long ago. He hadn’t expected him to be intimidated by a mere age difference. Though they started as a bad match, from the perspective of Hee-sung, who had seduced him and proposed, it was utterly absurd.

“You became my Companion because I seduced you. Don’t be discouraged by words like that.”

“…Right. That’s true.”

Yoon Chi-young’s original expression returned immediately. That face with a slow smile, looking at Hee-sung dreamily as if he had some scheme. If it weren’t for his handsome face, it would have been a very suspicious smile.

“The puppy seduced me with a proposal at the sea… hehe. Right.”

‘What’s with him again….’

Hee-sung looked down with a sense of dread as the man chuckled and buried his face in Hee-sung’s thigh. He hadn’t told him to like him

this

much….

This was why Hee-sung had only confessed when the man was about to fall asleep. Whenever he expressed affection, his Companion lost his mind. Even now, Yoon Chi-young lifted his head, stroked his chin with his palm, and smiled slowly. To anyone else, his hazy gray eyes, curving smoothly, would look as if he were on drugs. As if he were dying of thrill.

“Still, I didn’t know you’d secretly follow me and keep watch like this….”

“…….”

“Were you worried I might be cheating? Or did you just come because you wanted a kiss… hm?”

“Be, be quiet.”

Yoon Chi-young slowly raised his kneeling legs and climbed onto the sofa. He pressed an erotic kiss to the nape of Hee-sung’s neck and left lip marks all over his face; before long, Hee-sung’s face had turned bright red.

As they tenderly entwined their tongues, Hee-sung felt at ease. Consequently, reality became clear, and he understood Yoon Chi-young’s position.

Long ago, when Hee-sung had gone on a road trip to the desert, he had told him:

<I want to have a baby when we are truly ready.>

Having been abandoned by his parents, Hee-sung had said he wanted to have a child when he had truly matured and was happy. Yoon Chi-young must have remembered Hee-sung’s wish and been considerate of it.

Despite such consideration, Hee-sung was too concerned about his pack falling behind in the competition. It was because he knew the Watcher, Yoon Chi-young, had so many enemies.

‘Should we start having pups soon…?’

Hee-sung looked at Yoon Chi-young, who was now biting his lower lip, with half-closed eyes. Before he knew it, Yoon Chi-young had already laid him down on the sofa and was climbing on top of him, pressing down as if to envelop his entire body. Before he could pounce again, Hee-sung pulled his lips away and whispered.

“Still, you should have hidden it moderately. Why did you suffer alone without telling me….”

“Because it was obvious you’d be worrying about when to have pups, just like you are now.”

“N-no, I’m not….”

Hee-sung felt a bit pathetic for being so unable to hide his emotions.

Still, knowing Yoon Chi-young’s true intentions made him feel relieved. Far from cheating or being ashamed of him, he had actually avoided bringing him along because he cherished him so much. In moments like this, Hee-sung felt that he truly was the older one. And he felt that meeting such a person was the greatest piece of luck in his life.

Happy with that, Hee-sung closed his eyes, following as the man carefully entwined their tongues.

“But puppy… I.”

“Yeah….”

Yoon Chi-young carefully pulled his lips away between kisses as if he wanted to say something.

Driven by anticipation, Hee-sung slid his hand inside the robe, caressing the firm upper body while listening to the low whisper.

“Actually… there’s also a bit of the fact that I hated the idea of you getting close to guys who are younger and firmer than me.”

Hearing that, Hee-sung burst into an incredulous laugh. He liked that this side of him didn’t deviate from his expectations.

“Yeah, I expected that.”

At Hee-sung’s soft laugh, Yoon Chi-young seemed to relax and deepened the kiss. His hands were quick in undoing the robe Hee-sung was wearing. Perhaps his reason was fading, as Yoon Chi-young confessed his deepest secret with a low laugh.

“And… I gave a bit of a warning to the guy who was hitting on you.”

“……?”

“The one who asked you to go racing together—you won’t be seeing him for a while.”

“…….”

Hee-sung’s brow twitched as their lips lazily overlapped.

A guy hitting on him? Who was the one he was interested in again? Hee-sung had so little interest in others that his memory was blurry. The fact that Yoon Chi-young gave a warning clearly meant he hadn’t let it slide lightly…. For a Watcher responsible for the clan to do such a thing over mere jealousy—no matter how severe the territoriality among male wolves was—he had to be scolded.

“Isn’t it a bit much to talk about something you did wrong while having an erection…?”

“Why?”

Even when Hee-sung asked with a look of pity, Yoon Chi-young looked as if he didn’t understand. Instead, he smiled slowly and subtly rubbed his heavy groin against Hee-sung’s lower abdomen. At the thick sensation through the fabric, the fine hairs on the tips of Hee-sung’s ears flushed.

Perhaps because the long-standing misunderstandings had been cleared, it didn’t matter now. Forgetting his intention to scold him, Hee-sung untied the belt of Yoon Chi-young’s robe and lunged at him.

That day, Hee-sung spent the entire night with Yoon Chi-young, as if to make up for his doubts. He had planned to stop by the party venue to give a grand greeting to the family and relatives, but in the end, he was held captive by a Yoon Chi-young who was more excited than he was, and they ended up staying the night there.

After that day, Hee-sung vowed never to doubt Yoon Chi-young again. Like someone’s advice, he felt he could trust Yoon Chi-young even if he hid any secret.

“His sister had four pups!?”

“I heard that if you have children through a procedure, there’s a higher chance of having multiples.”

“Wow….”

It was about a week after the incident. Hee-sung was listening to the story of Yoon Chi-young’s younger sister.

Having gone to a nearby Korean restaurant for lunch, Hee-sung had taken a private room and sat close to Yoon Chi-young. This was because Hee-sung had a small appetite and finished his meal quickly. However, because Yoon Chi-young persistently kept feeding him, he was able to finish the meal feeling full.

Meanwhile, the story of Yoon Chi-young’s sister caught Hee-sung’s interest.

“They’re the same sex, how many procedures did they try?”

“The probability is low if the species are different, but they succeeded on the third try. I heard the success rate was high because they’re young….”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young filleted some gizzard shad and fed it to Hee-sung. Accepting the food habitually, Hee-sung fell into thought with a blank face.

Yoon Chi-young’s sister had married a partner of the same sex. Moreover, the partner was a fox Beastman, so the elders had opposed it quite a bit. No matter how common marriages between different species of Beastmen had become recently, wolves and foxes in particular had a notoriously bad relationship.

However, the sister and her spouse, who married despite the opposition, had intended to have pups early and conceived quickly. They had as many as four through a procedure, and having successfully given birth this time, they were said to be the envy of everyone. Having a large number of pups meant their influence had grown, and two healthy wolf pups and two fox pups had been born.

Curious, Hee-sung asked Yoon Chi-young.

“Do you have photos of the babies?”

“She sent them even though I didn’t ask.”

“Show me, I want to see too.”

When he asked pleadingly, Yoon Chi-young looked troubled for a moment, then took out his phone and showed the photos. A messenger chat window was visible, with replies that were brief, as expected of siblings. Among them, Hee-sung looked closely at the photos of the pups.

“They’re so tiny, so cute….”

Looking in the mirror…

Even Hee-sung, who had grown numb to cuteness, felt his cheeks flush the moment he saw the pups. Perhaps inheriting the best of their mothers’ genes, the four squirming pups were born healthy. Moreover, since the traits of both wolves and foxes were visible in each, it was a joy to observe them closely.

Hee-sung flipped through the photos one by one with sparkling eyes. Though the pups in the photos hadn’t even opened their eyes yet, they would grow steadily and, around the age of four or five, succeed in humanization to become proper Beastmen. Even though they weren’t his own offspring, perhaps because it was the most important event in a Beastman’s life, Hee-sung felt a sense of anticipation himself.

Just then, Yoon Chi-young fed Hee-sung a piece of rib meat and spoke.

“Take your time thinking about it, honey.”

“I told you, I get it…”

“Only when you’re truly ready.”

“Yes, I know.”

Hee-sung had heard these words from Yoon Chi-young often. They had shared several serious conversations about having pups, and the conclusion they agreed upon was to have a child when Hee-sung felt ready. Perhaps because they both had experiences of being hurt by their parents, they couldn’t help but be cautious about pregnancy. For a few days, Hee-sung had suffered from an obsession that he

had

to have pups, but he had now made up his mind to do so only when he truly wanted to. While it was hard to pinpoint a specific time, he decided he would make the decision when he was truly happy.

Finally, Hee-sung finished his meal with a glass of sujeonggwa. Perhaps because he had enjoyed such a fine meal, vitality returned to his round, black eyes, which made Yoon Chi-young feel proud.

“Did my puppy eat everything?”

“Yeah. By the way, the gizzard shad here is delicious.”

“Let’s come back again next time.”

Yoon Chi-young looked pleased, thinking he should visit this place often. As it turned out, it was a very famous traditional Korean restaurant; he had used his connections to secure a reservation that normally took several months. Thanks to this kind of devotion and precious treatment, Hee-sung had become accustomed to various delicacies. Spending his days with a lover who fed him precious meals and loved him so dearly, he was so happy that he could almost forget the days five years ago when he scrubbed the filthy floors of a damp gambling den.

After the meal, they took a slow stroll around the restaurant. Since Hee-sung tended to have poor digestion, they always made sure to have a walk after eating. Perhaps because it was an expensive establishment, the surrounding walking paths were beautifully designed.

Walking along a path where autumn leaves were falling in late autumn, they crossed a pond located within the course. As Hee-sung stepped on the stone bridge, his footing became unstable, and Yoon Chi-young took his hand. As they crossed to the other side, he praised Hee-sung for having an excellent sense of balance. At that, Hee-sung grumbled, asking why he was praising him for something like that. However, even in the face of Hee-sung’s blunt reactions, Yoon Chi-young poured out praise whenever he saw an opportunity.

Every time that happened, Hee-sung felt ambivalent.

‘To think a day like this would come for me…’

When he was young, no matter how much he cherished and took care of his younger brother, his father would beat him, saying he couldn’t stand the sight of such a frail brat. At another time, no matter how cleanly he cleaned a room, he was belittled, told that this was the only thing he was good for. But now, the most wonderful Companion in the world told him he was lovely just for eating his meals well.

‘…I thought the emotional scars would fade as I grew up.’

In moments like these, Hee-sung found it strange that the more happy he became, the more acutely he felt the pain of the past.

That didn’t mean he felt purely resentful of the past. Rather, it allowed him to cherish his current days even more. The fact that his heart had opened this wide was all thanks to Yoon Chi-young.

So, perhaps it was time to enter a new stage of life.

Hee-sung breathed the autumn air deep into his lungs and looked up at the blue sky. The weather was clear, and with Yoon Chi-young holding his hand by his side, it felt like a perfect day.

Perhaps that was why Hee-sung felt that as long as he was with Yoon Chi-young, he could handle any hardship. It wasn’t because the man was perfect. It was because he knew that Yoon Chi-young was someone who didn’t hide any of his rough edges from him and truly cherished him, and thus, he could trust him.

Because of that, Hee-sung finally found the courage to welcome new days with him.

Hee-sung felt that he had graduated from a certain point in his life. It was time to begin a new enrollment.

With the magnificent view of the pond before him, Hee-sung gripped his hand tightly.

“…By the way, Yoon Chi-young. Listen.”

Yoon Chi-young seemed to love even that simple call; he pulled the held hand and kissed Hee-sung’s fingers. A playful glint lingered on his face as he looked at him with a smile in his eyes. Before him, Hee-sung spoke with a consistently serious expression.

“I think the time has come.”

“For what?”

Wondering if there were words he was anticipating, Yoon Chi-young wrapped his arm around Hee-sung’s waist. He began to make a sensual appeal, slowly stroking the white tail, but unlike usual, the tail didn’t sway back and forth; it stood stiffly upright. It was evidence that Hee-sung was extremely nervous.

Just as Yoon Chi-young began to look at Hee-sung with curiosity, sensing that something was different from usual, a steadfast confession poured out.

“I… I want to see a pup that looks like you.”

“…….”

“Let’s have a child together now.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young’s gray eyes widened further. It was unclear in which direction his emotions were surging, but even his wolf ears and black tail, which he had spent a lifetime training to hide, popped out sporadically. Seeing this, Hee-sung let out a small laugh and, while struggling to pull the man’s sturdy body closer, confessed boldly.

“I didn’t think about this hastily; I truly mean it.”

“…….”

“I’ll take responsibility for a lifetime. So don’t worry, just make your choice.”

Hee-sung saw the usually brazen Yoon Chi-young looking as shy as a boy hearing a first-love’s confession.

Without a trace of his usual smooth demeanor, his face flushed red as he gripped Hee-sung’s hand tightly. His gray pupils, dilated with emotion, trembled slightly. Only then did Hee-sung realize that he was deeply moved.

“Ah…”

Heat rose to the top of his head, and Yoon Chi-young hurriedly covered his mouth with his palm. Watching the face filled with emotion, Hee-sung felt only joy. It was an expression full of fluttering excitement that the wolves who knew Yoon Chi-young as a Watcher would never believe.

Only after gathering his emotions for a long while did he finally manage to speak with a smile.

“…Those are the words I’ve been waiting for the most.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young wrapped his arms around Hee-sung, coat and all, and spun him around in a large circle. He claimed that seeing a puppy that looked like Hee-sung had been his greatest wish for a long time and that he was being sincere, which Hee-sung found absurd. He was the one who wanted to see a child that looked like him.

That day, forgetting the cold, the two of them gazed at the pond and talked for a long time about their future children.

Yoon Chi-young said he wanted to see a Wolf-dog that looked like Hee-sung regardless of gender, and Hee-sung harbored a grand ambition, wanting to see at least three pups regardless of anything else.

Perhaps that wish was conveyed, for a few days later, Yoon Chi-young had a vivid dream. It was a dream where two large snakes leaped out of the beautiful pond they had seen that day and nestled into his arms. Of course, he didn’t tell Hee-sung about the dream. This was because Hee-sung was already dreaming of having many children.

Yoon Chi-young wanted to protect Hee-sung so that he could enjoy that anticipation even more. The anticipation of raising a cozy brood of Wolf-dogs in the future.

Side Story 2 Chapter 2

For centuries, love that transcended species has always existed, and thanks to that, technology allowing pregnancy between Beastmen of different species and genders has advanced.

Fertilization was more difficult the more different the species and the same the gender, but fortunately,

Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young were of the same species—a wolf and a dog. The failure rate was at a level that could be sufficiently covered by their young bodies.

The problem arose from an unexpected place. On the day they decided on the pregnancy, on the way home from work,

It was because of something Yoon Chi-young said with a noticeably nervous face.

“Phew, it’s my first time being pregnant, so I’m a bit shaky…”

“…What?”

At Yoon Chi-young’s words, Hee-sung looked up with puzzled eyes. He had been sitting close to him in the backseat of the car when he heard this sudden remark.

Hee-sung set down the tablet PC he had been looking at. As the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, Yoon Chi-young keenly noticed that he had made a mistake.

“Why do you naturally assume that you’re the one getting pregnant?”

Hee-sung turned toward Yoon Chi-young and asked bluntly.

Perhaps sensing that fierce momentum, Yoon Chi-young stared into space for a moment before slowly looking to his side. In his entire life, he had never had to walk on eggshells around anyone, but the feeling of having offended his puppy lover was not just nerve-wracking—it was thrilling. He felt this way even though he knew it wasn’t a normal reaction.

Yoon Chi-young slid an arm around Hee-sung’s shoulder and asked,

“Why? I can’t be the one?”

“No, I’m just curious about the reason. Tell me.”

Even though he knew the other was being cautious, Hee-sung couldn’t let go of his fierce aura. He had expected them to decide who would get pregnant based on some rule, but he hadn’t expected Yoon Chi-young to speak as if it were obvious that he would do it.

Hee-sung felt a bit wounded and upset by that. He knew his own body was on the smaller and weaker side, but he hated the idea of blindly being placed in a position to be protected. Moreover, as the head of the household, he couldn’t just stand by and let Yoon Chi-young take on the risks as if it were a given. Since they were becoming fathers together, Hee-sung wanted to shoulder whatever happened together.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young hesitated to speak, then said in a soothing tone,

“Physically… don’t you think my body is more suited for pregnancy than yours?”

While saying those subtle words, Yoon Chi-young pulled Hee-sung’s hand and placed it on his lower abdomen. Through the high-quality shirt, Hee-sung could feel the firm lower abdominal muscles. Regardless, Hee-sung continued to glare at Yoon Chi-young with stern eyes. The wolf-like man’s secret smile as he leaned his head close was charming. He even rubbed the wolf ears protruding from his head against Hee-sung’s forehead and ears. He seemed relaxed, yet there was a sense of desperation in his attempt to appease the puppy.

“Don’t try to get away with this by acting cute. I’m serious.”

When it came to family, Hee-sung was always serious. There was even a hint of anger in his consecutive words.

“How do you know your body is more suited for pregnancy?”

Yoon Chi-young felt a strong sense of crisis.

He had reached roughly stage three of the puppy’s five stages of anger. Because it concerned family, he seemed more sensitive than usual. Furthermore, since it was a matter regarding Hee-sung’s physical complex, Yoon Chi-young had no choice but to be even more careful.

Yoon Chi-young cherished his Companion to the point where he would believe the sun rose in the west if the puppy said so. Therefore, naturally, he couldn’t let the puppy bear the burden of the grueling process of pregnancy. His lover was six years younger; how could he entrust him with a difficult pregnancy and a potentially dangerous childbirth?

However, looking at Hee-sung’s expression, compromise seemed unlikely.

Deciding to change tactics, Yoon Chi-young let out a small sigh and shifted his expression to one of solemnity. Because he was so handsome, that alone made the beautiful gray eyes beneath his black hair stand out.

“…Honey.”

“Yeah.”

“Actually, being pregnant has been my dream for a long time.”

Hee-sung twitched his upper lip as if he had just heard the most absurd nonsense. It was a habit he had when showing his canines in dissatisfaction.

Undeterred, Yoon Chi-young spoke eloquently with a wide gesture.

“Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to carry my Companion’s child. After I met you, I always wanted to give birth to a puppy that looked like you.”

“Didn’t you say you were reluctant to have kids because you were afraid a wolf cub that looked like you would come out?”

“…That was.”

Hee-sung had managed to remember Yoon Chi-young’s inner thoughts. He had probably mentioned it carelessly during their road trip to the desert. The face that had been pretending to smile elegantly froze as if time had stopped.

As he had said then, Yoon Chi-young didn’t have immediate plans for children. It was truly because he feared a wolf cub that resembled him would be born. If the child inherited his strong pheromones, he imagined the child would be disobedient, unstable, an unrestrained mood-driven person, and would spend their life agonizing over their identity as a beast or a Beastman, trembling in fear of Pheromone Shock. Knowing how miraculous it was that he had found Hee-sung as his Companion and achieved a stable life, Yoon Chi-young was even more anxious.

But if Hee-sung wanted children first, that changed everything.

Whatever Hee-sung wanted, Yoon Chi-young wanted too. Moreover, having given his whole heart to his Companion, Yoon Chi-young wanted a child that resembled Hee-sung. However, the prerequisite was that Hee-sung should not suffer.

“Can’t I just be the one to get pregnant? I want to be pregnant…”

He asked, leaning slightly against Hee-sung’s shoulder.

As the tall alpha wolf acted affectionately toward the puppy, the seat partition in the front driver’s seat slowly slid up.

However, the two ignored it and looked at each other with different emotions, until the puppy finally made a stern decision.

“Enough. Let’s do it in order.”

“…In order?”

At the unexpected words, Yoon Chi-young’s smile collapsed hollowly. It was because he had been imagining a happy three-person family with Hee-sung.

But Hee-sung was simply thinking like a Dog-kin.

“Isn’t four pups the standard?”

“…….”

“Two for you and two for me, or one each. Then it fits perfectly.”

“…I guess so.”

Yoon Chi-young’s gray eyes widened and then softened into a comfortable smile. He hadn’t known that Hee-sung had envisioned such a cozy future with him. To Yoon Chi-young, for whom something ordinary seemed the most difficult and impossible, it was a more welcome proposal than anything else.

Still, he couldn’t completely erase his worries. Yoon Chi-young gazed quietly at Hee-sung, who was leaning into his embrace.

To put it as Yoon Chi-young felt it, Hee-sung was a young and fair-skinned lover. Moreover, his frame was small enough to fit perfectly in his arms—a full head shorter—and even his True Form was a ball of fluff the size of a fist. He knew he was exaggerating, but that was how it felt to him.

And yet, he was to make this puppy-like ball of fluff, who was younger than himself, pregnant?

Yoon Chi-young felt he might wither away from guilt and restlessness every day. It really would be better for him, with his naturally superior physique, to get pregnant and give birth while acting cute to the puppy. In fact, considering Hee-sung’s reaction, he looked forward to it. How much would the puppy, who believed himself to be the head of the household, try to protect him? Just imagining it brought a secret smile to Yoon Chi-young’s face.

‘I’ll just tell them to try with mine first.’

He knew it was a matter of probability, but Yoon Chi-young intended to bribe the doctor instead of giving Hee-sung the first chance. He thought lightly of it, figuring he could just persuade Hee-sung that things turned out that way. He completely forgot that he could never win against his lover’s stubbornness.

A while later, the two went to the hospital for a pregnancy consultation.

There, they met the doctor who had treated Yoon Chi-young since he was young. The doctor stiffened as the tall Yoon Chi-young entered, but his expression softened upon seeing Hee-sung hidden behind him. He already knew that the Watcher became a gentle dog in front of his Companion.

After discussing several things, the doctor began with the practical aspects.

“The probability of fertilization is actually quite low. If both of you attempt it, the probability will increase, but you may also decide on an order.”

“We’ll both try for now,” Hee-sung stated confidently.

Yoon Chi-young had already suggested trying his first before they even arrived at the hospital, only to have his opinion dismissed. It was because of the counter-argument that the probability doubles if both try, so why only one?

Faced with such a reasonable opinion, Yoon Chi-young tried to compromise in other ways, but he couldn’t beat the puppy. Hee-sung had already mentally prepared himself with determination.

“Still, it might be better for the one with the body less burdened by pregnancy to try first…”

“He’s older, so the physical burden is the same.”

“…….”

Unaware that his Companion was hurt, Hee-sung spoke while tightly holding Yoon Chi-young’s hand under the desk.

“Please let both of us try simultaneously. Whoever is fertilized first will be the one to carry the pregnancy.”

“Ah… I-I see.”

At those words, the doctor first looked at Yoon Chi-young’s reaction. This was because, before their visit, he had been told by an anonymous source to recommend fertilization for the wolf first. However, since Hee-sung was being so firm, the suggestion became useless. Yoon Chi-young’s face was filled with dismay, but he tried not to show it.

The doctor explained step-by-step in front of them.

“I understand. Then we will collect the genes, but first, let me explain the process.”

To achieve pregnancy between Beastmen of the same gender, several procedures were required. Since they were relying on medical power, there were many basic tests. Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young calmly underwent the tests and had their genes collected. From the moment they promised to have a child, a subtle sense of anticipation and tension lingered between them. It was the excitement of a new future.

A short while later, the results came out. After hearing the results over the phone, Yoon Chi-young hung up without a word.

Unable to shake his dazed expression, Yoon Chi-young slid down onto the sofa. Beside him, the puppy approached, wagging the tip of his feather-like tail, curious about the result.

Looking into those black eyes full of anticipation, Yoon Chi-young spoke in a sighing voice without realizing it.

“Honey…”

‘Hurry, tell me quickly.’

Hee-sung scratched the back of Yoon Chi-young’s hand with a white front paw.

Looking at the small, black claws, Yoon Chi-young remained silent for a moment before speaking in a guilt-ridden voice.

“Fertilization… was successful in yours.”

…Woof.

At those words, the puppy sat down with a quite serious face. Perhaps needing time to prepare himself, he eventually gave a solemn nod, showing his resolve.

Woof!

Soon, filled with joy, the puppy jumped into Yoon Chi-young’s arms, rolling around wildly and expressing his happiness with his whole body.

Seeing this, Yoon Chi-young was happy, yet he couldn’t help but resent the heavens. Anyone who felt Hee-sung’s fluff-like weight would think the same.

In the end, until the day they went to the hospital, Yoon Chi-young tried to persuade Hee-sung over and over that he should be the one to get pregnant, but Hee-sung had already firmly made up his mind.

After setting the date for the pregnancy procedure, the two spent their days in a whirlwind.

This was because Yoon Chi-young had to delegate a certain amount of his authority as a Watcher to the organization members. This was common for wolves facing pregnancy; wolves, who are monogamous for life, become extremely sensitive during the pregnancy period, so they prepare in advance.

In the wild, male wolves attack or bite to death pups that are not their own seed.

Moreover, they have a strong sense of territoriality, so a wolf with a pregnant mate becomes extremely sensitive to other pheromones and exhibits heightened aggression. This was a phenomenon common to Beastmen as well.

Anticipating this, the organization members even recommended that Yoon Chi-young take parental leave. Even the conservative elder wolves advised him to just take a break. It seemed they did so knowing he was born with such strong pheromones.

But to Hee-sung, who trusted Yoon Chi-young, such a suggestion seemed absurd.

“Why take a leave before the pregnancy even starts? I’ll just reduce my workload.”

“Will you be okay? You should take care of your body.”

“Then are we just going to be shut in the house together for the entire pregnancy? I don’t want that.”

Hee-sung settled for slightly reducing the Watcher’s duties. To suggest taking a break from the Watcher’s work before the pregnancy even began—in Hee-sung’s eyes, it felt as if the elder wolves were trying to keep the Watcher in check, which made him even less inclined to take a break.

Rather than work, Hee-sung was completely exhausted before the pregnancy for another reason. Unlike Hee-sung, who was calm after his mental preparation, Yoon Chi-young was being obsessive.

First, Yoon Chi-young had created a sophisticated Prenatal Care Room for Hee-sung.

It was a place where curtains opened and closed via voice recognition, the temperature was adjustable, and calm, pleasant music always played. He also placed Hee-sung’s favorite “fainting cushion” and microfiber blankets in the center of the room, with essential oils and aromatherapy products beside them. On top of that, he stocked all sorts of parenting books, a large TV on one wall, and even a paw massager specifically for Dog-kin.

Hee-sung’s impression upon receiving the Prenatal Care Room as a surprise gift was simple.

‘Maybe I should have just let Yoon Chi-young get pregnant like he wanted…?’

Looking at what Yoon Chi-young was doing, he was already worried. This was the level of obsession even before fertilization. He felt that if he so much as sneezed during the pregnancy, Yoon Chi-young might wither away from anxiety. It was a bit annoying, but also a bit exciting and cute.

‘…I’ve really changed a lot.’

Hee-sung realized once again how much he had come to love Yoon Chi-young and began to actively use the Prenatal Care Room.

He would lie back in his puppy form on the fainting cushion in the middle of the room, listening to heart-thumping rock music or watching WWE professional wrestling on TV. He felt so embarrassed when Yoon Chi-young caught him barking while watching wrestling with all his fluff puffed up. The flustered puppy would quickly lie back on the fainting cushion and pretend to stroke his pink belly. Due to his unintentionally obsessive husband, Hee-sung ended up mimicking prenatal care even before he was pregnant.

Still, the Prenatal Care Room was used for its intended purpose in its own way.

Every day, Yoon Chi-young would massage Hee-sung’s fair body there after he showered. Unlike Hee-sung, who had mentally prepared himself, Yoon Chi-young seemed to have too many thoughts.

“Honey…. What if the babies have pink paw pads like you?”

“What are you talking about? They’ll be cute.”

Unlike the calm Hee-sung, Yoon Chi-young was already discussing which Beastman kindergarten to send the children to, or worrying about how cute it would be if a child was born with only one ear folded—Beastmen consider a single folded ear a charming trait, like a dimple. While listening to such obsessive talk, Hee-sung, receiving the massage, would occasionally let out a word of annoyance.

“We haven’t even gotten pregnant yet, why are you worrying about things like that?”

“…….”

Suddenly, Yoon Chi-young’s gray eyes became hazy.

As he scanned Hee-sung’s white and soft body while massaging, Hee-sung felt a strong sense of crisis. It was because at times like this, the extremely mood-driven Yoon Chi-young turned into a beast. Even now, he carefully untied the string of Hee-sung’s gown as if unwrapping a ribbon on a gift box, and subtly gripped the waist where the eleven-line abs were faintly visible.

That was the beginning. Yoon Chi-young, getting extremely excited on his own, would devour Hee-sung every night, claiming how could he be the one to get pregnant. Only Hee-sung, whose body was limp and relaxed from the massage, was in a predicament. When Yoon Chi-young suddenly drove into him with his hard member, crushing his buttocks, he had no choice but to be shaken like a rag underneath him. Although it was overwhelming to handle, it was still a good way to release the tension he had been hiding.

Time flew by, and a week passed.

Hee-sung went to the hospital, listened to several explanations, and successfully completed the procedure. The success rate wasn’t particularly high, but Hee-sung prayed it would succeed on the first try. Only then did it seem like Yoon Chi-young would stop buying all sorts of baby supplies and therapy items.

Fortunately, Hee-sung’s desperate wish worked.

“Congratulations. It’s twins!”

A while later, at the doctor’s words, Hee-sung smiled with satisfaction, as if he had just scored a goal. Beside him, Yoon Chi-young’s face became a mixture of neither crying nor laughing. He looked guilt-ridden, as if a baby had made a baby pregnant, but Hee-sung didn’t care.

Although he had ruined Yoon Chi-young’s fake dream of wanting to be pregnant, Hee-sung was dazed yet happy about the fact of the pregnancy.

Finally, they would have a pack of their own.

Returning home, Hee-sung stroked his flat lower abdomen and made many wishes. Among them, the most desperate wish was that the children would be healthy, unlike himself. And that they would please resemble their wolf father more than him.

Side Story 2 Chapter 3

The pregnancy period for a Beastman could be described as the time when the characteristics of their species are most pronounced.

Among them, wolves were considered to be entitled to leave during pregnancy, and other species tended to avoid encountering a wolf if their Companion was pregnant. Wolves already possessed a strong sense of territoriality, but because those who insisted on monogamy became extremely sensitive and highly aggressive once their Companion carried pups, others steered clear.

As a result, Yoon Chi-young felt a sense of anxiety just by being away from his Companion for a short while. During the second month of Hee-sung’s pregnancy, Yoon Chi-young stepped out of the house in the middle of the night because Hee-sung suddenly craved puppy treats, and he felt a dull headache. Along with separation anxiety, even the slightest scent of another species’ pheromones made him so sensitive that his canines nearly bared.

Enduring the headache, Yoon Chi-young took the elevator—which felt exceptionally slow—and headed home.

As he pressed the door lock, he heard the expected reaction from inside.

Woof, woof!

It seemed Hee-sung had rushed to the door. Perhaps because he had become sleepier since getting pregnant, Hee-sung spent a lot of time in his Beast-transformation state. Fortunately, it was fine to remain in his True Form until the third month of pregnancy.

Having dated for two years, Yoon Chi-young had learned the body language of Dog-kin, allowing him to communicate to some extent even when Hee-sung was in his True Form. He was slightly less proficient than Ji Young-bae, so he ended up getting scolded by the puppy more often.

Still, he had come to recognize some of Hee-sung’s key reactions immediately. As soon as Yoon Chi-young opened the door, he smiled with a pale face. He knew instantly that the puppy with the sparkling eyes wanted the bag of food most of all, but he deliberately hid it behind his back and smiled brightly.

“Honey, I’m home.”

‘Are you here? You’re here!’

The puppy, trotting toward the entrance, climbed onto Yoon Chi-young’s shoes and clung to his ankle. His round eyes were squinted, as if he had been sleeping, and his body had become a bit rounder since he had gained weight. His pitch-black eyes sparkled with anticipation, but his tail remained still. It was sad evidence that what he had been waiting for was not his husband.

Though it was heartbreaking, Yoon Chi-young held out what he had hidden behind his back before the puppy could be disappointed.

“I bought the thing you said you wanted to eat.”

‘I missed you!’

Only then did Hee-sung roll around, wagging his tail frantically. His joyful gaze was fixed on the bag of sundae, but Yoon Chi-young tried to ignore reality and neatly unpacked the bag first. He suppressed the urge to hug Hee-sung and had to hold his breath. He simply could not stand the smell of the unfamiliar food.

“Just… eat for now.”

Speaking while holding his breath, Yoon Chi-young hurried toward the bedroom. Only after he finally exhaled did his trained chest heave heavily beneath his t-shirt.

There was only one reason. In the second month of Hee-sung’s pregnancy, Yoon Chi-young—who wasn’t even the one pregnant—was experiencing morning sickness.

“Haa….”

Despite not being the one carrying the children, Yoon Chi-young had become incredibly sensitive to the smell of food. Upon entering the room, he collapsed against the bed, overcome by a wave of nausea.

Though it was psychological, perhaps because Yoon Chi-young’s sense of smell was naturally keen, the symptoms of morning sickness appeared particularly severe. It reached a point where he couldn’t even touch the beef he used to love, and he would gag at the pheromones of his subordinates, whom he trusted like his own limbs. Fortunately, male wolves with children seemed to understand that this could happen, but Ji Young-bae, being a Dog-kin, looked so wounded that it made Yoon Chi-young feel a bit awkward.

Morning sickness was common enough that male wolves became more sensitive during their Companion’s pregnancy than anyone else.

In contrast, Hee-sung fortunately only suffered from a bit of “food-sickness”—craving food to stave off nausea.

Rather, his appetite increased, and he ate more heartily than before. Moreover, since Yoon Chi-young provided whatever Hee-sung craved, he ate abundantly and developed a plump belly.

After Yoon Chi-young disappeared to wash his hands, Hee-sung was happily eating the sundae in the living room. It was a delicacy he always craved, but since Yoon Chi-young rarely bought it, he only got to eat it once or twice a month.

‘I didn’t know he’d buy sundae.’

In the past, Yoon Chi-young would have stopped him, saying that a puppy might not be able to digest street food and should eat more precious meals. These days, however, even if Hee-sung just stared at him with a look that meant “sundae,” Yoon Chi-young would run out and buy it as if they shared a telepathic connection. Hee-sung found this quite admirable and very convenient. Having lived on only “precious” foods until now, he had been craving things like this.

After finishing the sundae and the liver, the puppy looked around the spacious living room. Yoon Chi-young was nowhere to be seen in the elegantly black-themed space. It seemed he had gone to the bedroom to take off his coat, but he wasn’t coming back out.

It tastes better when we eat together,

Hee-sung thought absentmindedly, and he headed to the bedroom with the sundae bag in his mouth.

‘Yoon Chi-young? What are you doing? Let’s eat together.’

Entering the bedroom, he saw Yoon Chi-young still wearing his long coat over grey training clothes. He was leaning against the side of the bed, looking utterly exhausted. With his broad shoulders, tall frame, the cold sweat beading on his forehead, and his decadent-looking eyes, he looked like someone who had done drugs. Thinking that such a scary-looking guy had bought him sundae was quite cute and funny.

Feeling sorry that he was struggling alone, the puppy entered the room with the bag. For Hee-sung, a Dog-kin, it was natural to share food with his Companion.

However, as Hee-sung trotted closer, Yoon Chi-young hurriedly covered his mouth.

“Ugh…!”

At the sensitive reaction, the puppy hurriedly grabbed the sundae bag and fled the room.

He hadn’t been this reactive to other foods, but Yoon Chi-young was particularly sensitive to the smell of street food. It was almost admirable that he had managed to buy the food and bring it home himself. Hee-sung placed the sundae far away in the living room and peeked into the bedroom with an awkward expression. Even then, he didn’t miss a beat, chewing on a piece of sundae.

‘Hey… you okay?’

“Honey. I… I really can’t handle that one.”

‘But it’s really delicious.’

Hee-sung had no choice but to start eating the sundae alone.

Perhaps because his appetite had exploded for the first time in his life, Hee-sung felt a bit excited by the thought that he could eat everything himself when Yoon Chi-young couldn’t eat due to morning sickness, though he felt sorry. He disliked that he had become a bit petty, but he was still thrilled to be eating something delicious for once. In fact, it tasted even better because Yoon Chi-young had bought it for him.

‘The babies in my tummy must like it too….’

Having polished off eight pieces of sundae alone, the puppy flopped onto his back on the floor. His plump pink belly heaved with every breath. With the satisfaction of having finished his meal, Hee-sung pondered what he would eat when he woke up tomorrow. Since he had never had such an appetite in his life, he was inwardly enjoying it.

Around that time, Yoon Chi-young slowly emerged from the room.

He must have been struggling so much that he appeared not in human form, but as a pitch-black wolf. Panting as he came out, he was the type of person who felt he had to see things through to the end when it came to his Companion, no matter how hard it was.

Soon, the wolf gently nudged the puppy’s side with his nose. He was suggesting they walk slowly to help with digestion. However, the rounded puppy just scratched his side with a front paw and didn’t budge.

‘No.’

Grrr.

‘Too much effort, I don’t want to move.’

He spoke lazily, but the wolf, not understanding, licked Hee-sung’s paw and rolled his body as if to coax him. If he didn’t do this, Hee-sung wouldn’t be able to digest the food and would throw up. Having learned of that pain through his own morning sickness, Yoon Chi-young somehow rolled the puppy over to lie flat. Fortunately, when he nudged his rump with his nose, Hee-sung began to walk on all fours, though he grumbled his dissatisfaction.

Only after rolling the puppy around the vast living room several times was Yoon Chi-young able to complete his midnight mission. The sight of the massive wolf lying down beside Hee-sung looked quite pitiful.

‘What should I do?’

Lying back down with his cozy pink belly on the floor, Hee-sung looked pityingly at the wolf collapsing beside him.

‘Yoon Chi-young’s morning sickness is getting worse….’

Hee-sung turned halfway around the giant wolf’s body toward his face. The wolf had his eyes closed, breathing slowly and heavily, as if exhausted. Hee-sung observed the dependable figure closely. Indeed, unlike before, the wolf’s black fur had become dull, and he seemed to have lost weight due to the morning sickness. To a casual observer, there might not have been much difference, but when the puppy leaned deep into the fur, he could feel the hard bones more than before.

Hee-sung’s worry grew by the day.

Is there some good solution?

The puppy lingered by Yoon Chi-young’s side for a long time, lost in thought. Hee-sung’s contemplation continued for a long while until a sign of a solution appeared.

It was about ten days later. Yoon Chi-young had recently developed a worry.

Because of that worry, his heart would race in the morning if he woke up to find the space beside him empty.

‘Is it happening again today?’

Confirming he was alone in bed, Yoon Chi-young looked for the puppy as soon as he woke up. He lifted the blanket very carefully—lest Hee-sung suddenly roll out from somewhere—and checked behind the pillow and the gap beside the bed. Seeing that the puppy was gone, Yoon Chi-young had an intuition.

Today was the day.

Since it happened two or three times a week, Yoon Chi-young was now somewhat used to it. With a sigh, he stood up, brushed back his bedhead, and went out to the living room.

As expected, there were traces of the puppy having caused a massive scene.

“Ah….”

Yoon Chi-young looked in despair at the various foods scattered across the living room side table.

From the kitchen to the living room, everything was a mess. It looked as if every single snack stocked for his pregnant Companion had been brought out. Yoon Chi-young walked carefully to the sofa, making sure not to step on the packaging wrappers strewn on the floor. The white lump that had caused the chaos was sleeping so soundly that he couldn’t even bring himself to be angry.

Yoon Chi-young carefully rolled over the puppy, who had fallen asleep wedged in the sofa gap. As he did, his words carried a hint of playfulness, as if he had reached a state of enlightenment.

“Mr. Puppy… you shouldn’t sleep here.”

“…….”

“Mr. Puppy?”

Woof….

The puppy, who had been sleeping with his tongue poking out, woke up in a daze and opened his eyes.

Perhaps because his face was so swollen, his usually bright eyes had become like buttonholes. Yoon Chi-young let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh, then gasped when he saw the puppy’s pink belly. The price for eating all sorts of food and falling asleep was quite high. The puppy’s belly was so full it looked like it might burst.

“Honey…. I think it’s already time for the babies to come out.”

‘You…!’

“By next month,

cough

… the babies will be here, right?”

‘Stop teasing me!’

The puppy snapped, nipping at his hand sharply. Perhaps because he hadn’t slept due to eating all night, he snapped and then drifted back to sleep. At that lovely sight, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t bring himself to be angry and instead handled Hee-sung with utmost care.

“What to do. If the puppy keeps eating like this, his health will suffer….”

Yoon Chi-young muttered as he carefully moved the puppy, who was too small to fit in both his hands.

Actually, he had been truly happy when Hee-sung’s appetite increased after pregnancy. Although he himself was suffering from morning sickness, he felt full just seeing the puppy want something, and seeing his pregnant Companion happily eating something made him feel satisfied.

However, he was worried because Hee-sung had recently developed a bad habit. At first, he thought he was simply seeking out late-night snacks alone, but it grew worse over time.

To the point where it could be called excessive greed, Hee-sung would bring out and spread out foods he wouldn’t even eat late at night. Looking at the crackers or fruit, half of them weren’t even unwrapped, and there were often things the puppy had only taken one bite of. He did thoroughly finish things he focused on, like meat, but that was still a huge amount based on Hee-sung’s size.

And to think he was secretly eating such foods in the middle of the night while he slept. Yoon Chi-young’s worries couldn’t help but pile up.

“Honey, do you crave food a lot at night?”

“Huh? That’s….”

Hee-sung, who was getting dressed to go to the hospital, hesitated.

Today was the day for a regular check-up. On days like this, Hee-sung, who usually stayed comfortably as a puppy, transformed into his human form.

Perhaps because he had transformed into a human after a while, the changes were prominent; his white cheeks had become plump, and his thighs and buttocks had filled out nicely. He looked like a perfectly ripe peach, and Yoon Chi-young’s gaze naturally drifted there. He saw only the fair skin, to the point where he forgot what he had asked. The thought that such a fluffy ball of a lover was carrying his children made Yoon Chi-young suppress a surge of dark emotion and pretend to be serious. He was unaware that Hee-sung thought he had “gone crazy in the eyes” again.

“Just, I’ve been craving a lot of things specifically at night.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Yoon Chi-young approached Hee-sung with a look of regret. He then took the hoodie and dressed him personally. Since it was still cold, he wrapped a scarf around him tightly, and Hee-sung buried his nose in the scarf to avoid Yoon Chi-young’s gaze. His voice was uncharacteristically small and lacking confidence.

“Does it make sense to wake up a sleeping lover just because I want to eat something….”

“Of course it does.”

“…….”

Normally, Hee-sung would have called him overbearing, but for some reason, he was silent today. His round eyes rolled quickly as if he were gauging the situation. Yoon Chi-young wasn’t scolding him. He spoke again soothingly.

“Just wake me up if there’s something you want to eat. Okay?”

“…But your morning sickness is so bad.”

“I can bear that. I just want to watch you eat.”

Hee-sung nodded silently. His round eyes, peeking out from the scarf, shone black. Yoon Chi-young thought he was exactly the same as when he was a puppy and kissed various spots on his cheeks. Although he hadn’t eaten a proper meal for several days, morning sickness was nothing compared to Hee-sung’s struggles, and he could endure it indefinitely.

It was early evening by the time they arrived at the hospital. Hee-sung had an ultrasound today. Even though his belly hadn’t protruded much yet, new lives were growing vigorously inside.

The doctor said, “The babies are growing very well. Would you like to hear the heartbeats?”

“Yes, yes.”

Hee-sung listened to the babies’ heartbeats with a serious face. To Yoon Chi-young, it seemed Hee-sung was also very nervous about having children. In particular, he was most concerned about whether the babies were growing to a normal size. However, both Hee-sung and the babies were healthy enough that there was no need to worry. After hearing the heartbeats of the twins, Hee-sung looked at Yoon Chi-young with a face full of wonder. Yoon Chi-young could tell from the rapidly wagging tail that the puppy was feeling amazed and happy.

Furthermore, they could see the forms of the babies through a 3D ultrasound. Technology had improved these days, allowing the forms of the pups to be seen in quite detail. Hee-sung’s first impression, as he looked at the ultrasound in bewilderment, was simple.

“A shrimp… and a crayfish?”

“Haha, they haven’t grown much yet, right? This is the hand, and this is the face.”

The doctor, who burst into laughter, explained slowly. The two pups were very small, but they had their forms. One had its body curled up like a shrimp, and the other had prominent front paws by its head, like a crayfish. Even to Yoon Chi-young, they really did look like a shrimp and a crayfish.

“I should name them Shrimp and Crayfish for their prenatal names. They happen to be your favorite things.”

“W-what is that….”

Regardless, the logic was that Hee-sung loved shrimp, and since he had recently eaten a lot of snow crab, they were relatives of the crayfish. Hee-sung was bewildered at first, but after leaving the exam, he began to chatter about Shrimp and Crayfish on his own.

“You know, Shrimp and Crayfish. I can see something.”

“What?”

Hee-sung, gripping Yoon Chi-young’s hand, muttered with a very serious face.

“They look like you.”

“Ah… that shouldn’t happen.”

After speaking his inner thoughts, Yoon Chi-young received a sharp glare from Hee-sung. As he was scolded for saying such a thing, the sight of Hee-sung scolding him while flapping his puppy ears naturally drew attention from those around them. Everyone smiled as if they were looking at a cute newlywed couple, but only Hee-sung was serious. Yoon Chi-young wanted to feel that mood a bit longer, so he acted affectionately, saying they should resemble him. Having never bragged like this in his life, he acted cute toward his lovely and handsome husband.

After all the exams were finished, Yoon Chi-young met with the doctor separately. He had Hee-sung go to a cafe with Ji Young-bae to buy whatever he wanted to eat.

Unlike when he dealt with Hee-sung, Yoon Chi-young spoke with a lifeless, cold face.

“The puppy has recently developed a strange habit.”

The attending physician listened to his words seriously. Since it concerned the Companion of a Watcher of the Wolf Clan, it could not be handled carelessly.

“What kind of habit is it?”

“He secretly eats all sorts of food while I’m asleep. The amount he eats is much more than usual.”

“Hmm… does he eat the standard amount during the day?”

The doctor asked while carefully writing something in the chart. Yoon Chi-young said he did. It didn’t matter if he himself couldn’t eat anything due to morning sickness, but it was different for Hee-sung. If a problem developed in his body, Yoon Chi-young might become even more sensitive than he was now.

The doctor then asked several more questions.

“Do you happen to restrict his meals or interfere with them during the day?”

“That can’t be. If anything, I tend to tell him to eat more. I praise him every time, too.”

“Then… the Watcher’s morning sickness is still severe, right?”

There was no need to answer; Yoon Chi-young simply nodded. The doctor added a serious note, as if concerned.

“Um, if the Director cannot eat together due to morning sickness, the Dog-kin Companion might become anxious….”

“That’s fine. I’m pretending to eat a moderate amount.”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young checked his wristwatch. Even though he and his Companion were in the same building, he became sensitive the moment they were apart. Noticing his urgency, the doctor immediately explained.

“Once or twice is fine, but if the Companion continues to binge-eat in the middle of the night, it could put a strain on the body, so caution is needed. For now, let’s try to prevent the bingeing by having him eat regularly during the day, slightly more than the standard amount. If it continues despite that, it might be good to find out the reason for the secret nighttime eating through counseling.”

After falling into thought, Yoon Chi-young nodded after a moment. Since the reason for Hee-sung’s secret bingeing was unclear and it was a sensitive period, it seemed best to try indirect methods first to fix the problem.

“I understand. Thank you for your hard work.”

He organized his thoughts. To break a puppy’s bad habit, he would have to carefully monitor his usual eating habits and give him a warning if necessary. Although the thought of giving a warning vanished the moment he saw Hee-sung’s black eyes and face in the morning, it was nonetheless something that required attention.

Walking down the hallway, Yoon Chi-young decided to change his strategy.

First, he would make sure Hee-sung ate gourmet meals to his satisfaction for all three meals while awake to prevent bingeing. As intended, when he suggested going to eat snow crab, the puppy’s eyes sparkled with joy. Unaware that it was a wolf’s ploy.

Yoon Chi-young executed everything according to plan.

“Honey, try this, say ‘ah’.”

Woof.

He peeled the meat of the snow crab that Hee-sung wanted and fed it to him in abundance. Hee-sung, who had transformed into a puppy, clung to his wrist while eating, then sat amidst a variety of rare delicacies and leisurely wiped his nose with his tongue. It was a sign that he was finished, but he hadn’t eaten as much as expected.

“Puppy, are you done already?”

‘Yes.’

Having been together for over two years, the two had reached a point where they understood each other’s body language. Yoon Chi-young smiled cutely upon seeing the puppy push the food bowl toward him.

In truth, the smell of food was nauseating, making him feel as if he were suffering from severe motion sickness, but because Hee-sung was being taken care of like this, he didn’t even notice the hardship. Rather, he only worried that Hee-sung hadn’t eaten enough.

‘If this is the case, he’ll eat something at night.’

He was worried, but Yoon Chi-young didn’t force him to eat more and stood up. He feared that forcing him might make Hee-sung’s bingeing habit worse.

Hee-sung was wrapped in a blanket thicker than his own body as he was taken to the car. Because Yoon Chi-young kept wrapping him up, claiming the weather was cold, he ended up layered in several microfiber blankets. People around them looked on with affection, wondering if it was a baby, but Yoon Chi-young found such attention uncomfortable. It was because he had become more sensitive as pheromones accumulated. His nerves were on edge, fearing that his aggression might flare up if anyone approached Hee-sung.

Returning home feeling as if he were walking on thin ice, Yoon Chi-young intentionally fed Hee-sung strawberries before bed. Since Hee-sung mentioned he wanted jellies too, he carefully bought and fed them to him, and only after confirming the puppy was asleep did he close his own eyes. He believed that since he had fed him well today, he would be able to prevent Hee-sung’s bingeing.

…However, Yoon Chi-young saw the exact same scene the next day.

“Hmm….”

By now, Yoon Chi-young had become quite accustomed to coming out into the living room. It had become a routine, and he retraced his steps to see if there was a problem with his plan. No matter how much he thought about it, there was none.

Heading toward the living room with concern, Yoon Chi-young searched for the sofa. When he moved the blanket, he saw the tail of something sleeping behind a cushion, seemingly hiding from the sunlight. The creature was sprawled out like a human, but its belly was so plump that Yoon Chi-young burst into laughter.

‘Just how much did he eat?’

With a sigh, Yoon Chi-young sat on the sofa and examined the remnants of last night’s party in detail. First, it was important to figure out how much the puppy had eaten.

‘One apple. Potato chips… two pieces? There are only torn marks… He ate all those meatballs. Three boiled eggs…. Scones with whipped cream, and why did he take out the salad? He hates raw vegetables.’

The evidence was puzzling.

Usually, Hee-sung didn’t eat raw vegetables. He said they didn’t digest well. Yet, the salad had been taken out, and looking closer, the kitchen was a mess.

‘Did he take them out in a hurry?’

Going to the refrigerator, he saw a few side dishes that had been neatly packed in containers had fallen. After tidying the area, Yoon Chi-young returned to the sofa with concern. He saw the puppy sleeping, panting softly, as if he were too full.

Looking at the evidence, it seemed Hee-sung ate wildly in his Human Form and then returned to his puppy form to sleep. He couldn’t understand why he ate in secret at night. Moreover, looking at the traces, he took out all sorts of food as if he were someone who had starved for days. Recalling that Hee-sung had eaten his fill yesterday, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t help but worry.

‘Is eating with me a burden?’

Perhaps the fact that he was taken care of too much prevented him from eating what he actually wanted, leading to an explosion at night.

Yoon Chi-young fell into deep contemplation. He thought giving his lover only love would be enough, but he hadn’t considered that it could have side effects. A first love experienced for the first time, and a first love’s pregnancy on top of that, was simply too difficult.

Whimper…

Just then, the puppy, who had been sleeping and panting, wiped his nose with his tongue and rolled over to wake up. Yoon Chi-young tried to hold him, asking if he had woken up, but the puppy seemed off. The cotton-ball body flinched and shuddered violently, as if reacting to a great recoil.

Gag, gag…!

“Honey!”

The puppy ended up vomiting everything out. Whether his stomach truly couldn’t handle the food or not, his small body trembled like an aspen leaf, as if having a seizure. Startled, Yoon Chi-young hurriedly placed his hand under Hee-sung’s mouth and adjusted the puppy’s body to ensure his airway wasn’t blocked, patting his back. Then, the puppy panted heavily, tears welling in his eyes.

‘Ah, hold me….’

“Wait, slowly. Breathe slowly.”

Yoon Chi-young turned pale with shock, but he first calmed the puppy down. He wrapped him in a towel, took him to the bathroom, washed away the vomit, and patted his body. Perhaps startled himself, Hee-sung let out a loud hiccup and sobbed. Seeing him tremble in his puppy form made Yoon Chi-young’s heart nearly drop.

“Ha… you scared me.”

Woof…

“Did you eat a lot last night?”

“…….”

Yoon Chi-young asked as he filled the sink with warm water and sat him down. The puppy trembled but leaned heavily into Yoon Chi-young’s hand, asking to be held; he seemed quite frightened as well. Without a moment to breathe, Yoon Chi-young hurriedly called the doctor to the house and comforted Hee-sung. Usually, Hee-sung acted proud in the morning regardless of what he ate at night, but today, he seemed truly ill, constantly burying his face in Yoon Chi-young’s embrace.

The doctor, who rushed to the house, examined the puppy carefully and diagnosed indigestion.

“It seems there is some indigestion. Please provide frequent massages in a stress-free environment today and avoid irritating foods.”

As expected, it was caused by bingeing. This was why Yoon Chi-young usually took Hee-sung for a walk after meals. It seemed he had binged last night and fallen asleep immediately, leading to indigestion. After administering the prescribed digestive medicine and massaging the puppy’s entire body, Yoon Chi-young could see his complexion gradually improving.

Even after the doctor left, Yoon Chi-young continued to massage Hee-sung’s four legs, rubbing them gently. His expression was gravely serious.

“Honey… do you perhaps dislike eating with me?”

‘N-no….’

The puppy spoke and looked at him tentatively, then, perhaps feeling sorry for causing worry, he lightly licked Yoon Chi-young’s finger. Still, he seemed quite sick, as he didn’t even transform back into his Human Form. Although he said he was fine, Yoon Chi-young felt anxious looking at the fist-sized fluff.

To think that such a small, fluffy Companion was carrying two children. Moreover, knowing that his body was on the weaker side, Yoon Chi-young became more sensitive by the day.

Because of this, it became a habit for Yoon Chi-young to carry Hee-sung. Since the puppy was so small and hard to see, he feared he might accidentally bump into him while walking. Last time, not realizing Hee-sung was resting inside a new pair of living room slippers, he had tried to put his foot in and bumped his backside. It was fortunate he noticed quickly; he couldn’t even imagine accidentally kicking Hee-sung while he was pregnant.

Becoming so sensitive that even walking became a stressor, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t help but become edgy. He lost a bit of weight, and dark circles appeared under his eyes, giving him a decadent impression. While gently rubbing the round puppy, Yoon Chi-young unconsciously confessed his inner thoughts.

“Ha, I wish I were the one pregnant instead….”

‘…No, don’t worry.’

Despite the regretful words, the puppy managed to stand up, shake himself, and sit.

Perhaps feeling sorry for scaring him in the morning, he licked the back of Yoon Chi-young’s hand soothingly, and as he sat on one knee, his mumbled words were quite serious.

‘I actually think it’s a relief that I’m the one pregnant.’

“What are you… excited about?”

‘That I! Am! Pregnant. I said it’s a relief.’

Yoon Chi-young, barely understanding the words of comfort, gave a tired smile. It was such a naive thing to say. Still, since the indigestion seemed to have cleared and the puppy regained his vitality, Yoon Chi-young felt relieved.

However, that didn’t mean he was completely at ease. The puppy’s bingeing problem had already become a serious matter.

While making the porridge he would feed Hee-sung today, Yoon Chi-young made a drastic decision. To break Hee-sung’s habit, he would stay awake at night.

Yoon Chi-young executed his plan secretly.

The method was simple.

He just had to stay awake until the early morning hours when Hee-sung usually binged. Yoon Chi-young could stay up all night just by watching the sleeping Hee-sung. Even if he watched Hee-sung’s delicate features, the way his puppy ears occasionally twitched in his sleep, and his finely extended eye corners all night, his heart still fluttered.

Moreover, since the pregnancy, Hee-sung slept exceptionally deeply, so he wouldn’t wake up even if Yoon Chi-young nibbled on his folded ears or fiddled with his cheeks. After numerous attempts, Yoon Chi-young discovered that Hee-sung would wake up if he sucked on his chest—he was scolded a lot for being a pervert—but after a week, he still couldn’t catch Hee-sung’s bingeing habit.

‘What on earth is it?’

Why were the bingeing symptoms, which used to appear every other day, suddenly gone? Had he noticed he was being watched? Yoon Chi-young became puzzled.

Furthermore, staying up for a week to watch Hee-sung had left him exhausted. He was already struggling with morning sickness during the day, so he looked like a wreck.

Consequently, even when he wore his characteristic soft smile, Yoon Chi-young’s sharp impression stood out, and other rumors about the Watcher spread on their own. That he had become extremely sensitive due to his Companion’s pregnancy and that one must avoid upsetting him at all costs. While this was convenient, the real problem remained unsolved, and Yoon Chi-young’s dark circles became more prominent by the day.

He was even scolded by his Companion. As Yoon Chi-young was about to enter the bathroom, Hee-sung followed him.

“Yoon Chi-young. Are you seriously not sleeping at night?”

“Why? I am sleeping….”

“…That’s strange.”

Hee-sung pressed firmly on the tired corners of Yoon Chi-young’s eyes. His face was quite serious, but Yoon Chi-young found it cute that Hee-sung, whose cheeks had become plump, was worrying about him, and a smile began to creep up.

“How can you smile? Get some sleep at night. And stop sucking my chest.”

“No, puppy. I’m sleeping well.”

“…….”

Yoon Chi-young lied, fearing the puppy might worry. But as expected, Hee-sung didn’t believe him and looked up at Yoon Chi-young with suspicious eyes. Since the frequency of his naps had increased recently, it was natural for Hee-sung to be suspicious.

However, Yoon Chi-young was satisfied simply because Hee-sung’s bingeing tendency hadn’t appeared. He was sincere. Perhaps because Hee-sung had been eating three healthy meals a day recently, his skin glowed and his eyes became clear when he returned to his True Form.

Still, he couldn’t let go of his worry for his Companion.

“Whether it’s the morning sickness or the sleep, just do one of them right. You can’t be the only father when the baby comes out.”

“Why would you say that… I’m scared, honey, pet me.”

Acting the part, Yoon Chi-young pulled Hee-sung’s wrist. When he made him rub his hand against his heavy groin, Hee-sung’s puppy ears popped up and he stormed off in a fit of anger. Yoon Chi-young smiled at his fierce appearance. By joking around with Hee-sung as usual, his tension finally eased.

‘Maybe I’ll actually sleep today….’

Thinking this with a sigh, Yoon Chi-young tossed his shirt aside. Looking in the mirror, he saw eyes that were sharply sensitive and a body where muscles stood out due to weight loss. Still, he hadn’t lost this much weight when Hee-sung was bingeing….

He felt that if this continued, his lover wouldn’t find him attractive. Rubbing his skin, which was drier than usual, Yoon Chi-young decided.

He would stay up just until today.

He figured he should watch for at least a week for Hee-sung’s habit to be corrected. With that thought, Yoon Chi-young entered the shower booth. But in the process, he bumped his head on the showerhead. He was at his mental limit, to the point where he forgot to be careful of his height, something he always did.

Dawn arrived quickly.

Late in the evening, the two played billiards—a recent hobby—at home before lying in bed. Hee-sung was unexpectedly talented at billiards, so it was fun teaching him every day. Yoon Chi-young had the greedy thought that he was lucky to be the only one who saw the puppy look so sexy while playing billiards.

As they lay in bed, Hee-sung snuggled up beside him. Hee-sung naturally pulled Yoon Chi-young’s arm to use as a pillow and spoke fiercely while tucked into his embrace.

“Get some proper sleep, you idiot.”

“Yes, honey.”

Yoon Chi-young, speaking playfully as if he were modest, hugged Hee-sung and kissed his forehead. Hee-sung scolded him sternly again, saying it was no joke, but Yoon Chi-young was also completely serious.

Yoon Chi-young sincerely wanted to stop Hee-sung’s bingeing habit.

Not long after, he heard the sound of Hee-sung sleeping soundly. Since the pregnancy, Hee-sung had become sleepier, often falling fast asleep the moment he leaned his head on Yoon Chi-young. Finding that sight adorable, Yoon Chi-young brushed Hee-sung’s hair away from his forehead, strand by strand.

…But there were days when it was hard to overcome instinct.

‘I’m sleepy….’

Yoon Chi-young’s eyes kept fluttering shut as if he were losing consciousness. No matter how healthy he was by nature, his stamina had reached its limit after suffering from morning sickness and not sleeping for days. Just as he was about to fall asleep while holding Hee-sung, he snapped awake with a sudden dream.

He had dreamed of the puppy gagging and vomiting. Recalling the shock from that moment, he woke up completely.

“Ha….”

Sighing and touching his forehead as he sat up, Yoon Chi-young blinked his tired eyes. As expected, he should not fall asleep until today.

Then it would be better to endure by returning to his True Form.

He could save his stamina, and since his senses would be more heightened, there was a higher chance he wouldn’t fall asleep. For the first time in a while, Yoon Chi-young returned to his form as a giant wolf. After stretching his front paws to ease his stiff body, he stepped off the bed.

‘I should drink some water.’

The wolf, shaking his body lightly, walked toward the kitchen.

Thanks to the carpet, his footsteps were silent and his movements were stealthy. Then, perhaps his tail caught something, a picture frame on the side table fell.

Thump.

Fortunately, the sound wasn’t loud thanks to the carpet. The wolf roughly moved the frame aside with his mouth and headed for the kitchen. He planned to drink water and watch Hee-sung all night.

However, perhaps sensing a presence, a distant call was heard from afar.

“Yoon Chi-young…?”

It seemed Hee-sung had woken up. Yoon Chi-young, in his wolf form, immediately returned to the bedroom. In the dim house, the giant body of the wolf moved stealthily. Traces of white fur, brought on by stress, were visible here and there, but his posture remained elegant.

Hee-sung was already sitting up in the bedroom. Yoon Chi-young approached in his wolf form and wagged his tail slowly. Then, Hee-sung rubbed his eyes and vigorously stroked the giant wolf’s head.

“Were you in the kitchen?”

Grrr.

He rumbled in his throat to signify that he was. He intended to reassure his Companion and then go back to drink water. Yoon Chi-young deliberately tried to push Hee-sung back onto the bed with his head. Hee-sung said he understood and was pushed back, but instead, he followed Yoon Chi-young as he went out to drink water.

“Sigh… why again today?”

“……?”

“Go, hurry up and go.”

“…….”

Yoon Chi-young looked at Hee-sung with puzzled eyes. Hee-sung, seemingly unaware of the situation, simply urged him to go quickly; he probably couldn’t see his expression because it was dark and the wolf’s fur was black.

But

again

?

Though he found it strange, Yoon Chi-young assumed Hee-sung just didn’t want to be alone and headed toward the kitchen. Behind him, Hee-sung turned on the auxiliary lights, brightening the surroundings. Yoon Chi-young first headed toward the water purifier to get a drink.

Hee-sung, following close behind, abruptly opened the refrigerator for him.

“Here, take everything out.”

Grrr.

“You’re just going to bring it to me anyway. Just take it all out now.”

“…….”

Something was odd.

The wolf paused and looked up at Hee-sung. Even while rubbing his sleepy eyes, Hee-sung kept the refrigerator door held open. That attitude sparked a sudden thought.

‘…Have I done this before?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t recall. Yet, Hee-sung was holding the door and waiting as if it were a familiar routine.

Just in case, Yoon Chi-young tried picking something out of the fridge with his mouth. It was a salad, the closest item. When he looked up at Hee-sung with it in his mouth, Hee-sung nodded with a look of annoyance and took it from him.

“I have to eat this? Again?”

“…….”

Yoon Chi-young tried taking something else out. This time, it was sausages. Hee-sung accepted them happily and stuffed them into his pajama pockets. Next came jellies, then a sandwich. He even grabbed some bacon. As expected, Hee-sung accepted everything Yoon Chi-young brought, grumbling as he did.

“At least you aren’t making a mess today… you dummy.”

Grrr…

Yoon Chi-young let out a low rumble. In truth, he was laughing in disbelief. He had been unsure, but the situation was now becoming clear.

It was hard to believe, but it seemed that whenever he suffered from Pheromone Shock, he had been bringing food to Hee-sung. He knew he became incredibly sensitive in that state, but he hadn’t realized he went as far as doing this in his True Form.

The wolf found it absurd that he, while not in his right mind, had been fussing over his pregnant Companion by bringing him food; he simply followed along as Hee-sung moved.

Hee-sung now carried all the food Yoon Chi-young had retrieved into the living room. He spoke as if urging him not to bring any more, but Yoon Chi-young sat quietly by his side and watched.

Then, sitting on the sofa, Hee-sung laid out the food one by one and spoke clearly to the wolf.

“I’m going to eat this now, so don’t rush me.”

“…….”

Then, as if to show off, Hee-sung took out a sausage, tore open the wrapper, and took a bite. He started with the one he liked most, but his expression was full of reluctance.

“I’m not even hungry… damn. If I don’t eat it, you won’t share it with me either.”

Hee-sung grumbled and then held out a piece of sausage to the wolf. After gauging his reaction, Yoon Chi-young hesitantly took a bite. He had been worried that his morning sickness would trigger nausea, but instead, he had a surprising experience.

‘Uh….’

There was no morning sickness.

Because it was a sausage, there was some initial aversion, but the nauseating morning sickness he usually felt was gone. To think that the morning sickness subsided when he returned to his True Form. It was a symptom even he hadn’t known about.

Meanwhile, Hee-sung took a bite of the sandwich as if to prove a point. Then, he picked out only the bacon and fed it to the wolf. Yoon Chi-young, who accepted it without any aversion this time, found it amazing how easily the food went down. He used to hate bacon for being too salty, but perhaps because he had been starving, even the salt mixed with the juices tasted delicious.

Seeing the wolf eat well, Hee-sung took out a boiled egg and grumbled.

“Sigh. I feel like I have one animal and one lunatic for a husband….”

“…….”

Uncharacteristically, Yoon Chi-young had no words to respond. Judging by Hee-sung’s attitude, it seemed he really had been living a double life where day and night were completely different. Even he, the party involved, hadn’t known; how shocked must the puppy have been all this time?

However, the puppy reacted in a way that defied Yoon Chi-young’s expectations.

“But I like the animal side better. He’s quiet and listens well.”

“…….”

“He eats better than the daytime version, too. He’s cute.”

Hee-sung gave an uncharacteristic compliment and patted the wolf’s head. Yoon Chi-young looked at him with puzzled eyes.

‘…Could he have been hiding this for my sake?’

If he had known sooner, Hee-sung wouldn’t have had to force himself to eat every night. It was strange that Hee-sung had gone out of his way to hide this. But seeing Hee-sung smiling brightly now, he felt no desire to press for answers.

It felt as if he were on a midnight picnic with Hee-sung. Yet, it also felt strange, as if he were watching a lover have an affair.

“You’re eating even better today.”

Grrr.

“I’ll feed you some bulgogi. I want to eat that too.”

Hee-sung stood up and headed excitedly toward the kitchen. He was so thrilled that the white tail poking out from his pajama pants wagged wildly. The wolf, following that tail as if possessed, heard a worried monologue as Hee-sung took out the side dishes.

“It would be so great if you ate this well during the day, too….”

“…….”

“Should I just tell you about the Pheromone Shock?”

He was already telling him everything. Unaware of this, Hee-sung continued chatting softly to the wolf. He seemed quite practiced at talking to himself, as if this were a common occurrence.

“No, if I tell you, you’ll just start taking those strong meds again, saying it’s Pheromone Shock.”

“…….”

“Let’s just eat everything now. Wait here.”

The wolf sat elegantly and watched Hee-sung bring out the food. He needed time to organize the situation step by step.

So that was it.

Whenever he suffered from Pheromone Shock—which was similar to sleepwalking—he must have brought food to his pregnant Companion. Then, while sharing the food, Hee-sung must have realized that the morning sickness disappeared in the wolf form and intentionally looked after him.

Realizing the situation, Yoon Chi-young felt a surge of emotion rising in his chest. While he had been determined to correct his Companion’s bad habits, Hee-sung had been hiding a tiring and difficult task for his sake.

Yoon Chi-young slowly shifted back into his Human Form.

Ssh…

Rising slowly, Yoon Chi-young threw on a nightgown and stood behind Hee-sung, who was rummaging through the kitchen. Perhaps eager to feed the wolf quickly, Hee-sung didn’t even notice Yoon Chi-young approaching and was happily heating up the food.

Yoon Chi-young carefully hugged the back of that slightly smaller frame.

“Ack…!”

Startled, Hee-sung’s puppy ears popped up, but he calmed down upon seeing Yoon Chi-young burying his forehead in his shoulder.

“Ah… wh-what, were you conscious?”

“Honey….”

“Why are you calling me so affectionately again… I like my animal husband better. Go back.”

Embarrassed, Hee-sung acted even more blunt than usual. However, the tips of his ears were red, making his true feelings obvious. Yoon Chi-young smiled comfortably and rubbed his head against Hee-sung’s shoulder.

“Is that why you hid it all this time?”

“Whatever… go away.”

“You should have just told me I was having Pheromone Shock….”

“Why would I? I loved eating delicious things with my animal husband behind your back….”

Yoon Chi-young laughed like a sigh at the clumsy lie. It seemed Hee-sung had been happy that he, who was suffering from morning sickness, could at least eat something this way.

Even now, Hee-sung looked upset as he prepared to put the bulgogi back in the fridge. He muttered that he wanted to feed him somehow because he had lost weight recently, and for his sake, Yoon Chi-young returned to his wolf form. His body felt stiff from shifting forms twice in quick succession, but for Hee-sung, such pain was negligible.

Seeing him return to the wolf, Hee-sung’s eyes sparkled as he tentatively offered some bacon.

“Try some of this. …Still no morning sickness?”

Grrr.

Yoon Chi-young tried it cautiously as an experiment. As before, there was no morning sickness. Indeed, when eating in his True Form, the morning sickness was almost non-existent. However, while meat was fine, foods with strong scents were still hard to stomach.

“Geez, you eat so well. I should have just told you the truth and gone around in your True Form.”

Grrr.

“No, if I told you, you would have made a fuss about Pheromone Shock again. Right?”

“…….”

Since it was true, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t bring himself to argue.

If Hee-sung had told him he had Pheromone Shock at night, Yoon Chi-young would have ignored the events of the previous night and immediately taken stronger Pheromone Suppressants. He would have fretted that such symptoms were only a part of the problem and that it would be dangerous if he tried to have sex without knowing his Companion was pregnant.

But listening to Hee-sung, it seemed there were no such signs. As if he had finally found the right timing, Hee-sung happily fed him bulgogi one piece at a time and spoke.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young. Do you know something?”

Grrr.

He rumbled in his throat, signaling him to speak. The bulgogi was a bit too stimulating on its own, but for Hee-sung’s sake, Yoon Chi-young chewed and swallowed the meat as it was given.

Looking proud, Hee-sung gave a bright smile.

“I was going to tell you eventually… but I think you really don’t need to take Pheromone Suppressants anymore.”

‘That’s impossible.’

“What are you saying? Anyway… it’s really amazing when you turn into a wolf lately. You don’t pounce on me; you cherish and take care of me so much.”

‘…What?’

The wolf lifted his head with startled eyes. The Pheromone Shock he experienced was always feral, regardless of the direction.

He would attack someone, or if the Companion was the target, he would drive them into the bed until their body was a mess. He had heard that symptoms included patrolling the house like a sleepwalker, but even that felt like the behavior of a wild beast and was unpleasant to him.

How could he take care of his Companion while in a state no different from such a beast? Yoon Chi-young looked down at his grotesque black paws in bewilderment. Meanwhile, Hee-sung continued speaking calmly while feeding him bulgogi.

“At first, you’d just, like, bring food to the bed. It was just stuff from the fridge, but you looked so triumphant, as if you’d successfully hunted something.”

“…….”

“It was really funny. Then you’d rush me to eat. You’d give me all sorts of things and push them toward me with your paws. It was so endearing that I pretended to eat, and I gave some to you too. And you ate it so well without any morning sickness. I felt so proud seeing that….”

“…….”

The story was so unbelievable it sounded like Hee-sung was making it up. But considering his Companion’s inability to lie, it had to be true.

The black beast, whom he thought moved only by instinct, could distinguish his Companion and even knew that he was carrying their child.

“So I just… hid it a bit because it was unusual for you to eat so well without morning sickness.”

“…….”

“Don’t be mad. Now you know you don’t have morning sickness in your True Form.”

‘…How could I be mad at you.’

Yoon Chi-young tried to express himself by rumbling in his throat. Since he had rarely shifted into his True Form, Hee-sung barely seemed to understand, but that was enough for Yoon Chi-young. He had long passed the stage of needing words to express his heart.

The wolf leaped onto the sofa where Hee-sung was sitting and licked the nape of his neck wildly. Hee-sung laughed brightly, saying it tickled, and lay down, but the wolf wanted to show more affection, rubbing against Hee-sung’s neck and ears to leave his scent all over him. Hee-sung, saying he understood the expression of love, hugged the overwhelmingly large wolf and stroked him.

“Are you done eating? Are you going to sleep now?”

Grrr…

“I’m not going to digest it today. I’m really sleepy. I’m just going to sleep….”

As if his mission were complete, Hee-sung closed his eyes while hugging the wolf. Perhaps he had been enduring his sleepiness for a while, as he quickly fell asleep, his breathing becoming rhythmic. Yoon Chi-young, admiring the deepening sleep of Hee-sung, curled his body around him to keep him warm. With his tail, he gently patted the thighs of the world’s most affectionate yet fierce puppy who was whimpering in his embrace.

Beside him, the wolf could not fall asleep until late into the night.

‘My True Form….’

Yoon Chi-young examined his paws and black body again.

He had loathed his True Form his entire life. Even though a True Form is another aspect of a Beastman’s original self, Yoon Chi-young had been unable to accept that black beast, living a twisted life of hatred. He had always acted impulsively, harming himself or destroying things. While those habits had been corrected after meeting Hee-sung, the hatred toward his True Form remained.

However, the True Form he had newly discovered was not something loathsome.

His True Form was a wolf that was calmer than expected and cherished his Companion more than anyone. He simply had stronger instincts than most and had lived for too long without being understood, having never been accepted into a pack. Not even he had understood himself. Now, through a very simple series of events, Yoon Chi-young was able to wash away those long-held emotions. It was all thanks to his one and only Companion, who truly cared for him.

‘Puppy… I love you.’

“…….”

‘I love you.’

“…Stop nibbling!’

Saying

I love you

, Yoon Chi-young nibbled on Hee-sung’s hand. Hee-sung simply shook his tail in annoyance and pulled his hand away, but Yoon Chi-young felt that if he couldn’t express his heart, he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. His heart was simply overflowing.

That day, Yoon Chi-young poured out his affection until Hee-sung completely shifted back into a puppy and got angry. Only after following the puppy’s backside and receiving forgiveness was he finally able to fall asleep together.

The wolf rested his head on a fainting cushion as a pillow, and the puppy fell asleep buried deep in Yoon Chi-young’s mane. That day, for the first time in a long while, Yoon Chi-young was able to sleep deeply. The sweetest sleep in the world.

Side Story 2 Chapter 4

Six months had passed, and he had finally entered the stable period of his pregnancy.

Yoon Chi-young no longer suffered from morning sickness, and Hee-sung was no longer plagued by nausea. The hospital informed them that the babies were growing very healthily and that it was now safe to have sexual intercourse in safe positions.

However, despite hearing this, the two did not have sex.

It was because the fetal movements were starting to feel intense, and they were busy every day preparing to welcome the children.

Every night, Yoon Chi-young peeked around various spots in the house to find a place for the pups, and whenever he had a spare moment, he was busy digging through neatly organized piles of clothes. In contrast, Hee-sung became sleepier and his appetite increased, causing his cheeks to plump up. Rather than stopping Yoon Chi-young, the now-lazy Hee-sung followed him around, offering unsolicited advice on where to place the Wolf Den. Although they couldn’t communicate well since Chi-young was in his wolf state, making the advice largely useless, Hee-sung continued to interfere because he enjoyed communicating through vague gestures and falling asleep while cuddling atop the piles of clothes.

But just because it was the stable period didn’t mean everything was peaceful.

Strangely, as the days went by, Hee-sung felt an emptiness somewhere deep in his heart.

That emotion, which resembled anxiety, often manifested in directions Hee-sung hadn’t expected.

“…I’m sorry.”

Hee-sung, curled up on the sofa, spoke with a hesitant expression. Before him, Yoon Chi-young was picking up a ruined black shirt from the floor.

It had clearly been placed in the laundry basket, but in the short time it took for Yoon Chi-young to take a shower, the shirt had gone beyond being a mess—it was riddled with holes from tooth marks. It was all the work of the companion puppy.

Hee-sung couldn’t bring himself to look beside him, keeping his tail tucked between his legs as he gauged the other’s reaction. He felt even more guilty because the shirt happened to cost nearly a million won. While it was an amount Yoon Chi-young didn’t care about, Hee-sung felt a sense of remorse since he had caused quite a few accidents lately.

“Puppy.”

At that moment, Yoon Chi-young sat down beside Hee-sung. He rested his arm leisurely on the back of the sofa and gently stroked Hee-sung’s black hair; the culprit, instinctively intimidated, curled his body further away. Yoon Chi-young leaned in closer and asked lightly, as if nothing had happened.

“Did you not like me wearing that shirt?”

“No… I actually liked it.”

He was sincere. Hee-sung liked it most when Yoon Chi-young wore black shirts. When he did intense work—mostly the cruel tasks of a Watcher—he would roll the sleeves of the black shirt up to his forearms, and every time, Hee-sung would fall for him all over again, captivated by the firm outline of his body visible through the fabric.

Whether it was because of that attraction or not, regardless, Hee-sung had just performed a behavior akin to marking his territory on the black shirt.

‘Why on earth did I do that…?’

Hee-sung rubbed his reddened cheeks.

A short while ago, Yoon Chi-young had returned home from work, taken off his clothes, and put them in the laundry basket. Hee-sung, who had showered first and was wandering around the house, suddenly found his gaze drawn there.

The black shirt Yoon Chi-young had worn all day.

Drawn by the strong scent of his body, he had stealthily pulled the shirt out.

After that, he acted purely on instinct. He rubbed his cheek against the shirt and even rubbed his puppy ears on it, trying to leave his own scent. Later, when the companion’s scent on the shirt faded, he became angry and tore at it wildly with his canines. Even though he wasn’t in his True Form, he let out growling sounds while attacking the shirt… and unfortunately, Yoon Chi-young witnessed the scene right after stepping out of the shower.

Yoon Chi-young, who quickly took a photo first, made a “tss” sound—a warning noise used for young animals—and gently took the shirt away from Hee-sung.

That led to the present. Hee-sung sat on the sofa, unable to even lift his head properly out of embarrassment. He had clearly caused an accident, yet the affectionate gaze Yoon Chi-young cast upon him felt overwhelming. It felt that way even more because Chi-young kept acting in a way that wasn’t “normal.”

“If you want to bite the shirt, you should. Should I buy another one just like it?”

“…Can’t you just scold me?”

Because Yoon Chi-young was like this, Hee-sung would rather be scolded. In fact, the smile spreading across his face, as if he were dying of joy, was almost irritating.

“How could I scold my puppy?”

“Still… I’ve been acting too sensitive lately.”

Hee-sung irritably flicked the tail that had curled over his thighs.

He didn’t want to make his companion suffer, but recently, Hee-sung had been causing random accidents due to his sensitivity. The incidents varied.

The day before yesterday, he had taken all the food out of the full refrigerator and then whimpered and huffed, saying he wanted to eat something but there was nothing to eat. Yesterday, bothered by his own flickering tail, he had snapped at his own backside, telling it to stay still—which only made him angrier because Yoon Chi-young couldn’t stop laughing. He had been nipping at things in small bursts, so Yoon Chi-young’s pillowcase was already full of canine tooth marks, and this morning, he had laid out food and then felt sorrowful, saying he was full but still wanted to eat more.

Hee-sung couldn’t understand himself. He felt as if his daily life wasn’t functioning properly because of these fluctuating emotions. He heard that others enjoyed traveling and lived well once they entered the stable period of pregnancy, so he couldn’t understand why he was suffering from mood swings more and more as the days passed.

“…I think I’ve become too violent lately. Is it because of the pregnancy…?”

“Ah, um….”

Yoon Chi-young couldn’t bring himself to say that the puppy had always been like that, so he worked hard to humor him.

“They say you get sensitive because of hormones. It’s an instinctive thing.”

“I guess so….”

Hee-sung answered gloomily.

Actually, it wouldn’t have mattered if he were the only one struggling with his sensitivity, but he felt sorry for making his precious companion suffer. He even hated himself for behaving in ways he couldn’t understand.

However, Yoon Chi-young had never actually found it difficult because of Hee-sung. On the contrary, every time the puppy caused an accident he wouldn’t normally cause, he found it cute and lovely. But fearing that Hee-sung would get angry if he expressed those feelings, he diligently hid his inner thoughts and comforted him.

“It’s all normal. Why has my puppy become so gloomy?”

“…….”

There was no answer despite the comforting. For now, Yoon Chi-young hid the smile on his lips and hugged Hee-sung’s back, patting him. He wondered if he should keep the ruined shirt as a memento. He wanted to brag to the children in the future, saying, ‘This is what your Fighting Dog daddy did because he loved me too much.’ To Yoon Chi-young, it was a commemorative event he actually wanted Hee-sung to do more of.

But Hee-sung continued to keep his head down as if he were still sorry. It pained Yoon Chi-young’s heart to see Hee-sung constantly feeling guilty over these minor accidents.

Yoon Chi-young felt that Hee-sung needed a change of pace.

“Honey. Shall we just go on a trip right now?”

“A trip…?”

“Yeah, let’s go to Jeju Island. There’s that restaurant you liked. We can go for a drive along the coast like last time, and I’ll let you eat as many grilled clams as you want.”

“…….”

Hee-sung gave a slight nod. Perhaps having calmed down a bit, his puppy ears, which had been pinned back, relaxed.

Yoon Chi-young pulled Hee-sung onto his lap and stroked his slightly bulging belly. Since it was the time when fetal movements were starting to be felt, the sensation was surreal whenever the children kicked. Fortunately, today, Shrimp and Crayfish were quiet, as if they liked the idea of going on a trip. Yoon Chi-young spoke slowly in the voice Hee-sung loved most.

“We really haven’t traveled much lately. Let’s just take a long break this time without thinking about anything.”

“But you have work tomorrow.”

“It’s fine. Our mere existence is our work.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke as if it were obvious and kissed Hee-sung’s plump cheek.

Hee-sung smiled faintly at that purely affectionate attitude. His heart felt a bit lighter. It was because Yoon Chi-young’s innate composure had rubbed off on him.

Knowing him, this was exactly what Hee-sung, who often felt tense, needed most.

Hee-sung leaned his cheek against his chest and relaxed his body.

‘Right… I think I have been a bit sensitive. I’ll be fine if I get some deep rest on the trip.’

Hee-sung didn’t want to search for the reason why he was acting impulsively or why he felt a void in his heart even after eating. Right now, anyone could see he was sufficiently affluent and happy; he felt that if he tried to find a reason, he would only sink deeper into that anxiety. He tried to soothe himself, thinking that since he wasn’t alone in his body, it was naturally a turbulent time.

‘I should focus more on prenatal education during this trip.’

He decided he needed to pay more attention to prenatal care, lest his rough personality be passed on to the children. Hee-sung stroked his belly and resolved to keep his mind at peace.

Hee-sung slowly inhaled and exhaled, just as he had been forced to learn.

“Sip, hoo….”

He had learned that deep breathing helps calm the mind and maintain a relaxed state. After repeating the process of inhaling air to the depths of his lungs and exhaling several times, Hee-sung slowly opened his eyes. His black pupils were, if anything, more sharply alert.

‘…What exactly is supposed to be calmed down?’

As Hee-sung suspected, the deep breathing had no effect.

In dissatisfaction, Hee-sung flicked his white tail and stood up. By then, Yoon Chi-young was putting a coat on him, suggesting they leave for the trip immediately. Hee-sung was inwardly excited about the sudden departure.

Although the deep breathing was useless, he still intended to properly handle the prenatal education on this trip.

Hee-sung went on this trip with a focus on prenatal education as the theme.

Upon hearing this, Yoon Chi-young spontaneously set the trip duration to one week. He had originally suggested living there for a month, but Hee-sung had barely managed to talk him out of it on the plane.

Thus, on the first day in Jeju Island, the sightseeing course was decided based on whatever Hee-sung felt like doing on a whim.

For lunch, he heartily ate beef that cost tens of thousands of won per piece, and then polished off the high-end abalone that came with it. For the next course, they went for a drive along the coast in the early evening, and as they passed a beach, Hee-sung suddenly said he wanted cup noodles. Yoon Chi-young immediately took off his sunglasses, found a convenience store, and bought cup noodles. To Hee-sung, the noodles tasted better than the beef or abalone he had for lunch. He thought it was because Yoon Chi-young fed him by hand while they felt the sea breeze.

“Puppy, are the cup noodles tasty?”

“Yeah. Give me some broth too.”

“This is a problem. I was planning to nourish your body with duck meat for dinner….”

Regardless of whether he regretted not feeding him something better, Hee-sung sat firmly in his embrace and ate the noodles. With every bite, he received compliments on how pretty he was, which alone made Hee-sung feel triumphant and satisfied. Strangely, he used to hate noodles because he had eaten nothing but them in the past, but after eating only precious things for several years, he occasionally craved this.

After eating until he was full, Hee-sung felt bloated and walked along the beach with Yoon Chi-young. He was dressed in a denim jacket and comfortable cotton pants—he had stuck to comfortable clothing since his belly grew—and walking while holding the hand of the sophisticatedly dressed Yoon Chi-young made him feel refreshed for the first time in a while. Since being with his elegant and handsome companion, every day had been filled with things he had never experienced.

Yet, Hee-sung kept feeling a void in his chest.

‘Kids, what else do you want to eat…?’

He certainly wasn’t hungry, and in fact, he felt like he might get sick if he ate anything more. He couldn’t understand why he kept feeling like something was missing.

Hee-sung tried his own version of prenatal education while looking at the sea. He stroked his belly and greeted Shrimp and Crayfish, and after pondering what to say, he reassuringly told them that although the world is dirty and fierce, they shouldn’t worry because their daddies were there. Fortunately, the feeling of emptiness quickly vanished after talking to the children and receiving kisses from Yoon Chi-young.

When they returned to the room after sightseeing, a wonderful gift was waiting in the bedroom.

“What is this?”

“Check it out.”

Hee-sung unwrapped the gift on the bed and his eyes widened at the contents.

“A camera…? Isn’t this expensive?”

“I thought there would be many memories to leave behind from now on.”

“Memories….”

Hee-sung’s heart touched by the gift’s affectionate intention. Perhaps because he had been sensitive lately, Yoon Chi-young often gave him special gifts like this.

Moreover, this gift was for their future.

As he fiddled with the camera, Hee-sung felt excited, but at the same time, he felt sad. It was because he remembered his difficult past.

In the past, he had always cleaned the floors of filthy gambling dens, never dreaming of a future, believing this was his lot in life. Now, he was able to draw a picture of happiness by starting a family with a decent companion. The feeling was so new that his eyes grew red, unlike a typical Fighting Dog. Recently, he had been becoming sentimental like this often.

Barely managing to compose his emotions, Hee-sung took the heavy camera and pushed Yoon Chi-young onto the bed.

“…Lie down.”

“Why?”

“I want to take a picture of my favorite thing first.”

“Ah, is that me?”

A sly smile played on his face as he asked back, even though he already knew the answer. Out of embarrassment, Hee-sung pushed Yoon Chi-young’s body and climbed on top of his firm waist. Yoon Chi-young lay back and posed shamelessly, and even in that simple action, he showed a natural confidence like a model.

“Just stay still.”

As Hee-sung aimed the camera from above, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t hide his pleasure, even flicking his wolf tail. Feeling a bit mischievous, Hee-sung lifted Yoon Chi-young’s t-shirt and took a photo of his impressive abs. After a bit of scuffling, Hee-sung clearly captured Yoon Chi-young’s relaxed and gentle smile, and his sharp yet smiling grey eyes. His skill in focusing was still poor, but Hee-sung was greatly excited by the joy of having a new camera.

After taking a few photos of Yoon Chi-young’s handsome face, Hee-sung looked down. Before he knew it, an erotic silence had settled over the room, save for the sound of the shutter.

“…….”

Because they were locked in each other’s gaze, Hee-sung didn’t think to check the results. The model meeting his eyes had a very complacent expression, but Hee-sung felt something thick beneath his sitting buttocks. He didn’t know what exactly had caused this arousal, but considering they had abstained from sex for several months due to the pregnancy, it was a natural reaction.

Yoon Chi-young, enjoying Hee-sung’s thick gaze, asked shamelessly.

“Why? Am I pretty?”

“…How can you be so nonchalant?”

“About what?”

Yoon Chi-young smiled slowly while reaching down to fiddle with Hee-sung’s white tail. At the erotic gesture, Hee-sung’s tail remained caught, with only the tip twitching.

Hee-sung hesitated for a moment, but recalling the doctor’s advice that intercourse was permitted, he leaned his chest against the other’s body. At that small movement, his member rubbed against him, and Yoon Chi-young caught his roughened breath.

The smile had vanished from Yoon Chi-young’s face. Lust clouded his relaxed grey eyes, making them sharp. Since pheromones had accumulated quite a bit, he might have to brace himself today. Hee-sung’s tail shook rapidly at the erotic tension.

It was then, as silence flowed through the quiet room.

“…Huu.”

Suddenly, Yoon Chi-young let out a loud sigh as if composing himself, then lightly lifted Hee-sung as if he were still a puppy and set him down beside him on the bed.

“Shall we wash up? We walked around too much today, so you must be tired.”

“Uh… huh?”

“I’ll give you a massage. You should sleep early.”

Hee-sung hadn’t expected to hear such normal words from Yoon Chi-young.

While Hee-sung was left bewildered and dumbfounded, Yoon Chi-young got off the bed to fill the tub with warm water. Left alone on the vast bed, Hee-sung stared blankly at his back. His expression was as puzzled as a puppy who had suddenly woken up from a dream.

“……?”

Was this really the same Yoon Chi-young who used to suffer from Pheromone Shock?

Having lived and clashed with him for two years, Hee-sung found this situation completely foreign. It was only a few months ago that they had acted as if they would devour each other, with Yoon Chi-young trying to pounce on him the moment their eyes met, leading Hee-sung to run away only to be caught. Moreover, it was only at the beginning of this year that Hee-sung had seriously suggested they reduce their time in bed. Now, Yoon Chi-young had endured for several months and was encouraging him to take care of his health first.

Before long, Hee-sung found himself held in Yoon Chi-young’s arms, sitting in the warm bathtub. It was certainly a refreshing bath, but Hee-sung kept glancing at Yoon Chi-young with suspicion. It was true that he had expected something since they were on a trip, and now that it had just passed, he did feel a sense of emptiness.

Then, as drowsiness washed over him, Hee-sung relaxed his body.

‘…Well, we did go here and there too much today. Resting is the right thing to do.’

Hee-sung tried to convince himself, leaning into Yoon Chi-young’s embrace from exhaustion. Besides, he wasn’t alone in his body, so he had to be careful.

…That was truly the right way, but until he finished the bath and lay down in bed, Hee-sung couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

However, one thing was certain: Hee-sung was now accustomed to that emptiness.

On the second day of the trip, considering Hee-sung’s condition, they enjoyed sightseeing more leisurely than the day before.

Hee-sung rode in a carriage with Yoon Chi-young for the first time. As they took in the scenery of Jeju Island from the carriage, Yoon Chi-young told him he looked like a prince. Hearing those words from a man who looked like a crazed prince himself felt strange, but regardless, Hee-sung felt quite excited by the peaceful sightseeing. Since he was in a great mood today, he decided they should return to the hotel early and relax. This was because Yoon Chi-young kept nibbling on Hee-sung’s ears with a face full of thirst. Knowing the set course for such a special day, Hee-sung braced himself in his own way.

By the time they returned to the room, it was early evening. Having enjoyed both the sightseeing and the gourmet food, Hee-sung approached Yoon Chi-young, his face flushed with pleasure.

Whenever they enjoyed such a satisfying trip, the two would indulge in the final course back in their room.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young.”

Knowing this well, Hee-sung abruptly threw himself into the arms of Yoon Chi-young, who was in the middle of taking off his field jacket. As Hee-sung looked up at him with his cheek pressed against his chest, Yoon Chi-young gave a slow smile and covered his eyes with his hand, looking as if he were plagued by guilt. Perhaps his emotions had become too intense, as his wolf ears and tail quickly emerged. Hee-sung waited patiently, knowing that communication only became possible after this happened. As expected, Yoon Chi-young hugged Hee-sung, his eyes subtly flushed, and answered.

“What is it, puppy?”

“Let’s wash together. Suck my ears today.”

“Ears? Suck your ears?”

“No, not right now, not— Hey…!”

Yoon Chi-young gave a slow smile and nibbled on the puppy ears protruding from the top of Hee-sung’s head. He let out a playful, guttural growl, vibrating his throat as he bit; the low, animalistic sound sent shivers down Hee-sung’s spine, yet it also made him laugh. Giggling, Hee-sung lowered his head to hide his puppy ears and began to strip off Yoon Chi-young’s shirt. Once the sophisticated layer of clothing was peeled away, hot skin and a heavily trained body were revealed. Embracing him, Hee-sung rubbed his scent onto the man and wagged his tail wildly.

No matter where they traveled, the two always had sex. When they were in a rush, they would tangle their tongues the moment they entered the room, and on days when Yoon Chi-young was particularly aroused, Hee-sung would be shaken violently, clinging to his waist to the point where his feet couldn’t touch the ground. Today, it seemed he had no intention of going easy, as a thick outline was already visible beneath his trousers. Hee-sung continued to lock lips with Yoon Chi-young as the latter carried him lightly toward the bathroom. With every step, pieces of their clothing dropped one by one.

Entering the shower booth naked, Hee-sung turned on the warm water first and pulled Yoon Chi-young’s arm.

“Hurry.”

“Hurry? Why is puppy in such a rush?”

“We’re on a trip.”

Seeing the eyes full of anticipation, Yoon Chi-young stepped half a pace closer. The water from the showerhead fell over his tall frame. Hee-sung’s heart fluttered as Yoon Chi-young smiled, brushing his black hair back from his forehead. Streams of warm water flowed over his broad, square shoulders and down his heavy, muscular upper body. As Yoon Chi-young gripped his cock and masturbated while looking at him, Hee-sung’s body heated up in tandem. Since it had been a few months since they last had sex, his body was reacting instinctively.

The leisure vanished from Yoon Chi-young’s face, and his characteristic smile disappeared. Brushing his wet black hair back from his forehead, he spoke.

“Honey, turn around.”

“Around? That position is…”

Hee-sung wondered if that wasn’t a position where it would go in too deep, but before he could finish his thought, Yoon Chi-young lightly turned Hee-sung’s waist and made him stand with his chest pressed against the wall. Hee-sung was greatly flustered by the posture, with only his buttocks pushed back. A low laugh was heard from behind, and Yoon Chi-young bent his knees, gripping and spreading the small, white buttocks with his hands.

“Didn’t you say to do it quickly?”

“Wait, you— ngh…!”

Sensing something, Hee-sung tried to pull his waist away hurriedly, but a smooth tongue penetrated first.

“Ah, hng… don’t… don’t put your tongue in…”

“Mmm…”

Yoon Chi-young closed his eyes and intentionally made a sound, sharpening the tip of his tongue. He explicitly licked the sensitively aroused spot, and the pleasure was so intense that it tingled all the way to Hee-sung’s fingertips, making his waist shudder.

“Hah, there, that feels good…”

As he always felt, Yoon Chi-young was incredibly skilled with his tongue. Whenever he teased the hole with his uniquely flexible tongue, Hee-sung would always become aroused, his genitals twitching. The thick pleasure made his eyes flush red, and panting moans escaped him naturally.

Pulling his tongue away, Yoon Chi-young gripped Hee-sung’s buttocks in both hands and kneaded them to his heart’s content. Because he had put on some plump weight recently, Yoon Chi-young had to use his thumbs to spread the gap to fully expose the hole. He intentionally exposed the small hole and observed it explicitly.

“I like this part the most… when honey’s hole is flushed pink.”

“Don’t… don’t look…!”

“It looks like it’s begging for my cock.”

As he spoke with a teasing laugh, Hee-sung’s toes curled in shame. He tried to cover the area with his tail, but Hee-sung’s tail was always on the side of instinct. Just as he seemed to be covering the hole in embarrassment, Yoon Chi-young playfully nibbled the inside of his thigh, and the tail slowly moved aside, revealing the twitching hole. Yoon Chi-young let out a lingering laugh, as if the tail were speaking for what Hee-sung truly wanted.

Out of embarrassment, Hee-sung tried to pull his waist away, but Yoon Chi-young pulled him back and roughly pleasured the hole. At the front, he wrapped his hand around Hee-sung’s genitals and moved slowly.

“Ah, hng, ngh. There, it’s sensitive…”

Hee-sung grabbed Yoon Chi-young’s wrist as if to push it away. With his genitals being gently stroked by a hand in front and the hole being stimulated by a tongue in the back, the tingling pleasure was so intense that it felt like his body was melting, making it hard to stand on two legs. Gradually, the sound of the shower water was replaced by the wet, squelching sounds that filled the bathroom every time his genitals were shaken.

“More, ng, hng, there…”

Hee-sung’s eyes grew hazy as he panted. The pleasure surged into his mind, making his vision blur into white.

Hee-sung whispered “a little more” and reached one hand back to spread one side of his buttocks. As expected, Yoon Chi-young buried his tongue deep and shook Hee-sung’s genitals rapidly with his hand. Just as the heat gathered in his genitals and the tip began to feel stinging, a violent ejaculation erupted with an impatient moan.

“Hng, aaht, ah…!”

White fluid spurted from Hee-sung’s genitals several times. However, Yoon Chi-young did not stop his tongue, continuing to ravage the sensitive spot while buried in the hole. The hand gripping the genitals moved as if to extract every last drop of fluid, leading to an ejaculation so intense that all the strength left Hee-sung’s body.

“Haa, ha, hng…”

Eventually, Hee-sung collapsed onto the floor of the shower booth on his knees, panting with wet breaths. Yoon Chi-young gently hugged him and helped him stand up. Despite only performing foreplay, he looked quite satisfied. However, his eyes were still fiercely flushed.

Feeling that thick gaze, just as Hee-sung leaned into his embrace and tried to grip the thick cock on his own, Yoon Chi-young poured warm water over him and made him turn around.

“Now.”

Yoon Chi-young spoke suddenly in a clear, distinct voice.

“Your body temperature shouldn’t drop, so honey, go to the bed first.”

“Haa… what?”

“I’ll wash up and be out soon.”

“……?”

Confused by the situation, Hee-sung let his emotions show plainly on his face. He tilted his head and looked up at him with wide eyes. Finding that look cute, Yoon Chi-young chuckled, gave Hee-sung a quick rinse, wrapped him tightly in a bath towel, and sent him out of the bathroom. Even then, Hee-sung looked as bewildered as a puppy kicked out of its own territory.

‘What’s going on…?’

Wrapped in the towel, Hee-sung looked back at the shower room where the sound of water could be heard, his face full of confusion.

It felt strange that a natural step of the process had been skipped. Yet, because he was used to such things, his feelings were subtle. Regardless, he acted according to the “answer key” since his health could be affected, but this wasn’t the “correct answer” he had actually wanted.

Though confused, Hee-sung slowly rubbed his wet ears with the towel and headed toward the bed.

‘Is he planning to do it on the bed…?’

Hee-sung figured that must be it and lay down. Come to think of it, the overprotective Yoon Chi-young wouldn’t have sex in a hard bathroom.

Lying on the bed, Hee-sung stared intently in the direction Yoon Chi-young would emerge. As expected, Yoon Chi-young finished washing and came out quickly. With a wonderful body like a model, he was dressed neatly in a shower gown and was shaking out his wet hair. Hee-sung lay there without any clothes, loosely covered by the duvet. Today, Yoon Chi-young looked especially handsome with his black hair falling below his forehead. He looked so good that Hee-sung wanted to nibble even on the black wolf ears standing upright on his head.

Approaching the bed, Yoon Chi-young tucked the duvet around Hee-sung’s body and asked affectionately.

“Honey, what do you want for dinner?”

“…Huh?”

His attitude was so tender that it was almost embarrassing given what Hee-sung had been expecting. His face was so plain that it was impossible to believe this was the same face that had been sucking his hole like a dog just moments ago. Blinking in confusion, Hee-sung answered blankly.

“I, I… anything…”

“Hmm, then something a puppy would like…”

With that, Yoon Chi-young began searching for food on his phone. In the bathroom, he had acted so roughly that it seemed a pheromone shock might erupt at any moment, but now he had the freshest face in the world as he tried to take care of the meal.

Scratching his head, Hee-sung sat up and stole glances at the composed Yoon Chi-young.

Because the situation was so plain, it felt awkward to bring up what he had been waiting for. Even if they were Companions, it felt a bit off to suddenly ask, “But aren’t you going to come?” while deciding on the dinner menu.

Then, Yoon Chi-young spoke with a disappointed look.

“There aren’t any good places nearby… shall we just have the hotel buffet for dinner?”

“……”

As expected, he was just going to let it pass. Hee-sung felt a sense of emptiness, as if he had missed a train, but he nodded obediently for now. He was hungry anyway, and his sexual desire wasn’t strong enough to make him grab Yoon Chi-young for sex, so he followed along quietly.

Hee-sung hurriedly got dressed and went to the hotel buffet. It was close and convenient, as they only had to take the elevator down to the first floor.

However, even while sitting at the fancy dinner table, Hee-sung couldn’t shake his dazed and bewildered expression.

‘…Something feels strange.’

Actually, nothing was wrong. But Hee-sung felt uncomfortable, as if something had been left out. Even though Yoon Chi-young was taking care of him perfectly and he was happy, Hee-sung kept feeling anxious and flicked his tail.

“Shall we go get some food? I heard the seafood here is great.”

“Yeah.”

Hee-sung stood up to get some buffet food. He could feel people around them glancing at Yoon Chi-young, who had his arm draped over Hee-sung’s shoulder. With his soft smile and handsome face, he was naturally someone who drew a lot of attention. In reality, the inside of that man was someone crazy for a puppy.

Hee-sung looked at Yoon Chi-young anew, then scanned the buffet of delicacies and thought of something else.

‘Something is not right.’

Hee-sung found it hard to pinpoint the emptiness remaining in his heart.

It was a feeling he had experienced often, but he realized that today, the reason was not sexual desire.

In fact, his sexual desire had decreased since becoming pregnant, and Hee-sung had found sex to be a chore. Moreover, Yoon Chi-young had just relieved his sexual tension a short while ago. Yet, he still felt this emptiness. Hee-sung scratched his puppy ears and thought.

‘Is this what happens when you’re pregnant…?’

Hee-sung tried to think nothing of it and picked up a plate. Since the plates were at the bottom, Hee-sung had to crouch down. Then, Yoon Chi-young, who had followed him, affectionately hugged him and pulled him up.

“Puppy, don’t crouch. You can’t.”

“It’s not a big deal…”

There were so many things to be careful about during pregnancy. After being told that crouching was bad, Yoon Chi-young took the plate from his hand, saying it was too heavy, and stayed by his side.

Hee-sung stared poutily at his plate, which had been taken away so abruptly. Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young’s affectionate voice continued steadily.

“It’s better not to eat raw fish… don’t you want any meat?”

“You’re just going to stop me from eating it anyway…”

“There’s dried yellow croaker; how about some grilled croaker?”

“……”

Why was it? Even while receiving such extreme worry and care, Hee-sung became increasingly edgy.

“Honey, you’ll be cold, so wear my coat.”

Yoon Chi-young took care of him with consistent tenderness, but it made Hee-sung feel as if he had become a precious doll. Hee-sung couldn’t tell him what he actually wanted. Because he cherished him too much. Moreover, he wasn’t just by himself. In this strange situation, Hee-sung remained dazed throughout the meal, as if he were in another world.

After the meal, the usual procedure followed.

As Yoon Chi-young tried to head outside, Hee-sung led him toward the elevator.

“Is it okay not to go for a walk? You should digest your food.”

“…No, I don’t want to go.”

When Hee-sung said he didn’t want to, Yoon Chi-young willingly complied.

After that, even when Yoon Chi-young secretly kissed him in the elevator, the thought that this wasn’t right persisted.

What was clear was that Hee-sung was not happy with this overprotection.

It was when they walked down the quiet hallway and returned to the room.

“Then let’s just rest today. Come here.”

“…But, Yoon Chi-young.”

“Yeah.”

Hee-sung called him and remained quiet until the door closed. Only after they were alone in the room did he clumsily try to reveal his inner thoughts to Yoon Chi-young.

“You don’t have to overprotect me this much.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just… you can cherish me moderately.”

“What are you talking about, honey?”

Yoon Chi-young laughed as if he had heard a joke.

“How could I not cherish you, when you’re not just by yourself?”

“Still, this is…”

Hee-sung dropped his head sorrowfully.

His stomach, which had become plump, was now visible. All this time, Yoon Chi-young had cherished him and the shrimp and crawfish inside. Yet, Hee-sung felt a void in his heart. It was a feeling he couldn’t even understand himself, which made him sad and confused.

“This… isn’t cherishing me.”

“…Honey?”

“I hate being overprotected.”

Sensing something was off, Yoon Chi-young approached Hee-sung with a suddenly serious face. He knew Hee-sung had been sensitive lately, but this felt different from usual.

“You hate being overprotected?”

“……”

“What did you dislike so much, puppy?”

As Yoon Chi-young spoke, he tried to wrap his arm around Hee-sung’s shoulder. Today, that familiar title was so unbearable that Hee-sung hated it.

“Stop it, I’m not a puppy!”

“……”

“I’m your Companion, so why do you keep…!”

As he snapped in anger and looked up, he saw Yoon Chi-young’s calm face. Even though Hee-sung suddenly exploded, he didn’t waver. Instead, he looked down at Hee-sung quietly, as if waiting for something.

In front of him, Hee-sung flinched and flattened his puppy ears back. Guilt was clearly visible in his softened eyes. From beneath his lowered head, words of depression, unlike the usual Hee-sung, flowed out.

“I didn’t mean to get angry…”

“I know.”

“……”

“You’ve been a bit sensitive lately.”

Yoon Chi-young, who usually acted so emotionally intense, was calm at times like this. His touch as he stroked Hee-sung’s plump cheek was tender.

“They say a Fighting Dog is the only one who can’t get angry at their Companion; I guess it’s true.”

“…Why do you remember things like that…”

Yoon Chi-young hugged the intimidated Hee-sung. Because he understood and tried to embrace even this side of him, Hee-sung found it even harder to lift his head. His heart was heavy with guilt.

“…I’m sorry, but you go to sleep first today. I want to be alone for a bit…”

“Honey.”

“You use the bedroom. I’ll stay in the living room and go in later…”

The hotel they were staying in had a separate living room and bedroom. Yoon Chi-young tried to persuade him that he would sleep in the living room, but Hee-sung shook his head and refused. He knew he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep all night anyway.

Eventually, Yoon Chi-young kissed Hee-sung’s hair and went into the bedroom. He told him it was okay, but Hee-sung remained standing in place until he closed the door and disappeared.

On days when he got angry at his pack, Hee-sung felt particularly regretful.

It felt as if a huge amount of non-existent points had been deducted, and though it was absurd, he even felt a fear of being abandoned again. Thinking that he had to somehow manage his emotions alone, Hee-sung curled up powerlessly on the sofa. Today, he especially wanted to return to his True Form and hide somewhere.

‘Why did I do that…?’

No matter how much he thought about it, Hee-sung couldn’t understand why he had gotten angry.

First of all, he knew that he originally had a foul temper. He had naturally realized as he grew up that he was just born that way. When he lived being beaten by his alcoholic father, he always stood up to him with his small body to protect his younger sibling, and when he worked at the gambling den, he unconditionally cursed and hit customers who molested him. It was because of his complex about being a small breed and the obsession that he shouldn’t look weak.

But even if he was born with a temper, he didn’t want to get angry at Yoon Chi-young.

His Companion was the only person who understood and cherished everything about him. He loved him even when he suddenly bit his lower lip during a kiss, and he even loved his well-washed socks.

Even when he stole something and left a hole in it, Yoon Chi-young treated it like a work of art. Moreover, if Hee-sung beat up someone who teased him, Chi-young would even praise him for doing a good job.

Having taken such a man as his Companion, Hee-sung believed he was the happiest Dog-kin in the world. Because of that, Hee-sung didn’t want to be angry or capricious with Yoon Chi-young.

‘Maybe I should go see a counselor…’

Letting out a deep sigh, Hee-sung didn’t know what to do, so he turned on the TV just to divert his gaze.

Even as he flipped through the channels with the remote, Hee-sung felt drained. He had already become sensitive after becoming pregnant, and he felt that acting this way toward his Companion meant he wasn’t ready to be a good head of the household. Having been raised as a Fighting Dog, Hee-sung had learned that he must treat his Companion and their rabbit-like children as the most precious things in the world. Yet, here he was, letting his moods sway him into anger. He felt inadequate.

‘I’ll apologize after I wake up…’

Regret couldn’t undo the fact that he had already snapped. Eventually, Hee-sung decided to just watch TV until it was time for bed and tuned into his favorite movie channel. He couldn’t sleep well due to his agitation, but he thought watching even a boring movie might help him drift off.

Unfortunately, it happened to be late at night. As soon as Hee-sung changed the channel, a screen filled with flesh tones filled his vision.

[Ah, ahh… more, more!]

“…!”

Startled by the passionate sounds, Hee-sung hurriedly lowered the TV volume. Fortunately, it wasn’t that loud. The bedroom door was tightly closed, and there was no sign of movement inside. He was relieved that Yoon Chi-young seemed to be asleep.

‘S-scared me.’

Hee-sung stared blankly at the door with wide eyes, then unconsciously turned his gaze back to the TV. He saw a pair of Beastman man and woman clashing their bodies violently on a bed. Captivated by the erotic scene, Hee-sung couldn’t tear his eyes away, like a boy seeing something explicit for the first time.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t had a proper relationship with Yoon Chi-young lately; while he usually brushed such things off, seeing something erotic suddenly caused heat to gather instinctively below. Hee-sung thought as he watched the suggestive scene as if possessed.

‘I think Yoon Chi-young’s body is better…’

Perhaps because the male actor was also a Dog-kin, he kept thinking of Yoon Chi-young. The way the lower abdominals rippled with every thrust, the broad, square shoulders, and the beautiful collarbones were just like Yoon Chi-young’s.

However, Yoon Chi-young’s muscles were thicker, and his balance was far superior. Moreover, his body temperature was higher than Hee-sung’s, making it a body he always wanted to press against. He was also skilled with his hands, and Hee-sung loved it when he stroked various parts of his body…

Continuing his train of thought, Hee-sung suddenly snapped back to his senses. He had told his lover he wanted to be alone after getting angry, and here he was, watching something erotic. Feeling pathetic for a moment, he hastily changed the channel.

“…Damn it.”

But there was no helping the heat that had already gathered. Wrapping his groin with his robe, Hee-sung panted in embarrassment. He wasn’t even a teenager anymore, yet here he was getting hard while thinking of his lover after watching something erotic. However, his body was already so heated that the concentrated warmth in his lower abdomen made his senses painfully sensitive.

‘My senses are sensitive again…’

Restless, Hee-sung’s eyes grew pitiful. He wanted to calm the sensitivity, but the heat kept circulating through his body, leaving him distressed.

Naturally, Hee-sung began to seek out Yoon Chi-young’s scent. It was an instinct to find stability and lean on his Companion’s pheromones.

With his tail standing up, Hee-sung buried his nose into various parts of the sofa. He happened to find the cushion Yoon Chi-young had been holding earlier. He sniffed intently, hoping his scent would still be there. But since Yoon Chi-young had only held it for a short while, it only smelled clean. Disappointed, Hee-sung glared at the cushion, thumping his tail rapidly.

‘Yoon Chi-young’s scent, scent…’

Once again, as if possessed, Hee-sung slipped off the sofa in search of the scent. The closed bedroom was so silent that he walked on his tiptoes. Fortunately, the room was covered in a soft carpet, so his footsteps weren’t heard.

Instinctively, Hee-sung checked the place where what he wanted would be. Carefully opening the bedroom door, Hee-sung looked at Yoon Chi-young lying on the bed. Yoon Chi-young appeared to be fast asleep, perhaps having taken a Pheromone Suppressant.

‘…He’s sleeping soundly.’

Leaning slightly against the door, Hee-sung gazed at him longingly with a whining expression. His gaze was fixed on Yoon Chi-young’s heavily trained body. He was asleep without a blanket, wearing only a pair of training pants.

Naturally, Hee-sung’s gaze drifted to his nape and thick chest. He wanted to bury his nose there right now and feel his scent. Hee-sung’s eyes grew wider, and heat pooled in his lower abdomen. He unconsciously tried to slide closer, but hating himself for it, he carefully closed the bedroom door.

No matter how desperate he was, he couldn’t suddenly pounce on his sleeping lover, especially after having snapped at him. That wasn’t something a reliable Companion would do.

“What do I do…”

Feeling a sense of emptiness and an inexplicable hunger, Hee-sung rubbed his puppy ears against the wall. Just as he thought he should just handle it himself rather than pine away like this…

The study happened to catch Hee-sung’s eye.

It was a space separated by a partition next to the living room, containing a desk and a chair.

Regardless, that wasn’t what was important right now. He saw Yoon Chi-young’s long coat hanging neatly on the back of the chair.

As if possessed, Hee-sung headed toward the study. Perhaps because Yoon Chi-young had done some work there today, his scent lingered everywhere. Since it was the scent that stabilized him most right now, Hee-sung prowled around the area like he did when he was a puppy.

Then, stopping in one spot, Hee-sung stared at Yoon Chi-young’s coat.

The coat that Yoon Chi-young wore consistently was heavily imbued with his scent. As he stepped closer and lifted it with his hand, the scent felt as close as if he were being embraced. It happened to be the coat Hee-sung loved to hide in most when he was a puppy because the lining was soft and warm.

Looking at the jet-black long coat, Hee-sung’s black eyes widened. Before he knew it, his white tail began to wag gently behind him.

‘Yoon Chi-young’s scent…’

Hee-sung spread the long coat roughly over a single-person sofa nearby.

The expensive long coat, tailored to his height, draped over the sofa, almost touching the floor. Unconcerned, Hee-sung knelt and pressed his nose against the soft lining. As he focused his sense of smell, he caught the woody scent of the perfume Yoon Chi-young used, the scent of soap, and his own warm skin scent.

Furthermore, the raw male scent characteristic of wolves, unique to Yoon Chi-young, was subtly present.

Since becoming pregnant, Hee-sung’s sense of smell had become even more acute, leading him to chase scents that felt familiar and stabilizing. Among them, Yoon Chi-young’s body scent was the most stabilizing, and perhaps because he could finally smell it to his heart’s content, his white tail began to swish.

Wanting to smell it more deeply, Hee-sung pressed his forehead against it and whimpered. Consequently, heat pooled in his lower abdomen, and his body grew hot.

“Damn it…”

Wiggling his toes, Hee-sung looked down at his groin with aggrieved eyes. Through the nightgown, his plumply erect member was visible. Between seeing the erotic video and his recent emotional volatility, it was even harder to endure. Pouting with flushed cheeks, Hee-sung carefully untied the waist string of his nightgown.

He really couldn’t take it. He had to do it himself, just once.

Before that, checking the surroundings was essential.

“Hey… Yoon Chi-young?”

Hee-sung glanced around the silent surroundings cautiously.

He pricked up his folded white ears to focus on the sounds. Heightening his sensitive Beastman senses, he could hear the water flowing through the pipes behind the wall and the occasional sound of cars passing far outside the window.

“…”

Fortunately, aside from the noise, the house was quiet. Relieved, Hee-sung swallowed hard, gripped his smooth member, and buried his face deep into the coat again.

‘The scent is so good…’

In the dim study, Hee-sung knelt and rubbed his cheeks frantically against the coat draped over the chair. It was a blind action, so much so that anyone watching would have mistaken it for the coat being laced with drugs.

Once he felt safe and acted on instinct, Hee-sung’s behavior became more aggressive.

As if searching for something precious hidden inside the coat, he clawed at it with his nails and rubbed everything from his cheeks to the puppy ears on his head frantically. It was an instinctive behavior to cover his entire body in his Companion’s scent, or conversely, to leave plenty of his own scent on it. Panting as he leaned against the coat, Hee-sung nibbled the soft lining with his lips. His eyes were blurred and moist with excitement. Leaning his cheek against the coat and carefully holding his member, he buried his nose there as if he were being sucked in.

“Ngh, hng…”

Whispering as if in pain, Hee-sung stroked his member with one hand.

His body, already hot, grew even more feverish. Immersed in the scent, Hee-sung acted more proactively than when he had sex with Yoon Chi-young.

Wagging his plump buttocks, he rubbed the glans against the lining of the coat. The soft stimulation was so good that his eyelashes trembled. In his excitement, a burst of clear fluid leaked out, wetting the tip of his member.

“Haat, more, more…”

The long coat was now crumpled and hugged tightly in Hee-sung’s arms. He felt like he would ejaculate if he could just smell Yoon Chi-young’s scent a little more. Yet, he kept narrowly missing the sensation he craved.

“Ngh, haak, ha…”

In his desperation, Hee-sung hugged the coat tightly. As the coat slid further toward the floor, Hee-sung’s kneeling posture lowered. He pushed his round buttocks high, and his white tail stood stiffly, moved aside to fully expose his hole. Only then did Hee-sung, putting strength into his tail, think of what he truly wanted.

‘I wish Yoon Chi-young would put it in…’

Sorrow clouded his face as he panted with his cheek against the coat. It was shocking that he could no longer be satisfied by just masturbating the front, yet the desire to have the sleeping Yoon Chi-young’s member inside him surged violently.

Driven by instinct, Hee-sung unconsciously acted like a small animal. In his frustration, he stopped masturbating and scratched the fallen coat on the floor with his nails as if digging for something. A growling sound naturally echoed in his throat, and he lowered his upper body before suddenly pouncing on the coat like he was hunting, biting the lining and rubbing his body and back against it. It was the behavior a Beastman exhibited when they didn’t know what to do with a body burning with sexual desire.

“Hng…”

He really couldn’t stand it. Eventually, Hee-sung roughly shed his gown and lay prone, leaning his chest against the sofa. He wanted to ejaculate even if he had to touch his own hole. In his haste, he roughly coated his finger in saliva and reached back. It was his first time masturbating his hole alone, which was embarrassing, but he intended to just ejaculate quickly and be done with it.

“Ngh, haak, haaa…”

It was just as a single finger entered his twitching, heated hole. Though it felt insufficient, the sense of foreignness brought satisfaction, making his white thighs tremble. As he wiggled his buttocks, nearly reaching the peak with every movement of his finger…

A low voice laced with excitement sounded from the silent space behind him.

“I like that position… sweetheart.”

“…”

“Spread them wider.”

Goosebumps instantly broke out all over Hee-sung’s body.

Startled by the gentle voice for the first time, he couldn’t react and froze with his round buttocks still pushed high. Worst of all, since one hand was holding his buttocks open, his pink, heated hole would be completely visible from behind.

As the situation changed, his tail reacted first. The white tail, which had been pushed far to the side, curled back into his groin, clumsily covering the spot.

“…”

Hee-sung remained prone and only turned his head back. He locked eyes with the grey pupils he most wanted to avoid.

Yoon Chi-young, leaning against the partition, was slowly brushing back his messy hair, his breathing deep. One hand was inside his loose training pants, moving slowly. Through the fabric, Hee-sung could see the outline of him stroking his own member long and slow, as if masturbating. Even those grey eyes were boiling with excitement, giving Hee-sung hot chills.

“Y-Yoon Chi-young, I, that is…”

His ears turned red instantly from embarrassment. Hee-sung shifted from his prone position to sit on his knees. In doing so, he grabbed Yoon Chi-young’s coat, which he had been rubbing his body against. Hugging the coat, Hee-sung looked up at Yoon Chi-young with restless eyes. His white puppy ears pressed flat against his head, as if he had been caught committing a crime.

To be caught masturbating, and specifically, masturbating against his Companion’s clothes.

“I mean, your scent was here, so…”

“Yes, and?”

“And I happened to see something erotic, so without realizing it…”

His voice trembled with the shame that rose to his throat. The more Hee-sung rambled, the deeper the smile on Yoon Chi-young’s face became. As Hee-sung looked at the veins visible on the man’s instep, his mind went blank with tension.

“Sweetheart.”

At Yoon Chi-young’s call, Hee-sung finally flinched and looked up. The eyes looking down at his puppy ears and wide eyes were blind with desire. Tense, Hee-sung looked up at him with his puppy ears pinned back.

“Yoon Chi-young…?”

But something was strange. There was no focus in Yoon Chi-young’s eyes. The smile that had vanished, replaced by heat, was ominous.

Hee-sung, sitting with his tail curled, hugged the coat awkwardly and backed away. But even that pitiful sight seemed to stimulate Yoon Chi-young.

“I can’t endure it this time.”

“Huh…? What do you mean by…”

Before Hee-sung could finish his sentence, Yoon Chi-young strode forward. With every step he took, the heavy outline beneath his training pants shimmered.

A terrified Hee-sung tried to say more, but Yoon Chi-young grabbed his ankle and pulled him down, making him lie on his back on the carpet. He snatched away the coat Hee-sung had been cherishing in his arms. In an instant, Hee-sung’s pale naked body was exposed. As Yoon Chi-young roughly pried his thighs apart, a startled Hee-sung tried to cover his hole with his tail.

“W-wait, don’t lick it. Ngh…!”

“Haa…”

A tongue suddenly touched the twitching hole. It was useless even if Hee-sung pushed his head away or tried to cover the hole with his tail. Yoon Chi-young licked right through that and stimulated the hole languidly with his tongue. Flustered and unsure of what to do, Hee-sung reflexively tightened his thighs, but as the tongue dove deep, his strength gradually faded.

“Ah, ahh…”

Yoon Chi-young pointed his tongue to stimulate the inside. As the expected stimulation was applied, Hee-sung’s tail instinctively moved aside. The hand that had been pushing Yoon Chi-young’s head was now gripping the black hair as if stroking it. Hee-sung’s eyes grew red every time he felt a tingling resonance in his lower abdomen. Every time Yoon Chi-young lost control and sucked the hole sweetly, an erotic sound escaped. Making a sound close to that of a fragile animal, Hee-sung tried to wrap his thighs around the man’s head.

At that sensation, Yoon Chi-young lifted his head. Looking down at Hee-sung, who had spread his legs himself, he slowly inserted a long-jointed finger into the hole. As he gently stimulated the inside, the languidly loosened hole tightened around the finger with elasticity. Watching Hee-sung whimper and grab his hand, Yoon Chi-young spoke with a face devoid of composure.

“What should I do, sweetheart.”

“Hng, hng… more…”

“I really tried to endure it…”

Yoon Chi-young pulled down his pants with one hand, revealing his erect member. While masturbating the stiff object, he continued to stimulate Hee-sung’s hole with his finger. Clearly, his face showed he had no composure left, yet he kept letting out a lingering smile.

“Since you’re cheating on me, I have no choice.”

“When did I ever cheat, hng, haak…!”

The finger digging into the hole accurately stimulated Hee-sung’s spot. Even though only one finger had entered, Hee-sung’s belly was already drenched with pre-cum leaking from his member. Yoon Chi-young suddenly leaned down to lick Hee-sung’s member like a dog, then lifted his head, gripped his member, and aligned the glans with the hole.

“Tell me if it hurts.”

“Hng, haak, ha…”

“I’ll only put in a little.”

He seemed considerate, but the glans was already being rubbed frantically around the hole.

At that heavy sensation, Hee-sung reached down with blurred eyes. Then, wrapping his hand around his member, he began to stimulate it clumsily. His words, spoken with a face desperate from the torment of pleasure, were blind.

“More, give me more…”

At that request, the reason Yoon Chi-young had maintained for months snapped. While supporting Hee-sung’s back with one hand and hugging him preciously, he gradually applied heavy pressure to his waist. The glans began to penetrate the wet hole that had been languidly loosened.

Yoon Chi-young let out a deep sigh and frowned at the resonance, and Hee-sung was no longer in his right mind. He twisted his head, nibbling on Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder.

“Ngh, haaa… haak! It feels, good…”

Panting, Hee-sung welcomed the member that had only partially penetrated him. Looking down at that sight, Yoon Chi-young felt as if his mind were spinning. His member was halfway inside Hee-sung’s small, snow-white buttocks,

Every time his hips moved clumsily, the soft flesh tightened firmly around his cock. In an instant, the veins protruding from his member throbbed violently. For Yoon Chi-young, who had been abstinent for several months, it was an overwhelming pleasure.

“Ah, wait, honey, ha, ugh….”

It had only been two or three thrusts. He hurriedly pulled his half-buried member out.

Hee-sung wore a pitiful expression, as if he had been given a gift only to have it snatched away. With his puppy ears flattened back and a sorrowful look in his eyes, even that expression was so erotic it made Yoon Chi-young’s cock tingle.

“Just once, I’m pulling out.”

“Haa, eh…? Ugh!”

Before Hee-sung could even grasp the situation, semen splattered across his clear face with a

splat

. Yoon Chi-young had quickly masturbated and ejaculated onto Hee-sung’s stomach. Because he had held it in for so long, the volume was immense and the force of the spray was strong. Hee-sung looked down in surprise at the thick fluid poured across his chest. It wasn’t Pheromone Shock, but this was the first time he had seen Yoon Chi-young so aroused that he couldn’t control himself.

After slowly rubbing his member against Hee-sung’s stomach, Yoon Chi-young—having only achieved ejaculation—plunged his still rigid cock back into the hole, starting with the glans.

“Auuung…!”

“Haa….”

Rubbing his member again, Yoon Chi-young closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Having only inserted about half, he rotated his cock in a circular motion as if trying to find his place. He leisurely stimulated the heated inner walls; Hee-sung felt pleasure surge through his body like an electric shock, his thighs trembling slightly as he barely endured the sensation.

Yoon Chi-young admired the sight leisurely as he laid Hee-sung on his side and inserted himself. Despite it being a position that didn’t allow for deep penetration, Hee-sung panted with reddened eyes. With a rough smile, Yoon Chi-young gripped Hee-sung’s plump buttocks tightly. In truth, he had been losing his mind since the moment he saw Hee-sung masturbating alone against his coat.

“Honey… do you know how hard I’ve been holding back?”

“Heeu, ung, ha.”

Yoon Chi-young whispered in his ear, the sound drilling into his mind. The damp, low voice sounded so intense that Hee-sung shrank back, but Yoon Chi-young followed, nibbling on the rim of his ear with lips revealing his canines.

“How I held back… after getting a lover six years younger than me pregnant.”

“Uuung, ear, stop…!”

Hee-sung twisted his head to avoid the rough whispers. However, the explicit words pierced clearly through his half-flipped puppy ears.

“But even the fact that you’re pregnant with my child is so hot… I even felt guilty.”

“Hag, no, stop…!”

His member made a large circular rotation. The overwhelming sensation caused Hee-sung’s focus to blur. It felt as if his entire body were melting, and simultaneously, his mind seemed to go white. Hee-sung gripped the man’s thick forearm, panting. Finally reaching the pleasure he had longed for, his hole instinctively pulsed and tightened around the cock. At that reaction, Yoon Chi-young frowned and muttered roughly.

“Why are you tempting me like this?”

“When did I… ung, ah…!”

Hee-sung, his pale thighs trembling, belatedly reached down to try and push the hard body away. He thought the man had fully inserted himself by pressing against his spot.

But he was surprised when he looked down. Somehow, Yoon Chi-young still had self-control; he had only inserted half. Because the thing was so large, he hadn’t even realized only half was in. He had promised not to go too deep, and he had barely kept that promise. He seemed aware that he had to be careful.

“Haa… honey, is it too much? Hmm?”

“Don’t just… sound sweet…”

To think he did whatever he wanted and then asked with concern after the fact. Yet, it was infuriating that he continued to move his member steadily below.

However, he didn’t actually want to push him away. Hee-sung bunched up the coat, hugging it to his chest to hide his face, and spoke.

“Just… do it more.”

Actually, it felt really good. In fact, he had been waiting for this.

“You, h-eut… haven’t touched me in so long.”

Hee-sung was surprised by his own honesty. He had wondered why he felt good when Yoon Chi-young touched him, yet felt angry when he was treated as something precious and fragile. Now, those feelings had vanished completely.

“Is it because I didn’t touch you enough?”

“Uuung, gently, ah, ung!”

“Is that why you were angry earlier?”

A beastly growl echoed faintly in the low, cavernous voice. Since his lower body was steadily teasing him, it felt as if a beast were speaking to him. The thick sensation turned his mind white. Trembling with his ears folded, Hee-sung hugged him tightly and gave a small nod. His pride was too wounded to answer out loud.

But that answer seemed sufficient. Yoon Chi-young finally gathered Hee-sung’s two legs together and began to move faster and faster. The swelling at the base of the member from the first ejaculation acted as a speed bump.

Even so, Hee-sung found it overwhelming and reached down to grip the man’s hard thighs. He simply couldn’t endure the rushing waves of sexual pleasure.

“Stop, I—I think I’m going to come… ung, hag!”

“Ha, just a little more. Okay?”

Yoon Chi-young asked while gripping Hee-sung’s thighs, even though he had no intention of stopping even if he heard a plea. But Hee-sung no longer had the mental capacity to answer. His head was tilting back as the sensation of ejaculation began to bleach his mind white. Even though only the glans was stimulating the hole, his spot was being pressed. Panting with hot breath, Hee-sung reached his climax the moment the inserted member gave a large throb.

“Haa, st-op, hag…!”

Exercising his last bit of reason, Yoon Chi-young pulled out his ejaculating member. The half-swollen cock scraped the interior with a heavy curve as it exited. At that sensation, pre-cum gushed from Hee-sung’s member, and the strength left his heated body.

Yoon Chi-young gathered those limp thighs and rubbed his member against them. With his brow furrowed tightly, he grit his teeth and ejaculated slowly. With every throb of the member, thick semen burst forth. Even though it was the second ejaculation, it was thick and voluminous because he had held it in for so long, making Hee-sung shudder.

“Heeu, st-op….”

“Ugh, haa… ha.”

Yoon Chi-young shot out more semen and steadied his ragged breathing. He seemed to be in pain as his member remained painfully swollen from the Knotting. Frowning, he swept back his sweat-soaked forehead and stroked his member a few more times, pouring the remaining semen onto Hee-sung’s thighs. Already drenched all over, Hee-sung watched the scene without any particular aversion.

“Hey, Yoon Chi-young….”

Hee-sung looked up at Yoon Chi-young with eyes that held a hint of wariness. While he felt as if something that had been blocking his chest had been cleared, he was worried that Yoon Chi-young would lose his reason as usual and pounce on him again. It was even more concerning because the look in the man’s eyes was still hazy.

However, as soon as he saw Hee-sung’s suspicious gaze, focus returned to Yoon Chi-young’s gray eyes.

“Ha, honey, are you okay? Ah….”

He took care of Hee-sung as if he had never acted like a beast. He supported Hee-sung’s back with one arm to lift his upper body, and then, fretting that his body temperature would drop, he hurriedly wrapped Hee-sung in the coat. Hee-sung had nagged him a lot about the clothes getting dirty, but Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to care at all.

He easily lifted Hee-sung in his arms and headed toward the bathroom. In those arms, wrapped up to the top of his head in the coat with only his face showing, Hee-sung opened his eyes hazily.

‘I’m satisfied…’

Although his body was a mess and he was completely drained, Hee-sung felt the most satisfied he had been since becoming pregnant. He was happier than when Yoon Chi-young fed him rare delicacies or pampered him. It was strange, as his sexual desire hadn’t even been that intense.

But wanting to fully savor this happiness, Hee-sung leaned his head deeply into Yoon Chi-young’s chest and remained silent. He habitually ignored Yoon Chi-young’s self-reproaching mutterings, just as he had when he was a puppy.

Yoon Chi-young seemed to regain his senses belatedly.

He was devastated seeing Hee-sung’s ruined body. He despairingly blamed himself, saying that while he had quit smoking, he couldn’t quit sex. Regardless, the exhausted Hee-sung just left him be. Despite his frustration, Yoon Chi-young washed Hee-sung, and Hee-sung ended up lying in the bedroom, clean once again.

He tried to drink some water, but Yoon Chi-young wouldn’t even let him get out of bed, so he ended up receiving perfect care, just like when he was a puppy.

After fully hydrating, Hee-sung lay in bed with a tired face.

However, a look of contentment lingered in his moderately plump cheeks and half-closed eyes. The white tail under the blanket was also wagging happily. It was the complete opposite of the expression on Yoon Chi-young, who was lying beside him. Yoon Chi-young placed his arm over his eyes and muttered in a voice full of despair.

“How hard I held back all this time….”

“You did everything you wanted, so what’s the point.”

Hee-sung spoke in a languid, stretched-out voice. Drowsiness was creeping in, leaving him simply lethargic. Perhaps because it had been so long since they had sex, the sense of fulfillment was great. But Yoon Chi-young, as if his guilt had been further stimulated by Hee-sung’s words, couldn’t lift his head.

Seeing this, Hee-sung found Yoon Chi-young quite cute. At times like this, he couldn’t understand why others were afraid of Yoon Chi-young. He had such a cute side, like a baby fox. With a satisfied face, Hee-sung patted Yoon Chi-young’s dependable back and asked teasingly.

“So, are you not going to have sex with me from now on?”

“…….”

After a moment of silence, Yoon Chi-young lowered the hand covering his face.

Then, he belatedly hugged Hee-sung slightly and spoke. His gray eyes, shining under the light, looked exceptionally secretive.

“I have to.”

The despair and gloom on Yoon Chi-young’s face slowly faded, replaced by his usual expression. With a relaxed smile, his gray eyes curved elegantly like half-moons. Startled by the suspicious change in expression, Hee-sung tried to pull away, but Yoon Chi-young wrapped his arm gently around his waist and held him firmly.

“I can’t be jealous of my own coat again, can I, honey?”

“…Hey.”

“You should have just attacked me while I was sleeping. Hmm?”

“Stop whispering in my ear!”

Hee-sung snapped in anger and tried to push Yoon Chi-young’s shoulder. But the broad shoulders didn’t budge an inch. With his ears turning bright red, Hee-sung grumbled for him to just go to sleep and flipped his body around.

From behind, Yoon Chi-young, hugging Hee-sung’s back, let out a long, happy laugh. As Hee-sung’s excited tail tickled his lower abdominals, he naturally recalled the sight of the puppy rubbing himself against his coat. Although the coat was ruined, the emotion Yoon Chi-young felt then was quite significant. It was a scene so fluttering and exciting that it made him forget all the effort of suppressing his sexual desire.

Just as Hee-sung had done then, Yoon Chi-young rubbed his wolf ears, which had sprouted on his head, from Hee-sung’s hair down to the nape of his neck. It was to leave his scent and mark this lovely person as his.

That action continued for a long time even after Hee-sung fell fast asleep.

Even if he did it until morning, it wouldn’t be enough to cool his excited heart. In the end, Hee-sung fell asleep with static electricity making his hair stand up in tufts.

After returning from the trip, the two went to the hospital first.

They had to go for a regular check-up anyway, and because Yoon Chi-young was particularly worried about Hee-sung, they went early. Yoon Chi-young was fretting that he had been too rough because he had held back for so long.

Hee-sung simply stayed in his arms with a satisfied expression. Nestled there with a full stomach and a face full of contentment, he looked to anyone like a puppy without a single worry in the world.

But in truth, Hee-sung was inwardly wondering about his own stabilized state.

Until a few days ago, he had been feeling anxious for no reason, but now those sensitive emotions had vanished completely. He found this change of heart so strange that he wondered if he had truly been sexually frustrated.

Plagued by curiosity, Hee-sung explained the recent events to the doctor during the examination.

“Actually, this time we… we, had sexual intercourse.”

“Ah, as long as you pay attention to the positions as I instructed, it’s fine. You’re in the stable period.”

“That’s not it… actually.”

Hee-sung spoke at length while receiving the ultrasound. In between, Yoon Chi-young seemed quite surprised to hear Hee-sung’s thoughts. Since he was naturally overprotective, Hee-sung ignored him and had a careful conversation with the doctor.

The doctor asked back with a kind face.

“So, whenever you felt anxious, you sought your Companion’s scent from his coat, and then you had sexual intercourse once, is that correct?”

“Yes, yes.”

“And you hadn’t had sex at all until then?”

“That… yes.”

At those words, the doctor removed the ultrasound probe from his stomach and laughed lightly, as if it were nothing.

“It’s alright. This is a common form of anxiety seen in Dog-kin, who have a strong sense of pack identity.”

“Anxiety is common?”

Yoon Chi-young asked sharply. He gripped Hee-sung’s hand tightly with one hand and stared at the doctor with gray eyes that had turned serious. Knowing that wolves are particularly sensitive regarding their Companions, the doctor explained directly without beating around the bush.

“It’s a characteristic seen in Dog-kin who have received a lot of affection… it’s a type of separation anxiety.”

“Even though we’ve never been apart?”

“Not that, but the omission of affectionate expressions that confirm pack identity can also be a cause of separation anxiety.”

“…….”

Yoon Chi-young’s expression became subtle at the explanation. He glanced at Hee-sung and began to smile, his eyes curving smoothly. Only Hee-sung, who didn’t understand the meaning, became anxious and muttered irritably.

“What? What does that mean?”

The doctor then looked at Hee-sung and explained step by step.

“In other words, for the pregnant party, sexual intercourse with the Companion was an act of reaffirming the pack identity.”

“…….”

“It’s like how puppies get anxious when they are always petted by their family and then that behavior suddenly disappears. It seems that the two of you enjoyed a very healthy sex life, and then the pattern suddenly changed….”

“I-I understand.”

Hee-sung cut him off, his ears turning bright red.

He felt like he could die of embarrassment. Of all things, he had developed anxiety because he didn’t have sex. Although Yoon Chi-young had practically brainwashed him with affectionate expressions in bed in the past, he was so embarrassed he wanted to hide somewhere. Thinking about how he suffered from anxiety and eventually expressed his desires against Yoon Chi-young’s coat, it was an undeniable case of sexual frustration and affection deficiency.

Out of embarrassment, Hee-sung covered his face with one hand. Beside him, the sound of Yoon Chi-young chuckling and leaning his upper body toward him pierced his ears.

“Our puppy,

pfft

, was lacking in affection….”

“…Shut up.”

“As you said, you’re not a puppy but my Companion. I held back for nothing,

pfft

, right? Hmm?”

Yoon Chi-young spoke playfully, kissing each of Hee-sung’s fingers.

Regardless of whether the doctor looked at the harmonious pair with bewilderment, Yoon Chi-young was busy hugging and soothing Hee-sung, who refused to even meet his eyes.

Eventually, the doctor left first.

“Well, then. The babies are very healthy and there are no issues, so don’t worry. I’ll head out first. The nurse will help you with the rest.”

“Okay.”

Yoon Chi-young answered lightly and helped Hee-sung up. It was just cute how Hee-sung bluntly asked what he was laughing at, while simultaneously leaning his head deeply into his chest.

In the end, a puppy only needed one thing.

He had blindly pampered him and tried to give him only the most precious things, but he had missed the most important expression of affection. However, having seen a new and lovely side of him, he had no regrets. Yoon Chi-young whispered secretly to Hee-sung that starting tonight, he should just do things the way they used to. Although Hee-sung got angry and said it wasn’t necessary in response to the subtle sexual appeal, Yoon Chi-young decided to do exactly that. It was because he noticed Hee-sung’s white tail wagging rapidly. It was clearly a movement filled with anticipation.

Side Story 2 Chapter 5

Yoon Chi-young took a leave of absence about a month before the expected due date.

They say that from this point on, male wolves reach the peak of their sensitivity. While it is said that immediate family members are recognized as part of the pack and thus do not trigger aggression, unfortunately, Yoon Chi-young perceived even his own siblings and family as enemies. Considering his life up to that point, it was an understandable reaction.

For example, he had nearly attacked Yoon Jin-young, who had come to confirm the fact of Hee-sung’s pregnancy.

Yoon Jin-young was Yoon Chi-young’s second older brother, and they were not on good terms. Since Jin-young had been secretly giving Hee-sung money to periodically inquire about Chi-young’s current status, he could certainly be considered an enemy. Of course, Yoon Chi-young was aware of the arrangement, so Hee-sung had simply provided false information while accepting the money like an allowance.

However, on the day Yoon Jin-young visited for reconnaissance, he nearly got attacked by the wolf simply for stepping two paces too close to the sleeping Hee-sung. Yoon Chi-young immediately transformed into a wolf and lunged at him like he was hunting; his appearance was so menacing, as if he intended to tear the other man to pieces, that all the organization members had to move urgently to save Yoon Jin-young.

Fortunately, no major incident occurred because everyone knew how sensitive wolves are during the pregnancy period and acted accordingly.

Starting from that day, Yoon Chi-young decided he needed a period of rest. The organization members secretly breathed sighs of relief at that decision; considering their usual loyalty, it showed just how tense they had been living.

Time passed, and there were about two weeks left until the expected due date.

Yoon Chi-young went out to buy sweet persimmons for Hee-sung. Even though the things Hee-sung craved changed frequently, he would go anywhere for whatever his puppy wanted. Although he often relied on the organization members’ help due to his territorial instincts, he preferred to choose what Hee-sung ate himself, so he usually went out personally.

However, Yoon Chi-young was a bit late.

Hee-sung, who was home alone, felt a strange sense of anxiety. His body felt hot, and his lower abdomen hurt. Curling up and twitching his tail, Hee-sung called out to him out of nervousness.

[Hee-sung: Where are you?]

[Hee-sung: Come quickly]

[Hee-sung: Hurry]

[Honey♡: Why?]

[Honey♡: I’m bringing the persimmons now. Do you miss me that much?]

Just seeing the reply put his mind at ease. As long as he was coming, it was fine. Hee-sung looked at the nickname he had secretly saved in the phone and slid off the bed to go to the bathroom.

‘I keep feeling so drained….’

Hee-sung stood up unsteadily and looked to the side. In the full-length mirror, he saw his belly, which had become quite prominent. Perhaps because the children were growing so healthily, Hee-sung had often lacked energy lately. It was also because his organs were being pressed, preventing him from sleeping properly.

But today felt particularly unusual.

‘I can’t put any strength into my body….’

Just as he was trying to head to the bathroom, thinking it was nothing, something flowed down between his thighs. His strength failing, Hee-sung stared blankly down. A transparent liquid had soaked his legs.

It was strange, as there were still two weeks left until the due date.

He felt a sense of crisis, but Hee-sung was already not in his right mind. In fact, it felt as if the inside of his belly was pulling downward, and he couldn’t even speak properly.

“Yoon, Chi-young….”

Staggering and sinking to the floor, Hee-sung searched for someone with desperate eyes. He moved instinctively, not even knowing who he was calling. Hee-sung panted with his forehead pressed against the carpet, and lacking the strength to stand, he crawled toward somewhere.

‘It hurts, it hurts….’

The place Hee-sung crawled toward, groaning in pain, was the dressing room connected to the bedroom. There, he managed to drag a pile of Yoon Chi-young’s clothes and curled up on top of them. As the pain surged, his body simply couldn’t endure it. His vision blurred yellow, and a ringing noise echoed in his ears. Hee-sung parted his dry lips, desperately searching for someone. He instinctively called out, “Yoon Chi-young, Hyung.”

Not long after, Yoon Chi-young’s bright voice was heard from a distance.

“Honey, I bought the persimmons.”

“…….”

“Honey?”

His voice grew closer as he searched for him. Though his consciousness was fading, Hee-sung felt relieved from that moment. It was because he trusted that Yoon Chi-young would find him quickly.

Soon, the pile of clothes Hee-sung was covering himself with was gently lifted. Even as he felt Yoon Chi-young’s hand urgently wrap around his shoulder, Hee-sung couldn’t even support his own body, and his head slumped weakly.

“…Hee-sung.”

There was an emotion in Yoon Chi-young’s voice that he had never heard before. He was clearly beyond surprised; he was terrified. Even then, Hee-sung wanted to tell him firmly not to worry, but his consciousness was already drifting away. It was a day when he felt particularly resentful of his own frail body.

…Hee-sung’s memories were fragmented.

This was because he had only woken up for very brief moments after losing consciousness. Each time, Hee-sung cried out in pain, feeling it travel from his lower abdomen up his spine, and searched for Yoon Chi-young, hearing Chi-young hold his hand and speak in a restless voice. He also heard nurses urgently saying, “Guardian, you cannot undergo Beast-transformation here,” but since he was in a half-conscious state, he couldn’t be sure.

By the time he fully woke up, he didn’t know how much time had passed.

However, feeling a dull pain in his abdomen, Hee-sung opened his eyes with a frown. A white ceiling appeared in his blurred vision, and he felt a warmth holding his hand beside him. Seeing that it was dark outside the window, Hee-sung sensed that he had woken up after a long time.

‘What on earth happened…?’

In his anxiety, Hee-sung’s white ears trembled.

He tried to lift his body, but the discomfort in his abdomen was immense. Exhaling a pained breath with a furrowed brow, Hee-sung struggled to turn his head and look around. Fortunately, the person he wanted to whine to was right in front of him. Yoon Chi-young had a haggard face with dark circles under his eyes, but as soon as their eyes met, he approached as if he had been waiting.

“Honey, are you awake?”

“…….”

“Hold me. Does it hurt? Is it hard to move?”

“Shut, up… hold me….”

At the habitual whining, Yoon Chi-young embraced Hee-sung as if he had been waiting for it. As he firmly supported Hee-sung’s back and carefully helped him up, Hee-sung mumbled with his lips and let out a long, uncomfortable breath in his arms. His whole body felt tingly, and among that, the aching and empty feeling in his belly was unfamiliar.

His belly felt empty.

The moment he realized that feeling, Hee-sung’s eyes snapped wide open. It was clear that the babies had been taken out and the surgery was finished. Forgetting the discomfort, he asked about the thing he worried about most.

“The babies… Shrimp and Crayfish? What happened? Were they born well? Huh?”

“Honey.”

“Are they small like me? Or… is their body weak? Huh?”

“…….”

At the urgent questions, Yoon Chi-young actually became calmer. He looked at Hee-sung’s worried eyes with a complex expression, then quietly held his hand to soothe him and waited patiently.

However, the fact that he was so calm made Hee-sung more anxious. Usually, he acted so lighthearted and clung to him with endless aegyo, but seeing him so composed at a time like this made him even more frantic.

Yoon Chi-young kissed Hee-sung’s hair and spoke.

“I’ll let you see them yourself.”

The tension eased at the words spoken with a carefree smile. Hee-sung nodded and gathered his courage.

With the help of a nurse, Yoon Chi-young brought the pups from the newborn nursery.

Wrapped neatly in swaddling clothes, the babies were making loud whimpering sounds from the hallway, and the moment Hee-sung heard those sounds, his heart raced. It was a strange mix of excitement, tension, and a sudden urge to cry. What was certain was that his heart was overwhelmingly full.

And the moment Hee-sung saw the pups, he knew at a glance that they were his.

Because the little black lumps were exactly like mini versions of Yoon Chi-young.

Woong, woong.

Aung, aung!

When Hee-sung placed the pups, who couldn’t even open their eyes yet, onto the bed where he lay, they flailed and tried to burrow into his embrace. They were two black, round lumps. Their fur was clean, dry, and fluffy, and although they had clearly just been born last night, their size was already similar to Hee-sung’s True Form.

Hee-sung looked at the pups, who were sniffing his neck, with eyes full of emotion.

“Ah….”

Even at a glance, both were healthy. Their size seemed large compared to other newborn wolf pups. That alone caused the tension in Hee-sung’s body, which had been bound by worry, to vanish instantly.

Relieved at last, Hee-sung carefully examined the black, round little ones. Beside him, Yoon Chi-young sat on the edge of the bed and softly told him the things he had been curious about.

“Both are very healthy. The first is a male, and the second is a female.”

“…….”

“Can you tell them apart?”

“…Yes.”

Hee-sung said with a faint smile.

Looking closely at the pups, he saw the differences. He thought they only resembled Yoon Chi-young, but Hee-sung’s genes had also worked hard to leave their mark.

The firstborn had white fur on only the right front paw, as if wearing a sock, and the second had fluffy white fur only in the center of its chest. The one with the white chest was the female, and her frame was slightly larger. Furthermore, both had half-folded ears like Hee-sung; whether they would straighten as they grew would have to be seen. Hee-sung gazed tenderly at the pups who, unable to even open their eyes, were instinctively licking the tips of his fingers.

“Both… are really healthy, right?”

“Yes, both are very healthy babies.”

“…….”

“I guess that’s why they put you through so much trouble.”

Hee-sung smiled faintly with moist eyes. In truth, Hee-sung hadn’t really felt it while the children were in his womb, but now that he saw them with his own eyes, the reality that he had children finally hit him.

Yoon Chi-young’s and his children. Children born of a miracle.

They were children born from him, who had grown from someone who never dreamed of a future. What would it have been like to show these lovely Wolf-dogs to the version of himself who lived in gambling dens and didn’t expect anything from tomorrow? He probably wouldn’t have believed it, but perhaps he would have had the hope to endure each day while looking forward to the future.

He would have hoped that one day, he too would have a happy family.

Hee-sung smiled faintly. The habit of recalling a painful past when happy was actually not so bad. It made the present more meaningful and allowed him to make a more mature resolve.

“My babies…”

Hee-sung looked lovingly at the little ones and preciously hugged the pups who were stubbornly burrowing into his chest. Then, he whispered tenderly, as if speaking to his own lonely past.

“…No matter what happens, I won’t leave you alone.”

“…….”

“When you’re sad, when you’re lonely… I’ll always be by your side.”

As if saying this to Chi-young as well, Hee-sung gripped Chi-young’s hand tightly and met his eyes for a moment. His eyes, turning back to the babies, were red and moist. For this moment, Hee-sung made a vow not as a Fighting Dog, but as himself.

“I won’t push you to grow strong.”

“…….”

“I’ll always tell you that it’s okay to be hurting or weak, that Daddy is always here.”

Hee-sung smiled brightly, pressing his cheek against the pups. Yoon Chi-young couldn’t take his eyes off the scene, as if watching a movie. It was because it was the first time he had seen Hee-sung smile so happily. With such an affectionate face, his Companion spoke of him.

“I’m so happy the babies look like you….”

“…….”

“No matter what their size was, it would have been fine. Because they look like you.”

Belatedly, something surged up inside Yoon Chi-young.

His beloved partner was happy that the children resembled him. His own eyes reddened unconsciously, but he didn’t let Hee-sung notice. He simply wrapped his arm around Hee-sung’s shoulder and hugged him tight while they looked at the children together.

Yoon Chi-young felt a complex emotion.

Having grown up under an abnormal father, and with a life that was already ruined, he thought he would never be able to build a good family. He thought the wounds of his childhood were a personal burden he would have to carry alone for the rest of his life.

But now, seeing Hee-sung hold the babies so preciously, the small, black wolf pup that had remained in his heart received comfort. Once again, Yoon Chi-young felt deeply how great a blessing it was to have met this person.

“Honey….”

“Yeah.”

“I love you.”

“…You, you always say you love me….”

Though he spoke bluntly, seeing Hee-sung’s ears turn red from shyness made Yoon Chi-young laugh.

When Hee-sung belatedly answered with a small “I love you too,” he couldn’t help but laugh. With red eyes, he pressed a long kiss to Hee-sung’s hair. Just as Hee-sung had vowed, he told himself that he would protect Hee-sung and the children for the rest of his life.

Hugging Hee-sung tightly from behind, Yoon Chi-young smiled softly. Today was a day when he could smile more happily than anyone else. Following that joyful heart, a playful, aegyo-filled joke naturally came out.

“They’re our babies, but they aren’t grey puppies.”

“Your genes must be really strong. But they both have folded ears like me… they smell like puppy paws.”

“They’ll straighten as they grow. I had folded ears when I was young too.”

“I think it would be nice even if they don’t straighten….”

“Actually, me too.”

Hee-sung burst into laughter and tightly gripped the back of Yoon Chi-young’s hand wrapped around his waist.

The two of them spent a long time chatting softly while looking at the babies. Two people who thought they only had each other in the world now had a new family. The evidence was clearly written on the children’s name tags.

The first child was Gyeon Do-yoon.

The second child was Gyeon Seo-yoon.

The two Wolf-dogs received names that carried their fathers’ surnames. They were names that Yoon Chi-young had personally chosen and Hee-sung had happily accepted.

The two Wolf-dogs, crawling between Hee-sung and Chi-young, kept making whimpering sounds as if searching for something. Beside them, Yoon Chi-young playfully howled, “Awoo.” Then, the pups, whose ears hadn’t even opened yet, seemed to feel something. Though they struggled to lift their trembling heads, they followed the howl clumsily but energetically, as if happy to have found their pack. It was their first cry toward the world.

Aung-!

Side Story 2 Chapter 6

[November 1st]

[Title: I decided to write a parenting diary.]

[Yeong-bae advised me to keep a record because children grow up in the blink of an eye. It seemed like a fair point, so I bought a new diary. Earlier, I only wrote my name on the first page, and Hee-sung looked proud, saying my handwriting was pretty and the lines were elegant. He looked so lovely that I forgot it was time to feed the babies and spent a long while kissing him and playing around. If only no one had walked in, I could have done more. I’m still craving more.

Now that the babies are born, I’m worried. My number one priority is still my puppy. It’s a ranking that will likely never change, but would it have been better if the pups resembled Hee-sung?

It’s still too difficult a problem for me. Still, just the fact that I’m looking forward to tomorrow makes me realize how much I’ve changed.]

[November 5th]

[Title: Brought the children home.]

[Hee-sung hated staying in the hospital room, so we returned home early. It makes sense; as a territorial animal, I started getting anxious first, and it seems that emotion rubbed off on the puppy. Only after returning home did Hee-sung finally feel at ease and start sleeping deeply.

Instead, I hired professional staff at home to look after both the children and the puppy. The puppy nagged me not to be too wasteful, but I still don’t know if this is considered wasteful.

To me, the biggest waste is my companion and children spending their time in subpar conditions.

Even with the change in environment, the children are growing very well. Their weight is increasing day by day, and they are being fed formula.

Because Hee-sung’s body was weak, he was administered various medications, and since he is a Male Lactating Parent, his colostrum was insufficient, so the children ended up on formula. I prepare the formula every three hours, and each time, Hee-sung finds it fascinating, saying how cute they are, how these fist-sized things wiggle around, and how their bodies are black but their bellies are pink. Occasionally, the puppy watches the children and rolls around on the fainting cushion in delight, though he doesn’t seem to realize that he is the most lovely one of all.

When I told him that, the puppy grumbled, asking if I thought he was a newborn pup, but I became certain after seeing him in his True Form clinging to the children. Except for the fur color, the children really resemble my puppy. Even their folded ears are identical, which sometimes makes it hard to bear. Ah, before I go to sleep, I have to give the puppy and the wolf-dogs belly rubs. I am happy.]

[November 6th]

[Title: Worried because the puppy is struggling with breast milk.]

[The puppy has also started producing colostrum. However, the amount is so small that it’s difficult for the pups to get full, so we decided to primarily feed them formula and use a breast pump every day. I was told that in the case of Male Lactating Parents, it’s common for the milk to stop flowing after two or three weeks if this continues.

Before using the pump, a breast massage is necessary. I read some related books because I heard that if you don’t, the milk clumps up and the pain is severe. It’s said that Male Lactating Parents tend to struggle more mentally because the experience is confusing and unfamiliar.

My puppy seemed to struggle more mentally. When getting a massage, he didn’t want anyone but me by his side. Since the volume was low, I mostly collected the milk and then hugged him from behind once or twice a day to give him a massage. He hated having a professional do it—and actually, so did I—so I learned how to do it myself.

But the puppy is too sensitive about his nipples….

He keeps leaning into my arms with whimpering groans, and it’s absolutely torture for me. I can’t let him see that I’m hard while my companion is in pain. I keep thinking about it, and it’s driving me crazy. The way he’s been wearing my t-shirts lately because they’re comfortable, and how the chest area gets wet occasionally when the milk leaks….

Ha… I’m going crazy. The pups are already out in the world; please, I want to get a grip on myself.]

[November 7th]

[Title: To think a puppy gave birth to puppies.]

[Hee-sung was struggling so much, perhaps due to breast engorgement, that I took care of the children for half a day.

Since the twins haven’t opened their eyes or ears yet and rely on their sense of smell, they were always desperate to crawl toward Hee-sung. Today, I carefully picked them up one by one and brought them to the Prenatal Care Room to let the puppy-dad rest. While I was at it, I gave the pups some time to get used to my scent and focused on childcare using what I learned from the professional.

Every three hours, I fed the twins formula until their bellies were plump, and helped them digest. I used warm wet wipes to pat their bottoms to help them pass stool. Is it too obsessive if I even find their stool pretty? Seeing the pups eat well and sleep soundly on the fainting cushion made me incredibly proud.

Later, Hee-sung, who had slipped into the Prenatal Care Room, hugged me saying he wanted to see the pups too, so we observed them together. Hee-sung asked me if I was like this when I was young, how I was, but I couldn’t answer readily as I have no particularly happy memories.

One thing is certain: my children will be different from me. Unlike me, they are receiving full love and attention from their parents. Moreover, they have the most handsome and lovely Fighting Dog father in the world, so they will grow up happily.]

[November 8th]

[Title: I was clearly trying to help, but I got scolded….]

[Lately, as weaning is nearly complete, Hee-sung does his own massages and uses the pump.

Even when I try to help, the puppy stubbornly does it alone, perhaps due to pride. Today, I heard continuous whimpering and sobbing coming from the bathroom, so I went to check. He wouldn’t open the door, but I managed to persuade him to let me in. Perhaps the milk was clumped today; Hee-sung, clutching his chest in pain, looked up at me with a sensitive expression.

The fact that my first thought was that it was a turn-on still gives me a huge sense of self-loathing.

Since my companion was in pain, I set aside my ulterior motives and looked closely at his chest, feeling for the lumps. His chest, which used to be flat, had filled out, and it felt quite good to hold in my hand. Unaware of the trashy thoughts I was having, Hee-sung sobbed, wondering why the milk wasn’t coming out, and then an accident happened. Milk sprayed and drenched my face.

The look of sheer embarrassment on the puppy’s face at that moment was quite a spectacle.

Whether he was flustered or ashamed, the puppy raised his voice, asking why I was acting like I enjoyed getting hit by it, yet he tried to wipe my face with his t-shirt. I got nagged a lot—that he was sorry, and why I was looking so closely, and why on earth I was eating it.

Even while being scolded, far from being flustered, I just felt it was a waste for the milk to be thrown away. The taste wasn’t bad. Driven by greed, I looked at him with a blank stare that disgusted Hee-sung and asked very calmly.

“Honey, want me to suck it for you?”

I only asked once, and I was immediately kicked out of the bathroom. The crime was saying it while having an erection. Perhaps he was very sensitive, because after that, I was cursed out relentlessly for asking to suck the milk when there wasn’t even enough for the babies.

I thought my puppy’s eyes looked like he wanted it too….

I still don’t actually know why I got scolded when I was just trying to help.]

[November 9th]

[Title: I stole some of the kids’ food.]

[Hee-sung was sick, so I took full charge of childcare today. Perhaps feeling sorry for that, Hee-sung, who woke up late, started by apologizing for getting angry yesterday, so we had a deep conversation.

The puppy explained that his chest, especially his nipples, were so painful and sensitive that even a slight touch hurt, and that he reacted with anger because he was flustered by the unfamiliarity of producing milk. I comforted him, treating him more delicately than usual and telling him not to hide anything from me since we are a married couple.

Perhaps because of that, when I came out after putting the children to sleep in the evening, Hee-sung asked for help. He asked me to give him a breast massage before using the pump. However, he sternly warned me not to try and taste it like yesterday, but only to do the massage.

I lied, saying why on earth I would want to taste it, and led my puppy lover to the bedroom. When I saw my companion wagging his tail in gratitude, I truly vowed to only do the massage.

First, I sat on the bed and hugged Hee-sung from behind to massage him. He warned me that the swollen nipples must absolutely not be touched, so I took it quite seriously. The puppy seemed to realize my erection had already returned but looked like he had given up.

I also tried my best to ignore it and focus on the massage.

Actually, I’ve often thought about wanting to suck every inch of Hee-sung’s body, and as I massaged him, the puppy also seemed to get worked up, glancing at me somewhat longingly.

As I massaged him gently, he reluctantly accepted my touch, yet he gasped and grumbled, asking me to do it harder, wondering why it was clumped and not coming out. That sensitive voice and the puppy ears with every fine hair on his nape standing up were erotic. He kept rubbing the back of his head against my neck and sobbing; the scent, and that characteristic nutty smell, were… a turn-on.

As a husband, I couldn’t just watch Hee-sung keep whining that it hurt.

I told him it wouldn’t work and that I’d have to pull it out myself, then laid him on the bed. The bewildered face the puppy made is still vivid before my eyes.

He asked, “How are you going to pull it out yourself?” and his expression was so innocent that I felt like a thief committing a bad deed with a child. But I’m used to this guilt by now, so I just did as I pleased.

I gently sucked his chest with my mouth to loosen the clumps. The puppy was surprised and shouted, asking what I was doing, and pushed my head away, but since the milk finally flowed after I sucked it, he eventually accepted it. The breast milk didn’t actually have much taste.

It was thin and a bit fishy, but perhaps because it came from his body, I felt it had a bit of sweetness.

Since the nipples were sensitive, the excited puppy gripped my hair tightly, and later, I gently licked the erect nipples and told him it tasted delicious. I thought he would like that—I truly meant it. But the puppy scolded me, asking why I was sucking it all up.

Even while being nagged, I laughed as I wiped the white liquid flowing from my lips with the back of my hand. The puppy himself had an erection. The sight of him scolding me like that looked so sexy that I think I lost my reason from that point on.

I don’t remember exactly what happened after that. Maybe I had a bit of Pheromone Shock…. First, I grabbed Hee-sung’s ankle and pulled him down to lay his body flat.

When I came to my senses, Hee-sung was pinned beneath me with his legs spread, taking my cock. With a face of resignation and his thighs wide open, he told me to just do everything, and as I pounded into him frantically, I gently sucked his chest with my tongue. Since the puppy was as excited as could be, I did whatever I wanted to my heart’s content. I had nothing but filthy thoughts about wanting to swallow everything Hee-sung leaked from both top and bottom.

I sat leaning against the bed with Hee-sung perched on my waist and tasted him fully. I sucked all the milk and slammed my hard erection into him from below. Hee-sung whimpered and cried, “You bad bastard, stop sucking my chest,” “Touch me in front,” “Suck my ears,” making many demands, and I granted them all until he was satisfied. Later, I flipped him over on the bed and pounded him until he sobbed, asking me to come inside. However, the only request I couldn’t grant was for me not to act like a beast. I just couldn’t understand what part of this was “beast-like.”

If it feels good, shouldn’t you express it fully? If expressing a little desire makes me a beast, then what on earth am I supposed to do? I’ve wondered about this every day since I met Hee-sung. Maybe I should just tell him to live with a real beast.

Still, after sucking him thoroughly from top and bottom, fortunately, the puppy fell fast asleep today without any breast engorgement. Later, when the children woke up, I fed them and put them back to sleep, and after washing the puppy, everyone fell asleep as if they had fainted. I felt like I had completed a great mission. I feel the most peace when I sit in the quiet house and write my diary. I hope every day is like this….

Ah, it seems the kids have woken up again. Ending today’s satisfying diary.]

[November 16th]

[Title: The children finally opened their eyes.]

[I was surprised while grooming the children’s fur as usual. The firstborn, Do-yoon, finally opened his eyes.

I’m not sure if he first opened them last night or today. Because the children’s fur is black, it’s hard to tell if their eyes are open or closed. Surprised, I checked the second one, and one eye was open just a tiny bit, like a buttonhole. I planned to watch slowly, as trying to force them open might cause harm.

It’s amazing now that the babies can see. The children, who used to wiggle around without even knowing which direction to go, now look at me and somehow crawl toward where I am. It must be hard for them to cross the fainting cushion, but seeing them tremble while recognizing me as their father and approaching me was touching.

The puppy told me not to get all emotional after stealing all the babies’ food. But I can’t help it; the sight of them following me is so moving. I wonder how such pitch-black treasures came out of Hee-sung’s belly; I don’t get tired of looking at them all day.]

[November 20th]

[Title: Decided on the children’s nanny.]

[Now that the children’s eyes and ears have opened, it was time to decide on a nanny. Their immunity had developed to a certain extent, so it was a time when contact with other people was possible.

I consulted with the puppy for a long time about who should be the nanny. At first, the puppy was reluctant, asking if there was really a need to hire a nanny. He was suspicious about whether we could truly trust a stranger, but after I explained the role of a nanny in the Wolf Clan, he understood and accepted it. In fact, nannies hold a quite high status in the Wolf Clan, so applications had been coming in occasionally since the puppy first became pregnant.

After consulting with the puppy, we chose a nanny, and today I went and carefully made the request to him.

I still can’t forget the expression Yeong-bae made when he heard our request to become the nanny.

Thinking about that naturally brings back the memory of when I first met Yeong-bae. Back then, he also looked at me with incomprehensible eyes when I proposed that he work with me, while his hands were still stained with blood. He asked two or three times, unlike himself, if I was really proposing the role of a nanny to him.

I told him the decision was his and returned home. While there are many benefits to becoming a nanny, it’s also a proposal to live as if we share the same bloodline, so he will need time to think seriously. Yeong-bae would do that.

The puppy said he really hopes Yeong-bae becomes the nanny, and actually, I hope so too. To take care of wolf-dogs, we needed someone who knows well about both wolves and dogs, and someone trustworthy enough to entrust a bloodline to.

For us, that’s only Yeong-bae.

It’ll be a happy thing for the children to have a dependable nanny who is 190cm tall. I sincerely hope Yeong-bae accepts the proposal.]

[+ I was about to sleep when I got a message. Yeong-bae said he would accept the proposal, and I laughed for a long time because his voice was trembling. I should share the good news with the puppy too.]

[December 11th]

[Title: The pups’ weight has already tripled.]

[The children are already nearly the size of Hee-sung’s True Form. The puppy denies it, but in terms of weight figures, the pups have already surpassed Hee-sung.

They say children grow quickly, and now they wander everywhere even with the protective fence set up. Because their muscle development is lacking, they keep trembling, yet they are so active that if I look away for a moment and turn back, they are sleeping in all sorts of places with their pink bellies exposed.

Every time I see them, I wonder if the puppy was like this when he was young, and I find myself laughing and pulling out my camera.

I also heard the puppy’s inner thoughts. Hee-sung was usually the one weighing the children every morning, and I heard him whispering while looking at the fast-growing children.

That he’s glad they aren’t small. That he hopes they grow as tall as I did.

I wanted to ask if my puppy still hates his own True Form, but I vaguely said that anything is fine. It was the truth, and Hee-sung continues to give the children “growth massages” to make them tall. I was about to tell him he doesn’t need to worry so much, but I hesitated. I hope the children don’t suffer from Pheromone Shock like I did.

Every time I see the children, who are pitch-black and fast-growing like me, I’ve been thinking this.

I hope they take after Hee-sung.

And I hope our wolf-dogs are born with normal pheromones so they can grow up without knowing the hardships I faced.]

Beastmen generally succeed in Humanization between the ages of 3 and 5.

Parents are told to prepare themselves mentally around that time. This is because there is much to teach as a Beastman once a child succeeds in Humanization for the first time. Furthermore, a child whose appearance has changed may feel confused about their identity and hide away, or they may avoid the pack.

Since parents are equally flustered when a child suddenly humanizes, Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young prepared themselves by listening to various advice and reading books. However, it wasn’t something to only worry about, as the first successful Humanization is one of the growth events parents look forward to most.

Yoon Chi-young waited with a fluttering heart, thinking the children would succeed in Humanization around next year. This was because while the twins’ True Forms were similar to his own childhood, he secretly hoped their humanized forms would resemble Hee-sung.

It was on the day of the children’s 3rd birthday.

Slap, slap.

Yoon Chi-young, who was napping in the living room, was suddenly hit in the cheek. However, he didn’t feel bad or hurt.

It had no impact, as if being hit by a puppy’s paw, and it was a touch devoid of malice. It seemed they were clumsily striking his chin simply because they wanted to wake him up.

However, that strength was extraordinary—

He hadn’t. Yoon Chi-young slowly opened his eyes, assuming the children had touched him while he was asleep after playing around.

“Kids, Daddy’s hurt when you do that….”

Speaking hazily, Yoon Chi-young flinched and snapped his eyes wide open.

He saw the round eyes of a child, whose face was pressed right up against his. The light gray pupils were brimming with curiosity, and as soon as they met Yoon Chi-young’s gaze, the child gave a bright, eye-curving smile. He had delicate yet distinct features, and a single folded black ear atop his head caught the eye.

The child had succeeded in Humanization. Frozen in shock, it took Yoon Chi-young a long moment to find his voice.

“…Do-yoon?”

Since the second child was asleep on her stomach in Wolf-dog form, the only one left was the eldest, Do-yoon. He had thought the second child would succeed in Humanization first since she grew faster, so it was unexpected that the sensory-sensitive eldest son had succeeded first.

Holding a colored pencil upside down, the son seemed delighted that Yoon Chi-young had finally woken up; he flapped his arms and uttered his first word.

“Woof!”

“Ah….”

Perhaps not yet accustomed to speaking, the child barked like a puppy and used body language. He beamed with joy that his father was awake and reached out his hands. Yoon Chi-young, who had been frozen in surprise, finally broke into a wide smile and opened his arms. The child laughed brightly and dove headfirst into his embrace. From the nutty scent of his ears to the short tail wagging behind his back, he was adorable. The child continued to babble incessantly in his arms, and Yoon Chi-young kept responding with affectionate “Yes, yes”s.

While hugging the admirable child, Yoon Chi-young smiled as if he were about to cry and thought:

‘He looks too much like me….’

He had hoped the boy would take after Hee-sung’s fair, clear, and beautiful face.

But the child’s features were already prominent, and he had even inherited Yoon Chi-young’s soft eyes. Considering his temperament, which was usually like that of a sensitive prince, anyone could see he was a mini-version of himself.

Still, as the saying goes that even a hedgehog thinks its own offspring’s quills are soft, Yoon Chi-young was proud of the child for succeeding in Humanization earlier than other children his age and showered him with praise.

“Dada!”

“Yes, yes. Did our baby succeed in Humanization?”

As he sat up while holding him tight and gave him a kiss, the child beamed.

Still, when he smiled, he looked like Hee-sung. The way he smiled innocently while puffing out his round cheeks was exactly like Hee-sung.

At that sight, Yoon Chi-young’s heart melted, and he playfully nipped the child’s black wolf ear with his lips. It was the way wolves expressed affection.

To succeed in Humanization at three years old. And to have such a lovely smile. He desperately wanted to show this to Hee-sung right away.

Yoon Chi-young immediately took the child to Hee-sung, who was practicing swimming in the pool.

Hee-sung, who had been practicing swimming impressively in the water, screamed the moment he stepped out. It was because Yoon Chi-young was holding a Matryoshka doll that looked exactly like him. Startled by the sound, the child burst into tears, and only then did Hee-sung grasp the situation and hurriedly soothe the eldest. Afterward, he broke into a smile at the joy that the child had successfully completed Humanization. He couldn’t help but feel proud of the child for safely overcoming a major milestone in life.

Not long after, the second child followed the eldest and succeeded in Humanization as well.

When he went to the room upon waking up in the morning, he found the second child had succeeded in Humanization overnight and was pitter-pattering around on the floor. With dark gray eyes and a gentle impression like Hee-sung, she was a round-eyed and energetic child. Hee-sung struggled to embrace the child, who rushed at him as if to headbutt him, and praised him lavishly. He hadn’t known that witnessing a child’s growth could be such a joyful thing.

Thanks to that, every day felt new.

And just as Ji Young-bae had said, the seasons passed in the blink of an eye.

Side Story 2 Chapter 7

…The “terrible fives” were truly a frightening time.

The firstborn was a sensitive little prince, and the second was a rough and active Fighting Dog.

The fast-growing twins had now expanded their vocabulary, becoming little clingy shadows who followed their dads around all day, babbling incessantly. On top of that, their stamina was endless, and they caused accidents almost daily.

Because of this, Hee-sung felt that hiring a nanny had been an excellent choice. Caring for the twins alongside the nanny’s own child meant they required slightly less attention, and it was wonderful to be able to take turns deciding on their days off. Thanks to this, the affection between Hee-sung and Chi-young didn’t fade; if anything, it improved by the day, to the point where talk of a third child came up frequently.

However,

One day, the twins began acting strangely. They had clearly been clingy to their wolf dad, but suddenly, as if nothing had happened, they began treating their dads differently, as if they were discriminating between them.

Hee-sung first noticed the signs during a peaceful weekend lunch.

“My spot, this is my spot.”

“Wolf Dad, go away, go away!”

Out of nowhere, the first and second child pushed Yoon Chi-young away as he tried to sit down. Since it was a late lunch, Yoon Chi-young naturally tried to sit next to Hee-sung. However, the children scurried over, pushed Yoon Chi-young aside, and snatched the seats on both sides of Hee-sung.

Even as those fern-like little hands pushed him, Yoon Chi-young nonchalantly tried to squeeze in next to Hee-sung.

“This is originally Wolf Dad’s spot, isn’t it?”

“No it’s not!”

For some reason, the tiny Wolf-dogs were not being obedient today. Seo-yoon, the second child, was clinging tightly to Hee-sung’s side, hugging his waist, while Do-yoon, the first, pushed Yoon Chi-young away, telling him to go to the corner seat. With a look that seemed to be personally assigning seats, the dark grey eyes staring up at Yoon Chi-young were bright and devoid of malice.

In times like this, it was Hee-sung who played the strict role.

“Do-yoon, Seo-yoon, why are you doing that to Wolf Dad? Members of the same pack should yield their seats to one another.”

“Still, not today.”

“Wolf Dad can sit over there!”

The place Seo-yoon pointed to with a puppy-like face was the terrace. In the chilly early spring, he was personally designating the terrace as the place to go.

Despite this, far from going to the terrace, Yoon Chi-young brazenly sat across from Hee-sung and began his meal. Regardless of which seat he took, Yoon Chi-young was confident he could reach Hee-sung.

Yoon Chi-young picked up his chopsticks leisurely and asked,

“Twins, do you want to eat close to Puppy Dad today?”

“Yes! Wolf Dad stay there.”

Do-yoon, the firstborn, spoke innocently with a face whose distinct features mirrored his own. His clear, shining grey eyes were so lovely that Yoon Chi-young didn’t even feel slighted.

Hee-sung was about to scold the children, but feeling puzzled, he signaled Yoon Chi-young with his eyes, his puppy ears pricked up. Having raised such smart twins, the two had reached a point where they could communicate through glances alone.

What did you do to the kids again?

Hee-sung looked at him with suspicious eyes, but Yoon Chi-young simply wore a carefree, brazen expression. Although he had been pushed aside in the battle for seats with the children, he was in a state of complete satisfaction after spending all of last night biting and sucking on Hee-sung. Furthermore, the fact that Hee-sung had pounced on him first last night left him so satisfied that he looked full even though he hadn’t eaten much. Consequently, a sense of superiority naturally leaked into his arrogant demeanor, even as the twins monopolized the seats next to Hee-sung.

“Ah, Do-yoon and Seo-yoon are so lucky… getting to eat right next to Puppy Dad.”

Yoon Chi-young leaned back leisurely against the chair, pretending to be envious. However, there was a relaxed air to the smile on his lips, and the wolf ears atop his head were twitching lazily. To the children, who were sensitive to body language, a sense of wariness couldn’t help but take root.

Yoon Chi-young then murmured, staring blatantly at Hee-sung’s reddened earlobe.

“Our twins eat a lot with Puppy Dad. I’m full even without eating…”

“…Be quiet.”

“Why? …Does something bother you, honey?”

Yoon Chi-young teased Hee-sung as usual. Not with a kiss, but through the space beneath the dining table.

He slid his long leg out, leisurely brushing his toes against Hee-sung’s calf and thigh. Hee-sung, who had already endured so much throughout the night, had no choice but to reveal his fangs, his white ears trembling.

Although Hee-sung had pounced on the sleeping Yoon Chi-young last night because he wanted to, he was the one who had been drained of all his energy and was utterly exhausted. Moreover, not wanting to engage in such childish behavior in front of the children, he repeatedly pushed away the foot bothering his calf.

However, Yoon Chi-young’s persistent footplay was halted for an unexpected reason.

It was because the firstborn, who was exceptionally sensitive, discovered something while munching on egg rice. The child had seen the toes from the opposite side sliding across Hee-sung’s leg under the table.

Normally, they would have asked what their dads were doing and wanted to join in, but today the reaction was different.

When the firstborn began to tear up, the second child followed suit, and the peaceful dining table turned into a chaotic mess.

“Waaaaah!”

“Don’t touch Puppy Dad!”

To be honest, Yoon Chi-young felt it was a bit unfair.

It was because he had acted consistently, yet the children had suddenly changed.

He had always kissed and expressed affection toward Hee-sung in front of the children, and even in his True Form, he often played tangled up with the puppies. In those moments, the children usually rushed in, asking for kisses or wanting to run and play together. While he was wrong to play with his feet under the table today, he hadn’t expected the children to react so sensitively.

Startled, Yoon Chi-young barely managed to soothe the children before leaving them with the nanny.

‘Why are the twins suddenly protecting the puppy?’

To Yoon Chi-young, it felt as if the children had changed overnight. Hee-sung seemed to feel the same; in the car on their way to go shopping, he brought up the subject with a quite serious expression.

“Have you done anything scary to the twins recently?”

“Hmm….”

Yoon Chi-young fell into thought, tapping his fingertips on the steering wheel. Doing something scary to the kids?

Only one thing came to mind; there had been one occasion recently where he had been strict. Yoon Chi-young spoke up, wondering if that was it.

“Is it because I stopped them in my True Form when the twins were fighting over a toy?”

It was yesterday. The twins were fighting, biting and scratching each other over a toy, so Yoon Chi-young, who happened to be in his True Form, had stopped them by baring his teeth. When the giant wolf growled, the startled Wolf-dogs fled and hid under the bed, shivering while clinging to each other. But once Yoon Chi-young apologized and soothed them, the pups quickly wiggled out and reconciled by rubbing their noses together.

“I let them ride on my back and played with them afterward. I thought they’d gotten over it then,” Hee-sung said, puzzled. The next day, Yoon Chi-young had even had an ice cream party with the children. Even if the firstborn, who was sensitive, still held a grudge, the second child was simpler and likely to have forgotten. It was strange that both twins were rejecting Yoon Chi-young equally.

“Maybe they’ve become sensitive because we’re suddenly renovating their room? The second one is quite stubborn about his territory.”

“Even so, pushing me out of the dining table is weird….”

The car stopped at a red light. Unable to resist the gap, Yoon Chi-young placed his hand on the thigh of Hee-sung, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Hee-sung’s upper lip twitched as if he were baring his fangs, perhaps because the marks left last night were stinging, but that was all. Yoon Chi-young leisurely massaged the area, as if leaving his own handprint over the existing marks.

Perhaps because the children were suddenly preventing them from being close, Yoon Chi-young found physical contact with Hee-sung all the more precious. They weren’t just lovers, they were a married couple, yet he had to sneak around with physical affection because of the children. It was a hardship he had never imagined when they had the children.

Meanwhile, Hee-sung was deep in thought. He was used to Yoon Chi-young always clinging to him and being overprotective, but he found it strange that the children seemed to have suddenly absorbed that side of him.

‘The kids used to follow Yoon Chi-young more….’

Hee-sung knew the children loved both dads equally, but there had always been one dad they felt more comfortable with, like a friend. That was Yoon Chi-young.

Perhaps because the little Wolf-dogs had used Yoon Chi-young’s tall body as a playground since they were infants, they felt more comfortable with the wolf dad and followed him readily. If Hee-sung was the strict but affectionate dad, Yoon Chi-young was the friend-like, strong dad, so the twins tended to act more spoiled with him and played house together. It was that kind of relationship, so Hee-sung found it strange that the children were suddenly pushing Yoon Chi-young away.

However, Yoon Chi-young didn’t seem to take it very seriously. He acted leisurely as he drove the car toward the department store.

“Well, it’s probably nothing. This is the age where their favorite characters change overnight.”

“Hmm….”

“If you’re that worried, I’ll try talking to them while playing. Let’s buy plenty of toys.”

At Yoon Chi-young’s words, Hee-sung reluctantly nodded.

Since the children were at an age of intense attachment to their parents, it was understandable. Only a year ago, they would whine, howl, and cry if a dad was out of sight; now, they might decide to protect one dad. Because the children grew so quickly, Yoon Chi-young and Hee-sung were somewhat accustomed to this unpredictable daily life.

Still, a conversation with the children was necessary. Hee-sung decided that since they were at the department store as Yoon Chi-young suggested, he should buy some toys. Although the twins could be stubborn, they would likely open up quickly with a variety of new toys and a few kind words from Yoon Chi-young.

Feeling slightly relieved, Hee-sung soon shook off his worries. His attention shifted toward toys and gifts for the twins—the bait that would help the conversation between Yoon Chi-young and the children.

That evening, Yoon Chi-young made time to talk to the children separately in the car.

While Hee-sung was setting up the toy gifts at home, he picked up the children from the nanny and brought them to the car. Having seen a children’s musical today, the Wolf-dogs seemed impressed by the performance, as they kept howling and chatting animatedly in the backseat. Yoon Chi-young occasionally checked the back through the rearview mirror, and a small smile broke out as he saw Hee-sung’s image overlapping with the children whenever they laughed. Although they looked just like him, when they laughed, the twins looked like mini-versions of Hee-sung with black puppy ears, which inevitably brought a ticklish smile to his face.

Forgetting that he was supposed to ask about the overprotection toward Hee-sung, Yoon Chi-young spoke affectionately to the children.

“Do-yoon, Seo-yoon, how was the musical today?”

“The musical, the musical was fun!”

“A fox princess came out in the musical!”

Just a simple question, and the children were immediately excited. With their limited vocabulary, they explained how the musical was; it seemed to be a story about a righteous fox princess who joined forces with a prince from a neighboring kingdom to defeat a sea monster and save the country.

“Daddy, I want to be a fox.”

“Me too. Buy me a brown tail.”

They chattered about how cool it was and that they wanted to be foxes too. They grabbed their own tails and innocently asked to have them changed to brown, as if casting a spell. At the unexpected request, Yoon Chi-young laughed as if it were absurd, then asked, pretending to be quite hurt.

“Do-yoon and Seo-yoon are Wolf-dogs, do you really want to be foxes?”

“Wolf-dog….”

“Why are we Wolf-dogs?”

“Because Puppy Dad and Wolf Dad loved each other and had you, so you’re Wolf-dogs.”

“Then we’re wolf-puppies.”

The conversation suddenly veered in a different direction, but Yoon Chi-young handled it skillfully. While raising children, there were many times when they transitioned into such random contemplations.

However, unlike their usual barrage of questions, this time the children stared blankly at Yoon Chi-young in the front seat. Seeing this through the rearview mirror, Yoon Chi-young looked puzzled. Whenever the children wore such innocent expressions, a sudden flood of questions usually followed.

The question came from the emotionally sensitive firstborn.

“Daddy, Daddy.”

“Yes?”

“Does Wolf Dad still love Puppy Dad?”

“Of course. I love him so much… probably soon.”

Yoon Chi-young, who was about to smile and say they would probably have a younger sibling soon, clamped his mouth shut. He had said something like that before and had been severely scolded by Hee-sung, who heard it through the children. He often received nagging from the puppy to stop saying useless things to the kids, but he hadn’t been able to fix that habit. To do so, he would have to reduce the size of his heart for Hee-sung, which seemed like an impossible lifelong task.

But the children didn’t seem to believe in that excessive love.

“No, I don’t think he loves him.”

“……?”

At the sudden remark, Yoon Chi-young couldn’t even respond, which was unlike him. He wondered what behavior had led them to think that, but no matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.

They arrived home just then. Yoon Chi-young parked the car roughly and looked back. He saw only the bright, innocent faces of two Wolf-dogs.

Among them, the words of the firstborn, who resembled him particularly well, struck his heart.

“Wolf Dad makes Puppy Dad tired.”

“…Daddy does?”

“Yes. …He’s bad.”

The second child followed up. With even the second child criticizing him, Yoon Chi-young didn’t know where to start asking.

In the meantime, Hee-sung, who had been waiting in the parking lot, approached and unbuckled the children’s car seats.

“Do-yoon, Seo-yoon, you’re here?”

“Puppy Dad-!”

The children called out to Hee-sung with wide smiles, as if they had never criticized Yoon Chi-young. Throughout the process of unbuckling the car seats, Hee-sung received a barrage of kisses and had to straighten the children’s pants, which had slid down because they were wagging their tails so frantically.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young stepped out of the car with a complicated expression and brushed back his hair. He scooped both children up in his arms and headed for the elevator, but since the twins’ entire attention was fixed on Hee-sung, he couldn’t ask further, and his curiosity only grew.

‘When did I ever make him tired?’

He wanted to hold onto the children and ask more, but he couldn’t force a conversation with five-year-olds whose interests had already shifted. Since children tended to believe exactly what they saw, it meant there must have been an incident that looked that way.

‘…What on earth looked bad?’

Yoon Chi-young fell into serious thought. He was puzzled because his relationship with Hee-sung had been at its peak recently.

Since the children required less attention now, they had been busy biting and sucking on each other every night, suggesting it was time to make a third. Perhaps because of that, Hee-sung, who had weaker stamina, had been sleeping more during the day; could that be the reason?

As Hee-sung’s nap times grew longer, Yoon Chi-young would shower him with kisses whenever his companion was awake and secretly touch the kiss marks left from the previous night. Every time, Hee-sung would prick up his puppy ears and snap at him, but since he wasn’t truly angry—it was a very mild tantrum for Hee-sung—the mischievous pranks had continued to increase.

‘Did it look like I was bullying him to the kids?’

Thinking about it again, it was understandable that the children would misunderstand. Both of them tended to be aggressive with physical affection, and there was a significant difference in their physiques; to a five-year-old who believes whatever they see and hear, it could look like he was bullying the puppy. Yoon Chi-young awkwardly brushed his hair over his forehead.

‘I should restrain myself a bit in front of the kids.’

In truth, this was already the result of some restraint, but Yoon Chi-young decided to be more discreet. It was part of his efforts to give the twins a sibling, but he hadn’t expected this side effect. Since both Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young were quite rough in their expressions of affection, this was really nothing, but if it looked bad in the children’s eyes, it was something that needed to be corrected.

Having organized his thoughts, Yoon Chi-young thought that children’s minds were truly unpredictable and gave Hee-sung a subtle, secret smile.

For now, conversation over.

Though there were suspicious parts, it meant he had cleared the mission.

Then, as Hee-sung stepped into the elevator, he nodded indifferently as if he understood, but behind his back where the children couldn’t see, he grabbed the wolf’s large black tail and gave it a long, firm stroke. At this secret action, which was usually reserved for lovers, Yoon Chi-young had to fight desperately not to get excited. It was because the image of Hee-sung stroking his own member last night naturally came to mind.

Then, Yoon Chi-young felt truly wronged. Recently, Hee-sung had been unconsciously tempting him with innocent eyes, which had made their marital relations even more passionate. He was in a sorrowful position, unable to explain such circumstances to the children.

As the children grew, Hee-sung experienced the mystery of genetics.

This was because there were more and more times when he saw glimpses of himself or Yoon Chi-young in the twins.

Do-yoon, the firstborn, was sensitive like Yoon Chi-young, acting cautious and elegant like a little prince. Moreover, he was intelligent and good at using clever tricks, just like Hee-sung.

In contrast, Seo-yoon, the second, was a spirited little general, always direct and honest. She was as moody as Yoon Chi-young, always wanting new toys or games, and she loved rough activities as much as Hee-sung, making her absolutely adore the playground.

Although the two children seemed to have opposite personalities, they shared one common trait inherited from their parents: an intense obsession with the things they loved.

The first child’s first obsession was Yoon Chi-young’s socks, and the second child’s first obsession was a tug-of-war toy. Their attachment was so severe that they refused replacements even when their belongings were worn out, and they would reject them even if they were the exact same product.

The new attachment they developed toward Hee-sung could be said to resemble Yoon Chi-young.

This was because they constantly tried to pull Hee-sung away from Yoon Chi-young to keep him all to themselves.

‘Daddy! Puppy Daddy, sleep with us!’

Late at night, the pups pushed the white puppy around with their noses. One climbed onto a “fainting cushion” covered in microfiber blankets, exposing its pink belly and wagging its tail in temptation. The puppy, bursting into laughter at the cuteness, followed the children obediently.

‘You want to sleep with Daddy today?’

‘Yes!’

Hee-sung loved it most when the children asked to sleep together. This was especially true since it was the instinct of Dog-kin to sleep back-to-back with their pack. The wolf-dogs seemed to have inherited that instinct as well; when Hee-sung came willingly, they wagged their tails and even their hips in delight. Although the children’s True Forms were already twice as large as Hee-sung’s, at times like this, they were unmistakably babies.

However, there was one person who could remain brazen despite the children’s temptations. That was Yoon Chi-young.

“What to do? Puppy Daddy promised to sleep with me.”

‘Hey!’

Speaking slyly, Yoon Chi-young naturally scooped up the white fluff. The puppy, who had been heading toward the fainting cushion, suddenly found his legs flailing helplessly in mid-air. The wolf-dogs lost Hee-sung in an instant, and the puppy ended up dangling in Yoon Chi-young’s arms. The wolf-dogs immediately protested as if howling.

Awooo—!

The black fluff-balls clung to the hems of Yoon Chi-young’s pants, desperate to take Hee-sung back. Interpreting their body language roughly, they were protesting, asking how he could do this and claiming that Wolf Daddy was grown up and could sleep alone. At the children’s violent reaction, Hee-sung flapped his front paws, quickly asking to be put down. When Yoon Chi-young set him down with a dissatisfied look, Hee-sung stepped onto the carpet and, using his small paws, clumsily patted the two wolf-dogs while proposing the best solution.

‘Stop! Twins, why don’t we all sleep together, including Wolf Daddy?’

‘No! That’s a no.’

The children groaned and shook their heads vigorously, as if they hated the idea for some reason. They even went through the trouble of explaining why, claiming that Yoon Chi-young’s body was too big and there was no room left on the fainting cushion. Although Hee-sung couldn’t understand half of their enthusiastic babbling, he glared at Yoon Chi-young with a face that asked if they had actually had a conversation.

He had even bought them toys and given them earlier, but instead of their attitude improving, it had actually worsened. However, seeing Yoon Chi-young’s wronged expression, Hee-sung couldn’t help but ask curiously.

‘Seo-yoon, Do-yoon, what’s wrong? Did Wolf Daddy do something wrong?’

‘That’s…’

Even when asked, the children just groaned and led Hee-sung onto the fainting cushion. They had become so strong that Hee-sung, in his puppy form, was practically rolled onto the cushion. The pups then surrounded Hee-sung on both sides like an iron fortress, but their gaze toward Yoon Chi-young remained intense. Yoon Chi-young also shifted into his True Form and lay down beside them with his large frame, but the pups seemed to have no intention of associating with him.

It was then that Hee-sung felt a sense of crisis. To think they wouldn’t even sleep back-to-back as members of the same pack.

‘This is actually serious.’

It felt like there was another reason, rather than just their attachment to him. The puppy slowly lifted his head from between the pitch-black fluff-balls. Only a certain determination lingered in the eyes looking at the wolf.

There was a change in the children’s mindset.

As if noticing the sign, the wolf stared intently at Hee-sung. Hee-sung nodded as if he understood, and after quietly confirming the children had fallen asleep, he slipped away from the fainting cushion.

It seemed he would have to spend the whole night pondering a solution.

The next day, Hee-sung and Chi-young scheduled a child counseling appointment.

Because the teacher was famous, the reservations were backed up, but thanks to Yoon Chi-young’s authority, they were able to secure a relatively close date. In truth, Yoon Chi-young briefly wondered if counseling was truly necessary, but seeing that the children still didn’t treat him as part of the pack, he arranged the appointment on his own. As Hee-sung expected, the children were wary of Yoon Chi-young.

The first person to bring this up was their nanny, Ji Young-bae.

“The twins seem the same as usual…”

Ji Young-bae answered seriously, though his face remained expressionless. He said they were the same as always when he trained and looked after them. In fact, he even bragged that their learning speed had been increasing day by day recently.

“Recently, I’ve been teaching them about the role of the Wolf Clan, and the twins have taken a great interest in the work of a Watcher.”

“In the work of a Watcher?”

“Yes. I told them it is a profession that punishes wrongdoing, and they seem to think it’s the same work as a cartoon character they like these days.”

“…Ah.”

Yoon Chi-young, who had been momentarily excited, felt awkward. The character the children liked these days was a hero who only operated at night, but he looked like a cute, pink fairy. There was a significant gap between that and the role of a Watcher, the strongest of wolves.

Still, perhaps it was a relief that it was a character the children liked. Hee-sung explained the whole situation to Ji Young-bae and told him about the counseling appointment. As expected, perhaps because he already had a son, he gave Yoon Chi-young a subtle piece of advice.

“Children at that age can be very simple, so it could be for a very common reason. After all, the Director’s True Form is a predator… My Ho-hyun is still unfamiliar with my True Form.”

“…I hope that’s not it,” Yoon Chi-young said with a sigh. In fact, he had heard such cases often and had already kept the possibility in mind.

Having similar True Forms has a huge impact on the sense of pack identity, and as it happened, the children’s sizes were currently similar to Hee-sung’s True Form. Because of that, they might feel a deeper racial kinship with Hee-sung and feel wary of Yoon Chi-young’s intimidating appearance.

Yoon Chi-young sat down with a gloomy face, regretting that he had scolded the children in his True Form, even if only for a moment. The more he loved the children, the harder parenting seemed to be.

After returning from kindergarten, the twins stopped by the Watcher’s office.

“Daddy!”

“Hug me!”

As soon as they arrived, the twins jumped into Hee-sung’s arms. Hee-sung, struggling to hold both of them, glanced at Yoon Chi-young, remembering the counseling schedule. He planned to give the children a simple snack and tell them where they were going before heading to the appointment.

To do that, he had to make the children feel comfortable and bring up the topic so they wouldn’t feel strange about the counseling. Yoon Chi-young decided to buy the apple juice the children loved as bait.

“Daddy’s going out for a moment to buy juice. Stay with Puppy Daddy.”

“…Okay.”

The twins spoke while tightly gripping Hee-sung’s collar. They were still looking at Yoon Chi-young warily. Yoon Chi-young’s heart ached, but he left the office, hoping for the counseling.

Still, he believed that if he could find out the exact reason why the children were wary, he would find a clue to the solution.

Click.

As Yoon Chi-young left, silence filled the office.

“Do-yoon, Seo-yoon, play for a bit. Let’s play after Daddy checks these documents.”

Hee-sung left the children for a moment to check the remaining paperwork, and the organization members waited separately outside the office. It was the moment when the adults’ gaze moved away from the children.

The first and second children moved quietly with determined faces. The opportunity they had been eyeing for so long had finally arrived.

The two wolf-dogs were smart enough to understand the purpose of objects to some extent. They knew that when their Watcher daddies touched the tablet PC, they could punish someone.

Among them, the second child approached the tablet PC used by the Watcher for work.

Turning on the tablet PC just as Hee-sung usually did to show them cartoons, the second child pressed various things just like a daddy would. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the second child’s knowledge.

[Summary Judgment Instruction: Select Target]

The second child was flustered upon seeing the red letters.

‘…I can’t read Hangul.’

The panic was brief; fortunately, the work instructions appeared so that the target could be chosen intuitively. In the target list, there was a name they could actually read. It was the name the second child was looking for.

[Target for Arrest: Yoon Chi-young]

[Summary Judgment Instruction Complete]

Having completed the mission, the second child stepped away from the desk. The first child sat on the opposite side of the sofa, pretending to be mature, and suddenly started talking to Hee-sung about their favorite character. Despite the sudden conversation, Hee-sung felt it was a relief that the children were being well-behaved today and began tidying up the area without suspicion.

Sitting side-by-side in front of him, the first and second children exchanged secret glances. Their two hands, gripped tightly in tension, fidgeted.

Summary Judgment.

It was very rare for a Summary Judgment request to reach a Watcher. It happened perhaps once or twice a year, and only because such cases were rare.

A Summary Judgment occurred when someone reported a member of the Wolf Clan to the Watcher for betrayal or for committing an act that greatly tarnished their honor.

Since it required clear evidence of betrayal or the capture of a wolf who deserved severe punishment, reports were naturally few. It was also because the Watcher’s power had grown stronger recently, and no one dared to act recklessly.

Nevertheless, if a report was filed, organization members immediately went to capture the person designated as the traitor. They would then make them kneel before the Watcher, interrogate them for their crimes, and have them judged on the spot.

It was one of the most important tasks a Watcher had to handle.

Therefore, when the order dropped, the organization members hesitated for about five seconds.

[Summary Judgment Target: Yoon Chi-young]

[Instructor: Gyeon Hee-sung]

It was because they had received a Summary Capture order to bring in their own boss.

However, they were professionals. Even if it was Yoon Chi-young, if the person who gave the order was the joint observer, Hee-sung, he had the authority to judge him.

The organization members swarmed in and immediately tracked down the sinner. Fortunately, since they were in the same building, they were able to capture Yoon Chi-young just as he was about to get into his car in the parking lot.

“Director, I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?”

Yoon Chi-young, with a bewildered face unlike his usual self, had both arms grabbed and was hauled away. He even joked in the elevator, saying that Hee-sung would misunderstand if they did this. The organization members also couldn’t understand what was happening—though it seemed like a couple’s quarrel—but since it was an order from the Watcher, Hee-sung, they couldn’t hastily say anything.

Thus, Yoon Chi-young was dragged to the Watcher’s office and forced to kneel before Hee-sung. Hee-sung, who was sitting on the black leather sofa looking at documents, looked puzzled.

“…What are you doing again?”

“Ah… honey?”

“I asked what you’re doing.”

Hee-sung looked around with a mix of annoyance and curiosity, as if wondering what kind of event this was. Still, with a glimmer of expectation, his ears perked up, wondering if there was some kind of gift.

But there was nothing special. The organization members’ expressions were serious as usual, but a hint of bewilderment lingered. Yoon Chi-young, who was kneeling in the office for the first time, also had a face that didn’t understand the situation.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Yoon Chi-young seriously thought about whether he had done anything wrong to Hee-sung recently. But the only thing that came to mind was last night. The children had begged Hee-sung to sleep with them, so he had teased him by saying the puppy usually only sleeps with him before taking him away.

They had just talked for a while through the night and had some intense couple’s activities. No matter how much he thought about it, he didn’t seem to have done anything wrong to Hee-sung.

With both of them puzzled, Ji Young-bae provided the explanation.

“Well, I have carried out a Summary Capture by the order of Lord Hee-sung.”

“Me?”

“You?”

Both asked simultaneously. Ji Young-bae looked troubled, then asked for understanding and took out his phone to show them something.

On the screen, a real Summary Capture order had been issued in Hee-sung’s name. At the absurdity of it, panic was clearly visible on Hee-sung’s face.

“I—I never gave such an order!”

“Uh… but.”

Ji Young-bae struggled in the unexpected situation. It was just as Yoon Chi-young, who had been enjoying the thought of it being an event, began to show signs of disappointment.

Then, a young and clear voice was heard from the side.

“I did it…”

At the clumsy words, everyone’s gaze shifted to the child. The child, who had been hiding behind an organization member, looked nervous, with their tail curled round, but their eyes shone with determination.

Realizing it was the children’s doing, Hee-sung spoke to the organization members with a troubled face.

“Um… I’d like to talk with my family for a moment.”

“Understood.”

The organization members seemed relieved. The fact that it was simply a prank by a child was a hundred times better than a couple’s fight. From Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young’s perspective, a couple’s fight would have been better, but regardless, it wasn’t a situation that would escalate into a major fire. The organization members looked at the deeply troubled Yoon Chi-young with unfamiliarity and carefully left the office.

Soon, the clean office became quiet. Yoon Chi-young cleared his throat, knowing it was time to maintain his dignity in front of the children, and Hee-sung called the children in a deliberately stern voice.

“Do-yoon, Seo-yoon, come here.”

The twins’ black ears were pressed flat against their heads, as if they were nervous. Their tails were also stiff, with only the tips shaking occasionally.

Soon, the twins approached their daddies while holding each other’s hands tightly. In the first child’s light gray eyes, there was wariness toward Yoon Chi-young, and in the second child’s dark gray eyes, there was a small amount of resolve.

Hee-sung’s heart softened just by looking at the children’s nervous tails, but he tried to hold their hands individually and asked rationally, excluding as much emotion as possible.

“Did you two touch Daddy’s tablet and send an instruction?”

“…Yes.”

The second child, Seo-yoon, answered bravely. Their round eyes moved quickly, checking the reactions of both daddies. Hee-sung didn’t know how children who hadn’t even mastered Hangul yet had managed to send an order, but since it was something that could have turned into a major commotion, he spoke sternly.

“You must not touch Daddy’s tablet carelessly. The position of a Watcher is a very important one. Fortunately, nothing happened this time, but it could have led to a big problem.”

Do-yoon, who had been reading the room, spoke up. The first child’s dampened spirit revived along with their perked-up ears.

“But a Watcher is a position that punishes bad people.”

“That’s right. It is a position for punishing.”

This time, Yoon Chi-young, who was sitting next to Hee-sung, answered. Although he had been suddenly dragged in and forced to kneel, he didn’t hastily scold the children. He thought it was a mistake that young children could make.

Yoon Chi-young held the child’s hand and explained calmly.

“Still, you must carefully examine the target of punishment. If you punish someone who has committed no crime, you are not a Watcher, but a bad person.”

“…I told you to be punished.”

“Seo-yoon?”

Sensing something strange, Yoon Chi-young lowered his head to meet the child’s eyes. The child, who looked just like him, seemed somehow sad yet angry. After hesitating and chewing on their lip, the child finally spoke up bravely.

“We… know that Wolf Daddy bullied Puppy Daddy.”

“…I did?”

“Yes.”

Once they had the chance to speak, the twins’ chattering voices grew louder.

“I heard it.”

“Me too.”

“He kept bullying him at night.”

“Puppy Daddy cried and said he didn’t like it…”

“He was, like, struggling.”

“Puppy Daddy said ‘ouch’ and kept telling him to stop.”

“But Wolf Daddy kept bullying him!”

At Do-yoon’s final shout, both daddies went blank.

“Ah… that’s.”

In a situation that was beyond awkward and bordering on embarrassing, even the brazen Yoon Chi-young couldn’t easily open his mouth. The anger of the righteous wolf-dogs was already piercing the sky. Soon, two pairs of tiny hands pushed Yoon Chi-young’s body away to separate him from Hee-sung.

“Wolf Daddy is mean!”

“That’s right. Don’t bully Puppy Daddy!”

“They said if you’re bigger, you have to give in!”

“Kids, wait, wait a minute.”

Hee-sung first calmed the children while shielding the quite flustered Yoon Chi-young.

Yoon Chi-young looked genuinely hurt. Of all the false accusations, to be accused of bullying Hee-sung. Moreover, to be hated this much by the children. He had thought the children’s attitude had changed because their attachment to Hee-sung had grown, but it turned out their attitude had changed because of a ridiculous misunderstanding.

It was a major disaster.

Hee-sung and Yoon Chi-young looked at each other with eyes mixed with distress and fatigue.

While wondering who they had inherited this from, the two of them had to resolve the situation entirely as parents.

First, Hee-sung sat on the sofa, held the first child’s hand, and lowered his head to meet their gaze.

“That’s… uh, listen carefully, kids.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I think our babies have a bit of a misunderstanding about their daddies…”

As Hee-sung spoke, he glanced sideways. Yoon Chi-young also looked reliable beside him.

He sat crouched down, meeting the child’s eyes. Unlike Hee-sung, he looked bewildered yet troubled, laughing with the tips of his ears flushed red. Even that sight looked relaxed and carefree, which only made Hee-sung more anxious.

“Actually, Daddy was… not being bullied…”

Hee-sung fell into a deep, serious contemplation. What on earth should he tell the child? Lying didn’t suit Hee-sung’s nature, which made it even more difficult.

But Yoon Chi-young was different. He was a man who stood above children who resembled him. Shameless lies poured from his mouth as fluently as a flowing stream.

“I think you misunderstood. Daddies were just enjoying a massage.”

“……?”

“…What’s a misunderstanding?”

Suddenly struck by a bout of ‘Why?’, the child questioned him, but Yoon Chi-young calmly explained.

Only after about ten minutes of explanation tailored to a child’s level could the conversation return to the original point.

“…So, Daddies were massaging. Since it sounded like it hurt, Do-yoon and Seo-yoon thought the Puppy Daddy was being bullied.”

“…Massage.”

“…….”

Hee-sung looked beside him with a sorrowful expression, as if asking if this was truly the only way. However, Yoon Chi-young just smiled softly, remaining crouched in his delinquent posture. The child, not understanding the situation, simply looked puzzled, puffing out chubby cheeks. Hee-sung saw a glimmer of hope in that reaction.

The children believe it. He had to let it slide like this.

Seeing that innocent expression, Hee-sung hurriedly chimed in.

“Uh, yeah. Th-that’s right. Actually, Wolf Daddy was giving me a massage.”

“Yes, it’s a massage that Puppy Daddy likes very much.”

“Do you remember when Wolf Daddy gave Do-yoon and Seo-yoon a massage to help you grow tall? It’s the same thing as that.”

“Right. That day, the puppy begged for it to be stronger, ugh…!”

As he spoke, Yoon Chi-young was poked in the ribs by Hee-sung’s arm. Hee-sung didn’t have time to care that he was in pain. He had to protect the child’s innocence and get through this situation somehow. Hee-sung lay down awkwardly on the sofa and staged a scene where Yoon Chi-young massaged his waist.

“L-like this… Wolf Daddy was, like, massaging me.”

“Yes, touching your waist so it wouldn’t hurt. Your shoulders, your legs, he massaged everything.”

“See, you don’t have to worry. Massages are a good thing.”

Yoon Chi-young pretended to tap Hee-sung’s back and waist with his fist. Perhaps because he was a natural actor, he looked not just natural but genuinely kind, unlike Hee-sung, who was breaking into a cold sweat. After acting out a clumsy “Ow, it hurts, ow!” Hee-sung pushed Yoon Chi-young away and sat back up to meet the children’s eyes.

Eventually, a sense of relief settled into the children’s round gray eyes.

“Then… did you get a massage every day because you wanted to grow tall?”

“…Yeah.”

“That’s why Puppy Daddy got one….”

It was an innocent comment, but it made Hee-sung’s heart ache. Since Yoon Chi-young was 18cm taller than him, it must have looked like a world of difference to the child. He could see Yoon Chi-young suppressing a laugh beside him, but Hee-sung had to accept it while swallowing his tears. The child’s innocence came first, and as he looked at the eldest’s eyes, they grew moist with how worried he had been.

Unlike the second child, who was simply happy it was a relief, Do-yoon’s voice even sounded watery with relief.

“…I was a little scared.”

“What? That Daddy was being bullied?”

“Yeah….”

As he spoke, Do-yoon began to sob, and tears started to fall. To children for whom the pack was the most precious thing in the world, the idea of Wolf Daddy bullying Puppy Daddy was a thunderbolt of worry. It was a situation where their one and only precious pack almost tore apart. Hee-sung, understanding that feeling, patted the child’s back to soothe him.

“Is that why you’ve been wary of Wolf Daddy all this time?”

“Y-yeah… I thought he might bully Daddy again….”

“It was a growth massage. That’s so sad….”

Yoon Chi-young pretended to be upset, and for the first time, Hee-sung realized that being shameless was helpful in times like this. Although the children might find out the awkward truth as the years passed… regardless, he was glad they got through it for now.

Hee-sung told the eldest how to fix the strained relationship.

“Now. Let’s apologize to Wolf Daddy and say, ‘I’m sorry for misunderstanding.’”

“Daddy, I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t know….”

After saying this, the eldest sobbed and threw himself into Yoon Chi-young’s arms. The second child, excited that the family was hugging, dove into the embrace like a bison. Even as Yoon Chi-young held and comforted him, the eldest continued to burst into tears; since the child had always wanted to be a Watcher like Wolf Daddy, the shock seemed quite significant.

Yoon Chi-young smiled as if it couldn’t be helped and kissed the child’s jet-black hair. Even while crying sorrowfully, when Hee-sung told him to say “I love you” from the side, the child followed along while sobbing. A ticklish laugh escaped Yoon Chi-young as he ruffled the child’s hair. The child’s black ears shook wildly, smelling of the nutty scent that resembled Hee-sung.

After crying for a long while, the child finally calmed down. With tear and snot marks across his eyes, nose, and mouth on Yoon Chi-young’s shirt, the child looked like a typical five-year-old. Since the second child started sobbing along, asking why the other was crying, Hee-sung patted them and wiped their faces with tissues.

“Now, Do-yoon and Seo-yoon, if there’s anything you misunderstand, you have to tell Daddies everything.”

“Okay.”

“Members of a pack talk a lot and take care of each other so they can overcome anything together.”

“Okay….”

While answering Hee-sung’s words diligently, the child refused to leave Yoon Chi-young’s embrace. It seemed he had regained his trust in the dependable Wolf Daddy.

Having somehow resolved the incident, Yoon Chi-young and Hee-sung exchanged looks of relief. Raising children meant unimaginable things happened every day, so they could never truly let their guard down.

However, he felt a natural sense of pride in the children’s righteous hearts. It was a heart that only Wolf-dogs, who resembled Hee-sung and Chi-young, could possess.

Today, the Wolf-dogs learned a new lesson.

To trust the pack and always communicate, and to strive to solve problems or fears together. They learned that if they did, even scary things would become nothing.

The clever children quickly followed that teaching. When the puppy Wolf-dogs woke up late at night and felt danger, they began to look for their daddies.

It wasn’t that they suspected Wolf Daddy again or wanted to interfere; it was because something scary had happened. The weather had been cloudy since evening, and not long after the children fell asleep, a sudden downpour began, and thunder and lightning struck so violently that the world seemed to shake. The little ones, waking up groggily, huddled together and trembled, enduring it before embarking on the long journey to the bedroom to find their pack. The second child followed, biting the first child’s tail as they crossed the dark house.

‘Daddy, Daddy.’

‘Daddy, I’m scared….’

The sound of Wolf-dogs whining could be heard outside the door. Chi-young, who had been choosing a travel destination for the summer with Hee-sung, opened the door in surprise, his wolf ears pricked. Hee-sung, who had transformed into a puppy, was a bit late as he had to climb down the stairs from the bed.

“Twins, when did you wake up again?”

Yoon Chi-young spoke affectionately, bending his legs to sit. Two Wolf-dogs, curled up like soccer balls in front of the door, were trembling. The always-honest second child, Seo-yoon, whined while lifting a front paw as if asking to be held, and the eldest stayed pressed against the sibling, curling their tail and trembling silently.

It was a situation that warranted such a reaction. Suddenly, a clap of thunder louder than before echoed.

K-boom!

Yelp!

The startled eldest hurriedly clung to Chi-young’s wrist. The second child clung to Hee-sung, who had just arrived at the door, trying to burrow into his chest. As the pup, who was larger than him, insistently leaned their forehead against him, the puppy’s body almost flipped over.

Yoon Chi-young laughed, firmly supporting the white lump’s back.

“Ah, did you come because you’re scared of the thunder?”

Whine….

“This won’t do. Daddies have to stay with you.”

Yoon Chi-young gathered the pups and even Hee-sung into his arms. Holding two black lumps and one slightly smaller white lump in the middle, he headed toward the children’s room.

Hee-sung, held in the arms, simply had a grumpy expression. He had always disliked lightning, so he hadn’t been feeling well.

“Now, let’s go in with Daddy.”

Instead of going to the children’s beds, Yoon Chi-young squeezed himself into the Wolf Den that rose like a tent. Squeezing in only his upper body and lying on his side, he stroked the small black pups one by one. The white puppy lying in the middle received his touch twice for every one time the pups were stroked.

‘I wonder when I’ll get them back to sleep….’

Hee-sung found it bothersome that he had to put the children back to sleep and that Yoon Chi-young was needlessly stroking him too, but he stayed quiet until the pups calmed down and fell asleep. Although it was hot with two fur balls clinging to him on both sides, he felt a sense of stability that gradually made him drowsy.

The second child pressed tightly against Hee-sung and trembled.

‘Dadda, Daddy.’

‘Come here. Is the lightning very scary?’

Hee-sung mumbled and licked the head of the Wolf-dog, who was much larger than him. When the children expressed themselves through body language, they mixed in wolf traits, making the words confusing, but Hee-sung could tell how the child felt just by looking at the tightly curled tail.

The second child, who had been trembling in fear, slightly lifted their head. Gray-black eyes, moist with tears, were directed toward Hee-sung.

‘I, I was scared….’

The black lump said, leaning a moist nose into Hee-sung’s narrow embrace.

‘Now that Daddy is here, it’s okay.’

“…….”

‘I’m not scared.’

Hee-sung hesitantly hugged the mumbling second child. The trembling in the child’s body, pressed tightly against him, gradually subsided. Even so, the child occasionally wagged their tail, expressing that they liked Daddy and that it was okay now. Hee-sung watched this for a long time before looking to the side.

The sound of heavy rain falling outside and the infinitely peaceful scene inside the house appeared slowly.

Yoon Chi-young was letting the eldest lean against his palm. As he gently stroked the child’s brow, both Wolf-dogs closed their eyes tightly. Hee-sung squeezed in between the children, intentionally pressing his body against them. When scared, each other’s body heat provides the most stability. Hee-sung continued to lick the children leaning on him, telling them it was okay.

Meanwhile, Yoon Chi-young’s softly speaking voice blended with the sound of rain, sounding atmospheric.

“Seo-yoon, Do-yoon. It’s okay.”

The words he whispered landed softly in Hee-sung’s ears.

“Daddies are here.”

“…….”

“There’s the strongest Puppy Daddy in the world, and the most handsome Wolf Daddy too.”

Hee-sung looked at Yoon Chi-young as if to say he was truly shameless, but since he really was handsome, he kept his mouth shut. Having just washed up, the ends of his black hair were wet and covering his forehead, making his sharp bridge of the nose stand out more. Combined with his always relaxed smile and the comfortable white t-shirt and training pants he wore, it made Hee-sung feel at ease.

Flash—thunder struck outside again. The eldest whimpered and tried to bury their nose in Hee-sung’s side. His body almost flipped over, but the puppy endured it and heavily hugged the pup.

Yoon Chi-young also brought his head closer and lay down, leaning his arm.

“We’ll be together, so sleep peacefully.”

“…….”

“I’ll stay by your side.”

The sound of rain continued outside.

Thunder struck occasionally, but the pups did not cry. Their soft breathing grew longer, and the downy weight leaning on Hee-sung’s body lightened.

Even after seeing that the pups had fallen asleep, Yoon Chi-young continued to stroke the white and black lumps one by one for a while. It looked as if he were fully enjoying the peace even as the sky flashed and thunder roared. Whenever his eyes met the white puppy’s, he smiled, pointing to the sleeping pups as if to say they had succeeded. His characteristic elegant eye-smile showed his innate composure.

“…….”

Strangely, the more Hee-sung saw that peaceful sight, the more sorrowful he became. Was it because the thunder kept striking outside? He remembered looking out at the rain with dried-up eyes in a derelict house when he was abandoned as a child.

At that time, even his heart had died black, so he felt nothing even when seeing thunder. He simply slowly realized that he had been abandoned by his family and was alone at the edge of the world, and he tried to force himself to sleep, thinking he never wanted to wake up again. Because of those painful memories, Hee-sung had always hated thunder.

But not anymore.

In the place he thought was the edge of the cliff, he met a wonderful Companion and had rabbit-like children. The babies, whom he cherished more than his own life, would never experience the sadness of being abandoned in a derelict house.

The more he thought about it, the more overwhelming it was; he was clearly relieved and happy. Yet, strangely, tears kept coming to Hee-sung’s eyes.

Boom!

Thunder struck violently again. But now, the pups did not cry. Instead, they buried their faces in Hee-sung’s small back and breathed comfortably. The second child had fallen asleep lying flat on their pink belly. Yoon Chi-young gave Hee-sung a secret signal to leave now, then carefully placed the children on the fainting cushion and covered them with a blanket.

Hee-sung left first so as not to disturb Yoon Chi-young. His chest felt tight, and he felt he needed to go to the kitchen to drink some water. The puppy, walking with small strides, gradually grew and transformed into Human Form. Hee-sung wiped his reddened eyes, put on the gown hanging on the chair, and took out a water glass.

However, the emotions surging from within refused to stop and threatened to leak out.

“…Hic.”

Hee-sung let out a sob, standing while holding the water glass. His black pupils grew watery, and the puppy ears atop his head trembled.

The words the child had said earlier kept ringing in his ears. They said they weren’t scared of the thunder now because he was there. Because Hee-sung was there.

How wonderful would it have been if he had had that too?

He felt so lucky that at least the children had him and Yoon Chi-young. With a whirlwind of emotions, Hee-sung sobbed and wiped his tears. It seemed like such a small thing, but it was strange that the tears kept coming.

Then, Yoon Chi-young approached, brushing back his disheveled hair. He was about to play a prank, but upon hearing Hee-sung sobbing, his mischievous expression turned serious.

“Honey? …Are you crying?”

“I’m, not. Go away….”

Hee-sung tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but tears dripped from his large eyes down his chin. It was very rare for a Fighting Dog to cry, so Yoon Chi-young was greatly surprised. With a face that had lost all its composure, he rubbed Hee-sung’s tear-stained cheek with his thumb to soothe him.

“Why are you crying so sorrowfully? Is our puppy very scared of the thunder too?”

“What are you… hic, I’m not scared.”

Hee-sung spoke firmly and tried to pass by Yoon Chi-young.

However, he couldn’t push him away because Yoon Chi-young wrapped his entire body around him in an embrace. In truth, he tried to push him away but gave up quickly. Yoon Chi-young probably didn’t even know why he was crying, but he was grateful and happy that he was just there by his side.

When Yoon Chi-young patted his back, Hee-sung began to sob like a child. He gave up on trying to hold back the tears. Even if he tried, the lump of emotion in his chest kept leaking out; it felt as if the tears he couldn’t resolve during the time he was abandoned were finally bursting forth now.

“Hic, ugh….”

“Puppy, I’m sorry, okay?”

“What are you… sorry for… it’s not your fault.”

As Hee-sung cried, trembling violently, Yoon Chi-young became restless. Even though Hee-sung acted blunt because he was embarrassed to be crying, Yoon Chi-young did not leave. He stopped asking Hee-sung why he was crying and, while hugging Hee-sung, who kept trying to go back to the room alone, returned to his True Form.

Soon, a fluffy black wolf circled around, pretending not to see the tears, and acted cute by rubbing its head against Hee-sung’s chest. When Hee-sung told him not to play around, the wolf offered his large back and pushed his waist. As if telling him to lean on him.

“I’m, okay. Just leave me alone for a bit….”

Grrr.

Even as Hee-sung spoke, the wolf insisted on pushing his waist to make him lean.

Reluctantly, Hee-sung climbed onto the wolf’s back and leaned in deeply. It was soft and warm. Moreover, he was grateful that Yoon Chi-young had intentionally returned to his True Form to comfort him. It was clearly for him, who was clumsy at expressing himself.

“Yoon, Chi-young… you know.”

Sobbing, Hee-sung climbed onto his back and buried his forehead deep in the mane. Leaning into the warm body heat, the inner thoughts he couldn’t even grasp himself began to flow out naturally.

“Earlier, hic. The second child said….”

Grrr.

“Our baby… said they aren’t scared of the thunder because I’m here.”

As he spoke, Hee-sung burst into tears. His own child would not grow up to be a child who hated thunder. They would not become a child who hated themselves, thinking they were lacking, out of fear of being abandoned. That fact alone was a great comfort to Hee-sung. The emotions that had been bottled up in his chest for ten years melted away hollowly at a single word from the child.

“Even though I wasn’t scared… I hated thunder my whole life.”

“…….”

“Because it was thundering when I was abandoned… I kept remembering that time….”

It was the first time in his life that Hee-sung had opened up about his inner feelings. At those words, the wolf whimpered, as if only now realizing and feeling sorry.

“I’m okay now,” Hee-sung said, hugging the wolf and wiping his tears on its mane. The mane, which was always glossy and elegant, was now dampened and matted only where the tears had fallen. Hee-sung found it oddly funny and let out a sob, yet he smiled.

The wolf was now carrying him on its back, circling the living room several times. It even stood still, gazing out the window at the rain, as if waiting for him to say everything until he felt better.

“I’m really okay now…”

Hee-sung sniffled, feeling awkward. However, since the crying hadn’t completely stopped, the wolf thought of another alternative and turned toward the refrigerator. Leaning deeply into that lush mane and sobbing, Hee-sung burst into even louder tears as the wolf pulled out some sausages from the fridge. Even though he was looking at a refrigerator overflowing with the foods he loved, tears just kept falling. Nearly ten years had passed since the day he was abandoned, but he wept like a child, more sorrowfully than he had back then.

Yoon Chi-young carried Hee-sung comfortably all the way to the bed. No matter how small Hee-sung’s frame was, he was still a grown man, yet the wolf walked with a light, steady gait, effortlessly carrying him like a giant wolf from a movie. Buried deep in that mane, Hee-sung told him to stop wandering, but a small chuckle escaped him.

“You didn’t even know why I was crying, you just know how to act cute…”

Grrr.

“Is being handsome everything?”

The wolf wagged its thick tail triumphantly, as if to say that it indeed was. Hee-sung laughed at the way it deliberately mimicked a puppy.

Soon, as Hee-sung rolled over and lay on the bed, the wolf lay down beside him. Even while lying down, it seemed to want to comfort Hee-sung, licking his cheek and nudging him gently with its front paws to act cute. Every time those paws, as large as bear paws, landed on his waist, they felt heavy, but Hee-sung left them there because he liked the fluffy sensation.

After wiping his tears, Hee-sung sniffled and tore open a sausage.

As he chewed the sausage, his eyes met the wolf’s. Feeling embarrassed about having cried so loudly like a child, Hee-sung shared a piece of the sausage with Yoon Chi-young and spoke.

“I just… I cried because I was happy a moment ago.”

Grrr.

“I only cry in front of you, so make sure you keep it a secret from the kids.”

The wolf thrashed its tail against the bed with a thud, thud, as if delighted by those words. It leaned its head deeply into Hee-sung’s embrace. Out of embarrassment, Hee-sung tried to feed it the sausage, but the wolf just licked his hand, acting spoiled.

The black eyes gazing at Hee-sung curved subtly, as if holding a smile. Hee-sung smiled at the triumphant look in those eyes, which seemed to tell him to trust him above all else until the end. The wolf’s affectionate act of licking away his tears felt as if it were telling him that everything would be alright. Strangely, the more tenderly he acted, the more tears continued to fall.

“You dummy, stop acting cute and go to sleep… You’re so black I can’t even see you.”

Hee-sung wiped his tears on the pillowcase and tried his best to hug the large wolf. The thunder had subsided, so the children wouldn’t wake up, and they would be able to sleep soundly. Though it was raining, it was a night more peaceful than any other.

Closing his eyes while hugging Yoon Chi-young, Hee-sung realized that he had graduated from another point in his life.

What he learned this time was incredibly precious. Old wounds were not meant to be “overcome.” Not being able to shake them off didn’t make one weak. When things are hard, one should lean on their pack, or comfort and embrace themselves to heal. Because he hadn’t known that, he had spent far too long hating and viewing himself as pathetic.

Thinking it was a relief that he finally knew how to tend to his wounds, Hee-sung returned to being a small puppy.

Shaking its body lightly, the puppy climbed onto the wolf’s long bridge of the nose. As the white tail flickered, the wolf sneezed, as if its nose were ticklish. Still, they expressed their affection by willingly looking into each other’s eyes and rubbing cheeks. Rather than a single word of “I love you,” they shared tens of thousands of emotions through a single act of sharing body heat.

Thunder rumbled intermittently outside the window, but Hee-sung didn’t mind anymore. Even as the rain poured down more heavily, he fell fast asleep, leaning on the wolf’s warmth as if there were nothing in the world to fear. Though he was still a small puppy just like in the past, he was no longer afraid of anything. Because the safest and most reliable pack in the world was by his side.

<Don’t Touch the Puppy> Side Story 2 fin.