Chapter 11

Pushed from behind, I crawled out of the narrow tunnel and into the wider space. My body went limp, and I flopped onto my side.

Groooowl.

I’d completely forgotten after everything that had happened, but my stomach was long past empty—I was starving.

The wolf stared at my belly for a moment, then turned and walked out again.

Busy guy, huh?

At that point, I was too hungry to care where he went. My consciousness faded, and I drifted into sleep.

Woof, woof!

Somewhere in the distance, a dog was barking.

What’s with all the noise? I’m trying to sleep here. Give me a break.

“Woof!!”
“Yipe!!”

He didn’t bare his fangs, but he bit down pretty hard on my foreleg, making me spring up in shock.

Frantically looking around, I saw two blue lights glowing in the darkness.

“Eep!”

Panicking, I tried to run, but something heavy slammed down on me from above.

Just as I was about to scream again, I heard the steady sound of a beast breathing right next to my ear.

Listening to that calm rhythm, my memory of what happened before I fell asleep came rushing back—and I stopped struggling.

As soon as I calmed down, the weight lifted off me.

When I turned and looked up, there he was—black as night, blending into the darkness, sitting quietly.

He’d come back. Relief washed over me. His nose twitched as he sniffed the air.

“Woofff!!”

In front of him was a pile of nuts, berries, and fish.

Overcome with joy, I started panting, leaning forward, tail wagging furiously.

Looking up at the wolf for permission, I saw him stretch out and rest his head on his forelegs, as if to say he wasn’t interested.

Yesss! My first meal in who knows how many days! Time to diiig in!!

You really are “Mr. Wolf”! I’m sorry I ever called you suspicious or dumb!

I dove into the food, burying my head and devouring it like a beast.

I completely forgot he was right next to me as I ate my long-awaited meal.

Burp!

Aah, that hit the spot! I was so full I couldn’t help burping—oops, excuse me.

Then I suddenly remembered the wolf’s presence. He was still lying there, chin on his forelegs, staring straight at me.

Wait… you’ve been watching me this whole time?

The wolf slowly got up and lumbered toward me.

Oh no. Don’t tell me I was supposed to save him some!? You should’ve said something! I ate it all already!!

Then it hit me.

No way—does he plan to fatten me up first… and then eat me!?

“Eep!”

All of a sudden, he licked the corner of my mouth.

Wait, was that… a taste test!? I looked up in panic and saw him moving his mouth slightly.

Oh. Did I have crumbs on my face…?

He swallowed the crumbs he’d just licked off me.

…This feels weirdly embarrassing somehow.

As I watched his throat move, his face leaned in closer.

Wha—don’t tell me I still have crumbs!? How messy was I!?

I frantically rubbed my mouth with my forepaws, but he pressed his nose against me and licked again.

“Eep! Eep!”

He kept licking around my mouth and nose over and over. Was my face really that covered in crumbs!? My poor maiden heart couldn’t handle the shock.

Okay, maybe “maiden” doesn’t quite fit me anymore, but still!

After what felt like forever, he finally seemed satisfied that my face was clean and pulled away.

Well then, sorry for the trouble, Mr. Wolf!

Now that my belly was full, the next thing to come was…

I started pacing around the den restlessly.

The wolf sat and watched me, as if asking, “What are you doing?”

It’s cold outside… and pitch dark… kind of scary too…

I circled the walls a few more times before finally making up my mind and squeezing my body into the narrow exit tunnel.

The wolf followed right after me.

I scrambled forward desperately through the tight space.

Because—if I got pushed from behind in this situation, there was a very high risk that I’d… uh… accidentally pee right in the wolf’s face!!

After struggling my way out of the tunnel, I crouched down a little ways off so I wouldn’t get in the way of his marking spot.

Shhhhhh.

Ah, that’s better.

I wasn’t marking or anything, so I brushed snow over the spot with my hind legs to clean up.

Taking a deep breath, I realized that despite the noise, the wind and snow weren’t really hitting me.

When I glanced back, the wolf was sitting near me, facing the other way while I finished.

A wolf acting as both bodyguard and windbreaker while a girl pees… what a gentlemanly beast!

“Wafun.”

When I called out that I was done, he slowly got up.

Good. I liked that he didn’t sniff around or redo his own marking like some oblivious jerk.

I was about to head back to the side tunnel but changed my mind and sat down there to groom myself. Don’t ask where I started cleaning first.

Even as I did that, the wolf repositioned himself, still facing away, shielding me from the wind and snow. Seriously, so handsome!

I went back into the side tunnel before him. He didn’t wait at all and immediately nudged my rear gently but firmly deeper inside.

Mmm… I give up…

Back in the den, I breathed in the warmth as the snow on my body began to melt, dripping down in little streams. I shook my head to flick off the drops and sat down to start licking my fur.

“Hyahh!”

Suddenly, he licked my head.

No way—there couldn’t possibly be crumbs on my head!

I shook my head, but his big paw pinned me down as he licked up the droplets that had landed there.

Grrrrrrr…

When he reached the back of my neck, he let out a low growl. I wondered what was going on, and then he started licking one spot repeatedly. The slow, itchy-painful sensation reminded me of that time the wild dog bit the back of my neck. He kept licking the wound again and again.

A gentle warmth seeped in, and my body relaxed completely. Yeah, I can lick other injuries myself, but the back of my neck is impossible. Thank you, Mr. Wolf… you’re a lifesaver.

Before I knew it, I was lying down comfortably, fully trusting him. The wolf paused his licking, then pressed his face near my waist and sniffed.

Ah, right. The snow must’ve dulled the scent, but traces of the wild dog boss’s smell might still be there. I hadn’t really noticed because I was subconsciously holding back, but the wolf seemed very curious, sniffing again and again.

Grrrrr…!

Oh no, he’s mad again! Acting suspiciously and emotionally unstable… no matter how handsome he is, a yandere wolf is a bit much…

“Uhyahh!”

He started licking my waist obsessively. Hey! I can groom that part myself! I twisted to protest and looked up at him.

“…Kyu…”

There he was, forehead furrowed, teeth bared, utterly furious. His tail and fur were bristling, and his blue eyes blazed with intensity.

“….”

I slowly turned my back to him and curled up quietly.

Do as you please… roast me or boil me, I don’t care…

In the end, he left the important parts alone, but he licked every other inch of me thoroughly—even the delicate spots. I don’t know why, but I felt like I’d lost something important…

Relaxing my tense body, I stared off into the distance—until suddenly, my neck was grabbed in his mouth.

Where are you taking me now? Dangling helplessly, I sulked, until he gently set me down in a corner. I thought I could walk from here myself! But then the wolf circled around me, and before I knew it, he sat right next to me, curling his body around mine and wrapping me in his warmth.

Wow… so warm.

In front of me was his luxurious fluffy tail, and his body pressed against my back, radiating heat and a steady, rhythmic heartbeat. After running endlessly without rest, I fell asleep, wrapped in the wolf’s comforting warmth—without even a single yawn.