Don’t Mess with the Puppy!

Heesung, terrified, huddled under the bed, unable to fall asleep late into the night. In front of him, the man-eating wolf kept biting at the bed where the puppy hid and poking its nose through the gaps.
‘What kind of pheromone shock is hitting him like that…?’

Heesung timidly barked a few times, trying to snap himself out of it, but no body language worked on the wolf. It was clear he was in such a severe pheromone shock that he barely recognized himself. Once again, seeing the wolf’s terrifying fangs, the puppy shed a small tear and thought,
‘I’m just, just gonna get away from this bastard and become independent, damn it.’
Trying to steel himself with fierce thoughts born of fear, the puppy trembled quietly with his eyes tightly shut every time the wolf prowled above on the bed.

After suffering in fear for a long time, the puppy curled up and fell into a light sleep. That was only possible because the man-eating wolf on the bed grew quiet. Secretly, he worried about ChiYoung but didn’t dare go outside to check on him. It was truly a matter of life and death for the puppy.
Thunk.
The puppy, who had been dozing uncomfortably, woke because of a noise.

“Puppy…?”
Opening his eyes at the distant call, the room was bright as if the sun had risen. Heesung squinted sleepily but perked his ears. He thought he heard ChiYoung’s voice from afar.
“Puppy… where on earth are you?”

At that moment, ChiYoung, wearing just a loosely draped gown, leaned on the bedroom doorframe and came in. He staggered as if drunk and moved sluggishly. His breathing was unstable and rough, just like the night before.
‘Is he finally back to his senses…?’
The puppy glared at ChiYoung with a wary face. He still doubted ChiYoung’s condition, with wolf ears and tail exposed.

“Gyeon Heesung. Gyeon Heesung…”
Heesung intended to observe him at first, but ChiYoung was desperately searching for him. Unlike usual, he seemed unable to properly use his sense of smell, trembling in his fingertips as he repeatedly called for him. His pale face looked fragile, like it could collapse at any moment.
Feeling sorry, the puppy peeked his face out from under the bed.

“Wow… king.”
When he timidly barked, ChiYoung immediately turned around. After a long time searching on the pillow stuffing scattered on the floor, he finally spotted the small black speck of fluff under the bed and distinguished the puppy.
Their eyes met, and ChiYoung smiled brightly, showing vampire-like fangs with a great sense of relief.

“Ha… there you are? I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”
‘Is he really okay…? Still staggering.’
As ChiYoung approached, Heesung pinned his ears back tightly and glared warily.
Seeing the dust-covered puppy, ChiYoung sighed in relief and muttered,

“Thank goodness… didn’t kill you.”
‘Crazy bastard.’
Startled, the puppy retreated back under the bed. Though ChiYoung’s relief looked strange, Heesung still doubted if he was truly back to normal.

Then ChiYoung knelt in front of the bed, spreading his arms.
“Come here, darling.”
Hearing such nonsense, the puppy knew it was really ChiYoung.

Confirming he was sane, the puppy’s eyes, which had been tightly curled up, became bright and alert. Maybe feeling relieved, the frightening memories of last night surged unjustly from deep inside his chest. His tail also began wagging gently like feathers again.
“Come on, it’s okay.”
ChiYoung spread his arms wider, as if urging him closer. The puppy’s expression, full of suspicion, broke down pitifully.

‘I was scared!’
The puppy barked like crying and clung tightly to ChiYoung’s chest.
“Do you really remember nothing at all…?”

Heesung asked ChiYoung as he fed him egg porridge. Since ChiYoung kept looking sick, Heesung fed him, wishing him a quick recovery.
ChiYoung, lying weakly while pretending to be sick, said,
“Um… just that when I woke up this morning, everything around was a mess?”

“What’s your last memory then?”
Thinking, ChiYoung touched his forehead and recalled his faint last memory.
“Thinking I wanted to make love watching you sleep?”

“……”
At his shameless audacity, Heesung jumped up from his seat. He didn’t want to get angry at someone sick, but recalling how his life was in danger last night, he couldn’t help but get heated.
“Then, do you not remember licking me like you were gonna eat me alive while I was sleeping?”

“Me?”
“Yeah. You even jumped onto my back like you were hunting when I tried to run.”
As Heesung spoke harshly, puppy ears sprouted above his head. Already in recovery and tired from lack of sleep, his beast form easily showed. The anger was also partly because he couldn’t stand it.

Heesung pointed with a spoon at the pillow stuffing scattered around the bedroom and the ruined carpet.
“This too! You tore all the stuffing out and scratched up the carpet like you were digging a hole, ruining everything.”
“Ah…”

ChiYoung murmured in amazement, acting like he had no idea. Compared to Heesung’s fussing, he only gave off a graceful air. Feeling frustrated, Heesung asked as if exasperated,
“If you thought pheromone shock was coming, why didn’t you at least take medicine? Why did you stubbornly endure it?”
ChiYoung answered with a husky, cracked voice,

“That’s the medicine I endured with.”
“…What?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Heesung couldn’t get angry this time. It reminded him of a conversation ChiYoung had with a doctor long ago.

〈Haven’t you returned to your original form yet?〉
〈Because I was raising a puppy.〉
ChiYoung said he didn’t return to his original form because of him.

Did that mean he took medicine and endured it because he was afraid it would attack him?
Thinking back, Heesung recalled how relieved ChiYoung looked this morning seeing him safe. Before that, unlike his usual calm self, he showed extreme anxiety. It must have meant he really couldn’t control his reason by will.
Remembering this, Heesung felt sorry for having been harsh to him.

He sat back down on the bed and fed him more egg porridge. His white tail wagged apologetically. Feeding him felt strange, but thinking about how ChiYoung fed and cleaned him when he was sick, this was nothing. It was suspicious that ChiYoung only seemed to perk up when eating the egg porridge, though…
Then ChiYoung quietly rested his head on Heesung’s lap. Heesung almost pushed him away but let it slide because he was sick. Maybe pleased to have the lap pillow safely, ChiYoung’s black wolf ears twitched occasionally above his head.
“By the way, you know what?”

“What?”
“Looking back at my behavior yesterday…”
ChiYoung touched his forehead shyly. His black hair thinly fell over his forehead, beautifully shading his cool gray eyes.

“I think my heat came a bit early because of you… so you’re gonna take responsibility, right?”
“……”
Heesung punched ChiYoung with a nearby pillow, as if cursing was a waste. But the stuffing was mostly gone, so hitting didn’t do damage—only white fluff scattered around. Meanwhile, ChiYoung kept saying he thought the stuffing on the floor was the puppy, so Heesung punished him even more.

In the end, ChiYoung decided to go to the hospital.
They could have called a doctor to the house, but if things continued, Heesung might get into danger again like last night. So they decided to go to the hospital to get a pheromone suppressant injection. ChiYoung’s serious expression made Heesung care for him first.
There was a small hurdle in the middle.

“Today, only YoungBae is coming along.”
ChiYoung seemed sensitive to pheromone smells and sent away all the other members, deciding to bring only JiYoungBae as the driver. The members all stepped back at a distance as soon as they saw ChiYoung, who was already half incapacitated. Heesung didn’t understand why everyone was acting like that and just stood holding ChiYoung’s hand while watching blankly.
At that moment, JiYoungBae politely asked Heesung,

“How should I address him?”
He was basically asking what Heesung’s identity was. Having lived only as a puppy, it was understandable not to recognize Heesung in human form. Still, feeling a bit hurt, Heesung boldly said,
“I’m a puppy.”

“…Ah.”
Immediately regretting his words, Heesung’s face flushed hot. ChiYoung, leaning weakly on him, burst out laughing, biting his lip and turning his head. JiYoungBae, whose expression was so blank he seemed like a robot, twitched the corner of his mouth once.
‘Damn. What kind of grown man introduces himself as a puppy?’

While Heesung was embarrassed and unsure what to do, JiYoungBae returned to his usual expression and said,
“So you’re a werewolf, huh. Understood.”
“……?”

Heesung wondered if it was really okay to just let it go like that. Maybe a pro is a pro. Even if the puppy he raised overnight turned out to be human, he just said okay. He didn’t know it was because ChiYoung’s gaze next to him had turned sharp, and he thought JiYoungBae was really taciturn.
The hospital wasn’t too close or too far. But it was completely different from the ordinary places Heesung knew.
The hospital ChiYoung headed to had no waiting time for treatment, and the interior was as elegant as a luxury hotel. There, ChiYoung quickly underwent tests, and Heesung was also given several tests alongside him.

Then, the two met with a doctor from the wolf clan. Heesung sat side by side with ChiYoung opposite the doctor to hear the test results.
“The test results are a bit strange… I’ll check the pheromone levels again.”
“Okay.”

The doctor looked puzzled at Heesung’s test results, then reached to check the pheromone levels directly by touching the back of his neck. Suddenly, ChiYoung, who had been sitting elegantly beside him, changed his demeanor.
A low growl escaped him…
ChiYoung bared his teeth like a wild beast in warning, subtly exposing his fangs as if ready to bite the doctor to death, and pulled Heesung close into his embrace.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back hastily. The one more startled was actually Heesung.
“What’s wrong with you…?”
ChiYoung showed the same behavior as the night before, making Heesung’s heart pound. Yet ChiYoung simply smiled as if nothing had happened, almost making it seem normal.

The doctor, surprisingly, responded as if he understood.
“Wolves typically become very sensitive around winter when they bring in a mate.”
“He’s not a mate.”

This time Heesung showed his teeth slightly and said sharply.
But the doctor ignored Heesung’s words, assuming that since ChiYoung was just pretending to be sick, the mate would soon come anyway. The reason he was sure it was pretending was due to the pheromone levels. ChiYoung’s pheromones had built up so much that even he couldn’t control his power.
“I’ll measure your partner’s pheromone levels now, then…”

The doctor cautiously checked Heesung’s pheromone levels with ChiYoung’s permission, who was the alpha dog.
Heesung’s level was six, while ChiYoung’s was 1,210. Considering 200 was normal, neither was within the normal range.
This was a point Heesung had been curious about. As a werewolf, pheromones should be hundreds of times stronger than ordinary animals, so this was strange. He asked with a puzzled expression.

“Can a werewolf have such weak pheromones like me?”
“It’s rare, but possible.”
The doctor sat down again and carefully explained.

“The pheromone line develops most during secondary sexual characteristics. It’s similar to growing taller. While genetics play a big role, environmental factors can cause variations in development.”
The doctor showed a few images on a nearby screen. They were photos of the pheromone lines developed on the backs of ChiYoung’s and Heesung’s necks.
ChiYoung’s looked like thick tree roots branching out in multiple directions. Next to that, Heesung’s was a thin, threadlike line, broken in the middle, showing nothing.

“Like Director Yoon, some maintain their original form throughout growth and develop pheromone lines, but…”
‘…So this guy really lived as a wolf for years?’
Heesung stared silently at ChiYoung, surprised.

Could the special training JiYoungBae mentioned before, to become a watcher, be the years living as a beast?
He thought those years might have been more painful than anyone imagined. To Heesung, ChiYoung had always been an elegant, emotionally genuine werewolf. In a good sense, a very humanlike guy. But if he was forced to live with such a wild nature during growth, it must have been extremely painful.
However, those thoughts were cut short by the doctor’s next words, which stopped Heesung’s worry.

“Conversely, if sufficient nutrition isn’t taken during growth, pheromone lines may not develop properly.”
‘…Oh.’
Heesung had never known this since he had avoided hospitals since childhood. When he was young, he was very poor, and now as an adult, he was too busy.

Born weak, Heesung could barely digest any food without vomiting it out. After being abandoned by his family, he worked to death in gambling dens and barely ate proper food.
‘…Maybe it would have been better not to know.’
In modern werewolf society, having weak pheromones—the proof of one’s wildness—wasn’t a big deal, but it still left a bad feeling.

Heesung also worried secretly about ChiYoung leaning on his shoulder. Despite being extremes, he felt a strange kinship.
‘If he kept his original form since he was young… that doesn’t mean he grew normally.’
ChiYoung hadn’t wanted to become a watcher of the clan, yet was raised as a complete beast by abnormal training.

Heesung felt sorry for ChiYoung. He awkwardly placed his hand on ChiYoung’s thigh, trying to offer some comfort but was startled by something thick.
It was pointless worry after all.
ChiYoung turned his head with a look that seemed touched by Heesung’s hand on his thigh.

‘Damn.’
Heesung tried to shake off his hand in shock, but ChiYoung calmly pressed Heesung’s hand against his swelling front. Heesung’s face paled. Earlier they said it was heat—he really meant it. It was way too big.
Unaware of the situation under the desk, the doctor spoke seriously about treatment.

“Fortunately, your partner’s pheromone level is very low, so Director Yoon shows no aggression for the first time…”
The doctor smiled kindly as if it were good news.
“I recommend releasing pheromones at least once a week through sexual activity.”

ChiYoung smiled brightly at the doctor’s advice, then saw Heesung’s stern expression and immediately sobered.
At heart, he was still a wolf. The cunning wolf doesn’t recklessly rush and mess things up. ChiYoung answered calmly,
“Our puppy is still young, so sex is…”

“Why the hell would I have sex with you?”
Heesung snarled, baring his teeth. ChiYoung quietly stroked his head and continued,
“We’re still in the early stages of dating, so such blunt suggestions…”

Bang.
Heesung stormed out of the examination room, furious, ears burning red.
ChiYoung nodded as if he expected this, then stood following Heesung and calmly ordered the doctor,

“I’ll have the pheromone suppressant injection. Keep it mild.”
“Ah, understood.”
“Thanks. …Next time, do it better than today.”

ChiYoung, half-transformed, flicked one black wolf ear. His fangs showed faintly through his smiling lips, giving a chilling effect. The doctor bowed without meeting his eyes. Meanwhile, ChiYoung slowly wagged his black wolf tail and went looking for the escaped puppy.
Afterwards, the doctor wiped cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. After all, the doctor was also from the wolf clan under ChiYoung’s watch. Though the request was minor, the counterpart’s identity made it tense. Helping with someone’s relationship while not displeasing a watcher was no easy task.
“Being a doctor must make giving that kind of advice easy.”

“…Annoying.”
ChiYoung bought strawberry juice and gently tried to soothe Heesung. Heesung scowled fiercely as he accepted the juice. He actually wanted hot chocolate, but ChiYoung said chocolate was off limits and bought something else, which annoyed him.
Heesung slouched on the soft lounge sofa in a bad posture, drinking the juice. He had long given up trying to understand why a hospital would have such a luxurious lounge. He thought, if there’s a low end like a gambling den, there should also be a high end.

Amid that, Heesung’s mind was full of complaints.
‘How am I supposed to sleep with that giant wolf?’
Heesung found the doctor’s advice ridiculous.

The black wolf he saw last night was huge—his back reached Heesung’s waist in human form. His roaring howl alone was terrifying.
Also, half-transformed ChiYoung seemed barely sane. He constantly leaned on Heesung’s shoulder, sniffing him.
“Ah, I’m really losing it…”

“Don’t cling to me.”
Compared to the kisses he suffered as a puppy, this was better, but Heesung was secretly scared. He thought ChiYoung might turn into a wolf again. The incident last night had left trauma. No matter how used to sleeping together, sex was unthinkable.
ChiYoung also had a suspicious past.

“So… because of pheromone shocks, you couldn’t sleep with your lovers?”
The blonde man who followed Yoon GunYoung back then had nasty scars on his arms. Rumors spread quietly that ChiYoung was cannibalistic. That made Heesung wonder how he had survived safely with a man-eating wolf for over a month.
“No.”

ChiYoung, leaning comfortably on Heesung, smiled faintly.
“I saved myself to meet the puppy.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”

ChiYoung wondered why Heesung dismissed his words like nonsense. He was sincere about being a monogamous wolf. But Heesung wasn’t in the mood to joke, so he quietly behaved. He was now used to pleasing the puppy.
Hesitating, Heesung asked again.
“Was that blonde wolf guy the one who got hurt because of pheromone ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) shock?”

“You remember that?”
Heesung frowned seriously and nodded. It was a memory he couldn’t forget. How could he forget ChiYoung biting the hand of the person he was dating?
“Director Yoon?”

At that moment, a nurse called ChiYoung. Standing up, ChiYoung took off his black long coat and left an unexpected remark.
“I did some of it on purpose.”
“…What?”

“The people who approached me all had reasons.”
Heesung looked at ChiYoung wide-eyed in surprise. ChiYoung looked at him cutely, stroked his head, and carefully wrapped a thick coat around Heesung’s back before leaving.
‘So… that was all part of being a watcher?’

Heesung felt warm again like when he was a puppy buried in a blanket. But deep confusion remained in his dark eyes.
ChiYoung entered the isolation room to get the pheromone suppressant injection. Heesung, too anxious to be alone, stood pressed against the glass outside, waiting.
Inside the glass chamber, ChiYoung lay face down, receiving IV fluids, with patches connected by lines on his neck and back, and fell asleep. His previously tense expression relaxed somewhat, and his black wolf tail twitched occasionally. Seeing his relaxed face, Heesung felt somewhat relieved.

Then, a nurse approached Heesung watching the isolation room.
“Will the guardian wait in the lounge?”
“No, I’ll stay here.”

Heesung found the word guardian unfamiliar but played it cool. Seeing his reflection in the glass, he didn’t think the word suited him. Wearing ChiYoung’s long coat sloppily down to his ankles, he becoming the protector felt strange. It was rather ChiYoung who had cared for him, so the roles reversed felt unfamiliar.
Then, glancing at ChiYoung’s medical card, Heesung was surprised.
‘This guy’s six years older than me?’

He expected ChiYoung to be older but seeing the actual number felt odd. He had never called ChiYoung by his name, instead calling him “hey,” cursing, and hitting him repeatedly with his front paws. That was the watcher who controlled the wolf clan’s black money.
‘…Might as well keep calling him “hey.”’
But Heesung didn’t dwell on it. He decided not to care about others anymore. Having nothing left to lose and being exhausted made even worries powerless.

“……”
Being the second to be cast out by the pack twisted Heesung’s heart. Though he forced himself to ignore the sadness, he refused to acknowledge the pain.
He stubbornly believed his brother who betrayed him was bad. Tears welled in his downcast eyes, but Heesung bit his lip tightly to hold back crying.

His brother was bad for pretending to care while using him. So revenge was all he could think of.
Heesung looked back at the isolation room with determination. ChiYoung had to recover soon to go kill Park GunTae. Even if not, ChiYoung’s health gave a sense of stability. Thinking about revenge made his heart restless.
Wiping the moisture from his eyes, Heesung said to JiYoungBae standing nearby,

“I’m going to the bathroom.”
“It’s dangerous to go alone.”
“I’ll go alone. It’s close anyway.”

Having lived as a puppy, Heesung naturally spoke casually to JiYoungBae. JiYoungBae didn’t mind much but worried enough to try to follow.
“Don’t follow me.”
Not wanting to show his tears, Heesung deliberately lost JiYoungBae and went to the bathroom. It was just around the corner.

Heesung looked at the sleek black marble bathroom and thought how much money was wasted here and there. Even the hospital bathroom had a separate powder room. Hesitant like a small animal in an unfamiliar place, Heesung approached the sink, set down a juice cup, and rolled up his coat sleeves covering his hands.
Then someone approached from behind.
“You’re the one who came with Director Yoon, right?”

“Huh?”
Heesung looked up and met eyes with a blond man beyond the mirror—the wolf who had come with Yoon GunYoung back then and feared ChiYoung.
He turned to look curiously and met the man’s gaze. Taller than Heesung by at least half a head, the man wore a sleek suit but had several medical patches on his hand.

“I know Director Yoon. Just curious, I’m Yang HyeChan.”
‘…Wow.’