TCGAD 12

My name is Gu Myeongha, and I’m twenty years old this year.

According to my grandmother, I was a well-behaved child from a young age. She said I never once cried or fussed for toys like other kids my age.

“You grew up too fast. Your eyes always looked like those of an old soul.”

She often said this with a self-deprecating tone. A shy child usually doesn’t stand out. But the problem was my unusual family background and appearance.

I first realized this when I started elementary school.

“Myeongha, your eyes and cheeks are red. Do you have a fever?”

My homeroom teacher touched my forehead. I couldn’t have been more embarrassed. At that age, when an adult’s attention felt both thrilling and shy, my body twisted awkwardly.

“Teacher, my eyes and cheeks are always red…”

My grandmother always told me to answer politely when an adult asked me something. I mustered up the courage to respond carefully.

“My grandmother said it’s because I ate a lot of persimmons, so my face turned red.”

But my words were drowned out by the shrill voices of other kids.

“Hey, teacher, you shouldn’t touch Gu Myeongha!”

I blinked in shock, startled.

“If you get close to him, you’ll catch a ghost!”

The class started whispering. Ghosts? Where in the world are there ghosts? No, his grandmother saw a ghost. My mom said so…

The sudden talk of ghosts made me terribly embarrassed and flustered. My face felt like it was burning up.

“Hyungseok, you! Don’t say mean things to your friend.”

The teacher scolded the boy, and I, feeling sad, scurried to the bathroom. Locking the door tightly, I sat on the toilet and cried, tears streaming down.

“Wah, I don’t, sniff, have a cold.”

Every fall, my grandmother would pick ripe persimmons from the tree for me. Eating them frozen from the fridge was such a treat, but after that, I don’t think I ever touched a persimmon again. As I grew older, my questions multiplied.

“All the other kids live in normal houses. Why do I sleep in a small room attached to a shaman’s shrine? Why don’t I have a mom or dad?”

And at some point, I noticed.

“They say he saw a ghost.”

Those words clung to my back. Everyone surrounded me, staring like I was a monkey in a zoo.

As I grew older, I could let go of wanting friends. Instead, I learned to pass the time alone. Doing puzzles from newspapers during breaks at my part-time job, trading collected empty bottles at the pub where I worked, organizing the fridge on my days off.

As for talents… I didn’t really have any worth mentioning.

Folding laundry quickly, washing clothes so they don’t smell even on rainy days, keeping bedding fresh and clean, taking care of someone well—that’s about it. My greatest wish was simply to live as quietly as possible.

But there was one more problem: my conspicuous appearance. If I were conventionally handsome, it might’ve been different, but there was something strange about my face. My eyes had an odd reddish hue, and my cheeks were always flushed.

…Should I call it eerie, or perhaps peculiar?

In a country like South Korea, where brown hair and brown eyes are the norm, I was born with strangely reddish hair and eyes.

Nine out of ten passersby would double-take, as if they’d seen something wrong.

“Hey, did you see that guy? Is he a foreigner? Is he wearing contacts?” They’d whisper and glance at me multiple times. My life trudged on in steady misery.

Still, I hoped that after graduating high school, I could blend into society. I wasn’t marked with a red line, nor was I a glaring cyclops.

My grades always hovered around the upper-middle range. When I said I’d skip college, my teacher strongly objected. But I had a plan. I wanted to join the workforce early. I wanted to take the civil service exam to become a social worker, earn a steady paycheck, and live happily with my grandmother in peace.

But one day, when the persimmon tree was budding with green…

“Unnie, are you in there?”

I was twisting straw ropes on the shrine’s porch. Looking up, I saw a woman in her forties. Her hair was tightly permed, and her lips were coated with bold lipstick.

“Are you here to see my grandmother?”

I quickly stood, wearing white socks, and went out. The woman stared at my face and clicked her tongue, tch tch.

“You’re Ms. Gyesoon’s grandson?”

I cautiously confirmed. Her eyes, with faded blue eyeliner tattoos, scanned me sharply.

“Your fate is as fierce as I heard.”

She stared at my features as if to tear them apart, then spoke freely.

“Your face is smooth like a pebble, and your lips curve up like you’re smiling, perfect for stirring affection.”

I was frozen, as if bound by a rope. The nameless pressure I sometimes felt from my grandmother emanated from this stranger too. It was like she was peering into another dimension.

“If you tried to be a celebrity, that fiery fate would kill you young. You were born to be a gumiho.”

Her words nearly knocked the soul out of me. Then, screech! The shrine door slid open.

“What is this crazy woman saying to my grandson!”

The woman chewed gum loudly, twirling her hair.

“He’s just a fluffy baby now. But as he grows, that face will become unspeakably lascivious. He’ll devour his spouse if married, seduce his boss and ruin families if employed. How’s he supposed to live as a decent man? He needs a partner whose energy matches his…”

I blinked rapidly. I was only eighteen. Words like lascivious or spouse bounced off my ears.

But I clearly saw the blazing anger in my grandmother’s eyes. Cold sweat ran down my spine.

“You lunatic, possessed by a v**gin ghost and gone mad, spouting nonsense!”

My grandmother grabbed a broom and started hitting the woman.

“Get out, you wretch! How dare you curse my precious grandson! Don’t come back with your bad luck!”

A gust of dust rose. The woman screamed and fled.

“Grandmother, please calm down…”

I hurried to stop her.

“Can’t you see it, unnie? His life is mortgaged. There’s a four-legged beast sitting on his shoulder. Take this, boy!”

But she didn’t stop, provoking my grandmother further. She threw something at me. I caught it instinctively—a brown prayer bead.

“Here, made from a snake’s tail, as you asked. It’s for this boy, right?”

At the mention of a snake’s tail, I grimaced. Holding it made my stomach churn.

“I came out of kindness! Consider the broom payment for the beads, and I’m leaving!”

Brushing off the straw, she walked away. I stared at her retreating figure, as if entranced. It was the first time I’d seen my grandmother so angry. Her words echoed in my mind.

“Those who feel guilty get angry.”

Perhaps I should’ve listened to that woman. The house we lived in burned down, and my grandmother passed away.

If Bulkan didn’t set the fire… why did it happen? I sometimes pondered, but the conclusion always pointed to one thing.

Maybe it was the misfortune I was born with.

“Stop, stop.”

I shook my head to clear the thoughts. Spending too much time alone led to these unhappy musings.

I quickly flipped through a book. Rustle. The yellow pages were filled with scribbled text. It was a book Lemon got me, titled How to Raise a Dog.

Dogs have excellent senses of smell and hearing. They’re easily trainable due to their strong affection for humans.

This was common knowledge. I flipped a few more pages. This section covered a dog’s heat cycle.

The heat cycle typically lasts two to three weeks. If a female in heat is nearby, pheromones stimulate male dogs. Mounting isn’t always sexual; it can occur from excitement or to establish dominance.

The embarrassing outdoor incident flashed in my mind. My forehead burned, and my eyes felt red. Even now, it was utterly insane.

If the heat cycle lasts two to three weeks… Bulkan’s should be over.

But why does he still cling to me like a rutting beast? I’m already pregnant, so why is he so obsessed with my body?

Some animals engage in relations not just for reproduction but for pleasure, like whales. Dogs probably aren’t like that…

But since he takes human form, is he seeking pleasure? My thoughts spiraled.

“Kaek.”

Lost in thought, the fawn nuzzled me, begging for affection. It climbed into my lap, pretending to read the book. After staring curiously, it yawned, haam.

“Sleepy?”

I petted its head. I read a few more pages. The next section was How to Train a Dog. It grabbed my attention.

Dogs need immediate rewards. Praise must be quick and precise. If delayed, they can’t connect the action to the reward.

I read avidly, nodding whenever I recognized Bulkan’s behavior.

So that’s why he acted like that? It was fascinating.

“…!”

I flinched, feeling a gaze. Turning, I saw Bulkan staring darkly through the door crack. I fumbled to close the book, the title exposed.

“It’s just… since they’ll be born soon, I’m reading ahead.”

How to Raise a Dog. Worried he’d be offended, I mumbled an excuse. Bulkan didn’t care.

“Get ready to be a dog mother.”

His tone was chilling. He kept hovering around me, but whenever our eyes met, he spat out rude words.

“I’ll put my dog c**k in you too.”

He was an unpredictable, terrifying ball. Even with my immunity to my grandmother’s nonsense, this was different. He was a beast with immense drive.

I sealed my lips. His unsocialized words were impossible to address.

Some dogs, unable to read calming signals, act rudely because they’ve never had proper friends.

“No way.”

I spoke as simply as possible. Bulkan’s face twisted fiercely.

“Why not?”

Why, you lunatic… How do I answer something so obviously wrong? Biting my lower lip, I continued.

“Because I don’t want it.”

His black pupils narrowed. His stiff jaw showed he didn’t like this.

“Forcing s** when I don’t want it is r**e.”

A strange atmosphere enveloped us. Bulkan’s pupils sank low. Surprisingly, he seemed to be thinking.

“Then when do you want to mate?”

Despite his unreal, statue-like appearance, he spoke v**garly. My head throbbed, as if it would melt.

“Well…”

As I hesitated, a scoffing laugh came.

“Your words are lies. Trying to trick me later, huh?”

Lacking common sense and social skills, his animal instincts made him quick to notice. It was a damnable situation. I forced a smile, thinking how to avoid upsetting him.

“When I rest and feel better.”

“Then what will you do for me?”

The book came to mind—the part about training dogs. Reward immediately. He always asked what I’d do if he granted my wishes. He wanted a reward.

“I’ll do something you like.”

I spoke half-doubting. Like a novice fisherman casting without skill, hoping he’d bite.

A sharp silence followed. As seconds passed, my confidence melted. I’m smarter than a dog, with a higher status. Was the book just theory? Then Bulkan’s lips moved.

“Something I like?”

“Yes.”

He stared at my features as if l**king them. In the quiet, Haengbok, waiting nearby, approached and l**ked my cheek. Pitying its cautious glance at Bulkan, I hugged it tightly.

“This thing, not even a mouthful?”

Bulkan glared at Haengbok.

Then, a sudden change occurred. His snout elongated, and his tanned skin sprouted black fur. Standing on two legs, he turned into a dog.

Step by step, the beast approached.

A voice echoed in my mind.

‘I’ll put my dog c**k in you too.’

Is he… really going to do it?

“Wait, hold on…”

Scared, I stepped back. The dog stopped, thud, thud, thud! Its tail, thick as my arm, whipped the ground in displeasure.

He leapt as if charging, crashing through the glass window and vanishing.

I stared blankly at the shattered window.

“Kaek…”

Haengbok, equally startled, whimpered. A breeze shook its small ears.

☀️

My belly grew daily, like hugging a giant exercise ball. My stomach churned, and a strange lump lingered in my throat.

Unable to eat, Lemon’s worry was immense.

“You should see a doctor.”

It seemed necessary. Not eating could harm the lives inside me.

I dressed with Lemon. Before, it wasn’t noticeable, but now anyone could tell something was in my belly. A pregnant man… In South Korea, I’d have been dragged to a lab for experiments.

No, that’s wrong. In South Korea, I wouldn’t be pregnant.

“Is this okay?”

Lemon asked. I checked the mirror. A white shawl wrapped my head and body.

“Yes, it’s less obvious.”

I looked like someone hiding something. My belly was still smaller than a typical pregnant woman’s, thankfully.

Outside the cave, the sky darkened. Clouds rolled in like a herd of sheep. Rain was certain.

“The weather’s bad. Be careful and come back soon?”

I climbed onto the carriage, waving lightly.

“I’ll be back.”

The carriage moved slowly. The fawn cried, kaek! Sensing farewell, it followed with sad eyes, as if saying, “Where are you going without me? Take me!”

“No, you stay with me!”

Lemon grabbed the fawn’s neck. The struggling pair became a dot, then vanished.

The horse-drawn carriage was slow, letting me observe outside leisurely. Raindrops tapped the window, tap, tap. It wasn’t a light shower.

Where was Bulkan in this weather? He’d crashed through the window days ago and hadn’t shown his face. Lemon had worked hard to repair it.

I shook my head. What a thug. Why break a window instead of using the door?

“….”

Stepping off the carriage, eyes turned to me. Villagers whispered. My chest tightened. Even in a place with varied hair colors, I stood out. Did they notice my belly? Feeling guilty, I hurried. My nape burned.

“Hello.”

At the hospital, the doctor awaited. He laid me on the bed, examining my belly.

Tch tch.

Clicking his tongue, he folded his arms and asked abruptly.

“Have you had an illicit affair?”

Before I could ask what he meant, he continued.

“There’s another fetal movement. A small seed is lodged in your womb.”

The memory of our outdoor act flashed through my mind. Bulkan had said it then.

“Two isn’t enough… Have one more.”

I stared at the hospital ceiling. The doctor didn’t hold back his criticism.

“Disgraceful.”

My face burned. I wanted to crawl into a hole.

As I went to get medicine, the doctor stopped me.

“Why didn’t the hellhound pull the carriage today?”

“Well, there were circumstances.”

A Cerberus-drawn carriage would’ve been faster, but only the wilder Bulkan could control that ferocious beast. And recalling that d**ned c**k j**king toward me, I didn’t want to face Cerberus either.

But why ask? His next words sent a chill down my spine.

“Be careful. That flashy outfit draws attention. This village is full of hungry people. Bandits are rampant.”

The faces of the people I passed before entering the hospital flashed in my mind. Most were curious, but some had crude looks in their eyes. My heightened instincts could tell.

“Yes, thank you. I’ll head straight home.”

I was going back to the cave by carriage anyway, so it was fine. I nodded, took the medicine, and left.

But what was this? I stood dumbfounded, my soul slipping away. The two horses had vanished without a trace.

“Did anyone see where the horses went?”

I asked the people nearby. But they all avoided my eyes, exchanging strange glances instead. They clearly knew something.

“Try that way. I saw them break free and run off earlier.”

One of them pointed down a path. I heard snickering behind me. It overlapped with past memories—people pointing at me like I was a zoo monkey. Anxiety coiled in my chest.

“…Okay.”

I replied softly and hurried off as if escaping. I walked and walked, but the horses were nowhere to be seen. At some point, even the houses disappeared.

I could borrow a horse to get back, but then I realized I didn’t even know my destination properly.

With the rain, darkness fell faster than usual. The downpour grew heavier. Everything felt cruelly against me. This must be what “lost in the mountains” means. The person who gave me directions had likely lied. Suspicion turned to certainty, and I stopped under a bare-branched tree.

I stared blankly into the rain. There were no cell phones or payphones here. My stomach felt empty, and I was starving. My feet were swollen from walking so much. My back ached from supporting my large belly. My body shivered with cold.

“Bul… kan…”

I glanced around aimlessly. Could he be hiding in the darkness, watching me? I turned my head sharply, but the surroundings were pitch black. Silence was a bonus. It was a futile hope.

To think I’d be looking for Bulkan. My vision blurred. I felt my situation here keenly—like a helpless idiot. Without Bulkan, I was nothing. Literally a lost child.

“Haa.”

Truly surrounded on all sides. I sighed, feeling hopeless, when footsteps approached.

“Who’s there?”

A stranger’s voice followed. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my belly and looked. An elderly couple appeared. The mister asked me.

“The sun’s set. Why are you out here?”

“Well, I…”

I hesitated. The doctor’s warning echoed in my ears—there were many thieves in the village, so be careful.

“You look like an outsider. Are you lost?”

I couldn’t answer again. Both were hunched with age, perhaps in their sixties or seventies. They were the only ones to appear in my despair, but I still wasn’t sure if I could trust them.

“It’s dangerous to be out in the dark like this. Thieves are everywhere these days.”

The lady pinpointed my exact concern.

“I’m close to my destination, so I’ll be fine.”

My mind, heart, and body were exhausted. Though my instincts leaned toward trusting them, I pulled back again. If not for the doctor’s warning, I might’ve followed already. The fear of asking strangers for help still held me tightly.

“You’ll get into trouble wandering down the mountain alone in this rain.”

Noticing my hesitation, the lady made another offer.

“Come to our house. We’ll let you stay in the stable to escape the rain.”

Her eyes were wrinkled. Looking at her reminded me of my grandmother. My body temperature had dropped too low, and I felt something trickling down my legs.

There were two outcomes: freeze to death or get attacked by bandits. If it were just me, I might’ve searched for another way, but with lives in my belly, my options were limited.

“Then I’ll trouble you for one night.”

The couple kindly nodded. I followed, still scanning my surroundings, clutching my belly with heightened alertness.

Creak. The lady opened the stable door. Dust poured out. It was empty. They’d said times were tough, and it looked like their stores had been cleaned out.

“Rest here. It’s shabby, but it’ll keep the rain off.”

“Thank you.”

Creak. The eerie sound rang out, and the door closed.

To stay awake, I sat on the straw. Though I’d followed them, I couldn’t relax.

My body shivered with cold. My soaked clothes made it worse. I pulled straw over myself to cover up.

As my situation improved, my thoughts cleared. I’d return to the hospital at dawn. I’d followed the path, so I could retrace it. If I stayed put, Lemon would come for me. I resolved to thank these kind people later.

Whoosh, the rain roared. As my body warmed, my eyes grew heavy. I forced them open to stay alert.

Lately, I’d been sleepy all the time. Today’s exertion made it worse. My eyes opened and closed repeatedly.

“…!”

Then, a chill made me shudder. In my blurry vision, shadows loomed. The couple stood before me. A glint of steel flashed in the pale moonlight. They held knives.

I quickly assessed the situation. Exhausted and desperate, I’d trusted too easily. But there was no time or energy for self-blame.

“I’ll give you everything, just please spare me.”

I pulled off my jewelry and laid it before them, digging through my pockets for the gold Lemon had given me.

“How much is all this worth?”

The mister’s eyes widened, his mouth practically reaching his ears.

“Just let me go, and I’ll leave quietly.”

Trembling, I clutched my belly. It twitched with fear. The cold rain and shock made it tighten painfully.

The lady, staring at me, spoke coldly.

“You hand over such valuable jewelry so easily. How precious must what’s in your belly be?”

The mister chimed in eagerly.

“You’re right! What’s in there must be worth a fortune!”

I gasped, realizing my mistake in clutching my belly to protect it.

“No, it’s not like that. It’s not jewelry.”

I shook my head frantically, denying it.

“Then open it up and show us!”

Convinced, the couple threatened me. As the sharp knife approached, tears streamed down my face.

“It’s really not. I’m… I’m pregnant…”

My cheeks were soaked, my eyes burning. Even speaking the truth, they didn’t believe me.

“Don’t lie! You’re a man! How can you be pregnant?”

Even here, a man being pregnant was impossible. I thought to show my belly, but the crazed couple didn’t wait.

They tore my clothes with the knife. The fabric became rags, exposing my swollen belly to the air.

“What… what is this? He’s really pregnant?”

“How can a man bear a child? Even beasts can’t do that!”

Hot tears poured from my eyes, overwhelmed by shame and sorrow. My cheeks were sticky. The situation was terrifying.

“Bul…”

Kan, I mumbled. In this moment, he was the only one I could call. I shouted again.

“Bulkan!”

The couple screamed, eek, and fell back.

“What’s that?”

Why were they acting like that? Confused, I looked at them, then realized something.

In my hazy vision, a large shadow loomed over my legs. Turning, I met bloodshot eyes.

Crash! The window shattered loudly. A black dog burst in, landing nimbly on all fours, snarling with bared teeth. Drip, drip. Rainwater fell from its fur.

“…Hah!”

Clang! The mister dropped his knife. The couple gasped, trying to flee.

“Mr. Bulkan!”

The dog’s snout shortened. Its front legs elongated into muscular human arms. A booming voice cut through the rain.

“How dare you kidnap my human to make him your bride?”

Bulkan approached menacingly, stark n**ed, soaked in rain. His black hair hung over his eyebrows, and his tanned body glowed golden.

“You tried to defile my mate…!?”

His aura was darker than usual, like a grim reaper emerging to judge sinners. A chill ran through me, my hair standing on end.

“I’m sorry, I’ve committed a grave sin.”

The trembling couple fell to their knees. The lady rubbed her hands, pleading.

“Please spare our lives.”

The mister banged his forehead on the ground, thud, thud.

“If we’d known he was Mr. Bulkan’s bride, we wouldn’t have touched a hair.”

Thud, thud! They desperately begged, foreheads bleeding. Their beards were soaked in blood, like poorly kneaded meatballs.

“We did it to survive. We were desperate and lost our senses. Please, spare us.”

Watching them, unease stirred in my chest. Nausea rose, like guilt prodded with an iron skewer.

I reached out to Bulkan, my fingertips trembling.

“Bulkan.”

His aura was ominous. Sirens blared in my mind. His temper was like an eight-ton truck, wild and unpredictable. I had to stop him, now.

“I’m okay, so let’s…”

The couple had meant me harm, but I was unharmed. I tried to persuade him to return to the cave before his anger grew.

“You, carrying three of my seeds, and they dared covet you?”

But he wasn’t listening. The beast had smelled blood, intoxicated by excitement. His heat was palpable, his white eyes gleaming.

“D**n them!”

Bulkan grabbed the mister’s collar and yanked him up.

“How shall I repay this debt?”

The mister was dragged to Bulkan, dangling from the beast’s towering frame.

“Ugh, sob. Please spare me.”

He wept, facing Bulkan’s dragon-like rage head-on.

“How to repay…”

Bulkan drawled, lost in thought. His high nose pressed against the mister’s blunt chin. Baring his teeth, he growled, ready to tear out his throat.

“Yes.”

Having decided, he growled low.

“I’ll take you from behind and finish inside you.”

What was that? My head throbbed, and I clutched my temples.

The mister looked well over sixty, with thick sideburns and hairy arms. His belly was nearly as big as mine. The thought was nauseating, but Bulkan threatened without hesitation.

“I have a bride, so I’ll take you as a concubine.”

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The Hammurabi Code came to mind.

This was like smashing someone’s neck with the code. The horrific thought made me tremble. Worse, he was dead serious.

“My bride is not for the likes of you!”

He roared like a lion. As I feared disaster, blood spurted from the mister’s ear.

“Agh!”

The mister clutched his ear, rolling on the ground. Bulkan spat, ptui! A piece of flesh from his ear lay on the floor.

“I’ll tear your limbs, bite you, and cherish you all night.”

Step, step. Bulkan advanced toward the mister, who crawled back on his b**tocks.

“Come here, you pig of a concubine.”

I rushed to Bulkan.

“Bulkan.”

Bulkan, Bulkan! I stumbled forward, nearly tripping.

A strong hand caught me. The touching skin was scalding. Looking up, I saw Bulkan’s face, eyes blazing.

“I’m really okay, nothing’s wrong with me.”

The book said to stay calm when a dog is excited, or it fuels them further.

“I ate well, slept enough. I was going back to you once the rain stopped…”

I tried to soothe him calmly.

“…Huff.”

But his broad chest still heaved. His sharp gaze scanned me.

“D**n it!”

His breathing grew rougher, and I noticed my state. My torn clothes exposed my belly and chest, even the marks Bulkan had left.

“It’s just…”

I tried to cover my belly with the shredded fabric, but it was futile. Overwhelmed with shame, I curled up. Tears welled up.

“They wanted you.”

Bulkan muttered. His bloodshot eyes were swollen, his breath raw with wildness. His fists trembled with rage.

“You’re mine, yet they stripped you, tried to steal your belly. They wanted to smell you, l**k your hair. They dared challenge me.”

They looked too terrified to have challenged him. Strictly speaking, they didn’t want me but thought my belly held gold.

“I need to show them my terror. I’ll kill them.”

Bulkan was out of his mind, burning like firewood.

“They’ll lurk around our home for days. I’ll make them fear me. Then I’ll pounce, tear their throats, wrap their guts around my waist to show their children.”

Horrific words poured from his mouth. Wails echoed around us. I shut my eyes tightly.

“I’m done for, I’m dead!”

“Please spare us, just our lives.”

Their confidence crumbled. Could I handle this beast? All I had were scraps from a book.

“Priest, please spare us… Our children return tomorrow. They’ll be heartbroken to find us dead.”

The couple who tore my clothes for jewels clung to me, weeping. Could I change this situation? I doubted myself.

But I had to try. I was the only one who could shift this. Otherwise, Bulkan would take their lives as easily as he killed beasts.

I approached slowly.

“You’ve shown enough terror. They understand.”

I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck. His firm abdomen pressed against my swollen belly. His pulsing artery throbbed under my palm, alive like fresh sashimi.

“They let me in from the rain. Without them, I’d have collapsed from hypothermia.”

His hot body warmed my chilled, soaked frame. My tense, frozen body relaxed.

“Let’s go back to our cave.”

Haengbok must be waiting anxiously. The poor fawn, unaware of time, cried kaek, kaek when I went to the hospital, stretching out its healed paw for affection. I’d blow on it, hoo, hoo, to soothe it.

Lemon might be worried too… Cold and aloof, but we’d built some bond.

“You coming for me is enough.”

I felt drowsy, wanting to close my eyes and rest.

“You’re soaked too. Let’s bathe and eat meat together. Bone, marrow, and all.”

I forced a smile, awkward but trying. His flawless face showed no change, eyes still burning, fixed on me.

I quietly admitted defeat. His bloodlust was relentless. I knew how stubbornly predators held their prey.

But then, unexpectedly, Bulkan growled, grrr, and lifted me into his arms.

“…Hah!”

I gasped, eyes wide. He leapt through the broken window.

Whoosh. The rain poured heavily outside. I barely got w**—his body shielded me from the downpour.