The Werewolf Trials

The man in the black leather armor's face clearly flushed red.

Just as he was about to speak, Lia, who had just finished resetting her own bones, rushed over and kicked him straight into the cave ceiling with such force that he got temporarily embedded in the rock.

Then, the little wolf cub turned to me, nuzzling my face with her wet nose. Her golden vertical eyes looked at me pleadingly, "Mommy, Lia's hungry. Need food."

Who could resist that?

I immediately started searching through the cave, squinting carefully to identify the stored food, and excitedly went to prepare dinner for Lia—and for my "husband" hanging from the ceiling.

My cooking skills are no joke.

After I'd stewed a thick pot of soup with the wild pork, tubers, and herbs I found, the father and daughter pair licked the stone pot clean, not a drop of broth left.

When I went to the back of the cave to wash at the water pool, I could overhear their "harmonious" conversation:

"Lia, keeping this woman might not be such a bad idea. She cooks really well."

"But Daddy, tomorrow those corpse witch twins will be back. They'll get mad if they find out we didn't eat their food."

"Call that food? If they've got a problem with it, I'll take care of them first."

"Okay, I'll keep watch."

After washing up, I naturally claimed the deepest, softest pile of hay in the cave—clearly the master bedroom. I peeked out from the fur blanket, watching the dark figure still sitting motionless on the stone bench.

So, I used the sweetest, most considerate voice to show off my wifely skills:

"Dear, do you need me to help you clean your wolf? It looks like you've just been hunting."

I pointed to where I'd been cooking, where there was a large pool of water.

To my surprise, the man actually agreed. He silently walked to the side of the pool and sat down, shifting into his wolf form.

Those watching the trial went wild again:

【What the hell is she talking about?! Offering to clean a vampire-werewolf?!】

【Has this woman been kicked in the head by a rogue?】

【The vampire-wolf's fangs are longer than her thigh!】

【There's blood dripping from its mouth! And chunks of some unknown creature on its teeth!】

Facing the ferocious wolf with terrifying vampire fangs, I felt no fear at all.

In my eyes, he was just a big, fluffy dog.

I happily scooped up warm water and started washing the blood-splattered wolf.

"You know," I said as I worked through the tangled fur, "in my old pack, only family members help clean each other's wolves. It means we're close."

As I gently wet his fur, I unconsciously increased the pressure of my strokes.

I could feel the wolf under my hands tremble slightly, but he didn't resist.

Lia came over, resting her head on my lap. "The other trial runners see his fangs and run," she whispered. "Why aren't you afraid of us?"

I gently scratched her chin, thinking for a moment. "Because we're family now. What's there to be afraid of between family?"

Lia's voice turned low. "We're not what you think we are. What if we're monsters?"

"As long as you don't do anything to hurt me, you're my family. So what if you're monsters? My old pack wasn't monsters, but they abandoned me. You, at least, have given me a home for now."

I started scrubbing his fur, like washing a soft, black blanket.

【She's washing the vampire-werewolf's mane! He hates it when anyone touches his wolf! The last trial candidate who just brushed up against him lost all his teeth and fingers and was thrown into the crocodile pond in the rainforest!】

【What's wrong with this woman? She's even humming! Is she really not afraid at all?】

【That vampire-werewolf is actually closing his eyes in comfort? Can her massage skills be that good?】

"You're in a good mood?" The wolf under my hands spoke.

I finished washing and found a large, dry leaf. As I dried the remaining water from his fur, I said, "This is the first time I've ever had a family. I'm an orphan, and now I have a lovely daughter like Lia and such a strong mate. I'm so happy."

I could've sworn the wolf's temperature rose, like he was getting shy.

After I finished drying the wolf, I leaned my entire body against his smooth, fluffy fur, my voice muffled, "I still don't know your name."

He seemed to think of something unpleasant and quickly shifted back to his tall human form.

"The Werewolf Council stripped me of my name, declaring me a cursed being."

He paused, then added, "Maybe you could give me one. A name that belongs only to you."

After speaking, he turned and left in a huff.

Looking at his retreating figure and his words, I felt a little shy myself.

"Eros," I said. "That's the name I've chosen for you."

"Do as you wish." He was already far away, but I still heard his consenting reply.

By the first night, I was a little hopeful that Eros would sleep with me in the same hay pile. After all, he hadn't refused my request to join this home.

Plus, I kind of missed that the feeling of his strong muscle.

But I miscalculated. By midnight, he still hadn't shown up.

But Lia came. Her small body suddenly appeared in my bedding, her eyes glowing with an eerie light.

A true ghost wolf cub.

Her cold arms wrapped around me. "Mommy, will you wash me like that too?"

"Of course," I hugged her, trying to warm her little body. "Not only will I wash you, but I'll make you pretty little clothes. Dress up our little Lia."

Lia looked at me, puzzled. "Why dress me up?"

"Because our Lia is the most beautiful and lovely little wolf cub, of course?" I answered gently.

"But... when I was alive, people called me a monster. And that vampire... he's a monster too. His wolf could swallow a whole werewolf in one bite."