chapter 06
“Jackal. I’m sorry for lying to you. I told you I threw those things away, but… I couldn’t.”
Karis spoke softly as she carefully stroked a kitten small enough to fit in one hand.
“In fact, whenever I thought of that child, I kept buying things a girl might use. Even though seeing real girls made me frown because they reminded me of her.”
Without a word, Jackal gently rubbed Karis’s back. The weight of his hand comforted her.
“If we decide to watch this child grow… it’ll hurt, because it’ll remind us of our daughter.”
“……”
“But…”
Karis looked down at Kitty with warm eyes. Though her body was thin and frail, she was undeniably alive. Each time she breathed, her small body rose and fell.
When Karis stroked her as she squirmed—perhaps dreaming—Kitty twitched and mumbled faintly, her voice too hazy to tell if it was sleep talk or not.
“Mmm… I don’t taste good… just the tail…”
Her thin tail swayed slightly. A portion of it was clearly cut off, leaving a visible scar. Feeling a pang of pity, Karis gently touched the tip and murmured,
“With a tail like this, it’ll be hard to pretend to be a wolf.”
“Wherever she goes, it’ll be dangerous for her. How about we protect her for a while, until she can stand on her own?”
Jackal spoke at unusual length. Karis could tell he understood exactly what she was feeling.
She feared the guilt that would come from accepting someone new into the family—how it would bring back memories of their dead daughter. And yet, watching this small, adorable creature mumble in her sleep made her chest tighten.
If their child had been born properly… if she could have watched her grow… would this have been how it felt?
She wanted to wait and see this little one’s future.
“…A temporary family, huh.”
I’m happy to see you… but also afraid, little soft paws.
Smiling unconsciously, she gently rubbed the soft pink pads.
“Then only until the outside world becomes a little less dangerous for her.”
Karis spoke quietly and pulled Kitty closer into her arms. Jackal silently wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
For a moment, the image of her—once happily stroking her belly every morning before the children were born—overlapped with how she looked now.
“Mmm… so cozy and warm…”
I rubbed my face against whatever I was leaning on and burrowed in deeper. It had been a long time since I woke up naturally after a deep sleep.
Sleeping in short bursts on the streets always left me more tired afterward… but today, after eating well and sleeping properly, my body felt light as a feather.
Since it’s been a while, should I stretch?
Streeetch—!
I stretched out all four legs, my ears, and my tail with all my strength. Mom always said you grow taller if you stretch your whole body like this sometimes.
That’s when a soft, alluring voice tinged with laughter came from above my head.
“Baby. You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Eek!”
Startled, I jerked my head up. Lady Karis, dressed in indoor clothes, was looking at me with a gentle smile.
‘Right… last night…!’
I remembered everything in order—the Gridwolf couple returning to the mansion, being bathed, and then falling asleep in the hallway.
‘What happens now? Wait, more importantly…’
I glanced down at my hands.
Sure enough—a scruffy ball of fur.
‘Oh no. I’m in my cat form!’
Panicking, I flailed my paws, but Lady Karis only smiled fondly.
“Um, Lady Karis, this form is, well…”
“Sorry for laughing. It’s been a while since I’ve held a baby wolf. As you saw, Theo and Deon have grown quite a bit.”
Thank goodness. I must look like a wolf to her.
And yesterday, she seemed to frown at the sight of girls… maybe I seem too tough to be seen as one.
‘I should act mature. If I want revenge on Jerian, I need to stay in this mansion pretending to be a wolf until I can stand on my own.’
I cleared my throat and tried to sit up gracefully—but Lady Karis reached her hand toward me.
“You slept a long time, so the fur on your face is a mess. May I fix it a little?”
“Ah—yes, please.”
I politely leaned my face forward. I thought wolves would have rough hands, but her touch was gentle and soothing.
Oh dear… I shouldn’t enjoy this like a child…
“Baby, does it feel nice?”
“Yes! Right there is… ahh—please, a little more!”
“I’ll give you a paw massage too. Lie down here. Theo and Deon loved it when they were little.”
A paw massage?!
I flopped onto my back, stretching out all four paws so my pink pads were clearly visible. Some cats don’t like their paws touched, but not me.
It feels so good when they press like this—why would anyone hate it? Lady Karis looked just as happy while touching my paws.
“I wondered why Deon calls you ‘soft paws,’ but now I understand. Such cute, squishy pink pads.”
“I’m glad you like them! I thought you didn’t like them yesterday.”
“They looked so thin that it made me uneasy. From now on, I’ll make sure you eat well, so you can become plump.”
Maybe it was because I was getting a paw massage… but I didn’t even think that getting plump might mean I’d be eaten.
‘And she said… “from now on”…!’
My heart pounded, but I decided not to show it. If I got my hopes up too soon, the disappointment would be worse.
After carefully massaging all four paws, Lady Karis looked satisfied as I melted into a limp puddle.
…Oh no. I enjoyed that way too much like a kid.
“Baby, shall we go eat? Everyone’s waiting.”
“Okay. And my name is Kittia.”
“Nickname is Tia?”
“I’d be happy if you called me Kitty.”
Lady Karis repeated “Kitty” several times. I slipped under the blanket, transformed into my human form, and came out. She picked me up in her arms.
As she carried me toward the dining room, I started thinking.
What’s going to happen to me now?
What if they were planning to kick me out yesterday, but I passed out from exhaustion, so they just kept me until today? What if “from now on” only meant one day?
‘Still… I should be grateful I got one warm, full day.’
The future suddenly felt uncertain.
It would be great if the Gridwolf family gave me a job, but the big wolves probably think someone as small as me can’t work.
‘Or… are they really thinking of adopting me, like Theo and Deon said?’
I looked at my reflection in the window. I looked nothing like Lady Karis, who was holding me. As time passed, it would become more obvious that I wasn’t like the wolves.
‘Even if they adopt me, it’s a problem. One day they’ll find out I’m actually a cat… and then I’ll have to leave.’
My worries piled up, but the rich, savory smell of food reached me, cutting off my thoughts. We had arrived at the dining room.
Theo, Deon, and Lord Jackal were already seated.
“Soft paws, you’re safe!”
Deon, who had been slumped over, shouted happily when he saw me. Theo also sighed in relief.
I was seated between them on a slightly elevated chair. Both looked exhausted, as if they had exercised since morning.
Theo placed a napkin on my lap and whispered,
“When you weren’t in the room, I thought you ran away. Or maybe another wolf… ahem, anyway, I’m glad you’re safe.”
“I slept well. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Soft paws, we couldn’t sleep worrying about you. And Father made us run twenty laps in the training grounds this morning for making Mother sad—and you look completely refreshed?”
“Ahem.”
Lord Jackal let out a heavy sound, cutting Deon off. Just like yesterday, he really felt like a massive rock of a wolf.
How big would he be in his wolf form? If we stood side by side, I’d probably look like a loose thread.
I decided I needed to eat well and grow quickly. Just then, the food arrived.
“Warm mushroom cream soup, topped generously with crispy grilled salmon.”
The chef’s explanation made my mouth water.
“Kitty, it’s hot, so eat slowly.”
“Mother, you’re calling Kittia ‘Kitty’ now?”
Deon looked at Lady Karis with jealousy, but she only raised an eyebrow.
“I received her permission. Surely you wouldn’t call a lady by her nickname without permission, would you, Deon?”
“Tch… soft paws, let me call you that too.”
“Of course. You’ve both been kind to me.”
Theo and Deon were happy even over something small, which made me feel good too. I picked up my spoon to start eating—
But then I felt an intense gaze from across the table.
‘W-why is Lord Jackal staring at me like that…?’
It was a frightening look, as if he expected something from me.
