Chapter 5
As Hansel entered the forest, she had already used two magical items. The loss was significant, but not wasteful—after all, her goal was to gain the wolf’s favor. The wolf slowly wagged its tail from side to side, watching Hansel intently.
Hansel smiled shyly.
“Now go. If you stay here any longer, you’ll end up attacking me. Let’s meet again tomorrow morning—in human form, okay?”
“Grhh…”
It was said that wolves in the northern forest became wild and instinct-driven on nights of the full moon. Moreover, it was currently mating season for wolves. Though the wolf seemed calm now, it was impossible to predict when it might lose control.
The wolf licked Hansel’s cheek with a long, deliberate swipe. It was so strong that her cheek was pushed sideways. Considering it had charged at her earlier as if to kill, the sudden switch to affectionate behavior was oddly endearing, and she couldn’t help but chuckle a little.
Hansel giggled as she pushed the wolf away, trying to dodge its constant licking.
“Alright, alright, I get it—you’re thankful. But now, just—ah!”
She fell backward onto the ground as the wolf pressed its paw against her shoulder. It immediately began licking her neck as she lay sprawled.
“W-Wait a second…”
Hansel struggled to push the paw off her shoulder, but it was futile. Using her free arm, she tried to shove the wolf’s leg away from under its body, but it wouldn’t budge.
The more she struggled, the more insistently the wolf licked her neck and chin. When her cloak came loose in the scuffle, the cold night air enveloped her exposed body.
Pinning the hem of her cloak under its paw, the wolf licked its way up Hansel’s chest, over her clothing.
“Ah…!”
A shock, like being struck on the back of her head, stunned her.
Right. The wolf is in… heat…
No way. Trembling with unease, Hansel cautiously lowered her gaze. And then she saw it—the massive, swollen shape between the wolf’s hind legs.
“No… no way…”
Her voice came out as a choked whisper. Overwhelming terror filled her eyes with tears. Hansel knew all too well what mating among canines entailed. And the size and shape of this werewolf’s anatomy were far beyond anything a human could endure. If that were forced into her, she would undoubtedly be torn apart and killed.
The wolf used its enormous teeth to rip away Hansel’s clothes.
Her garments were shredded instantly, exposing her pale white chest to the chilly night air. The cold sent alarm bells ringing through Hansel’s mind.
“Not now! Tomorrow, when you’re human—ah, no, stop, someone, please…!”
Hansel frantically pushed at the wolf’s muzzle, punched its head with her small fists, and even threw nearby stones. Her efforts were futile.
In desperation, Hansel thrust her arm into the wolf’s mouth. The wolf froze, jerking its head back and forth to spit her arm out. It seemed it had no intention of biting her limb off.
Realizing this, Hansel shoved her arm further into the wolf’s mouth, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Please, someone—anyone, even the hunters who set the trap for this wolf—just come!
Suddenly, the wolf stopped moving. Its gaze shifted toward the dense forest, ears perked, as if sensing something approaching.
Now’s my chance to escape.
Hansel, gasping for breath, quickly untied her cloak and freed herself. Just as she began crawling away, she heard a rustling sound.
The wolf moved first.
It dashed away so swiftly that a faint breeze brushed against Hansel’s face.
“…Huh…”
With the wolf gone, her vision cleared. Above her, the round full moon hung in the dark blue sky. Hansel sat up in a daze, staring at the bushes where the wolf had disappeared.
Before she could process what had happened, the sound of many footsteps pounded against the forest floor. Moments later, a group of men emerged, pushing through the underbrush.
“Damn it! The werewolf escaped.”
“We had everything set up perfectly—how did this happen? Huh? A woman?”
The hunters numbered more than twenty.
At least they were people. The familiar sight of human faces and voices in a language she understood almost brought tears of relief to her eyes. Too overwhelmed to even wipe her disheveled face, Hansel shakily sat up.
Some of the hunters inspected the broken trap and the ground, while others approached Hansel. One of them looked down at her and asked,
“Miss, did you release the wolf?”
Hansel clamped her mouth shut. She had freed their carefully prepared prey and nearly fallen victim to it. If she admitted the truth, there was no doubt she’d face their wrath.
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