Free Web NovelChapter 196: Chapter 184: The Two "Little Dogs" Make a Choice
The Reception Room.
Gu Ning huddled next to Cook, stealing a glance at the huge Wolf Beastman sitting across from her.
Vine sat bolt upright, his cold, piercing eyes sizing her and Cook up. His presence was as sharp as a drawn blade. He looked like the kind of person who’d scold a passing dog just for wagging its tail.
His men stood either behind him or on guard outside the reception room, and the atmosphere was nothing like the relaxed time she spent with Alex’s wolf pack.
When her eyes met Vine’s, Gu Ning looked down and tightened her grip on Cook’s arm. ’Barto, please come back soon,’ she prayed. ’I can’t stand this Beastman’s oppressive aura anymore.’
"Can you speak?" Vine asked after staring at the two small Mixed Breeds for a moment, his gaze fixed on Gu Ning.
It was the first thing he’d said since they sat down.
Confused, Gu Ning looked up at him.
’What does he mean?’
Vine said, "A Dwarf hybrid’s vocal cords aren’t defective. They should be able to communicate, at least to some extent."
Gu Ning promptly shook her head.
’I can’t talk. I’m mute. Stop trying to chat with me!’
This wolf reminded her of the drill instructor from her college military training. No, his presence was a hundred times more terrifying! At least no human was this tall and powerfully built.
’The person Vine was looking for has always been Cook,’ she thought. ’Cook’s brother was his teammate, so it’s perfectly normal to want to look after a deceased teammate’s relative. He should be here to comfort Cook or reminisce or something.’
’So why is he grilling me?’
If it weren’t for Cook’s sake, she would have been tempted to take the pup and head back, or at least find another room to wait in.
Gu Ning turned to look at Cook. He was still fiddling with the medal in his hands, occasionally sniffing at it.
She could sense that Cook’s wariness toward Vine and his men had lessened considerably. Normally, he would be on high alert, and the slightest rustle or movement would make his hackles rise.
’Is he sad because he knows his brother is gone?’
But Gu Ning didn’t think Cook’s mood was one of sadness. Although he looked a bit dejected, she sensed more confusion from him than anything else.
"You’re lying."
Vine’s voice pulled Gu Ning’s gaze back to him.
His tone was assured and his gaze was sharp, making Gu Ning feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
Vine braced a hand on the coffee table and leaned forward slightly. "You can talk. No wonder, after hanging around that atavistic fox all day. Even a Dwarf hybrid has learned how to lie."
Gu Ning: "..."
She shrank closer to Cook. ’This wolf has the air of someone interrogating a criminal,’ she thought. ’I didn’t even feel this intensely scrutinized by that sheep police officer.’
Seeing the small hybrid’s frightened expression, Vine slowly sat upright again. He glanced at Cook, who had degenerated so much he barely looked human, and stated, "You’re the one who brought Cook to join Alex’s wolf pack."
Gu Ning couldn’t argue. It was the truth.
Looking at his stern face, Gu Ning felt like a delinquent who had led someone else’s kid astray.
Unable to stop herself, she pulled out a pen and paper. After using her terminal to translate what she wanted to say, she quickly wrote: "Cook and I are friends. I didn’t know his brother. I’m not trying to take his brother’s provisions."
Once she finished writing, Gu Ning pressed the note onto the coffee table, slid it swiftly over to Vine, and then snatched her hand back just as fast.
Seeing how timid she was, Vine thought, ’It’s one thing for Alex to take in Mixed Breeds, but one like this?’
’He probably saw that it’s at least clever.’
Vine picked up the note, read it, and said, "I doubt you have the guts for that."
After a long moment of silence, Vine added, "Cook will only be a wolf of my pack... a dog."
He took a deep breath, his shoulders slumping. He still couldn’t bring himself to call someone so obviously a dog, a wolf. "Our pack will take care of him. Until he mutates."
Hearing this, Gu Ning’s hand gripping Cook’s tightened.
"Ruff?" Sensing her change in mood, Cook turned his attention to her and nuzzled his head against her.
Gu Ning stroked his head, her heart a tangle of emotions.
She was happy that Cook would have others to care for him, but the thought that they might be separated filled her with an unbearable sadness.
If it were anyone else, she could have argued that Cook was closer to her. But this was his brother’s dying wish, and as she wasn’t his kin, she had no right to interfere.
Besides, Cook didn’t seem to reject them.
"Since you’re Cook’s friend, you can come to our pack as well."
Gu Ning looked at Vine in surprise.
Vine said, "It’s just one more mouth to feed. Don’t worry, our pack is no worse than Alex’s..."
"SLAM—"
Before Vine could finish, the door to the reception room was violently kicked open. It slammed against the wall, bounced back, and was stopped by a furry red paw.
