A Nine-Tailed Love

Chapter 18

Dae-Hyun

I woke up to the sound of my doors squeaking as they opened. The barrage of heavy steps invade my space. 

I ran my hand over my face and pushed myself up into a sitting position, “What is the meaning of this?” I grumbled.

“Your majesty, a gray wolf was spotted at the north gate. Your consort and Gon are out in the field in the south. We don’t know its intentions but we assume it's because of her.”

A large gray wolf? Is it the one from before? I thought. s**t, it sounds just like the one that tried to attack me right after I helped Eun-Ae recover.

I jumped to my feet, frantically running out of the room and into the hallway, “Go find Gon and Eun-Ae, that’s her name. We need to get her back indoors quickly and out of his sight. Now!” I shouted.

The guards ran ahead of me, not realizing some of them had shifted. No, seriously, was my entire guard wolves too? What did this all mean?

I made it as far as the south gate, seemingly out of breath as I held onto the stone archway. A flurry of white tails floated over the tall grass heading in my direction. I knew it was her and I needed her by my side.

I lifted my head, swallowing hard as I caught my breath, “Eun-Ae!”

A white wolf appeared out of the grass, trotting by her side with its head held low. Once the two were close enough, I recognized Gon from him shifting before. 

“What were you two thinking? The surrounding areas aren’t safe for you to be out here in the middle of the night!”

Eun-Ae lowered her head and ears as she shrunk herself down to her smaller size. “I’m sorry, I needed to stretch my legs and Gon wanted to come with me. I didn't mean to make you mad.” She chittered and whined.

Gon huffed at me before turning left, disappearing behind a tree. “Dae, you worry too much. There’s… Whose scent is that?” He growled, turning his gaze to the wall behind me.

“ Someone is here,” Eun-Ae’s ears perked as she shifted her eyes past me. She bared her teeth, walking around me. “It’s that bastard.”

I watched as her pupils turned into slits. “Eun-Ae calm down, you're going to scare everyone.”

Her eyes glanced up at me, “I think we’ve crossed that threshold. 

The grey wolf bared his teeth in my direction, lowering his head to the ground. He snapped his jaw as he growled.

Gon walked out from behind the tree, holding his top. “Who is this f*****g guy?” He sneered, jutting his thumb in the gray wolf's direction.

I shook my head, “This is the same wolf that attacked me the day I brought her back.” I stepped back behind Eun-Ae, whose tails were flared out and stiff.

The gray wolf shifted. His eyes narrowed as he stopped a few feet from Eun-Ae. “What the hell are you doing here with him? Did I not tell you that he was going to kill you?” He shouted at her.

I took a step forward ready to defend myself against him when Eun-Ae shifted back, quickly wrapping her tails around herself. “Jung, I told you. You don't own me, I am not your mate and I sure as hell don't follow the orders of a mangy mutt who can't tell his head from his ass!”

Gon winced beside me, rubbing his chest. “Ouch, that one hurt.”

“What are you talking about? He brought you here to take your pearl. You know what will happen if you give that to him!”

What? I don’t want a stupid pearl. Why does everyone keep bringing this pearl up? 

"Yah, I have no idea what you are talking about!" I shouted back at him. 

Jung's eyes landed on me. A smirk on his face. "Then what the hell is she doing here then? Besides, you taking advantage of the last kumiho?"

I clenched my fist, taking a step forward, "I'm not taking advantage of anyone. She may have refused to come here at first but I can protect her." I pounded on my chest in an attempt to show dominance.

Jung broke out in hysterical laughter, "You protect an animal against all of these animals you surround yourself with? You're a joke." 

Gon strode up to Jung and fiercely growled. "You have no idea what we are capable of." He sneered.

Jung leaned into Gon's shoulder, "And you think you do? We aren't the only ones coming after her. You'll see." 

Gon scoffed, "We've protected the last king until his dying breath, and we will do it again if necessary." 

Eun-Ae shook her head at the two bickering. "Crazy. You both are crazy. Jung, I am giving you one last warning. Leave and don't come back. I am happy here. If you return, I'll have to kill you and this time I won't let you go."

Jung strode past Gon toward Eun-Ae, but I stepped between them. Meeting Jung eye to eye. "Go. Before every guard here rips you apart."

Jung reached out and grabbed the collar of my hanbok signaling every guard that was present to shift and growl at him, Gon included. I raised my brow at him as a challenge.

"Jung, will you just leave!" Eun-Ae shouted. 

Jung rolled his tongue on the inside of his lip, clicking his tongue, "Just because you asked oh so nicely. Eun-Ae, I'll be back to claim what is rightfully mine." 

"It'll be you getting the beating you deserve then." Gon growled. 

I grabbed his hands, removed them from my collar, and shoved him back. "There won't be a next time. If you are spotted anywhere near my palace again, you'll be executed on sight." 

Turning, I scooped Eun-Ae into my arms and stalked off toward the palace. I was fuming with anger. How dare that lousy mutt try to claim something he has no ties to?

Gon eventually escorted Jung off of the palace grounds with the other guards that had come outside. I refused to keep myself behind the palace walls though. That wolf didn't scare me and I knew that I could take him. But Eun-Ae could probably fend for herself.

"Dae-Hyun… are you upset with me?" Her small voice asked.

I glanced down at her and sighed heavily, "No, blossom. Not you, just that other man. Why does he believe that you are his?"

"Dae, I sense hostility in your tone...I'd rather not talk about it." She replied.

I shook my head and stopped in the throne room. I set her down on the steps and took off my coat, wrapping it around her. "Then we won't talk about it. As long as you have no feelings for him, I'm alright."