In Love with the Werewolf Count

Chapter 8

"Yes, Mr. Zhang, please." The secretary waved her hand.

"Mr. Wu..." Jonathan's attempt to speak was cut short as he was ushered out.

He did not fully trust Jonathan's words; after all, his deceptive behavior undermined his credibility. However, the fact that Ivy was a human-wolf could not be easily denied.

What kind of beings are human-wolves?

What should he do with her?

**

Ivy paced the room restlessly, the clinking of the chains on her wrists echoing with every step. The chains were long but not long enough to allow her to leave the room. Her movements had been confined to this space for days.

How long did William intend to detain her?

A soft knock came at the door, which opened a crack to reveal a young, vibrant face.

She initially thought it was William returning. She turned and paused before asking, "Is there something you need?"

"May we... may we come in?" The girl's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Although the young master had instructed them not to approach this room, knowing that the Countess Ivy from Heartbreak Hotel was inside, how could they resist a close encounter?

"May we?" There must be others outside as well. "Come in." She was feeling quite bored, so having someone to talk to was a welcome distraction.

"Thank you!" As soon as the door was opened, five or six girls rushed into the room, each clutching notebooks and pens, jostling one another—"You go first!"

"I’m too nervous, you go ahead!"

Ivy maintained a gentle smile, "Is there something you need from me?"

Finally, someone mustered the courage to approach and handed over a notebook and pen. "Could you please give me your autograph? Your singing is wonderful!" The girl's cheeks flushed, and her breathing quickened as she stood close to her idol for the first time.

"I want one too," came the chorus of voices.

An autograph? Ivy was momentarily taken aback. "Are you sure you have the right person? I am neither a celebrity nor a public figure."

The youthful faces fell with disappointment. "You won’t sign for us? Why not?"

It was just a simple autograph, but her surprise was genuine. "I didn’t say I wouldn’t sign. I’m just curious as to why you want my signature?"

"We are your fans," came the enthusiastic reply.

Fans? Ivy shook her head with a smile. "I’m just a temporary performer." She wasn't even a part-time singer.

Ah! She had suddenly disappeared for several days. What would become of "Galaxy" at the Heartbreak Hotel?

"But we really enjoy your singing!" The affirmation was unanimous.

"Are you considering a career in entertainment?" someone asked, their tone filled with hope.

This question stirred excitement among the girls.

"I would definitely support you!"

"Me too."

"I’ll tell my friends to buy your CD." Sales are crucial for a singer’s career and their survival in the entertainment industry.

It was still too early to discuss this! Moreover, she had no intention of pursuing an entertainment career. "Thank you for your support, but I do not wish to become a star." She took the notebook and pen from one of the girls and signed her name.

"Why not?" It seemed a pity for the Countess not to pursue fame.

Then the next girl stepped up.

Before she could respond, a male voice suddenly called from the doorway, "Is this a signing event?"

"Young Master!"

"Young Master, we..." The girls were all startled.

"Everyone out," William's flat tone was devoid of emotion but carried a chilling authority.

He had specifically instructed everyone to avoid this room to prevent any potential harm from Ivy. He had not expected them to come right up to her.

"Yes." The girls responded in unison and quickly exited the room.

Upon seeing him, Ivy's smile vanished immediately. He had imprisoned her for several days, and she had no reason to be kind to him, even though he had rescued her from the biological research and conservation center.

To her, it was merely a larger cell; the confinement remained unchanged.

"Should I move in a table and chair and maybe even advertise for you?" His teasing tone suggested he had underestimated her allure.

His clothes were slightly oversized on her, and although her pants were a bit long and she was barefoot, it did nothing to diminish her androgynous charm.

He often found himself reflecting on her beautiful curves at the most unexpected moments.

She lifted the chains on her wrists. "This will make it clear to everyone that you are holding me captive."

What would it take for him to grant her freedom?

"You had plenty of opportunities to take one or two of them hostage and force me to release you. Why didn’t you?" He couldn’t believe she hadn’t considered it.

She had indeed considered it but didn’t want to involve innocent people. "Thank you for the reminder. I’ll keep it in mind for next time."

Though she said this, he preferred to believe that someone who acted heroically would not resort to hostage-taking. "Jonathan visited me today."

She was indifferent to his fate and didn’t even ask.

"He told me about human-wolves," he wanted to clarify.

Ivy’s body tensed slightly, but she maintained her composure. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." Did he know? Did he believe it? What were his intentions? "He mentioned characteristics such as being a hybrid of human and wolf, possessing a handsome appearance, green eyes, highly developed motor skills, and a rapid recovery ability..." He paused before continuing, "Aside from the last trait, you seem to match all these characteristics."

She asked impassively, "What else did he say?"

William pondered briefly, "He also said that human-wolves are inherently cold-blooded, brutal, and combative, with countless victims over time. His brother was killed by a human-wolf, and you might be one of the culprits. Are you?"

She hesitated, torn between admitting everything or defending herself and her kind.

"Do you believe him?" She wasn’t sure if he was an enemy or a friend.

She didn’t want to create a powerful adversary for herself and her kind, but it was evident he had his doubts; otherwise, he wouldn’t have confined her with chains.

"I am still investigating," he said honestly.

He would uncover the truth in due course.

---

Since he should know what is known and unknown, she decided to admit it after much consideration. "I am a human-wolf."

Although William had mentally prepared himself, hearing her confirm it was still shocking. "So the big gray wolf in the cage was you!"

In this world, anything strange could become reality at any moment.

Before this, he had never imagined that there could be another type of being besides humans, but now he had no choice but to believe it.

Because the evidence stood before him.

She nodded, "That’s right."

"Then are the characteristics Jonathan mentioned true?" He was still trying to process the information.

"That depends on what you mean. Throughout history, human-wolves and humans have coexisted, but human-wolves have remained hidden due to the grim fate of those who revealed their identities. Jealous humans fear our superior talents and preemptively strike to maintain their dominance," she stated factually, without adding personal sentiment.

Of course, she understood that not all humans were deceitful or malicious. However, the persecution of human-wolves was real, and most had learned not to trust humans easily.

"Do you not resent humans?" he questioned, skeptical.

"Of course we do," she replied without hesitation, "but not all humans are cruel. Many can genuinely accept us."

"Oh?" Besides himself and Jonathan, there were others aware of the human-wolf existence.

"I have many friends who have married human women and are living happily. Peaceful coexistence is not a fantasy but an achievable goal, depending on human attitudes. We do not initiate conflicts but will not shy away from them either. Jonathan’s issue must be resolved thoroughly." The island rules of Moonlight Island forbade harming humans unless provoked.

"Did Jonathan’s brother really die at the hands of human-wolves?" Based on recent interactions, he leaned toward believing her.

"Yes." Her response was clear and straightforward.

He regarded her with keen interest, "I would expect some explanation. Isn’t that right?"

She dragged the chains a few steps, "If you want to hear it, you must ask. If you don’t believe me, it would be pointless to explain."

"Please, I am all ears."

"Years ago, when Jefe was studying in Germany, he met a girl..." Ivy recounted the events in detail. "He could have lived a good life if he hadn’t caused trouble for us."

First Jefe, then Jonathan, had caused enough harassment.

From Jonathan’s earlier attempts to persuade him to agree to eliminate the human-wolves, he inferred—"I’m afraid he won’t give up easily."

She looked at him in surprise for a while, "You... you believe me?"

"I do," he said, based on his observations and experiences.

Ivy was delighted to hear this, "Then can you release me now?"

Finally, she might regain her freedom. This was a joyous occasion!

For her safety, it would be best for her to stay here for the time being. He didn’t need to ask to know she wouldn’t agree, so he would have to delay her release. "I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait a few more days."

"What?" Her smile froze.

What a joke! She didn’t want to wait any longer. She wanted to leave immediately.

This was compensation for her period of confinement. "Jonathan is likely lurking nearby, so it’s safer for you to stay here for now..."

She interrupted him, "No need.

I can protect myself." What kind of protection was keeping her confined?