Protection
1571 Words
“Laura, what exactly are you trying to do? I’ve already come to take you back. Throwing a tantrum still needs to have some limits, doesn’t it?”
Hearing that, an inexplicable anger surged straight into Laura’s chest. She looked at the so-called male lead as if he were an i***t.
What on earth was he even talking about?
And since that was what she thought, she said it straight out.
“What are you talking about? My husband is very much alive. Who said he was dead? And who wants to go back with you? I’m living perfectly well here. Please stop saying such ridiculous things.”
As soon as Laura finished speaking, Alex was about to sneer.
Deep down, he resented her lack of tact. If it weren’t for that vivid dream he’d had—where Laura died in the beast tide in his place—he wouldn’t have bothered coming all this way for her.
But the very next second, he completely lost the ability to smile.
Because a snow wolf truly appeared—stepping through the air, hurling the prey from its jaws heavily onto the ground, and positioning itself firmly in front of Laura.
Its fur was a deep gray, its massive body solid and powerful. Its eyes gleamed with cold, menacing emotion, violent aura rolling off it in waves. The sharp teeth exposed in its open mouth flashed white, and every step of its thick, powerful limbs seemed to make the earth tremble.
Alex couldn’t help taking a step back.
From this snow wolf, he felt overwhelming pressure.
Alex was already at the fourth rank. Across the entire beastlands, there were very few who could make him feel such suppression. Could it be that this wolf was—
“Husband, you’re back!”
Laura’s slightly joyful voice confirmed the answer Alex already knew.
He stepped back again, disbelief flooding his face.
How was that possible?
That snow wolf should never have survived. If he hadn’t been truly at death’s door, the snow wolf tribe would
never have dared abandon him here. Alex’s scrutinizing gaze shifted toward Laura.
When he first arrived, he had sensed the presence of another beast’s aura—but Alex had arrogantly assumed it was left behind by some kind-hearted snow wolf to protect Laura from harm.
He never imagined this wolf was still alive.
Noticing Alex’s gaze, Derek’s expression grew even darker. His entire body tensed with vigilance as he stepped forward, completely blocking Laura’s small frame behind him.
“Awooo—”
A powerful pressure erupted from the snow wolf’s body—this was a clear warning for Alex to leave immediately.
Because Derek was actually reaching his limit.
He had been injured while hunting. The wounds on his hind leg—hidden from Alex’s view—were already soaked with blood. Despite his domineering appearance, he wouldn’t be able to withstand even a single strike from Alex.
But Derek knew he could not show weakness.
Because Laura was behind him.
Laura had seen the injuries too. Her eyes filled with heartache, yet she didn’t dare step forward while Alex was still there. No one knew that the hand she held behind her back was clenched tightly.
She hated it—
hated how weak she was,
hated how the male lead always came to stir trouble.
Battle intent flared in Alex’s eyes.
He wanted nothing more than to kill Derek on the spot and drag Laura away—so that when the beast tide came, she could die in his place.
But he didn’t understand how Derek had survived such severe injuries. What if they possessed something he didn’t know? The beastlands revered the Beast God, and for a moment, Alex truly hesitated.
At that moment, Laura added fuel to the fire.
“Why aren’t you leaving yet? Aren’t you afraid of divine punishment descending from the heavens?”
She was right.
Alex was indeed wary of such things. He subconsciously looked up at the sky, then left behind a single sentence:
“Laura, don’t regret this. I’ll wait for the day you come begging me to take you back.”
With that, he turned and transformed into his beast form, disappearing into the distance.
Laura would never regret it.
If he had truly wanted to save her, he would have come long ago. Now that the White-Fur Wind crisis had passed, what was he pretending for?
Just as she was about to finally breathe a sigh of relief, Laura noticed the big gray wolf preparing to chase after him.
“Hey—don’t chase him!”
She hurried forward and supported the snow wolf as he collapsed onto the ground.
“Why are you chasing him? Didn’t we just want him to leave?”
Derek knew why.
He was furious over Alex’s final words.
He lifted his head and looked at Laura beside him. Someone wanted to take his little wife away from him.
That was unacceptable.
The big gray wolf clenched his fists until his entire body trembled. He would never allow anyone to take Laura from
his side—unless he was dead.
Laura was busy checking the wounds on his leg and didn’t notice the obsession and madness flickering in the
man’s eyes.
The injury itself wasn’t fatal, but it was precisely the leg that had already been badly hurt before. Now it was torn and bloody. Laura frowned deeply.
She applied the last of their remaining herbs to the wound and sighed at the sight of his battered body. The herbs were no longer enough—and this time, they wouldn’t be so lucky as to find more easily.
“Why are you hurt so badly? Didn’t I tell you? Your body comes first. We still have enough food at home!”
Worry made her voice sharper than she intended.
Her intention was kindness—but to the sensitive big gray wolf, it sounded very different.
What should I do?
What should I do?
I made my little wife angry.
Will she stop liking me?
Will she think I’m troublesome?
Will she think I’m not good enough…?
Laura saw the entire wolf fall into panic. He looked at her, wanting desperately to say something, but in the end, he
just lowered his head in dejection. The light in his eyes shattered into scattered fragments, heavy with sorrow.
Without thinking, Laura reached out and placed her hand gently on him.
“What’s wrong? Does it hurt a lot?”
Derek froze at the weight on his head. He looked straight at Laura, and in that instant, his dark, empty eyes seemed to light up completely.
The poor big gray wolf didn’t know that sometimes, scolding was simply another form of concern.
When someone cares, they blame—
because they’re afraid you’ll get hurt again.
The big gray wolf didn’t understand that, but his heart felt as if it had been soaked in warm water—sour, swollen,
and suddenly filled with boundless strength.
He volunteered to go deal with the prey.
Laura wanted him to rest and heal first, but after being gently touched by his beloved little wife, the big gray wolf
felt like his strength had nowhere to go.
He felt like he could plow two fields in one breath.
The big gray wolf went to process the prey, while Laura began preparing their meal—still grilled meat and a pot of bone broth.
She broke off a small piece of salt stone into the pot, cooking as she watched Derek work.
This prey seemed to be some kind of marten. The meat wasn’t particularly tasty, but its fur was beautiful. Derek
had immediately decided the pelt would make fine clothing for his little wife.
During the hunt, he had deliberately avoided damaging the fur, aiming only for the neck so he could skin it whole.
That hesitation was exactly why he’d been injured.
Of course—
none of that could ever be told to his little wife.
Even as a wolf, Derek had already grasped a truth passed down through thousands of years of human wisdom:
For the sake of household harmony,
some things are better left unsaid.
Moments later, Derek appeared in front of Laura, hands covered in blood, holding an intact pelt.
“Laura, do you like this pelt? I’ll hang it outside the cave later. After a few days in the sun, it’ll be ready.”
“I like it. It’s so complete—and really beautiful.”
Laura endured the strong smell of blood as she stepped closer to look.
“But why hang it outside the cave?”
“It’s one way to process pelts,” Derek explained. Then, thinking of her fondness for cleanliness, he added,
“Don’t worry. It’ll be clean.”
But Laura stopped him and instead pointed to the pile of ash left over from their fires.
“Why don’t we try my method instead? First, clean off the remaining flesh and hair. Then burn grass and wood into ash, wrap the pelt in the ashes, and bury it in dry soil. After a month, dig it up. It’s simple and clean.”
As she spoke, Laura couldn’t help feeling grateful that she used to watch those “What to do if you transmigrate into the beast world” videos—she had remembered this method, and now it finally came in handy.
- Writer
