Chapter 26
“But how does the Wolf Guardian choose the head of the family?”
“Probably by appearance! They pick the prettiest woman among the wolf beastkins!”
“Oh, come on. That’s what you think?”
“What did I do!”
“Let’s not fight, everyone.”
Thanks to the continued cheerful mood, Seoha was able to forget about Ethan, if only for a moment.
“By the way, Dr. Han, what happened to the puppy you took in last time? Is it doing well?”
“Yes. It eats well, sleeps well, and loves people too.”
She had been worried the puppy might fear people after being bullied by kids, but thankfully, it was very friendly.
“You posted an adoption notice on the hospital site, right?”
“Yes. We got a lot of applications.”
She had posted the notice on Monday morning, and by Tuesday morning, no fewer than seventeen adoption applications had already come in.
“Any good candidates?”
“There are a few, but I’m planning to wait a bit longer before deciding.”
“Well, even if it’s best to send it off before you get too attached, it’s not good to rush the decision either. Speaking of adoption…”
They were chatting warmly when ding, the doorbell rang.
A customer? Seoha turned toward the door without much thought—then froze when she saw the man standing there.
“Hey.”
It was Jinwoo. He greeted her a bit more awkwardly than usual.
“Oh, hey. Hi.”
Seoha also greeted him awkwardly, avoiding his gaze.
Sensing the strange tension between them, the staff quietly excused themselves from the room.
“What are you doing here? Weren’t you busy with meetings?”
“I’m not the head of the family yet, so I’m not really busy.”
“Right.”
An awkward silence followed.
Jinwoo scratched the back of his neck before cautiously speaking.
“Do you have plans for dinner tonight?”
It was a habit of his—scratching his neck when he was nervous.
“No, nothing planned.”
“Then… how about we have dinner together?”
So that’s what this is about.
It wasn’t exactly a pleasant subject, so Seoha hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
This wasn’t something she could avoid forever. It was an issue that had to be dealt with eventually.
Better to settle it quickly than let it drag on.
It would be better for both of them that way.
*
The beastkin council meeting started at 4 p.m. There was to be a dinner banquet afterward.
Ethan sat at the far back and glanced around the room.
“So one of these people is targeting me, huh.”
Strictly speaking, their real target wasn’t Ethan—it was the downfall of the Miller family. Ethan was just a means to that end.
Ethan didn’t care whether the Miller family fell or not. The only thing he cared about was revenge. As long as he could get that, nothing else mattered.
[Stay quiet.]
Noah, who attended the meeting as Ethan’s assistant, warned him calmly.
[Don’t say anything. Just sit there like you’re mute. I’ll handle everything.]
[Then you should’ve just come alone.]
[I would’ve, if that were an option.]
Grumbling, Noah pulled out a pen and notebook.
Not long after Ethan and Noah sat down, the meeting began.
[First agenda item is…]
Rhyme from the Alexandrov family took the mic and began leading the meeting.
Don’t let humans find out.
Maintain the balance of power between the beastkin clans.
Which family has done well lately, and which has made mistakes…
The topics were mind-numbingly boring.
Ethan, having left everything to Noah—and even if he hadn’t, he had no intention of participating—sat idly spinning his pen.
Eventually, he scribbled the name of the person who currently held all his attention.
“Han Seoha”
Her image popped into his head, and a smile naturally appeared on his lips.
She must be working right now.
Sitting at that same desk we used last night.
What kind of expression does she have? Is she thinking about me?
Of course she is.
He had made sure she’d remember. It would be stranger if she didn’t.
Recalling what happened last night, Ethan’s expression softened.
It was their first time doing it on a desk—but it wasn’t bad.
No, “good” was a better word. Good enough that he wanted to do it again.
“Will I get another chance?”
His lips curled as he wrote that thought down.
The answer was clearly “No.” Once the meeting ended, he would return to the UK.
If Seoha went with him, there might be another opportunity, but he could say with confidence—she wasn’t coming.
Everything she cared about was here.
They weren’t even in a relationship. She had no reason to follow him.
“No, wait. I could stay in Korea.”
He had no friends or family in the UK anyway. Not a bad idea.
But the problem was—he was the head of the Miller family.
If he stayed in Korea, the family elders would lose their minds and come drag him back.
Not that he feared them. It was just annoying.
And there was no telling what those elders might do to Seoha. That’s why he couldn’t just act on impulse.
“So what should I do then?”
He was seriously pondering when someone grabbed his shoulder.
[What’s got you so deep in thought?]
It was Noah. Ethan was about to fire back—*“You’re the one not focusing”—*when he suddenly noticed how quiet it had gotten.
The room, once filled with people, was nearly empty. Even the moderator had disappeared.
[Where did everyone go?]
[The meeting ended. They left.]
The meeting was already over?
Ethan checked the time on his phone. 6 p.m.—two hours had passed since it started.
He’d spent the entire meeting thinking about Seoha without noticing the time fly.
It was absurd—but also kind of nice. The end of the meeting meant he could go see Seoha.
[You’re going to see that woman, huh?]
[Why ask when you already know?]
Ethan replied bluntly, and Noah scowled.
[Have you already forgotten the advice I gave you a few days ago?]
[Advice?]
[I told you it’s dangerous right now. Stay inside!]
[Oh.]
Ethan let out a little “ah” as if he had just remembered. Noah pounded his own chest in frustration.
[You even snuck out yesterday without a word! What if something happens to you? If you go down too, our family is finished!]
[Like I said, I don’t care what happens to the Miller family.]
[Seriously? I can’t believe you just said that…]
Noah kept thumping his chest in despair, but Ethan didn’t even glance at him.
[Let go.]
He brushed off Noah’s hand like it was a bother.
Noah grabbed him tighter and shook his head.
[I can’t. The meeting’s not over yet. Just stay put.]
[You just said it ended.]
Everyone had already left. How was the meeting not over?
[If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable.]
[It’s true! There’s still an unofficial meeting left!]
[Unofficial meeting? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.]
[Well, it’s only called a meeting because the head of the family summoned it. I’ve been saying we need to meet the head from the beginning!]
Come to think of it, the head of the family hadn’t shown up yet.
Ethan finally realized that and tilted his head.
[She said she’d attend, but she’s not—]
[Shh. Watch your mouth.]
Noah quickly covered Ethan’s mouth and looked around. Luckily, no one seemed to have heard.
He spoke in a low, scolding voice just loud enough for Ethan to hear.
[You should call her “Head of the Family.”]
Ethan’s eyes narrowed sharply. He roughly pulled Noah’s hand away.
[Why do you care so much about what others think?]
[Because if we screw up here again, there won’t be another chance to recover.]
Ten years ago, the Miller family had been nearly wiped out in a mysterious attack. Ethan was the only survivor.
Only because of the success of their previous head’s business ventures had they managed to recover this much.
If they fell again, it would be over.
That’s why the elders and Noah had been so careful not to make any missteps.
But Ethan didn’t care at all. He did whatever he wanted.
For Noah, who had to keep things together beside such a reckless head, every day was like walking on thin ice.
[I’m not even asking you to suck up to the head like the others do.]
Noah held Ethan’s arm tightly and pleaded.
[Just basic manners. That’s all I’m asking.]
Ethan shook Noah off and replied coldly.
[Then I’ll just leave.]
[What? How’d you get to that conclusion?]
[If I meet that head, I might cause trouble. Isn’t it better if I just disappear?]
Honestly, yes. But Ethan was still the head of his family.
[No way. Absolutely not.]
All the other wolf family heads were here—Ethan being the only one missing would look bad. Noah shook his head firmly.
[Just stay until the unofficial meeting ends!]
[Don’t wanna.]
[Please!]
As Noah begged while clinging to him, the door creaked open.
Everyone in the room, including Ethan, turned to look.
Through the rear door of the meeting hall came a figure draped in a medieval-style robe, accompanied by several beastkin guards.
[It’s the Head.]
[The Head of the Family.]
As the figure entered, beastkin and Rhyme alike bowed respectfully.
All except for one—Ethan.
[What are you doing?]
Noah tugged on Ethan’s arm, signaling him to bow, but Ethan stood tall, unmoved.
He stared directly at the head of the family.
Surely he’s not about to do something stupid…
Just as Noah nervously opened his mouth to stop him, Ethan began to move.
