chapter 01
It was time to admit it.
Short, fluffy legs in pale socks. A tiny, twitching nose that peeked out as if to tease you. And something wiggling on my backside!
“Woof.”
…I had been reborn as a beast.
In my previous life, I was human.
I don’t really remember how I died, but I do remember that I was from South Korea — that blue planet called Earth — and that I was a poor office worker who dreamed of a 40-hour workweek but slaved through 52.
Other than that, my memories were blurred, as if someone smeared Vaseline over my name and face — only my knowledge remained.
What the heck.
Feeling gloomy for no reason, I rolled back and forth on the warm floor. It wasn’t even a choice — just instinct.
In my past life, I used to crawl toward an electric blanket when I was cold; now, this little body kept seeking warmth all on its own.
My mind was clear thanks to my past-life intellect, but my body behaved like… well, a baby.
At first, it freaked me out, but I got used to it.
After all — I was a baby.
Once I accepted that, pride and dignity from my previous life didn’t matter anymore.
And honestly, rolling around on a heated floor felt really good.
“Humph.”
When I rolled too much, my mother — who was in the room with me — warned me to be careful.
My mom in this life was an incredibly majestic gray wolf.
Her fur shimmered in shades of white, brown, and black, making her look regal — and her movements carried the weight of a storm cloud gliding across the sky.
When I first opened my eyes, I thought she was my dad.
She was just that striking — and, to be fair, animals aren’t easy to tell apart by sex.
But then I smelled that warm, sweet scent of milk — and instantly realized she was my mom.
For the record, my dad was a big, handsome black dog with a magnificent tail.
Mom’s a wolf.
Dad’s a dog.
And we live in… a room with underfloor heating?
Something about that combination didn’t quite add up.
Yesterday, I kept tilting my head in confusion over it — until I saw it.
Mom and Dad… turned into humans.
I was shocked.
First I thought I was a wolf like Mom, then maybe a wolf-dog hybrid like Dad — but now, they were both human!
So what on earth was I supposed to be?
Wolf? Dog? Human?
I’d been agonizing over it since yesterday, but no matter how much I thought, I couldn’t reach a conclusion.
If only I could talk!
All I could do was whine and yap — “Awoong, ngh, hwooong” — completely useless for communication.
So frustrating! So frustrating!
I flopped down on the floor, groaning, while Mom lay nearby, watching me flail with an affectionate smile.
“Yip?”
Oh? My body suddenly felt tingly… something was changing!
I’d felt this a few times before, I think, but I’d always been too sleepy or my vision too blurry to see it properly.
“Tch.”
That clicking sound came from nearby — Mom again, but this time in her human voice: low, husky, and calm.
But I was too busy to care.
“Our baby’s transforming into a human again.”
“Awuu!”
My fluffy paws had become… human hands!
✦ ✦ ✦
Five fingers. Five nails.
Oh my gosh — was this real?!
They were tiny, but still — I had human hands now! I was overjoyed.
“You’ve never transformed while awake before,” Mom murmured, lifting me into her arms.
Human-form Mom was stunning — short ash-gray hair, golden eyes, graceful features.
Wow, Mom. Look! I’m human!
“Yes, yes. You’re excited, aren’t you? Let’s take a look at your face.”
She stretched her long arms and brought something shiny in front of me — a smooth, round object.
A mirror.
“My baby looks so pretty — just like your father.”
She was right. The baby in the reflection was adorable. Bright, clear eyes. A head full of soft hair.
Was this really me? I could’ve been a baby formula model with that face!
But then I realized — I was so small.
And my body wouldn’t obey me at all.
When I flailed my arms, I nearly scratched myself — but Mom quickly blocked it and saved my chubby cheeks.
Ugh, so inconvenient! I preferred being a pup. At least then I could walk on my own.
“Waaah!”
Crying burst out of me before I could stop it.
Being a human baby was so uncomfortable! Sure, I’d been human before, but I didn’t remember it being this hard!
“Uwahhh, waaahhh!”
After crying myself out in Mom’s arms, I eventually fell asleep from exhaustion.
When I woke up again, hunger gnawed at me.
I drank my fill of warm milk and drifted off again.
By the next time I came to, my body had turned back — paws and all.
Yes! I can move again!
Thrilled, I scampered across the floor and soon spotted a mirror set atop a cabinet.
Finally, I got a good look at my beast form.
But… where did my parents’ beautiful genes go?
I looked like a tiny puppy!
A little puffball that should be rolling, not walking!
Even the way I jumped in surprise looked silly.
My fur covered everything, my muzzle was short, my eyes were round like buttons — and my coat? 100% dog.
Strange. Not long ago, I’d looked like a cute baby human, but now… a walking cotton ball.
I stared sadly at my reflection.
The puppy in the mirror stared back with the same soulful eyes.
Should’ve looked deep and mysterious — but with my pink tongue sticking out, I just looked stupid.
When I was human, I couldn’t control my limbs. Now, as a pup, I couldn’t control my tongue.
The puppy in the mirror frowned in frustration.
✦ ✦ ✦
But the gloom didn’t last long.
“I’m home.”
“Woof!”
Dad had returned from outside!
Instantly, my mood soared. I wagged my tail like crazy and ran to him.
He smelled of snow and fresh air — and he carefully stepped into the room with me perched on his foot.
“You’re back already.”
“You know I’m fast.”
When Mom transformed back into human form, Dad leaned down and touched noses with her — a gentle “nose kiss,” like the ones they often gave me.
Smack. Oh… they didn’t usually do that though. Should I look away?
Before I could decide, they went further — Dad leaned in and kissed Mom deeply, and she loosened his tied-up hair.
His thick, curly black hair cascaded down like a waterfall — straight out of a shampoo commercial.
Feeling left out, I bit one of the shiny strands.
I approve of parental affection, sure… but please remember there’s still a puppy baby in the room.
Then something else caught my attention — the bundle Dad carried.
It smelled amazing.
He ruffled my head affectionately before sliding the bundle toward Mom.
“You said you wanted it, so I brought some boiled pork.”
“You must’ve had a hard time getting this in the cold.”
“You did all the hard work, dear.”
When the cloth was unwrapped, glossy slices of boiled pork glistened temptingly.
So that’s where the smell came from!
Without thinking, I dove in and bit a piece.
Chomp! I expected it to tear easily now that I had teeth — but nope. The meat stayed firm and springy, refusing to yield.
Still, that juice!
That glossy, heavenly fat!
I couldn’t let go. This was meat! My first in ages!
Growling happily, I hung onto that piece for dear life. Above me, Mom and Dad chuckled.
“Our baby’s already trying to eat meat. Whose appetite did they inherit?”
“Mine, obviously. It means they’re healthy.”
“If health is what it means, then I suppose that’s good.”
“Of course.”
While they smiled at each other, Dad plucked the pork from my mouth.
My meat! So unfair!
“Our little one, you’re still too young. Meat will upset your tummy.”
“Awuu! Awooo!”
Then don’t eat it in front of me!
I sat down in protest, rump on the floor, and whimpered. Dad just laughed awkwardly.
He really was handsome.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp features that softened beautifully when he smiled.
When he laughed, I couldn’t help but laugh too — though I didn’t so much smile as open my mouth and pant.
Finding me cute, Dad reached out and scratched between my ears.
But I was really after the meat juice still on his fingers.
Dad, just one lick, please. If not the meat, then the juice!
“Oh dear. How can a three-week-old puppy already crave meat?”
“They take after me.”
“Don’t forget — our baby’s a canid like me.”
“Ha! I’ve never heard of wolf blood being outdone in three generations.”
Three weeks, huh? So I was about three weeks old.
Mom and Dad were flirting again. Their words sounded teasing, but their eyes and smiles were filled with affection. I loved listening to their voices — usually, I’d eavesdrop quietly — but not today.
All I could think about was that taste lingering on my tongue.
Would I ever be satisfied with milk again?
My eyes and mouth both felt watery.
“How was the baby today? Did they change again?” Dad asked.
Mom sighed softly — unusual for her. When I looked up, she didn’t look well.
“Three or four times. Mostly a half-beast form, but sometimes fully human. It seems they can’t control it yet.”
“I figured as much,” Dad murmured. “I found something out while I was out.”
“What?”
He checked every door carefully, locking each one. Then, still uneasy, he leaned close to Mom’s ear and whispered—
“I think… our baby might be a Haetae.”
A Haetae? What’s that supposed to be?
This was a new one for me.
So what was I, really? Wolf? Dog? Human? Haetae?
I sighed like a movie character from my past life.
How could I forget my own name and face, but still remember that line?
Ridiculous. My ears drooped back in exasperation.
