It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 17

Sitting up straight in the office might be tough, but being with Jackal will surely be enjoyable.

When Jackal opened the door, I saw an office that looked a little different from what I remembered. A large baby cradle right next to the desk was the change.

“Did your brothers use that cradle?”

“Yes.”

It was big enough for both of them, so I could lie down in my human form and roll around to my heart’s content.

The wooden parts were covered in scratches, but the cushions and blankets inside looked newly added and were very thick.

Up close, it looked like Theo and Deon had made all the scratches with their teeth and claws.

‘Wolves must be strong from when they are babies.’

My fangs and claws need to get strong quickly too.

Anyway, a cradle that wasn’t here a few days ago is new. It must have been prepared for me, which warmed my heart.

“Snacks?”

“I’m full right now. I’ll tell you if I need any later. Because I have so, so many things I want to ask you today.”

When I said that, Jackal gently shook me up and down. He seemed to be figuring out how much I weighed.

“Still small. Light.”

“I’m thinking of holding back on growing for a while so I can wear all the clothes I had made today.”

At my joke, Jackal chuckled, then got up and took me to the bookshelf in the corner of the office.

The bookshelf pillar was full of scratches where Theo and Deon’s heights had been recorded every six months.

My brothers must have come to the office very often. Jackal lowered himself in front of me.

“Let’s measure your height first, then the questions.”

“Okay. I’m not that small objectively, you know.”

I said solemnly and prepared myself. Jackal stared intently at my feet, which were about to lean against the bookshelf.

It was as if his gaze would pierce through my shiny new shoes.

“I, I was about to take my shoes off.”

I said shamelessly and took off my shoes. I should have worn thick socks. Sadly, when I leaned back against the bookshelf again, Jackal chuckled again this time.

“Don’t stand on your tiptoes.”

“……”

“Holding your breath and puffing out your chest won’t make you taller.”

“Poooof—”

Jackal finally straightened me back to my original size and then marked my height with his fingernail.

Scrape—

“Done.”

As soon as Jackal took his hand away, I looked at what was written with my name and today’s date. Jackal had just recorded it with his sharp wolf claws.

“I’m this small!”

“Just the height Theo and Deon were when they were four.”

Jackal took out a folding children’s chair from under the desk and unfolded it next to the desk.

As I sat in the chair, Jackal opened a drawer and took out a picture book. Unusually, there were no words, only pictures.

‘Did he remember that I can’t read?’

My heart warmed for some reason.

But there was something that caught my eye more than the picture book. It was a jewelry box with several locks on it.

Could that be what Sir Elliot reported after seeing Karis off this morning?

Jackal noticed that I was staring at it and put the jewelry box deeper inside.

“If it were something else, I would have shown it to you, but I can’t because it’s an unpleasant jewel.”

“An unpleasant jewel…?”

“Maybe not to you.”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head at Jackal’s words.

This morning, I heard him telling Elliot that the jewel was dangerous.

‘Is it possible that it’s dangerous to the Wolf Knights Commander but not to me?’

Even though my ears are perked up and my fur is gray, making me look like a wolf, my body is still so small.

As I was pondering the incomprehensible words, Jackal covered me with a blanket and added.

“It’s a replica made by taking out only a small amount of magic from a jewel called Blue Moon. If it doesn’t negatively affect you, it’s because you’re a special child.”

Special child. My eyes sparkled at those words.

“That’s just my guess, though.”

“But my late mother also said I had a special power.”

“Your father’s name was… Icarus, you said.”

“Yes. My brother’s name too.”

“It’s a common name, though.”

When I answered, Jackal’s eyes deepened. He had a look of pondering something.

“In the future, it’s best not to talk about special powers to just anyone.”

“But I don’t know what that special power is.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you know about the power or not, or how well you handle it. People always covet special things, and if they can’t get them, they’re satisfied with breaking them.”

I felt the color drain from my face.

“From now on, don’t tell anyone except the Gridwolf family.”

“Yes. Um, but…”

I glanced around and asked.

“Does Gridwolf know about my dad?”

Icarus is the name of our dad and brother. More precisely, it was a name passed down to the firstborns of our family.

Sometimes when Mom called my brother, Dad would turn around too.

“Not to the extent that I know him.”

It wasn’t a kind answer, but my heart was pounding with a desperate feeling.

“Could you tell me just a little bit?”

I only put my hands together and said, ‘I want to hear about Dad…,’ but a tearful voice came out.

Jackal handed me a handkerchief and said.

“I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“Hing…”

“It’s too early now. You’re too small.”

Jackal spoke firmly but kindly. Thanks to the warmth in his voice, I could tell that Jackal had made this decision with me in mind.

“Okay. I trust Jackal.”

It had only been a few days since Mom died by Jerian’s order. If I heard some bad news related to Dad now, I would surely droop like cotton soaked with water.

‘When Dad and my brother went to heaven, Mom and I could comfort each other….’

I was less heartbroken because the Gridwolf family helped with the funeral.

My scattered family members must be meeting in heaven now and spending every day together.

‘The little ones will be born and make them twice as happy, so I need to get strong first.’

I decided to grow up quickly and hear Dad’s story.

‘I need to get smarter to understand the story fully.’

Then I’ll be able to avenge Mom on Jerian.

When I gripped the blanket tightly, Jackal tapped my tense shoulder. The tension was relieved.

“You seem impatient, so I’ll tell you just a little bit. Have you ever heard of a song about a goddess?”

“Are you talking about the lullaby where a cat pulls a carriage?”

“Yes. The name of the blue jewel necklace in that song is Blue Moon. It’s a jewel that makes demi-humans lose their reason and become possessed by their animal instincts and madness.”

Jackal tapped the jewelry box I had been eyeing with his fingertips.

“It’s currently in a specially made jewelry box to block its magic, so you don’t have to be afraid.”

“……”

My face must have turned pale because I was scared. I became embarrassed and smiled awkwardly.

“I need to investigate further, but as far as I know, a wealthy man named Icarus was investigating Blue Moon.”

“Oh my.”

I felt a little dazed. I had heard a lot from Mom that Dad and my brother, who used to be with him, were heroes, but it was the first time I heard that they had investigated a legendary jewel.

‘Is it something Dad started? Why did he start it?’

Now that Dad has gone to heaven, questions that I can’t ask are springing up in my head.

But judging by the way he gently stroked my hair, it seemed like he wouldn’t answer even if I asked.

I decided to be satisfied with this much for today and started reading the picture book.

It was about a wolf building a big house with the three little pigs and living happily. Well, the content seems a little different from what I read in the cat territory.

Judging by the sound of the pages tearing every time I turned them, it seemed like he had gotten me a new book.

‘His actions are warm. It would be nice if he just spoke kindly.’

Even while thinking this, it was difficult to imagine Jackal speaking kindly.

After finishing the book, I watched Jackal work.

Jackal, wearing a perfectly fitting black suit, had the top two buttons undone. The Gridwolf crest [family emblem] was embroidered on the clothes in gold.

‘Working is so cool. I should go watch Karis work later.’

I need to eat and grow up quickly. If I sit at a desk and casually review documents like Jackal, I’ll look cool too.

The setting sun came in from behind, making my body feel relaxed. Before I knew it, I started nodding off.

I woke up when Jackal put down his documents and stared at me. Judging by the way his gaze was directed slightly upwards… my cat ears must have popped out again.

“Ah, I’ll put them in quickly.”

I stroked my ears wildly, but they wouldn’t go in well because I had woken up from a nap. Jackal looked at my ears, which kept popping up, and muttered quietly.

“I want to bite them.”

Thump.

I was startled and looked at Jackal. His face showed no malice at all, but Jackal’s strong impression made me feel a little scared for some reason.

‘No. My brothers said so. Jackal will explain again if you ask him to explain again.’

I mustered up my courage and asked.

“Re-really…?”

No. A frightened baby cat voice came out. Jackal clenched his fist as he looked at me trembling and covered his mouth.

“In Gridwolf, we say ‘cute’ like this.”

“Ah.”

I puffed up my cheeks inside because of the heartless wolf Jackal.

‘Wolves, really, that’s too much! How can you express the word ‘cute’ with such a scary expression!’

Jackal’s fangs were very sharp even in his human form. If he transformed into a wolf, he would have fangs much longer and thicker than my forearm, so if he said these words to other animals, they would surely faint.

‘But I’m a baby wolf now, and Jackal said he said that because he loves me. Then….’

I mustered up my courage and jumped from the chair onto the desk.

It was a little scary to sit on the desk facing Jackal, but I closed my eyes tightly and stuck out my rather plump cheeks.

“It’s okay if it’s just once so it doesn’t hurt….”

I want to be loved in the wolf style too!

I put my hands together and waited for the sharp fangs, trembling my eyelashes.