Seeing Vine, Gu Ning immediately ducked her head back.
Then, she heard the sound of Vine striding toward her. Even with Alex right beside her, Vine’s intimidating presence made her heart pound violently.
Alex blocked Vine, pressing a hand against his chest to stop him from getting closer to Gu Ning. "Take it outside."
"We’ll talk here," Vine said, his face cold.
Alex knew he wouldn’t be able to get rid of him easily. He turned to the small female pressed against the wall. "Go into the bedroom? Alright?"
Just as Gu Ning was about to nod, she heard Cook cry out, followed by a loud CLATTER and CRASH.
She poked her head out. A pile of bare-chested Beastmen had tumbled into the doorway. Cook was pinned at the bottom, head up, snapping viciously at the air.
"B-Boss!" The young wolves struggled to hold down the frantic Cook. They all looked at Vine. "Did you catch that Mimic Mixed Species?"
Gu Ning stiffened, then silently ducked her head back again.
The young wolf had barely finished speaking when Barto viciously kicked him in the ass from behind.
"Ow! Which bastard kicked my ass!"
Barto then stepped on the young wolf’s tail, grinding his heel into it, before leaping over them into the room and storming toward Vine.
Vine turned, bracing for Barto’s attack.
Barto clenched his fist, then unclenched it. He brushed right past Vine and went to Gu Ning.
"You okay?"
Barto gripped Gu Ning’s shoulders, carefully looking her up and down for any injuries.
Seeing the clothes she was wearing, his nose twitched. He caught the scent of a certain wolf all over them and couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
Gu Ning shook her head and looked him over. "What about you?"
A corner of Barto’s mouth lifted. He placed her hand on his waist. "Here."
He was shirtless, revealing a tautly muscled upper body. His skin was much fairer than that of the other Beastmen, who spent all day training out in the wind and sun. Water droplets dotted his skin, and his long hair was plastered wetly to his chest.
Gu Ning followed his gesture and looked down at his slender waist. There was a small, faint red mark on his pale skin.
It was from where she’d just pinched him.
At this, understanding dawned on her. She looked up and met Barto’s eyes.
Barto gave her a slight raise of his eyebrows, his gaze seeming to say, ’See? See? The worst injury I have is from you pinching me.’
Gu Ning’s eyes narrowed. She pinched the back of his hand and gave it a hard twist. ’The nerve of him to tease me. Just look at this mess!’
Barto let out a pained HISS. "Okay, okay," he soothed, "I’ll handle it."
Gu Ning gave him a kick and pushed him toward the door. Hearing Cook’s yelps, she glanced toward the entrance.
She couldn’t see anything.
Both Vine and Alex were blocking her view. The two similarly built alpha wolves stood there like a solid wall.
Meeting Vine’s icy gaze, Gu Ning flinched and yanked Barto back toward her.
’No way. He looks like he could punch Barto straight into the wall.’
"Let him go." Vine turned to the young wolves. "All of you, head back."
By now, Alex’s men had also crowded into the hallway. They weren’t quite sure what was happening; even if they’d wanted to make a move, they couldn’t find an opening. They just stared blankly at the other wolf pack.
"Go downstairs and keep watch." Alex dismissed his men as well, pulling the broken door partially closed.
Freed from his restraints, Cook rushed in front of Vine, baring his teeth and barking. His yelps were both fierce and furious.
Vine stood as still as a statue, completely unafraid of the little pup who might attack him at any moment.
Gu Ning, terrified that Cook would recklessly attack Vine, poked her head out again and called, "Cook."
Hearing her voice, the ferocity in Cook’s eyes instantly cleared. Tongue lolling, he ran to her side and nuzzled his sopping wet head into her arms.
"There, there." Gu Ning soothed, stroking the pup’s head. "I’m okay."
Barto grabbed Cook by the scruff of his neck and pulled him off. "You’re soaked. Don’t get her all wet."
"Awh..." Cook obediently sat down and shook the water from his fur.
"..."
Gu Ning and Barto simultaneously wiped the water sprayed onto their faces.
"Come on, let’s head back." Seeing that the wolf pack had left, Barto took Gu Ning with one hand and Cook with the other, about to lead them next door.
Vine reached out and grabbed Gu Ning’s arm.
An instant later, Alex grabbed his hand. Barto spun around, seizing Vine’s shoulder and trying to shove him away.
Vine’s other hand shot out and grabbed Barto’s wrist.
"Let go!" the three Beastmen said in unison.
Cook: "WOOF WOOF!"
Gu Ning, stuck in the middle of them: "..."
Vine looked at Gu Ning. "It’s come to this. None of you are leaving until we get this straightened out."
Gu Ning: ’I don’t understand a single word.’
Barto’s knuckles turned white as he gripped Vine’s shoulder. "Let her go, you hear me?"
’If he weren’t afraid of hurting Gu Ning, he would’ve smashed Vine’s head into the floor by now.’
Alex frowned. "Let her go. I’ll talk to you."
Barto: "What’s there to talk..."
Alex cut him off. "Handling it your way won’t do her any good."
The room fell silent.
Gu Ning held back the increasingly frantic Cook. Her gaze fell on the large hand gripping her arm, and she spoke slowly, "Everyone... let go."
At the sound of her voice, Vine’s harsh expression softened slightly, but he didn’t let go.
"Barto."
’She’d seen before just how difficult Vine could be. If this wasn’t resolved properly today, she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep.’
She said to Barto, "Take Cook with you."
’If this conflict escalated any further, she wouldn’t be able to keep Cook calm.’
"What?" Barto said. "Are you kicking me out?"
Gu Ning looked up at him. "Dry Cook’s fur, get his clothes on. And no. Fighting!"
Barto took a deep breath and let go of Vine. His gaze swept over the two alpha wolves. He gave Cook a push and said irritably, "Let’s go. Back to your doghouse!"
.
Gu Ning sat cross-legged on the sofa, cupping a mug of hot water and taking absentminded sips.
Above her, a hairdryer whirred.
Alex stood beside her, drying her hair with the blow-dryer, his fingers moving expertly through the strands.
Vine stared at the pair for a moment, then pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Gu Ning.
He didn’t say anything, just watched her, silently observing the interaction between her and Alex.
He finally understood why the "little Mixed Breed" had been so close to Alex’s wolf pack. He also understood why Cook and that fox were so attached to her.
Being stared at like that by Vine, Gu Ning started to drink faster and faster, until her mug was empty. Only then did she awkwardly set it down.
She glanced at Vine and saw his direct, unconcealed stare. She subconsciously lifted the mug to drink again.
’She feared this alpha wolf the way one would fear a drill instructor and a dean of students rolled into one.’
’The other Beastmen were all hot-tempered and fierce-looking, but Vine was stern and rigid, never showing even a hint of a smile.’
A strong hand reached out and took her mug.
A moment later, the steaming mug was pressed back into her hands, and Vine settled back into the chair in front of her.