AMOUR

Chapter Seven

"You poor thing," Hana whispered, kneeling beside the wolf. It lay motionless, covered in blood, its breaths shallow and uneven.

Encountering a wolf in this region was unexpected; they typically inhabited colder climates. Hana felt a mix of excitement and concern—wolves were her favorite animals, but seeing one in such dire straits was heartbreaking.

"What should I do?" She murmured, assessing the wolf's injuries. Its leg was clearly broken, and there were signs of a serious bite wound, a portion of its skin torn away.

Treating the wolf required professional tools and a more suitable location. With night falling and only the moonlight to guide her, time was of the essence.

The wolf was unconscious, thankfully, so moving it wouldn't pose a danger. But its weight—typically between forty to eighty kilograms—far exceeded what Hana could manage alone.

Frustration mounted as she sat beside it, pondering her options. Leaving the wolf unattended was out of the question; it needed immediate care. With no other recourse, she dialed Taehyung's number.

"What is it?" Taehyung answered curtly, his voice still holding traces of earlier tension.

"Tae, I need your help," Hana pleaded urgently.

"Why? Where are you?" Taehyung's tone shifted, concern overtaking his initial irritation.

"It's not me, Taehyung," Hana explained quickly. "I found an injured wolf while walking in the forest." She paused, bracing for his response.

Silence greeted her confession. Hana knew Taehyung was upset, but she couldn't ignore an animal in need. "Tae, you know me," she continued softly. "I couldn't just leave it."

"I know," Taehyung replied quietly, his tone softened. He understood Hana's compassion for animals all too well. "What do you need me to do?"

"Oh my God, Tae! Thank you!" Hana exclaimed gratefully, outlining what supplies he needed to bring.

"I'll be there. Just wait for me," Taehyung said before hanging up.

Alone with the wolf, Hana checked its vital signs, relieved to find its heartbeat and breathing steady. Carefully, she examined its injuries again, finding only minor scratches aside from the leg and bite wound.

"I'm here," Taehyung's sudden appearance made Hana jump slightly.

"Oh my God, Tae! You scared me," she whispered loudly, a mixture of relief and gratitude flooding her voice. Taehyung simply shrugged, handing over the supplies she requested. "How did you get here so quickly?" She asked, peering into the bag.

"I have long legs," Taehyung quipped as he settled beside her, his attention on the injured wolf.

"I'll try to work quickly," Hana said, moving to the wolf's side and beginning her treatment.

"No rush. Take your time," Taehyung reassured her, settling in a comfortable position nearby.

First, Hana cleaned the blood with gentle strokes of cotton pads. Then, she carefully disinfected the open wound before stitching it closed. Gently lifting the broken leg, she probed for the exact location of the fracture, causing the wolf to whimper and twitch involuntarily. It was unclear if the injury was severe or manageable, necessitating further examination with an ultrasound—impossible under current conditions. Injecting the wolf with anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate pain, Hana also tended to minor wounds before enlisting Taehyung's help to relocate the wolf to safer surroundings.

Together, they transported the wolf back to the farmhouse, setting it up comfortably in the backyard. Satisfied that the wolf was stable for the moment, Taehyung bid Hana goodnight and headed inside.

Hana stayed with the wolf, monitoring its condition throughout the night. Sleep was out of the question; her patient needed constant vigilance.

When she awoke to sunlight streaming through her window, panic seized Hana as she realized the wolf was gone. Frantic, she searched the backyard and surroundings, but there was no sign of the injured animal.

Heart heavy with worry, Hana shared the news with Mrs. Wang and Taehyung, who tried to reassure her, but her concern remained palpable. How could she relax knowing the wolf was out there, still injured and vulnerable?

Taehyung spent the day assisting Hana in scouring the forest, their search ending only when they stumbled back into the library, exhaustion evident on their faces.

"Who died?" Mr. Choi greeted them, noticing their sombre expressions.

"A wolf," Taehyung blurted out absentmindedly, earning a playful slap on the shoulder from Hana.

"Don't say that! It might still be out there," she scolded gently, trying to maintain hope.

"A wolf? Here in Busan? How unusual," Mr. Choi remarked, clearly intrigued.

Under normal circumstances, Hana would have engaged in such a conversation, but her mind was singularly focused on the injured wolf. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I just hope it's okay." She rested her head on the table wearily.

"I'm sure the wolf will be fine," Taehyung reassured her, exchanging a knowing look with Mr. Choi. Silence settled over them, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Mr. Choi, I brought those books you asked for last time," Jungkook's sudden entrance broke the silence, startling everyone.

Both Taehyung and Mr. Choi exchanged panicked glances at Jungkook's unexpected appearance, freezing momentarily.

"What happened to your leg?" Hana blurted out, raising her head to study the boy with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Funny story," Jungkook chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I broke it."