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“Kyaah!” She let out a startled cry, instinctively burying herself in his embrace. Her wide eyes peered over at the creatures who, despite their fearsome reputation, seemed as docile as house pets in the presence of her husband.
Yet, the mere sight of them filled her with deep fear.
The wolves, all males, possessed sleek, lustrous coats and eyes that gleamed with a cautious intelligence, their very presence exuding an aura of quiet menace.
She couldn’t believe her husband had been keeping these wolves as pets for years, treating them like loyal companions.
How odd.
It struck her how little she truly knew about him. His bravery was clear, that much was obvious. And to think, these fearsome creatures had been living within the manor all this time without her knowing a thing until now.
Yang’s laugh, rich and melodic, rumbled through his chest as he observed his wife’s frightened expression.
“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured soothingly, his voice a gentle balm to her frayed nerves. He could feel the wild thrum of her heartbeat against him. “They certainly won’t harm you.”
“But what if they bite my hand?” she whispered, her lips forming a small, anxious pout.
The thought of keeping such fierce creatures as pets seemed utterly beyond her comprehension.
Were dogs and cats not docile enough?
“They wouldn’t dare.” With a gentle yet firm grip, he guided her hand towards the nearest wolf, his confidence unwavering.
“Ay!”
She gasped, attempting to withdraw, but his grasp remained steady, and as she wriggled in his arms, his hold on her waist tightened, indicating he had no intention of letting her go.
Her gaze met his, pleadingly. “I don’t want to touch them.”
“I’m here, am I not?” He coaxed her, his tone indulgent, as though addressing a child, which to his discerning eyes, she was.
Fei bit her lip, her reluctance yielding to his patient reassurance.
“They’ll do nothing to you. Look at them. Do they appear ready to pounce? No, they’re sweet and harmless.”
Perplexed, she looked from the wolves to her husband. Sweet? Harmless?
“See? This one wants to be petted. Go on, my love,” he encouraged, motioning to the wolf sitting before them.
She sniffled, her gaze hesitantly meeting the wolf’s. It stayed still, its watchful eyes calm, almost as if it were more human than animal. It didn’t seem eager for her touch; in fact, it looked like it might prefer to be the one doing the petting.
