Bonus Story – The Enduring Wolf and the Shameless Dog

This morning… my head feels all fuzzy for some reason.

I know exactly why. It’s because yesterday—Huey and I finally became a couple.

Aaaahhh, I can’t believe it! Me—dating a boy! And not just any boy—a younger one who, emotionally, kind of feels like the same gender!? Waaaaaaahhh!

I crouched down, pressing my flushed face into my hands.

My heart was a chaotic mix of sweet, fluttery excitement from falling in love and cold, splashing confusion that I’d actually fallen for a boy. But… no more overthinking! Huey said he likes me as I am right now! He even called me “girly”!

That alone made me groan and grab my head again, my tail swishing wildly behind me.

Being called “girly” made me happy and embarrassed… but at the same time, I didn’t even know if I should be happy about it.

I’ve been agonizing like this since yesterday. Honestly, I’m kind of disgusted with myself.

Mom just gives me that “oh, how adorable” smile and keeps a gentle watch over me, while Dad only said, “Good for you…” before Mom had to comfort him afterward.

Really, the last thing I want is for my dad to see me acting like this mushy daughter… but I just can’t control my emotions!

As I flailed about, Mom quietly came over and said, “That’s what being in heat is like. Worry a lot, enjoy it a lot,” giving me what I think was supposed to be advice.

Ugh… she’s not exactly wrong, but also not exactly right…

Even when I crawled into bed, my thoughts kept spinning—I couldn’t relax at all.

If I were purely a girl, I could’ve just been happy about all this…

But right now, my heart is a tangled mess—half thrilled and fluttery like a girl, half panicking like a guy over falling for someone of the same sex.

With a long sigh, I covered my eyes with my arm.

Sleep just wouldn’t come.

After all, tomorrow—and the day after that—I’m going to be spending time alone with Huey again.

I’d love a little space to sort out my feelings, but if I did that, I’d probably just hurt him again.

No matter how deeply I exhale, the emotions swirling inside me refuse to leave my chest.

I kept tossing and turning, waiting for sleep that never came, until I ended up clutching my pillow and rolling all over the bed like a restless pup.

How am I supposed to face Huey tomorrow～～～!?

"Huey, are you alright?"

The next day, the moment he saw me, Huey blurted that out.

"Mm… I didn’t sleep much last night."

"I see… if it’s too much, don’t push yourself."

"Yeah, thanks."

My head felt foggy, and even my voice sounded weak.

Through that haze, I looked at Huey’s face—he looked genuinely worried… and for some reason, kind of sexy.

Immediately, my heart started pounding, and I pressed a hand to my chest.

Ugh, too much stimulation… Forget “love-struck maiden,” I’m skipping straight to “grandma having heart palpitations.”

"Mimosa, your face looks really pale."

"Whoa!"

Before I could react, Huey suddenly leaned in and placed his large hand on my forehead.

"See? You really do have a fever!"

"T-That’s just because being around you makes me embarrassed…"

"No, seriously, you’ve got a fever!"

He spoke in a half-exasperated tone—and then, without warning, lifted me up.

W-wait, is this a princess carry!?

The sudden motion made me panic, and I reached out to grab whatever I could.

"Eep!"

Before I knew it, my arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, clinging for dear life.

Our faces—so close!!

"H-hwahhh!"

"Mimosa, you were wobbling on your feet. If you’re not feeling well, don’t force yourself. I’ll carry you to your room."

Ignoring my flustered protests, Huey strode off, still holding me in his arms.

You know, a princess carry looks light and romantic, but in reality, it’s brutal on the guy.

Anyone who can do it with a smile is basically a monster.

In truth, your arms and knees are shaking, and your face looks like you’re fighting for your life.

…Wait, have I ever actually carried someone like this before?

My feverish brain couldn’t keep up.

Before I knew it, he’d gently set me down on the bed.

"…Mimosa, could you let go?"

"Huh?"

Only then did I realize I was still clinging to his neck.

That left Huey leaning over me, half on top.

"Mimosa…"

His slightly troubled voice and expression sparked something mischievous inside me.

"Gotcha!"

"Whoa!"

I tightened my arms and pulled him down hard.

Caught off guard, Huey lost his balance and toppled right onto me.

His warmth and weight pressed down against me—oddly comforting.

Heh heh, serves you right. Payback for the princess carry!

To keep him from escaping, I wrapped my arms around his tense body and hugged him tighter.

"H-hey, Mimosa!"

"Heh heh heh! I won’t let go until you say you surrender!"

"Okay, okay, I surrender! Whatever this is, I surrender—just let go already!"

I couldn’t see his face since I was hugging him too tightly, but his panicked voice told me everything. I could practically feel his flustered energy, and it made me grin.

I tightened my hug even more and let out a soft laugh, his hair tickling my nose.

Ahh… now that I’ve laughed, I’m suddenly feeling sleepy…

"Now that I’m lying down, I’m getting sleepy…"

"Y-yeah! You’re acting weird today, so get some proper rest, alright?"

"Mmm… good night…"

"Hey—wait, at least let go of my hand before you sleep!"

…Ahh, he’s so warm. Mmm, he smells nice too. Feels like I’ll have sweet dreams tonight…

"…~mosa, Mimosa."

"Mm…?"

When I opened my eyes, my mom was leaning over me.

"Are you awake?"

"Oh… I fell asleep, huh?"

Turning my head while still lying down, I noticed the evening sunlight streaming through the window—it seemed I’d been asleep for quite a while.

"Huh? Where’s Huey?"

"……"

Mom gave me a complicated smile and pointed toward my bed.

Now that she mentioned it, I realized I was hugging something big and warm—kind of like a blanket…

"Whaaaaaaaahhh!?"

"…Grrr…rrr…"

I was clutching a large black wolf tightly, its clothes stretched to the limit over its body, my arms and legs completely wrapped around it. The poor wolf’s ears drooped pitifully, wearing the most helpless expression imaginable as it endured my grip.

Wait—don’t tell me that’s Huey!

"Waaahhhhhh!!"

Not remembering how things got this way, I frantically released him and leapt to the edge of the bed.

"Mimosa!"

The sudden movement made me dizzy, and I toppled right off the bed.

Before I hit the floor, strong arms caught me.

"Mimosa, are you okay!?"

Opening my eyes at Mom’s worried voice, I saw her beside me—and Huey, holding me up.

"Uh, well… Mimosa wasn’t feeling right, and she had a fever, so I carried her to bed, but then…"

Huey trailed off awkwardly.

Oh, right! I remember now! But Huey, if you stop there, it sounds so bad!

"Mom! I was the one who pulled Huey onto the bed as a prank! My head was kind of fuzzy and—"

"Hey, Mimosa!"

"No, it’s fine, Huey. I understand now. I’m really sorry about this."

"N-No, please, it’s fine…"

While I desperately tried to explain, Mom and Huey just stood there having a quiet, awkward adult conversation.

Come on, listen to me!

As I tried to sit up and explain more, Mom placed her soft hand on my forehead.

"You still have a fever. You’ve been acting strange since yesterday, but I thought it was just your mating season… I’m truly sorry, Huey."

"N-no, it’s me who should apologize…"

"…We won’t tell your parents—or her father—about this."

"…Thank you very much."

"No, it was our oversight."

The two of them started whispering in serious tones.

"Um, but what I’m trying to say—"

"“Mimosa, lie down and rest!”"

"…Yes, ma’am."

Their synchronized scolding nearly made me flinch. Huey helped me back to bed, and I obediently lay down again, dazed.

They looked way too in sync—it was scary.

In the end, I didn’t have a sore throat, runny nose, or anything. Mom said it probably wasn’t serious, so I ate dinner and slept soundly through the night.

By the next morning, I was completely fine again.

Dad looked relieved, patting my head before heading out to the fields like usual.

When I saw him off at the door, Mom turned to me with a serious expression and gestured for me to sit.

She explained—firmly but gently—that even if we’re not full adults yet, dragging a boy into my bed is absolutely not okay. She also said that boys, once they enter mating season, become more sensitive—and their desires get stronger than girls’. So poor Huey probably had a very difficult time yesterday.

We’ve cuddled together plenty of times in the snow dens, but that was always in our beast forms. Back then, it was just affection—never that kind of urge.

But apparently, the actual act is something done in human form, and that’s when instincts get a lot stronger.

"Mimosa, you clearly still have a lot to learn… otherwise, poor Huey will have a hard time during his mating season…"

Mom sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead, ending my long, awkward lecture.

The next day, when Huey saw me up and energetic again, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Guess you caught a fever from stripping down so many times in that freezing place. I’m just glad you’re better now!"

"…Mmph."

That’s not what I wanted you to say! You could’ve said something like, “It was just stress,” or “You overheated from being my mate,” or something!

It’s not because of the whole “naked in the snow” thing, okay!?

And then—just one day later—Huey came down with a fever.

Wait… did I pass it to him?

Which means… it was because of the naked snow thing after all!?