How to Raise a Dumb Wolf - Chapter 69

“…So that really is the truth.”

After listening to Thorne lay out every clue, Aisha sighed with complicated resignation.

Thorne frowned. Her unsurprised response immediately drew his attention to one particular word.

“*Really*?”

“Mm.” Aisha nodded and smiled. “I only began to suspect it just now. I found a little thing on Major General Wolf that I once used for Les. I still wasn’t certain, though. Thank you for coming to tell me.”

Thorne stared, then turned away as if embarrassed and raked a hand through his hair.

“…What? You already knew. I worried for nothing.”

“I wasn’t sure, and I hadn’t decided how to confirm it. I truly am grateful.”

“…It’s nothing.”

Thorne’s dark eyes flickered aside, but soon his gaze grew serious again.

“Are you going to confront him? Do you want me to come with you?”

Aisha paused beneath his focused stare. “Thank you, but… I don’t think that will be necessary.”

Her answer was hesitant. Major General Wolf had concealed his identity for some unknown reason while remaining intimately close to her for a very long time. She did not know his purpose. He was also an enormous, formidable beast and a general. From Pal and what she learned in Wold, Aisha knew he was an unquestioned prodigy, terrifyingly strong in both forms, brilliant at Wold Warrior School and a young officer of boundless promise. Meeting him alone carried undeniable risk.

And yet…

Aisha could not explain why she felt so certain, but she did not believe Major General Wolf meant her harm. That man… had never meant her harm.

Thorne’s frown remained. “Are you sure? That wolf is huge, and you… will you really be all right?”

He had nearly said, *You have feelings for him, don’t you?* and *Your mother is Lieutenant General Killott of the Helman Federation, while he is Major General Wolf of Beast. It’s none of my concern, but this looks wrong.*

But Aisha had never told him her background. Remembering that, Thorne swallowed the words and changed course.

“If you’re worried that you’ll discuss something I shouldn’t hear, I can stand far away. Don’t be embarrassed. We’re classmates, at least. Besides, I’ve nothing better to do lately.”

His concern warmed Aisha. She had been thinking the same thing. The possibility that Major General Wolf had initially hidden beside her to gather intelligence about her mother left a dull ache in her heart. Such a conversation was not suitable for Thorne’s ears, but there was still the question of safety.

After some thought, Aisha drew her wand.

“What about this?”

She held the wand in her right hand, raised her left with the back facing upward, and pointed the tip at her skin.

“I’ll place an alarm spell on my hand and set you as the contact. If something happens, I’ll trigger it and alert you. Would that work?”

Thorne had not expected the suggestion. He studied her in surprise, considered for several seconds, and nodded.

Then he pulled her sleeve a little higher. “…Make it discreet.”

“All right.”

Aisha smiled, closed her eyes, and recited the incantation.

Her magical power had grown rapidly in Micks, perhaps because of her healing studies. Although she had learned few new spells, her mastery of those she already knew improved at a remarkable pace. An alarm spell spanning both time and distance would once have been difficult, but now she completed it with ease.

Thorne glanced sideways at her spellwork, impressed despite his attempt to appear calm.

A dark-purple magic array the size of a coin soon appeared on the back of Aisha’s hand. Her long winter sleeves would conceal it perfectly. A few minutes later, she placed an identical magic array on Thorne’s hand.

He rubbed his wrist thoughtfully.

“Then I’ll depend on you. Thank you,” Aisha said. “I’m going to find Major General Wolf soon. Unless something changes, it will probably be… around three.”

Three was when she usually met Les. She brought a book, leaned against his body, and studied while resting. The ritual had always seemed warm and peaceful. Now…

The thought of seeing him weighed upon her heart.

Thorne nodded. “I understand. After three, I’ll keep myself free and wait for your message. I’ll… go now?”

“Mm. Goodbye.”

Aisha waved as he rose. Once his footsteps vanished down the corridor, her smile slowly collapsed. She remained helplessly in her chair, staring at her fingers.

So… that man truly was Les.

She had to… face him.

Her heart raced. She could hardly avoid fearing what the confrontation might do to their relationship. Aisha drew a deep breath and released it heavily. For a long time, faint tension enveloped her whole body.

…

When the clock struck three, Aisha entered the forest.

Every step felt heavy. Soon she would see Les and ask about Major General Wolf. Then… perhaps the giant wolf before her would change into a man.

Because she dawdled, the walk to their usual place took longer than normal. Every passing moment made the person waiting there more anxious.

Les awaited her—not as the giant wolf, but as Major General Wolf.

The tall silver-haired man stood in the shadows of the dense trees. Afternoon sunlight fell through the branches in broken patterns across his handsome, sharply defined face. His expression was grave, making his classical features appear even more restrained. Lips pressed together, he watched the path for Aisha’s beloved skirts to appear as they always did.

He did not know what expression she would wear when she saw him.

Les tightened the fist already clenched at his side.

He had decided to tell her the truth. He still could not know whether he misplaced the white ribbon or whether Aisha had discovered it, but either way, the truth needed to be told. If she already knew, he would rather tell her himself before disappointment and uncertainty consumed her. If she did not… their relationship had reached a point where honesty was necessary.

His Majesty had implied that the time had come. Besides, Les did not want to enter the next stage of their relationship while concealing the truth. His Majesty, Pal, Queen Louisa—everyone had done so much and prepared the way for him. He had worked to build trust with Aisha. Perhaps it was time to reveal the answer.

There could be no certainty. He could only try and hope she would trust and accept him. Hope that she… liked him.

The worst outcome was losing all her trust and convincing her that he had approached her for intelligence held by Tina Killott.

In truth, he had spent little time illegally in Helman as an ordinary animal. Only his wounded stay in Philray and his return to Aisha in Vitas violated international agreements. He had lived in Wold afterward and entered Micks legally with a travel permit. Tina Killott’s limited contact with Aisha, and the fact that she rarely discussed military matters with a daughter unlikely to enlist, meant Les had no avenue for intelligence. As Helman and Beast drew closer, the political consequences would probably be lighter than he once feared: personal surveillance and moral condemnation at worst.

What made that outcome unbearable was losing Aisha’s trust.

Merely imagining her looking at him in anger and disappointment hurt.

But…

Les steadied himself.

Footsteps sounded at the end of the path. He straightened instinctively and looked toward them.

Seconds later, Aisha rounded the final bend. When she saw not the familiar giant wolf but the austere Major General Wolf, she stopped.

Les inclined his head in greeting. After hesitating, Aisha returned the gesture.

Silence filled the forest. At last, she stepped carefully forward, looked straight up at him, and asked softly:

“…Major General Wolf, are you truly… Les?”

“…Yes.”

Les squared his shoulders, met her eyes without evasion, and answered firmly.