“Irin, wait—don’t look!”
As soon as our eyes met, Edmond turned away and buried his face in his hands.
But he couldn’t hide his silver ears poking through his black hair—or the tail under his clothes.
In that moment, I thought: Is this the werewolf season everyone talked about?
The Wolfsfang family calls this time the “wolf period.” They say during this time, even without using magic to shift, wolf ears and tails appear—just like Edmond’s now.
“It’s okay, Edmond. Don’t be embarrassed,” I said softly.
“No, but… this feels awkward,” he replied.
I tilted my head. “What’s wrong with it?”
“I just want to look neat for you. And during wolf season, my hair gets messy… and I act kind of impulsively.”
I understood. But I also thought: He’s still Edmond.
So I reassured him: “Honestly, I like all of you—even like that.”
Edmond had been trying to press his ears down to hide them. When I said that, he stopped.
“If you really don’t want me to see you like this, I can try… but I think you’re fine now.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
He turned slowly to face me—wolf ears and tail and all. His eyes were bright blue, slightly sharper, and his teeth a bit sharper too.
He looked at me, vulnerable like a wet puppy, and asked:
“Irin, are you really okay with this?”
Without thinking, I whispered: “You look cute…”
“What?” Edmond’s face froze.
“Irin, what did you just say?”
That morning’s small surprise over, it was time to eat.
Edmond moved his chair right next to mine—less than a foot between us—so close that our plates almost touched. Lady Rosette, watching us, put down her spoon softly.
“Edmond.”
“Yes, Mother?”
“I know it’s wolf season, and you want to stay by Irin’s side, but don’t you think this is too close?”
Edmond smiled warmly.
“But Mother, Irin said she thinks I’m cute right now.”
In my head I shouted: What does that have to do with distance?
Rosette looked just as puzzled. Edmond repeated: “She said I’m cute.”
He said it twice, clearly pleased—and he clearly wasn’t planning to move away from me.
“Alright…” Rosette sighed and looked at me. “If you don’t mind him being clingy for a while…?”
“Of course not,” I said with a soft smile, glancing at his tail wagging quietly. It’s not uncomfortable at all. He’s genuinely sweet.
Just then, the dining room door opened and Reyna yawned in, revealing her own brown wolf ears.
“Oh! Reyna’s in wolf season too?” I laughed.
Reyna smiled. “Irin, look! Cute, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Yeah, very cute.”
Edmond glared—protectively. Reyna teased, “Brother, Irin said I’m cute, remember?” Edmond grumbled: “She said I was cute.”
Reyna retorted: “I did! I said it so you’d stop bothering her.” Edmond shot back: “You’re the one bothering her!” The two teased playfully, ears and tails wagging—just like puppies playing.
I laughed: “Edmond, you and Reyna really are cute, you know.” Lady Rosette chuckled too.
“How can you tell?” I asked sheepishly.
“Your face. I think all the Wolfsfangs in wolf season are adorable,” she said softly. Then she smiled fondly—and warmly, I realized, reflecting on past memories.
She spoke of love: “Edmond’s great-grandfather loved me so much, and I loved him in return. He always gave more than I gave.”
It touched me. And I thought of Edmond, who always wants to do just that—do more for me.
“Edmond’s different, of course,” Rosette said, “but he reminds me of him in that way.”
I agreed. She gently stroked my head: “So even if Edmond is clingy for a while, don’t mind it too much.”
I thought of Edmond’s worried eyes about this new season.
“Don’t worry. I won’t,” I promised.
She nodded, comforted, and smoothed my hair.
That night, long after everyone else had fallen asleep, I was awakened by a soft groan.
I sat up and gasped—Edmond was clutching the sheets, shuddering in pain in front of the mirror.
“Edmond!”
