Sisi finished her lunch and then checked the wolf cub's bandage. She nodded approvingly and commented, "The bandage is still in the same position, so you didn't move around while I was out. Good boy."
"Uurrff…" Jojo whimpered. This was the first time he'd been called good boy, and it didn't feel right. It made him feel like a baby!
But at the same time, his body started heating up. Warmth spread through him when he heard those words, because it was the first time someone had praised him gently. If he were in his beastman form right now, his cheeks would've turned bright red.
Usually his father praised him with a simple nod, and Jojo would be the one jumping around excitedly.
"Hmm, I have to work again after this. I'll come back to you after dusk, alright? I'll bring dinner. Mmm… it'll be another salted fish, but you have to make do because that's all we have right now." Sisi smiled gently, unaware that the wolf cub was depressed at the thought of eating salted fish again.
If only he could move freely, he would have hunted something small for himself and for this human. After all, it was only right to feed her, since she saved him.
Jojo was left alone in the shed once more. The shed was a little dim with the door closed, but at least all the horses were out, so he could rest with peace of mind.
He stacked his front paws and rested his head on them, closing his eyes slowly. The salted fish had left a horrible taste in his mouth, but he was still grateful to have been saved by a kind human.
'She is really kind…' That thought lingered in Jojo's mind as he drifted off to sleep. The vivid memory of her warm smile seemed to ease his aching body.
**
Mr. Piker had gone to the nearby town to buy medicine supplies, ingredients, and meat to stock the storage. When he returned home, Sisi quickly helped bring in everything he had bought.
Mr. Piker glanced at Sisi, noting that she still hadn't treated her wounds from the night before. He reminded her, "Go and treat yourself first. I'll feel bad if you look like this. Other workers might think I've done something wrong to you."
Sisi maintained her smile but sneered inwardly.
'Well, you did something wrong to me. Besides, I'm sure everyone already knows what happens every night. They just don't want to lose their jobs, so they keep their mouths shut.'
Ignoring Mr. Piker, Sisi went straight to the kitchen.
She diligently sorted everything out, but she secretly stole a chunk of raw meat for the wolf cub. From his expression, Sisi knew he disliked eating salted fish. Maybe he had only eaten it because he was too hungry and desperate to survive.
So, Sisi wanted to treat him to something better.
She also checked all the medicine Mr. Piker had bought. Luckily, since Sisi was beaten blue almost every night, everything was meant for treating external injuries. That was perfect, because she doubted she could use human medicine on the cub.
After that, she resumed her daily work and usually finished before dusk by cooking dinner for Mr. Piker.
However, the real hell began once the sun had set and Sisi stood beside the dining table, waiting for Mr. Piker to finish his meal.
He would gorge himself at first, and after a few shots of alcohol his face would turn reddish and that lecherous smile would appear.
At this point, Sisi could even recite what he would say next:
"I'm in the mood right now, Sisi. Go to my room, and you will fulfill your duty as my daughter… and my woman."
As usual, Sisi took a step back and shook her head in defiance. "I am your daughter, not your woman. I'd rather die than let you touch me!"
"You stupid wench!" Mr. Piker grabbed a metal bowl and hurled it at Sisi's head.
As the sun set in the west and the shed darkened, Jojo grew restless.
No, he wasn't scared of the darkness, he was scared of being left alone. The human had promised to come after dusk, but there was still no sign of her.
Jojo thought she might just be busy, but then he remembered her wounds. He didn't know how she had suffered so much and began to worry that she was too weak to return.
'Oh no, did she also fight tigers? Daddy can fight all of them, but that human doesn't look strong,' Jojo pondered. He was scared of whatever danger awaited outside the shed, but thinking of his savior, he gathered his courage to go out and check on her.
Fortunately, his body had an amazing recovery rate. Something he inherited from his father, so his front leg and rib didn't hurt as much after a full day of rest and proper care.
However, just as he was about to jump out of the haystack to search for her, the door suddenly slammed open. A man's furious voice echoed as he dragged Jojo's savior into the shed.
The man was big and fat, but he didn't look tough. Fighting him would be like fighting a bear, yet his father had killed many bears with ease.
"If you don't want to sleep with me, then you'll sleep in this shed forever! You stupid bitch!" the man yelled before kicking her.
The moment Jojo saw the human, her face bruised anew, lying weakly on the ground after yet another beating, a flame of rage exploded in his heart. He bared his teeth and jumped out of the haystack without hesitation.