Chapter 107 [Fairy Tale] He Has a Little Gray Wolf (33)

The young girl was clearly angry.

Her tail drooped listlessly behind her, dragging along the ground. Her lips were pressed tightly together, forming two adorable dimples. Yet, her eyes kept glancing toward Ryder, shimmering with moisture. It was as if she were silently saying, “Why aren’t you coming to comfort me?”

Ryder had wanted to speak, but Asya’s glare rendered him even more tongue-tied, unable to utter a single word. His face flushed so deeply it seemed he might cry.

“Ryder, don’t cry!” Asya panicked at the sight of tears pooling in the boy’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I lied—it wasn’t true that you said we’d go together. Please don’t cry.”

She stepped closer and gently wiped the tears from beneath Ryder’s eyes.

“I’m not crying,” Ryder said, turning his face aside.

Though Asya’s hand was soft and soothing, he didn’t want her to know he had nearly burst into tears. Mistaking his reaction for anger, Asya immediately moved forward and hugged him. Her hands patted his back lightly, and her grey tail swept softly over his body.

“Ryder, please don’t be angry. Forgive me, won’t you?”

Her voice was gentle, as if treating something precious.

Ryder’s already flushed face grew redder still—almost as if it might bleed. He stammered, “Asya, I’m not angry.”

How could he possibly be angry? She was Asya, the one he liked most in the world.

Asya flicked her tail and murmured in his ear, “Then why won’t you hold me?”

Ryder’s arms hung at his sides, and when Asya embraced him, he hadn’t hugged her back. This made Asya a little sad. His fair ear reddened visibly.

“I—I…” Ryder wanted to turn away, but Asya was holding him tight. If he tried to dodge, she would surely think he was angry again.

So Ryder stiffened, letting the girl hold him. His hands lifted hesitantly, loosely encircling Asya’s waist.

Her embrace was warm and comforting, but Asya remembered they needed to go to the Dark Valley Marsh. Rumor had it there was an evil dragon lurking there. Now that it was daytime, it was the perfect time to get familiar with the terrain—so they wouldn’t end up dying in the swamp before even seeing the dragon.

So Asya patted Ryder’s back and let go.

“Ryder, let me go with you to the marsh. That way, neither of us will be lonely.”

Her warm hand brushed away the last traces of tears from Ryder’s eyes, and she whispered, “You mustn’t get angry again.”

She pursed her lips and put on a very serious face, as though Ryder’s earlier distress was nothing but childish mischief—and if he dared act up again, Asya would spank him.

Yes, that was exactly the expression she wore.

Ryder was flustered by Asya’s gentle, child-soothing tone, feeling less and less manly in front of the girl he liked so much.

Asya watched Ryder struggle inwardly for a moment, then finally he lowered his head.

Very softly, he said, “I won’t be angry.”

He’d never been angry—not once.