Chapter 112

 

Chapter 112

Grrrgle. A sound echoed.

‘…I’m hungry.’

Dori gloomily clutched his empty stomach.

If this were the imperial palace, he would be sleeping soundly right about now, only to wake up late and sit down at a table overflowing with all his favorite foods.

As usual, Haewon would scold him to eat everything evenly, Hongi would quietly pour the tea, and Cheongi would chatter away beside him.

It had only been a few days ago, yet it already felt like some distant memory.

‘I want rice. And warm soup too…’

His mind wandered to sizzling stir‑fried meat served with crunchy vegetables or even spicy stew. The thought alone made his hunger even worse.

What a cursed fate.

In the real world, he hadn’t had money, so he couldn’t complain. But even after transmigrating into a novel, was he doomed to starve here too?

‘This makes the third time, doesn’t it?’

Why was he always missing meals?

Since his transmigration: first in the Red Fox Village, then when he was captured by Haban and dragged to the palace, and now after being kidnapped by Wonwoo. Dori gave a weak laugh, lamenting his lack of luck when it came to food.

At that moment, clunk—the door rattled. Dori quickly raised his head, ears twitching, only to slump in disappointment when he realized it was just the wind.

Of course. As if anyone would be coming for him.

Burying his face between his curled-up tails, Dori let out a deep sigh.

He knew he shouldn’t get his hopes up, yet he couldn’t shake the image of Haban suddenly barging in, calling his name.

‘I have to do something myself…’

Haban wouldn’t know this place. In the original story, this wasn’t where “Dori” reunited with Haban.

There, after days of rain forced him to hide in a cabin, the hunter would return. Fortunately, “Dori” would narrowly escape, hide in an empty cave, and eventually get away safely.

‘What if I end up running into him here too?’

Dori pictured the cabin door bursting open and a rough-faced, vicious hunter storming inside—armed with a bow or a blade, draped in animal pelts. Upon seeing a white fox inside, the hunter would surely try to kill him.

…Shiver.

His fur bristled, and his snout trembled. That would be a disaster. In his current fox form, bound by a collar and leather straps, he couldn’t even run. His whole body stiffened in tension.

…Sniffle.

He fought back tears that threatened to escape, sniffling softly.

Then came the sound he dreaded most: footsteps.

‘He’s here again!’

Wonwoo.

Even the cheerful spring in those steps was infuriating.

‘Do the other Red Foxes know what he’s up to?’

Either way, Dori wanted nothing to do with him. He squeezed his eyes shut and pretended to sleep.

But Wonwoo, stepping inside and setting something down by the door, strode over without a care and shook Dori awake.

“Enough sleeping. Get up.”

“…”

“Or… do you want me to wake you up with a kiss, like last time?”

“…Grrr!”

What the hell, you shameless fox bastard!

Just like he said, last time Dori had woken mid‑sleep to a strange sensation—only to find the red fox licking his muzzle with those brown eyes staring right at him.

The sheer disgust and shock still haunted him.

Reluctantly sitting up, Dori thumped his tail against the floor in displeasure.

“Starting to feel like imprinting with me yet?”

“…Grrrowl.”

Don’t make me laugh.

“Wow. Still stubborn, huh?”

Of course he was. This wasn’t stubbornness; it was common sense. Who would meekly accept being kidnapped and forced into becoming someone’s mate?

But seeing the defiance in Dori’s eyes, Wonwoo’s own expression soured.

“Think carefully. I’m the only choice you have.”

“Yip!”

Over my dead body!

The mark of a mate only disappeared if one of them died. No matter if this was inside a novel, Dori couldn’t imagine being bound to someone like him for life.

As Dori glared, Wonwoo’s previously bright face hardened, his teeth grinding audibly. A chilling voice slipped through the gap between his clenched teeth.

“The more you resist, the longer you’ll suffer.”

“Yip! Yip!”

Do it alone, see if I care!

Relying on his last shred of confidence, Dori turned his head sharply and lay back down.

The mate mark couldn’t be forced. Wonwoo had learned that after multiple failed attempts; hence his recent shift to coaxing Dori with false gentleness.

Feigning patience, Wonwoo soothed,

“Being stuck here is hard for you too, isn’t it?”

But Dori only grew more irate at hearing that from the very one who had imprisoned him. His tail flicked violently, swatting the air as if to tell him to get lost.

“You must be hungry too.”

Getting no reaction, Wonwoo rustled through the box he had set by the door.

Soon, the aroma of food wafted into the air.

Dori instinctively turned his head toward the smell the moment it tickled his nose.

Somehow, Wonwoo had brought something steaming and fragrant all the way into the mountains. Splitting it open revealed chewy dough stuffed with minced meat and vegetables.

Gulp.

Dori swallowed unconsciously.

“Want some?” Wonwoo asked, blowing on the hot food.

…What’s his game now?

He’d barely given him water before—why this, suddenly?

Suspicion clouded Dori’s gaze.

“Eat a little, so you can regain your strength,” Wonwoo coaxed, offering half of the dumpling to Dori’s snout. The rich scent suggested top-quality ingredients.

Was he really giving this without reason?

Could it be poisoned? Dori’s wary eyes tracked Wonwoo’s hand, yet the well‑kneaded dough and juicy filling looked maddeningly delicious.

Gulp.

Again, Dori swallowed hard. His empty stomach let out a pitiful rumble.

“See? Hungry, but still so stubborn,” Wonwoo teased, eyes softening almost tenderly—like he wasn’t the captor at all, but some caretaker feeding a helpless animal.

“Say ‘ah.’” He pinched off a bite-sized piece and offered it again.

“…”

Still suspicious, Dori tightly shut his mouth and shook his head.

“Worried it tastes bad?”

“Yip. Yap.”

You try it first.

“If you’re that doubtful, fine.”

With an exaggerated motion, Wonwoo popped the torn piece into his own mouth and chewed slowly, deliberately, for Dori to see.

Dori couldn’t help sneaking glances. Soon, Wonwoo swallowed the bite.

“See?”

Finally, Dori’s hostility eased slightly. He half‑sat up and sniffed again. Wonwoo wouldn’t have eaten it himself if it were tainted.

‘Right… Better to eat a little. Need strength to escape.’

With that thought, Dori licked the food and took it into his mouth. When his tongue brushed Wonwoo’s palm, Wonwoo flinched, his gaze darkening, though he masked it. Survival came first.

As Dori quietly ate, Wonwoo licked his own lips. Even in this situation, the brush of his mate’s tongue sent tingles through his palm.

‘…Just hold out a little longer. He’s finally lowering his guard.’

Deep down, he wanted to push Dori down right there, to explore every inch of that white body. The old fury at the mark left by that man only fueled the heat pooling in his lower body.

‘Tch.’

He should have completed the mate mark during that wedding—sealed everything then and there.

Watching the snowy fox calmly chew on the dumpling, Wonwoo clicked his tongue in frustration. If Dori were always this docile, things would have ended long ago.

In truth, completing a mate mark involved biting the nape during intercourse. But Wonwoo’s situation was different: he already bore half a mark, so he only needed to mark Dori—no full coupling required.

He thought catching him would make things simple. Yet the closer he got, the more violently Dori resisted.

Forcing him unconscious and biting his nape seemed easier, yet every attempt had been violently rejected—the mark repelled him with excruciating pain and flung him away.

At first, fury blinded him. He’d pinned Dori, biting his neck and slamming him to the floor. Terrified, Dori had curled against the wall, tail tucked, but Wonwoo’s rage drowned out any pity.

When his reason returned later, he understood: he already bore the mark, while Dori knew nothing.

Dori was innocent—if coaxed gently, he’d surely open up.

Even now, Dori devoured the food blissfully unaware that only one half of it was laced with drugs.

‘When he’s asleep, I’ll try again.’

“All done?”

Wonwoo smiled warmly, handing him water.

Days passed.

Wonwoo let out a harsh breath, teeth clenched in frustration.

Dori lay sprawled on the floor, panting heavily.

‘Damn it all!’

Why was marking a mate—something so simple for others—impossible for him?

Despite repeated attempts, even sneaking bites when Dori was in deep sleep, the outcome was always the same: unbearable pain and rejection.

Grrr.

Repelled yet again, Wonwoo’s body instinctively shifted into his red fox form, lips curling into a savage snarl.

Dori staggered upright in alarm. Despite his weakness, he spread his forelegs wide, bracing himself defensively. The sight twisted Wonwoo’s insides with anger.

‘Fine. That’s enough.’

Once he brought Dori back, he’d just lock him away so no one else could claim him. What mattered wasn’t the mark itself—it was that Dori belonged to him.

But first…

Hoo…

Shifting back into human form, Wonwoo’s lips curved upward.

“Time to collect payment for all the grief you’ve caused me.”

There was no rule saying he couldn’t touch him without the mark.

Just the thought of it made him hard. Seizing Dori’s hind legs, Wonwoo grinned as Dori thrashed in horror.

“If I’m going to enjoy this, I might as well savor the way you struggle.”

The shock flooding those golden eyes was intoxicating.