After Giving Birth, All My Beast Ex-Husbands Suddenly Want Me Back

Chapter 175: Little rascal

"Shushu, where are you? Come out! Stop hiding!" Nina’s voice had grown hoarse from calling.

"Nina, it’s very late. Why don’t you get some rest? We’ll keep looking for Shushu," said Odian gently, unable to hide the concern in his eyes.

"Nina, go rest. We’ll find him, no matter what," added Sal, his tone firm with quiet resolve. Even if he had to dig three feet into the ground, he would find the child.

"Nina, please, go back to the cave and rest," Kith and the others urged.

Nina shook her head. "How could I possibly sleep when Shushu is still missing?"

Seeing the determination in her eyes, they stopped trying to persuade her.

"The night air is cold. Put on another layer." Odian draped an extra coat over her shoulders.

"Nina, let me carry the little ones," said Mino, worried she might be exhausted.

"I’m fine. I’m not tired. Let’s keep searching."

Holding them made her feel steadier somehow. The babies were still small, light in her arms.

Aside from Mimi, who had already fallen asleep in Odian’s arms, and the last egg cradled by Sal, the rest of the little ones were nestled against Nina.

"All right. But if you get tired, tell me."

"Mm."

They resumed their search, combing the area with painstaking care.

Odian and Rosen sent several winged beastmen to scout farther distances, while the others continued searching nearby. Since Nina refused to rest, Rosen stayed by her side the entire time.

Aviel led the various clans in a thorough sweep of the surrounding area, turning over every inch.

Meanwhile, Yanai revisited several places where he had caught Shushu’s scent—but each time, there was no sign of him.

A thought crept into his mind.

If Shushu wasn’t above ground... could he be hiding underground?

Some animals abandoned burrows behind. It wasn’t impossible.

With that in mind, Yanai began scrutinizing the ground with extreme care, refusing to overlook even the smallest detail. When his eyes grew tired, he paused only briefly before continuing.

After a long search, something caught his attention.

Beneath a patch of grass, a small area of soil looked unusually loose. Looking closer, he spotted two tiny holes.

A burrow—likely dug by some small creature.

Could Shushu be hiding there?

Yanai leaned in and sniffed. There was no trace of Shushu’s scent.

Still, he decided to investigate.

He stepped forward and brushed away the top layer of dirt. Sure enough, beneath it lay a small white figure—fast asleep, breathing softly.

Yanai couldn’t help but marvel.

This little rascal really knew how to hide—burrowing into a hole and even covering himself with dirt. With the grass concealing the spot, anyone less observant would have missed it entirely.

And somehow, he had completely masked his scent. That alone was astonishing.

At least the boy had the sense to leave two tiny holes for air.

Reaching in, Yanai pulled Shushu out. The moment he was grabbed, Shushu jolted awake.

Opening his eyes, he froze—only to find himself staring at that big, bad wolf.

Held by the scruff of his neck, Shushu struggled furiously.

"Big bad wolf, let go of me!"

"You little troublemaker," Yanai scolded, giving his tiny backside a light smack. "Do you have any idea how long everyone’s been searching for you? Do you know how worried your mother’s been?"

Shushu swatted at him with his small paws. "Don’t hit my butt!"

Then, recalling his words, he glanced up—and realized how dark it had become.

How... how was it already so late?

Had his mother and brothers really been searching for him all this time?

Guilt flooded his little face.

"Big bad wolf... let me go. I want to find my mom."

Yanai didn’t release him, still holding him securely. "No more running off. I’ll take you to Nina. She’s been worried sick—she hasn’t eaten, hasn’t rested, just kept searching for you."

Hearing that, Shushu lowered his head, no longer struggling.

He had made his mother worry.

Yanai quickly carried him back to where Nina was.

"Nina, I found Shushu."

He held the little one out in front of her.

Shushu immediately wriggled, reaching toward her. "Mom! Mom!"

Nina didn’t care that he was covered in dirt. She pulled him into her arms without hesitation.

"Shushu... I finally found you."

She brushed the dirt from his body, her hands trembling slightly.

"Where were you hiding? We called and called, but you never answered."

Shushu looked a little embarrassed. "I... I hid in a small hole."

Yanai chuckled, his tone teasing. "He found a burrow under some grass, buried himself inside—and then fell asleep. No wonder he didn’t hear anything."

Shushu shot him a glare but didn’t argue.

It wasn’t on purpose. And yet that big bad wolf was laughing at him.

Nina sighed softly, a helpless smile tugging at her lips. "You really are good at hiding."

Shushu lowered his head again, guilt creeping back in. "I’m sorry, Mom... I fell asleep, so I didn’t hear you calling."

Nina gently stroked him. "It’s all right. What matters is that you’re safe. But next time, you have to be more careful, understand?"

Shushu nodded earnestly. "I understand. I won’t do it again."

Relief finally spread across everyone’s faces.

They had found him.

Off to the side, Rosen and the others couldn’t help but remark inwardly—Nina was truly gentle with her children.

If it were them, the child would have gotten a proper scolding at the very least.

"Thank you," Nina said sincerely, turning to Yanai. "For finding Shushu."

She knew her child possessed that peculiar ability—he was never easy to find.

For Yanai to have tracked him down, he must have put in a great deal of effort.

"No need to thank me," Yanai said quietly. "As long as you’re happy."

Nina looked at him, her emotions faintly tangled, something unspoken flickering in her gaze.

Once Shushu was found, Odian immediately called back all the beastmen who had gone out searching.

"Are you hungry, sweetheart?" Nina asked gently.

Shushu hadn’t eaten for so long—he had to be starving.

The little one rubbed his belly and nodded. So hungry!

When he’d been asleep, he hadn’t noticed it. When he’d been anxiously searching for his mother, he hadn’t felt it either. But now that he’d found her, the hunger hit him all at once.

Nina smiled and asked Mino to prepare a bottle of milk. Shushu gulped it down eagerly.

After they returned, Nina bathed him, then stayed by his side to play for a while. But exhaustion soon caught up with her—watching him play, she drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Shushu, however, had rested enough earlier and wasn’t sleepy at all.

Noticing Nina had fallen asleep, he padded over to her side.

"Shh." Sal gestured for him to keep quiet.

"Shushu, your mother is tired," Mino whispered softly. "Let me play with you instead."

He knew full well the child wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon.

Before Shushu could respond, Yanai scooped him up. "Don’t disturb your mother’s rest. Uncle Yanai will teach you some wolf hunting techniques. Our kind is active at night—this is the perfect time to learn."

He planned to tire the little one out and bring him back to sleep afterward.

These days, he had even adjusted his own schedule to sleep at night—just to match Nina’s.

Shushu wriggled in his grip, protesting: I don’t want to! I want to play with Daddy Mino!

Mino considered it, then said gently, "Shushu, learning hunting skills can be just like playing."

The wolf clan and their feline clan were different, after all. Letting Yanai teach him some basics wasn’t a bad idea. Better to learn properly from a young age.

Shushu puffed out his cheeks in indignation. These males are so mean—making me learn hunting when I’m still so little!

He glanced at Nina, sleeping peacefully.

...But maybe learning early wasn’t so bad. Then he could hunt for his mother in the future.

With that thought, he turned his little head away and stopped struggling.

Yanai understood immediately—this meant agreement.

Together with Mino, he carried Shushu outside, while Sal stayed behind to keep Nina company as she slept.

When Aron saw Yanai bringing Shushu out, his eyes lit up. He happily joined in, teaching Shushu alongside him, while Mino watched from the side.

Watching the small figure leap and dart about with surprising agility, mimicking their movements with remarkable precision, Aron couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

If only Shushu were my own grandson...

The next morning, when the little ones woke up, they gathered around Shushu, who was still fast asleep, breathing softly on his own.