Taming the Beast World with a Frying Pan-Chapter 17: The Dog Park from Hell

Ren woke up feeling like she had run a marathon, fought a bear, and then been run over by a truck.

But surprisingly, she wasn’t in pain. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

She stretched her legs. Normally, after a night like that—the kind with a 6-foot-5 tiger man and some questionable physics—she’d be too sore to move. But today, her muscles felt charged, buzzing with energy.

[System Notification: Passive Ability Activated – ’Tiger’s Stamina’. Recovery time reduced by 50%. You can now hike for 10 hours or endure Kael for 2 hours. Congratulations.]

"Endure Kael," Ren muttered, shielding her eyes from the sun streaming through the window. "You make it sound like a chore."

"Mmm?"

A massive arm tightened around her waist. Kael was still asleep, his face buried in the furs, one leg draped over hers. He looked messy, satisfied, and annoyingly handsome. A clear purple bruise, a love bite Ren had definitely left, marked his shoulder.

Ren smiled and traced the mark. Well, she’d left her own claim, too.

Suddenly, Kael’s ears twitched.

His eyes snapped open. He was instantly awake, instantly in charge.

"Dogs," Kael growled.

"What?"

"Too many dogs."

Kael sat up, letting the furs fall away from his bare chest. He sniffed the air and grimaced. "It smells like wet fur and desperation. They are here."

Ren remembered. Bark. The Wolf Pack.

"Oh god, the army!" Ren scrambled up, searching for her clothes. "I have fifty mouths to feed and I haven’t even started the mirepoix!"

She grabbed her tank top, its strap ripped thanks to Kael, and glared at him. "You owe me a new shirt."

Kael smirked, looking lazy and smug. "I like that one. It falls off easily."

"Pervert. Get dressed. We have guests."

Ren opened the door of the cabin and stopped dead.

Yesterday, her front yard was just a clearing. Today, it looked like a refugee camp.

Fifty Grey Wolves stood outside. Some were in human form, wearing tattered furs, while others were wolves. They looked thin, their ribs visible, eyes hollow and tired. They stood in silence, staring at the cabin door as if it were the gates of heaven.

When Ren stepped out, fifty pairs of ears perked up. Fifty tails gave a tentative wag.

Bark, the scout leader, stepped forward. He looked a bit better after last night’s bone broth, but he was still in rough shape.

"Alpha Female!" Bark bowed low, his forehead touching the dirt. "The Grey Wolf Clan answers the call!"

Behind him, fifty wolves dropped to their knees (or bellies).

"We smell the soup!" a young wolf whispered loudly.

"Shh! Be polite!" an elder wolf hissed.

Ren’s heart ached. They weren’t an army—they were starving survivors.

"Okay," Ren said, her voice shaking a little. She took a deep breath and put on her Head Chef persona. "Everyone up! No kneeling! My kitchen is a democracy!"

The wolves looked confused but stood up.

Kael stepped onto the porch behind her, wearing only his loincloth. He crossed his arms, muscles bulging, and let out a low, warning growl that made the clearing go silent.

"This is my territory," Kael said, his voice booming. "You’re here because she invited you. If you steal, I’ll kill you. If you bite, I’ll kill you. If you pee on my cabin, I’ll kill you slowly."

The wolves whimpered, tucking their tails.

"Kael, be nice," Ren whispered, elbowing him. She turned to the crowd. "Ignore him—he hasn’t had his coffee. Now, who’s the strongest here?"

A massive wolf-man stood up. He was missing an eye and had a limp. "I am Vorn. Pack Leader."

"Vorn," Ren said with a nod. "I need a big pit over there." She pointed away from the cabin. "Line it with stones. That’ll be our fire pit."

"Yes, Alpha Female!" Vorn didn’t question her. He motioned to his men. "Dig! Dig for the soup!"

The wolves started digging with frantic energy.

Ren turned to the others. "You’re on foraging duty! I need yams, wild onions, and anything safe to eat. Go!"

"Yes, Chef!" Or at least, their beast language version, which sounded like "Yip Yip!"

Within minutes, the clearing buzzed with activity.

Ren stood by her large clay rental pot, courtesy of Syris, tapping her chin. How was she supposed to feed fifty people with just one boar leg and some vegetables?

[System Quest: The Army Stew.] [Objective: Create a high-calorie meal for the masses. Unlock ’Mass Catering’ skill.]

"Starch," Ren decided. "I need fillers."

She looked at the pile of ’Earth-eggs’ (potatoes) the tigers usually threw away.

"Perfect."

Two Hours Later

The smell was legendary.

Ren had made a huge stew, using the massive clay pot over a roaring bonfire. She added:

Massive chunks of Boar meat (seared first for flavor).Fifty pounds of diced potatoes (to thicken the broth).Wild onions and garlic (for antibiotics/health).Bone marrow (for fat and calories).

It wasn’t fancy food. It was survival food—thick, hearty, and hot.

The wolves sat in a circle around the fire, holding makeshift wooden bowls, staring at the bubbling pot with tears in their eyes.

"It is... gold," Vorn whispered. "The liquid is gold."

"Line up!" Ren shouted, wielding a ladle the size of a shovel (carved by Kael). "Single file! Elders and pups first!"

Their discipline was surprising. Maybe it was the wolf hierarchy, or maybe they were just afraid of Kael, who watched from the porch sharpening his claws. Either way, they lined up perfectly.

Ren ladled the stew.

"Thank you, Alpha Female." "Bless you, Fire-Cooker."

As the first wolf took a bite, a howl erupted. It wasn’t a howl of pain, but of pure, carb-loaded joy.

"It stays in the stomach!" Vorn cried, eating frantically. "It is warm! The cold is gone!"

Ren smiled and wiped sweat and soot from her forehead. This was why she cooked.

Suddenly, she felt a heavy presence behind her.

Kael wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her head, glaring at Vorn. They are looking at you with too much love," Kael grumbled. "That one wants to lick your boots."

"It’s gratitude, Kael. I just saved them from starvation."

"Hmph." Kael reached over and stole a piece of meat from the pot with his fingers. "It is bland. Not enough spice."

"It’s for everyone, not just the King," Ren teased, leaning back against him. "Speaking of kings, we have fifty workers now. We need to put them to work before the Shadow Beasts show up."

Kael looked at the wolves. Their skinny frames were already filling out, and they moved quickly and in sync.

"Wolves are good at running," Kael admitted. "And digging."

"Exactly." Ren pointed to the edge of the clearing. "We need a wall—a palisade, ten feet high, with sharp spikes. If zombies are coming, I want a fortress."

Kael nodded slowly. "A wall of wood. To protect the food."

"And the people," Ren added.

"Mostly the food," Kael corrected. He turned to the wolves, his Alpha voice returning.

"EAT!" Kael roared. "FILL YOUR BELLIES! BECAUSE TOMORROW, YOU BUILD THE WALL! IF THE SHADOW BEASTS COME, WE WILL BE READY!"

The wolves howled in unison.

"FOR THE SOUP! FOR THE WALL!"

Ren put her face in her hand. "My battle cry is ’For the Soup.’ I’ll never live this down."

[System Notification: Army Morale at 100%.] [Construction Project Initiated: ’The Great Wall of Bacon’.] [Warning: Vara is missing from the tribe. Suspicious activity detected in the South Swamp.]

Ren’s smile faded. "South Swamp? That’s Syris’ territory."

Kael felt her tension. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Ren said, shaking her head. She didn’t want to ruin the mood, but she glanced toward the dark jungle. "Just make sure the night watch is doubled tonight."