Catriona had no idea what Roderick was thinking and wasn't focused on him at all. She chatted with her son all the way to the halfway point of Capital Center Mount, Luna Palace.
A group of werewolves came out with excited howls to greet them, and Catriona smiled and greeted them in return.
During dinner, Catriona noticed a gaze fixed on her.
She looked up and saw a werewolf with gray-black ears staring at her. When he noticed her gaze, he quickly looked away.
She'd been here for a few days now, but she rarely saw this werewolf. Wasn't his name Grey?
Was he just looking at her with a look of disdain...?
She pressed her lips together, feeling a bit uncertain. She didn't think she'd done anything to offend him. If she remembered correctly, they hadn't even spoken.
She didn't bother to think too much about it; she still had to go to her shop after dinner.
The two older ladies' cooking was quite good, and she enjoyed it so much that she ate an extra half-plate.
In the living room, a huge TV was mounted on the wall, and Black and Brownie were arguing over what to watch.
Black: "What do you know! We need to watch the news to stay informed about what's happening in the human world!"
Brownie: "You're the one who doesn't know anything! What's so interesting about the news? Cartoons are way better!"
Catriona thought to herself, so werewolves liked watching TV too.
She noticed how fascinated they were with human electronics. All day long, they were glued to their phones, utterly absorbed, scattered around the manor—each one lounging in different spots, completely engrossed in their screens.
She glanced at Roderick, who was silently eating in the main seat. He was the only one who truly looked human, having grown up in the human world.
She stared at Roderick, lost in thought, her gaze lingering a bit longer than intended, and then...
Roderick suddenly stood up, not even finishing his meat, and turned to go upstairs.
The werewolves were all stunned.
"Huh, does the Alpha Roderick not have an appetite today?"
"It must be because you're too loud; the Alpha Roderick got annoyed."
"I told you we should watch the news!"
As they bickered, only Draven, kept his gaze on Catriona, chewing slowly with a thoughtful expression.
Grey clenched his fists tightly, his brows furrowed and his expression dark.
Roderick returned to his room, standing by the sink. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, feeling the heat rising to his ears.
That woman couldn't even eat peacefully, staring at him with that dazed look—did she not know how to restrain herself at all?
Downstairs.
Catriona finished eating and was getting ready to head to her shop.
She looked down and asked her son, "Are you staying at home or coming with me to the shop?"
Cedric ran over and took his mother's hand. "Together."
"Alright."
"Catriona, let me drive you," Black said, overhearing their conversation and wagging his tail out of boredom. "Come on, give me something to do."
Catriona, tired from the day and not wanting to drive, nodded and smiled without hesitation. "Sure, thank you."
Black was momentarily dazzled by the woman's smile and muttered, "I really don't know what the Alpha Roderick's thinking..."
"Hm?" Catriona asked softly.
Black coughed, "Oh, nothing, nothing. Let's go."
He glanced at her again. This human had such a fair, delicate face and was always smiling, easy to get along with. He couldn't understand why Alpha was so resistant to her.
If he ever found a human mate like this, he'd probably smile in his sleep.
He'd bring her the freshest cuts of meat and gift her the finest furs from his hunts.
Werewolves were absolutely loyal and protective toward their mates. Unfortunately, though, he hadn't met his mate—and perhaps never would.
"We're here, thank you."
Black watched as Catriona unbuckled her seatbelt and led the cub out of the car.
"Do you want to come in and sit for a while?"
He shook his head, "Nah, I'll just go for a walk."
Fearing he might leave his scent on Catriona and get scolded by Alpha Roderick, he drove off, and Catriona opened the shop.
Cedric quietly played with his toys on the side, peaceful and not disturbing his mother's work.
Half an hour later, Aveline arrived with her daughter.
"Just had dinner, so we came for a walk."
Catriona asked, "Where's Ith?"
Ith was Iona's older brother, five years old this year.
"I called him, but he didn't come. He's got his grandparents doting on him now. Honestly, I think he doesn't need me anymore," Aveline sighed softly. "Being there is suffocating. His grandparents act like they don't even see our Iona. They give all the treats and toys to his older brother. Ith's going to be spoiled rotten by them!"
After she married, she moved in with her in-laws. When she had her first child, they treated her decently, making soups and helping with the baby.
But after Iona was born, their attitude changed significantly.
Now it was even worse—blatant and unrestrained. They constantly called her granddaughter "stupid." She couldn't stand it earlier and argued with them before coming out.
Aveline's eyes turned red, "I told my husband, either we move out, or we get divorced."
If the kids stayed with her in-laws any longer, they'd all be spoiled.
She looked up at the two little ones by the door and gave a tired smile, "They're not even as good as a child. Look how kind and patient Cedric is with Iona. And Ith, her real brother, calls her 'stupid' along with his grandparents."
Catriona, wrapping flowers, thought for a moment and asked, "What if Ith doesn't come with you?"
Aveline was silent for a second, then tugged at her lips, "Let him be. If he wants to stay with his grandparents, let him. I'm his mother; if he doesn't choose me, what can I say?"
"Just think carefully before making any decisions," Catriona said softly, gazing at the little girl crouched outside the door. "We brought these children into the world without their permission, which was already a bit unfair. The least we can do is make sure they don't regret coming into it. That's the very basics of what we owe them."
That's why she did her best to care for her son. As long as he was happy, she had no other demands.
She didn't need him to grow up to be remarkable; she just wanted him to be kind. Beyond that, he could be whoever he wanted.
In her view, the home Iona lived in was nothing short of hell.
Aveline clenched her hands, her throat tight, then nodded firmly after a while, "I know. I'll find a job first. I don't want to endure this anymore. This child chose me as her mother; I can't let her down."
Outside the door.
The sky had already darkened, and the streetlights cast a new glow over the city, transforming it. Passersby hurried along, making their way home.
Cedric held a toy car, his head lowered, seriously dismantling it. Iona sat silently beside him, watching his movements.
At that moment, a man with an unusual gait walked toward them. His legs seemed disabled, causing his steps to falter and twist uncontrollably, each foot landing heavily on the ground with an awkward, jerking rhythm.
He was different.
People passing by would turn their heads to watch his peculiar walk.
Cedric heard the man's footsteps, glanced up briefly, then looked away, continuing to dismantle his toy.
But Iona was drawn in, blinking her big eyes as she watched him.
The next second, her head was gently pushed down.
Cedric's young, serious voice said, "Don't stare. It's rude to keep looking."
Mom had said that sometimes, a stranger's curious gaze could also be a form of harm.
