Standing at the door, Catriona's smile slowly faded.
What did he mean by this?
It was the same last time.
She knew he didn't care much for her and sensed his deep-seated prejudice against humans, but wasn't he being a bit too obvious about it?
As far as she was concerned, she'd merely given him a polite smile and greeting.
She hadn't even gotten close to him, touched him, or stood too near.
Wasn't his reaction a bit too much?
This wolf was indeed the most difficult one in the estate to get along with!!
Forget it; she was too tired to dwell on it. Just as she was about to turn and head downstairs, she noticed a wolf with gray-black ears standing not far away, leaning against the wall, his gaze coldly fixed on her.
It was Grey.
Catriona paused, pressed her lips together, and acted as though she hadn't seen him. Without a greeting, she headed downstairs.
Her heels clicked crisply on the tiles, and Catriona thought to herself that Roderick wasn't the only one in this estate who disliked her.
She didn't know why Grey disliked her, nor did she care to find out. She wasn't their mother—if they didn't like her, so be it.
She wouldn't try to please anyone.
The only reason she was in this estate was that her son needed the cold spring water to recover.
After breakfast, she still had to drop her son off at kindergarten—that was what mattered.
"Catriona, good morning! Awooo!" Ruby wagged her tail, circling around Catriona. "You look beautiful, awooo! Catriona, so pretty!"
Catriona saw her and smiled back. "Good morning, Ruby."
Black came out of the kitchen with a large plate of meat, lazily greeting her, "Catriona, you're up!"
"Good morning, Black."
"Catriona, you look so pretty today!" Brownie let out a playful howl.
Catriona smiled as she sat at the dining table. "Thank you."
Apart from Grey and Roderick, she could clearly feel the warmth and friendliness from the other wolves. Seeing them lifted her spirits quite a bit.
"The cub's still asleep?"
Catriona nodded. "Yes, he should wake up by the time I finish breakfast."
They had enough time anyway, so she didn't mind if her son slept a little longer.
She had barely sat down when she heard the wolves greeting Roderick.
"Alpha! Morning!"
"Good morning, Alpha Roderick!"
Catriona didn't turn around; she simply sat in her seat and took out her phone.
Without glancing to the sides, Roderick walked straight to the head of the table.
The wolves gradually took their seats and began eating breakfast.
Catriona ate her breakfast with her head down, occasionally glancing at her phone to reply to messages. From start to finish, she didn't look up at Roderick even once.
After finishing her meal, she got up and went upstairs to wake her son.
As the click of her heels faded away, Roderick turned his gaze toward her departing figure, his eyes deepening.
He needed to find a time to make things clear with this woman.
No matter how much goodwill she showed, there was no future between them.
Catriona returned to the room to find Cedric already awake. He had put on his little shirt and was now working on his school jacket.
Seeing Catriona enter, his eyes lit up, and his small ears popped out with excitement as he called out in a soft voice, "Mommy."
Catriona was once again charmed by her son's little ears.
She smiled and asked, "Does my cute Cedric need help from Mommy?"
Cedric shook his head, pursing his lips, diligently putting on his clothes by himself.
When it came to his little tie, he paused for a second and said, "This part, Mommy help."
"Alright." Catriona smiled as she helped him with his tie, straightening his collar. "All done. Let's go downstairs for breakfast, and I'll take you to school."
Although Roderick had arranged for a professional driver, she still wanted to spend more time with her son.
Holding Cedric's hand, she led him downstairs and saw Arden.
Roderick had already finished breakfast, and Arden was draping Roderick's coat over his shoulders, asking, "Are we heading to the company now?"
Catriona felt Roderick glance her way.
She heard him say, "No, let's take the cub to school first."
He was going too?
Catriona paused, a bit surprised, as her little one squeezed her hand. She looked down to see a slight smile tugging at her son's lips.
Did he want Roderick to take him, too?
It made sense; although he'd been wary of Roderick in the beginning, he had quickly come around and would often sneak glances at him.
The fierce little-wolf growls had faded, leaving only curiosity in his big, golden eyes.
