On the other side.
Nightblade Corporation Headquarters Building.
After returning to the company after lunch, Roderick glanced at a text message on his phone and let out a low chuckle, his expression unchanging as he set the phone down.
It was better if she didn't like him.
She'd better mean it.
Yet, he still felt unsettled.
After all, no male werewolf could remain unaffected when given the cold shoulder by his cub's mother. Werewolves loved their mates deeply and couldn't bear to see even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction in them.
Typically, a male werewolf would apologize, try to please, pick the most beautiful flower from the snowy mountaintops, or tear off the choicest meat from prey to present it to their mate, licking them affectionately.
However, since this woman wasn't his mate, he didn't care her mood. He only provided her with food, clothing, and shelter to ensure a worry-free life.
——
Cedric sat on a small stool in the shop, focused on taking apart and reassembling his toy airplane.
This was his hobby.
He occasionally looked up with his big, clear eyes to check on his mom. Seeing her working diligently, he seemed reassured and went back to his toy.
He was like a protector—a small, devoted protector.
As long as his mom was healthy and happy, he was content to go wherever she went.
So far, he was quite happy with moving to his dad's place. Mom didn't have to cook, and someone drove them to and from school.
Every night, his dad gave him a cool, sweet drink. Afterward, his body felt refreshing and no longer burned with pain like before.
In that big house, there were also many people with big ears and tails; a few of them didn't seem particularly clever, but they were all kind to him and his mom.
In his small heart, it was simple—he liked anyone who treated his mother well.
Under the warm glow of the lights, the flower shop was filled with vibrant blooms and mingling fragrances. The mother and son were each absorbed in their own tasks, creating a scene as cozy as a painting.
At Nine o'clock at night.
Catriona closed the shop.
At the entrance, Black was waiting by a car, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt, black shorts, and white shoes, looking just like a young college student. He waved at her, "Cub, Catriona, I'm here to take you two home!"
Catriona was a bit surprised as she led her son over. "Black, when did you get here?"
"About two hours ago."
"Why didn't you come in and have a drink?"
Black settled into the driver's seat, long legs bent comfortably. With his ears and tail tucked away, he looked every bit the part—well-defined features, bold brows, large eyes, fair skin—a picture-perfect young man. No one would ever suspect he wasn't human.
As he buckled his seatbelt, he replied, "I was fine waiting outside."
What he didn't mention was that Catriona was the Alpha Roderick's cub's mother, and they had to avoid suspicion.
He feared that if his scent accidentally got on Catriona again, he might be thrown out of the estate and sent back to the snowy mountains by the Alpha Roderick, with nowhere to even cry about it.
Cedric looked at Black with his big dark eyes and said quietly, "Thank you, Mr. Black."
Black was flattered. "No need to thank me, cub."
Twenty minutes later.
They arrived back at Luna Palace.
Ladies in the kitchen took Catriona's hand and asked, "Would you like something to eat? We heard you run a flower shop; you must be tired."
Catriona was a bit tired today. When she was tired, she lost her appetite, and after being taken aback by Roderick's self-centered attitude that afternoon, she had eaten even less.
"Thank you, Madam, but I'm not hungry right now."
Right now, all she wanted was a shower and some sleep.
Then, Cedric, holding a bottle of milk, followed his mom back to their room.
One in the morning.
Catriona woke up from hunger.
Hearing her stomach grumble, she sighed, realizing she should have accepted the old ladies' offer earlier.
She thought of holding out until morning, but the more she tried, the hungrier she got.
Finally, she carefully got up, glancing at the little one fast asleep. She barely dared to breathe, quietly tiptoeing out of the room.
There should still be food in the kitchen.
If not, she could just make some instant noodles.
She felt hungry enough to eat a horse.
The manor was quiet at night. She walked down the pitch-black hallway, guided only by her phone's light.
Not a single motion-sensing lamp.
She remembered Brownie mentioning that werewolves had excellent night vision, rendering lights nearly unnecessary. In fact, they preferred darkness over light.
It was her first time leaving her room so late. During the day, the staircase, railings, and sofas were all bustling with werewolves lounging around, creating a lively scene.
Now, as she stood at the top of the staircase, everything was empty and silent. Darkness enveloped her. She held onto the stair railing, slowly making her way down, the only sound her own footsteps echoing in the quiet.
Halfway down, her body stiffened, and she stopped in her tracks.
Someone was behind her.
Watching her.
It felt as if a fierce beast was glaring at her. Almost instantly, she thought of Grey.
Catriona pursed her lips and turned around. In the light of her phone, she first saw the shadow on the wall—a tall figure, large ears, a big tail, standing upright.
That face...
Different from the werewolves she saw during the day.
Catriona turned fully around and got a clear look at the werewolf's face—that wolf face.
Yes, a wolf's face.
A big wolf's nose, deep beastly eyes, fangs—standing like a human, wearing human clothes.
Over the past week, Catriona had fully embraced the wolf pack, feeling not a hint of fear. She thought Black was adorable, Draven was like a mature elder brother, and Ruby was a lovely, charming young girl.
She had even quietly praised herself for her adaptability and strong acceptance.
Many times, watching the wolf pack felt like glimpsing another corner of the world—it was fascinating.
Looking at her son's little ears, she just found them adorable.
Truly, she wasn't scared at all.
They were all so warm and kind in accepting her, even more so than some humans, and she truly wasn't afraid.
Their faces weren't different from humans, just with ears and tails. They all looked good, wore clothes, and stood and walked like people, speaking just the same.
What was there to be afraid of?
But at this moment, seeing Grey's wolf face, she truly understood the meaning of the word "werewolf." She was living among a group of werewolves.
She clenched her teeth, widened her eyes, and fought the urge to turn around and run.
"Scared now?" It stood there, speaking in human words.
Catriona took a deep breath, her face pale, and the hand holding her phone was shaking, the light from it trembling.
Yes, she was scared.
"So, what's your point?" she stood in the middle of the staircase, looking up at the werewolf at the top.
"Alpha Roderick hates you. Did you know that?"
Catriona paused. "I know. How could I not?"
Grey sneered, "We werewolves can only have one mate in a lifetime. After being with you, he lost his eligibility to pursue a female werewolf. But he'd rather be alone forever than come to you because he loathes pure humans—he hates you."
"For the cub's sake, he had to bring you along. In reality, he's annoyed just looking at you. Do you get that?"
Catriona clenched her hands.
She knew Roderick didn't like her. Earlier today, he had even gone out of his way to remind her, worried she might want to be his mate.
When she greeted him in the morning, he turned and went into his room, closing the door without any attempt to hide his feelings.
If she accidentally brushed against him, he would remind her coldly to keep her distance.
But so what?
"Does it matter whether he likes me or not?" Catriona's voice was soft. "As it happens, I don't like him either."
"If he's bothered just seeing me, that's his issue."
Grey hadn't expected this woman to be so shameless, and he ground his fangs together.
Catriona raised her chin and tightened her grip. "If he despises me, it's still his choice to bring me here. I didn't come on my own—that's his business."
She tensed her body, her tone stiff, showing no fear on the surface, though cold sweat covered her back.
She took a deep breath and chuckled softly. "So, are you done talking? By the way, what does this have to do with you? This house doesn't belong to you, does it?"
Grey seemed angered, opening his mouth wide and letting out a low growl. His sharp fangs were unmistakable in the light, and his eyes gleamed a ghostly green.
"Grr..."
Grey stepped down one stair.
Catriona's body involuntarily shuddered.
Grey spoke coldly, "This isn't a place for a pure human. You're not one of us. Leave the cub and go back to your world."
Catriona had been quite scared, but the moment she heard the words "leave the cub," she froze.
The light from her phone had gone still.
