Her gaze turned icy. "That is my son. Why should I leave him here alone?"
A low growl escaped Grey as he twisted his neck, baring his teeth and stepping down another stair. "Grr... that's the Alpha Roderick's cub."
Catriona glared fiercely at him. "I carried him for ten months, gave him his name, and raised him on my own. What right do you have to tell me to leave my son here alone? Even Roderick wouldn't dare say that—what gives you the right?"
She finished in one breath, panting heavily, her forehead beaded with cold sweat.
"Or perhaps..." A thought crossed her mind, and she gave a cold smile. "Did Roderick send you? Is he trying to take Cedric from me?"
"Shut up!" Grey growled, finally losing his patience as he took determined strides toward Catriona.
"Ah!! Roderick, control your damn wolves!!!"
Catriona couldn't hold back and shouted, her anger overpowering her fear. Roderick had brought her to this manor, claiming he had the right to take care of her needs—food, clothing, shelter. And this is what he meant by 'responsibility'?
If he wanted her dead, he could just say it!
Instinctively, she stepped back, only for her foot to slip.
Grey instinctively reached out, but it was too late—Catriona was already tumbling down the stairs.
At the same time.
The door on the third floor flew open, and a tall, dark figure leapt from the third floor, landing gracefully at the second-floor staircase before springing down to the first floor.
Catriona lay sprawled on the first floor, dazed from the fall, her phone lying a distance away, still glowing brightly.
"Alpha-Alpha Roderick..." Grey stammered, standing frozen as he looked at the tall werewolf on the first floor, his large ears and tail on full display.
The massive werewolf's eyes glowed green, emanating an intense pressure as he glared fiercely at Grey. "Grey."
Grey's mouth opened and closed as he stammered, "I... I just wanted to scare her, not really hurt her, Alpha Roderick, I..."
"She probably won't want to see you again."
Grey's eyes widened, his mouth opening in silent understanding before he slowly lowered his gaze. "Yes, Alpha Roderick."
Roderick looked down at the woman lying on the floor and crouched beside her.
Catriona felt a pair of golden eyes staring at her.
A slightly familiar, deep voice spoke. "Are you... alright? I'll take you to the hospital."
She blinked her eyes open, hazily, only to see a pair of large black ears. Inappropriately, the thought crossed her mind: Black and the others were right—Roderick was indeed a pure black wolf.
Yet this pure black huge wolf had brought her here, making her suffer like this.
Dizzy and angry, she managed to mumble weakly, "You... can't even control one wolf of yours... I hate you..."
To others, her words might sound like soft murmurs, but she used all her strength to say them.
However, with a werewolf's keen hearing, Roderick heard every word.
He paused slightly.
In the next second, he heard her mumbling with her eyes closed, "Narcissist... I hate you... You want my baby, no way! You're all a bunch of idiots."
"..."
"What happened here?" Another voice echoed through the hall—it was Draven, frowning as he walked in from outside.
Roderick's expression shifted slightly as he retracted his ears and tail.
He hesitated briefly, then reached out, scooping the woman off the floor.
Draven frowned and turned. "I'll go start the car!"
As he turned, he noticed Grey standing at the second-floor staircase, his ears and tail drooping.
——
In the car.
Catriona had passed out, a small wound on her forehead seeping a bit of blood.
Roderick's lips were tightly pressed, his brow furrowed.
It was his oversight.
His fault.
He'd known that Grey disliked Catriona, yet he hadn't paid enough attention or given specific instructions.
His own attitude had allowed Grey to act recklessly.
He'd been open about his dislike of Catriona among the pack.
It was his disregard for Catriona that had led to all this.
Roderick closed his eyes, deeply troubled.
Luna Palace was nestled on the hillside of Capital. With Draven gripping the steering wheel, the car sped down the main road, the greenery of trees and grass on either side flashing by in retreat.
As he drove, he hit the steering wheel in frustration.
"Grey, you fool!!"
He was the first werewolf to follow Roderick and had known him the longest in the estate.
Grey had arrived at the manor when he was fifteen, thin as a skeleton. He had been gravely injured among pure humans, and it was Roderick who provided him with shelter and saw to his treatment and recovery.
For every ounce of respect and gratitude he held for Roderick, he bore an equal measure of hatred for pure humans.
Grey didn't seem to have parents and had somehow ended up wandering into the human world.
He treated Luna Palace as a place of utmost care—a fragile home. Alpha Roderick had not only saved him but shared his disdain for pure humans, earning Grey's unwavering loyalty. He always volunteered for chores, taking on the dirtiest, hardest tasks without complaint, as the Beta in the pack.
But Catriona was the cub's mother, no ordinary human, she was almost like the Luna in this pack. Her relationship with the Alpha Roderick was unique, and the wolves at the manor welcomed and respected her.
Grey...
He had lost the home he had so carefully wanted to protect.
...
Roderick remained silent along the way.
At the hospital, the doctor simply dressed the wounds.
"No worries, it's just superficial wounds. If you're concerned, you can come back tomorrow for an internal check and imaging. If all's well, you're free to go."
"Alright."
Hearing voices, Catriona gradually woke up. Upon opening her eyes, she saw the man's sharp chin and, realizing she was being carried by Roderick, she frowned.
"Please put me down."
In the hospital corridor.
Roderick paused briefly, but without looking down at her, he kept walking and replied indifferently, "Back to the room. After tomorrow's check, we'll head back."
"I said, put me down." Catriona pressed her lips together, repeating herself.
Her tone was neither cold nor warm, a far cry from her usual friendliness.
"You really don't want to touch me at all, do you? So why bother?"
