Grey's words echoed in her mind, and her expression grew even more detached.
Roderick stopped, paused for a second, and slowly lowered his gaze to look at her.
Catriona immediately looked away.
"My apologies," Roderick said in a low voice. "Catriona, this was my oversight."
He set her down gently, rubbing his temples in exhaustion, and explained in a low voice, "Grey was confined and treated like a pet dog by pure humans during his cub years. He endured abuse, which left him with a deep resentment toward humans. I didn't expect he'd actually dare to lay a hand on you."
Catriona was stunned. Locked up as a pet dog?
From what she'd seen, werewolves were just as intelligent as humans. Being collared, kept in a dirty environment, and abused...
It must have been painful.
And he was just a cub.
No wonder Grey had been looking at her with such disgust all week; she had no idea what she had done to provoke him.
For a moment, she almost felt sorry and wanted to forgive Grey...
As if!
A surge of anger welled up in Catriona.
"So he hates all humans because of that? He judges everyone for it, and I didn't even harm him! Sure, he's pitiful, but what did I do wrong?"
She pointed to the injury on her forehead. "Can you tell me if anyone else here has a problem with humans? I'm honestly afraid another incident might end me."
When she finished, her gaze at Roderick shifted slightly.
Come to think of it, besides Grey, wasn't he the only other one here who disliked humans?
The tall man stood nearby, his sharp, slanted eyes catching the look in hers. His brow furrowed. "What's with that look? You think I'd attack you?"
Catriona took a step back, her eyes darting. "Who can say..."
"Catriona!!"
A hint of disbelief flashed in Roderick's eyes, quickly replaced by indignation. "Are you insulting me? You're the mother of my cub!"
"Fine."
Catriona nodded casually, her belief unclear.
For the next six months, her son would need the cold spring water that only Roderick could provide, so her plans to move back to her new home had to be postponed.
"This won't happen again," Roderick said, his handsome face filled with seriousness.
"Okay." Catriona replied absentmindedly.
She stood in the hospital corridor, a small white bandage on her head, ointment smeared on her arm and thigh, filling the air around her with the unpleasant scent of medicine.
The hospital was quiet at 2 in the morning, with each patient room door closed. Now and then, the faint beep of a monitor echoed from inside.
"Six months," she whispered.
"What?"
"I'm telling you, just bear with it for another six months." Catriona turned, her gaze steady and unyielding as she stared at him. "In six months, I'll take my son and leave. We won't be around to bother you anymore."
A trace of astonishment flickered in Roderick's eyes.
Catriona clenched her fists. "I won't give up my child. Not even in death."
Roderick furrowed his brows. "No one is forcing you to leave. The pack has accepted you. Grey's words are meaningless."
He paused, looking away. "As the mother of my cub, I have no right to make you leave."
Catriona pursed her lips. "What are you talking about? I have my own house, my own home.""
All this talk of being driven away reminded her of her childhood, shuffled from one relative to another. They'd treated her as a burden, a tagalong, even saying right to her face that it was time she moved to the next household.
She remembered clutching the hem of her shirt, that unbearable feeling of shame, the overwhelming confusion and helplessness spreading through her whole being.
At that moment.
She tugged at her clothes idly and said gently, "To be honest, I came to Luna Palace mainly for Cedric's illness. Now that he's healed, I'll take him home."
"So, just bear with it for another half a year." With that, she turned to leave. "It's just a minor injury; no need for a hospital stay. Let's go back."
Roderick frowned, staring at her retreating figure.
Even though this woman was talking about staying away from him, he couldn't feel happy at all.
He didn't particularly like Catriona, but he didn't dislike her enough to want this kind of outcome.
Roderick listened to her words, his expression darkening with each "half a year."
The elevator arrived, and the two walked out one after the other.
He stared at her back and spoke coldly, "What did Grey say to you?"
At two in the morning, a cold breeze blew outside the hospital. Catriona, dressed in thin pajamas, felt a bit chilly.
She stopped, not looking back, and replied with feigned indifference, "Well, I almost forgot. Something about my existence causing you some trouble, I think."
Roderick was silent for a second; he neither nodded nor denied it. "In our werewolf pack, the mother is the bearer of life and holds an absolute status. The mother of a cub has the right to enjoy all the resources of the cub's father."
In other words, his feelings and opinions didn't matter.
Catriona was his cub's mother. Whatever she wanted, he had to provide for her, whether he was willing or not.
"What if I don't need anything? Why force yourself?"
She had her own home, a job, and wasn't struggling to support herself and her son.
She'd had enough of relying on others and enduring mistreatment as a child. Now that she finally had her own life, did she really need to impose on others?
Grey's words had made her re-evaluate their relationship. Now, she just wanted the half year to pass, for her son to recover, and to return to her new home.
Roderick's face fell completely. "Catriona! That's my basic responsibility."
"Forget it. Just treat Cedric well. I can tell he quite likes you."
Roderick was silent for a moment. Then, something strange flashed in his eyes. "Are you throwing a tantrum? Want me to coax you?"
He had seen it before—when human women got upset, they wanted their mates to coax them, just like the females in werewolf.
At this moment, his thoughts somehow drifted in that direction.
Catriona: "..."
She opened her mouth, then fell silent.
She was a bit speechless, her mouth twitching slightly. "For humans, throwing a tantrum usually means two people are close. Mr. Nightblade, you and I... we're practically strangers, aren't we?"
Roderick coaxing her?
Just the thought of it gave her goosebumps.
"I don't dislike you, nor am I asking anything of you. I respect your prejudice against humans and all the opinions you have of me."
"Let's set all that aside. For this half-year, let's just get along normally, especially in front of the child, alright?"
This woman indeed wasn't angry. Her face was calm, and as she looked into his eyes, she was genuinely trying to discuss things.
But somehow, he felt irritated.
Roderick pressed his lips together, his frustration flaring up.
He truly hadn't expected her reaction to be this strong, completely different from her previous gentle demeanor.
Forget trying to cozy up to him; it was a relief she didn't outright hate him.
Was this sudden change because of Grey? Because she found out he didn't like her?
Being rejected repeatedly made him angry too.
He sneered coldly and said, "Fine, suit yourself."
If she didn't want it, so be it. He wasn't going to keep begging.
She wasn't his mate, after all.
Now that she was drawing such a clear boundary, he should be overjoyed.
After all, he didn't even like her.
This was just perfect!
