The next day.
Catriona wore loose black cargo pants paired with a cropped, relaxed white tank top. Tall and long-legged, her movements made the hem of the tank sway, revealing glimpses of her fair, slender waist.
She was lean, having spent years moving flowers and staying busy on her own. While she didn't have full abs, she did have defined lines.
Thinking about the parent-child event, she dressed her son in little cargo pants and a white short-sleeve shirt.
The little cub was thrilled, glancing down to tug on his little cargo pants and then looking up at his tall, long-legged mom. His ears perked up with excitement.
He was wearing the same outfit as Mom!
As he walked out of the room, he had his chin raised, his little lips curling up in pride.
At the top of the stairs, Catriona saw Ruby dart over, ready to hug her. She glared, stopping her just in time. "No hugging, I'll go down myself."
Ruby pouted slightly.
Catriona remained unmoved, pretending to be stern. "If you try to hug me again, I won't tell any stories."
Ruby whimpered in discontent. "Catriona, that's not fair!"
But her desire to hear stories won out, and she pulled back her eager hands.
Catriona looked at her pouting, displeased face and suddenly burst out laughing. She reached out, gently pinched Ruby's cheek, with a gaze full of helpless warmth. "Alright, good morning, Ruby."
"Hmph, good morning to you and the cub too." Ruby, unable to get her hug, whimpered and went downstairs.
Catriona shook her head, smiling helplessly. She thought that if she had a younger sister, she would probably be just like Ruby.
She smiled, then turned and froze.
Roderick was coming down from the third floor, his gaze fixed on her face, for who knows how long.
Catriona quickly hid her smile, nodded toward Roderick, and shook her son's hand. "Say hello to your dad."
She thought, "He's not misunderstanding again, is he? I wasn't smiling at him."
When did he get there? There hadn't been a sound.
Having been misunderstood before, Catriona was genuinely afraid of this self-deluding silly wolf.
Roderick noticed that, just a second ago, she had been smiling. But the moment she saw him, her smile vanished, and her brows furrowed ever so slightly.
Was her attitude toward him too different from how she treated the other wolves?
It was the same at mealtime.
When did her seat get so far from his?
Roderick sat at the main table, looking at Catriona seated at the fourth spot on the left, his lips pressed tightly together.
Black sat in the first seat on the left, with Brownie in the first seat on the right, like Roderick's trusted left and right hands. Indeed, after Grey left, Brownie had become the new Beta in this pack. The others weren't particular about seating arrangements; the last time Catriona suggested switching seats, Ruby hadn't given it a second thought and simply agreed with a casual "oh."
Now, with Grey still alive and Catriona having forgiven them, Black happily sat beside the Alpha, enjoying his meal with a big grin.
Suddenly, he sensed Alpha Roderick looking at him.
With a piece of meat in his mouth, he looked up, chewing away, and appeared utterly foolish.
"..."
Roderick's lips tightened, his gaze cold. "How long have you been in the human world, and you still eat as crudely as a wild boar?"
Black, chewing on his meat, looked up with innocent confusion. "Alpha Roderick, I've always eaten like this."
Why is Alpha Roderick suddenly paying attention to his eating?
They'd already come a long way, learning to use human utensils, after all.
Quietly, Black decided it was best to switch seats with Catriona. Sitting right next to the Alpha Roderick was nice, but the pressure was just a bit much.
After breakfast.
The three of them got into the car, heading to the school.
When they arrived, the timing was perfect.
Roderick, dressed in a black casual sweatshirt and wearing a black mask, revealed only his cool, sharp eyes above it.
Holding the little cub, he walked alongside Catriona as they entered.
Their arrival instantly drew the attention of other parents, who began whispering, assuming Roderick couldn't hear.
"Look, there's that high-profile family of three."
"Who's that guy wearing a mask?"
"Look at that husband, so dedicated to his family. Meanwhile, mine says he's going on business trips. As if we need the money from those trips—he just doesn't care about the kids."
"That lady is so beautiful. Her outfit today makes her look like a college student."
"Is he some kind of celebrity? He's been wearing that mask the whole time."
"Some people say he looks like that gentleman named Nightblade, but the kid's surname is Ashford. If he were really someone from the Nightblade, would they let the kid have the mother's last name?"
"You mean... No, no, it couldn't be him. I've never heard anything about him being married."
Roderick:...
He was already accustomed to these humans' murmuring and listened in silence.
"That woman is truly beautiful. And look over there—whose husband is that? Tch, he's been staring at her for ages."
Roderick frowned upon hearing this and glanced to his right, where a short, chubby man with a bulging belly and squinting eyes was staring at Catriona without blinking.
Next to him sat a woman and a child, with the woman adjusting the child's collar.
Tch.
Roderick's brow furrowed, and his golden eyes took on a cold gleam.
He stepped forward, discreetly blocking Catriona from view, and gave the man a cold, direct stare.
The man hurriedly looked away.
A trace of mockery flashed in Roderick's eyes. This was precisely why he disliked humans' infidelity toward their partners. Even with spouses by their sides, they'd still be swayed by someone attractive.
Humans were too greedy; having one was never enough for them.
For example, he could clearly sense several women sneaking glances at him, some not even bothering to hide their interest and boldly eyeing him.
Hmph.
Just then, a man walked in through the entrance, dressed in a white sweatshirt with a relaxed, sporty style. Standing around 6.2 feet tall, he had a handsome face framed by short black hair. He held a little girl's hand, with a woman walking beside him.
As he entered, Roderick felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
"Oh my gosh! His kid is at this Loyal Kindergarten too? I had no idea!"
"Not his kid—rumor has it the child is his sister's. She passed away in childbirth. Is that woman his girlfriend?"
"Sigh, what a pity. Giving birth really is like passing through the gates of death. Even with all the money in the world..."
Roderick glanced at the man and quickly looked away, uninterested.
He'd seen that man before; he was in real estate and went by the name Lucian Campbell.
Unexpectedly, Lucian, holding the little girl's hand, started walking toward him.
Roderick frowned slightly, not wanting the man to greet him here.
Lucian walked straight over, ignoring Roderick entirely, and fixed his gaze on Catriona with a look of surprise and delight. "Caddy."
Roderick:?
His golden eyes widened slightly.
Then he heard Catriona's equally surprised voice. "Lucian?"
Noticing her gaze shifting to the woman beside him, Lucian explained, "This is my cousin."
"When did you transfer Cedric over here?" Lucian asked softly, extending his hand. "Cedric, do you remember me?"
Cedric pursed his small lips and nodded. "Mr. Campbell."
He extended his small hand to shake the one offered to him.
Then, he looked at the slightly shorter girl and said, "Hello, Anna."
The girl, dressed in a white princess dress, was very pretty. She gripped Lucian's hand tightly, staring at Cedric with a mix of happiness and something else, then let out a small huff and looked away.
Lucian sighed, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "Ever since the last time we said goodbye, she's been asking me to bring her to see Cedric. I didn't want to intrude on you, and now she's sulking."
Catriona replied, "It's fine; she enjoys playing with Cedric. I just ended up being the bad guy..."
Lucian had pursued her for over six months. She hadn't felt the same and, after she turned him down, he didn't press her and left gracefully.
The children, unaware of adult matters, only knew to feel sad and cry when they couldn't see each other.
Lucian said softly, "Don't talk about yourself like that. You're wonderful."
Catriona felt a bit awkward, unsure how to respond.
Roderick's expression had already darkened like a storm cloud.
The more he listened, the more irritable he became. He didn't even know why he was getting involved—this was just a friendly reunion. What did it have to do with him?
"And this is...?" Lucian, having already noticed the intense presence of the man beside Catriona, felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Before Catriona could answer, Roderick spoke coolly, "Hello, I'm Cedric's biological father." He emphasized the word "biological."
Lucian's expression faltered momentarily before he quickly masked it.
"Hello, I'm Lucian."
After that, Lucian's mood visibly dimmed. Although he maintained his composure and politely conversed with those who approached him, his smile held a hint of fatigue.
As someone of significant status in the country, his presence at the school event for the first time truly astonished the other parents, who were all fairly well-off themselves.
But, of course, they couldn't compare to the Campbell.
Lucian, perhaps genuinely in a low mood, later made an excuse to rest, avoiding further interactions. He sat in the back, occasionally glancing in Catriona's direction.
At nine o'clock, the event began.
On the playground.
The principal, dressed in a gray suit, held a microphone and addressed the crowd, "We're delighted that all of you parents took time out to witness your children's growth today. Now, we..."
He wasn't too long-winded and quickly concluded, announcing the start of the activities.
"Today, we've prepared a few games," said a female teacher. "First, Family Carry Challenge: Parents hold each other's hands tightly, and the child sits on top. The family that covers the longest distance wins. Ten seconds to get ready."
The parents quickly lined up at the starting line, extending their hands and clasping them together naturally as their children sat on top, giggling.
Hearing the teacher's instructions, Lucian looked away from Catriona and joined his cousin, allowing their child, Anna, to sit on top.
When it was Catriona's turn, things got a little awkward.
Her relationship with Roderick was complicated, and he had been resistant to her touch before. Should she extend her hand or not?
To outsiders, they looked like a high-profile couple, yet here they were, acting like strangers.
She glanced at Roderick, who had already extended his hand, seeming to understand her hesitation. He murmured, "None of that matters now—for the cub."
"Oh, okay."
Since he put it that way, Catriona didn't hesitate and reached out, clasping his hand firmly.
For a moment, both of them froze.
Catriona lowered her gaze, as if nothing had happened, and said, "Little one, hop on."
By the time Cedric climbed on, some parents had already started toward the finish line.
Catriona got anxious. "Hurry, we're falling behind!" They had lost time earlier.
She tightened her grip on Roderick's hand, took a step forward, and started moving.
Roderick felt the warmth of her hand, and a hint of an unreadable emotion flashed across his eyes.
He tightened his hold on her hand as well and began to walk.
Cedric tugged at his parents' sleeves, a smile curving his lips.
Catriona didn't want to lose. Both she and Roderick were tall and had long legs, so they quickly made their way from the back to the front.
Their family was the first to reach the finish line.
The female teacher immediately announced through the microphone, "Wow! Family number three, Cedric's family, came in first!"
Cedric suddenly burst into laughter, his little pointed teeth gleaming, and the tufts of hair on his head swayed wildly in the wind.
Catriona, catching her breath, released Roderick's hand and smiled. "Little one, are you that happy about getting first place?"
Cedric clung to his parents' sleeves, smiling but staying silent.
Roderick looked down at his now-empty palm, silent.
The teacher excitedly called out, "Second place! Anna's family!"
Catriona glanced over and met Lucian's gaze. He gave her a gentle smile.
Catriona thought for a moment and then made a small fist, giving him a supportive thumbs-up.
Lucian nodded.
Watching this, Roderick's gaze darkened. Almost involuntarily, he stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Catriona, blocking her line of sight to the other man.
His abrupt appearance was jarring.
Catriona paused, taken aback. From her angle, all she could see was his neck and the sharp lines of his collarbones through his hoodie.
"..."
Catriona immediately looked away.
Then Roderick said, "The next game is about to start. Don't get distracted."
Catriona thought for a moment and nodded.
Seeing the man block Catriona, with the two of them speaking to each other, Lucian's gaze dimmed, and he looked away.
The child's biological father had returned—were they in love?
The man wore a mask, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen him somewhere before. Are they really going to be living together now?
He had so many questions.
Just then, the teacher picked up the microphone and announced the second game: "Parents stand back-to-back, hold hands, and secure the ball between them at the starting line. When you hear the command, hurry toward your child at the finish line. Once the child takes the ball, they'll roll it back to the start. Ten seconds on the clock! Countdown—ten, nine..."
After the earlier contact, Catriona didn't hesitate this time. She turned her back to Roderick and extended her hand.
Roderick's gaze deepened slightly. Pressing his lips together, he turned around as well, grasping her hand firmly.
Catriona froze for a second. It's just holding a ball between their backs—does he really need to hold her hand that tightly?
At the teacher's command, "Go!" they stepped forward together.
A group of adorable children stood at the finish line, waiting for their parents.
The teacher said, "Everyone, cheer on your parents!"
The children began to shout, "Mom! Dad! Go! Go!"
Some children got so excited that their faces turned red from shouting.
Cedric, caught up in the excitement of the moment, watched his parents coming toward him, his golden eyes sparkling as he shouted, "Mom! Dad! Go!"
Catriona and Roderick looked up together, spotting their cub in the distance.
He stood alone to the side, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt and black overalls.
Catriona immediately perked up, "Alright! Mommy's coming over, wait for me!"
She quickened her pace, "Mr. Nightblade, hurry, cooperate with me."
If the two didn't coordinate well, the light ball they carried might roll out.
The parents next to them had dropped the ball, losing the game, and their child, who had been shouting the loudest, started crying upon seeing them lose.
Roderick: "..."
He didn't really understand the thoughts of human children.
But he also feared his own child crying.
So he and Catriona coordinated together, reaching the finish line first and handing the ball to their child. Now, the cub had to roll the ball back to the starting line to win.
"Darling, go! Go!" Catriona joined the other parents, cheering loudly for her son.
"Sweetheart, you're the best; Mommy believes in you."
Cedric gritted his teeth, hearing his mom's voice, his little face tense as he rolled the ball quickly and steadily.
Catriona, caught up in the excitement, noticed the man next to her was silent and nudged him with her elbow. "Hey, cheer for our son! Why aren't you saying anything?"
Normally, she spoke to Roderick with a bit more formality.
At this moment, she was fully caught up in the energy of the event.
Her words flowed freely.
Roderick glanced down at her, seeming to not fully understand the intensity of her emotions.
He appeared to be the calmest person present, dressed in all black, standing tall like an observer.
Catriona, still energized, continued, "Look at the other dads; their voices are booming. Hurry up and cheer for your son."
A nearby mother seemed to overhear her and said, "Your husband doesn't seem to have said anything. Is his throat bothering him?"
Catriona, not noticing the word "husband," paused. "Is your throat bothering you?"
For some reason, Roderick felt a trace of joy.
He turned his gaze to his child, his thin lips parting slightly as he spoke. "Cedric, get first place; your mom wants it."
His deep voice sounded, and the mother who had been speaking blushed instantly, clearly surprised by how pleasant his voice was.
Cedric, hearing his dad's words, let out an excited howl, his mind buzzing. He nearly revealed his ears, but thanks to his dad's training, he managed to control them just in time.
Mommy wants first place!
He had to win it for her.
And he did it.
Catriona, a bit stunned, wondered: What did he mean by "she wants first place"? Well, she did want her son to win, but somehow it sounded odd.
The teacher's enthusiastic voice echoed across the playground: "Wow! The Cedric family took first place again! Amazing! So, what's most important in a family? Unity and harmony, right?"
Cedric's face flushed with excitement, and he leapt into his mom's arms, hugging her tightly.
"Mommy, I got first place."
"Yes, I know. You're the best."
Roderick watched the mother and son, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
