"Mr. Nightblade, I'll treat you to a meal another day," Catriona said naturally, smiling. But then she noticed Roderick looking at her silently with an expression she couldn't read.
That look... dark and intense, filled with a kind of determined persistence, like a dragon seeing treasure or a hungry wolf spotting its prey.
He just kept staring at her.
The smile on Catriona's face froze slightly, then gradually faded.
She remembered—she shouldn't smile at this wolf. Would he misunderstand again?
Catriona thought to herself that this wasn't good.
The next second, Roderick's thin lips moved, and his voice was slightly hoarse. "When?"
"What?"
"Didn't you say you'd treat me to a meal?" Roderick stepped forward, his deep gaze unwavering and unabashed as he looked directly at her. "Catriona, when?"
Catriona blinked, stunned. She had just happily said she'd treat him after getting rid of that young man, Ambrose.
Offering a meal was no problem, but she had never seen someone so eager to be treated.
Catriona's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. "When do you want to go?"
Roderick stared at her moving red lips, his gaze unreadable. "This afternoon."
It was currently noon.
Catriona's gaze dropped to Roderick's waist. "Your injury... is it really okay?"
"It doesn't matter."
Catriona thought...
Roderick didn't seem like someone who lacked a meal, yet here he was, injured and still eager for a meal, almost impatient.
She cast a suspicious glance at Roderick.
This guy...
Had intentions?
But Roderick had already said he would give up, and he hadn't done anything ambiguous. She didn't want to end up overthinking things like some silly wolf, so maybe she was just overthinking.
She nodded, ruffling her son's hair. "Alright, what do you want to eat?"
When she said this, she suddenly paused.
Come to think of it, Roderick was a werewolf and almost exclusively ate meat.
And he ate quite a lot.
Going to a restaurant for steak? One or two pieces wouldn't fill him up.
The last time the two adults took their son out to eat, Roderick had only participated for the sake of spending time with his son, to strengthen their bond.
He hardly touched the food.
"How about... barbecue?" she suggested tentatively.
That should be filling enough, right?
Honestly, Roderick had been very good to her. She could practically be considered rich now.
It would be wrong to treat him to a meal and not let him eat his fill.
"That's a taste for pure humans."
Catriona thought about it. True, werewolves usually ate their meat scalded briefly, without any seasoning.
If they asked the restaurant to scald the meat and serve it, they'd probably end up in the news the next day.
This really stumped Catriona.
To invite a werewolf to dinner...
Isn't it just feeding them meat?
"So... I'll buy meat and cook it for you at Luna Palace?"
Roderick: "Luna Palace, are you sure?"
So many foolish pack members, all obvious lightbulbs, tails wagging in afterimages, all eager to please Catriona and ask her to tell stories.
At that time, would he even have a place in her attention?
Catriona paused, realizing it too. Right, if Black and the others were there watching her cook just for Roderick, the scene...
Thinking about it, it was rather awkward.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Then come to my place. No werewolves there."
"Alright." Roderick agreed without hesitation, his gaze darkening.
Catriona pushed down the strange feeling in her heart. Why did it seem... as if Roderick had been waiting for her to say just that?
So...
The family of three went to the Supermarket to buy meat.
"Mr. Nightblade, would you like to rest a bit? You don't have to come with us to the supermarket."
Hearing her gentle, caring words, Roderick's heart felt like an inflated balloon, floating lightly in the air, free from the previous heavy, dull ache.
To give up on loving her was like stepping deeper and deeper into a hellish darkness. He was lost within it, unable to find a way out—filled with despair, pain, torment, and an aching loneliness.
Now, he glimpsed a distant point of light ahead—a direction to move toward. No longer mired in pain and confusion, he knew that if he pressed forward with resolve, he would eventually reach paradise.
Catriona was there.
Nothing was more fulfilling than moving toward the one you love.
"I'm fine," he said.
Because Roderick was injured, Cedric didn't ask his dad for a hug. He hid both his hands behind his back.
With a serious expression, he shook his head.
"Mommy, hold my hand." He extended a small hand to Catriona, and after she held it, he stretched his other hand toward Roderick. "Daddy, hold my hand."
With one hand holding his dad and the other holding his mom, Cedric walked with a spring in his step, lifting his little chin as he entered the supermarket with his parents.
The family of three had such striking looks, more attractive than celebrities, drawing frequent glances from passersby.
Passing the snack aisle, Catriona stopped.
"Sweetie, would you like anything?"
Cedric stared at the big and small bags of chips and spicy snacks, and finally pointed to a small pack of cookies on the second shelf.
"Mommy, I want the little cookies."
"Nothing else?"
Cedric shook his head. "The little cookies are enough."
Catriona smiled and took the cookies down.
They passed the toy aisle.
Roderick glanced casually, then looked down and asked the cub, "Anything you want?"
Cedric had his own toy designer and, honestly, was a bit bored of toys.
Looking at the toys in the supermarket, he shook his head disinterestedly.
They reached the produce section.
After seeing Roderick nod, Catriona selected a large, fresh piece of lamb, about thirty pounds in weight.
Catriona also bought a fish and some vegetables.
After checkout, Roderick offered to carry the bags.
Catriona paused, "Oh, I can carry it. You're injured..."
Roderick frowned slightly, his voice deep. "Catriona, don't treat me like an invalid."
No werewolf would let a woman carry things while out with her.
Especially when it was the woman he liked.
Catriona thought of the werewolf strength; she hadn't forgotten the scene from when she first entered Luna Palace and saw Black carrying ten bags of potatoes in a flash to the kitchen.
After putting the lamb in the trunk, Arden drove them to Catriona's residence.
"Mr. Whitstone, would you like to join us for dinner?" Catriona said with a smile.
Roderick gave him a faint glance.
Arden quickly shook his head. "No, no, thank you. I've just eaten."
Roderick went to the trunk, grabbed the meat, and said, "Let's go."
The family of three took the elevator to Catriona's little apartment.
Roderick's gaze deepened, his long eyelashes veiling his eyes. It was his first time entering Catriona's apartment.
Everything here belonged to the mother and son.
He looked toward the living room—the sofa, the coffee table—and then his gaze fell on the door to a room that had just opened. From within, Catriona's familiar, rich scent wafted out, filling the air.
A soft, pale pink bed came into view.
Roderick's pupils suddenly contracted, as if he had been startled.
The hand at his side clenched, and black hair moved on top of his head as big ears and a large tail suddenly appeared.
Cedric sat on the sofa, holding a bag of cookies, pinching them one by one into his mouth with a crunching sound, enjoying them with relish.
As soon as he entered the room, his little ears and tail also appeared.
Seeing his dad like this, he smiled adorably, his eyes curving, "Dad is just like me now."
Roderick stood in place, his big ears perked up, black hair, and sharp, handsome features. Seeing that Catriona was about to turn around, he should immediately retract his ears and tail, which had always been his habit.
But when Catriona turned her head, with surprise in her eyes, he didn't retract them.
Mr. Nightblade, why are you also showing..."
"Is it not allowed?" Roderick's throat moved, his long, narrow eyes staring at her without blinking. "Black and the others can; why can't I?"
Um...
"Of course, that's your freedom."
It's just that...
This guy rarely showed his ears and tail.
At this, Roderick suddenly turned and glanced at Catriona.
Truth be told, with his ears and tail exposed, Roderick looked... rather impressive, radiating an aura of intense authority. Unlike Black and the others with their casual demeanor, he was always silent and serious. Just standing there, he commanded attention—no one could possibly ignore him.
Black hair, golden eyes, and such fair skin.
It was quite a sight.
Catriona looked away and went to the kitchen.
After a moment, she couldn't resist glancing at Roderick again.
That big black tail, soft and smooth, fluffy.
She really wanted to touch it.
Ah, did it just wag?
Right? It wagged, didn't it?
Catriona's eyes widened, and the hand at her side clenched unconsciously.
"Do you want to touch it more?"
The man's deep voice rang out.
Catriona snapped back to reality.
She turned her head, her face flushed.
"No, I don't want to."
