In that moment, Catriona froze.
She felt something odd about it, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Catriona was stunned.
Startled, she threw the potato peeler, her hand trembling as if poisoned. "I'm sorry!"
Aside from that night four years ago, this was her first encounter with Roderick's tail while fully awake! Yet, she had no memory of it; the last time, in a drunken state, she had genuinely grasped his tail, pouring out her heart with unfiltered honesty.
"It's fine." Roderick's ears turned red...
"I..." She didn't mean to!!
Catriona felt her face turning red. It was one thing to think about it, but having Roderick say it out loud was another.
It was so embarrassing!
The next second, his deep, hoarse voice said, "My ears... you can touch them too."
"What?" Catriona turned her head to see Roderick leaning slightly toward her, bowing his head. This tall wolf lowered himself, his black hair and large black ears within her reach.
Catriona watched the man who bent over with his head lowered, enveloped in silence.
For a moment, words failed her.
She couldn't quite pinpoint what she was feeling. When humans tame animals, the moment a master extends a hand, the animals raise their paws to grasp it.
But she hadn't tamed Roderick.
Yet he seemed, in some way, to be willingly submitting to her.
As he slowly bent toward her, she actually thought of a word: submission.
Wolves are such proud creatures, and Roderick was a high-intelligence werewolf, as clever as any human.
Even if she were naive, she'd know that a werewolf would never easily lower himself, exposing his ears and vulnerable neck.
Especially a powerful werewolf like Roderick, who likely had hundreds of followers.
He certainly had every reason to be proud.
Yet here he was, exposing his neck and ears to her.
This was absolute trust for a werewolf.
He trusted her.
She...was important to Roderick?
Catriona had this sudden impression.
With a knife nearby, surely he, as a werewolf Alpha, wouldn't be so unaware, right?
What kind of trust was this?
She was briefly dazed. Then she saw his smooth, jet-black, upright ears curve slightly toward her.
?
Catriona froze.
She watched as his erect ears bent toward her again.
Huh??
Wow! They could bend like that?
Catriona was completely captivated, her attention fully absorbed.
Roderick, head lowered, caught her scent, feeling slightly intoxicated, and muttered, "Go ahead, touch them. Ears are made to be petted."
Ears being touched by his mate—there was nothing wrong with that, he thought.
Catriona seemed truly entranced as she slowly reached out, her hand trembling slightly, and touched the tip of his ear.
So soft and warm.
She tried it once more, and Roderick suddenly lifted his head, meeting her gaze, his sharp features and golden eyes locked onto her.
Catriona snapped out of it, pulled her hand back, and quickly turned around, her heart racing for no reason: "I...I..."
"Thank you."
"Let's get back to cooking."
Catriona mentally berated herself a thousand times over. Idiot! You actually touched him! No self-control at all!
Watching her slice potatoes, Roderick's hand twitched at his side, and a small, pleased smile curved his lips.
Catriona began to shoo him away, "So, uh, nothing left for you to do here, you can go."
Roderick responded with a casual "Hmm."
He moved like a beast surveying its territory, exploring every corner of the house. His hands brushed against the doorknobs, windows, and tables, leaving behind traces of his scent.
He sat on the sofa, also marking it with his scent.
Before he arrived, the house was filled only with the cub's milky scent.
Now, it carried a strong, intimidating, oppressive aura.
The cub, accustomed to his dad, didn't mind at all.
Catriona had no idea that from this day forward, no birds would dare to approach her balcony, and even the cats and dogs passing by would scurry past with their tails tucked between their legs. Eventually, even the cats and dogs would avoid the area altogether.
Catriona quickly finished the meal, with Roderick's lamb being the simplest—just boiled in hot water for ten seconds and scooped out.
She stir-fried three dishes for herself.
Cedric had also started eating more meat than vegetables.
He grabbed a lamb rib, using his little sharp teeth to gnaw it down, meat and bone together. He was teething, his gums itching, wanting to chew on everything all day.
Catriona had once even caught him hugging a big tree in the garden, tilting his head as he gnawed on it.
Roderick normally disdained eating bones since he had no shortage of food, and supermarket meat didn't compare to prairie lamb.
But this was something Catriona had specially cooked for him.
So he ate it all, bone and meat, just like the cub.
The crunching sound he made while chewing was much louder than that of the little cub. As an adult and powerful werewolf, it was easy to imagine just how sharp and strong his teeth were.
Catriona thought he sounded like he was crunching on potato chips.
Impressive...
By the time the family of three returned to Luna Palace, it was five-thirty.
There was a familiar face at Luna Palace.
Magnus.
The moment Catriona saw him, she thought of the fallen werewolf Roderick had dealt with at the camping park that afternoon.
Every time Magnus appeared, it had to do with fallen werewolves.
Sure enough, the two rulers met and went straight to the study.
Downstairs at Luna Palace, each of the werewolves had a serious expression.
Catriona was slightly taken aback. Could this matter really be that complicated?
Roderick had been acting like it wasn't a big deal all day.
Catriona glanced at Black beside her and asked, "Black, what's going on?"
For a moment, Black's eyes brightened, as if her talking to him was something worth celebrating.
The next second, his enthusiasm dimmed.
"The fallen werewolves from Snow Mountain have gathered and come down the mountain," Black said, worried. "There could be dozens of them, working together."
Catriona's eyes widened. "Oh my..."
No wonder Roderick only dealt with three of them at noon.
Brownie seethed with anger. "Do they really think that by gathering together they can kill all the rulers? Want to fight to the death? Fine, let's take them all down—fewer problems for us in the future."
Bruce nodded. "The number of fallen werewolves isn't more than a hundred. After this, there shouldn't be many left. We don't have the authority to arrest them in Snow Mountain, but once they come down to cause trouble, it's our business."
Black perked up. "Right! We're not afraid of them!"
Sapphire was huddled on a sofa in the corner, silent, pale, and trembling, as if terrified.
Roderick and Magnus came out of the study and headed downstairs.
Magnus's gaze fell on the clearly frightened female werewolf. He paused for a moment, then walked over without hesitation.
But even when he stood in front of her, she didn't lift her head.
In the past, she would have caught his scent long ago, following him to the study and then downstairs.
Magnus pressed his lips together slightly and spoke reassuringly, "Don't be afraid. Nothing will happen."
Sapphire lifted her gaze to him for a moment, then looked away. "I-I'm not afraid."
Her body was still trembling.
Magnus paused. "From today on, maybe stop working at the flower shop for now."
Sapphire suddenly stood up, her eyes red at the corners. "Thank you for your reminder and concern."
With that, she turned and ran upstairs.
Magnus's brows furrowed instantly.
Since last week, this female werewolf had seemed to distance herself from him.
