"Stay here for now, don't go downstairs."
"But the little one..." Before Catriona could finish her sentence, there was a sound at the door.
Roderick tugged at his lips slightly. "He's already here."
Indeed, the door was being knocked upon by a pair of small hands, a child's voice calling urgently, "Mommy! Mommy!"
Catriona hurried over and opened the door to the room.
A little boy stood alone at the door, clad in a neat black pajama set, his tousled black hair framing a fair, chubby face, his eyes moist and rimmed with red.
"Sweetie!" Catriona exclaimed with joy, bending down to scoop up her son. "Are you hurt anywhere? Why are you standing here all alone? Where's Draven?"
She eagerly fired off several questions.
Cedric hugged his mother tightly, earnestly answering each question one by one, "I'm not hurt."
"Mr. Draven brought me to the door."
"He went downstairs."
The little cub, noticing his mom's injuries, refused to be held and insisted on standing on the ground.
Catriona knelt down with him, and Cedric, feeling sorry for his mom, reached out his little hand to touch her head and gently pat her face to comfort her.
Catriona gazed at him, full of affection. Seeing her son unharmed filled her with happiness, and she leaned in to plant several kisses on his little face.
Roderick stood on the side like a statue, thoroughly ignored.
Especially when he saw Catriona kissing the cub repeatedly, his lips pressed tightly together.
Werewolves approach their offspring in a way entirely unlike pure humans. In the case of pure humans, when a cub witnesses their mother being taken by a villain, the adults feel a pang of sympathy for the cub, worrying about their mental well-being and offering gentle guidance and comfort.
Werewolves, however, were different.
Their lifestyle was much rougher. Nature was harsh, survival of the fittest; the more truth you knew, the better. Be a sheltered flower in a greenhouse? He'd either starve or end up as someone's meal.
All they could do was grow stronger.
The sooner they saw the world's cruelty, the sooner the seeds of strength would be sown.
It was a way of toughening their young spirits.
But there were many ways to toughen someone, and no matter what, he didn't want Catriona to be the one.
At that moment, his dear son finally remembered his dad's presence.
"Daddy." Cedric instinctively took a step forward, then remembered something and grabbed his mom's hand, wanting them to go together.
He couldn't leave his mom for a second now.
He was terrified that the next second, his mom would be taken away again.
Today's events had left a deep mark on his heart, giving him a substantial shock.
He couldn't do anything, only watch as his mom was taken away.
Held quietly in Roderick's arms, the cub suddenly heard his dad say, "Do you want to be stronger?"
Cedric's eyes widened, and he nodded eagerly.
So...
From that day on, Roderick began training the cub in various skills.
Meanwhile.
In the pitch-black forest, Roderick carried Catriona to the riverbank, where he rinsed her mouth and gently licked her wounds. The leaves trembled slightly; even with his utmost caution, the crunch of leaves beneath his feet still reached Roderick's ears.
A fallen werewolf was lying in ambush, cautiously inching closer as if on a hunt.
However, Roderick acted as though he hadn't noticed.
The fallen werewolf focused entirely on him, unaware that he, too, was now someone else's prey.
Sure enough, soon after...
He heard the fallen werewolf being pounced on, unable to let out a sound as its throat was bitten, quickly going limp.
Black—that guy was useful at the crucial moment, after all.
After killing the fallen werewolf, he kept his voice low, didn't approach, and quietly ran off.
In a hidden forest pond...
A fallen werewolf floated on the water's surface, baring its teeth, blood streaming from its neck, motionless, clearly dead.
With a splash, the water burst apart as a slender blue-black female werewolf emerged from the depths.
Her captivating wolf eyes were damp and red as she let out a series of pitiful, frightened howls.
She did it!
She had killed a fallen werewolf!!
Awoo-woo! She could do it, too.
"Awoo-woo, awoo..." Her howls were a bit sharp, a little whimpering howl.
Since childhood, Sapphire had loved swimming in the icy lakes of the snow-capped mountains, catching fish with remarkable skill. Using her one true talent, she struck down the fallen werewolf that had leaped into the pond.
She needed to get up and leave quickly.
To go rescue Catriona.
Of the three fallen werewolves chasing her, two had seen her fall into the water and sneered, "She's yours. We're going to back up the boss."
Their boss—the bearded werewolf who had taken Catriona.
She had no idea how long she'd been delayed in the water. Climbing out, she looked at the dark forest, gathered her courage, and dashed into it.
She ran alone in the blood-reeking forest, tears streaming down her face in fear.
She had no idea how long she had been running when she stumbled upon one of the fallen werewolves chasing her, lying by the riverbank with its neck bitten through, gasping for breath.
Above it lingered the scent of Black.
Rushing down to the riverbank, she suddenly caught the scents of Alpha Roderick and Catriona.
The slender blue-black wolf bounced excitedly in place, her heart swelling with joy—Catriona had been taken by Alpha Roderick! Surely, she was safe!
Then... she should go back too!
Just as she thought this, she froze.
Behind her came the howl of a fallen werewolf.
"Female, didn't expect to run into you here."
Sapphire's eyes widened in terror.
She would never forget that voice—it was the third fallen werewolf that had chased her!!
