"Mmm..." Catriona was kissed so hard that her lips tingled, leaving her completely stunned.
Roderick had lost control; his ears and tail were fully revealed.
He released her lips with a light gasp, eyes filled with lingering desire, his pale face flushed deep red.
His gaze locked onto hers, his tone earnest. "I admit, I brought you to Luna Palace at first because of the cub. But now, I like you—I only like you."
"Go anywhere you want with the child; I just... I just don't want to be left behind by you."
He took a deep breath, looking down at her, a trace of panic in his eyes. "Stop crying. You can hit me, scold me, just don't cry."
"Don't give me that!" Catriona's eyes were still teary, her face flushed as she pushed him away. She took a few steps to the side, turning her back to him, her lips pressed together uneasily. "Weren't you angry that I was taking our son away? Why are you saying this now? Do you think I'll believe you just because you say it?"
Like her...
He really liked her?
Catriona's heart raced, tangled with confusion. He had kissed her, and she should have slapped him, but...
Why... was her first reaction not disgust or revulsion, but a surprising shyness?
She tried hard to suppress her feelings and turned to look at him, her lips curling with a hint of irony. "Roderick, I said I'd leave in half a year, and you agreed. And now you're saying you like me?"
"Yes." His chiseled face showed resignation, surrender. "I regret it."
"I thought I could let you go and watch you with someone else. Well, I've lost completely; I can't do it."
Roderick's hand clenched tightly at his side, a fierce anger flashing across his sharp features. "Just the thought of you being held by those damned men makes me want to snap their necks."
His gaze turned intense as he licked his menacing fangs, noticing Catriona's wide-eyed shock, and he chuckled lightly. "Sorry, I've always been like this."
"This is the real me."
Honestly, Catriona was somewhat surprised.
To her, Roderick was a narcissist, yet he possessed a strong sense of responsibility. As the leader of the werewolf clan, he was seen as upright, fair, and accountable in the eyes of the pack. Most of the time, he presented himself as serious and principled.
The Alpha who upheld peace and justice—jealous enough to want to kill an innocent human.
Isn't this... just like a fallen werewolf?
Or is it that werewolves and fallen werewolves are only a wall apart?
"I like you; what about you?" Roderick swished his tail, stepping closer, his amber eyes fixed dominantly on her.
Catriona's heart skipped inexplicably, and she looked away. "I-I obviously don't like you."
"Really?" Roderick's sharp gaze stayed on her as he stepped forward again, and Catriona froze, unmoving.
Roderick leaned down, whispering softly in her ear, "But just now, when I kissed you, you didn't push me away."
Catriona's lips trembled. "That... that's because I didn't realize what was happening!"
A glint of cunning flickered in the werewolf's eyes as he chuckled softly, his nose twitching as he ambiguously sniffed the air. His lips parted slightly, "I can smell it."
Boom—
Catriona felt her mind go blank, her face burning hot and flushed, her thighs clenching tightly.
"You..." Her anger surged, embarrassment fueling her rage. "Roderick, you're no different from a dog right now!"
To her, this was a heavy accusation. Roderick cared about such things; he would take offense at being compared to wild wolves.
Yet, Roderick responded indifferently, "In your eyes, I've always been a dog, so it doesn't matter to me."
"If you want me to be your dog, I wouldn't mind."
Roderick's gaze was fixed on the blushing beauty, his eyes filled with desire. "Just give me a title—being your dog or your wolf, either is fine."
For werewolves, as long as they could feast on their prey, they could do anything, without any concept of right or wrong. In front of their mates, what need was there for dignity? Simply put, those were concerns only pure humans would care about.
The werewolf's inherently cunning nature was on full display at this moment.
"Are you insane?" Catriona took several steps back.
She couldn't believe Roderick would actually say he'd be her "dog"!
She was too shocked to speak. "Have you forgotten who you are?" If anyone at the company or among the pack heard this...doesn't he have any shame?
"Who I am has nothing to do with my feelings for you."
"Oh, by the way, the cub caught a rabbit."
"What? Really?" Catriona looked toward the forest, but all she could see was the light drizzle and the leaves, nothing else.
"So, have you thought it over?"
"What?"
"To be my mate," Roderick said bluntly.
Catriona paused. He seemed to be throwing all caution to the wind, pushing closer with every step.
"You clearly don't resist me. You even feel something."
Catriona's face heated up. "Roderick!! Shut up!"
Roderick fell silent, watching her for a moment before concluding, "I've figured it out. You actually like this approach."
She never makes the first move, only rejects others.
A coward hiding behind a closed door.
Only hoping that others would keep knocking.
"What happened to 'Mr. Nightblade'? Not calling me that anymore?"
Catriona laughed in exasperation, saying righteously, "You're the one acting all improper. Isn't it fine to just call you by name?"
"Of course it is," Roderick said, staring at her. "This is the real you, isn't it? Complaining about me behind my back."
Catriona pressed her lips together, pretending to be calm. "So what if I do? I'm just that kind of two-faced hypocrite!"
She'd always put on a facade of being easygoing.
Catriona didn't care about how he saw her anymore. She'd already shown him all her worst sides.
Roderick's lips curved slightly. "Nothing at all. I like it when you don't hold back with me."
"From now on, no need to complain behind my back. Just say it to my face."
Catriona was taken aback.
