In the quiet thicket, branches and leaves blocked the light, and a thick layer of fallen leaves carpeted the ground, a natural tapestry.
Not far away, a shallow ditch gurgled with the sound of trickling water, beside which lush green grass grew abundantly.
A plump, solid little wolf cub crouched behind a maple tree as thick as a bowl, its chubby little legs bent and poised in a careful hunting stance.
By the ditch, amidst the green grass, a gray rabbit nibbled on the tender blades, occasionally shaking its ears, pausing to survey the surroundings. When it sensed no danger, it resumed its meal.
The black wolf cub watched the rabbit intently for a moment, then licked its pink tongue across its lips—this was his very first time hunting in the "wild."
Trusting his instincts, he moved his paws with utmost caution, his furry little feet gingerly treading on the leaves, as if navigating a minefield.
He had to close the distance without being noticed...
The rabbit suddenly looked up, alert.
The little wolf froze, not daring to move.
The rabbit relaxed and resumed eating.
The wolf cub continued forward...
Closer and closer, he hid in the green grass, almost close enough to catch the rabbit. His excitement made him speed up, causing a noise.
The gray rabbit, with grass still in its mouth, raised its ears alertly, quickly looking his way.
Cedric froze.
In a moment of quick thinking, he bit a large-leafed plant, chewing on it like a rabbit.
Ugh, so bitter...
Luckily, the rabbit relaxed, mistaking him for one of its own, and lowered its head again.
With the leafy plant in his mouth, Cedric covered most of his body, moving forward with his little legs.
Finally, when he was close enough, he leapt forward.
He bit down on the rabbit's throat.
The rabbit thrashed about, its claws flailing wildly against him. Cedric endured the pain, his big eyes fierce as he growled menacingly, looking adorably fierce despite his tender age.
His little sharp teeth pierced flesh, and he held on tightly, refusing to let go.
"Awooo..." The cub squinted with satisfaction, delighted.
Mommy, I caught a rabbit!
I won't need dinner tonight.
He probably wouldn't be able to drink even half a bottle of milk now.
The dark little cub dragged its catch to the base of a big tree, eyes glinting with ferocity, its mouth smeared with blood as it let out a low, babyish growl.
Hic...
Hic...
The gluttonous little cub was completely stuffed, his round belly bulging, stumbling as he walked, and hiccuping before tumbling into the grass.
So full... so sleepy...
But Mommy was still waiting; he had to get back.
On his way back, he stopped by a ditch to wash the blood off his fur, making sure he was clean before heading back.
Meanwhile, on the bench.
"I never thought I'd be with a werewolf."
This was Catriona's answer.
"I don't even consider humans, let alone someone who isn't one."
She looked at Roderick, suddenly finding it rather amusing. "Just like you reminded me back then, I never considered being your mate from the start. You're the one who changed."
Roderick pressed his thin lips together, his expression darkening.
Catriona felt a strange sense of relief and satisfaction, as she clearly held the upper hand in this moment.
"It's not like just because you're wealthy, with a high status, and you say you like me, I have to be your mate, right?" Catriona looked at him, a faint smile on her lips. "What do you think, Roderick?"
"Yes, you're right."
"I didn't think that either," Roderick replied. "With you, I have no status at all."
Catriona crossed her arms, leaning against a pillar as a cold wind blew by, the earlier emotional outburst now gone.
"You used to be biased against humans, afraid I'd like you. I forgot to mention back then that werewolves were never within my consideration either."
She'd only known Roderick for half a year, only recently learning of this other world. Before that, she'd seen vampires and werewolves only on TV.
But she'd never thought real werewolves existed in this world.
She wasn't lying; she really hadn't considered Roderick.
She hadn't even thought about it.
After all, his initial evasiveness, his bias and disdain toward humans, and his unfounded fear that she'd like him...
Later, they began to interact normally, and his identity as a werewolf became more apparent.
Every moment at Luna Palace, watching the wolves wag their tails, she was always aware that these werewolves weren't her kin.
If it weren't for her son, she might never have come into contact with this world.
Roderick hadn't expected that his initial avoidance of Catriona, his prejudice and arrogance toward humans, would end up being her reason for outright rejecting him.
The boomerang he'd thrown ended up piercing his own heart.
Through the fine drizzle, Catriona looked toward the woods. "I just want to take my son and go home. I hope you understand."
"I can understand that you're not considering me because I'm a werewolf," Roderick murmured, his gaze fixed on her. "But then what do your lapses mean?"
The lack of resistance when they kissed.
Her body's response...
Catriona understood what he meant, paused, and replied calmly, "That's a natural response of the human body. Even if someone else kissed me today, I would still..."
She stopped herself, adding, "Don't read too much into it."
Roderick let out a light "oh," a thin, cold smile curving his lips. "Is that so?"
He wouldn't back down.
The coward hiding behind the door would only end up driving people away.
He was sure that Catriona felt differently about him, at least more than about her other suitors.
Roderick tugged at his lips gently, saying, "I like you, and I hope you'll think about it more."
"For example, last time when you asked me out to eat, I didn't agree to go back to Luna Palace because I just wanted to spend more time with you. I wanted to go to your place."
"Like just now, I didn't return to Luna Palace and used the excuse of letting the cub hunt, just so I could be alone with you."
"For example, right now, I want to keep kissing you; I want to do all sorts of things to you."
Catriona clenched her fists, glaring at him. "You..."
"I like you, so please, think about it," Roderick said, his gaze fixed on her. "From now on, keep thinking about it."
Catriona:...
Catriona didn't want to speak anymore.
How had she not noticed Roderick was so shameless, so... relentless...
It was as if something had locked onto her.
Along with annoyance, there was an inexplicable sense of shame and embarrassment.
Suddenly, the cub's howl came from afar.
"Awooo—"
Catriona looked up in delight to see a round, plump little wolf cub bounding across the grass, racing toward them.
It's just that...
The little wolf cub's running style was a bit odd; as he ran, he seemed to lose his balance and tumbled forward.
Catriona's heart tightened. "Sweetie!"
The cub quickly got up, shook his head, and continued running. "Awoo... awooo..."
Catriona shook her head helplessly. "This child, running like he's drunk."
Roderick glanced at the cub's protruding belly.
He scoffed.
"He's stuffed."
So foolish.
