No one dared to go up and ask.
"I never heard her mention leaving. I thought I'd see her and the cub every day." Bruce lowered his head in sadness. "I've gotten used to it."
"Any of you, Catriona's leaving in three days. Are we just going to sit here? Can't we try to ask her to stay?"
No one responded to Bruce's words.
After a while, Brownie pursed his lips slightly. "I don't have the face to ask. Back then, I thought Grey was dead. I didn't sleep all night, and when I came in from outside in the morning, I ran into her. She invited me to eat the food she cooked, and I didn't go."
"At that time, that was a blunt rejection, but I didn't think about it then." Brownie glanced at the werewolves in the living room, pursing his lips.
"So... what face do we have to ask her to stay?"
"But can we just do nothing?"
Upstairs.
Catriona had packed a large bag of clothes, and Cedric packed the toys he wasn't playing with.
"All done. Let's take these back first, so there's less to carry in three days."
Ruby leaned against the hallway wall, silently watching.
She slowly walked to the door, looking at the bags in the room, and her eyes turned red.
She thought back to the first time she met Catriona.
Alpha Roderick had instructed her to go upstairs and move Catriona from the rug to the bed.
She clumsily bumped into a stool, waking Catriona, who grabbed her ear and fainted in fright.
Despite being so timid, she quickly accepted them afterward, bonding with them as if she were brave.
Was it for the cub's sake? Or... had their sincerity touched her? They'd see each other every day, eat together, and gather around her to hear stories.
She was always smiling at them.
Ah, when did things change?
It must have been the incident with Grey. They acted without empathy, consumed by their grief for Grey, and they broke her heart.
She, knowing nothing, had gotten up early to make food for them.
They simply didn't want to eat, but to Catriona, it felt like bewildered sadness: They hate me; they really despise me.
She must have been so hurt at that moment, but no one noticed.
Perhaps, for a moment, Catriona's smile truly reached her eyes, like the moon—genuine, carrying a warmth from the heart.
Ruby's eyes reddened as she took a deep breath and then called out, "Catriona! Cub!" As she finished speaking, she wagged her tail and rushed inside.
Just like the first time they met.
Too forceful, she bumped into a stool, grimacing in pain before turning to smile apologetically at Catriona.
Then, before Catriona could react, she picked up a bag of clothes and a bag of toys.
"I'll help you carry these down, awoooo—"
"Hey—Ruby!" Catriona was stunned.
She held her son's hand and walked out of the room. "Ruby is always so clumsy like this. When Mommy first came to Luna Palace, she was the same."
Holding her son's hand, Catriona walked down the stairs, and all the werewolves on the first floor looked up at her.
Catriona suddenly felt the atmosphere was a bit strange. She had never mentioned she would leave, and now she felt awkward.
"Uh... well, I..."
"Catriona! I'm sorry." Lightblaze suddenly stood up, facing her, speaking hurriedly.
Catriona was absent.
Lightblaze shouted loudly, "About that thing with Grey, I didn't come down to eat the breakfast you made! I wasn't blaming you at the time! I didn't hate you! I just couldn't eat, but! I hurt you, I'm sorry!!"
"I'm sorry too, although saying this now seems so hypocritical and powerless, I've never hated Catriona, okay? I'm sorry, Catriona! We're just a bunch of fools, always late to realize things, only now understanding."
"Even if it sounds hypocritical, I have to say it—I really like Catriona. I'll always remember the days you told us stories. You're beautiful, smart, and so capable. I'm sorry for hurting you."
Bruce also stood up, offering a smile to Catriona, though his eyes were red. "So, Catriona, it's understandable that you'd hate us. We didn't give you any reason to stay. Actually, during this time, I've wanted to talk to you about this, but I was afraid of ruining the atmosphere you wanted, and I was scared to bring it up..."
"Ah, hearing that you're leaving, I feel like I have to tell you what's in my heart, no matter what. I have a mouth, so why not speak, right? Not like I'm mute," Bruce scratched his hair, trying his best to force a smile.
Sapphire couldn't hold back any longer, wiping her tears and crying, her voice choked with emotion: "Catriona, it's only right if you dislike us. I'm sorry, Catriona. You even gave me a job. I used to be so timid, never daring to step outside Luna Palace. You gave me the courage."
Catriona pressed her lips together, gave a small smile as always, and replied, "Um, I don't dislike you guys."
The werewolves were dumbfounded, just when they thought...
"We're of different species, so it's just a casual relationship."
The implication being, not significant enough to dislike.
