After hanging up the phone with Eulalia, Catriona lay back on the sofa, letting out a long sigh. "Even if my love life is a mess, I admit I have high expectations in my partner."
"Catriona is such a—such a—gorgeous beauty! Smart, calm, kind, emotionally stable, capable. Sigh, I thought that Roderick truly liked our dear one."
She sighed again.
A tall, slender young man sat on the living room floor in front of her, carving something that looked like a bracelet, resembling the bone necklace around Eulalia's neck.
Hearing Eulalia's sigh, the boy looked up at her for a moment before lowering his gaze and saying quietly, "There should be a misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding?" Eulalia asked, looking over.
The boy glanced at the bone necklace around her neck, his face flushing, and quickly looked away. "If Alpha Roderick truly likes Catriona, then he will only like her."
Eulalia said, "Grey, why are you so sure?"
The voice of Grey was muffled, and after a moment of silence, he said, "In our werewolf, we only love one person for life."
"What? Is that true?" Eulalia widened her eyes and sat up straight. "Then... what happens if one person passes away?"
Grey replied flatly, "Just live."
"Huh?" Eulalia said, "Doesn't you werewolf end up very lonely in the end?"
Grey seemed a bit confused. "So what? Isn't loneliness the norm?"
Besides, having once had a mate meant living on with their memory. Some werewolves go their whole lives without finding a mate they truly care for—that's the real loneliness, the true pity.
"Well, you guys... are pretty amazing," Eulalia continued. "We're different. We fear loneliness and can't stand solitude, so most people get married to have a partner in life. Even after a divorce, they'd find someone else, and when they get old, they still want a companion."
Grey fell silent for a moment, then looked her in the eye. "So you're going on blind dates because you're lonely? Looking for someone to share your life with?"
Eulalia paused before replying, "I do want to find someone we both like, but that's too difficult. I'm not getting any younger. It would be nice to find a man I can get along with, to support each other and bring warmth to each other's lives."
The young man didn't say anything more; he seemed lost in thought as he continued to gnaw on the bone.
—
After receiving the message from Roderick, Catriona didn't show any signs of happiness or displeasure. She simply started to busy herself around the house. On the balcony, there was a stack of flowerpots piled high, and one by one, she began taking them down. It was time for her to start planting flowers.
She felt something was off.
She didn't want to overthink it.
Why did her mood shift with Roderick's confession? She felt an inexplicable resistance and fear. After all the effort she put into achieving a stable life, she was afraid that something new might come in and shatter it. And then what? That was an unknown.
The most frightening thing was the unpredictable, uncontrollable unknown.
It was like her childhood when she couldn't control her life, constantly being sent to the next place. Were the relatives there kind? Would they frighten her again? She kept guessing and worrying, but there was nothing she could do.
At least now her life was manageable; she didn't want to step into the unknown to investigate, even if it might be a path strewn with candy and lined with blooming flowers.
And there was also the possibility that the candy was poisonous, and the flowers might be toxic too.
So she didn't want to think about those things anymore.
Whether Roderick went abroad with the young lady of the White or went alone, what did it have to do with her?
Right now, her job was to focus on taking care of the two little ones at home.
Catriona forced herself not to overthink, and that night, the two little ones fell asleep with frowns on their faces, sharing a bed.
She stood at the doorway, reminding them repeatedly, "Little ones, if you feel unwell at night, tell me immediately."
This was her son's second night without cold spring water, and it was also the first time they were starting to sleep in separate rooms; she kept an eye on him.
"If little Nightblade feels uncomfortable at all, you should come find me too."
Cedric lay on one side, his little face tense as he watched his mother close the door behind her, his lips pressed tight, clearly unhappy.
"Are you going to cry?"
Roderick smirked slightly, looking at the little cub with a teasing smile.
"I won't cry," Cedric huffed, turning his back to his father and tucking in his blanket, clearly not wanting to engage.
Roderick said, "One day you'll have to grow up and stand on your own; don't cling to her too much."
Cedric countered, "But you like clinging to Mommy too! You're already grown."
Roderick frowned. "We're different. She's my mate; we'll be together for life. One day, you'll also meet someone you like."
"I don't want to meet anyone," Cedric insisted. At his age, the idea of a mate was far too distant; the most important person in his life was still his mother.
After exchanging a few barbs, there was a moment of silence between father and son.
In the dark, the boy's voice was soft and steady. "Who was that man this afternoon?"
Cedric thought for a moment before replying, "He's probably an important person to Mom."
That Edward; Mom told him to call him 'Uncle Edward.' Every time they met, her smile reached her eyes.
Besides a few godmoms, he was one of the few who could make Mom smile like that.
"Is that so?" Roderick said, pursing his lips.
There were very few people who could get Catriona's attention. The thought of that man calling her "Caddy" so intimately made Roderick feel a mix of anger and pain.
He realized that this man mattered more to Catriona than any of the previous ones. She was usually so guarded, yet she invited him over for dinner.
They had no blood relation, so he wasn't her family members.
Human emotions were too complex. Roderick was not purely human; he inevitably hit walls and took detours in these matters.
The night grew deeper.
It was Cedric's first time sleeping away from his mother, and he was not accustomed to it. However, the weariness of his growing body overcame him, and he soon fell asleep.
Catriona, too, felt the oddity of the first night without her son by her side. She got up quietly and opened the door to check on the two little ones. Seeing that everything was fine, she returned to her room, but it took a long time before she finally drifted off to sleep.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on the woman's fair, delicate face.
Roderick stood at the bedside, staring at her, though he didn't know for how long.
He reached out and gently brushed the long hair from her face, his expression focused, his heart filled with complicated emotions.
He had never felt so helpless.
With Catriona, everything about him felt powerless.
This timid woman hiding behind the door, the one whose head were harder than stone—what was he supposed to do with her?
After the impulsive kiss last time, seeing her tears, his heart broke into pieces. As for the door she had closed, he wanted to open it with the gentlest touch. She had already been hurt so much; the last thing he wanted was to hurt her more.
What was he supposed to do with her?
He just wanted to empty out the softest part of himself and give it to her.
He wanted to give her his gentlest, warmest part.
But she didn't want it.
She wouldn't firmly choose him.
He was dispensable; he didn't matter.
And he deserved it.
This was the price of falling for someone he once hated.
If only time could rewind, he would shed his damned prejudices and arrogance, not mock her coldly. If he could go back, he wouldn't let her suffer even a fraction of hurt.
...
Catriona gradually realized something: the little werewolf cub coming to her home was visibly growing day by day. She remembered that on the first day, it hadn't even been taller than her son.
Later, it surpassed her son in height and was still growing.
She felt... a bit perplexed. Did wolf cubs really grow this quickly?
After Little Nightblade had been at her house for a week, he was as tall as a middle school student.
"Is this a four-year-old child???"
He was eating more and more, but this child truly didn't like to smile; he often stood alone, staring at her.
Occasionally, she would see something hollow and icy in his big eyes, something quite sad. She felt that the werewolf cub seemed unhappy.
She had tried to cheer him up, but Little Nightblade's eyes only seemed emptier.
That day, they were headed to a large supermarket to buy fresh beef.
For some reason, her eyelids were twitching; maybe she hadn't slept well last night? She reassured herself.
Arriving at the towering supermarket, she admired its grandeur but felt an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Catriona shook her head, realizing she really hadn't rested well.
The produce section was deep on the first floor; she had to walk straight inside to reach it.
Just as she reached the depths and was selecting beef, she suddenly noticed Little Nightblade's face change dramatically. He reached out to pull her, and soon, Cedric seemed to sense something too, his eyes widening. "Mommy! Hurry up!"
Both the father and son ran toward her.
At the same time, the fish and shrimp in the nearby seafood display began to thrash violently.
Catriona felt her body sway, hearing someone shout, "Earthquake!" Everyone began screaming and frantically rushing toward the exits.
People jostled each other.
The items on the supermarket shelf were knocked over, scattering across the floor, and the scene quickly descended into chaos.
Catriona hurriedly shouted, "Little one! Hold onto Mom's hand!"
"Little Nightblade, I—" Her words came to a sudden halt.
Because Little Nightblade had picked her up, even though he was still shorter than her.
"Jump! How did I teach you before?" Little Nightblade said sternly, looking at the cub.
Then Catriona felt a flash before her eyes; she was being jumped over shelves by Little Nightblade. She looked down and saw only a sea of dark heads.
She didn't have time to think about how Little Nightblade could lift her; her focus was entirely on her son.
"Cedric!" She broke out in a cold sweat, glancing back at her son, so small yet agilely following behind them.
At this moment, they couldn't care less about how others perceived them, and, of course, no one was paying attention.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of cracking and crashing filled the air.
Things began to fall continuously.
Catriona had never been this close to an earthquake before. Her heart was tightly clenched, and she kept turning back to check on her son. She couldn't stop the tears from falling, especially when she saw him narrowly avoiding the falling debris—it filled her with dread and fear.
"You... you take care of our son first," she choked out.
What more was there to understand?
She had only ever been held and jumped around like this by that werewolf.
Only that werewolf would rush to her, protecting her in his arms, shielding her from anything that might fall.
The one holding her, though shorter than her, held her steadily and firmly.
That familiar sense of security.
Who else could it be but him?
As soon as her words left her mouth,
the person holding her stiffened slightly.
Catriona almost broke down, crying out, "If anything happens to our son, I won't be able to live! You should take care of him; he's still so young. I'm fine; just put me down."
Roderick frowned deeply, remaining silent and not following her request.
His cub could keep up; he knew how capable the little one was.
But the earthquake came too quickly and too unexpectedly.
In the crowd, the cries of children and women echoed, while people continued to trip, fall, and get crushed, buried beneath the wreckage. Dust and debris filled the air, leaving everyone in a disheveled state.
The faintest glimpse of daylight was just ahead; their family of three was about to escape.
Boom—
The building finally could hold on no longer. In the last few seconds, Roderick transformed in agony, becoming a massive wolf. Catriona had no idea what he was doing.
He grabbed the cub that had followed him and forcefully tossed it out of the supermarket's entrance.
The werewolf's strength was no joke; Cedric was thrown into a flower bed some distance away from the supermarket.
"Mommy!!" Cedric shouted in disbelief.
Catriona felt a huge sense of relief; no matter what awaited her next, she felt she had nothing to fear.
She clutched the giant wolf's fur, hugging him tightly.
Amid the chaos, she spoke in broken fragments, "Your... family... will take care of him, right, Roderick..."
It seemed certain she would die.
Catriona didn't have time to think much; her emotions were heavy and complex, but she wasn't really afraid.
But he was there.
"Roar!" The giant wolf let out a roar, grabbing her and leaping upward. Objects continuously rained down on him, but it seemed as if he didn't feel any pain. With the final deafening crash, Catriona was shielded by his soft fur, her consciousness slipping away as she was swallowed by the darkness.
She dreamed.
In the dream, she lay in a soft blanket, feeling warm and comfortable.
Suddenly, it started to rain, droplets pattering on her face, and she frowned, feeling annoyed.
he reached up to wipe the raindrops from her face, only to find her hand covered in red.
"Ah!" Catriona gasped, suddenly opening her eyes.
Opening her eyes, she found only darkness.
She was trapped in a narrow space, surrounded by soft fur, with the heavy breaths of a beast above her, warm droplets falling onto her face.
Catriona trembled. "Roderick...?"
She tried to move, finding only one arm responsive. Slowly, she reached up, and indeed, she felt the enormous wolf's head and snout.
"Roar..."
The moist, warm sensation came from his tongue; he was licking her.
"How... are you?" In the darkness, Catriona felt the liquid on her face being licked away by his big tongue.
More liquid dripped down.
Her trembling fingertips touched the massive wolf's mouth, the furry, damp edge where liquid, like droplets of water, continuously dripped down onto her face.
The metallic scent was overwhelming.
Catriona shut her eyes tightly, feeling pain with every breath.
Roderick was dripping blood—not flowing, but dripping down.
In this situation, they had no idea where they were buried or when rescue would come.
If he ignored her, she believed Roderick could find a way out.
Suddenly, a vast emptiness filled Catriona's heart as she touched the giant wolf's furry face. "Is it worth it?"
"For... someone like me..."
She knew best how unimportant she was.
"Those... my blood relatives see me as a burden. I'm like a hot potato..." Her eyelashes trembled, silent tears falling, but they were licked away by a large tongue.
This time, the tears didn't fall uselessly on the ground like before.
Catriona seemed to freeze suddenly.
Then, tears flowed down uncontrollably as she asked, almost breaking down, "Why! Why are you doing this... how can you... care for me like this..."
"I've clearly... clearly gotten used to it."
"I've always been... the least important person," Catriona choked through her sobs, her tears tenderly licked away by his tongue.
This made her feel even more... wronged.
She cries only when someone loved her.
She felt wronged only when someone cared for her.
Otherwise, no matter how loudly she cried, others just found it annoying.
It seemed too much had happened in a short time, too much to accept, and Catriona was swept away by her complex and heavy emotions.
She clearly didn't want to accept it; she clearly wanted to distance herself.
She didn't want to follow this romantic path.
This person... this werewolf insisted on holding on, treating her as someone important, insisting on loving her fiercely.
"Is it worth it? You have such a harmonious and warm family, you're the boss of a big company, you have so many werewolves following you."
"Roderick, for me, you might die here." Catriona cried and laughed, her voice laced with a sarcastic tone. She felt that everything was both painful and pitiful, yet at the same time... unjust and belatedly happy.
She was just this complex, contradictory person, impossible to explain.
Perhaps, that's what people are—complicated and full of contradictions.
"Roar..." The giant wolf licked her tears, as if answering, soothing her, accepting all of her.
Catriona unexpectedly felt an unprecedented sense of peace.
If she were to die here this time.
What else did she have to worry about?
The cub had his family; despite her reluctance, she felt reassured.
The stupid, ugly, bleeding giant wolf in front of her had created a small, safe world for her.
If this were the end...
Catriona closed her eyes, tilted her chin up, and pressed a kiss to the giant wolf's mouth.
The giant wolf froze.
She smiled softly, murmuring, "Thank you."
"I'm sorry."
