"Remember... what you said—stay alive, and be together."
After saying these words, Roderick could no longer hold on. He fainted.
His long, bloodstained hand lingered at the corner of her eye.
Catriona trembled as she held his hand. "Okay."
She gently nuzzled Roderick's hand with her face, her eyes soft with a tender smile, filled with a quiet longing. As tears slipped down, she whispered, "Alright, let's be together."
The Nightblade's family hospital.
Founded by Roderick's grandmother in her youth, this was where injured werewolves would come for treatment after coming down from the mountains, with both werewolf and human doctors available.
Draven had contacted the hospital in advance. When the young and handsome werewolf doctor, whose eyes bore the weight of time, saw the young heir of the Nightblade, he calmly remarked, "His arms and legs are completely broken. His spine... well, it's broken too."
The werewolves all widened their eyes in shock.
Catriona, supported by Ruby, swayed upon hearing those words. Darkness swept over her vision, and she fainted, collapsing in a sudden swoon.
"Catriona!!"
"Ah! Catriona!!"
"Is this his human mate? She's fine," the werewolf doctor glanced at Catriona, then said nothing more as he and the nurse entered the operating room.
Catriona was also taken for treatment.
"Alpha Roderick... he's badly injured..." Black scratched his head, his expression grave.
"Isn't Alpha Roderick supposed to be a cub? Why is his pure wolf form an adult?"
"The problem lies here; otherwise, it's impossible for him to be this injured. Our werewolf bones are very strong."
"Is that even a question? How could a half-grown cub save Catriona?"
"It must be that Alpha Roderick..."
Draven leaned against the wall, listening to the young ones speak, his scarred but handsome face showing little emotion.
Werewolf bones don't break easily, especially since Roderick had not just broken his arms and legs but his spine as well...
This was the result of a half-grown young wolf forcing himself to shift into an adult form at the last moment, to protect Catriona completely beneath him... the pain of broken bones was unimaginable.
Draven closed his eyes, reflecting on how werewolves in love with their mates were all the same.
Before long, Roderick's family arrived as well.
Angelina, holding a sleeping little wolf cub, frowned slightly. After glancing at the brightly lit operating room and catching a whiff of the sterile scent, she headed straight to the patient room.
Catriona lay in the hospital bed, still unconscious.
Angelina placed the little wolf cub beside her, letting out a soft sigh.
She thought about how she never expected an incident with her own brother, Roderick, the second son, whom the family had never worried about in terms of ability.
They even worried he might bully others.
He had relied on his abnormal size to gain the loyalty of the pack, easily winning first place in the hunting competition on the snowy mountains back then. Now he was lying here.
Tsk, still just a young child, after all.
"Rory... ah, it's good that he's fine," came Madam Nightblade's voice from behind.
The beautiful blonde woman stepped forward, adjusting Catriona's collar and gently touching her forehead, whispering, "... My little Rory has grown up; he's done well to protect his mate and his cub."
At that moment, Catriona, pale and frowning, shook her head as if having a nightmare, murmuring, "No... no... Roderick!!" She suddenly shouted and opened her eyes wide.
"Ah, you're awake?" Angelina turned to look at her.
Catriona gasped for breath, her face pale, her eyes wide, still a bit dazed.
"Ange... Angelina..." She moved slightly, ready to get out of bed. "How is Roderick...?"
Angelina looked surprised. "Oh? You actually care about him?"
Catriona was about to respond when she suddenly noticed a black cub beside her, her eyes lighting up. "Sweetie!"
