The earthquake in Capital came suddenly, injuring the city.
All the werewolves in Capital dropped everything and voluntarily gathered to help as volunteers, working in the ruins to rescue people until they were drenched in sweat and returned home after dark.
They loved this city, and they cared for the pure humans—these weak, fragile humans who were so easily lost...
It was truly unavoidable.
Grey also joined in, leaving early and returning late each day, working tirelessly and covered in dirt, using all his energy to save others. Their keen hearing and sharp sense of smell made it easy for them to locate buried people.
Like many werewolf families, Eulalia was in charge of Grey's meals. At noon, she carried a large lunch box filled with beef and water.
Under the trees in the park.
Eulalia called out, "Come here, there's no one around; let's eat here."
Grey was dressed in loose jeans and a gray t-shirt, looking dirty all over with gray-white hair covered in dust, sweat running down his sharp features.
He casually wiped his hands, took the water Eulalia offered, and tilted his head back to drink.
Eulalia held a tissue, tiptoeing to naturally wipe his face, frowning slightly. "Look at you, sweating, oh dear, your face is so dirty."
Grey drank his water, bending slightly as he listened to her chatter, allowing her to clean his face.
"This was the last building that collapsed; I hope there are fewer injured," Eulalia said. "But you don't need to come tomorrow, right? You've worked hard these past few days; thank you."
"Mm."
Actually, it was Eulalia who wanted to volunteer at first, but her period came early. At that time, she wasn't in excruciating pain like some girls; she just felt weak all over, with a sore back and discomfort.
Just then, Grey received a call from William, asking if he wanted to join them as volunteers.
Grey had no particular feelings for the pure humans; their affairs were irrelevant to him. But since this chubby woman wanted to go, he might as well join her.
Grey ate his meat in silence.
Eulalia sat beside him, looking at her phone, the atmosphere calm and peaceful.
"Well, it's all over tomorrow, and I won't cook for you anymore. I'm going on a blind date tomorrow," Eulalia said, handing her phone to Grey. "Take a look, this guy's not bad looking, right? I heard he's a team leader at a company."
Grey glanced at the man in the suit on the phone, pursed his lips, and said, "He's ugly."
Then he went back to eating his meat.
"Really? I think he's fine," Eulalia replied, eyeing the photo of the man. He wasn't handsome, but not ugly either, just an average look.
"You have terrible taste," Grey said bluntly.
"Young werewolf, you're still too young," Eulalia said with the tone of an experienced person. "Putting a handsome guy in the house? First of all, I can't find one, and I'm not a rich lady, right? Besides, even if I do find one, I still wouldn't feel at ease."
"He doesn't provoke others, yet people still come after him. Am I ever going to have a peaceful life? I'm just an ordinary person; I just want someone who's good enough."
"To be honest, I have a fear of handsome guys."
She just wanted a stable life; handsome guys were just too much for her. He didn't go looking for trouble, yet trouble found him. Over time, could he really control himself and resist temptation?
Eulalia wasn't a sheltered flower; she saw human nature too clearly. Was she being pessimistic? She didn't think so; she just took things too seriously.
This was a fast-food era where dating apps were everywhere. No one wanted to settle; they just wanted something decent.
She just wanted things simple, simpler still—someone as grounded as she was, not too restless, able to calm down and uninterested in the beautiful temptations of the outside world, an ordinary person who could share a life.
Grey looked deeply at Eulalia without saying a word, continuing to eat his meat, his lowered brow giving nothing away.
This woman had failed at matchmaking so many times; this time would probably be no different.
He wouldn't be surprised.
A dark voice inside him said: Failure is best.
Perhaps it was his selfish thoughts at play; if Eulalia couldn't find a man, it meant he wouldn't become unnecessary.
He didn't want to be superfluous.
He... didn't want to leave her side.
Grey knew all too well that, being homeless, he always sought a place to belong. He once thought Luna Palace was where he could stay, but now he wanted to settle in Eulalia's home.
If he could, he wanted to stay by her side forever without feeling tired of it.
Just like this, he lifted his gaze, watching the woman's hair swaying in the wind, as if it were swinging on a swing. Just like this, he loved this feeling of peace.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In the hospital room.
Since Roderick was injured, Catriona had almost always stayed at the hospital. Luckily, her son was on break and didn't have to go to school.
At night, she and her son stayed in the family room of the hospital.
At noon, her son took a nap.
She sat in front of the hospital bed, holding a book, recounting its contents as per a certain silly wolf's request.
"I want to hear every story you told them in Luna Palace."
Catriona glanced at him, thinking, why didn't you listen back then?
Yet the werewolf continued, "From now on, only tell me stories; don't share with them."
"Because they had no mates."
Catriona: "..."
What, are you getting smug now, Rory?
She couldn't be bothered to reply and opened the storybook, beginning to read.
"Once upon a time, there was a black rabbit. In front of its house was a murky river, and across the river was a lush green meadow. The grass on its side wasn't as abundant, but it wouldn't starve."
She didn't notice Roderick's expression changing strangely.
"No matter who wanted to cross, it would rush out and shout, 'This river is dangerous! It's deadly! You can't cross it!'"
...
"...In the end, the white rabbit ended up with the yellow rabbit."
"Wrong," Roderick said.
"Where's it wrong?" Catriona paused, looking down at the book. "It's not wrong."
Roderick stared at her, his thin lips curling slightly. "The black rabbit ended up with the white rabbit."
"What does this mean?"
Roderick, once in the room, had failed to restrain himself and, unable to resist, eavesdropped on this story.
He was the black rabbit that jumped into the river of love.
