The snow rainbow were rare, and soon, wolf packs emerged from their homes.
From a distance, many little black dots appeared on the white peaks, followed by a chorus of howls.
Catriona bundled up her clothes and took Roderick's hand as they stepped down from the "cruise ship."
The werewolves returning home, hearing their kin's howls, joined in with their own.
"Awoooo!!"
"Awoo—"
"Rooo—"
Catriona couldn't understand their conversation, but Roderick smiled slightly.
Noticing the amusement in his eyes, Catriona quickly asked, "What are you laughing at? What are they saying?"
Before Roderick could respond, Catriona saw wolf packs rushing out from the peaks, some in their human forms and others standing tall with big ears and bushy tails—all four forms were fascinating.
Female werewolves, male werewolves, and cubs.
The sounds of howls, chatter, and footsteps mingled together.
"What? Alpha Roderick has brought his mate and cub back?"
"Awooo! I wondered why there were snow rainbow!"
"Let me see, awoo—let me see, awoo—"
"Awoo—"
Catriona watched as a large group of werewolves ran toward them, feeling a sense of embarrassment as if she were visiting her boyfriend's hometown, surrounded by the village's old and young neighbors.
Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on Roderick's hand and stood up straight.
In a short time, over a hundred werewolves appeared before Catriona's eyes, males and females, old and young.
Most had young faces, with the oldest looking only in their sixties.
They stared at Catriona while howling at Roderick.
"Awooo!"
"Alpha Roderick, your mate is human?"
"Awoo! Awoo! Rooo!"
"Old Nightblade, your grandson brought his mate and cub back!"
"Awooo! The cub is so cute!!"
Some of them, who could speak human words, murmured, "This human is quite pretty."
"I've been to the human world; this one is the pretty type."
Madam Nightblade approached with a smile, taking Catriona's hand gently. "Don't be afraid; they mean no harm."
Turning to the chattering pack, she continued, "Everyone, this is our Alpha's mate, Luna Catriona. She's a beautiful and kind human girl."
Catriona slightly bowed and nodded to the pack. "Hello, everyone."
Roderick's mother, holding the cub, said with a smile, "This is their cub, five years old."
The wolf pack howled, clapping and cheering.
"Awoo, Greet to the new Luna, Catriona."
"Awoo! Welcome back to the snowy mountains."
"Catriona, your name is really beautiful."
"Little cub, you're home now! Awoo!"
"This cub is just like his wolf father when he was young; such a good cub."
Catriona, initially a bit nervous and awkward, slowly relaxed in response to the warm welcome from the pack.
In front of the wolf pack, there were more than a dozen cubs, all full wolf forms. Their tiny paws trod softly on the snow, leaving behind a patchwork of colors—none of them solid in hue. They curiously stared at Cedric.
Cedric, in his human form and held by his grandmother, stared back with his big and clear eyes.
"Good cub, do you want to go play with them?" Madam Nightblade gently stroked Cedric's hair, asking softly.
Cedric scratched his head and turned away. "No, thanks."
Though he said that, as he was carried away by his grandmother, he turned back to look at the cubs.
The cubs glanced at Catriona, then at Cedric, their eyes turning as if pondering something.
Once the sight of the Nightblade disappeared from view,
the cubs suddenly collapsed onto the snow, murmuring softly to each other.
"I saw it, yeah, that's a pure human. So pretty."
"Woof, woof... when I grow up, I'll go down the mountain and find my human mate."
"Hmph, he said he doesn't want to play with us."
"I heard from my father that his father is a huge magic wolf that likes to eat little ones! One bite for each cub!"
"I'm not afraid of his father. Why doesn't he play with us?"
A dozen little wolves chatted as they got up and followed the direction of the Nightblade.
Catriona looped her arm through Roderick's as they descended the snow steps and entered the snow peak forest.
Each forest housed wolf packs, and it was evident that the peaks had been hollowed out. She saw werewolves peeking out from the bottom to the top, some standing by the railings and watching them.
As she passed by the snow peaks, she saw many giant wolf sculptures carved from ice, transparent and ethereal.
And was that an ice slide? She spotted two little ones playing on it.
There was a giant ice tree; when the breeze blew gently, the branches clashed and produced a crisp, melodious sound.
It was like a wind chime made of trees.
Catriona thought about asking if the ice would melt or break, but then she remembered—it was the snow mountain, an everlasting landscape that must be different from the human world.
The snow mountain was truly beautiful.
"Cold?" Roderick asked. "We'll be there soon."
Catriona shook her head. "It's fine, just like winter in Capital. I just need to wear something thick."
However, looking at this breathtaking ice and snow world, if she hadn't eaten the snow crystal, she would probably have collapsed by now...
Finally, they stopped in front of the largest snow peak.
At the gate of the snow-capped mountain, stood a woman with long, straight black hair. She appeared to be no older than fifty, yet the aura she exuded was as tranquil as a lake. Simply by standing there, she brought a sense of calm to the heart.
Catriona was stunned.
Just then, Madam Nightblade called out, "Mother, we're back!"
Roderick held Catriona's hand, took a few steps forward, bent down slightly, and lowered his gaze. "Grandmother, I've brought my mate and cub back."
Catriona opened her mouth, thinking about what to call her, when the woman in front of her smiled and said, "Just call me Grandma, as you pure humans do."
Catriona bowed slightly. "Hello, Grandma." She then took out a delicate box from her pocket. "This is a small token for you since it's our first meeting. Please do accept it."
Grandmother smiled gently and shook her head, her weathered amber eyes twinkling. "This is not our first meeting."
She accepted Catriona's gift, and when Catriona was momentarily stunned, she glanced at Roderick.
"When Rory was a little one, he made a human cub friend."
"During that time, he would sneak out of the house every day with snacks."
"Once, I followed him and met you."
Catriona was truly taken aback. "So many years have passed, and you still remember me?"
Grandmother smiled lightly. "I remember every pure human I've met."
Roderick pressed his lips together for some unknown reason.
Grandmother remembered Catriona, yet he had forgotten...
But back then, it was a choice he made to forget.
"But..." Catriona, still in shock, couldn't understand. "I... I've changed so much that Roderick didn't recognize me. How did you...?"
Grandmother reached out, gently stroking her head. "Child, memories during the early years of werewolf cubs are hazy."
As they age, their memories become clearer.
As long as they've seen someone once, they won't forget.
She waved to Cedric. "Come here, little one, let me see you."
Cedric pressed his lips together, clenched his small fist, and walked over. "Great Grandmother, hello."
Then, his hair was gently ruffled.
"Good boy."
"Come inside, all of you," she said, holding Cedric's hand as they entered the house.
It was then that Catriona saw the interior of the snow peak. The walls were white, as though carved from stone, each layer stacked one upon another, the mountain towering so high...
How many floors could this be?
Every level had a different style of decoration, the furniture simple yet exuding an undeniable elegance.
The items hanging on the walls were unfamiliar to Catriona.
Roderick led Catriona to his room, and she looked out the window, estimating it to be around twelve stories high.
This level had two living rooms and three bedrooms.
To her surprise, there were sofas in the living room, a thin, almost translucent white stone table with snowflake patterns carved into it—quite beautiful.
On the white stone table rested a wooden carving of a giant wolf, a snowstone sculpture of a colossal wolf.
And then...
A starkly out-of-place, cheap-looking pink plastic hairband caught her eye.
Catriona was taken aback.
Slowly, she walked over and picked it up.
"So, you've kept this..."
Roderick pressed his lips together and admitted, "I've lost it a few times."
Catriona looked up at him. "But you still got it back."
Roderick replied, "It's good that I got it back."
Its owner has returned too.
Roderick's eyes darkened as he suddenly swept her up in his arms and walked toward the room.
His beloved mate appeared in his territory, and he felt an inexplicable restlessness and excitement.
Catriona's face flushed.
"It's still daytime!!"
"It doesn't matter," Roderick said as he kissed her, his breath heavy. His tail emerged, wrapping around her flailing hands.
"Mom, Grandma and the others..."
"They won't come up," Roderick said, holding her tightly with a low chuckle.
"Caddy, I'm really happy."
"The owner of the headband is back. The person I searched for everywhere has returned."
With the kiss, Catriona's gaze became hazy.
Newlyweds, their passion like dry tinder, ready to ignite.
The room was filled with ambiguity.
Downstairs.
At the front door, Cedric stood in the snow, watching a group of brightly colored wolf cubs hiding behind a snowdrift.
Frowning, he opened his little legs and marched over.
The group of wolf cubs was still chattering among themselves.
"His mother is a pure human; he probably isn't as strong as us."
"Is he a pure color? Let's see if we can turn him into a pure werewolf. Pure colors look great!"
"Just wait; he's new here and will get bored enough to come and be friends with us."
"So what if his father is powerful?"
"We can't just be friends with anyone."
"Hmph, exactly."
"What are you talking about?" a childish voice suddenly cut in, carrying a chill.
The wolf cubs, huddled together, froze for a moment. Then, their eyes sparkled with excitement, as if they were overwhelmed with joy, and they crowded around. "Wow! You really came out?!"
"Are you a pure color? You must look amazing!"
"Come play with us, okay?"
"I'm six! How old are you?"
Cedric: "..."
These little guys have two faces, too?
