(Timeline: Dozens of fallen werewolves gathered, descending the mountain to invade Luna Palace. The dead perished, and the survivors were imprisoned by the Bureau.)
The next day.
Luna Palace was bustling with activity. Werewolves were installing broken doors and windows, cleaning the courtyard, and bringing in new sofas and stools.
The injured were resting and recuperating.
Everyone worked together, each with their own tasks.
By the fourth day, Luna Palace had returned to its former appearance, as if nothing had ever happened.
Sapphire had sustained only minor injuries, which would heal with some rest. But more than her physical wounds, it was the mental strain that weighed heavily on her.
She had killed a fallen werewolf!!
She had never imagined that one day, she would be capable of killing a fallen werewolf—it was something she wouldn't even dare to think about in the past.
Sapphire was the youngest in her family, with a frail body, and she was the most timid werewolf in her pack.
In the werewolf, there was no concept of weak or submissive; whether male or female, the ones who were smart, fierce, and skilled hunters were the ones who gained favor and admiration.
The strongest ruled the pack.
She has many siblings, and her older sisters became independent early, able to hunt and survive in the wild, living in snow caves outdoors.
Due to her frail constitution, she stayed at home until adulthood, doing what she could, but hunting in the wild was never an option for her.
As her sisters often said, she was the most useless werewolf in the family.
In ancient times, werewolves like her—weak and small—would be abandoned or even eaten by their family when food was scarce and hunger set in.
Her father and mother treated her kindly, never rejecting her, though they occasionally sighed, as if unsure of what would become of her in the future.
One time, she overheard a werewolf returning from the human world, talking excitedly about how wonderful it was, saying the houses built by humans were particularly beautiful, with lights glowing everywhere, and metal boxes that could move on their own.
If she got on one of them, it would just keep running. As long as she earned a kind of paper called money, she could exchange it for food, without needing to hunt tirelessly.
After all, hunting wasn't that easy, and it often led to injuries.
The thought of exchanging paper for meat seemed almost too good to be true.
"I was in this place called city, where there's a werewolf who's an Alpha and the ruler. If we need anything, we can ask him for help. His name is Magnus, and he's a pure gray werewolf—so cool!" The male werewolf in human clothes said, gesturing excitedly.
"I'll stay for half a month before returning. The human world is so much fun! The humans there are all very kind; they won't hurt us. It's such a peaceful place."
"Anyone want to come down the mountain with me? Give me five snowstone necklaces, and I'll take you."
Sapphire thought about it all night after hearing this.
The next day, she took her necklaces and went to find the male werewolf.
She didn't tell her parents directly but left a letter on the day she left, saying she was going down the mountain.
The next three months were very hard.
She followed the male werewolf for three months before finally reaching the human world, struggling to fill her stomach along the way.
Sapphire had once been attacked by fallen werewolves. In the forest, those vile beasts drooled as they approached her, the stench surrounding them.
Her fate would be grim—she had heard stories of werewolves being abused and then eaten.
It was then that Magnus saved her.
He took her back to his large house in the human world, a place filled with many of their kind who, like her, had been saved. They all respected and admired Magnus deeply.
No one needed her.
He rarely returned to the estate, and she saw him only occasionally. There were many others, too, waiting for Magnus to return after handling matters outside.
Every time he returned, they would rush to him, all dressed up. Who wouldn't want to be Magnus's mate? He was so excellent, so strong, living in a big house with human money and business, never needing to hunt. He could buy all the meat he wanted with money.
They would crowd around him, but Magnus would always stand still, greeting them with a calm expression, asking how they were, never asking them to leave.
She didn't dare to rush forward.
She could only stand far away, gazing in that direction.
When he saw her, he would walk toward her, asking if she was adjusting to the human world.
He also said the human city was very safe, with no fallen werewolves, and that she could go out and walk around the streets.
She shook her head.
It was her first time leaving home, and after running for three months to get down the mountain, she had already grown weak. Then, as soon as she descended, she encountered the fallen werewolves. During that time, she was plagued with nightmares, and her health worsened.
Maybe that's why.
Magnus began to take more care of her, often walking toward her to check on her health.
Over time, this began to upset the other werewolves. They subtly and overtly ostracized her, isolating her, and speaking with veiled sarcasm.
"Someone like her, sickly and weak, just wants to rely on her face, playing the pity card, looking for a long-term meal ticket from someone like the Alpha. She can't hunt in the wild, and finding a mate won't be easy. Male werewolves aren't fools to choose a useless mate."
"Our Alpha is different. He's generous, just, and kind. Maybe, seeing how pitiful she is, he'll agree."
...
Sapphire thought back to the past and lowered her gaze.
Once again, Magnus had saved her.
What did she like about Magnus? Did she truly want to rely on him for a life of comfort, like the others?
Sapphire didn't know, she only knew that being with Magnus made her happy. She didn't need to do anything—just watching him was enough. She wanted to live in a house that was just for the two of them, raise a cub, and live a simple life, waking up with the sunrise and resting with the sunset.
It was a simple yet blissful dream.
It didn't have to be in a big house, and it didn't have to be with a lot of money. She didn't need those things; she didn't have those expectations of him.
But perhaps, in Magnus's eyes, she was no different from those other female werewolves who wanted a big house and a life of comfort.
So, she stopped thinking about it.
Magnus was too exceptional, too brilliant. He wasn't someone who could be with a weak, youngest sibling like her. His mate would have to be strong, capable of keeping up with him, fighting by his side to maintain peace.
So, she stopped thinking about it.
This time, she let go with a sense of calm.
Perhaps, it was because she had grown.
She had killed the fallen werewolves and still worked at Catriona's shop, earning her own money.
It seemed that the world wasn't as terrifying as she had once thought.
As long as she had her hands and feet, she could leave Luna Palace and find work to support herself.
Sapphire dressed and went to work at the flower shop.
She worked for a long time but hadn't seen the young, dark brown werewolf in the shop. He was only twenty, seven years younger than her.
"Catriona, where's William?" After two hours of work, she couldn't help but ask.
"He? He got injured, he's at the hospital now." Catriona answered, "If you want to see him, you can go."
"Is he seriously hurt?" Sapphire asked, a little concerned. After all, she had worked with William for a long time and they were familiar with each other. He had always worked hard.
"His leg got bitten off." Catriona, as the boss, thought for a moment, then wrapped a bouquet of flowers and handed it to her. "Go see him, and give him my regards."
So...
Sapphire went to see William.
She bought a roast chicken and carried it with her.
When she arrived, William was lying on the hospital bed, playing a game on his phone.
"William, how are you feeling?" She lowered her gaze, speaking softly as she entered and placed the items on the table.
She usually avoided looking into others' eyes and wasn't good at conversing. She was just that inconspicuous, and she had gotten used to it.
Now, sharing a hospital room with this younger male werewolf, she felt even less adept.
She lowered her gaze and asked in a small voice, "Would you like some roast chicken?"
She remembered something and quickly added, "Oh, Catriona wrapped these flowers herself, they're for you."
The sound of the game stopped.
She felt the gaze on her and grew even more uncomfortable.
"Thank you for coming to see me," a cheerful male voice said. "Yes, I want some, I'm starving."
"Flowers from Catriona, huh? She sent flowers to me? How sweet."
She took out the roast chicken, and William sat up against the bed, eating with relish.
Beneath his chestnut-brown hair was a face with sun-kissed, tanned skin, featuring defined features, thick eyebrows, and large eyes—he looked much like a younger brother from the boy-next-door type.
Sapphire knew that William had done something wrong to Catriona, which is why he was helping out at the shop.
Sapphire thought of him as a young, carefree werewolf who couldn't even manage his own scent. She often smelled his scent on herself, but she didn't mind—it didn't matter to her, since she had no mate.
"Sapphire, thank you so much! You're so kind! You're both capable and gentle!" William said as he enjoyed his meal.
Sapphire lowered her gaze and smiled softly, feeling a little embarrassed. After all, she had never heard such compliments before.
After staying for half an hour, she returned to work at the shop.
She promised to bring another roast chicken to William tomorrow.
But she didn't expect to see that tall figure when she returned to the shop.
He stood with his back to her, hands behind his back, staring in one direction—her work desk, where some cute stickers were stuck.
She took a step and heard Magnus speak, "Do you like Sapphire?"
Sapphire froze.
When he didn't hear a reply, Magnus turned around and saw her. His brows furrowed as he sniffed. "Why you...?" He could smell the strong scent of that male werewolf, to the point where he even mistook it.
"You... need something?" She instinctively lowered her gaze and asked.
Magnus pressed his lips together and said, "How's your health? Why didn't you take more time to rest?"
"I'm fine, thank you."
Sapphire lowered her gaze and walked past him, returning to her position to start wrapping flowers.
As she passed by, Magnus smelled the strong scent again—one that didn't belong to her.
"Don't you smell it? You're covered in that dark brown werewolf's scent," he said, his tone tinged with displeasure.
Sapphire sniffed herself and said, "We work together often, I'm used to it."
"'Used to'... what do you mean by that?" The man's voice suddenly dropped, growing serious.
Sapphire looked up, surprised to see Magnus' face stern. "Is a werewolf's scent something you can just leave around carelessly? He's not some clueless cub!"
She pressed her lips together. "I don't mind."
Magnus fell silent.
Sapphire lowered her gaze, resuming her work. "If there's nothing else, you should get back to what you were doing. No need to come by just for this."
Magnus thought it over, understanding. "Alright, you're on work hours now."
"Call me when you're off work. I have something to say."
He finished speaking, gave her a deep glance, and turned to leave.
However, that afternoon, he didn't receive the call from Sapphire.
