Draven had descended the mountain when he was just a teenager, and after so many years in the human world, he had accumulated a bit of wealth. He owned several properties, though none of them were ever lived in. He preferred staying at the Luna Palace with his pack.
Except for one apartment, which he visited every month. It had once been the home he shared with his human mate. That place still held traces of their life together—her clothes, her used cups, her hair ties, expired skincare products...
It was as if Draven was torturing himself, unable to part with those remnants of the past. He visited every month.
But as time passed, the scent of her clothes faded more and more.
It felt like he was going to lose her completely, forever.
He had just left that house and unexpectedly saw Grey on the road.
This guy, walking around in the human world with his big ears, tail, and swaggering like that—was he courting death?
However, Draven thought to himself and found it a bit amusing. Who was he to criticize Grey?
Hadn't he done such foolish things too? Even more foolish things...
He took Grey to his house.
"This is a small house I bought when I first came down the mountain," Draven said as he walked. "It doesn't have an elevator, and it's on the thirteenth floor. Humans are superstitious, always saying the thirteenth floor is unlucky, but to me, it's all the same."
Grey lowered his head, his face dark with silence.
Seeing this, Draven sighed. "Kid, you can stay as long as you want."
Grey remained silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you."
After more than ten minutes, they arrived.
The building of this apartment was somewhat old.
The two-bedroom apartment was sparsely furnished, but Grey didn't mind. Right now, he could even sleep on the floor if needed.
There were only a few items in the room, all of which could be counted on one hand: a table, a bed, and in the corner, a box of beer covered in dust.
Grey looked at the box of beer, remained silent for a while, then walked straight toward it.
"What, you want to drink?" Draven asked. "What's the use? Once you start, you can't stop. Don't drink."
Coming from a man who never went a day without drinking, Grey gave a wry smile, a bit mocking.
But Grey didn't stop. He had already taken out a bottle of beer.
Draven looked at him and asked, "Does that girl like the smell of alcohol?"
Grey paused.
Draven continued, "So what if you were kicked out? As long as she's alive, there's hope. Don't make it sound like the end of the world."
Grey clenched the beer bottle. "She has a mate now."
Draven didn't care. He shrugged and said casually, "So what? Humans aren't like us. They don't stick with just one partner for life. They've got plenty of changes, just wait and see."
Grey froze for a moment, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
He seemed to have forgotten that Eulalia was human, not a werewolf. She had a mate now, but they had only just met. It couldn't even be called love, let alone affection.
If it wasn't right, she wouldn't settle.
Then... she would be single again.
So, he still had hope?
Grey's eyes widened in realization, as if he had been hit with a surprise.
Seeing the young werewolf's stunned realization, Draven shook his head and asked, "You still have the card Alpha Roderick gave you, right?"
Grey nodded.
"Good, I'll take you to see some houses tomorrow." Draven said with the tone of someone with experience. "You don't know how to drive, right? Go get your license too."
"Since you're pursuing a mate, take it seriously. If you have nothing, are you going to have your wife follow you and eat dirt?"
Grey thought for a moment, then nodded seriously.
Draven recalled his own past. Back then, he also had a mate, and he was so happy—finding a house, buying furniture, moving things around, setting up their little home, as though he could never get tired. He even smiled in his sleep...
She was a delicate young lady who had never lifted a finger, with impeccable manners, gentle and polite to everyone, frail and pale, so pitifully endearing. He couldn't bear to let her do any work at all.
She would just sit quietly on the sofa, watching him work with a gentle smile, and he would feel like he was floating with happiness.
As he thought about those days, Draven's hand trembled slightly. He took a drag of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled...
"How did that girl suddenly get a mate?"
Grey lowered his gaze, looking a bit sad. "She went on a blind date."
Draven furrowed his brow and scolded, "You're living under the same roof, and they say the closest ones always have the first opportunity. How could you give her a chance to go on blind dates?"
Grey pressed his lips tight, deeply resenting himself inwardly. "I didn't understand back then... it was just... love."
"You didn't even know if you liked her or not?" Draven gave up, exasperated. "Are you little werewolves all idiots? You let them slip away right under your nose. Silly!"
Grey listened to his scolding, then after a while, spoke quietly, "What if... she likes the person from the blind date?"
"All done!" Draven scoffed.
Grey fell silent again, feeling somewhat down.
Draven couldn't stand it and grumbled, "Why think so much? Just do what you need to do first."
"You can't even drive. When your cubs go to kindergarten, will you run with your four legs and carry them to school?"
Grey seemed touched by his words. He touched his nose, his ears turning red as the corners of his lips secretly curled into a smile.
Their cubs...
They would definitely be like her, round and adorable.
Cubs...
His and Eulalia's pups...
It was too blissful. Just thinking about it made Grey feel lightheaded, his mind swimming with happiness.
He clenched his fist. "I'll seriously learn to drive, buy a car."
He began to like Draven more and more. He never knew that the man, who only drank heavily and went wild, could be this smart and so eloquent.
That night, Grey had a dream.
In the dream,
Eulalia was holding a cute, round little cub, the cub making soft, milk-filled whimpers. She wore the necklace he had carved for her around her neck.
She smelled entirely of him.
In the dream, he had forgotten to buy something, and she pouted, playfully complaining, "Grey! Hurry up and buy it for me, or don't come through the door!"
When Grey woke up, his eyes were curved into soft smiles.
Then he saw an unfamiliar ceiling and an empty room.
"..."
In an instant, the dream ended.
