Catriona had graduated from university.
The repetitive life turned out to be more lively and interesting than she had imagined. She made new friends, and when the sunlight bathed her, walking with her classmates to the library, it felt as though she had regained the time she once lost.
But she didn't stay in a dormitory; she had a big one and a small one at home.
The little one was clingy enough, but even the big one was clingy.
At the school gate.
"Catriona, does your husband control you that much? We've really left school now. Aren't we going to sing or play together?"
"Yeah, we're girls, we won't do anything to you. Though we are a bit tempted by your good looks, well~"
The speakers were two girls, one taller at 5.2 feet, the other shorter at 5.4 feet, both dressed very cutely.
They all knew that Catriona was married and had a cute, handsome son, though none of them had met her husband. Still, they could sense that he was a man with a strong sense of possessiveness. Every day, once the class was over, he would come to pick her up and take her home.
Whenever Catriona was eating in the cafeteria, she'd receive a call from her husband.
Most of the time, her husband would ask her to go out for a meal.
It was as if he feared that Catriona would be stolen away by another man if she had too much free time.
But they understood. Sometimes, when they looked at Catriona's perfect, beautiful face, they couldn't help but marvel at how someone could be so naturally stunning. There was a famous campus beauty at their school, but to them, they felt that Catriona was even more beautiful than her.
However, that campus beauty was very active on social media, constantly curating her image. Catriona, on the other hand, kept a low profile. She dressed simply, often wearing a baseball cap and sometimes a mask, avoiding any public events, and never joined in on social gatherings. She stayed away from anything that might draw attention to her.
They all knew that Catriona wore a mask to avoid being approached or confessed to.
Not long after returning to school, Catriona discovered that her photos were frequently posted on the confession wall, and some boys even approached her in person to confess.
She found it a bit troublesome and thought that wearing a mask would make her even more inconspicuous.
When she mentioned that she had a child who was a few years old, no one believed her. They thought she was just making up an excuse to reject them.
No matter what they thought, Catriona didn't care. At home, the wolf—her partner—had an incredibly sharp nose. He wanted her to finish her studies, but at the same time, he couldn't help but fear that she might fall for someone else. One moment, he'd be jealous, the next, he'd be throwing sarcastic remarks.
Catriona thought, well, who told her to marry a werewolf? There was nothing she could do but pamper him.
"Catriona, you refused us in the past, but it's the last day. Please, agree to it now."
A sleek black luxury car slowly pulled over to the side of the road.
The back door opened, and a boy dressed in a black hoodie quickly got out of the car. Beneath his messy black hair, his amber eyes, sharp nose, and fair skin made him look striking, with slightly thin, reddish lips.
The seven-year-old boy had already shed much of his childlike innocence. At 4 feet tall, he was considerably taller than his peers.
"Mommy."
Cedric saw the two girls next to his mom, paused for a moment, then stood at the car door, not approaching them.
"Sweetie!" Catriona turned, saw her son, and said to her classmates, "Alright, I'll go tell my husband."
When she agreed, the two girls were very happy, but their eyes had already moved past Catriona's back, looking toward the boy by the car.
Feels like... he's getting so old.
Did Catriona have a child right after turning eighteen? He looked so handsome, a real model for a heartthrob, someone who'd never turn out ugly.
They stood in place, though curious, they didn't approach. From the open car door, they could faintly see a man dressed in black dress pants, his long legs crossed.
That was... Catriona's husband, right?
They watched as Catriona stood by the car, said a few words to the person inside, then ruffled the boy's hair and waved goodbye.
The boy glanced over in their direction, his gaze slightly distant. He gave them a nod before turning and getting back into the car.
The car drove off.
The two girls walked over and exclaimed, "Catriona, your son is so handsome!!"
Catriona jokingly curled her lips. "Good thing you didn't say that in front of him."
"Why?"
"He'd float up to the sky."
"Well, definitely a mom's comment."
The three of them had dinner, reminisced about their university days, shared some funny stories, then headed to sing.
Catriona marked the end of her university life with a smile, feeling great.
Her classmate held the microphone, singing a somewhat melancholic song. After all, life was entering a new chapter, with both anticipation and uncertainty about the future.
Roderick had asked her not to drink, and she had agreed.
But as the song played in the private room, her emotions were stirred.
Staring at the flickering lights in the private room, she took a sip of her drink, her thoughts drifting far away. Her grandmother had always believed that graduating and becoming a teacher was the best job she could have.
But Catriona thought, she wouldn't follow the path her grandmother hoped for her.
She would still open a flower shop and do other things.
Her grandmother would understand, wouldn't she? Catriona was happy now, and her grandmother would be happy for her too.
"If only Grandma were alive..."
Catriona leaned back on the couch, her gaze fixed on the ceiling of the private room, which resembled a starry sky. Now, Grandma would never be there to watch the stars with her anymore.
College graduation, completing her studies.
It was something she could finally report back to Grandma, something to reassure herself.
But Grandma wouldn't be there to watch the stars with her again.
In that instant, Catriona realized that what she had completed wasn't just her studies. She had wanted to repair the old version of herself, to feel closer to Grandma, to feel like she was near her again in some way.
But now, she was no longer the one left behind.
Now, she had someone to watch the stars with.
Now, she had the dearest family by her side.
With this thought, Catriona suddenly stood up. She hadn't drunk much, her mind still clear. After chatting with her classmates and bidding them farewell, she hurried back.
Her steps grew faster and faster.
At the gate, the night wind blew.
Under the tree, the man stood in a black coat, tall and noble, his presence like an aristocrat. She wasn't sure how long he had been waiting.
Catriona smiled, her steps growing faster as she ran toward him.
The night wind tousled her hair, and her eyes curved in joy as she ran toward her star.
Roderick opened his arms and enveloped his wife in a warm hug, accompanied by... the scent of alcohol.
"Did you drink?"
"Mm, I did."
Catriona leaned into his embrace, letting go of all her tension, her voice soft. "Honey, I love you."
Roderick froze for a moment, lowering his gaze.
Catriona wasn't someone who frequently expressed such words. He greedily asked, "Say it again?"
"Honey, I love you."
"Say it again."
In a good mood, Catriona indulged him, "Honey, I love you. You are the brightest star..."
Joy flickered in Roderick's eyes.
He pinched her chin and kissed her.
Back home.
Catriona suddenly pushed away her husband, who had just been showering her with affection, and began calling for her child.
"Sweetheart, Mommy's home."
Roderick, pushed aside, stared blankly: "..."
This woman...
Cedric was in the living room, bored, watching TV. He hugged Catriona's waist and called, "Mommy."
He had grown so quickly that Catriona no longer picked him up like she used to.
"Mommy drank, you need to have some hangover soup," he said, concerned.
"No need, I only had a little," Catriona replied, ruffling her son's hair, her motherly love overflowing. "I graduated, so I can now pick you up from school. You're the only student in our family now."
Naturally, Cedric was happy to be picked up by his mother.
Going to school with Dad, the car is always dry and quiet. Mom is like a beautiful flower—bright, fragrant, and full of life. As for Dad? He's like the dark soil, always dressed in that black suit, making him seem even more so.
"Sweetheart, you're Mommy's little treasure, you're the cutest."
Cedric glanced at his father walking over and sitting opposite. He smiled sweetly and said, "Mommy is my big treasure, too."
"Who does Mommy love the most?" He blinked his big eyes, looking up at Catriona with a slight upward curve of his lips, a look that was both cool and cute.
Catriona smiled, "Of course, I love my little treasure the most, my sweet little cotton."
Cedric nodded, then glanced at his father across from him.
What a scene of motherly love and filial piety.
—
—
And then, nightfall.
Catriona's smile faded...
"Tell me, who do you love the most?" The man's voice was low and husky in her ear.
Catriona gave up!
Living with these two werewolves, one big and one small, she could never let her guard down!!
—
—
It was a sunny day, July 21st, the Werewolf Reunion Day.
On this day, werewolves gather with their friends, share meals, drink, and strengthen their bonds.
In the Prairie.
Catriona's family, Eulalia's family, Draven's family, Sapphire's family, and Ruby and his assistant Arden were all there. They were already married, and Ruby was four months pregnant.
The single werewolves from Luna Palace had all come, and they were running wildly across the vast, free prairie in a competition.
Eulalia's two little cubs were two years old. After laying down a thick blanket on the floor, the two cubs sat on it, hugging their bottles and drinking with little "glug-glug" sounds, their chubby faces trembling with each sip.
Sapphire and Magnus had also held their wedding, and their cub was over three years old, a little sister.
Draven and Anatalia's cub was one year old, a little brother.
With so many cubs around, the air smelled milky, and the howls were full of sweetness.
Cedric was the oldest cub among them. It was said that cubs loved other cubs, and the other cubs crawled toward him, drawn to him.
Sapphire's cub was over three years old, smart and outgoing. She tugged at Cedric's clothes and said, "Can you jump like this? Look at me! I can jump so high!"
Cedric gave a soft "oh," his tone flat and without much fluctuation, as he said, "Impressive."
"Awoo—"
"Awoo?"
"Awoo..."
Catriona crouched on the carpet, extending her hands to the twins. "Come, do you want a hug?"
The two cubs, holding milk bottles, silently turned and gave her a small back view.
"Eh, why?"
Grey kept an eye on the cubs, uninterested in the bustle around him. His world was just this small patch—watching his mate and taking care of the cubs.
When Catriona asked, he stared at Alpha Roderick for a second, hesitated, then explained, "You carry a strong... Alpha Roderick's scent."
Roderick's scent was powerful and domineering. Werewolves could distinguish each other's strength from their scent, and the cubs didn't like the unfamiliar, forceful scent—they instinctively feared it.
Catriona gritted her teeth and turned around. "Roderick!"
"Didn't I tell you to tone it down? You're taking advantage of the fact that I can't smell anything, aren't you?"
Roderick cleared his throat and gently pulled her waist to soothe her, "It's much less now."
Eulalia chuckled and took off her jacket. "Here, wear this."
Catriona took it and put it on, then reached out her hands, finally holding the soft little bundle.
"Ah, so cute! You've raised them so well."
Eulalia laughed. "Actually, Grey has raised the cubs a bit more."
Catriona praised, "So, despite Grey being young, he's really reliable and capable when it comes to caring for the cubs."
Roderick glanced at Cedric next to him but couldn't speak. After all, he wasn't around when this cub was two years old.
Catriona went to pick up Draven's cub, who was only one year old. He clutched his toy car tightly and didn't let go. After a brief hesitation, he finally reached out his small hand, allowing Catriona to hold him.
"Do you know me?"
"Aw, aw..."
"You do?"
Catriona's phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Aveline. She answered, and on the other end was the voice of a young girl, around eight or nine years old. "Aunt Catriona, Mom is asking if you want to come to our house for dinner tonight."
Catriona immediately agreed.
"Iona, where's your mom?... Alright, you're such a good girl. We'll see you tonight."
The child who was once mildly autistic, quiet, and disliked by their family, had now grown into a sensible and well-behaved young one. It wasn't the child who was abnormal—it was the family that was.
As soon as she hung up the phone, she felt her son behind her.
Cedric picked a flower from the grass and placed it in Catriona's hair.
"Mommy, it looks good on you."
"You're so thoughtful, sweetie."
Roderick hadn't moved yet, when a cub crawled towards him, pressing its small hand on his knee.
About two years old, gray and white—wasn't this from Grey's family? Named Iris?
"Aw, aw..." Iris held up the milk bottle and offered it to him.
Roderick frowned slightly. "I don't drink."
"Awoo— Here... you."
Roderick didn't reach out to take it, instead pursing his lips as he stared at the chubby little face.
Grey was busy retrieving milk powder from the box. The cub's bottle was empty, but when he turned around, he saw the cub running over to Alpha Roderick. He froze for a moment, then thought he might be causing trouble for Alpha and was about to go over.
The next second, Roderick reached out and pinched the cub's face. "You're so chubby. How did your father feed you?"
"Aw!!"
Roderick hugged Iris and gently rocked him in his arms, looking down and murmuring, "So this is what two years old looks like..."
He turned his head to look at Cedric, the eight or nine-year-old cub, who was already quite large.
"I was about your size when I met your mom."
"Was mom cute when she was little?" Cedric asked curiously.
"Of course."
Catriona had hugged a few more cubs and was tired. She lay down next to Roderick.
The warm sun was shining brightly, casting its golden rays over the lush green grass where they lay, dressed in colorful clothes, scattered across a large patch of it.
A gentle breeze blew through, bringing with it a sense of calm and peace.
The air was rich with the scent of milk, a soothing fragrance that made everything feel safe and comforting.
Catriona leaned against Roderick, with Cedric beside them. She felt relaxed, at ease, and happy.
Roderick kissed her forehead softly, his voice tender. "Tired? Want to take a nap?"
"Mm." Catriona hummed in response. "When will we return to the snow mountain? It really felt so beautiful there."
She wanted to go with Eulalia, Sylvaine and Anna, surrounded by familiar faces, the lively atmosphere. "Whenever you want to go, it's up to you."
"Mm-hmm, good obedient wolf."
Catriona said teasingly, eyes closed, ready to drift off.
Roderick watched her for a long while, his gaze softening as his eyes curved with a smile.
Nothing was more fulfilling than moving toward the one she love.
What once seemed impossible for two people, now they can't live without each other. Even though they belong to different races, love is something they both understand.
If they can love, then love.
A werewolf has only one mate in their lifetime.
From then on, no one else existed in their eyes or hearts.
Catriona found a mate who would love her forever, never betray her, and accept her awkward personality.
Catriona still remembers.
When she was in elementary school, the teacher asked them: What else could we be besides humans?
Some classmates answered fierce tigers, some said venomous snakes, and some girls said beautiful butterflies.
Catriona answered at the time: She was a dandelion.
A humble, insignificant dandelion, drifting with the current.
Just like her, taken away by one relative, sent off by another, with no voice of her own.
She was a dandelion.
The breeze that swept across her carried her to Roderick's manor.
Roderick was that unreasonable breeze.
