At first, Alisa had intended to ignore Marvin in the garden. After all, he was always idle, and his presence was rather irritating. However, Marvin’s tail had a mind of its own, swaying back and forth while his master lay quietly. The fluffy tail drew her attention.
She initially squatted to play with Marvin’s tail. It was far more obedient in her hands than its owner. It willingly let her pet and squeeze it. She had petted a colleague’s Golden Retriever before, and its soft, fluffy fur made it feel like holding a warm stove. She used to want a big dog to cuddle with during the winter. But that dream had been shelved due to the busyness of her work at the hospital. Now, she had the chance to touch something soft and cuddly again, and it lifted her mood.
After petting it for a while, Marvin’s owner remained unresponsive. Alisa couldn’t help but reach out and pat the wolf’s head. She was slightly apprehensive, as this was her first time touching a wolf’s head. However, the wolf remained unfazed.
So she called out, “Hey.”
Marvin responded as if chasing away a bee, making her feel like she was bothering a small dog left out in the rain at a pet hospital. She wasn’t sure why her mind made that connection, but Marvin had been lying lifelessly in the garden lately, even opening only half an eye when someone passed by. This discovery intrigued Alisa.
Marvin had no desire to engage with Alisa. Unfortunately, his own unruly tail became compliant in this woman’s hand. Normally, he couldn’t even control his own tail. Now he had to glare at Alisa and hope she would release his tail willingly. “Why are you grabbing my tail?”
Alisa lazily played with the tail’s fur. “I should say your tail really likes me. Look how docile it is in my hands. Unlike you, it’s not wagging while you’re asleep.”
She continued, “I’ve touched a colleague’s Golden Retriever before. It had soft fur all over, like holding a warm stove. It even rubbed against you as if you were a heater. I really wanted to have a big dog to cuddle with during the winter. But this wish was put on hold because my work at the hospital got too busy. Now I can finally touch something so soft and fluffy again, and it’s improved my mood.”
After playing for a while, the tail’s owner remained completely still. She couldn’t resist patting him on the head. As she did, she felt a bit nervous as it was her first time touching a wolf’s head. But the wolf remained unresponsive. So she called out, “Hey.”
Marvin responded as if chasing away a bee, making her feel like she was bothering a small dog left out in the rain at a pet hospital. She wasn’t sure why her mind made that connection, but Marvin had been lying lifelessly in the garden lately, even opening only half an eye when someone passed by. This discovery intrigued Alisa.
Marvin had no desire to engage with Alisa. Unfortunately, his own unruly tail became compliant in this woman’s hand. Normally, he couldn’t even control his own tail. Now he had to glare at Alisa and hope she would release his tail willingly. “Why are you grabbing my tail?”
Alisa lazily played with the tail’s fur. “I should say your tail really likes me. Look how docile it is in my hands. Unlike you, it’s not wagging while you’re asleep.”
Marvin knew she had come over for a reason, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips. “You’re quite the sister-lover, aren’t you? What, can’t you survive without Maggie?”
Alisa didn’t react with the anger he expected. She didn’t hide her possessiveness when it came to Maggie. “Without her, I’d lose my emotional anchor. But for the foreseeable future, my emotional anchor will still be with me. On the other hand, you, looking like a lost soul every day. What, can’t you survive without love?”
Marvin found it utterly boring how he had turned a knife meant for others back on himself. Without his beloved by his side, without his brother’s care, he was even slapped by an enemy passing by. This world was truly dull.
“It’s none of your business. You wouldn’t understand the bond between Grace and me,” Marvin snapped.
“Oh,” Alisa replied with a knowing look, “then why don’t you go find her? If your connection is that strong, you should be able to overcome any difficulties and bring her back, right?”
Marvin felt like his tail had been stepped on, and he shouted with frustration, “You, foolish woman, wouldn’t understand at all! It’s not something I can just do!”
His emotions flared up, causing the passing servants to halt their steps. Elizabeth rushed over, asking, “Is there anything I can assist you both with?”
Alisa had no reaction to being startled and even joked, “I don’t need any help. But you could maybe give this gentleman a sedative and let him have a good rest.”
Marvin restrained himself from charging at her, tearing her apart, and leaving her lifeless on the ground. If only her gaze had magical powers, he thought, Alisa would die a thousand times.
Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, it was best that everything was fine. Otherwise, she would have to clean up after these two in addition to taking care of Luna every day, which would significantly increase her workload. “Miss Alisa always loves to joke. If you need anything, you can always find me in Miss Maggie’s room.”
As Alisa watched Elizabeth walk away, she contemplated, “I heard she used to be a slave.”
“It’s quite common. Wandering homeless werewolves can be bought and sold. If they don’t have a buyer, they become stray wolves, much like those in human society who lack any citizenship and can be attacked at any time.”
“Seems like you folks still hold on to that value system of slavery.”
“I don’t see a problem with it.”
Alisa shrugged, “See, that’s why I don’t trust you. Besides the wild instincts in your genes, your values are equally outdated. You divide the werewolves into different classes, with the highest-ranking folks in power, and the lowest-ranking werewolves being bought and sold at will, subjected to hard labor, whipping, and humiliation, just to satisfy the unjust desires of the nobles, barely able to catch a breath. Human society took thousands of years to break free from the bonds of slavery, to acknowledge the value of being human, rather than being valued solely based on nobility. But as the werewolves evolve, what do you have besides lifespan and strength? If you’re the highest evolved beings, why do you still harm your own kind?”
Marvin was rendered speechless.
“I don’t know…” He had forgotten that he had wanted to kill Alisa a moment ago and explained, “Slavery is currently the most suitable model for werewolf society.”
The smirk on Alisa’s lips widened, “So that contradicts what you’ve been saying. Werewolves don’t belong to a higher evolved species. You’re still beholden to base desires, merely acting for procreation and territorial expansion.”
Marvin’s gaze held a hint of confusion. Alisa seemed to be correct. Human society had completely moved away from tribal living and operated as a nation, not merely as a group. They had a more massive population base, yet werewolf society still adhered to the tribe’s ways of operation. They prioritized food and territory, disregarding spiritual values.
Humans could freely choose their loved ones, based on value judgments of appearance aesthetics or simply hormonal attraction, even getting divorced after marriage. Werewolves couldn’t do that; they had to obey the guidance of the Moon Goddess, with only her able to point them in the right direction. They couldn’t just love whomever they wanted.
“If a race can only rely on divine guidance and not on its ability to discern its own path, then extinction is only a matter of time.”