The man in the black leather armor's face clearly flushed red.

Just as he was about to speak, Lia, who had just finished resetting her own bones, rushed over and kicked him straight into the cave ceiling with such force that he got temporarily embedded in the rock.

Then, the little wolf cub turned to me, nuzzling my face with her wet nose. Her golden vertical eyes looked at me pleadingly, "Mommy, Lia's hungry. Need food."

Who could resist that?

I immediately started searching through the cave, squinting carefully to identify the stored food, and excitedly went to prepare dinner for Lia—and for my "husband" hanging from the ceiling.

My cooking skills are no joke.

After I'd stewed a thick pot of soup with the wild pork, tubers, and herbs I found, the father and daughter pair licked the stone pot clean, not a drop of broth left.

When I went to the back of the cave to wash at the water pool, I could overhear their "harmonious" conversation:

"Lia, keeping this woman might not be such a bad idea. She cooks really well."

"But Daddy, tomorrow those corpse witch twins will be back. They'll get mad if they find out we didn't eat their food."

"Call that food? If they've got a problem with it, I'll take care of them first."

"Okay, I'll keep watch."

After washing up, I naturally claimed the deepest, softest pile of hay in the cave—clearly the master bedroom. I peeked out from the fur blanket, watching the dark figure still sitting motionless on the stone bench.

So, I used the sweetest, most considerate voice to show off my wifely skills:

"Dear, do you need me to help you clean your wolf? It looks like you've just been hunting."

I pointed to where I'd been cooking, where there was a large pool of water.

To my surprise, the man actually agreed. He silently walked to the side of the pool and sat down, shifting into his wolf form.

Those watching the trial went wild again:

【What the hell is she talking about?! Offering to clean a vampire-werewolf?!】

【Has this woman been kicked in the head by a rogue?】

【The vampire-wolf's fangs are longer than her thigh!】

【There's blood dripping from its mouth! And chunks of some unknown creature on its teeth!】

Facing the ferocious wolf with terrifying vampire fangs, I felt no fear at all.

In my eyes, he was just a big, fluffy dog.

I happily scooped up warm water and started washing the blood-splattered wolf.

"You know," I said as I worked through the tangled fur, "in my old pack, only family members help clean each other's wolves. It means we're close."

As I gently wet his fur, I unconsciously increased the pressure of my strokes.

I could feel the wolf under my hands tremble slightly, but he didn't resist.

Lia came over, resting her head on my lap. "The other trial runners see his fangs and run," she whispered. "Why aren't you afraid of us?"

I gently scratched her chin, thinking for a moment. "Because we're family now. What's there to be afraid of between family?"

Lia's voice turned low. "We're not what you think we are. What if we're monsters?"

"As long as you don't do anything to hurt me, you're my family. So what if you're monsters? My old pack wasn't monsters, but they abandoned me. You, at least, have given me a home for now."

I started scrubbing his fur, like washing a soft, black blanket.

【She's washing the vampire-werewolf's mane! He hates it when anyone touches his wolf! The last trial candidate who just brushed up against him lost all his teeth and fingers and was thrown into the crocodile pond in the rainforest!】

【What's wrong with this woman? She's even humming! Is she really not afraid at all?】

【That vampire-werewolf is actually closing his eyes in comfort? Can her massage skills be that good?】

"You're in a good mood?" The wolf under my hands spoke.

I finished washing and found a large, dry leaf. As I dried the remaining water from his fur, I said, "This is the first time I've ever had a family. I'm an orphan, and now I have a lovely daughter like Lia and such a strong mate. I'm so happy."

I could've sworn the wolf's temperature rose, like he was getting shy.

After I finished drying the wolf, I leaned my entire body against his smooth, fluffy fur, my voice muffled, "I still don't know your name."

He seemed to think of something unpleasant and quickly shifted back to his tall human form.

"The Werewolf Council stripped me of my name, declaring me a cursed being."

He paused, then added, "Maybe you could give me one. A name that belongs only to you."

After speaking, he turned and left in a huff.

Looking at his retreating figure and his words, I felt a little shy myself.

"Eros," I said. "That's the name I've chosen for you."

"Do as you wish." He was already far away, but I still heard his consenting reply.

By the first night, I was a little hopeful that Eros would sleep with me in the same hay pile. After all, he hadn't refused my request to join this home.

Plus, I kind of missed that the feeling of his strong muscle.

But I miscalculated. By midnight, he still hadn't shown up.

But Lia came. Her small body suddenly appeared in my bedding, her eyes glowing with an eerie light.

A true ghost wolf cub.

Her cold arms wrapped around me. "Mommy, will you wash me like that too?"

"Of course," I hugged her, trying to warm her little body. "Not only will I wash you, but I'll make you pretty little clothes. Dress up our little Lia."

Lia looked at me, puzzled. "Why dress me up?"

"Because our Lia is the most beautiful and lovely little wolf cub, of course?" I answered gently.

"But... when I was alive, people called me a monster. And that vampire... he's a monster too. His wolf could swallow a whole werewolf in one bite."

I sighed softly, pulling Lia closer to me, feeling her slightly cool body temperature.

"Listen, sweetheart," I said gently, my fingers lightly combing through her tangled silver-white hair.

"People who say bad things about you are just wrong. If I ever meet them, I'll make them pay and show them how special my little Lia really is."

Lia buried her face in my neck, her voice muffled. "But... they all called me a monster. My fur color is impure, brought shame to the pack."

Hearing such a cruel truth from Lia's young voice, I couldn't help but tear up. "Listen, that's not your fault. Those who hurt you don't deserve to be your real family. From now on, I'm your mom."

"It's just that they don't know how to appreciate your uniqueness," I cupped her small face, looking seriously into her glowing eyes in the darkness. "Every single strand of your fur is a gift from the Moon Goddess, just as special as the stars in the night sky. Promise me you won't say things like that about yourself anymore, okay? It makes Mommy very sad to hear you talk like that."

She hesitated, then nodded. I started humming that off-key lullaby again, my fingers gently stroking her back.

I don't know how much time passed, but we both fell into a deep sleep, her breathing gradually evening out.

After I was sound asleep, Lia quietly crept closer to my face. Her glowing eyes in the darkness fixed on mine for a long while.

It was as if she were struggling with something inside herself. Finally, she gently pressed a cool kiss to my cheek, whispering softly, "Mommy would be sad... can't make Mommy sad."

The energy around her stabilized, and even her ghostly form gradually solidified into that of a real little girl, curling up in my arms to sleep peacefully.

Those watching the trial were shocked:

【She even manifested a solid form! How is that possible? A ghost cub's energy form is supposed to be unchangeable!】

【What did this trial candidate do? She changed the very nature of the ghost cub!】

【I checked the records. This has never happened before. This Serina... she's a variable.】

The next morning, I was woken by a cold mechanical voice.

【Initial trial candidates: 100; current survivors: 40.】

I rubbed my eyes, fumbling to find the communication crystal and holding it close to strain and read the flickering information. Another thirty candidates had been lost overnight. The number made my heart sink.

"What's wrong, Mommy?" Lia asked sleepily. She now looked completely like a solid little girl, her white nightgown making her look especially adorable.

I put down the crystal, smiling as I ruffled her hair. "Nothing, sweetheart. Here, Mommy will braid your hair nicely today."

Just then, the crystal suddenly flickered to life with a private message from Safiya:

【Serina, thank goodness you're still alive! I've been dealing with the Delta warriors in my cave and couldn't warn you in time. The first three days are crucial. You must build a good relationship with your "family." Here's some information I compiled from the Alpha Council records. Hope it helps. I'm sorry I didn't explain the cave selection rules beforehand, forcing you into the King's Nest.】

I noticed Safiya was also active on public channels, offering advice to other candidates:

【Remember, don't make direct eye contact. That's seen as a challenge.】

【If you hear a low growl, stop whatever you're doing immediately.】

【Always let them eat first...】

Taine occasionally chimed in:

【What's the point of helping these newbies? It doesn't benefit you.】

Safiya always replied gently: 【Crossing paths is fate. Don't be so calculating.】

The surviving candidates were all grateful to Safiya, calling her "The Guide."

These two Alphas were certainly interesting.

I leaned close to the crystal, replying cautiously: 【Thanks for checking in. I'm doing fine. Your info is helpful.】

After putting down the crystal, I saw Lia sitting obediently to the side, while Eros was doing strength training with a massive boulder. His muscles looked particularly distinct in the morning light.

"What would you like to eat today?" I asked him, still braiding Lia's hair. "I found some wild berries in the back of the cave yesterday. I could add them to breakfast."

Eros set the boulder down and walked over to sit beside us. His gaze was gentle, nothing like the ferocious vampire-werewolf of legend. "You decide," his deep voice had a hint of warmth. "Everything you make is delicious."

Blood-colored moonlight streamed through cracks in the cave ceiling, casting dappled spots of light on us.

Lia leaned against my knee as I carefully braided her hair, occasionally weaving in some small wildflowers I'd picked yesterday.

Eros sat quietly and watched us. The scene was so warm it hardly seemed like a life-or-death trial.

Suddenly.

The temperature in the cave plunged to freezing point.

Eros shot to his feet, muscles coiled tight, a thunderous growl erupting from his throat. His dark golden pupils constricted to pinpoints, fixed on the darkest corner deep within the cave.

"Get back!" he snarled, shielding Lia and me behind him.

The warmth that had filled the air vanished instantly, replaced by the pungent stench of formalin, mixed with the sickening odor of rotting flesh and burnt hair.

Hee hee hee...

A chorus of overlapping, spine-chilling cackles echoed from all directions.

Black slime began to ooze from the cave ceiling without warning.

Two twisted shadows, defying gravity like crawling insects, hung upside down from the roof and slowly writhed their way down.

They were two absolutely terrifying "creatures."

The one on the left had skin the ashen gray of a corpse, her limbs bent at grotesque angles.

Her face was devoid of features save for a massive mouth crudely stitched shut with rough black thread. As she laughed, the stitches snapped, revealing rows of sharp, jagged shark teeth.

The one on the right was even more horrific. Her hair writhed in the air like living venomous snakes, with tiny, dripping finger bones hanging from the end of every strand.

A gaping hole tore through her abdomen, but instead of entrails, it was stuffed with withered thorns and wriggling maggots.

"What a cozy little family of three..." the witch with the snake-hair shrieked, a sound like nails scratching violently on a chalkboard. "Sister, that woman's skin looks tender. If we peel it off, it would make a lovely, translucent lampshade."

The stitched-mouth witch didn't speak. instead, she ripped the black threads from her lips, unleashing an inhuman screech!

Eros extended his claws, his aura surging with bloodlust, clearly facing a massive threat. "Morgana, Morgan! Get the hell out of my territory!"

"This is our territory too. Don't you remember who cooked for you before?" the witch with the hollow abdomen said sinisterly. Her arm, withered as dead wood, suddenly shot out, elongating meters in an instant, claws aiming straight for my face with a gust of foul wind! "As payment, this woman's hair is mine!"

My vision blurred as a wave of stench hit me.

I instinctively raised my hand to block, catching the withered hand accidentally.

The texture was dry and rough, like a piece of dead wood.

I paused, not letting go. Instead, I rubbed it more carefully.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed, completely ignoring Eros's shocked expression and the witch freezing mid-attack. "This texture is terrible! Severe dehydration, dermis damage, and the stratum corneum is as thick as tree bark!"

I followed the arm up, my gaze piercing through the terrifying illusions—to me, they just looked like two eccentric, unkempt sisters—and landing on that wild, dancing "snake hair."

"And this hair!" I cried out in heartbreak. "The split ends are severe, and the cuticles are completely blown out! Is this why you're so grumpy? Dry hair affects your mood, you know!"

The terrifying atmosphere, primed for a slaughter, instantly solidified.

The hand that was meant to pull out my hair was now awkwardly suspended in mid-air.

The witch whose hand I held—Morgan—froze.

Her eyes, which were nothing but whites, stared fixedly at me.

It seemed she had never encountered a human who, instead of dying of fright, started critiquing her skin condition.

The stitched-mouth witch—Morgana—stopped her screeching. Her terrifying maw hung slightly open, the black threads fluttering messily in the wind.

"What... are you talking about?" Morgan's voice trembled with uncertainty, and the wild "snake hair" on her head wilted a little.

"I said，your skin and hair need emergency care!" I didn't waste another second.

I pulled out the herb I had mixed yesterday. "I'm the mistress of this house now. Since you're here, I can't watch family treat themselves like this!"

I grabbed Morgan's terrifying hand and slathered a glob of green paste onto it.

"This is aloe and moon-grass extract. specifically for dead ski—uh, dry skin."

Eros retracted his claws, his expression shifting from alert to dumbfounded. Lia peeked her head out from my arms, watching the scene with curiosity.

"You... aren't going to chop my hand off?" Morgan stared at her now green and shiny hand, forcefully holding back the corrosive venom she had prepared to release.

"How can I do a treatment if I chop it off?" I rolled my eyes at her, then looked up at Morgana hanging from the ceiling. "Sister up there, stop hanging around like that. All that blood rushing to your head is bad for the roots; it causes hair loss! Come down, I'll give you a scalp massage."

The observers' chat exploded:

【She's crazy! Those are the Hexenbiest! They were about to eat people just now!】

【Morgana's hair is a Medusa curse! And this woman wants to give her a scalp massage?!】

【Oh God, Morgan is actually looking at her hand... She seems to think the hand cream smells good?】

【This trial has taken a weird turn! It went from Silent Hill to Desperate Housewives?!】

Morgana hesitated, then actually crawled down from the ceiling like a giant spider, squatting obediently in front of me.

"If it's not comfortable... I'll turn you into fertilizer," she threatened through her leaking mouth, though her voice clearly lacked conviction.

I slapped a huge glob of nourishing hair mask right onto her weird, dripping hair.

"Less talking, relax your scalp." I massaged vigorously, muttering, "Look at this dryness... this is the consequence of staying up late and neglecting maintenance. From now on, in this house, I won't allow you to be this sloppy."

As I massaged, Morgana let out a comfortable groan. The terrifying illusions of venomous snakes on her head slowly vanished, reverting to smooth—albeit gray-white—long hair.

Morgan leaned in too, proactively extending her other hand to me. "Do this one too."

The cave, originally filled with the stench of death and decay, was now filled with the fresh scent of herbs.

I cheerfully started preparing the hair treatment for the two hexenbiest.

Eros and Lia watched with their mouths agape. In the cave, the once-feared Cursed Twins, the vampire-werewolf, and the ghost cub were all gathered around me, waiting for my special herbal treatment.

"You know," I said as I crushed bay leaves, speaking to Morgana, "Proper care not only improves your hair but can lift your spirits. I noticed the muscles around your mouth look very tense. This formula is perfect for helping you relax."

Morgana looked at me thoughtfully. "You... you're not afraid of us?"

I looked up and smiled at her. "Why would I be afraid of my own family?"

Hearing my answer, both Morgana and Morgan froze.

The cave was so quiet you could hear water dripping from the walls.

"Family?" Morgan spoke first, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Little sheep, has the rainforest jungle fever gone to your head?"

I shook my head, continuing to stir the herbs. "I'm perfectly clear. Since the Moon Goddess brought us together and made us live under the same roof, then we're family."

Eros stepped closer to me, whispering, "Serina, they..."

"It's okay," I cut him off, offering the witch sisters a brilliant smile. "Let's all cook lunch together today? I can teach you a few new dishes."

Morgana raised an eyebrow. "Are you questioning our cooking skills?"

"Of course not!" I quickly explained. "Just sharing some cooking techniques I know. Like how to make meat more tender, or how to remove the gaminess from certain ingredients."

The comments from those watching the trial started scrolling again:

【She's actually going to teach the curse hexenbiest how to cook?!】

【I remember the last trial candidate who just didn't want to eat their food had their head scooped out to use as a stew pot!】

【This woman has lost it!】

Morgan and Morgana exchanged a look, then the corners of their mouths turned up slightly. "Alright, let's see what you can teach us."

The five of us walked together to the cave's kitchen area.

Call it a kitchen, but it was really just a corner with a crude stone hearth and a few stone tables.

Lia excitedly tugged on my sleeve, while Eros followed silently behind, always keeping an eye on the witch sisters' movements.

"First," I picked up a piece of meat still dripping with blood, "we can marinate it in wild berry juice first. That way it removes the gamey taste and adds a fruity fragrance."

Morgana narrowed her eyes. "We usually use swamp toad venom for marinating."

I made a face. "That sounds unhealthy. Want to try my way?"

To my surprise, they actually agreed.

We started preparing food together. I taught them how to identify edible herbs and how to grind nuts with stones to make sauce.

Gradually, the tense expressions on the witch sisters relaxed.

"You know," Morgana said as she mimicked my technique with a tuber, "we used to like cooking too."

Morgan shot her sister a glare, but Morgana continued. "Back when we were still alive. Our mother was often ill, and we would often cook medicinal meals for her."

I stopped what I was doing and asked softly, "Your mother must have been very gentle and kind, just like you."

“Later we started treating the wolves in the slums," Morgan continued, her voice bitter. "And what did we get in return?"

I stopped what I was doing and asked softly, "What happened?"

The sisters fell silent. Finally, it was Morgana who spoke, her voice unnervably calm. "We were accused of practicing dark magic. Those 'patients' we had treated testified against us in court. The noble wolves sentenced us to be burned at the stake."

The sisters were silent. The cave was deathly quiet, save for the crackling of the hearth fire.

"So you see, little sheep," Morgan sneered, "Trusting others is just the fastest way to be burned to ash."

I walked over to them and gently took their hands. "I trust you. I believe you won't hurt me."

【She touched the curse hexenbiest' hands! And she wasn't cursed!】

【Moon Goddess above, what is Serina doing? Does she really trust them?】

To everyone's surprise, the witch sisters didn't pull their hands away.

Morgana even gave them a gentle squeeze in return.

"Come on," I broke the silence, "Let's finish this meal. I promise you'll like it."

At lunchtime, the five of us sat around the stone table.

The table was loaded with the food we'd prepared together: roasted marinated meat with wild berry juice, herb stew, roasted tubers with nut sauce, and simple flatbreads I'd made from wild grains I'd found.

Lia eagerly took a bite of the roasted meat, her eyes lighting up immediately. "Delicious!"

Eros tasted the stew and gave a slight nod. "Not bad."

Morgana and Morgan cautiously sampled each dish, their expressions shifting from skepticism to surprise.

"This flavor..." Morgan murmured, "It reminds me of our mother's cooking."

I smiled, serving more food for everyone. "We can cook together like this more often."

【I can't believe my eyes! The five most dangerous beings in the King's Nest are having a pleasant lunch together!】

【This scene is too surreal. I have to pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming.】

【Serina's Lunar Fear is still 0! How is that possible?】

Through my efforts, our cave was gradually becoming more like a real home.

I took Lia to pick wild flowers and colorful stones to decorate the cave, teaching her how to make flower crowns.

Though Eros still maintained his cool demeanor, he would silently help us move heavy things and stand guard, protecting us from wild beasts.

The witch sisters gradually opened up to us.

One day, as we were gathering herbs in the rainforest, Morgana suddenly said, "You know, Serina, we can never fully trust anyone."

I was bending over to pick a patch of moon-moss and looked up at her with a smile. "That's okay. I trust you enough for all of us."

Morgan snorted, but when I nearly tripped over a protruding tree root, she quickly reached out to steady me.

"Watch yourself, you fool," she said gruffly. "The rainforest is full of dangers."

But I noticed that for the rest of the journey, she would subtly clear obstacles from my path.

Those watching the trial began recording these details:

【Did you see? Morgan just drove away a venomous snake!】

【Morgana is quietly removing those sharp thorns as Serina passes!】

【They say they don't trust her, but their actions are protecting her!】

That evening, I decided to paint a portrait of our whole family.

I ground collected ores into pigments and painted on a flat piece of slate.

Lia curiously watched from beside me, Eros pretended to be uninterested but would sneak glances at my progress.

The witch sisters stood at a distance, their expressions complicated.

"That doesn't look anything like me," Morgan criticized. "My eyes aren't that color."

But I saw her smile secretly.

When I finished the painting, everyone gathered around.

On the canvas, the five of us sat together against the backdrop of our decorated cave.

Lia wore a flower crown on her head, Eros looked relaxed, and the witch sisters had faint smiles on their faces.

"This is... us?" Morgana asked softly.

I nodded. "Our family portrait."

Lia excitedly pointed at herself in the painting. "Mommy drew me so pretty!"

Eros stared silently at the painting, then suddenly turned and left.

I thought he didn't like my artwork, but a few minutes later he returned with a glowing crystal, which he mounted above the frame as a light source.

"It looks better this way," he explained briefly, the tips of his ears turning red.

The viewing screen exploded:

【The vampire-werewolf just decorated that painting!】

【I can't believe it! Is this really the same vampire-werewolf who massacred the entire Silver Moon Pack?】

【Serina's Lunar Fear is still 0! How on earth is she doing this?】

The witch sisters stood before the painting in silence for a long time. Finally, Morgana reached out and gently touched the image of herself.

"No one has seen us as... family in a long time," she whispered.

Morgan turned her head away, but I saw her quickly wipe a damp spot from the corner of her eye.

After dinner, Morgana handed me a small vial.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Insect repellent," she said shortly. "Sprinkle it around your bedding to keep venomous bugs away."

I took the vial, looking at her with emotion. "Thank you, Sister Morgana."

She snorted. "Just don't want you getting bit and screaming, waking us up."

But I noticed that as they left, both of them had faint smiles on their faces.