Chapter 17

“I’m sorry…… if I had more money I could have bought a big bathtub…….”

Abella whispered to herself as she swirled her hands in the warm water in the tub. A tub that could barely fit two humans was no place for a colossal wolf.

Carlisle shook his head and grunted to himself as if to admonish himself not to beat himself up, and then as if on cue, he glanced at Abella and instantly changed form.

Abella blanched at his unexpected mankind but clenched her hands tightly to hide it.

“Oh, sweetie……?”

“I thought that…… might be able to fit in with you in his human form.”

“Oh…….”

“Are you…… uncomfortable?”

Carlisle looked Abella in the eyes and asked whether he was uncomfortable to be n*ked in front of her, despite the fact that he’d been raised by her since he was a cub.

“It’s fine, I don’t have to bathe with you if I’m not comfortable.”

She said, but her voice was tinged with regret. Abella rolled her eyes as she grasped the towel she had wrapped around herself.

“What am I going to do?”

Carlisle smiled sadly as she hesitated.

“You’re not comfortable with……” Are you one of them?”

He then grabbed a nearby towel and tucked it under her before turning to leave.

“I’m sorry, I think I made you uncomfortable again.”

“Carlisle…….”

“Then…… wash up first. I’ll wash up when you’re done.”

His voice was still tinged with remorse. She couldn’t possibly have missed it. She called out anxiously as he turned to leave the bathroom.

“No, no, it’s okay, honey, honey if you don’t mind, would you like to wash up with me……?”

Carlisle came to a halt and looked back.

“Are you sure I can do that?”

“Yeah, sure. We’re family.”

Carlisle sidles up to Abella, beaming with joy, and she dives into the tub first, pretending it’s no great deal.

“Are you sure…… I can come in with you?”

“Uh-huh, sure.”

Carlisle smirked and walked over to the tub after getting one more assurance from Abella.

Abella curled up in the tub’s corner, attempting to get as far away from him as possible. Carlisle went into the tub and put his arms around her waist from behind, pushing her to lean into his chest, despite her efforts.

“Doesn’t that feel uncomfortable?”

Actually, it was more awkward than uncomfortable. But I couldn’t bear telling Carlisle the truth.

The sensation of muscles on his back was strange and unexpected. They seemed to come alive with every twist and turn of Carlisle’s body, writhing and moving.

“It’s nice to be able to spend time like this with you again.”

They were nk*ed even though they were covered with towels.

Unlike Avella, who was preoccupied with Carlisle’s body, Carlisle appeared unconcerned by the sight of Avella’s nude body in his arms.

“If Carlisle isn’t going through anything, why do I feel so self-conscious… as if I were a pervert!”

Abella sighed quietly to herself. Then she heard a low bass voice speak in her ear.

“Your body is fascinating.”

“Huh? My body? Why, why?”

Carlisle grinned and softly stroked his hands over every inch of Abella’s body, despite the fact that she had been concentrating on Carlisle’s body anyhow.

“You’re so dry.”

“Ah…….”

“Your arms are so skinny, your legs are so skinny, your stomach is so skinny…….”

“Pooh, huh, ah, go, touch me, baby, don’t…….”

He said this as he probed her all over her body.

“And here…….”

Carlisle’s hand lightly cupped her br*ast at this point. Abella’s eyes widened with surprise, and she smacked his hand away.

“Carlisle, what are you doing!”

Her scream echoed around the bathroom. Carlisle looked up, taken aback by her unexpected exclamation.

“Oh, that…… I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to touch that……?”

“What?”

What a no-brainer…… Carlisle grasped for Abella’s hand as she was stunned into stillness.

“I’m sorry……. I didn’t realize…….”

Carlisle faltered, tears welling up in his eyes. Abella was perplexed.

Was he truly unaware?

But now that I understood, Carlisle’s reaction felt genuine, and I doubted why he didn’t know something so simple.

“Hey, you can’t touch this area…….”

“Yeah…… sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“Be careful next time.” Carlisle nodded obediently.

“I guess I used to touch it a lot when I was younger……. So I think I’ve stopped making mistakes…….”

He’d pressed his wolfish forepaws against her br*asts several times, more like a nudge than a touch. Abella flushed and shook her head at the thought of it.

“It’s not like then…….”

“……I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

“Yeah…….”

The atmosphere quickly turned awkward. The restroom air was damp and heated, and the energy between them seemed odd in some way.

Carlisle paused, gently calling out to Abella.

“Mom.”

“…….”

“Mommy, Mommy…….”

“……Yes, baby.”

“I hope I didn’t make a mistake…… and you don’t hate me, do you……?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Good…….”

Carlisle bit his lip softly as he buried his face in the damp nape of her neck.

“I was worried, I thought I’d done something stupid and hateful again……”

“I don’t hate you for anything.”

“But I’m always on edge.”

What on earth could make Carlisle so insecure, Abella wondered, but she didn’t ask. Maybe one day, when the time was right, she’d find out, she thought vaguely.

“Mommy.”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you wash my hair like you did when I was little?”

Carlisle spoke innocently, in contrast to the strange mood that had set in.

“I like it when you wash my hair.”

The childlike glee on his face made Abella smile broadly, feeling her discomfort melt away.

“Do you?”

Abella grabbed a bar of soap from nearby and began lathering up Carlisle’s hair.

“Close your eyes, you don’t want any soap in them.”

A small voice of concern turned to Carlisle. Carlisle gave a small smile and nodded, as if amused by her concern.

After lathering up for a while, Abella ran her fingers through his hair, curiosity getting the better of her, and playfully ruffled it in all directions.

What would normally be a difficult hairstyle now followed her every beckoning thanks to the soap.

“Poof… baby, your hair is so funny…!”

“Hey, what’s this!”

“Why, it’s funny, let’s do this hair this time.”

“I don’t like it, it’s weird.”

“What, you were such a good listener when you were a kid… but now that you’re all grown up,you don’t listen to your mom?”

“Oh, no, I mean… not that…….”

Suddenly, the atmosphere was as relaxed as it had been when Carlisle was a kid. Abella laughed and enjoyed the bath with him.

When he finally and reluctantly handed her his hair, Carlisle pouted and muttered.

“Next time, I’ll wash your hair for you.”

“Really? That’s nice. But, baby, you know what?”

“Like what?”

“Mommy’s hair is long, and I can’t play games like you can.”

“…….”

“… idiot.”

“……I hate that.”

“It’s okay… you’re pretty no matter what kind of hair you have……….”

“Why don’t you say that with a smile or something…….”

Abella played with his hair for a while, and Carlisle grunted but did as she asked.

It was the first peace and relaxation he’d felt since he was so big.

Until late that evening, laughing rang around Abella’s small home.

* * *

“Mommy.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you sleeping?”

“No, not yet.”

Maybe it was the bath, but Abella didn’t feel as uneasy lying in bed with Carlisle in his human form as she had previously.

There was definitely more space than she had in her wolf shape.

“Can I cuddle with you?”

“Ummm…… okay.”

Carlisle’s excitement at Abella’s permission was palpable, and he swept her into his arms. Carlisle’s heated breath rang in Abella’s ears as she cautiously closed her eyes.

Sleepiness flowed over her as she lay still in his embrace, feeling his steady touch on her back.

“Mommy.”

“Mmmm…….”

“Mommy, mommy…… mother…….”

Abella chuckled gently, surprised at the unexpected title of mother.

“What, all of a sudden? Mother.”

“It’s just, I thought you said mom was only for kids.”

“Well…… usually is, but…….”

“I’m all grown up now, don’t you think I’m past the age of calling you mom?”