When a Well-Raised Son Grows Up - Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Carlisle rubbed Abella’s belly needlessly.

He hoped that one day the flat belly would hold their child. He wanted Abella’s full love and the fruits of their labor, so he wouldn’t have to live in fear of abandonment.

Of course, he knew it was lust to talk about love when he did those devious things behind her back at night.

But Carlisle had no idea how to be in a relationship the right way.

How to care, how to love, how to share emotions, and how to trust and rely on each other. All these things were foreign to him.

The only thing he could do to keep her, to keep him from being abandoned, and to keep her with him for the rest of his life, was to go along with it, regardless of her wishes, and bear his child.

Carlisle thought that by going to the mountains every day and picking her favorite fruits, he would be able to win her love.

A little fondness and affection were possible, but it wasn’t going to make her love him completely.

‘I still need a child.’

Carlisle forced his unwilling eyes to close at the thought. He felt unusually heavy today.

* * *

*Is it because he has stupid hind legs? He tries to have s*x in human form.

*No, is he more taken aback that there is a woman who had sex with him?

*See, she’s not like his kind. She’s a human female, the perfect companion for a culled recessive.

*But did he win? He’s heard that humans can kill and sell a single wolf to feed themselves for a season.

*I see. She wouldn’t let a man like that into her house, no matter how inferior he was, would she?

*Hey, did you hear that? You’d better be very careful; she might want to take off all your fur and skin and sell you. That’s probably why she helped you in the first place.

*Just think about it. Shaggy fur, mean red eyes, and a limp. Do you think she has the slightest reason to like you? Really?

*Please don’t end up on the human market as a piece of meat. You’re a disgrace to those of us who happen to be related to your kind.

The voice was familiar. A familiar voice and a familiar coat color. Familiar chunks.

In their midst, Carlisle was too Moorish to answer. He was crouched down, his head buried between his front paws.

Still, they didn’t stop taunting, and Carlisle began to feel smaller and smaller.

Despite the familiarity of the situation, the tidal wave of emotions that washed over him was still unfamiliar.

The giggles, the taunts, the word “leggy” muttered in the back. Carlisle just wanted it to go away.

*Lyle.

But what he wanted was not going to come easily.

*Carla…….

A faint, fading voice managed to get the name out.

“No… don’t say my name.”

*Carla…… day…….

“t’s my mom’s name; why is she suddenly calling me something that doesn’t fit?”

*Carl…… Lyle…….

“Don’t put them in your filthy mouths. It’s disgusting and makes me want to bite you all off. Just call me Leggy, please.”

For some reason, Carlisle was even more offended when they called him his precious name, the one Abella had given him than when they called him Leggy. It was better to mock and scoff. Compared to hearing his precious name in that disgusting voice,

*Carlise!

“You can call me a leggy as$hole like you always do!!!”

A loud vomit came from Carlisle’s mouth. His eyes snapping open unexpectedly, Carlisle let out a harsh breath and blinked quickly to clear his blurred vision.

“Oh, honey……?”

But before Carlisle could recover, he heard Abella’s voice, and as he turned his head in panic, he saw her looking at him in surprise.

“Uh, Mom…….”

Carlisle’s mouth fell open as he realized what was happening. He was speechless, not knowing what to say.

It was Abella.

“Oh my God, did you have a bad dream?”

Even though she saw Carlisle yelling at her, Abella didn’t blink and tried to calm him down.

“No, I just thought you were sleeping long, and you had a really bad look on your face when you were sleeping. Oh, that’s all right, dear.”

“Well, I don’t think it’s… I mean, it’s…”

Abella whispered, holding Carlisle close. She reassured him, saying, “It’s fine, Carlisle. None of this is your fault. You don’t need to explain.”

He struggled to regain his composure with slow breaths. Cold sweat covered him, and his fingertips trembled. Abella comforted him, worried.

Abella embraced Carlisle, patting his back to comfort him. She affectionately stroked his tousled hair, saying, “Shh, it’s okay, baby, it’s okay.”

Under Abella’s touch, his anxious red eyes settled. His body stopped trembling, and the uneasy scent in each breath gradually faded away. Abella reassured him, saying, “It was just a dream. I’m here. It’s okay.”

Abella held Carlisle close, hiding her disappointment. He remained silent, embracing her tightly.

“Why did you dream that?”

Carlisle closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Today was tough, but he tried not to show it. He leaned into Abella’s embrace for support.

“…Mom.”

“Yes, dear?”

“I want to feel loved.”

He confessed in a hushed and strained voice. Abella paused, met his eyes, and gently held his face.

“I love you, Carlisle.”

“…….”

“I’m serious. I truly… love you a lot.”

Abella gently ran her fingers through his damp hair, holding his cheek.

“Do not doubt yourself. I will always be here for you.”

Abella’s steady and determined pink eyes met his. In response, he closed her eyes and pushed his face back into Abella’s embrace.

“Mom.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so worried.”

Abella was briefly silent. She pressed her lips together and gave a faint, meaningless smile in response.

Carlisle felt more relaxed and playfully rubbed his cheeks, like a child seeking affection. Abella felt a warm sensation in her chest as she witnessed a child yearning for love but feeling unworthy of it.

“I will make more effort to keep you calm.”

She continued to comfort Carlisle as usual, but something was different this day.

His red eyes, which were once restless, now sparkle with a wide, toothy smile.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Abella smiled, unaware of the change.

Carlisle’s ears perked up, and his fluffy tail wagged, giving the appearance of innocence. However, he felt uneasy inside.

After a moment of silence, Carlisle spoke. He dropped his shoulders and stole a look at Abella.

“Well, then… there’s a way…”

 Abella asked, “How?” She scratched her head while Carlisle hesitated. He playfully brushed her hand with his tail.

“Yes. It’s the only way Mom and I can be together forever.”

Although “forever” is a weighty word, Carlisle’s tail wagged erratically around Abella, scattering fur in all directions.

As much as the fur scattered, so did Abella’s thoughts.

“Hmm, what is it?”

“My kind can choose a mate to share their lives with.”

“Share a life?”

Abella playfully poked Carlisle’s tail in her arm, noticing how energetically it had been wagging earlier, even though the talk was meant to be serious.

“Yeah, I mean… I am not sure, but it’s like my life and your life are connected. If you stop breathing, I stop breathing too.”

Carlisle had no intention of explaining all the changes in his body to Abella, including periodic heat and the inability to conceive with sperm from other males, but it was more than just sharing a life.

Carlisle’s eyes seemed to be filled with tears as he looked at her.

“After sharing my life with my mom like this, I believe… I won’t feel as insecure anymore.”