When a Well-Raised Son Grows Up - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Seeing Abella’s expression darken, Carlisle called out to her again.

“Abella? You don’t look good.”

“Never mind.”

“Huh? What?”

Abella replied, blowing a puff of air at Carlisle’s forehead.

“I take back what I said about calling me by my first name.”

“Why, all of a sudden?”

“I feel offended. It seems too casual, like a kid from the neighborhood calling me by my first name.”

“What? But Abella… oh, you just told me to call you by your first name…”

“Then I take it back.”

Carlisle’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden turn of events.

“I guess there’s still too much of an age difference for you to call me by my first name. Maybe when you’re a little older,” Abella explained, her tone firm yet gentle.

It felt like she was giving him a gift just to take it back. Carlisle pouted and puffed out his cheeks, looking quite adorable. Abella couldn’t resist poking his puffy cheeks despite his protests.

“Poke, don’t poke…”

“Um, you don’t like it?”

“It’s too much…”

“Ah, don’t be like that, Carlisle, you’re the only one I can tease like this.”

“Well, anyway…”

Carlisle let out a relieved sigh, his tears flowing more freely now that he was younger. He felt the warmth of the tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.

Abella, who had been teasing him, comforted him afterwards. As always, Carlisle found comfort in her affectionate touch, his tail wagging gently.

As the sun set behind the mountains, Abella stretched and got up to prepare dinner. Carlisle followed her eagerly.

The sounds of two people busy cooking dinner and the crackling of burning firewood filled their new home, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

As the day ended, they felt warm and comfortable, despite the cold air outside.

* * *

Carlisle’s body had grown quickly, much faster than when he and Abella had first met. Maybe it was because the wound wasn’t as big then. Carlisle smiled curiously at his increased height, which now surpassed Abella.

“Mom, haven’t I grown a lot?”

Abella nodded in agreement. Now, whenever she looked at Carlisle, she had to tilt her head up to see him properly.

“Well, you have grown, but…. why? Are you going to do something bad like before?”

“Oh, no! It’s not like that…”

“Just kidding.”

Abella playfully patted Carlisle on the back as he blushed with embarrassment, then resumed her duties. As winter deepened, the increasing snowfall made her days busier than ever.

Abella held her broom tightly and watched the snow pile up outside her shop. Suddenly, Carlisle, who was sorting herbs nearby, rushed over and grabbed the broom from her.

“Mom!”

“What’s up?”

“I’ll take care of it. It’s freezing out here. You stay inside and check the inventory.”

“No, I am dressed warmly today.”

“But I’d rather you didn’t catch a cold for no reason.”

Abella thought for a moment. Then she realized the reason for Carlisle’s unexpected concern and laughed softly.

“You’re worried I might catch a cold and miss the Winter Festival?”

“No! Not at all…”

Carlisle pouted, embarrassed that his sincere concern was being overlooked as mere concern for the Winter Festival. Still, Abella continued to tease him.

“Well, you’re not wrong.”

“No! I’m really… more worried about your health than the Winter Festival.”

Carlisle grumbled like a rebellious boy, but despite his grumbling, Abella smiled at him and patted his head, and soon he was giggling as usual.

“Wow, it’s getting dark already. Let’s get ready.”

As the winter progressed, the days got shorter and, of course, the store hours got shorter.

The winters in her region were colder, harsher, and longer than in other areas. At first, Abella hated winter because her herbs would freeze, her income would decrease, and it would be bitterly cold. She was also worried about the cost of firewood. To her, winter was a cold, lonely time that she wanted to avoid.

“I can’t wait to have cocoa with you at home, Mom.”

“It’s funny how you, a meat-eater, now have a surprising sweet tooth.”

“I like both meat and cocoa”

“Hmm… okay”

“Of course, Mom is my favorite,” Carlisle added.

But this winter was different. Abella didn’t hate it like she used to. Maybe it was because it was her first winter with Carlisle, but there were many things she wanted to do together.

“Oh, and I just stacked a ton of firewood earlier!” Carlisle leaned over excitedly, his fluffy tail wagging like a puppy seeking praise.

“Good job, Carlisle.”

Excited about the cocoa, Carlisle was unusually cheerful. He stayed close to Abella with a smile on his face.

It was bitterly cold outside. Noses and cheeks turned red, but the winter felt strangely warm when Carlisle was around.

The evening seemed as quiet as usual, but Carlisle’s inner turmoil was hidden from innocent Abella.

* * *

“It’s ruined.”

That’s what Carlisle thought as soon as he felt Abella’s touch.

There was a faint smell in the air. It tickled his nose, sweet yet subtle, and made his stomach clench.

Carlisle had a feeling: he was going into heat. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered it when they first bonded; in fact, he had been eager to use it as an excuse to hug her. But that was before, and…

‘After that day, I promised my mom I would never do anything she didn’t like.’

Carlisle shuddered at the thought of going through another night like that and feared he might never find forgiveness or peace again.

He vowed that if such a situation ever happened again, he would close his heart forever. He would never see that beautiful face with its mischievous smile again.

In nature, both imprinted females and males experience heat simultaneously. However, unlike Carlisle, who was disturbed just by smelling Abella’s scent, Abella didn’t seem to notice her heat, because she didn’t react when Carlisle approached her.

Carlisle wondered if them being of different species meant Abella couldn’t experience heat like he could. Could a human body not feel or experience heat?

Carlisle ran a hand through his hair, feeling confused. Even then, the faint scent of Abella’s presence was driving him crazy.

He knew he had to distance himself from her, but he couldn’t just leave abruptly.

‘How do I explain that I’m in heat? What about sleeping? I don’t think I could share the same bed with her.’ 

He realized that one bed was not enough and that it was risky to stay in the same house.

‘Do I have to stay outside until it’s over? If I do, I might freeze to death. ‘

Carlisle looked out at the snowy streets and felt overwhelmed. Next to him, Abella leaned forward, her head tilted slightly as she asked.

“Baby, why are you sighing?”

Carlisle’s body reacted immediately, his heart racing and his spine tingling. He wasn’t even fully in heat yet, and he didn’t know how much longer he could endure.

“Baby?”

Sensing his distress, Abella turned to him.

“What’s the matter? You don’t look well.”

He stopped suddenly when Abella came unexpectedly close, surprising him with her presence. With every breath Abella took, the disturbing scent penetrated deep into his lungs.

In the end, Carlisle finally gave up and stumbled backward. His breathing was ragged, and he swallowed slowly, trying to keep his composure, but it didn’t help.