Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 110: Apple Problem

"No, Jojo is fine. He’s probably asleep right now," Kael said, his voice subconsciously softening when he spoke of Jojo. "When it was just the two of us, he’d wait in the cave while I hunted, and he’d always be asleep when I returned."

"Then he’d wake up the moment he smelled blood," Kael recalled with a faint smile. "That’s how he knew it was time to eat."

Sisi giggled. "That’s new information for me. When it was just Jojo and me, I always woke up earlier than him. He had to hunt for his own food, so every morning he’d run around the woods trying to catch at least one hare for breakfast."

"You taught him well," Kael nodded approvingly. "I never knew he could catch a yearling deer at such a young age."

"Well, Jojo isn’t hard to teach. He has talent," Sisi said. "But you spoil him too much. That’s why he doesn’t work as hard when he’s with you. I know he’s technically a toddler, but don’t baby him too much. He needs to grow."

Kael had to admit she made sense.

After their separation, Jojo had revealed skills Kael never knew he possessed.

He began picturing the unlikely pair of human mother and wolf son. He almost laughed imagining Sisi sitting on a log, collecting mushroom, while Jojo ran around that log trying to catch a fleeing hare.

Yet as Kael pictured Jojo and Sisi together, the image was suddenly ruined by the appearance of that damned tiger—sitting next to Sisi, laughing together while looking at Jojo, like a family of three. Kael nearly bared his fangs on instinct.

He snapped back to reality, remembering why he was here in the first place—to make sure this troublesome woman wouldn’t seduce anyone with her devastating beauty.

"This isn’t about Jojo," Kael said, forcing the conversation back on track. "I’m here because I don’t want you giving apples to guards."

"...You’re being unreasonable," Sisi sighed. "Fine. If apples aren’t allowed, I’ll give him winter berries. They’re cheap—"

"—Winter berries aren’t allowed either!"

"...Then I’ll just give him a bread—"

"You’re not allowed to give that damned guard anything!" Kael barked. "Why would you insist on giving him something? Are you interested in him?"

His tone was so grim that even the young guard standing near the tree could hear it, and he trembled.

He had no idea what he’d done wrong, but judging by the King’s fury, he feared he might be executed today... along with Mistress Sisi.

Sisi, on the other hand, was entirely unfazed.

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, what is wrong with you? Why are you acting like a child? Even Jojo isn’t this childish."

"Childish?" Kael bristled. "Are you calling the Beast King childish?!"

She had no idea, he thought bitterly, that he was trying to keep her and the kingdom safe.

He didn’t want Sisi entangled with another man for even a moment. With her charm, even handing an apple to a guard could make that fool fall head over heels for her.

Sisi noticed the veins bulging at his temples and neck. He was furious, but she still couldn’t figure out why.

Had she done something wrong?

It had only been a few hours since he gave her this courtyard. Did he regret it already? Was he trying to drive her out?

That would explain his sudden hostility.

"You know... maybe you should just give me a place outside the palace," Sisi said calmly. "I don’t like being surrounded by guards and maids, and I don’t want to get involved in your court."

To Kael, it sounded like an excuse to slip out of his sight.

His crimson eyes glinted with possessiveness as his restlessness deepened.

This woman always knew how to provoke him. And yet, no matter how angry she made him, he could never bring himself to do anything to her.

"You’re acting worse than Jojo when he throws a tantrum," Sisi said coldly. "At least Jojo tells me why he’s upset. If this is really about an apple, then here—"

She suddenly grabbed an apple and shoved it into Kael’s mouth before he could say another word.

Caught completely off guard, Kael bit down instinctively and fell silent, staring at her.

Sisi sighed. "This isn’t about an apple, is it? Kael, you’re a king. What kind of king can’t say what’s on his mind?"

It wasn’t that he couldn’t speak.

He was eloquent when he wanted to be.

In his old pack, he was a war general, and the alpha’s killing machine.

But whenever he faced Sisi, his thoughts tangled into guilt and anger, short-circuiting his mind.

It didn’t help that she always knew exactly how to get under his skin.

As Kael chewed the apple reluctantly, Sisi pressed on. "It’s getting cold. I’ll give you one more chance. Tell me what’s wrong or I’m going to bed."

...

Kael stared at her in silence.

Finally, Sisi lost what little patience she had left and stood up.

She was about to leave when Kael suddenly rose and grabbed her wrist.

"Don’t go yet," he said. "I was just... trying to find the right words."

"Well," Sisi replied coolly, "I’m listening."

Kael felt more pressured now than he ever had. Even facing ten powerful beastmen was not as nerve-wracking than this.

Should he say he didn’t want her with any other man, except him?

But why?

Why was it acceptable for him to keep her close, but not anyone else?

Unable to answer his own question, Kael cursed inwardly and braced himself.

’Damn it. I’ll just say it.’

He took a deep breath. "You can’t be with anyone except—"

"My King."

Both Kael and Sisi turned at the same time.

A guard knelt at the pavilion entrance. "My King, Sir Vestor has arrived. He wishes to speak with Mistress Sisi regarding the garments, according to your arrangement."

Kael swallowed the words he was about to say and straightened instantly, his kingly composure snapping back into place.

He released Sisi’s wrist and said coldly, "Let him in."