Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 53: About Jojo’s father

"Is it really a kind of hatred that you can’t let go of, even as time passes?" Sisi asked. She knew better than to immediately take Jojo’s father’s side just because she was close to Jojo.

After all, she herself had a terribly bitter experience with Mr. Piker. If someone ever asked her to forgive him, she would rather jump off a cliff than do so.

Sisi didn’t show much of her grievance outwardly. Life had trained her to be tough, especially now, when she had to be strong in front of Jojo.

But the mere thought of forgiving that rapist of an adoptive father was enough to make her stomach churn, as if she might lose her sanity at any moment she saw him again.

"No. It’s impossible," Marik replied calmly but firmly, making sure Sisi heard his resolve. He didn’t elaborate on the grievance he held against Kael, but his tone alone was enough to warn her. "Besides, Jojo is better off without him. He can grow up normally with us. Over time, he will forget his father and move on, especially once he finds a mate. It all depends on how we raise him, Sisi. What do you think?"

Sisi smiled when she heard that.

Truthfully, she hadn’t held much hope that Jojo’s father had survived until now.

Jojo had told her that his father was fighting three tiger beastmen at once when he was thrown off the hill. Most likely, he had already been mauled to death.

Reassured, Sisi smiled at Marik. "Then... does that mean you’ll stay through spring?"

"Naturally. That boy is far too small to be left on his own. And you..." Marik glanced at Sisi, who smiled back at him. His cheeks reddened instantly as he looked away. "A weakling. You should learn how to utilize your power better. Maybe try to make—"

He was cut off when he suddenly felt the cold tip of a blade against his neck.

Marik froze and looked at Sisi, who was still smiling. "I’ve tried using the vines more offensively, so I can protect Jojo when necessary. But I can’t seem to hurt anyone unless I truly intend to. So the best I can do is use them as an extension of my arms—like this."

Using a vine, Sisi hooked the dagger from her pouch and aimed it at Marik’s neck.

Of course, she had no intention of hurting him. She merely wanted to show that she wasn’t as weak as he thought.

Marik was genuinely impressed.

A dagger to the neck wouldn’t be enough to incapacitate him, let alone kill him, but the vine moved far faster than before. It was a noticeable improvement.

"Good," Marik said. "With this, I can rest assured that you’ll be fine whenever Jojo and I go hunting." He paused. "Though I’m curious. Where did your power come from? Are you a faerie? When I was a cub, I befriended some, but once I grew past toddlerhood, they vanished."

"I still remember their plant magic," he continued. "They could manipulate plants to a certain extent, often to trick beastmen and humans. They are mischievous creatures after all."

"I... don’t know," Sisi replied honestly. Her gaze drifted to her palms as she toyed with a tiny vine curling around her finger. "I was raised in a human orphanage since I was a baby. But I don’t care where my power comes from. As long as I can use it to protect Jojo, that’s enough. I’ve always been alone anyway, knowing my roots won’t change that."

"You’re not alone anymore," Marik said gently. "Not with Jojo and me."

"Oh?" Sisi teased. "You sound awfully kind just now. Do you treat us as your family too?"

"I-I was just saying that to make you feel better!"

Sisi giggled as Marik’s face turned so red he looked like a striped tomato.

"Anyway," she said, changing the subject, "do you have a plan for where we’ll go next? I’ve been heading south because it’s warmer, so Jojo and I wouldn’t freeze to death during winter. But spring is coming. If you have somewhere better in mind, we’ll follow."

"I’ve given it some thought," Marik said after a pause. "We could head to the far east of Roc Forest where it borders Jing Forest."

"Jing Forest?"

"Yes. It’s a forest with many unique plants and beastmen species. They’re far less hostile than those in Roc Forest," Marik explained. "If you’d like... we can settle there. It might be better if Jojo forgets about Roc Forest entirely."

"Forgetting his roots..." Sisi hesitated. "Is his father... really that bad?"

Moving was one thing. Erasing one’s roots entirely was another. Sisi wouldn’t want to forget her life in the orphanage as it had shaped her into who she was.

"I can’t say much to you," Marik replied. "But he really is that bad. His existence will only ruin Jojo."

He expected Sisi to agree immediately.

Instead, he sensed resistance—her reluctance to label Jojo’s father as irredeemably evil.

"Do you not believe me?" Marik asked.

"I-I didn’t mean it that way," Sisi sighed. "It’s just a hard pill to swallow. I’ll believe you fully once I meet Jojo’s father. As for moving to Jing Forest... we should do it when spring comes."

Marik’s eyes widened. He could barely contain the joy shining within them. It was the first time he got an idea of traveling with a family after he lost his mother.

"Really? You and Jojo will move with me?"

"Jojo needs you as his godfather. Besides, I’m just a human with no sense of direction. I can’t keep wandering Roc Forest forever with him, can I?"

"Yes," Marik said, nodding eagerly. "He needs more experience. He’ll grow braver and wiser once he sees the world beyond Roc Forest. Since I’ve traveled many lands, I’ll ensure your safety. You can think of me as a professional guide."

"Then," Sisi said with a small smile, "we’re in your hands, Marik."