My Atypical Wolf (BL)

Chapter 271: Happy

Both Ashton and Connor turned to find none other than Caleb.

“Caleb”!

“Dad”!

Both of them exclaimed at the same time. “What... how...”? Ashton trailed off with a chuckle.

“I decided to take a break,” Caleb replied with a smile. “I guess you were right. I can’t keep missing his life just because of some cases.” Caleb declared.

“I thought it was an important one?” Ashton smirked.

“So is this”. Caleb declared. “Now let’s see what this puzzle is”. He squatted down to take a look at the note in Connor’s hand.

..... 𝐟𝘳𝑒𝗲𝘸e𝒃𝘯𝒐𝐯e𝚕.c𝒐𝒎

‘Like it or not, you let me in

But you throw me out, when it’s Halloween’

“What exactly do we throw out on Halloween”? Ashton mumbled.

“Hurry Dad! We are close to winning this round” Connor urged.

“Um...” Caleb thought harder, and took a look around himself, to spot anything that could fit the description of the puzzle even remotely. As if someone lit a bulb, his eyes glistened, and he ran towards the table. Taking off the huge pumpkin over the shelf, he put his hand into it. After a second or two, his hand emerged with a key. “This is it”! He exclaimed as he ran towards the door, letting them out.

Finally they managed to come out of the room. “Yes! We made it! We made it to the contest! We win”! Connor jumped with happiness and soon enough he was on his Dad’s lap. Caleb and Ashton rejoiced as well, seeing the smiling face of their son.

They received a prize at the end of the night and pretty much left the party with smiling faces. “This is the first time two of my parents showed up,” Connor mumbled. “It was awesome”!

Caleb, who was amused by the remark, looked at Ashton. Linking him, he replied, [Yep! I am officially his Dad as well.]. Ashton thought back to his conversation, which Caleb managed to get a glimpse of and thus the latter smiled in response.

“You know.. I was thinking... Since Christmas is coming, do you wanna go somewhere? It’ll be like a family vacation” Caleb suggested.

“Really”?

“A vacation”?

Ashton was surprised and so was Connor. As far as either or them could recall, they never had any official vacation as of yet. Sure, they had gone on tiny trips, but it was either due to some other reason, or very short lasting. “Will you get the time”? Ashton asked, aware of the workload on Caleb.

“I’ll put in overtime for the upcoming weeks so that I can apply for a leave” Caleb suggested. “I was gonna put in some extra hours anyways, might as well get something out of it.” Caleb smirked.

“What about the passing-the-torch ceremony? You need to be there as well”? Ashton suggested.

“I actually don’t. It’s not me who is getting the torch” Caleb pointed out.

“But Uncle Chris would miss you”. Connor pouted. “You won’t be there”

“Trust me, he will be pretty busy himself,” Caleb scoffed. “The party guests are gonna hog all of his attention. And I am pretty sure if he has some attention to spare, Sebastian can fill the role.” he smirked.

“You are still his brother” Ashton pointed out.

“I know,” Caleb smiled. “But we both know how important our jobs are. If I were him, I won’t mind, especially if he comes to know the case I am working on”

“What are you working on”? Connor, who was unaware, asked with utter innocence in his voice.

“Uh...” Caleb struggled, not to alarm his seven year old son. “It’s... a little bit wolf related. As a sheriff I have to make sure I mask things properly from the humans... you know... casual bridging the gap stuff” Caleb shrugged, but soon he felt a link.

[You’re lying to him again.] Ashton pointed out.

[I don’t want him to be worried for nothing.] Caleb replied.

[Are you sure it’s nothing?] Ashton asked. [If he knows, he’ll be careful.]

[Lemme figure things out first, then I’ll rethink my decision to tell him] Caleb declared, disconnecting the link.

Upon reaching home, they were greeted by their traditional family halloween meal, with both of their families present. Surprisingly, Christian wasn’t in the mix, but then again, Alpha business keeps him quite busy. Ashton was quite delighted to see the twins are back.

But, when he found out they would be leaving the next day, he offered to drop them off. The twins were skeptical, being well familiar with his driving skills, but Ashton managed to convince them with arguments like, ‘this would be a great way to catch up’ or, ‘he’ll get to see where they are going to college’ and eventually, ‘I am your big brother, it’s my decision, deal with it’.

It was a happy moment, too happy for any of them in a long while. Where all of them were together, where all of them got along with each other... when no one’s life was in immediate danger. So, when Ashton noticed Caleb slip away to the front porch, he followed him, wondering what was going on.

“Worried about the mysterious dead wolf”? Ashton assumed. He knows why Caleb is so affected by that, and as much Ashton sucks at comforting, he wants to try.

“I am, but I can take care of it later.” Caleb shook his head.

“What’s wrong”? Ashton asked, tilting his head as he took the seat next to him.

“I dunno,” Caleb pursed his lips and looked at him. “It... it seems like a dream. I mean, we still have a lot to do, wedding plans and all... and with my overtime, it might be a bit difficult to make time. But seeing you with Connor today, getting along as if we have always been a little family...” Caleb sighed.

“Isn’t that what you wanted”? Ashton frowned.

“It’s exactly what I wanted,” Caleb chuckled. “Which is why it is harder to believe.” He hummed.

Ashton was still confused. All this time Caleb tried to encourage Ashton to bond with Connor, and now that he has, Caleb tells him that he thought it won’t be easy. It was a bit hard not to feel hurt. “What does that mean”? He asked.

“I am happy, Ashton,” Caleb mumbled. “Happier than I have ever been in a long time. Last time I felt this way was probably when we got together. As if I got everything I wished for...” Caleb sighed. Ashton waited for Caleb to continue. “I am just scared of what will happen next. I want this to last forever”

“It will,” Ashton prompted.

“How can you possibly know that”? Caleb rolled his eyes, glancing at him.

“Because I will do everything in my power to keep it that way.” Ashton whispered and planted a soft, but a lingering kiss on his mate’s lips. “And I know so will you. We got this. Together.” Ashton smiled.

Caleb smiled before putting his head on Ashton’s shoulder. “I love you... so much, Ashton Parker.”

“I love you too, so much, Sheriff Caleb Wrisberg,” Ashton smirked, putting his arms over Caleb’s shoulders bringing him closer after which he put his head over Caleb’s, thus enjoying their moment of tranquility.