Chapter 209 - The Son

Ashton looked at the kid and at Caleb back and forth. Caleb seemed to be unbothered by Ashton's surprise and simply observed Ashton's response. "Who...is he?" Connor asked from the back of Ashton.

"Remember I told you about Ashton, this is him". Connor introduced to his son. "This is Connor". Caleb introduced Ashton. 

"..." Ashton opened his mouth, but failed to say anything. So instead, he linked Caleb. [What? How? When? Where] He just blabbered whatever question words he could think of.

"Can I go to my room"? Connor asked. Caleb nodded at him and carefully avoiding Ashton he vanished. Caleb motioned to Mr Gibson to follow after Connor who was standing behind Ashton earlier. After Mr. Gibson was gone Caleb took a few steps further.

"You're a Dad"? Ashton asked before Caleb.

"Yeah," Caleb shrugged.

"Why didn't you tell me?"Ashton asked in confusion. "I mean...how? He is seven right?" Ashton asked.

"Almost" Caleb chuckled. "Believe it or not, it's his birthday next week". Caleb informed him.

Ashton paused and tried to do math with his disheveled mind and realised that Connor was born a year and a month later after he disappeared. "Wait, whose son is he?" Caleb raised his eyebrow so Ashton asked again, "I meant biologically?"

"Well…" Caleb trailed off. He looked around himself to make sure no one was around and murmured. "You remember my ex-roommate Warren? His son. This kid is half vampire" Caleb came clean. 

"You and Warren"? Ashton's eyes widened four fold.

And so did Caleb's and therefore he shouted, "Ewww! NO!!" Trying to bring down his voice. "Why the hell would me and Warren get a kid??? He had a mate. I have a mate"! Caleb huffed.

"Sorry...he called you Dad" Ashton tried to justify his assumption. 

"No… because I raised him," Caleb sighed. "He was born to Karolyn and Warren originally. But, a lot of people from Karolyn's former pack didn't approve of her relationship".

"But they were fated mates!" Ashton prompted.

"I know. But some wolves still have their prejudices" Caleb sighed. "Since Vampires are technically dead, and Vampire and werewolves don't mix, no one actually expected them to conceive, not even Karolyn and Warren ''. Caleb shrugged. 

"So they abandoned him?" Ashton frowned. He did not like the idea and was not thrilled with wherever this story was going. 

"Of course not"! Caleb snapped. "The pregnancy might have been a surprise but they were really excited to have him. Unfortunately, the wolves felt otherwise...and they…" Caleb hesitated. "They killed them."

Ashton's eyes widened as soon as he heard that. He paled and honestly felt the anger bottled up inside of him resurface. He could relate this story to his childhood. He might not have known why his parents were killed, but he knew they were hunted too. And just like Karolyn and Warren they couldn't make it.

As if Caleb could read what was going on inside of his mind Caleb put his hand on Ashton's shoulders, "You are right". He smiled. "His story resembles you".

"Are you…" he was going to ask 'are you in my head' but Caleb shook his head before he could finish.

"I could tell. I myself had noticed the resemblance" Caleb sighed. "She knew if her parents had him he wouldn't be safe. Warren's parents were human, they won't be able to deal with a kid who is a Vampire and a werewolf at the same time. So she asked me… to take him" Caleb mumbled. "To keep him safe"

"They didn't know she delivered before she died. She faked being pregnant." Caleb informed him after a minute. "I couldn't refuse her either. I offered help to fight but she declined. She insisted that she needed me to protect her kid. And faking her child's death, dying herself was her only option" he breathed recalling that horrible day. 

"You didn't try to convince her otherwise"? Ashton asked. He was never fond of Karolyn but he never wanted such a terrible fate for her. Ashton was sure that the most terrible thing that happened in the past few years was their separation. But he was clearly wrong. He hated that he was wrong. And the very fact Caleb had to deal with so much loss all by himself made him feel… even more guilty. 

"You didn't think I tried?" Caleb scoffed. "She is one stubborn girl. And with pregnancy she was even more stubborn."

"I am sorry" Ashton whispered.

"Me too," Caleb mumbled. 

"Does… Connor know?" Ashton asked after a minute. 

Caleb shook his head gently and mumbled, "I didn't know how to tell him. People used to tease him for not having a mom. I told him I have a mate and that… he is missing for now." Caleb looked Ashton in the eye on the verge of tearing up. "This is okay with you right?" He asked. "Adopting him was my decision, I will not force you to do the same just because you are my mate" he declared. 

"Are you kidding?" Ashton frowned. "You gave a home to a kid who needed it. I couldn't be more proud of being your mate" Ashton chuckled and planted a kiss on Caleb's lips. 

After Ashton pulled away Caleb mumbled, "Good". 

"I don't think he likes me though" Ashton mumbled after a while. 

"He just met you. He doesn't really like anybody. You should try to befriend him. Give him time, he might open up." Caleb advised. 

"Do you even know me?" Ashton asked. "I'm not a very people person either".

"Exactly. He is like you. You should know how to deal with him"! Caleb shrugged. 

"I don't think you understand how people like me function. We are not good at making friends" Ashton retorted.

"He is a kid. Not a ghost. Try talking to him at least". Caleb begged. "If it helps, I told him about you before. I told him how similar you two were and he kind of admires you. Try talking to him, maybe he will like you. He is just scared because he never met you". Caleb sighed.

"You think?" Ashton gulped. Caleb nodded at him in order to encourage him. Ashton took a deep breath, "Alright, I'll give it a try".

Meanwhile….

"Can you bring me a sandwich" Connor asked Mr. Gibson as soon as he spotted him. He sometimes hated how Mr. Gibson was always around instead of his Dad. 

While emptying his backpack he realised he forgot the pamphlet he was supposed to give to his father in the Car. He simply jumped out of the window and with his skills, jumpimg was no big deal no matter wherever he was.

His climbing skills however were still work ij progress thanks to his tiny arms and legs and therefore he was forced to take the front door. He halted when he heard his Dad and his mate talk and listened. When he heard, "...I raised him," Caleb sighed. "He was born to Karolyn and Warren…" Connpr froze. Wait, Caleb wasn't his real Dad? But...why? Why...why did his parents gave him to Caleb. 

As Caleb proceeded with the story of his birth, the one that Caleb never dared to tell Connor to his face, Connor started to feel tears escaping the bounds of his eyes. He was so angry that he wanted to tear apart anyone he saw. Fighting the urge, he ran away. He ran away to the one place that provided him solace in times like this… but would it really help this time? He wondered.