Chapter 238: Training a Dragon-Wolf Baby

Chapter 238: Training a Dragon-Wolf Baby
Late Afternoon – Manor Garden

The sun was lazily setting over Sacred Moon, casting a soft golden light across the manor garden. A warm breeze rustled the leaves, and somewhere nearby, a bird was singing.

On a blanket laid out near the rose bushes, Kaelan slept peacefully, wrapped in a sleeping bag adorned with silver wolf cubs. A few meters away, Lya chatted with Elora, keeping a tender eye on her two sons.

But Loric had a mission.

Deeply focused, the four-year-old had armed himself with a stolen kitchen treat and a small wooden whistle he had crafted two days earlier—"to talk to real wolves," he had proudly declared.

He knelt before Kaelan, adopted the posture of a professional trainer—just like he had seen Viggo do during drills—and blew softly into the whistle. A hesitant pfiout escaped.

Kaelan opened one eye. Stared. Then… went back to sleep.

Loric frowned. "No, no, no, that's not how a real little wolf acts."

He tried again, louder this time. Pfiiooouuuut!

Kaelan opened one eye, let out a tiny bubble-giggle in his sleep… and released a loud fart.

Silence.

Elora coughed to hide a laugh, and Lya clapped a hand over her mouth.

But Loric wasn't giving up. He waved the treat under the baby’s nose.

"Look, Kaelan. If you go 'grr grr' like a watchful wolf, you can have this."

Kaelan, now fully awake, stared at him intently…

…then grabbed the treat with unsettling precision, shoved it into his mouth—only to grimace and burst into tears.

Panic.

"No, no, it's okay! It's okay! You don’t have to eat it!"

Loric waved his arms, backed up, tripped over the blanket, and landed on the grass, both flustered and determined.

Lya rushed over, scooping Kaelan into her arms, gently stroking his tiny membranous wings to soothe him, all while fighting a smile.

"Loric, sweetheart... he's a little young for training. And remember, he's a baby... not a puppy."

Loric pouted. "But I wanted him to answer the whistle. Like Handres!"

Caleb, who had just arrived, raised a brow. "Handres doesn’t answer to whistles, little Beta."

Elora, arms crossed and voice shaking with laughter, added: "And let me remind you, Caleb, even you don’t always answer when I call."

Loric crossed his arms, dramatically. "Pff... Dragons aren't obedient."

At that moment, Kaelan sneezed—a tiny blue flame flickered from his mouth and licked the abandoned treat.

It caught fire.

Stunned silence.

Then Caleb said seriously, "I take it back. He's got excellent aim."

Evening – Family Bedroom at the Manor

The fire crackled gently in the hearth, casting golden shadows across the walls. The manor had finally quieted down after a day filled with firsts—first cries, coos, and miniature flames from the royal baby.

On the large armchair beside the crib, Caleb sat shirtless, a blanket draped over his legs, holding Kaelan against his shoulder.

The hybrid baby, full and warm, still squirmed a little, his wings gently fluttering as if his body hadn’t realized it was bedtime.

Caleb tightened his embrace, placed a firm hand on his back, and began a rhythmic rocking. Slow. Deep. Steady. A wolf's lullaby.

He even added a low rumble in his throat—a soothing, instinctive vibration, the kind mother wolves used to calm their pups.

"There you go, little flame... Breathe with me... Just like that..."

Kaelan quieted a bit, his eyelids fluttering, but his wings still twitched.

Caleb frowned. "You're acting like a nervous pup... Wait, I know a method."

He started rocking more energetically, with a slight push at each sway—a warrior-pack rock, designed to calm even the most stubborn cubs.

"Come on, son, this is how you lull war pups to sleep. Breath rhythm... spinal anchoring... ancient stuff."

A wooden creak. Lya appeared in the doorway. She had just finished tidying up Loric’s room, and clearly did not approve of the alpha-dad technique.

She raised a brow. "Caleb. Are you... shaking our baby like a training dummy?"

Caleb froze. Kaelan let out a comical hiccup, then sneezed a tiny flame that singed the blanket.

Caleb looked at the blanket. Then at Lya. Then back at the blanket.

"That was... controlled. A measured flame. He’s improving."

Lya approached, gently took Kaelan into her arms with protective softness and a mock-stern look.

"This baby is half dragon. Not a mini-wolf. We don't 'rock' him like a grumpy pup."

Caleb, mildly offended, folded his arms. "I was honoring tradition."

Lya kissed his temple. "And I’m making sure his vertebrae stay in place."

Kaelan, snug against his mother, let out a satisfied sigh.

Caleb grumbled under his breath: "I was going to do that. Just with more muscle."

Lya, teasing: "You have a whole pack for that, my king. Leave the cuddles to the dragon."

Late Afternoon – Sunlit Manor Lounge

Golden light streamed through the large bay windows. Lya sat in the old armchair by the library, Kaelan asleep in her arms, his tiny wings folded neatly against his back.

With a gentle motion, she rocked the chair back and forth, softly humming an ancient lullaby from dragon legends. Her voice, low and warm, echoed like a caress in the quiet.

"Sleep, my treasure, in fire’s breath, Where sky and stars embrace in depth, Your wings of mist, your eyes of light, Shall guide you far from fear or fight."

Kaelan slept soundly, tiny fingers clinging to a fold in Lya's robe.

In the doorway, slightly ajar, Caleb stood with arms crossed, leaning against the frame, watching the scene with a look so soft that Garrett would've mocked it instantly.

Next to him, Loric stood on tiptoe, tugging at Caleb’s pants.

"Is she singing to him?" he whispered, eyes shining.

Caleb nodded silently.

"It’s pretty..." murmured the little boy, listening again.

Then Kaelan let out a tiny coo in his sleep—followed by a miniature growl, rough and ridiculously cute, like a baby dragon trying to sound fierce.

Caleb blinked. Loric’s eyes widened.

"Is... that normal?"

"For a dragon? Totally," said Caleb proudly.

Loric nodded, impressed. "He’s kinda scary... but super cute."

Lya looked up slowly, amused. "I can hear you."

Caleb grinned, pretending to be caught. "We would never..."

Loric, far less subtle: "I would!"

Lya glanced between the two of them, then looked down at Kaelan. "This baby is going to be completely spoiled."

Caleb finally stepped into the room, gently picked up Loric, and sat down beside the chair.

Loric laid his head on Caleb's shoulder. "We really are a pack, huh?"

Caleb held both his sons close. "The finest pack there is."