The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 204: Your words, not mine

Noah stayed quiet for a long moment, his hand still resting against my jaw.

The teasing glint in his eyes didn’t disappear, but it softened into something much more grounded. He tilted my head up just a bit, forcing me to look at him properly.

"Enough?" he repeated, his voice dropping into that low, vibrating hum that always made my skin prickle. "Arinya, you’re far from a regular female," he stated. "You’re a female who managed to take a snake as a mate, that’s something. Quite fearless. And not just taking a snake as a mate, you have a snow tiger. You made them both share a bed without killing each other. And now you’re the one carrying a cub that’s knitting three different bloodlines together. Powerful bloodlines, if I might say. So calling you ’enough’ or even ’regular’ feels like an insult. You... You’re going to be a mother of great beasts."

His praises felt much, but he didn’t lie.

Everything he said was true and made my heart thump in warmth. He acknowledged me and my very existence for how capable I am at bagging my mates. How ironic that I didn’t need to do too much work to actually get them since my scent worked for me.

But it’s not bad.

He leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine. I could smell the lingering scent of ashwood coming from him. And a cool night lake too, as if he was one with the lake.

"If being my wife is what you want to be known as, then fine," he murmured. "I’ll take it. But don’t expect me to stop being curious. A female who was ’ignored’ doesn’t usually look at the world with eyes as sharp as yours. It makes me even more curious now."

I let out a soft huff, my heart doing a little skip. "You talk too much."

"And you dodge questions like a pro," he shot back, grinning. He shifted, pulling me a little more firmly against his side, mindful of my aching hips. "But I’m a patient beast. I’ve got a lifetime to figure you out now, don’t I?"

I didn’t answer. I just let my eyes flutter shut, resting my weight against him. For a guy who had literally forced his way into our lives, he was surprisingly easy to lean on.

"By the way," a thought that hadn’t crossed my mind suddenly did. "What were you doing out in the middle of nowhere if you have a tribe and ’responsibility’?" I asked and he leaned in.

"Now who’s the curious one?" He teased.

"I’m just worried if you’re on the run for doing something bad. Maybe you killed a beast?"

"Hm, and what would you do if I did? Would you abandon me?" He asked but I swatted it away, waving my hand in the air.

"No way," I said, simply. "I already took you in so you’re my responsibility now. If you’re on the run or you did something wrong, you just need to say the words and we’ll defend you with everything we have."

Noah went silent for a second and then began to laugh.

He suddenly kissed my cheek and said,

"That’s so adorable of you, but I don’t think the others will share that thought." He said, and I knew his concern, but he was wrong there.

"They will," I said, looking at him with firm eyes, showing how serious I was. "We’re family now and they won’t stand and watch while others bully their family member. That promise Damar made you swear... It goes both ways."

Noah was taken aback.

Truly, it felt like he had stumbled upon an irreplaceable treasure.

He placed his hand on his mouth, thinking, and then his lips tugged up so wide he couldn’t even hide it behind his hand.

"Truly wonderful." He muttered and then turned to me. "You have something so good going here, Arinya. I suddenly feel like the lucky one here."

"What?" I tilted my head. "Did you think I was the lucky one for having you as a mate?"

"Well," he shrugged his shoulders. "Your words not mine."

Gosh, he was such a tease.

But I guess we needed this energy around here to balance things out.

"Well, that’s that. Now tell me, why were you in the middle of nowhere?"

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps signaled the return of the others and this broke our atmosphere, sweeping the question and answer session underneath the ground for a bit.

Fenric stepped out of the bushes first, balancing a large deer on the floor, and in his other hand was a huge pot of water.

Because it was heavy, it caused his muscles to bulge even harder till his pale skin turned red.

But... It was sexy.

"Phew." He let out a sigh, as he dropped the pot of water as well, wiping the sweat with the back of his palm. "This should do it."

Then, Damar came back as well. He was carrying a bundle of bruised, minty-smelling leaves as well as others that I don’t recognize too much.

But why the minty leaves? Wasn’t that what he used to help me with my scarred face and arm? Did I get a wound somewhere that I don’t know about?

"I came here first despite doing all the heavy lifting. You’re so slow." He taunted and Damar turned to him.

"I needed to make sure I got the right herbs." He said and openly mocked Fenric. "This requires more precision and intelligence. It’s nothing for you to compare using brute strength to."

He sneered at him, purposely raising his body so he would seem taller and look down at Fenric from above. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Fenric growled, feeling insulted but then they heard me laugh. It was more like a stifle but yeah, a laugh.

With how they were both ganging up on Noah before, I almost forgot how those two used to bicker.

They both stopped and turned to see me tucked under Noah’s arm. Fenric’s jaw tightened, and Damar’s eyes narrowed, but neither of them started a fight. They just changed priority.

"The water is cold," Damar said, gliding over to my side.

He intentionally pushed Noah away and took the place next to me, caring and gentle with me.

"I found the cooling herbs. They’ll help with the swelling as well as the scratch on your knee." He said and I looked at my knee.

Ah, so that’s where I was wounded. I didn’t even know since the ache in my thighs was stronger.

"And the meat is fresh," Fenric added, sitting on my other side to make sure Noah didn’t occupy there. "I’ll set the fire now and prepare our meal so hold on a bit, wife."

I looked from the tiger to the snake, and then back to the wolf, who was watching in amusement.

They were all hovering, all focused on me, all trying to be the one I relied on most. It was a lot to handle first thing in the morning, but it’s not like I wouldn’t die for such attention in the past.

"Alright," I said. "Let’s do this one at a time," I said. "And... Thank you for caring so much."