The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 143: Don’t deprive Arinya of her right

While most of the novel was filled with animalistic desire and adventure, since there was no villain, I decided to add a plot that could be more moving.

An arc filled with pain for both the female lead and her males.

I shut my eyes, biting my lip, regretting.

I might not be the female lead, and this isn’t the exact world of my novel, but the mere thought of the possibility that something similar might happen in my life scared me.

Even worse... It is unavoidable because she suddenly becomes possessed on their walks by a vengeful spirit that hates spouses who are happy.

So, if something like that does happen, I hope they know it’s not me trying to hurt them.

I hope they can believe in me and wait for it to pass.

And for that to happen, I must keep reassuring them every chance I get.

Though, it might not happen to me because I’m not the original female lead, I’m just worried that this world will recognize me as the female lead because I am doing the things the female lead in my own novel was supposed to do.

Damar let out a long, shuddering breath and finally, finally, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a crushing embrace. It wasn’t the tentative touch from before. It was a calm hug.

"Then I will stay," Damar promised against my hair, his voice vibrating through my chest. "I will stay until the warmth is enough to heal you completely, Ari."

Fenric moved then, shifting so he could wrap his arms around both of us, his heat seeping into my back, shielding us from the cold draft of the cave. For the first time since the horror began, the sting of my scratches didn’t matter.

I could feel our heartbeats so vividly in our enclosed embrace.

Mine was warm, same as theirs. Gentle beats with a lasting promise.

Our fingers interlocked, and the sound of our shallow breaths filled the silent cave like a symphony.

After a while, we were ready to depart.

Damar wore the jige on his back, like a school bag.

"How is it? Heavy?" I asked but he shook his head. "Just let us know if you’re getting tired. Don’t keep it to yourself just because of your pride. If you get hurt while being prideful, I won’t forgive you." I said and he nodded once again.

I smiled and then reached my hand out, patting his head.

This head pat got the end of his tail slapping the ground like an excited puppy’s.

Hm, that’s new.

"Alright, Arinya. I’m set as well." Fenric said and I turned to find him wearing the tunic I made for him in my spare time.

Making a tunic wasn’t hard, since I just needed to make sure it stayed on and didn’t fall off. It’s more like a scarf made from a weasel’s pelt.

"Hm," I took a good look at it and then shook my head. "This won’t do."

I did make it so he could keep the cold out a bit, but this was just hiding the wonder of his hot body.

I snatched the tunic, shocking him, and then wrapped it around my neck, adding a layer of warmth that felt just right, leaving Fenric bare-chested again.

My eyes glinted.

"Now, that’s perfect."

Fenric pouted.

"But you made that for me."

"Oh, don’t be a big baby," I tapped his chest and then slowly roamed my hand up. "Damar doesn’t have one and he’s not complaining. Besides, you don’t want to hide this from me, do you?"

"Don’t deprive Arinya of her right." Damar suddenly said and we both looked at him, stunned.

I never thought Damar would say something like that outside mating.

Our situation must’ve taught him something.

I doubt they even know what real rights mean, but he’s using words I usually use on them. What a fast learner.

I chuckled.

"Well said, Damar."

Then I hooked both of my arms in theirs, tugging them along.

"Let’s just go. I don’t want to stay any longer."

We stood at the entrance of the tribe, the morning light hitting the worn, shabby fence of the fortress. I stared at the place that had held Arinya for so long, the cage that never let her escape, and then looked back over my shoulder.

There was no one there to see us off. No crowd, no ceremony. But I didn’t care. It was going to be a new beginning for us, and right now, no one else mattered.

I breathed in deep, the air tasting different already, and let out a ragged sigh to steady my racing heart.

"Alright, boys," I said, my voice finally firm. "Let’s get moving."

But just before I took a step, a voice cracked through the silence from behind us.

"Arinya!"

I turned to see Solin waving from a distance, her father standing stiffly by her side.

"Make sure to come visit the Chrysthorn Tribe, Arinya!" she yelled, her voice carrying across the dirt. "If you don’t, I’ll hold my brother accountable!"

I was taken aback at first, a lump forming in my throat, but I forced a smile and replied back. "Sure thing!"

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement. Kaelor was hiding by a hut, watching me silently. Beyond him, I saw others—tribesmen tucked behind fences and shadows, watching us secretly. I realized then that there were more people trying to catch a glimpse of my departure than I had thought.

Fortunately, no sight of the witch Veyra. She’s probably too eaten up to show her face in public again.

It was such a happy moment for me, seeing how I had instilled fear in those who once bullied Arinya and made her feel like dirt.

They felt like stalkers now, trying to take a gossip shot of a sensational figure.

"Haha, what’s this? Am I a celebrity now?" I remarked with a dry laugh.

I didn’t give them the satisfaction of a polite goodbye. Instead, as I turned away, I raised my hand and shamelessly flashed my middle finger at the hidden audience.

"So long, suckers! Let’s never see each other again!"

The weight on my shoulders lifted instantly. It felt so relieving, a final burst of defiance as I stepped out of the tribe’s reach with Fenric and Damar at my sides.

Nothing could hold me back now.

[End of Volume one]