The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 84: Why would you go this far?

Zevak stepped forward.

"I get it now. Brother Kaelor got injured when fighting off that snake and you stood on its side." He ranted. "How could you?"

"Arinya, do you know what snakes do to cubs?" Ashren asked. "Do you know how many stories we’ve heard? How many villages were wiped out because of a snake beastman?"

"I don’t know," I said. "How many?" I shamelessly asked.

"You—"

And that got on their nerves, of course, but what do I do?

They were being so stupid and carried by Veyra’s baseless assumption.

"It’s clear you don’t care what happens to this tribe, so what Veyra said is clearly true," Zevak said, and I nearly sighed.

How do they use their brains?

"Well, I don’t care what you say or how you see this situation but I’m not about to dance to the whims of anyone," I said, my eyes narrowing at Veyra. "Especially not to idiots."

Veyra frowned and decided to put on a bigger show.

"I feel so bad for Brother Kaelor. He was fighting that beast all alone and now he’s badly hurt." She whimpered. "Arinya, did you secretly plan to kill brother Kaelor where no one would see? Why would you do such a thing when he treats you better than anyone else? Are you that shameless?"

That bitch. She’s just throwing accusations on top of accusations, not even giving me a chance to speak.

If this goes on, and more folks gather, the situation will blow out even more

It’s more so if Kaelor decides to get revenge on me for not going to him and says I brought Damar in to attack him.

After all, they will believe him more than they would believe me.

"That’s a serious accusation," Solin mumbled under her breath, but she still didn’t stop her. It was as if she wanted to see how I would handle this situation.

Ashren scowled at me. "Is this true?" he asked, as if he would believe me if I said otherwise.

Veyra turned on me then, tears spilling freely.

"Why would you go this far?" she cried. "Just because people don’t like you? Just because you feel wronged? You’d endanger everyone—our cubs—just to get revenge?"

My chest tightened at the mention of that.

"What?" I said, incredulous.

"She’s always resented the tribe," Zevak said grimly. "Always thought she was better than everyone."

When did I ever think that way?

"Look at how she was showing off just last night."

Ah, is this about the meat? Because I didn’t give them any of the barbecue?

Are they bitter because of that?

"And now she brings a snake," Ashren added, disgust thick in his voice. "What kind of female does that? Not even the males do some things so dangerous. You see," he glared at me. "This is why you’re not welcome anywhere."

Damar hissed.

The words he heard were not ones he could just brush aside and pretend never to have heard.

They had crossed a line there.

But I couldn’t let him act. I couldn’t give them a reason to point their fingers even further.

If he attacked them, they could conveniently say that I ordered him to attack them because they were speaking the truth, and I wanted to get rid of any witnesses.

Damar was impatient and I could feel how edgy he had become, but I still didn’t let him act.

Sure, I would want more than anything to shut their despicable mouths and shove their words down their throat, even kill them if I wanted, but I can’t let Damar do that.

I... Have to be the one to take action. But not yet. I feel it’s not the time yet.

"She’s such a monster."

"Ungrateful."

"She’s finally shown her true face."

I pressed my palm to my face and shook my head slowly.

They were unbelievable.

Veyra sniffed, wiping her tears as she looked at them helplessly.

"I tried to defend her," she said softly. "I really did. But this... this is too much. She didn’t have to go this far."

I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, ’Bitch, even Satan would give up his crown for you and let you rule over the demons with lies and fraud.’

How can she be so shameless?

But every time I opened my mouth, one of

Though I wanted to explain myself, it was clear that no matter what I said, it wouldn’t matter.

As such, I waited until they’re done.

Once they were panting, out of accusations to throw at me, I placed my hand on my hips, tilted my head to the side, and glared.

"Are you done?"

"You... You’re still having your head held high?" Ashren pointed his fingers at me and my forehead creased.

"Why should I lower my head? I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong."

"What did you say?!"

No matter what I said, it wouldn’t matter.

Veyra saw that I was unaffected and this agitated her.

Why isn’t she scared?

Why isn’t she begging us?

She’s way too calm.

Her emotions were spilling out of her face but it looked like I was the only one who could see them.

Then, she straightened suddenly, resolve hardening beneath her fake tears. She decided to try harder.

"Father needs to know," she declared. "Right now. The chief has to hear that there’s a snake this close to the village."

My head snapped up.

"No."

She didn’t even look at me but gloated secretly. She got me.

"This isn’t something we can hide," she continued, speaking to Ashren. "If something happens and we stay silent, the blood will be on our hands.

Ashren nodded. "The entire village needs to know there’s a snake beastman, and Arinya brought him in."

Something inside me finally cracked.

I dropped my hand from my hip and laughed—a sharp, broken sound.

"So that’s it," I said quietly. "You’ve already decided. You’re all so pathetic, trying to make me out to be the criminal once again."

Veyra looked at me then, eyes glossy, lips trembling. "Arinya... why are you making yourself the victim again? You brought the snake beastman here."

Solin finally spoke, her gaze steady, unreadable. "You’re assuming such a big matter without proof. Now that doesn’t look like such a sibling thing to do, does it?"