The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 94: Christmas Special

(Christmas special taking place in an alternate universe with Stephanie being a veterinary doctor)

It’s Christmas Eve.

I stretched my arms wide above my head and then yawned.

It had been a long busy day. As they say, doctors don’t take breaks. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

My name is Stephanie and I am a veterinary doctor. I own a clinic in the far end of the suburbs. Although the area is desolate, I get plenty of customers and a bunch of adorable animal patients who often need my help.

I’ve taken care of the last one and I’m ready to clock off.

I am alone. Even the animals I was treating earlier got taken home just to spend Christmas with their family.

Unlike them, I don’t have a family.

I don’t have friends who check up on me or invite me over for drinks and I don’t have a lover either.

This is going to be one of my many Christmas Eves spent alone, wallowing in either my clinic rest room or my room back home.

I sighed.

Though I’ve gotten used to my loneliness, I just can’t be happy with it. I want a lover too.

I want to spend a hot night with a hot guy. I want to feel those tight ripped muscles, and... I was salivating before I even knew it.... and then wished each other merry Christmas once the clock struck 12.

I lit a small candle on top of a small cupcake and made a small wish with my hands clasped together, like I did every other Christmas Eve.

"I wish to have a handsome man with a hot body to myself. Even two if I can, haha."

Maybe it’s because my wish sounds so ridiculous that it never comes true but I can’t think of anything else to wish for.

In truth, I’m actually scared that if I put my all into a wish and it doesn’t come true, the disappointment will be too deep to handle.

So, instead of having grand expectations, I would rather wish for hot men with hot bodies

"Santa, hurry up and send my handsome men over here!" I ranted and then laughed, but the laugh faded as I blew the candle and drove my fingers through my hair.

I looked like a mess.

I took off my glasses, cleaned them, and wore them again.

It was nice while it lasted, now I have to wake up to reality.

I picked up my handbag, locked the door, and then looked outside.

The path was dark and filled with trees.

I always took this path, especially since I clocked out late, but I can’t not get scared whenever I go through it.

The wind brushed against my coat as I stepped onto the narrow path, my boots crunching softly against dry leaves.

I hugged my coat closer to myself while gripping the long handle of my bag.

Just get to the car, I told myself. Like every other night. Nothing would happen. No one even came this way at night so there was no need to worry.

But no one knows what might happen any time so I can’t drop my guard.

Just as my steps hurried, hitting the concrete floor, I heard a sound.

A low, pained, almost like a hiss tangled with a growl kind of sound.

I froze.

My heart thudded alarmingly in my chest as I listened harder, straining my ears. There it was again. This time it was clearer. Something was hurt.

Against my better judgment, I turned my flashlight toward the sound and followed it off the path.

The beam landed on a disturbing sight.

A large silver snake lay coiled awkwardly against a fallen log, its scales dulled and streaked with blood. Nearby, a cat—far larger than any stray I’d seen—was sprawled against the roots of a tree, its white and black fur matted red at the side.

They looked like they’d fought.

It was a horrible fight, and as a lover of animals, this sight shook my heart.

"Oh my God..." I whispered, rushing forward without thinking.

The snake lifted its head weakly, emerald eyes narrowing in warning, while the cat let out a low, defensive hiss. Even injured, they were dangerous, I knew that fact, but if I let them be, they could be in an even more dangerous situation.

What if the cat had been poisoned by the snake?

"I’m not going to hurt you," I murmured instinctively, my vet instincts kicking in. "You’re both hurt and I’m going to treat you. That’s all."

It was absurd—talking to them like they could understand—but something in their gazes made my chest tighten. They weren’t feral who couldn’t understand. They were very aware, maybe it was because they were injured and calm.

With careful movements, I sedated them one after the other, my hands shaking. I worked with all sorts of animals for a long time but I’ve never worked with a snake.

I hated snakes, in fact. Afraid, is more like it. But it didn’t mean I would let it die just because of my fears.

I took off my coat and wrapped it around the cat while wrapping the snake around my neck.

I was playing a risky game but after taking a closer look, I realized it was a breed that didn’t have poison. Even then, having a snake around my neck... Just where did all my caution go?

I didn’t think, I just acted.

I didn’t question why a snake and a cat had injuries that looked suspiciously deliberate—or why leaving them there felt wrong in a way I couldn’t explain.

I ran back to my clinic, scurrying for my keys and then opening the clinic with shaky hands.

...

I treated them through the night, cleaned their wounds, made sure there was no poison, and applied bandages.

I monitored their breathing until exhaustion finally dragged me to close my eyes.

They’ll be fine right?

I did everything, and they were sleeping peacefully, too. So, I have nothing to worry about.

I must’ve fallen asleep at my desk.

Because the next thing I knew— there were voices in the clinic I was sure I had locked from the inside.

"You’re the one who started it."

"I finished it. There’s a difference."

I jolted awake, raising my head from the desk, my glasses tilted awkwardly.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs as I shot to my feet, staring toward the treatment room. Who was it?

How did they get in here?

From what I heard, it was two men.

And from what I saw... Gulp... They were very naked men.

Well—mostly naked. Bandages were wrapped strategically around their torso and hips, clearly stolen from my supply cabinet.

One of them had long, sleek silver hair cascading down his back, his emerald eyes sharp with an irritated scowl. The other had messy white hair, unmistakable cat ears twitching atop his head, and a white and black tail flicking behind him in agitation as he faced off against the other guy.

They were intruders.

They... They were beautiful.

In a way that made my brain short-circuit.

"This," I gulped, rubbing my eyes, "This is definitely a dream... Right?"