The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 97: The idea must excite him

<A/N: Back to the main plot, y’all>

After all was said and done, I turned to Damar.

He gazed at me, and I looked back, smiling. I was proud of him. Proud that he didn’t just charge in and make a mess, proud that he listened and allowed me to handle it even when the things they were doing had crossed the line of reason.

"You did good, Damar," I said, stroking his face and he smiled.

"I’m glad you feel that way, Ari." He said and I could almost see the blush on his cheek.

"Arinya," Fenric called and I turned to him. "Sorry I left you by yourself." He said, having an expression filled with guilt and disappointment. "It’s because of me that things got to this point,"

Well, if he had been with me and not left me with Kaelor, Kaelor wouldn’t have been able to pull that stunt. So, I guess yes, he’s partly to blame.

But look at the bright side.

"It ended well," I said.

Now Damar was exposed to the tribe and I had given Veyra a good beating. Though the words they said and how they accused me hurt, it was all worth it when I think of the slaps I gave her and those two brothers.

"You had no idea Kaelor would try anything with me either so it’s not your fault. You trusted him, because he always said good things about me. I don’t blame you for trusting him." I said and he raised his gaze.

"I’ll make it up to you," he said inching closer and closing the gap.

He held my hand firmly and said,

"I’ll definitely make it up to you."

There was no point telling him to forget about it because it would only leave a burden in his heart, so I decided to accept it.

"Alright," I said, smiling at him. "I’ll wait for when you make it up to me."

He nodded, his tail wagging behind him.

Damar threw his head aside.

"Hmph!"

Their relationship didn’t look like it was getting any worse than this so it’s all good.

After talking with Damar and Fenric for a while, I decided.

I clasped my hands together, ready to announce my decision to my husbands waiting for my words.

"Damar, why don’t you live with me until I finally leave the tribe?" I asked and their eyes widened.

"You mean this snake? Here?" Fenric asked, shocked and I nodded.

"What do you think, Damar?" I asked. "I know the environment is not as cool as around the lake, but I really want you to be close by. I don’t want you to live as an outcast any longer."

"I..." He paused, his words mixing in his head.

He didn’t know what to say, but it didn’t look like he hated the idea either. At least, that’s what the expression on his face said.

There was a warm glow in his emerald eyes, and even as he lowered his head, I could see him smiling faintly.

The idea must excite him.

"Wouldn’t that trouble you, Ari?" He asked, being as considerate as he always was.

"Not at all," I said. "I already announced to everyone that you’re my mate and I plan to show off to everyone. If they don’t like you, well it’s their problem, not mine." I shrugged.

I acted carefree about this and that’s because I didn’t want to worry anymore. Whether it was conspiracies or false accusations, I didn’t worry that they would crop up anymore, because if they did, I planned to resort to violence and knock out the teeth of anyone who was trying to mess with my peaceful life.

"Hurry up and answer," Fenric nudged him with his elbow. "You’re making Arinya wait for your response."

"Then, I will accept, Ari," he said with gladness in his face. "I will come live with you in your tribe, until it is time for us to leave."

I felt happy and threw myself on him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I’m so happy, Damar."

"Hey, don’t I get a hug too?" Fenric said, pouting and I chuckled.

"Yes, yes, come here."

He happily came over but Damar hissed at him, acting possessive again. Fenric growled at him too, and they engaged in a battle with their eyes.

And so with that, I proudly walked into the public area where there were a lot of tiger beastmen gathered.

They stared in horror as I strutted with my shoulders firm and my chin held high while my mates walked behind me.

Their eyes were on Damar, whispering and judging about how I would bring ruin to the tribe but I didn’t care.

They could talk and gossip all they wanted, but as long as words held no swords, they couldn’t harm me.

I arrived at Chief Kasa’s lodging and found my father there as well.

He, as well as a few elders were seated, as if they had been having a meeting.

But they were in fact waiting for me to come over and prove the miracle of preserving meat for multiple days.

My father saw Damar and scowled, but he looked away before he made it even more obvious.

"So it has come to this," one of the elders, ah, one who I knew very well because he was fond of pointing fingers and accusing me as a criminal in the so-called trials, scoffed.

He had a very wrinkled face, eyes that seemed devoid of life, and rat-scratched hair.

Yeah, that’s right. He was the least bit likable with that mean personality of his.

And I hate him.

"A snake in our tribe," he said, not even trying to lower his voice given the one he was talking so rudely about was there as well.

"And what happened to a snake in our tribe?" I asked, folding my arms as I felt seriously irked.

He looked at me with those dead eyes of his and I felt I was going to have nightmares because of them.

"Damar is my spouse. If you have any problems with the identity of my spouse, then let’s hear it."

I’ll make sure to kick that stupid ego of yours. He thinks he can say whatever he wants just because he’s an elder, but he thought wrong.

You can’t mess with my husband and get away with it.