Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 174: Is It Him? (II)

Since Garou noticed her restlessness, he felt obligated to ease her worries, as it was his duty as her bodyguard to protect her both physically and mentally.

"Worry not, Mistress. Once the King returns, he will definitely form a search party to find that convict. He won’t let her off, especially after she planned to kill you and our Prince last night."

What Garou said made sense. After what had happened, there was no way Kael would simply let Leah go.

But what made Sisi restless was not Leah—it was whether Marik was the one who helped her escape.

’What would Jojo think if his beloved Uncle Marik planned to attack his own father’s kingdom?’ Sisi pondered. She knew it was just a what-if scenario, but her gut feeling told her it was very likely to happen sooner or later.

"Sisi? Sisi, are you there?"

Sisi’s train of thought was interrupted by Jojo’s voice. She looked over her shoulder toward the bed and said, "Calm down, Jojo. I’m here!"

The boy immediately went quiet, sitting politely on the bed while waiting for her to come back.

Seeing him like this always hurt her and made her even angrier at Kael, whose whereabouts were still unknown.

She turned back to Garou and said, "Make sure to protect Ruela. Since Leah has escaped, there’s a chance she might return to kill her."

"Yes, Mistress!" Garou nodded. He had already considered that possibility.

"Tell General Pell to start dispatching a few search parties after consulting with Vestor. This is a direct order from me, since I am the highest-ranking authority while the King is away," Sisi said. She paused, then added, "Oh, on top of that, General Pell and Vestor to search for a female wolf beastman—Leah—and also to check whether she is with a male tiger beastman named Marik."

"Marik?" Garou frowned. "Who is he, Mistress?"

"...An old friend," Sisi replied ambiguously. "I have a feeling he might be the one behind her escape."

"An old... friend?" Garou sensed that this tiger beastman was more than just a friend, and he felt inexplicably uncomfortable at the thought of Mistress Sisi being close to another man besides the Beast King.

What was this confusing feeling? Honestly, Garou didn’t know.

But he already disliked this Marik guy from the get-go.

"Yes, an old friend," Sisi reaffirmed. "Just inform Vestor and General Pell about him. Consider it a lead, in case Marik hid Leah somewhere."

’Which I hope is not true...’ Sisi wished in her heart.

She truly hoped it was just her paranoia, and that Marik was already deep in the Jing Forest, enjoying the lush summer and perhaps even starting a family with a female tiger beastman.

’Please, Marik. Just this once, don’t disappoint me and Jojo...’

"Understood, Mistress! I’ll take my leave."

As Garou left the main building, Sisi returned to the chamber and sat beside Jojo, who quickly hugged her.

He had become overly attached to her after going blind, which was understandable. Living in complete darkness would make anyone crave warmth and safety.

"Who were you talking to, Sisi?" Jojo asked.

"Garou. The panther we met yesterday," Sisi replied. She patted his back and asked, "Jojo, do you still remember Uncle Marik?"

"Nn! I miss him so much, Sisi," Jojo nodded vigorously. "Can we meet him again someday?"

...

It would be best if Jojo never met Marik again, because Kael would definitely explode.

On top of that, Sisi now suspected Marik might be conspiring with Leah against the kingdom. She didn’t want him to become a bad influence on Jojo.

"What do you think of him, Jojo?" Sisi asked.

"Uncle Marik is a little scary... but he’s very kind!" Jojo replied cheerfully. "Mm, and he also likes you very much, Sisi!"

"Oh? How do you know?"

Sisi herself wouldn’t have known about Marik’s feelings if not for his confession after she saved him from Kael’s death sentence.

"I asked Uncle Marik if he would find a mate and have cubs someday, and he said it would depend on you, Sisi," Jojo muttered. "Oh, but my Daddy is more handsome, stronger, and has more food. Sisi, you shouldn’t think about Uncle Marik, okay? My Daddy will give you everything you want!"

Sisi giggled. Even in a situation like this, Jojo was still promoting his father and making sure she knew Kael was better.

Unfortunately for Sisi, both men were two sides of the same coin.

Both Kael and Marik were ambitious and selfish in their own ways, and neither seemed to care if their ambitions hurt the people they loved.

Just as she had decided before, she would stand by Jojo’s side. His well-being was her priority, and all she wanted was for him to grow up healthy and safe.

So if she had to choose between Marik and Kael... she would choose neither—for now.

"Let’s just wait for your Daddy to come home." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Un!"

**

Kael finally felt better after spending a full day hiding inside a cave. He no longer felt the urge to mate, though he knew he would still need to keep his distance from Sisi—getting too close or inhaling her scent might send him feral again.

He punched through the stone covering the entrance and stepped out into the sunrise.

Although he didn’t need food or air to survive as a cursed being, Kael still preferred to live like a normal beastman.

"I hope everything is fine when I get back," Kael muttered to himself, just as the annoying curse spoke again in his head.

’I’d be surprised if Sisi still wants to talk to you after this. You should’ve marked her yesterday so she couldn’t deny you,’ the curse sneered. ’She’d be stuck with you forever. Isn’t that the easiest way to make her yours without having to handle her troublesome mood swing?’

"Just shut the hell up," Kael clicked his tongue, then dashed back toward the Beast Kingdom at unimaginable speed, where the spring festival would begin around ten in the morning.