The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 230: You’ll pull the stitches

The midwife paused, her hand hovering over the bowl of herbs. She looked at me with an expression that sat somewhere between pity and utter bewilderment.

"What king?" I asked, my voice rising a bit too much, which startled the little girl at my breast, clenching on my nipple with her soft gums.

If she had teeth, it would’ve been bad for me.

I immediately forced myself to breathe, though my heart was suddenly hammering against my ribs,

I patted her head softly.

"Shh, sorry, keep going," I whispered and then turned to the midwife. "Please explain yourself. What king are we talking about here? And how do I relate to this?"

"The Silver Wolf, of course," the midwife said, as if she were explaining that the sky was blue. "King Noah of the West-Way. He came to our village like a whirlwind of frost and blood, demanding the best healer for his mate. He bore the mark of the High Throne so no one refused him."

I felt the blood drain from my face. King? Noah?

The same Noah who pouted when I didn’t give him enough attention and who had just spent the morning ’screaming into the wind’ like a nervous wreck? Their testimony, not me. But that smug Noah was a King?

I looked at Elara, the fox girl. She bowed her head deeply, her ears pinning back in a gesture of absolute subversion. "We were honored to be summoned, My Queen."

I feel like their attitudes changed. Even if I was under the stress of labor, I still remember them calling me Ms. Did I really miss an episode?

"The King said his mate was a goddess from another land, carrying the future of the pack," Elara said.

’A goddess?’ I wanted to laugh, but the stinging of the herbs ’down there’ reminded me I was very much a mortal who had just been through hell.

"He’s not a king," I whispered, though a memory flickered in the back of my mind—the way Noah spoke sometimes, his effortless command, the way he navigated the politics of the beast world with a sharp, cynical edge.

And then there was that beginning where he spoke about his position to not being able to make promises carelessly and... Responsibilities.

I had just assumed he was an alpha-type wolf. I hadn’t realized he was ’the’ Alpha.

And what’s this about a silver wolf? He’s grey or black or whatever but he’s far from being silver, I can testify to that.

Then, was there something I was missing?

I took in a deep breath, as deep as I could without affecting myself down there, and then let it out.

I need to calm down and then listen carefully.

"Where is he?" I asked.

I tried to sit up further while holding the cubs in place, but the midwife pressed a firm hand against my shoulder.

"Easy, Your Majesty. You’ll pull your stitches."

When did I get freaking stitches? It’s no wonder it stings down there.

"The king is outside with the beast warrior, discussing the return journey once the snow breaks."

By Beast Warrior, she definitely means Fenric.

I felt fuzzy. I felt like I had just come into contact with a drama I am not ready to play my part in. And much less when I just gave birth. I don’t have the strength for it.

How did I turn from plain neglected Arinya to ’your majesty, Arinya?’

I looked down at the three cubs. They were so small, so innocent. They didn’t know they were apparently royalty.

I looked at Damar’s silver scales, still encircling us. Did he know? Was I the only one who had been living in a domestic bubble while my husbands were secretly high-ranking figures or exiled royalty?

The heavy, warm joy of motherhood was suddenly laced with a sharp, cold spike of anxiety. If Noah were a king, then our quiet life in this cave would be a ticking clock.

Heck, I never wanted to stay here, just as I never planned to settle in one place either. I wanted to explore the world, and that doesn’t change just because I gave birth. My babies will explore the world with me.

And if being royalty was going to stop me then I don’t want it.

Just then, the heavy hide at the entrance was pushed aside. A blast of winter air followed, causing me to shift the blanket over my cubs. It was cold and cold wasn’t good for newborns.

I looked up and saw the two massive figures that had stepped in, shaking the snow from their shoulders.

Noah looked up, his dark eyes immediately finding mine. He saw the look on my face—the confusion, the realization—and his step faltered. He looked at the midwife, who was still kneeling by my side, and then back at me.

"Little tiger," He said, his voice cautious.

"You’re awake." Fenric excitedly hurried to my side and I peeled my eyes from Noah.

He knelt by my other side, looking at me with loving eyes and then at the cubs. He smiled softly.

"They’re still asleep," his voice was soft and cautious. "Adorable."

"They are," I said but then my gaze went back to Noah.

This guy had a lot of explaining to do.

"It’s done," Elara said, and I turned to look at her.

She had a basket she had made out of different materials in our possession. It wasn’t sturdy, but it was enough to act as a baby cot.

"I’ll take them." The midwife said and took the cubs gently, one by one, placing them on the basket, covered them warmly, and placed them next to me where my hand could reach

The last cub had already finished her meal and was snuggling peacefully.

Once that was done, the midwife and Elara made their way out.

Once it was just the three of us, or seven of us if we’re counting every beating heart, I turned to Noah.

"Noah," I called, my voice steady despite the chaos in my head. "We need to talk. Right now."

Fenric suddenly let out a low, awkward cough and suddenly found the cave ceiling very interesting.

I narrowed my eyes. I doubt he knew about this from the start so while I was asleep, they had... Talked.

That’s what I’d like to believe.

Noah sighed, his shoulders dropping as he moved toward me as well. He didn’t look like a king; he looked like a man who had just been caught in a very big lie.

"What do you want to know?"