Chapter 179: Do not suddenly grow a conscience because everyone is looking

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Do not suddenly grow a conscience because everyone is looking

She found out very quickly.

"MOVE!"

The shout tore through the settlement.

Selka stumbled as two female guards dragged her from the rear cave.

"Don’t touch me!"

Nobody cared.

Her rust-red hair was tangled from childbirth. Her face was pale with exhaustion. Her body still ached so badly that every rough step sent pain through her hips and stomach.

Her wrists were bound.

So were Brea’s.

The spotted hyena female was dragged behind her, already crying.

"I didn’t do anything!"

Selka’s head whipped around.

Even now?

Already?

They had not even reached Soren yet and Brea had started.

Selka laughed.

It came out ugly.

"Pathetic."

Brea stared at her.

"What?"

"You haven’t even been questioned."

Selka’s russet tail lashed.

"And you’re already begging."

"Shut up."

"No."

One guard shoved Selka forward.

She nearly fell.

Her fingers tightened.

Hidden high against the inside of her thigh, beneath the narrow leather tie supporting her primitive wrap, was a thin sharpened piece of bone.

Small.

Nearly flat.

She had kept it for weeks.

Nobody had found it.

Her barely covering clothes had made hiding anything difficult, but nobody had thought to check the narrow band pressed against her inner thigh.

Idiots.

While the guards dragged her forward, Selka twisted her bound fingers behind herself.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Her fingertips found the bone.

Good.

She did not pull it free yet.

Not yet.

Ironwood’s central clearing was already full.

Warriors.

Females.

Survivors from Riverbone.

Sunmane.

People bandaged from yesterday’s attack.

People missing friends.

People missing mates.

People who had buried bodies before sunrise.

The moment Selka appeared, the voices began.

"That’s her?"

"She helped them?"

"My brother died!"

"TRAITOR!"

Selka’s fox ears flattened.

She lifted her chin anyway.

Then she saw Swanly.

And something inside her twisted.

Swanly stood beside Kael.

Alive.

Clean.

Wrapped warmly.

Still pale from childbirth, yes.

Still moving carefully, yes.

But alive.

Protected.

Kael hovered so close his black tail practically curled around her legs.

Nerin stood slightly farther away.

Arion nearby.

Raku beside Soren.

Thalara watched from beneath the shade.

Even Druun’s enormous figure rose behind the shelters.

Everyone.

Always everyone around Swanly.

Selka’s jaw clenched.

And she had given birth in blood and dirt behind bars.

Alone for most of it.

No healer.

No celebration.

No one waiting outside praying for her survival.

Her eyes burned.

Then she heard it.

A tiny cry.

Selka froze.

Three newborn wolf cubs rested in a hide-lined basket near Brann.

Small.

Dark-gray.

Barely able to lift their heads.

One was wriggling restlessly.

Searching.

For her.

Selka’s face changed for half a second.

Swanly saw it.

The hatred disappeared.

Just a mother.

One heartbeat.

Then it came back.

Soren pointed at the ground.

"Put them there."

The guards forced Selka and Brea down.

Selka hit her knees.

"Careful!"

Her voice cracked.

"I gave birth yesterday!"

Soren’s silver eyes did not move.

"So did Swanly."

Selka looked at her.

There.

Again.

Swanly.

Always fucking Swanly.

Brea immediately crawled forward.

"My lord, please!"

Selka slowly turned.

Brea’s spotted ears were flattened.

"I didn’t want this!"

Selka’s expression became almost amused.

Here it came.

"I swear! Selka forced me!"

The clearing erupted.

Selka closed her eyes.

Once.

Twice.

Then laughed.

Brea spun toward her.

"What is funny?"

"You."

Selka’s eyes opened.

"You are."

Brea’s face twisted.

"You told me to contact them!"

"And you did."

"You threatened me!"

"You wanted out as badly as I did!"

"No!"

Selka leaned forward as far as her bindings allowed.

"You coward."

Brea’s mouth fell open.

Selka smiled viciously.

"I may be cruel."

Silence spread.

"I may be selfish."

Her fox ears lifted.

"I may even be every filthy thing these people call me."

She looked Brea directly in the eyes.

"But at least I know what I am."

Brea went white.

"You?"

Selka laughed.

"You crawl behind me when you think I’m winning, then throw yourself at everyone’s feet the moment I lose."

"I was scared!"

"So was everyone!"

"You forced me!"

"I didn’t force you to carry messages."

Brea shook her head wildly.

"You told me where to hide them!"

"And you chose to do it."

"I thought they were beastmen!"

Selka’s smile vanished.

"So did I."

That quieted several people.

Soren stepped forward.

"Tell me everything."

Brea immediately did.

Everything.

The hidden messages.

The carved bark.

Guard rotations.

The water routes.

Weak sections of the wall.

How Selka had told the outsiders Ironwood possessed food.

Females.

Weapons.

An ancient being.

A giant.

Swanly’s strange treasures.

With every sentence, the crowd became angrier.

Swanly became quieter.

That was worse.

Kael noticed.

His claws slowly slid out.

Brea sobbed.

"She said they would free her! She said they would take us too!"

Selka looked disgusted.

"Stop crying."

Brea rounded on her.

"People died!"

"Yes."

"Because of you!"

Selka’s eyes flashed.

"Because of us."

Brea froze.

Selka leaned closer.

"Do not suddenly grow a conscience because everyone is looking."

Swanly’s stomach turned.

That was the problem.

No regret.

Not even now.

There were bodies barely cold.

Mora’s shoulder had almost been torn apart.

Tilla was covered in bruises.

Nahla had nearly been killed.

Kael had fought inside Swanly’s birth shelter.

Her newborn daughters had almost been taken.

And Selka was still sitting there arguing over percentages of guilt.

Swanly stepped forward.

Kael immediately touched her waist.

"Slow."

"I know."

Selka saw it.

That tiny gesture.

Kael’s hand.

Swanly leaning into him without even thinking.

Something ugly twisted across Selka’s face.

Swanly noticed.

"You gave birth."

Selka stiffened.

Swanly glanced at the tiny wolf cubs.

"They’re yours?"

Selka’s voice softened despite herself.

"Yes."

One cub whimpered.

Her ears twitched toward the sound.

Swanly’s chest tightened.

Damn it.

She hated this.

If Selka were alone, punishment would be easy.

But those cubs had done nothing.

They did not choose their mother.

They did not ask to enter the world carrying her crimes.

One of them squeaked again, nose lifting weakly toward Selka’s scent.

Swanly looked away.

She remembered Kairo.

Nilo.

Miko.

Tiny bodies looking for Mama.

No.

She could not pretend those newborns did not matter.

But she also could not let Selka keep doing this.

"You nearly got everyone here killed."

Selka stared at her.

"You survived."

...

Any snake baby name suggestions? I’d love to hear from you guys, if not I’ll use mine!