Chapter 402
Momo blinked his large eyes in confusion. People actually want to steal that big, bad snake?
The other cubs nodded in unison. “Yeah, it’s a female p>
Momo didn’t really care.
He licked his lips and turned to Mino. Father Mino, I want to eat those fragrant little cakes.
The older cubs were a bit baffled by his indifference. Yinny asked, “Little brother Momo, aren’t you even going to go take a look p>
Momo hesitated for a moment. If she wants to steal him, let her. I have Mother, and that’s enough for me.
That big, bad snake was always so fierce to him anyway; he wasn’t about to waste his energy worrying over him.
Didi handed Momo a piece of candy to tide him over. “Little brother Momo, even though it doesn’t matter to us whether we have a deadbeat dad or not, he is Mother’s beast-husband right now. And Mother’s beast-husbands cannot be stolen p>
Mimi immediately chimed in to support him. “Brother Didi is right! Mother still needs to keep them around to do chores! We can’t let him be carried off p>
“Exactly p>
The cubs all murmured in passionate agreement.
Taking the candy, Momo tilted his tiny head and thought it over. You guys have a point. Let’s go take a look then.
Besides, the little snacks the big, bad snake had been making lately weren’t half bad. For the sake of the food, he supposed he could begrudgingly help keep him around.
Mino shook his head, looking at the cubs with an amused smile. So, in the eyes of these little ones, their fathers were essentially just laborers kept around for chores. Still, that obnoxious snake really had failed to win over Momo; the little guy couldn’t even be bothered to care when someone was trying to steal his father away.
The cubs nodded to each other and began racing toward the front gates.
Before leaving, Momo didn’t forget to look back and remind Mino: Father Mino, remember to make me some extra egg custard! I still want egg custard later.
He quickly snatched up a pastry to go and scrambled out after the other cubs.
Mino burst into laughter. What a little glutton—never forgetting about food, no matter the situation.
When the cubs reached the courtyard, they spotted Nina and the others standing a short distance away.
Penny stood frozen in disbelief, turning a bewildered gaze toward Ridan. “How is that possible? How could they have a cub so easily p>
Given Idir’s immense strength and incredibly pure bloodline, it should have been near impossible for him to father a cub so quickly. If they truly had a child together, did that mean she truly stood no chance? She had originally thought p>
That male must be trying to make me back off. He’s lying to me, she convinced herself.
“Why wouldn’t it be possible? Idir’s female master is our great Lady Nina,” Ridan declared proudly. Lady Nina’s capabilities were not to be questioned by the likes of her.
“I don’t believe you. You must be lying. It’s impossible for them to have a cub this fast,” Penny protested, utterly refusing to accept reality.
Shushu nudged Momo. Brother Momo, I think they’re talking about you!
Yinny patted Momo on the back. “Little brother Momo, it’s your turn to take the stage p>
Momo gave a firm nod of his tiny head and took off, flying straight toward Nina.
“Why would I bother lying to you? I—” Ridan cut himself off as he spotted Momo flying over. He raised an eyebrow at Penny. “Well, if you don’t believe me, see for yourself p>
“Then bring him out and show me,” Penny challenged. She simply didn’t believe they could magically conjure up a little Serpent.
But the moment the words left her mouth, Penny froze. A tiny Serpent had just landed right on Nina’s shoulder.
Momo nuzzled Nina’s cheek affectionately. Mother.
Nina gently stroked Momo’s scales. “Are you hungry, sweetheart? I’ll have your fathers feed you breakfast.” Around this time, breakfast should be just about ready.
Momo shook his head and held up his small pastry. I grabbed a cake to eat. He offered it up to her. Is Mother hungry? Do you want a bite of my cake?
“Mother isn’t hungry. You eat it, Momo,” Nina said with a warm smile.
Momo then turned his gaze toward Penny. So this is the bad female who wants to steal the big, bad snake?
He stuck his tongue out at her. Didn’t you want to see me? Here I am!
Penny’s face stiffened. It really was a little Serpent. Looking at Momo’s glossy, jet-black scales, his beast form looked remarkably like Idir’s. Could he truly be Idir’s biological son?
Digging her nails into her palms, she stammered, “You… you’re really Idir’s cub p>
Beside her, Tair was equally stunned. Idir actually had a child? With a bloodline and power level like his, he had managed to sire a cub this quickly? Just how incredibly fertile was his female master?
Secretly, Tair breathed a sigh of relief. Surely, Penny would finally give up now.
Momo glanced sideways at Idir, looking a bit reluctant as he hissed back: Yeah, he’s my father.
Though he didn’t really want to admit it, he decided he would tolerate it this once for his mother’s sake. He glared at Penny. He is my mother’s beast-husband. If you try to steal him, you’re a bad female.
Idir raised an eyebrow in surprise. Well, well. The little white-eyed wolf is actually being quite well-behaved today. The brat usually called him ’big, bad snake,’ yet here he was, actively claiming him as his father.
Penny felt as though she had been struck by lightning. They really had a child. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, one look at Momo’s beast form told her everything she needed to know. Idir’s bloodline was exceptionally pure and he had already undergone a successful evolution; beast forms resembling his were practically non-existent in Serpent City unless they were directly related to him.
“Now that you’ve seen Momo, please leave. Do not disturb us again,” Idir said coldly.
His absolute detachment cut Penny to the quick, making her eyes flush a deeper crimson. “Idir p>
Seeing her look so utterly devastated made Tair’s heart ache. “Idir, mind your manners with Penny. She is my female master p>
“Tair, I am already being perfectly polite. Please control your own female,” Idir countered evenly.
Tair let out a heavy sigh. “Idir, for the sake of our old friendship, take my advice and leave this place. Serpent City is not safe for you, and you cannot exact your revenge alone. Now that you have a female master and a cub, you need to think of them p>
He assumed Idir had returned to seek vengeance against the elders, but how could one person possibly stand against them? If Idir left the city now, Penny would finally be forced to move on and forget him.
Hearing Tair urge Idir to leave, Penny fiercely pinched his arm to signal her anger.
“I will handle my own affairs,” Idir replied. “If you still consider me a friend, then I expect you to keep my return a secret p>
Tair looked at him steadily for a moment before nodding. “Fine. I will keep your secret p>
Penny quietly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Idir had no intention of leaving.
“Now, please leave. You have already delayed my female master’s breakfast for far too long.” Idir turned his gaze back to Nina, his sharp features instantly softening into pure tenderness.
That look pierced Penny’s heart like a dagger. She stared at Nina, a bitter wave of resentment washing over her.
Why had Idir chosen her? True, she was beautiful, but so many breathtaking females had pursued Idir in the past, and he had never granted any of them a single glance. What made this one any different?
Tair gently tugged at Penny’s sleeve. “Penny, let’s go p>
When she still showed no intention of moving, Tair simply scooped her up into his arms. “Our apologies. We will take our leave.” He turned and carried her away.
Penny cast one last lingering, reluctant look at Idir, but she didn’t struggle against Tair’s hold. She rested quietly in his arms, her mind lost in unknown thoughts.
Looking down at her quiet demeanor, a sudden, unsettling wave of anxiety gripped Tair’s heart.