Alle Kapitel von My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian : Kapitel 341 – Kapitel 350

SeraI turned back to Fenris, my gaze meeting his. The pack shifted beneath him, its hooves crunching on packed snow. I watched the play of torchlight on his face, the shadows moving across his cheekbones like something alive."We ride to the south ridge tomorrow," Fenris said. "For those who haven't been there before, the field is treacherous. We might not all return. I won't lie to make it easier. But I will remind you of what we are."I stared at him, my heart pounding in my throat. It was hard to keep my eyes off Mina's trembling figure pressed against the wall. She looked like a woman staring into her own grave.Fenris kept going, his eyes flicking across the men gathered before him."We are Northern men, so when it comes for you, you have to meet it alone."I felt the word "alone" like a punch to the gut. I'd heard it before. Yesterday. At the basin when Fenris was boiled alive."He who goes into the water goes alone."Fenris continued, his voice steady and unwavering."No one wi

King Aldric"She keeps strict hygiene."Odile nodded along, clearly approving. "The boys are the opposite – rough, never wash. Had to bathe Rennick myself a few days ago. Man was starting to smell like a corpse," she said matter-of-factly.I raised an eyebrow, looking down at her. "I think they're old enough to fend for themselves now," I suggested.But Odile refused flat, shaking her head. "Uh uh. Leave them alone for one moment and no one around them makes it out breathing. So no, King Aldric - can't leave them." Her expression was earnest, almost pleading, as she spoke about her brothers. It made me smile, this girl who was so fiercely loyal to her family."Such a big sister," I observed, looking down at her.Then I turned my head slightly, addressing Lyra and Irina both, my voice dropping to a murmur. "Sera's just like that. I genuinely miss her."I caught the flash of pure, seething hatred that moved across Lyra's face. No matter how Lyra felt about the situation, I genuinely mis

Lyra"You sure act like one."I felt a spark of irritation then, and I tried to turn to face her, to give her a piece of my mind. But she caught my arm, her fingers tight around my wrist, and she pressed her mouth to my ear, her voice a whisper. "You're cold, Lyra, and you're tired. I can smell it on you. You're scared, and you're lonely, and you're mad as hell." She leaned back a little then, but kept her hand on my arm. "And you know what? That's okay. That's all okay. You don't have to hide it."The horse whinnied then, and Odile glanced at it, a small smile playing on her lips. "He's agreeing with me. And you know why? Because you're talking to him, and he can hear it in your voice. He knows you're not a threat."I felt my face flush, and I knew Odile could see it. She squeezed my arm gently, then dropped her hand. "See?" she said softly. "He's calming down. You're calming down, too. You're doing great."The horse's calm under my hands now, the lead steady in my grasp. I turned my

ElaraKane leaned back against the sink, a dish towel in his hand, smiling lazily as he watched me scrub the last of the breakfast dishes. I was making a production of it, humming to the radio and putting on a show. The water was too hot, and my hands were pink, but he was happy, and if he was happy, I was supposed to look happy. That was how this worked. I could put on the right face for him. I'd gotten good at it."Morning, beautiful," he said when I shut off the faucet and reached for the dish rack. "What do you say we hit up the nursery today? Pick up a few more things?" He came up behind me and kissed the back of my neck. I felt him inhale at my skin, his nose at my throat, drinking me in. "I've got a meeting with some of the chiefs this afternoon, but we could stop in on the way, huh?"I turned to him, my face already arranged in a smile. "I don't know if you should spoil me too much. What will everyone say?""You're the Luna." He reached out and pushed my hair back behind my ea

Elara"Shut up about it already, Kane."The kitchen went silent.I didn't look at him. I kept my eyes on the cutting board, on the neat rows of potatoes and carrots I'd arranged like they mattered. "Please. Just shut the fuck up with the stupid questions. It's a boy, alright? Fine. We get it. Jesus Christ."The silence stretched. I could feel his eyes on me, the weight of his confusion pressing against my back.Kane stared at me like I'd slapped him.I'd never spoken to him like that. Not once. I'd been soft, careful, the woman he needed me to be. Sweet, a little timid, grateful for his protection. And now he stood there, frozen, trying to work out what he'd done wrong, what invisible line he'd crossed.I could feel it radiating off him. The confusion. The hurt.Shit.I'd overplayed my hand.I shut my eyes, pulled in a breath, and dragged it all back under. When I opened them, I'd smoothed the edges out, softened the thing I'd let show. I turned toward him."I'm sorry." My voice came