Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian : Kabanata 471 - Kabanata 480

KaneCallum took a step toward me, careful not to disturb the wreckage at our feet. He held out the files. "The Mistwood batch for the month. They need your signature before day's end."Broken chair legs cracked under my boots as I turned to face him. I crossed the room slowly, stepping over shredded curtains and the splintered remains of a child's crib. The painted star constellations on the ceiling blurred as I looked up, my vision still hazy with tears.I took the top file from Callum's outstretched hand. The manila cover was crisp beneath my fingers. I didn't open it. Instead, I stared down at it, mumbling to myself, "We can't continue doing this."My breathing had only just settled from the storm of grief that had torn through me minutes before. My hands still trembled as I gripped the file tightly, the edge digging into my palm. I sensed Callum tense beside me.He cleared his throat. "It's the usual, Alpha. The same rights, the same tithe."I sighed heavily and looked away, not

LyraI paced my room, unable to stop moving. My bare feet slapped against the carpeted floor with each furious step. My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides. I breathed hard through my nose, but the air didn't fill my lungs."He's a demon," I whispered under my breath. "Demon." I repeated it, louder this time. "Demon!" I nearly shouted.I spun on my heel, turning to face the opposite wall, but I couldn't stand still long enough to look at anything. I brushed past the edge of my bed and my hip caught on the low-hanging canopy. I pushed it away, and it dragged along the carpet, knocking over one of the posts.The room felt too small. I needed to move, to run, to scream, to burn it all down. My father was a demon. A demon in a king's robes, with a crown on his head and a smile on his lying face.I kicked at the carpet, feeling the soft fibers give way under my toes. "Demon!"The morning pressed on outside my window. I wanted to shatter the glass, to let the storm in. I wanted to how

NadiaI woke with a start, the stiff chair accommodating my bruised neck and shoulders. My head swam as I sat up, rubbing the grit from my eyes.Mama was watching me from the bed, her voice rusty as she spoke. "You came back...""Yeah..." I replied, my own voice thick. I cleared my throat and stretched, trying to shake off the stiffness.A heavy silence hung between us. Mama finally broke it. "That chair couldn't have been very comfortable. Did you even move all night?""Not much," I answered, rubbing my stiff neck."You should've gone home to a real bed," she chided.I shrugged. "I'm okay.""Eat anything?"I shook my head without looking at her. "Not since dinner last night.""Where is Toby?" I asked. "Has someone told him about Dad?"Mama's eyes flicked to the window. "He's with your grandfather. And no, I haven't told him."I gripped the bed rail, knuckles white. "You need to tell him."An uncomfortable silence stretched out again. I couldn't bring myself to look at her, couldn't b

Sera"Runa! Runa!" A boy's voice called out from the yard gate. I felt her hands pause in their work, her fingers sticky with tallow as she scraped the hide stretched over the tanning frame. She turned her head towards the perky voice, a grin already forming on her young face."Wicket?" she called back. "What're you up to?""Come see!" His voice was lively, full of excitement. "And hurry!""Can't. Mother needs me to finish this hide.""Aw, that's boring! Come on, it'll just take a minute. I found something amazing!"I sensed her body tingle with the thrill of his words, the urge to abandon her chores and run after him. Her mother's voice cut through the air from inside the house."Runa! Where are you? You better not be talking to that boy again!"I felt Runa tense, her cheeks flush hot with guilt. "I'm right here, Mama!" she called back, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just checking the fence posts.""See that you finish that hide! I'll be checking on you!"Runa let out a frustrated

Sera"Runa!" her mother barked, whirling on her the moment she crossed the threshold. "Where have you been all day? I told you to finish that hide!" Flames danced in the hearth behind her, casting day and night together in her furious face.The girl stuttered, "I... I was out helping Wicket look for his dog..."Her mother cut her off. "I saw Wicket's dog tied up in his yard this afternoon, Runa. I know you lied to me."Runa glanced down at the bone in her apron pocket, her proof that Wicket had been with her. But it wasn't proof of what she said. She had no words left.Her mother stepped closer, her soot-stained hands flexing. "You lied to me, child. You disobeyed. And left that hide unfinished. There'll be consequences for that."The girl's heart pounded, her mouth gone dry. She swallowed hard. "I'm sorry...""Not sorry enough." Her mother spun back to the pot bubbling on the hearth. "You'll finish that hide tomorrow. And then I'll decide what else you've earned."Runa felt her throa