My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 521 - 챕터 530

RurikThe Night of the Feast"I saw nothing," I lied flatly, staring at the ground. "Only Taya."I felt Thorne's gaze on me, heavy with disbelief, but I did not take back the words. I knew them for what they were, a brazen falsehood, and yet I could not bring myself to speak the truth. I did not ask myself why.Some time passed in silence, then Thorne grunted once and turned to go inside. The heavy doors shut behind him with a thud. I sat unmoving, staring at the snow, until Father's calloused hand closed around my arm. He heaved me up off the trough and started steering me home. I went like a child, empty and numb.The girl rose from the snow, her eyes fixed on mine. For a moment it seemed she might follow, but she only watched us go. Her pale face was no more than a smudge in the darkness as Father and I passed beyond the reach of the torches.Inside my quarters, I collapsed onto my bed without removing my wet clothes. The keep gradually fell silent around me... footsteps fading, a

Nadia"I've paid the hospital bill," Grandfather said. "I've spoken to the funeral home. Your father will be taken care of."Mama let out a small sigh, slumping back into her pillow. "Thank you, Papa. I'm so sorry to be such a bother.""No bother at all, sweetie," Grandfather replied, patting her hand. "You have enough on your plate. What's important is getting you both home and settled."The glass was cool against my forehead. Outside, the sky shimmered, a dull gray that rimmed the bare trees.Grandfather turned to me. "Did you eat something, Nadia? It's been a long day."I nodded without looking at him."Good. You should let me carry your bag."I shook my head, a slight movement. Mama glanced at me, her brow pinched.Then he turned back to Mama. "There's a room ready for you at the house, sweetheart. And one for Nadia too.""Oh, Papa," Mama said, her voice cracking. "I don't know what we'd do without you.""Don't you worry about that," Grandfather said. "You're family. That's what f

Elara"It'll be cold up there, hard on you," Kane said beside me, his voice unpleasantly pleasant."Didn't I say that last night? Before you decided I was coming? I told you the cold would kill me. You said I'd survive."Kane laughed, his polite laugh. "And you will."I dug my nails into my palms, closed my eyes for a long blink.When I opened them, he was watching me, his thumb slowly turning his signet ring. "Your mother and father had a lot to say to you before they left, didn't they?"My fake parents had told me I was on my own with this one.I met his eyes directly. "Just be safe, wrap up warm, eat, call when you can." I forced my voice smooth, careful.Kane blinked slowly, stretched his jaw. He turned back to his window. "Of course. They worry."I probed gently at the stick under my skin. Aldric's last words to me came back in a rush. Your scent remains exactly the same to me. I will always know where you are.Valdris was where Aldric was, and where my mother and sister were. I

Elara"I want something warm," I told the warrior in the front seat. "Go get me a fur from the stalls. It's going to be cold."He glanced in the rearview mirror, then away.I fixed him with my stare. "Did you not hear your Alpha? Give the Luna whatever she asks."He clenched his jaw, then got out without a word and went into the lantern-lit market. He did not look toward the Northern gate.As soon as he was lost in the crowd, I got out and walked to the hide truck, not hurrying.The trader lifted the edge of the piled hides without a word. I climbed up and under them: the weight on my back, the dark, the reek of cured hide thick enough to bury my own scent. He dropped the hides back over me.I lay still, face against the rough hide, and listened to the market, waiting for the engine. Hammers clanged, cattle lowed, voices haggled over prices. The cold night air seeped in through the crack between two hides.I shivered, teeth clenched.I missed my family.The last time I'd seen them was

SeraI crunched across the snowy yard, Amara padding barefoot behind me in her usual silence. I'd been making this trip every morning since the search began three days ago, asking the gate guards if any of the riders out looking for Kael had sent word.The guard, huddled in his furs, gave me the same answer he always did. "Nothing, Luna."I sighed through my teeth, lowered my hood and scanned the road. Still empty. Fenris had been gone three weeks now. Three weeks that felt like an entire season.I missed him.A shout went up from the wall and the guard's head snapped up. We both looked toward the road. A rider was galloping in, snow spewing from the hooves of his exhausted horse.Instantly I was hot and cold all over. The rider came flying in, reined up short, and nearly fell out of the saddle. The guard and I reached him at the same time.The man, lean and tall, bowed his head to me. "Luna."I grabbed the man to steady him as he nearly collapsed in front of me. "Hey, breathe," I sai