My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 474

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 throat tighten, her eyes prick. She looked down at her calloused hands. I felt the girl's resentment simmer.

The door opened and Runa's father stepped inside, his tall frame silhouetted by evening light. He shut it behind him, shouldering off his leather pack. "Ilse," he said, his voice rough from disuse.

She looked up from stirring the hearth pot, her face lighting at the sight of him. "Tor." She put down the spoon and crossed to meet him. They embraced, holding fast for a moment.

Ilse's voice turned sharp. "Tor, Runa lied to me."

Runa's head snapped up. "I didn't!"

"Did you scrape the hide today?"

"No," Runa muttered, staring down again.

Torvald's boots scraped the floor as he turned to face her, hands on his hips. "Runa, we went over this. You need to tell the truth."

She felt a surge of defiance. "I did tell the truth. I told Mama I was going to scrape the hide."

Torvald sighed. "But you didn't do it, did you? You went off and played instead."

"I needed a break!" Runa's voice rose. "I always do chores."

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