My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 508

Sera

I turned to find Vidar standing by the bare shelves, his fingers trailing over the rough stone. There was an airiness about him that belied his imposing frame, a casual ease that made him seem almost friendly.

"When I first heard of a Southern girl ruling Ironmaw as Luna, I couldn't help but ask myself what in the world the Alpha was thinking," he said, turning to face me. His gaze was steady, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in amusement.

"I have never made it a thing to judge people I don't know," he continued with a shrug. "But there it is." He ran his hands along the empty shelves, his eyes roving over the bare room. "Riding here, I expected nothing but a pretty face. Women of the South can be very beautiful, because why else would an Alpha go that far for a mate?"

The edge in his words was sharp enough to raise gooseflesh on my arms, but I kept my expression blank. I knew what he expected of me, what he thought I'd be: a dainty, delicate thing, all soft curves and empty-headed flattery. A female easily bought and sold, not one to entrust with power.

He looked around the room again, his brow furrowing slightly. Suddenly he rubbed his arms like he was cold. "By the Goddess," he muttered, "but here you stand before me now... and all I feel is chills."

A low bark of laughter escaped him. "For a small woman, you're a fearsome one. You have my Beta all spooked, and I've never seen Gunnar unsettled by a female before." He shook his head. "My son gets overprotective sometimes, aye, just like that black-haired girl you keep about you."

I tilted my head, surprised by his observation. I hadn't expected the Alpha of Ashfell to pay such attention to details, or to notice Amara at all. But then, I'd underestimated him from the start.

He scoffed and looked around the barren study once more. "I wonder what goes on here..."

Vidar crossed the room unhurriedly, his boots heavy on the floorboards. I held my ground, unmoving, as he neared until he stood only a few paces away. Looking down at me, his voice grew quiet.

"I know Kael can be hard to handle. He was, even for me, his own brother. I can understand if anything had... escalated."

I cut him off sharply. "Alpha Sarn. What are you insinuating?"

He lifted his palms in surrender, a casual smile drifting over his face. "Nothing." Then he added, voice easy, "I'm just getting myself ready for the worst, after all."

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