My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 523

Sera

I 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 said. "Are you alright?"

He nodded weakly. "The Alpha, Luna, he..."

My hand tightened on his arm, my voice going tight. "What do you mean? Are they..."

"No! No, all's well!" He shook his head. "All the warriors, the Alpha, they're fine. Not a scratch on them." He paused, taking a deep breath. "We changed horses at the holding this morning. They'll be here this afternoon."

I laughed, grabbing his arm. "That's... that's wonderful. Thank you, thank you!"

I pulled at his arm. "What was the road like? Did anything happen? Was Fenris... did he say anything?"

He blinked. "I don't know, Luna. I was sent ahead to get horses ready at the holding. But..." He hesitated. "Two nights ago. In the dark. The Alpha suddenly stopped us. Said we'd go on through the night without resting."

"What? That's madness. What about the horses? What did he..."

"He dismounted. So we all did. And he started walking. We had to walk the horses behind him. I don't know why, Luna. I didn't hear..."

"Yvara sent you ahead to the holding?"

"Aye, Luna. To get fresh horses ready."

I let go of his arm. "You should get warm," I said. "Go to the kitchens. Tell them I sent you."

He nodded, turned his horse, and started toward the hall. I called after him. "Wait. Did Yvara say why Fenris stopped?"

He shook his head. "No, Luna. Just that we had to press on."

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