My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian (Sera and Fenris) novel Chapter 525

Fenris

The heavy gates of Ironmaw swung open ahead, ushering in a familiar cheer from the pack waiting beyond. My horse's hooves clicked on the icy road as I guided him through the gate, Sera's presence warm under my ribs.

Jace fell in beside me. "So what was it really, huh? We had to walk all night to get home to a hot meal and your old lady?" I glanced at him, mouth sealed, and he half-grinned. "Come on, brother."

"You talk too much," I said.

"Hey, I'm just curious," Jace protested. "You can't blame a guy for wanting to know what makes Ironmaw run."

"Talk. Too. Much," Yvara said behind us, her flat voice louder than usual in the sudden din.

Jace twisted in his saddle to look at her, chuckling. "Alright, alright. What're you going to do first, when we get in?"

"Same as you," I said.

"Well, I'm thinking hot meal, then Mina," Jace mused with a laugh. "Or maybe just Mina. Oh, but a bath too. That'd be nice. Hmm, so it's a real toss-up between food and a girl. What kind of man am I?"

I turned to him. "The kind who complains all day about his ass being sore."

"Hey!" Jace laughed, but he didn't argue it. He hadn't shut up about his blisters for miles.

As we rode into the yard, the crowd of familiar faces roared again, arms raised. "What are we?" someone called, and a hundred fists thumped to chests as the pack shouted back, "Northern Men!" I raised my own fist, and behind me, Ossian and Fenn bellowed along with the rest.

"We're home!" Ossian yelled, swinging his leg over his horse. "I want an entire pig and a whole keg of ale! In that order!"

Jace laughed and I shook my head. "Stable your damn horse first," I grumbled.

Ossian just grinned. "Not listening to a word you say tonight, Alpha. I'm too hungry!" He loped off, Fenn in his wake.

Jace watched them go, then turned back to me with a smile. "You've got a good crew there, Butcher."

I grunted and swung down off my horse, landing with a crunch of snow under my boots.

Mina was already pushing her way through the crowd, a huge grin on her face. She flung her arms around Jace's neck. "I missed you!" she laughed, planting a loud kiss on his mouth.

Jace wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, kissing her back properly, right there in the yard for everyone to see. Mina giggled against his mouth, her eyes sparkling. I rolled my eyes.

"There's plenty of time for that inside," I said, dry. "We don't need a show put on for the whole pack."

But they didn't stop. Jace's hands roamed her back, her hips, gripping her tight against him. Mina ran her fingers through his hair, sighing softly into his mouth.

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