Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 132

Chapter 132: The Descent pt2

Further down the mountain path, Orion was miserable.

He was trudging through the snow, his little boots crunching with every step. His teeth were chattering a rhythm that sounded like a broken clock.

"I hate snow," Orion mumbled into his scarf. "I hate ice. I hate elevation. I want a bathtub. With hot water. And bubbles."

He stumbled, slipping on a patch of ice.

A hand grabbed his collar before he could fall.

"Watch your step, fish-boy," Astrid grunted, hauling him upright.

Orion looked at her. Astrid had Vivi clinging to her left arm, but her right hand was gripping Orion’s jacket. She wasn’t wearing her helmet anymore. Her cheeks were red from the cold, but she looked... happy.

"I am trying," Orion chattered. "But my legs are freezing. I think my knees are locked. I’m going to turn into a statue and you’ll have to carry me."

He hugged himself, shivering violently.

Astrid rolled her eyes. She stopped walking.

"Hold this," she said, shoving her heavy steel sword into Orion’s arms.

"Oof!" Orion buckled under the weight. "Astrid! This is a safety hazard! I could drop this on my foot!"

Astrid ignored him. She unclasped her heavy, fur-lined cloak—the one with the ducal crest on the back. She swirled it around and draped it over Orion’s shoulders. It was huge on him, dragging in the snow, but it was warm. It smelled like pine needles and ozone.

"There," Astrid said, taking her sword back. "Stop vibrating. You’re making me dizzy."

Orion blinked, pulling the cloak tighter around himself. The warmth was instant.

"But now you are exposed," Orion pointed out, looking at her tunic. "You’re going to get cold."

"I’m a Wolf," Astrid puffed out her chest, grinning. "The cold doesn’t bother me. Besides..."

She looked away, kicking a pebble off the cliff edge.

"You came back for me," Astrid mumbled. "In the ruins. And you jumped into the web. Even though you’re... you know. Compact."

Orion frowned. "I prefer ’efficient’."

"Whatever," Astrid punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You did good. For a fish."

Orion touched the spot where she punched him. He looked at the fierce little girl with the yellow eyes.

"Thanks, Astrid," Orion said softly. "You are... acceptable. For a dog."

Astrid grinned, showing her sharp canines. "Come on. Race you to the bottom. Loser has to clean Rurik’s boots."

"I am not racing!" Orion protested as she took off running. "Astrid! That is unsafe! Wait for me!"

He waddled after her as fast as his little legs could go, the giant cloak flapping behind him like a superhero cape.

By the time the group reached the courtyard of Winter-Hold, the sun was beginning to rise. The pale winter light illuminated a massive crowd gathered at the gates.

The parents.

They had seen the beacon light. They had felt the earthquake when the Shrine opened. They knew something was happening.

When Rurik led the line of thirty-two missing children through the gates, the sound that erupted wasn’t a cheer. It was a sob. A collective, heartbreaking release of grief.

"Vivi!"

A woman in a baker’s apron sprinted forward, falling to her knees in the snow as the little red-headed girl ran into her arms.

"Mom!"

Everywhere, families were reuniting. Fathers crying, mothers hugging their cubs so hard they squeaked. It was chaos, but it was the beautiful kind.

Konrad stood back near the gate, watching. He leaned heavily on his claymore. He looked old.

Freya nudged him. "Go on."

Konrad took a deep breath. He sheathed his sword and walked into the crowd.

The cheering died down as the people saw the Marquis. The silence was heavy.

"My people," Konrad’s voice was rough. "I... I owe you an apology."

He bowed. Not a nod. A deep, formal bow at the waist—something a Lord never did to commoners.

"I failed to protect your children," Konrad said to the snow. "I let pride blind me. I kept secrets when I should have asked for help. The fault is mine."

A murmur went through the crowd.

Then, the baker woman stood up, holding Vivi. She looked at Konrad, then at Rurik, then at the strange Fox lady with the glowing tail.

"You brought them back," the woman said. Her voice was shaking, but clear. "You didn’t give up. That’s what matters."

"The Wolf Pack is whole again!" a guard shouted, raising his fist.

"Jaeger! Jaeger!" the chant started.

Konrad straightened up. He looked surprised. He looked at Rurik.

Rurik grinned, slapping his brother on the back so hard Konrad nearly stumbled.

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