“Mason, leave me. If you leave now, at least our daughter has still one parent left. Losing me won’t hurt that much!” Lorraine sobbed. She hugged her mate’s left hand which was now wrapped with the only spare cloth between them—her handkerchief that she tied in her hair the day they were siege.

Mason flicked Lorraine’s forehead. With his right hand, he wiped her tears with his knuckles. “I just lose a finger, not my ability to protect. Even if it comes to choosing between us, I would rather let you leave here and tell our daughter what kind of hero her father is until his last moment.” Giving her...