I stand over her, watching her sleep. I shouldn't be here and I knew I was being careless by skipping the meeting I had with my general early in the morning, but the aftermath of last night kept her from waking up. I was careful, to not make any noise. Hazel was sensitive to my presence, to presence of any one of us. That’s why she looked like hunted doe every time me or my brothers were near her.

I was still ignorant why I was doing this, but I was sure of one thing. She was mine. I tried to stay away, to keep my beast at bay, ignored...