~HAZEL~

It's the second day since Ariel joined us for the mate hunt, and the early morning air is thick with a mixture of anticipation and quiet tension. I am still having a hard time pretending like everything is okay, even though my heart ached each time I saw Ashton with his mate, sharing looks and moments that I secretly longed to have myself.

"We need to hunt for more food, especially since it's three of us now," Ashton says to her, his tone practical yet slightly strained. "I want ...