Tentative Empathy 

~ SASHA ~

Sasha chewed her lip as she swayed to keep Zan quiet for a few more minutes. He was beginning to stir and would want feeding again soon. He wasn't settling as well on the milk from the mountain goats that Jayah had recommended. Sasha prayed it was enough.

But in that moment, she had a decision to make. She'd been putting it off all afternoon.

There was a male in front of her that all her instincts, all her judgments measured as honest. A male of integrity. The kind of male she'd want on her side in any conflict. A male of the same uprightness as her mate, and Lhars, and Skhal…

They should have been friends. She could see it, if she allowed herself: See Tarkyn right in the middle of this circle that she trusted so much—and that Zev did too.

But suddenly, the vision blurred. The moment she thought of her mate, it seemed impossible to put Tarkyn among them.