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I do not dare look in their direction I keep itation Pashov jogs up to er with excitement "Did you see how many females there are? Twelve of the "Are you—"

"Say nothing," I hiss, deliberately not looking over at the females "I do not want to be sent away Pretend I am silent"

My friend exhales a deep breath "You are lucky My chest is silent" Pashov glances around "I think most chests are silent Someone else resonates, but I have not yet determined who"

To think there are so —and only two of us have resonated It seems a cruel trick of nature, but I remind s ht be different then "We must wait and see," I say to Pashov "Until they have their khuis, I must stay back"

Back…and away from my chief, who prowls like an overprotective snowcat If he suspects I a, he will send hten the females I do not want that I want to watch them all, to see if I can tell which one it is that hasat last

I will no longer be alone The thought is overwhel no family, I will create one I will have a ht and I lean heavily on my spear In this moment, I do not care if Vektal is furious I need to knohich female is mine

So I turn to Pashov "I a to find out which female is mine," I say to him, my voice low so no others can hear "Take my spear Watch the entrance"

His eyes widen and for a moment, he looks as excited as I a places withfor yours to respond to"

"But iflouder when I approach, yes?" I reach out and take the heavy fur cloak fro it around h me "I must know, my friend I must"

"I understand Good luck" He gives "

I grin "There is nothing to hear Nothing at all" I glance around, wondering how I can approach withoutVektal and his second, Raahosh, suspicious I need soet near the how round and soft they are, how sroup, and I worry that I will break my mate if I touch her I look down at , but they seee now Whoever I resonate to, I will have to be extremely careful that I do not hurt her

I entlest of mates to my female

With this thought inin a pouch, and I go to fillthe females a drink, they will not be able to chasehelpful So very, very helpful Using the bone cup nearby, I fillover at the cluster of fe on to one another A few are wounded and one is weeping as if her heart is broken I will be happy with any female but…a selfish part of me hopes it is not her I do not knohat to do around tears I have no mother or sisters and no experience with feh

I clearthe layers of fur over , and rumble low inthat we hum at celebrations, just to try and cover the sound I feel obvious Very obvious Zolaya frowns at e…because I a

My face burns with e out the water skin The tearful one flinches as she sees me, but then she offers ers brushIt does not ? I hope? I nod at her, taking the skin back andon to the next one And the next I study the faces One female has specks of dirt on her skin, and another has brown skin Others are in varying shades, their ht It is fascinating So teats and hips, and others look sile