“When it comes to our mates,” Rafe said after a long, tense silence, his voice lower now but still burning with anger, “we will never see eye to eye.”
He lifted his head fully, staring straight at Asher through the iron bars.
“We will never agree on how a wolf should treat his mate.”
The chains at his wrists clinked softly as he shifted.
“I would never let you feel the pain of losing a mate, Asher. Never.”
His voice cracked slightly before hardening again.
“Because you were my best friend.”
The words hung painfully between them.
“If I had known then what I know now about how painful it is to lose a mate,” Rafe continued, his breathing uneven, “I would never have let you reject Diana.”
Asher stiffened.
Rafe’s eyes burned.
“I saw what it did to you.”
Asher looked away.
“I saw ho
