Kael froze at the mention of Jasmine. The name hit him like a physical blow, knocking the air from his lungs. It was not just love he felt for her.
They were friends, good ones, the kind of friends who had each other's backs through every mission, every late night spent poring over reports, every quiet moment between the chaos.
They were colleagues. They were confidants. To say that he missed her was an understatement. He missed her like he would miss a part of himself, a limb severed and never healed.
"You are too dirty to call her name." Kael's voice came out cold, each word a shard of ice. "Whether you accept the rejection or not, it has nothing to do with me. This is not your pack, and the blood moon festival is over. The money paid was long exhausted since yesterday, which means you can be kicked out."
Kael wondered how long she would be able to live with the pain. It had been unbearable when it settled in his chest, a constant companion that gnawed at him from the inside.
