Blacktail Deer Plateau gethsemane

At first Lasher's words confused him, for he wondered how Lasher could think Dante did not feel a great deal of affection for him. As one of his closest friends in the pack, it wasn't possible. Then the true weight of the words spoken dawned on him.

He was rooted, anxious surprise causing his mouth to run dry. For a moment he did not speak. Never could he have dreamed that the dark beta would feel that way, for never could he have that any in the pack did. It just... Didn't make sense. And despite the admittance, he still could not help but think he was wrong in his assumption.

"Of course I feel a great deal of affection for you, Lasher," he responded, though doubtless the offhand manner of this would show he had taken the words in a way not meant. Because for them to mean anything else was not something he could ever assume.