Chapter Fifty-Five

D'Angelo

The bouts of sadness I felt were beyond description. Despair consumed my body and soul.

I couldn't make sense of my emotions. It made my body numb, and my soul felt as if someone had pulled a plug from deep within me. The only other sensation that registered on my radar was restlessness.

I was ruining this beautiful thing I had with Kira. Her unexpected outburst yesterday left me feeling unsettled. She had every right to be frustrated. She wanted the connection of being marked—to have that tangible connection—and it was a natural longing for any mate.

But could I give her what she wanted? If I marked her, it would be permanent, and I would brand her as mine for eternity. There were serious consequences to consider. She would carry my scent, my imprint, forever on her skin.

In our pack, where appearances were everything, the mark would attract attention.

The gossip, the judgment, the danger she would face—all of it would be my fault. People would talk, speculate, and perhaps e