-Her 019-

I was at lost of words. I was in shock. I was trembling as I cried while my mate held me closer to him.

When his hands trailed from my shoulders down to my hands to hold them, I snapped and pulled myself away from him. I look at him with tears in my eyes while he remained emotionless.

"I had to. I want to apologize but I couldn't help myself," I sobbed at what he said. "But it's done now."

"No," my lips quivered when he reached for my face. "No."

He looked at me helplessly.

"Well, this was bound to happen anyway."

I felt so helpless that I was hyperventilating. I felt numb. I felt beaten.

Depressingly, everything seemed cloudy as Salazar picked me up and situated me in the car. He buckled my seatbelt before leaning closer to plant a kiss on his mark and I hissed at the sensation despite feeling some sort of void inside of me.

I didn't know what to feel. What was I supposed to feel? Wasn't this the assurance I wanted? Wasn't this the assurance I needed?

But he nee