Twenty-three

Nathan's pov

The night had been an unrelenting torment, with the doctor's ominous words reverberating through my thoughts like a relentless drumbeat. My body tossed and turned as if in defiance of the news, but rest remained an elusive shadow. Each time I closed my eyes, Isabella's absence haunted me. The thought of someone like Damien finding her before I did and finding out she is my mate chased me out of bed more times than I could count. And by morning, I had worn a hole in the carpet with my constant pacing.

The first rays of dawn crept through my window, casting a dim light that seemed almost mocking in its intrusion. I lay on my bed, eyes fixated on the ceiling, mind racing, and heart heavy with uncertainty. I needed to find Isabella, and I needed to do that as soon as possible before I had another attack.

A knock on the door interrupted my inner musings, and I snapped to attention, my heart racing with anticipation. It was Jones, probably to give me an update on the search for