Nathan’s POV
"The number you are calling is not reachable at the mont."
The robotic voice cut through the line again, flat and cold. I dragged the phone from my ear and stared at the screen like it had betrayed . Fifth ti. Still nothing.
The food in front of might as well have been invisible. I couldn’t eat. Couldn’t think about anything except why she wasn’t answering. My thumb kept hitting redial, over and over, like maybe if I called enough tis, she’d finally pick up.
Text after text went out. No reply. No read receipts. Just silence.
I could feel everyone’s eyes on at the table, but I didn’t care. Let them stare. Let them wonder. My chest was tight, my head pounding, and my wolf wouldn’t calm the hell down. He paced inside , growling, snapping, and restless, like he could already sense sothing was wrong.
"Hailee," I muttered, running a hand through my hair, my heart hamring. "Co on, just... answer . Please."
"The number you are calling is not reachable at the mont."
That damned voice again. I slamd the phone down on the table harder than I ant to, the sound making a few heads turn. My chest felt tight, like soone was pressing down on it, and my wolf still wouldn’t settle. He was pacing, snapping, restless.
"Son," my mother’s voice cut through the silence, soft but concerned. "What’s wrong?"
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. My jaw clenched, and I kept my eyes on the phone, praying for it to light up. If I opened my mouth, I’d break.
The silence stretched until my father spoke, his voice calm but carrying weight. "Hailee’s mother was here earlier."
My head jerked up. I know because I spoke with her. I had asked her out to give her blessings to and Hailee, but she only responded that she would think about it.
Father sighed, his expression grim. "She ca to resign."
The words hit like a blade straight through the chest. I stared at him, unable to breathe, unable to process. My wolf roared inside , furious, terrified.
Resign? No. That wasn’t right. That couldn’t be right.
"Father..." My voice cracked. "What do you an, resign?"
Father shifted. "She told an ergency ca up and she has to attend to it."
Father’s words echoed in my skull, but I couldn’t stay seated. My chair screeched back against the floor as I shot to my feet, my heart pounding out of control.
"Did she tell you what the ergency is?" I demanded, panic clawing up my throat.
Father frowned, shaking his head slowly. "No. Only that she had to leave imdiately."
That was all I needed to hear. My chest tightened as if my ribs couldn’t contain the storm raging inside . My wolf snarled, clawing for control.
I didn’t wait for another word. I spun on my heel, storming out of the dining room.
"Nathan!" Father’s voice barked after , sharp and commanding. But I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. My legs carried faster, like sothing inside already knew the truth my mind refused to accept.
The front door slamd behind , and I nearly ripped the car door off its hinges as I threw myself inside. My hands trembled on the wheel, but I jamd the key into the ignition and roared off toward Hailee’s house.
The drive blurred past in a rush of headlights and pounding heartbeats. My fingers gripped the steering wheel until it creaked, my jaw set hard.
When I finally skidded to a stop outside her house, I was out of the car before the engine even cooled. I sprinted to the front door and pounded on it, my knuckles aching from the force.
"Hailee!"
No answer.
I twisted the knob. Locked. My chest heaved as I shoved against the wood, my wolf thrashing inside . Still nothing.
I sucked in a deep breath through my nose, desperate, searching for her sll. Her scent lingered faintly in the air, but it was drifting... fading. She wasn’t here.
My chest cracked wide open at the realization. Suddenly, a car pulled into the drive, brakes squealing slightly. My head whipped around, hope and dread clashing in my chest.
The door flew open, and Callum stumbled out, his face pale, his eyes darting to the locked house and then to .
My wolf surged instantly. He’s here for her too.
Before I could speak, the low growl of a motor ripped through the air. A motorcycle screeched to a stop beside the curb, and Dane ripped off his helt, his hair disheveled, his eyes burning with the sa panic clawing through my veins.
"Where is she?" Dane’s voice was raw. He glanced at , then Callum, then the house. "I’ve been calling her. Nothing. No answer."
My chest tightened. "You too?"
Dane nodded sharply, his jaw clenching. "I was with her... three hours ago." His voice faltered for a second before he straightened, shoulders squared. "I left when she told her mother would be back soon."
Sothing inside snapped. My fists curled at my sides as I stepped closer. "What were you doing with her?" I demanded, my voice sharp, my wolf rising to the surface.
Dane’s gaze flickered toward , unflinching. "We were in her room." He deliberately paused. "We had sex."
The words hit like a blow to the gut, stealing the breath right out of . Jealousy burned hot, violent, twisting inside my chest. My wolf snarled, baring teeth, demanding I tear sothing apart.
Dane didn’t look at again. He kept his eyes fixed on the closest windows of the house, his voice low, steady. "Afterward, she told to go. Said her mother would be back. But..." He trailed off, frowning deeply. "Sothing was off. I felt it. Even when I left, I couldn’t shake it. So I called. Over and over. And now her number’s off."
Callum cursed under his breath, dragging a hand down his face. "Sa with . I ca straight here when I couldn’t reach her."
My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. Sothing wasn’t right.
My pulse was still hamring, my wolf restless, when the thought hit like lightning. Lila.
Hailee’s only friend. If anyone knew where she was, it would be her.
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