110. A soothing gesture.

Isla’s POV

The first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains,I stirred from my sleep, my eyelids heavy as I turned to the other side of the bed. My hands ran over the bed sheets expecting to feel Dario’s hard body. I was taken aback when I felt an empty space.

I managed to pull my eyes completely open realizing that this was no fragment of my imagination. Dario was not here.

An uneasy feeling crept over me. The empty room echoed with silence, amplifying my thoughts and fears. Did Dario leave without a word? Did something happen during the night? Panic began to rise within me, threatening to overwhelm my senses.

I needed to stay calm but I couldn’t. My mind traveled back to out last conversation and the fact that Dario had given me no reply.

My racing heart doubled, during that moment I felt it—the familiar throbbing of the mate mark on my skin. It pulsed gently, a reminder of our bond, and a wave of relief washed over me. Dario couldn't have left me.

Gathering myself , I p