Only Her- ON HOLD

Chapter 44.

*Trigger warning: scenes of sexual violence are contained in this chapter. Please be aware and skip the italicized paragraphs if this content makes you uncomfortable.

Dani's POV

I peeled my eyes open as I drifted awake. My entire body felt sore and pain shot through me with the slightest movement. My nose was throbbing, and I was sure it was broken by now. A faint scent of vanilla and cedar hit me and I tried to breathe it in, feeling comfort from it as my heart swelled at the familiarity.

Could it be? Or is my mind playing a trick on me.

"N-Noah?" I forced out, my voice barely a whisper.

A figure kneeled down beside me and I realized then that I was only dreaming. It wasn't his scent. It was Theo's.

A silent tear dropped down my cheek and I laid my head down against the cement floor, not able to bear another moment on the now filthy mattress as I pushed it away from me in disgust.

"Dani, I'm so..." Theo's voice cracked with emotion as he reached for me.

I jerked away instinctively, not wanting to be touched as I pried my eyes open. "Don't." I spit out. "Don't apologize to me when you've let this happen to your brother's mate. And to his child."

Theo's face looked pained as he answered. "Dani, I swear I didn't know his plan. I'm hanging on by a thread here. I'm just trying to keep it together long enough to..."

I scoffed and sat up, wincing as I did. "To what? It's too late. I'm here. And Noah..." I let a quiet sob break free. Still not wanting to accept it didn't mean it was possible that it was true.

Theo looked at me with a look of raw devastation and my heart stalled in fear. "You think it's true." I whispered.

He nodded slowly, tears filling his eyes. "I was there when the report came in."

I leaned forward, gasping as my chest knotted in pain instantly. "But how do they know? How do they know my father couldn't save him?" I asked, my voice becoming desperate.

Theo sighed and let his own tears fall quietly. "The scout claimed he saw them proclaim him dead before he left. They saw him carried off."

I sat back against the wall, pulling my hands up to my face as I let the sobs break free.

"Dani, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He choked out.

"How can you stand beside a monster like him? How can you serve him like the dutiful son and soldier?" I said, my words becoming cold.

Theo looked back at me in surprise. "Dani, I'm not. I'm just..."

"Pretending?" I interrupted. "Well, you're doing a good job then."

Theo opened his mouth to reply but the door opened, causing him to jump to his feet as he wiped away the tears from his face.

"Time's up, Theo. Unless you'd like to get in line for your turn." Blake yelled down the stairs.

My breath caught and Theo's eyes widened as he looked at me. "I'll be back for you." He mouthed, but I rolled my eyes, turning away from him in disbelief.