Chapter 12

OLIVIA'S POV I woke to a blinding white light, the sterile scent of antiseptic thick in the air. My entire body ached, a dull throbbing radiating from my abdomen. Panic gripped me as the memory of the agonizing pain in the dungeon came rushing back. My hands instinctively moved to cradle my belly. The pup. Was my baby—? A slight movement to my side made me freeze. My eyes fluttered open in panic, and there he was. Dominic. He sat beside my bed, his broad shoulders hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees. His normally sharp features were clouded with exhaustion, dark circles bruising the skin beneath his eyes. How long had he been sitting there? Had he... been watching over me? For a brief, foolish moment, hope flared in my chest. Maybe he had believed me. Maybe he still— "You're awake," his deep voice cut through my thoughts, flat and devoid of emotion. I swallowed, my throat dry. "Did you... bring me here?" My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. He nodded, but before I coul