Chapter 14: Pain
A sharp pain tears through my left leg, jolting me from the haze of my dreams. My eyes snap open, and I grit my teeth to keep from groaning aloud. The pain is brutal, sharp, like the agony I felt after returning from the battlefield, each throb a cruel reminder of how broken I am.
I shift slightly, careful not to disturb Noelle, who's nestled against me in the crook of my arm. His breathing is soft, rhythmic, and peaceful, a stark contrast to the turmoil twisting inside me. I glance down at him, his face serene in sleep, and try to focus on anything but the pain.
The ceiling above me is nothing but old wooden boards, but I stare at them as if they hold the answer to my suffering. The ache is relentless, a deep, throbbing pulse that refuses to let me rest. I struggle to keep my breathing steady, to swallow the groans that claw at my throat.
In a desperate attempt to distract myself, I turn my attention back to Noelle. His warmth seeps into me, a gentle reminder that I'm not alone in this darkness. His pheromones wrap around me, subtle and soothing, creating a cocoon of comfort that battles against the pain. I focus on the rise and fall of his chest, the way his presence envelops me, grounding me in the present, pulling me away from the memories of war and suffering.
Noelle's here, and that's enough to hold me together, even as the pain rages on.
I often push through these bouts of pain, but today's is different—sharper, more unforgiving. It gnaws at my bones with a ferocity that forces a low groan from my lips. I try to suppress it, but Noelle is already stirring beside me. He wakes up with a jolt, instantly alert.
"Thorne?" His voice is thick with concern, cutting through the fog of my agony.