bChapter 140 /b

    ra’s POV

    I could barely think, but I pushed my legs faster, desperate to reach her. My hand stretched out, fingers brushing bair/bb. /bbShe /bwas too far–so close, yet so unreachable.

    My heart skipped, bracing for that thunderous gunshot. But nothing came. No shot. No blood.

    She stumbled, like her legs had forgotten how to carry her, and then–plop. She copsed right into my arms, bshaking /buncontrobly, like she was about to pass out.

    My fingers pressed against her skin, searching for any sign of injury. Nothing. No blood. No wound. She was fine.

    But I wasn’t fine.

    I whipped around, eyes snapping to Lance and Thorne.

    “What the hell?!” The growl tore through me, venom dripping with each word.

    Thorne let his hand drop from the gun, his gaze shifting from me to the girl. I saw something flicker in his eyes–was bthat/b…

    admiration?

    Lance? He justughed. Laughed. At me.

    “Gamma ra, you’re right on time. Come join the party!” He was almost giddy, like he wasn’t standing there, toying with

    someone’s life.

    I didn’t even spare him a nced. My eyes were fixed on Thorne.

    “You shot her.” My voice cracked with disbelief, the words heavy in the air.

    Thorne shrugged, a casual flick of his wrist toward the gun. “It’s not loaded.”

    “Not loaded?” Lance chuckled, his voice dark, mocking. “Just a little test, to see where his loyalties lie. And he passed, by

    the way.”

    My hands trembled at my sides, fists clenched so tight I could feel my nails digging into my palms.

    “You pulled the trigger! What if it was loaded? What if it did have bullets in it, huh? Are you so okay with killing an innocent woman?” My words cracked, losing control/

    Thorne’s voice was cold, detached. “Sho’da rogue. No big deal.”

    No big deal?

    My jaw clenched, and I took a step forward, fighting to keep the rage from boiling over. “Killing ba /bbrogue /bbin /bbbattle/bb–/bbfine/bb. /bbBut /bthis… this–you’re pulling a gun on ba /bcivilian. She’s not even armed!”

    Thorne’s eyes bored into mine. “Does it matter?”

    bDoes /bit matter?

    I couldn’t stop the surge of disbelief and anger. “You’ve changed, Thorne. I don’t even know bwho /bbyou /bbare /bbanymore/bb! /b

    And suddenly, it wasn’t just the gun that scared me–it was him. He was different now. Cold. Ruthless.

    I swallowed hard, fighting back the burn behind my eyes. No. I couldn’t cry. Not inow/i. Not in front of him.

    I wouldn’t let him see me weak.

    “Why?” I forced the word out, stepping back. The air felt heavy, suffocating. “Why did iyou /ido this? Why betray byour /bown people?”

    Thorne’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t speak at first. Then, with a clipped itone/i, he said, “You want to hear it? Hereb?/b” His lips barely moved, but I heard the ice in his voice.

    Lance leaned back, clearly enjoying the spectacle. “Why not? Go on, Thorne. She’s dying to know.”

    I could feel the weight of Lance’s words, his amusementb, /bbut I couldn’t take my eyes off Thorne: My heart poundedb, /beach second stretching like an eternity.

    “You already heard my reasons in the woods,i” /iThorne said. His voice was t, like he was done.

    I could barely breathe. “So that’s it, then? You really did it for power? He promised you everything? What if it’s all a lie?” My chest tightened with frustration, grief wing at me.

    Lance stretched his arms and shed a grin. “Every word I said was true. And Thorne here?” He motioned to Thorne like he was showing off a trophy. “He knows I’ll keep my promises.”

    Thorne’s voice was hard, unyielding. “I’ll make sure he does.”

    I felt light–headed, dizzy with rage and confusion. Everything we’d fought for. The lives we’d lost. The battles we’d won. All the blood shed… for this? For Thorne to throw it all away because of this?

    I stared at him, disbelief mingling with bitter sorrow.

    “You’d risk it all? For a crown?” The words tumbled out, desperate. “Even if you lose everything? Everyone?”

    Thorne’s eyes softened just for a second, but he didn’t waver. “I’ll get it all back. And more.”

    The words hit me like a p to the face. I staggered back, dizzy with heartbreak, with betrayal.

    “Fine.” The word left my lips, sharp, bitter

    “But you won’t have me back. Not after this. You’re no better than them.” I turned, every part of me aching as I bwalked /baway. His eyes followed me, but I couldn’t–wouldn’t–look back.

    bI /bcould hear Lance’s mockingughter echoing in the background. “Don’t tter yourself too bmuch/bb, /bbGamma/b. bHe’s /bbgot /bbhis /bpick of thedies tonight.”

    I flinched at the words, but Thorne’s cold voice cut through theughter. “bShut /bbup/bb, /bbLance/bb./bb” /b

    But it didn’t matter. I was done.

    I pushed through the door, my steps unsteady, my body screaming with humiliation. My vision blurred bas /bbthe /bbtears /bbI /bbhad /bfought to hold back spilled over.

    I ran, and I didn’t know where I was going–just away. Away from them. Away from him.

    My breath came in ragged gasps, my heart a hurricane of anger and grief.

    And then I felt a hand on my shoulder.

    “Wait. ra… wait.”

    Kimberly’s voice, soft, worried. I blinked, still disoriented, as her concerned eyes found mine.

    “Don’t…” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I shouldn’t have dressed up for this.”

    Kimberly let out a sigh, her fingers tightening around my shoulder. “Don’t say that. You look stunning. He’s the one who’ll regret it.”

    But it wasn’t about how I looked. It never had been. It was about him. Thorne didn’t love me. He never did.

    “I can’t believe this…” My voice faltered, the weight of everything threatening to crush me.

    I slumped against the curb, my head hanging low. “We lost him, Kimberly. We lost him to the rogues. What do I do now?” My voice trembled.

    Kimberly crouched beside me, her hand still on my arm, She didn’t say anything at first, but I could feel iher /isteady presence, grounding me.

    And then, in a low voice, she said one word that made my head snap up.

    “Run.”

    I stared at her, confused, the world still spinning. “What?”

    “Run,” she repeated, more firmly this time. “Run before it’s toote. You still have a choice.”

    I didn’t understand. But something inside me stirred. Maybe she was right. Maybe running was bthe /bbonly /bboption /bbleft/b.

    And as I stood up, wiping thest of my tears away, I realized that running might just be the bhardest /bbthing /bbI’d /bbever /bhave to do. But maybe it was the only thing that could save me now.