Katrina’s POV
Slipping away from the packhouse had been terrifying, but with Jasmine’s help, I managed to do it. I had no idea why I was so drawn to the river, but something inside me told me I needed to go there.
Maybe it was desperation or a foolish attempt to feel some semblance of control over my life, but I followed my instincts.
The cool night air wrapped around me as I moved quickly through the shadows, my heart pounding with every step I took. If anyone caught me, the consequences would be severe.
The punishments were already unbearable, and I didn’t want to imagine what would happen if I was discovered sneaking away in the dead of night.
When I finally reached the river, the sight before me sent a jolt through my entire body. Standing at the water’s edge was Adolphus, his figure illuminated by the soft glow of the moon.
He was staring into the river as if searching for something, completely unaware of my presence.
A lump formed in my throat at the sight of him. It had been days since I last saw him, days of suffering and humiliation, days of wondering if he even cared about what had happened to me.
The overwhelming relief I felt at seeing him again warred with the bitterness of knowing what he had done.
I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to remember the pain. The image of him kissing Cassandra flashed in my mind like a cruel reminder of my place in his life.
He had betrayed me, and yet here I was, kissing him like a fool. Anger surged through me, pushing aside my initial relief, and before I could stop myself, I broke the kiss and my palm collided sharply against his cheek.
The sound echoed in the quiet night.
Adolphus flinched but did not move away. He blinked, seemingly startled, and finally turned to face me. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.
"Katrina," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
I shook my head, my hands trembling. "Did you sleep with her too?" My voice cracked with anger and something dangerously close to pain.
He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "Let me explain—"
I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Not only did you sleep with her, you took my rank too and look where it brought me. I fucking trained you!"
His expression darkened, but before he could say anything more, the sound of footsteps in the distance made both of us tense.
My breath caught in my throat as my instincts screamed at me to run. The patrollers were out, and if they caught me here, I didn’t even want to imagine the consequences.
Adolphus seemed to realize the same thing because in an instant, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. "Run," he ordered, his voice urgent.
I hesitated for a split second, but the sound of the approaching guards forced me into action.
Without another word, we took off into the trees, our footsteps muffled by the damp earth beneath us.
The rush of adrenaline pushed me forward, though my legs burned from exhaustion. My heart pounded against my ribs as I struggled to keep up with Adolphus, who was moving swiftly through the dense forest.
We didn’t stop until we reached a familiar building, and before I could even process where we were, Adolphus yanked open the door and pulled me inside.
He shut the door behind us, pressing his back against it as he tried to catch his breath. I stood a few steps away, panting and glaring at him.
"Are you insane?" I hissed. "You brought me to your apartment? What if someone followed us?"
He shook his head, his breathing still uneven. "They won’t come here. They have no reason to suspect anything."
I frowned, my body still tense. "How can you be so sure?"
His gaze flickered with something unreadable. "Because they believe I’m on their side."
I swallowed hard, his words making my stomach churn. The idea that he was still playing along with them, still pretending to be loyal, made me uneasy. The uncertainty gnawed at me, but before I could dwell on it, Adolphus took a slow step forward.
"Katrina," he murmured, his voice softer now.
I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. "Don’t."
He sighed heavily, stepping closer. "I never meant to hurt you. I need you to believe that."
"Then why did you?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He reached out, hesitating before gently brushing his fingers against my cheek. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let him see how much he still affected me.
"I don’t remember everything," he admitted, his voice laced with frustration. "There are things missing, pieces I can’t put together, but I do know one thing."
I forced myself to meet his gaze. "What?"
He held my stare, his eyes filled with something raw and intense. "That I’m in love you."