Chapter 176 –
Estela POV
How did we get here?
The forest is too quiet. My ears are ringing with the echo of the gunshot, but I can still hear her voice—low and urgent—cutting through the chaos.
"Go after him, he'll escape again. I'll be fine."
"But—" I kneel beside her, my hands hovering uselessly over the gunshot wound on her thigh. Blood soaks through the torn fabric of her pants, slick and vivid against her skin. I feel my throat close. Panic claws at the edges of my chest. I want to scream. I want to cradle her and never let go.
"You're not fine," I whisper, but my voice is too thin, too scared.
"Estela. Please."
That one word, spoken like an anchor, steadies me.
I nod. I don't trust myself to speak again. My fingers hesitate before brushing her cheek. Her skin is too cold. She's sweating. I want to stay. I want to hold her. But instead—I grab the nearest gun, shove two more into her lap with shaking hands, and take off into the trees.
