Noah's pov
I didn't want to be here, but avoiding her wasn't an option anymore. Stella's actions had nearly cost Pecan her life, and the rage simmering inside me refused to settle. The confrontation was inevitable.
I pushed open the door to Stella's room with more force than necessary, the loud creak making her flinch. She was sitting by the window, her face pale, dark circles under her eyes, and her posture slumped. She looked like someone carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, but my anger wouldn't let me pity her,not yet.
"We need to talk," I said, my tone clipped.
She didn't look up. "I already know what you're going to say, Noah. Save it."
My fists clenched at my sides. "Save it? Stella, you attacked Pecan. You almost killed her! And for what? Some petty grudge?"
Her head snapped up, and for the first time in weeks, she met my gaze. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and there was a spark of defiance there, but it was dim, flickering like a candle in the wind.
