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Chapter 26

POV Felis

The house had gone quiet. The only sounds were the faint ticking of the clock in the living room and Sophia tidying up in the kitchen. I glanced over at the couch where Estella was curled up under a blanket, her breathing soft and even. She’d fallen asleep not long ago, exhaustion finally catching up with her. Her face, though peaceful now, still carried the faint traces of everything she’d been through—her puffy eyes, the slight redness on her cheek, and the weight she carried like a shadow.

I leaned back in the armchair, letting out a quiet sigh. It was good to have her here, safe, but I couldn’t shake the nagging thought in the back of my mind. She hadn’t said much about what happened before she showed up at my door, and I wasn’t going to push her. But there was one thing I knew for certain—Noah had to be worried sick.

The guy probably didn’t even know where she was. And if what Estella had told me about him was true, he’d be tearing his hair out by now.

I rubbed the back of my neck, debating for a moment. I didn’t want to overstep, but the guy deserved to know she was safe.

I reached for my phone on the side table, scrolling through until I found her number. Sure enough, there was a “Noah” in her recent calls. I stared at it for a second before hitting the button to call.

The phone barely rang twice before he picked up.

“Estella?” His voice was frantic, thick with worry.

“No, it’s not Estella” I said quickly, keeping my voice low so I wouldn’t wake her. “It’s Felis. Her brother.”

There was a brief pause on the other end. “Felis?” His tone shifted slightly, but the concern was still there. “Where is she? Is she okay?”

“She’s here” I said, glancing at her sleeping form. “She showed up at my place earlier tonight. She’s asleep on my couch right now, so don’t worry she’s safe.”

Noah exhaled sharply, and I could almost feel the relief through the phone. “Thank God. I’ve been calling and texting her. I didn’t know where she went or what happened. Is she... okay?”

I hesitated. “She’s shaken up. She didn’t tell me much, but... whatever happened, it wasn’t good. I think she just needed to get away for a bit.”

“Did she say why she went to you?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost hesitant.

“Not exactly” I admitted. “But I think she needed someone who... who knows what it’s like. The history with our mom, I mean.”

Noah was quiet for a moment. “She should’ve called me. I could’ve—” He stopped himself, taking a deep breath. “Thank you for taking care of her. Just... let her know I’m here when she’s ready to come home.”

“I will” I said. “But listen, Noah... she needs space right now. Don’t take it personally if she hasn’t reached out. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t trust you. She just... she’s trying to process everything.”

“I get it” he said quietly. “I just hate not being there for her.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “You’re doing more than you realize. She loves you, Noah. You’re her safe place, whether she says it or not.”

The silence on the other end told me he was taking that in.

“Thank you, Felis” he said finally. “For calling. And for looking out for her.”

“Anytime” I replied. “I’ll let her know you’re worried when she wakes up.”

“Please do” he said. “And... just tell her I love her, okay?”

“I will” I promised before hanging up.

I set the phone down, glancing back at Estella. She stirred slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around her. I sat there for a moment longer, the weight of everything sinking in.

Whatever had happened tonight, she’d come to me for a reason. And I wasn’t going to let her face any of it alone—not anymore.