Nellie’s POV
Ethan looked at me with the cold eyes of someone who knows what I’m asking makes no sense.
“He’s hurt,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “We can’t just leave him to die out there.”
“Yes, we can,” he replied, not taking his eyes off the forest. The tension in his jaw betrayed the effort to stay composed. “Don’t forget, not long ago he wanted to tear my throat out.”
“And you deserved it,” I said flatly.
Ethan turned toward me slowly. The grayish dawn outlined the sharp planes of his face.
“Are you really going to defend him? The man who was your lover—the one who tried to tear us apart? None of this would’ve happened if you hadn’t—”
“Don’t you dare, Ethan,” I warned, my glare cutting through him. “And I’m not defending him.” I took a step closer. “I’m saying I can’t ign
