“So you’ve done a lot of these healings?” Brendan asked.

“More than I can count.”

Roland sat up straighter and stared at me with new understanding. “That time Uncle Brendan’s mare hurt her leg and everyone thought they’d have to put her down. No one could believe it when the vet said the leg was sound. That was you, wasn’t it?”

I nodded. I would never forget that day three years ago when we showed up at the farm to find it in an uproar because one of the horses had lamed itself. I’d run straight for the barn and waited until everyone left before I fixed the fractured bone. Roland had found me asleep by the barn door and teased me about it all night.

“There were other times too, now that I think of it,” Brendan said almost to himself. “My old Lab that got shot out in the woods and that sickly litter of kittens the cat abandoned. I never could understand how any of those animals survived. Now that I remember it, you were here every time.”

“How did you manage to keep this from us all this time?” Roland wanted to know. “How is that no one ever figured out what you could do?”

I lifted my shoulders. “I had to work to hide it. You don’t know how hard it was. Remember when I started volunteering at the animal shelter and you guys couldn’t understand why I quit after a few weeks when I loved it so much? Whenever they brought in a sick dog or cat I had to heal it. I couldn’t help myself. But then someone noticed all the animals suddenly improving. I had to leave to protect my secret. It’s bothered me ever since because there were so many animals I could have helped.”

Peter had been quiet since I came downstairs and I could tell he was still pretty shaken up by last night. He looked at me with a kind of reverence that made me uncomfortable. “So the biggest thing you’ve ever healed is a horse?”

“Yes, but that was nothing compared to a werewolf.”

He grinned. “Well, you turned out to be a good one to have around in a fight. We’re lucky you were here last night.”

“Lucky?” Francis snorted angrily. “If she wasn’t messing with trolls and dragging you guys into her mess, Roland wouldn’t have been hurt in the first place.”

“Francis…” Brendan began.

“I’m part of this pack and I get to say my piece.” Francis looked ready to jump out of his seat at any second. I thought about the animosity that had always existed between us and knew this just added to his reasons to dislike me. The hard part was that he was right. Roland and Peter had both been hurt yesterday because of me. What if Peter hadn’t been able to heal himself? What if Roland had died on the spot or I hadn’t gotten to him in time?

“Last night proved what I’ve been saying for years: we need to stick with our own kind and leave everyone else to their own business. Now we have crocotta coming onto our land, something they have never done before. We have Mohiri hanging around like they own the place and we’ve been dragged into a fight with vampires and goddamn witch doctors over trolls who would rather tear your heart out than look at you. And it’s all because of her.” He pointed at me and I met his contemptuous stare quietly. “You all have always been soft on her because she’s the poor little orphan girl. But she’s not so little anymore and she’s not even human. She’s one of them for Christ’s sake so she should be with them. Since when do we welcome Mohiri into our homes?”

“Francis, that’s enough!” Judith admonished sharply from the doorway.

“He’s right,” I said loudly and everyone stared at me. “Everything he said is true – except about the trolls. Remy’s always been a good friend to me. I should have known better about the bile, and I should have said no when he asked me to use it. Just because he’s a troll doesn’t mean he understands people or how dangerous they can be.” I took in a shaky breath. “I understand if you hate me, but none of this is his fault.”

Roland laid his hand over mine after I finished my impassioned speech. “Sara, no one here hates you. Don’t mind Francis. You know how he is.”

Francis sneered at him. “Of course you stand up for her, Roland. You’ve had a thing for her since you met her.”

What? I turned to Roland and a flush crept up his neck. “Maybe back when we were younger… but not for a long time.” He gave me a sideways look. “Oh, come on. All the boys liked you when you started school with us. Pete did too.”

The look on Peter’s face told me he wanted to pound Roland for pulling him into this. “Yeah, but after a while we decided that we didn’t want to fight about it.”

I made a choked sound. Judith coughed and disappeared into the kitchen again and I was sure I heard muffled laughter from the other room. I sank further into the couch, wishing it would swallow me up.

“See, that’s what I mean. You guys were always biased when it came to her. I’m not saying Sara is a bad person. But she’s not good for the pack. ” Francis leaned forward in his chair. “And I’m not the only one who thinks that.”

“It is not your place to say that,” Brendan said sternly and I thought I heard a growl beneath the words. “Max and I discussed this last night and we will decide what is good for this pack, not you or anyone else.”

“Fine,” Francis said sullenly. He stood and stomped to the door. “But if Maxwell agrees with you, why isn’t he here right now?” He slammed the door hard behind him.