Page 207

“Why?”

“She left her wallet in the kitchen, and I wanted to see if she had enough cash for gas.”

I gaped at her. “That is invasive.”

She shrugged. “It was practical.”

“You went through her wallet?”

“No, I looked at the top card.”

Grandma lifted another spoonful. “Sloane Harper. Twenty-six. Terrible picture.”

Relief moved through me before I could stop it. I resented that too.

“One fact,” I said.

“One fact you were torturing yourself over.”

“That doesn’t resolve the rest.”

“No.”

Grandma ate calmly. I studied her.

“You’re presenting a case, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Why?”

She set her spoon down. “Because you have only presented the prosecution.”

I scoffed. “Are you forgetting that she exposed the pack?”

“She didn’t, though. Right? She kept the secret.” She looked around dramatically. “I haven’t seen anyone showing up around here looking for wolf shifters, have you?”

“Of course not, but she could still tell someone.”

“So could every person we trust, like doctors, dentists… you name it.”

I pushed my bowl away. “She entered our homes under false pretenses.”

“She did.”

“You agree with everything and still defend her.”

“I defend the parts worth defending.”

I leaned back.

“You were miserable before her,” she said.

“No, I wasn’t.”

“You ate standing up. Slept badly. Solved every problem before anyone could ask. You treated rest as a weakness.”

“I had work.”