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I gestured around. “That’s true, but the cleanup isn’t done.”

“We have council responders for that.”

One of the responders near the porch made a face that strongly suggested he did not want to be included in the conversation.

Karen pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “You have no right to be here.”

The words hit like a ton of bricks. They weren’t entirely wrong.

Hudson stepped down from the porch. “Karen.”

She turned toward him. “You should be resting.”

“So should you,” he snapped.

“I would be if the human who infiltrated our family wasn’t wandering around as though she belongs here.”

The lawn went quiet.

Hudson continued toward us. “She saved multiple lives today.”

Karen’s mouth tightened. “That doesn’t erase what she did or who she is.”

Hudson’s voice became louder. “No one said it did.”

“She should’ve been removed from the property immediately. Hilary should have escorted her out, and the council should be questioning her.”

Hilary folded her arms from beside the oak. “I don’t think that’s necessary. And in case you’ve forgotten, I was busy breathing, Karen.”

Karen ignored her. “The alpha removed this woman from the group chat. That should have ended her involvement.”

I felt every person waiting.

The old version of me would have stepped back. I would have apologized for existing in the wrong place and left before anyone had to choose a side. That instinct remained. So did everything I had learned about where silence led.

“I agree that saving people doesn’t erase my lie,” I said.

Karen looked satisfied.

I continued. “But being right about me doesn’t make you right about everything.”

Her satisfaction vanished. “I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me.”

“Sloane.” Patty’s tone held a warning.

I glanced at her. She looked worried, not because I was wrong, but because she knew what happened when anyone challenged Karen directly.

That was the problem.

“I have no standing here,” I said. “I know that. I lied to all of you for months, and I’m going to spend a long time making amends to anyone who allows me to.”

Several people shifted their weight uncomfortably. No one interrupted.

“But I also spent enough time with this family to see what happens around you, Karen.”

Karen drew herself up. “What is that supposed to mean?”