Chapter 17: The Accounting

"Her pills come from your doctor," I said. "Then your doctor can keep them."

Rowan raised his eyebrows.

"The Garrick pack has its own healer, Rowan. She answers to the seat, and I'm the seat."

"Felicity is going upstairs to a warm bed, and a woman who's treated her since she was nine is going to look at her."

I hadn't known I was going to say it until it was out.

Rowan's smile held a second too long.

"She'll be begging for my doctor by Saturday," he said.

"Then you'll hear her say it."

He looked at Anders, who looked back at him and didn't blink.

Rowan got into his truck and left, with the four men trailing him down the drive.

Ash and Anders carried my sister into the house between them.

I let myself breathe out.

By noon the pack hall was full again.

This time the long table was empty, and the whole hill sat on the benches along the walls.

They had brought my father out of the back office in the same shirt he had worn to the ceremony.

He stood in front of the stage with two men at his elbows.

The stout elder in the green parka stood up, and for once he didn't have his hat.

"Garrick doesn't do this behind a closed door," he said. "I signed for that account, so I'll start."

"Harold. Where did Sigrid's money go?"

Dad stared at the floor.

"Harold."

"To Thorsen," he said.

His voice was flat.

"Her wages went to pay down the loan interest. I'd have put them back."

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