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〃What about Charlie？〃 I demanded。
〃March Madness is still going；〃 Jacob said。 〃I think Billy and Harry can manage to keep Charlie down
here when he's not at work。〃
〃Wait；〃 Sam said； holding one hand up。 His glance flickered to Emily and then back to me。 〃That's what
Jacob thinks is best； but you need to decide for yourself。 You should weigh the risks of both options very
seriously。 You saw this morning how easily things can get dangerous here； how quickly they get out of
hand。 If you choose to stay with us； I can't make any guarantees about your safety。〃
〃I won't hurt her；〃 Jacob mumbled； looking down。
Sam acted as if he hadn't heard him speak。 〃If there was somewhere else you felt safe…〃
I bit my lip。 Where could I go that wouldn't put someone else in danger？ I recoiled again from the idea of
bringing Renee into this—pulling her into the circle of the target I wore… 〃I don't want to lead Victoria
anywhere else；〃 I whispered。
Sam nodded。 〃That's true。 It's better to have her here； where we can end this。〃
I flinched。 I didn't want Jacob or any of the rest of them trying to end Victoria。 I glanced at Jake's face； it
was relaxed； almost the same as I remembered it from before the onset of the wolf thing； and utterly
unconcerned by the idea of hunting vampires。
〃You'll be careful； right？〃 I asked； an audible lump in my throat。
The boys burst into loud hoots of amusement。 Everyone laughed at me—except Emily。 She met my eyes；
and I could suddenly see the symmetry underlying her deformity。 Her face was still beautiful； and alive
with a concern even more fierce than mine。 I had to look away； before the love behind that concern
could start me aching again。
〃Food's ready；〃 she announced then； and the strategic conversation was history。 The guys hurried to
surround the table—which looked tiny and in danger of being crushed by them—and devoured the
buffetsized pan of eggs Emily placed in their midst in record time。 Emily ate leaning against the counter
like me—avoiding the bedlam at the table—and watched them with affectionate eyes。 Her expression
clearly stated that this was her family。
All in all； it wasn't exactly what I'd been expecting from a pack of werewolves。
I spent the day in La Push； the majority of it in Billy's house。 He left a message on Charlie's phone and at
the station； and Charlie showed up around dinnertime with two pizzas。 It was good he brought two
larges； Jacob ate one all by himself。
I saw Charlie eyeing the two of us suspiciously all night； especially the muchchanged Jacob。 He asked
about the hair； Jacob shrugged and told him it was just more convenient。
I knew that as soon as Charlie and I were headed home； Jacob would take off—off to run around as a
wolf； as he had done intermittently through the entire day。 He and his brothers of sorts kept up a constant
watch； looking for some sign of Victoria's return。 But since they'd chased her away from the hot springs
last night—chased her halfway to Canada； according to Jacob—she'd yet to make another foray。
I had no hope at all that she might just give up。 I didn't have that kind of luck。
Jacob walked me to my truck after dinner and lingered by the window； waiting for Charlie to drive away
first。
〃Don't be afraid tonight；〃 Jacob said； while Charlie pretended to be having trouble with his seat belt。
〃We'll be out there； watching。〃
〃I won't worry about myself；〃 I promised。
〃You're silly。 Hunting vampires is fun。 It's the best part of this whole mess。〃
I shook my head。 〃If I'm silly； then you're dangerously unbalanced。〃
He chuckled。 〃Get some rest； Bella； honey。 You look exhausted。〃
〃I'lltry。〃
Charlie honked his horn impatiently。
〃See you tomorrow；〃 Jacob said。 〃e down first thing。〃
〃Iwill。〃
Charlie followed me home。 I paid scant attention to the lights in my rearview mirror。 Instead； I wondered
where Sam and Jared and Embry and Paul were； out running in the night。 I wondered if Jacob had joined
them yet。
When we got home； I hurried for the stairs； but Charlie was right behind me。
〃What's going on； Bella？〃 he demanded before I could escape。 〃I thought Jacob was part of a gang and
you two were fighting。〃
〃We made up。〃
〃And the gang？〃
〃I don't know—who can understand teenage boys？ They're a mystery。 But I met Sam Uley and his
fiancee； Emily。 The seemed pretty nice to me。〃 I shrugged。 〃Must have all been a misunderstanding。〃
His face changed。 〃I hadn't heard that he and Emily had made it official。 That's nice。 Poor girl。〃
〃Do you know what happened to her？〃
〃Mauled by a bear； up north； during salmon spawning season—horrible accident It was more than a year
ago now。 I heard Sam was really messed up over it。〃
〃That's horrible；〃 I echoed。 More than a year ago。 I'd bet that meant it had happened when there was just
one werewolf in La Push。 I shuddered at the thought of how Sam must have felt every time he looked at
Emily's face。
That night； I lay awake for a long time trying to sort through the day。 I worked my way backward
through dinner with Billy； Jacob； and C harlie； to the long afternoon in the Blacks' house； waiting
anxiously to hear something from Jacob； to Emily's kitchen； to the horror of the werewolf fight； to talking
with Jacob on the beach。
I thought about what Jacob had said early this morning； about hypocrisy。 I thought about that for a long
time。 I didn't like to think that I was a hypocrite； only what was the point of lying to myself？
I curled into a tight ball。 No； Edward wasn't a killer。 Even in his darker past； he'd never been a murderer
of innocents； at least。
But what if he had been？ What if； during the time I that I'd known him； he'd been just like any other
vampire？ What if people had been disappearing from the woods； just like now？ Would that have kept
me away from him？
I shook my head sadly。 Love is irrational； I reminded myself。 The more you loved someone； the less
sense anything made。
I rolled over and tried to think of something else—and I thought of Jacob and his brothers； out running in
the darkn