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snarled。 Emmett was impossibly quick； too； but not like Jasper。 It looked like Jasper had no more substance
than a ghost — any time it seemed Emmett’s big hands had him for sure； Emmett’s fingers clenched around
nothing but the air。 Beside me； Edward leaned forward intently； his eyes locked on the brawl。 Then Emmett
froze。
Jasper had him from behind； his teeth an inch from his throat。
Emmett cussed。
There was a muttered rumble of appreciation from the watching wolves。
“Again；” Emmett insisted； his smile gone。
“It’s my turn；” Edward protested。 My fingers tensed around his。
“In a minute。” Jasper grinned； stepping back。 “I want to show Bella something first。”
I watched with anxious eyes as he waved Alice forward。
“I know you worry about her；” he explained to me as she danced blithely into the ring。 “I want to show
you why that’s not necessary。”
Though I knew that Jasper would never allow any harm to e to Alice； it was still hard to watch as he
sank back into a crouch facing her。 Alice stood motionlessly； looking tiny as a doll after Emmett； smiling to
herself。 Jasper shifted forward； then slinked to her left。
Alice closed her eyes。
My heart thumped unevenly as Jasper stalked toward where Alice stood。
Jasper sprang； disappearing。 Suddenly he was on the other side of Alice。 She didn’t appear to have
moved。
Jasper wheeled and launched himself at her again； only to land in a crouch behind her like the first time； all
the while Alice stood smiling with her eyes closed。
I watched Alice more carefully now。
She was moving — I’d just been missing it； distracted by Jasper’s attacks。 She took a small step forward
at the exact second that Jasper’s body flew through the spot where she’d just been standing。 She took another
step； while Jasper’s grasping hands whistled past where her waist had been。
Jasper closed in； and Alice began to move faster。 She was dancing — spiraling and twisting and curling in
on herself。 Jasper was her partner； lunging； reaching through her graceful patterns； never touching her； like
every movement was choreographed。 Finally； Alice laughed。
Out of nowhere she was perched on Jasper’s back； her lips at his neck。
“Gotcha；” she said； and kissed his throat。
Jasper chuckled； shaking his head。 “You truly are one frightening little monster。”
The wolves muttered again。 This time the sound was wary。
“It’s good for them to learn some respect；” Edward murmured； amused。 Then he spoke louder。 “My
turn。”
He squeezed my hand before he let it go。
Alice came to take his place beside me。 “Cool； huh？” she asked me smugly。
“Very；” I agreed； not looking away from Edward as he glided noiselessly toward Jasper； his movements
lithe and watchful as a jungle cat。
“I’ve got my eye on you； Bella；” she whispered suddenly； her voice pitched so low that I could barely
hear； though her lips were at my ear。
My gaze flickered to her face and then back to Edward。 He was intent on Jasper； both of them feinting as
he closed the distance。
Alice’s expression was full of reproach。
“I’ll warn him if your plans get any more defined；” she threatened in the same low murmur。 “It doesn’t help
anything for you to put yourself in danger。 Do you think either of them would give up if you died？ They’d still
fight； we all would。 You can’t change anything； so just be good； okay？”
I grimaced； trying to ignore her。
“I’m watching；” she repeated。
Edward had closed on Jasper now； and this fight was more even than either of the others。 Jasper had the
century of experience to guide him； and he tried to go on instinct alone as much as he could； but his thoughts
always gave him away a fraction of a second before he acted。 Edward was slightly faster； but the moves
Jasper used were unfamiliar to him。 They came at each other again and again； neither one able to gain the
advantage； instinctive snarls erupting constantly。 It was hard to watch； but harder to look away。 They moved
too fast for me to really understand what they were doing。 Now and then the sharp eyes of the wolves would
catch my attention。 I had a feeling the wolves were getting more out of this than I was — maybe more than
they should。
Eventually； Carlisle cleared his throat。
Jasper laughed； and took a step back。 Edward straightened up and grinned at him。
“Back to work；” Jasper consented。 “We’ll call it a draw。”
Everyone took turns； Carlisle； then Rosalie； Esme； and Emmett again。 I squinted through my lashes；
cringing as Jasper attacked Esme。 That one was the hardest to watch。 Then he slowed down； still not quite
enough for me to understand his motions； and gave more instruction。
“You see what I’m doing here？” he would ask。 “Yes； just like that；” he encouraged。 “Concentrate on the
sides。 Don’t forget where their target will be。 Keep moving。”
Edward was always focused； watching and also listening to what others couldn’t see。
It got more difficult to follow as my eyes got heavier。 I hadn’t been sleeping well lately； anyway； and it was
approaching a solid twentyfour hours since the last time I’d slept。 I leaned against Edward’s side； and let my
eyelids droop。
“We’re about finished；” he whispered。
Jasper confirmed that； turning toward the wolves for the first time； his expression unfortable again。
“We’ll be doing this tomorrow。 Please feel wele to observe again。”
“Yes；” Edward answered in Sam’s cool voice。 “We’ll be here。”
Then Edward sighed； patted my arm； and stepped away from me。 He turned to his family。
“The pack thinks it would be helpful to be familiar with each of our scents — so they don’t make mistakes
later。 If we could hold very still； it will make it easier for them。”
“Certainly；” Carlisle said to Sam。 “Whatever you need。”
There was a gloomy； throaty grumble from the wolf pack as they all rose to their feet。
My eyes were wide again； exhaustion forgotten。
The deep black of the night was just beginning to fade — the sun brightening the clouds； though it hadn’t
cleared the horizon yet； far away on the other side of the mountains。 As they approached； it was sudde