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Edward had said that Charlie was ready to kill me； so he must know that—that
it was mine。 There was
only one person who could be behind this treachery。
〃No！〃 I gasped。 〃Why？ Why would Jacob do this to me？〃 The sting of betrayal
washed through me。 I
had trusted Jacob implicitly—trusted him with every single secret I had。 He
was supposed to be my safe
harbor—the person I could always rely on。 Of course things were strained
right now； but I didn't think
any of the underlying foundation had changed。 I didn't think that was
changeable！
What had I done to deserve this？ Charlie was going to be so mad—and worse
than that； he was going to
be hurt and worried。 Didn't he have enough to deal with already？ I would have
never imagined that Jake
could be so petty and just plain mean。 Tears sprang； smarting； into my eyes；
but they were not tears of
sadness。 I had been betrayed。 I was suddenly so angry that my head throbbed
like it was going to
explode。
〃Is he still here？〃 I hissed。
〃Yes。 He's waiting for us there。〃 Edward told me； nodding toward the slender
path that divided the dark
fringe of the forest in two。
I jumped out of the car； launching myself toward the trees with my hands
already balled into fists for the
first punch。
Why did Edward have to be so much faster than me？
He caught me around the waist before I made the path。
〃Let me go！ I'm going to murder him！ Traitor！〃 I shouted the epithet toward
the trees。
〃Charlie will hear you；〃 Edward warned me。 〃And once he gets you inside； he
may brick over the
doorway。〃
I glanced back at the house instinctively； and it seemed like the glossy red
bike was all I could see。 I was
seeing red。 My head throbbed again。
〃Just give me one round with Jacob； and then I'll deal with Charlie。〃 I
struggled futilely to break free。
〃Jacob Black wants to see me。 That's why he's still here。〃
That stopped me cold—took the fight right out of me。 My hands went limp。 They
fight； Paris falls。
I was furious； but not that furious。
〃Talk？〃 I asked。
〃More or less。〃
〃How much more？〃 My voice shook。
Edward smoothed my hair back from my face。 〃Don't worry； he's not here to
fight me。 He's acting as
spokesperson for the pack。〃
〃Oh。〃
Edward looked at the house again； then tightened his arm around my waist and
pulled me toward the
woods。 〃We should hurry。 Charlie's getting impatient。〃
We didn't have to go far； Jacob waited just a short ways up the path。 He
lounged against a mossy tree
trunk as he waited； his face hard and bitter； exactly the way I knew it would
be。 He looked at me； and
then at Edward。 Jacob's mouth stretched into a humorless sneer； and he
shrugged away from the tree。 He
stood on the balls of his bare feet； leaning slightly forward； with his
trembling hands clenched into fists。 He
looked bigger than the last time I'd seen him。 Somehow； impossibly； he was
still growing。 He would
tower over Edward； if they stood next to each other。
But Edward stopped as soon as we saw him； leaving a wide space between us and
Jacob。 Edward
turned his body； shifting me so that I was behind him。 I leaned around him to
stare at Jacob—to accuse
him with my eyes。
I would have thought that seeing his resentful； cynical expression would only
make me angrier。 Instead； it
reminded me of the last time I'd seen him； with tears in his eyes。 My fury
weakened； faltered； as I stared
at Jacob。 It had been so long since I'd seen him—I hated that our reunion had
to be like this。
〃Bella；〃 Jacob said as a greeting； nodding once toward me without looking away
from Edward。
〃Why？〃 I whispered； trying to hide the sound of the lump in my throat。 〃How
could you do this to me；
Jacob？〃
The sneer vanished； but his face stayed hard and rigid。 〃It's for the best。〃
〃What is that supposed to mean？ Do you want Charlie to strangle me？ Or did you
want him to have a
heart attack； like Harry？ No matter how mad you are at me； how could you do
this to him？〃
Jacob winced； and his eyebrows pulled together； but he didn't answer。
〃He didn't want to hurt anyone—he just wanted to get you grounded； so that
you wouldn't be allowed to
spend time with me；〃 Edward murmured； explaining the thoughts Jacob wouldn't
say。
Jacob's eyes sparked with hate as he glowered at Edward again。
〃Aw； Jake！〃 I groaned。 〃I'm already grounded！ Why do you think I haven't been
down to La Push to
kick your butt for avoiding my phone calls？〃
Jacob's eyes flashed back to me； confused for the first time。 〃That's why？〃 he
asked； and then locked his
jaw； like he was sorry he'd said anything。
〃He thought I wouldn't let you； not Charlie；〃 Edward explained again。
〃Stop that；〃 Jacob snapped。
Edward didn't answer。
Jacob shuddered once； and then gritted his teeth as hard as his fists。 〃Bella
wasn't exaggerating about
your abilities；〃 he said through his teeth。 〃So you must already know why
I'm here。〃
〃Yes；〃 Edward agreed in a soft voice。 〃But； before you begin； I need to say
something。〃
Jacob waited； clenching and unclenching his hands as he tried to control the
shivers rolling down his arms。
〃Thank you；〃 Edward said； and his voice throbbed with the depth of his
sincerity。 〃I will never be able to
tell you how grateful I am。 I will owe you for the rest of my existence。〃
Jacob stared at him blankly； his shudders stilled by surprise。 He exchanged a
quick glance with me； but
my face was just as mystified。
〃For keeping Bella alive；〃 Edward clarified； his voice rough and fervent。
〃When I didn't。〃
〃Edward—；〃 I started to say； but he held one hand up； his eyes on Jacob。
Understanding washed over Jacob's face before the hard mask returned。 〃I
didn't do it for your benefit。〃
〃I know。 But that doesn't erase the gratitude I feel。 I thought you should
know。 If there's ever anything in
my power to do for you〃
Jacob raised one black brow。
Edward shook his head。 〃That's not in my power。〃
〃Whose； then？〃 Jacob growled。
Edward looked down at me。 〃Hers。 I'm a quick learner； Jacob Black； and I don't
make the same mistake
twice。 I'm here until she orders me away。〃
I was imm