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〃About the rangers and the hunters？ Don't worry about it。 We already know。〃
〃Don't worry about it？〃 I demanded in disbelief。 〃Jake； they've got guns！
They're setting traps and
offering rewards and—〃
〃We can take care of ourselves；〃 he growled； still pacing。 〃They're not going
to catch anything。 They're
only making it more difficult—they'll start disappearing soon enough； too。〃
〃Jake！〃 I hissed。
〃What？ It's just a fact。〃
My voice was pale with revulsion。 〃How can you feel that way？ You know these
people。 Charlie's out
there！〃 The thought made my stomach twist。
He came to an abrupt stop。 〃What more can we do？〃 he retorted。
The sun turned the clouds a slivery pink above us。 I could see his expression
now； it was angry；
frustrated； betrayed。
〃Could you well； try to not be a werewolf？〃 I suggested in a whisper。
He threw his hands up in the air。 〃Like I have a choice about it！〃 he shouted。
〃And how would that help
anything； if you're worried about people disappearing？〃
〃I don't understand you。〃
He glared at me； his eyes narrowing and his mouth twisting into a snarl。 〃You
know what makes me so
mad I could just spit？〃
I flinched away from his hostile expression。 He seemed to be waiting for an
answer； so I shook my head。
〃You're such a hypocrite； Bella—there you sit； terrified of me！ How is that
fair？〃 His hands shook with
anger。
〃Hypocrite？ How does being afraid of a monster make me a hypocrite？〃
〃Ugh！〃 he groaned； pressing his trembling fists to his temples and squeezing
his eyes shut。 〃Would you
listen to yourself？〃
〃What？〃
He took two steps toward me； leaning over me and glaring with fury。 〃Well； I'm
so sorry that I can't be
the right kind of monster for you； Bella。 I guess I'm just not as great as a
bloodsucker； am I？〃
I jumped to my feet and glared back。 〃No； you're not！〃 I shouted。 〃It's not
what you are； stupid； it's what
you do！〃
〃What's that supposed to mean？〃 He roared； his entire frame quivering with
rage。
I was taken entirely by surprise when Edward's voice cautioned me。 〃Be very
careful； Bella；〃 his velvet
voice warned。 〃Don't push him too far。 You need to calm him down。〃
Even the voice in my head was making no sense today。
I listened to him； though。 I would do anything for that voice。
〃Jacob；〃 I pleaded； making my tone soft and even。 〃Is it really necessary to
kill people； Jacob？ Isn't there
some other way？ I mean； if vampires can find a way to survive without
murdering people； couldn't you
give it a try； too？〃
He straightened up with a jerk； like my words had sent an electric shock
through him。 His eyebrows shot
up and his eyes stared wide。
〃Killing people？〃 he demanded。
〃What did you think we were talking about？〃
He wasn't trembling anymore。 He looked at me with half…hopeful disbelief。 〃I
thought we were talking
about your disgust for werewolves。〃
〃No； Jake； no。 It's not that you're a wolf。 That's fine；〃 I promised him；
and I knew as I said the words
that I meant them。 I really didn't care if he turned into a big wolf—he was
still Jacob。 〃If you could just
find a way not to hurt people that's all that upsets me。 These ate innocent
people； Jake； people like
Charlie； and I can't just look the other way while you—〃
〃Is that all？ Really？〃 he interrupted me； a smile breaking across his face。
〃You're just scared because I'm
a murderer？ That's the only reason？〃
〃Isn't that reason enough？〃
He started to laugh。
〃Jacob Black； this is so notfunny！〃
〃Sure； sure；〃 he agreed； still chortling。
He took one long stride and caught me in another vice…tight bear hug。
〃You really； honestly don't mind that I morph into a giant dog？〃 he asked； his
voice joyful in my ear。
〃No；〃 I gasped。 〃Can't—breathe—Jake！〃
He let me go； but took both my hands。 〃I'm not a killer； Bella。〃
I studied his face； and it was clear that this was the truth。 Relief pulsed
through me。
〃Really？〃 I asked。
〃Really；〃 he promised solemnly。
I threw my arms around him。 It reminded me of that first day with the
motorcycles—he was bigger；
though； and I felt even more like a child now。
Like that other time； he stroked my hair。
〃Sorry I called you a hypocrite；〃 he apologized。
〃Sorry I called you a murderer。〃
He laughed。
I thought of something then； and pulled away from him so that I could see his
face。 My eyebrows
furrowed in anxiety。 〃What about Sam？ And the others？〃
He shook his head； smiling like a huge burden had been removed from his
shoulders。 〃Of course not。
Don't you remember what we call ourselves？〃
The memory was clear—I'd just been thinking of that very day。 〃Protectors？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃But I don't understand。 What's happening in the woods？ The missing hikers；
the blood？〃
His face was serious； worried at once。 〃We're trying to do our job； Bella。
We're trying to protect them；
but we're always just a little too late。〃
〃Protect them from what？ Is there really a bear out there； too？〃
〃Bella； honey； we only protect people from one thing—our one enemy。 It's the
reason we exist—because
they do。〃
I stared at him blankly for one second before I understood。 Then the blood
drained from my face and a
thin； wordless cry of horror broke through my lips。
He nodded。 〃I thought you； of all people； would reali2e what was really going
on。〃
〃Laurent；〃 I whispered。 〃He's still here。〃
Jacob blinked twice； and cocked his head to one side。 〃Who's Laurent？〃
I tried to sort out the chaos in my head so that I could answer。 〃You know—
you saw him in the
meadow。 You were there〃 The words came out in a wondering tone as it all
sunk in。 〃You were there；
and you kept him from killing me〃
〃Oh； the black…haired leech？〃 He grinned； a tight； fierce grin。 〃Was that his
name？〃
I shuddered。 〃What were you thinking？〃 I whispered。 〃He could have killed you！
Jake； you don't realize
how dangerous—〃
Another laugh interrupted me 〃Bella； one lone vampire isn't much of a problem
for a pack as big as ours。
It was so easy； it was hardly even fun！〃
〃What was so easy？〃
〃Killing the bloodsucker who was going to kill you。 Now； I don't count that
towards th