STOMACH
Carlisle and Rosalie were off in a flash, darting upstairs. I could hear them debating whether they should warm it up for her. Ugh. I wondered what all house-of-horrors stuff they kept around here. Fridge full of blood, check.
What else? Torture chamber? Coffin room?
Edward stayed, holding Bellaโs hand. His face was dead again. He didnโt seem to have the energy to keep up even that little hint of hope heโd had before. They stared into each otherโs eyes, but not in a gooey way. It was like they were having a conversation. Kind of reminded me of Sam and Emily.
No, it wasnโt gooey, but that only made it harder to watch.
I knew what it was like for Leah, having to see that all the time. Having to hear it in Samโs head. Of course we all felt bad for her, we werenโt monstersโin that sense, anyway. But I guess weโd blamed her for how she handled it. Lashing out at everyone, trying to make us all as miserable as she was.
I would never blame her again. How could anyone help spreading this kind of misery around? How could anyoneย notย try to ease some of the burden by shoving a little piece of it off on someone else?
And if it meant that I had to have a pack, how could I blame her for taking my freedom? I would do the same. If there was a way to escape this pain, Iโd take it, too.
Rosalie darted downstairs after a second, flying through the room like a sharp breeze, stirring up the burning smell. She stopped inside the kitchen, and I heard the creak of a cupboard door.
โNotย clear, Rosalie,โ Edward murmured. He rolled his eyes.
Bella looked curious, but Edward just shook his head at her. Rosalie blew back through the room and disappeared again.
โThis was your idea?โ Bella whispered, her voice rough as she strained to make it loud enough for me to hear. Forgetting that I could hear just fine. I kind of liked how, a lot of the time, she seemed to forget that I wasnโt completely human. I moved closer, so that she wouldnโt have to work so hard.
โDonโt blame me for this one. Your vampire was just picking snide comments out of my head.โ
She smiled a little. โI didnโt expect to see you again.โ โYeah, me, either,โ I said.
It felt weird just standing here, but the vampires had shoved all the furniture out of the way for the medical setup. I imagined that it didnโt bother themโsitting or standing didnโt make much difference when you were stone. Wouldnโt bother me much, either, except that I was so exhausted.
โEdward told me what you had to do. Iโm sorry.โ
โSโokay. It was probably only a matter of time till I snapped over something Sam wanted me to do,โ I lied.
โAnd Seth,โ she whispered. โHeโs actually happy to help.โ โI hate causing you trouble.โ
I laughed onceโmore a bark than a laugh.
She breathed a faint sigh. โI guess thatโs nothing new, is it?โ โNo, not really.โ
โYou donโt have to stay and watch this,โ she said, barely mouthing the words.
I could leave. It was probably a good idea. But if I did, with the way she looked right now, I could be missing the last fifteen minutes of her life.
โI donโt really have anywhere else to go,โ I told her, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. โThe wolf thing is a lot less appealing since Leah joined up.โ
โLeah?โ she gasped.
โYou didnโt tell her?โ I asked Edward.
He just shrugged without moving his eyes from her face. I could see it wasnโt very exciting news to him, not something worth sharing with the
more important events that were going down.
Bella didnโt take it so lightly. It looked like it was bad news to her. โWhy?โ she breathed.
I didnโt want to get into the whole novel-length version. โTo keep an eye on Seth.โ
โBut Leah hates us,โ she whispered.
Us. Nice. I could see that she was afraid, though.
โLeahโs not going to bug anyone.โ But me. โSheโs in my packโโI grimaced at the wordsโโso she follows my lead.โ Ugh.
Bella didnโt look convinced.
โYouโre scared ofย Leah, but youโre best buds with the psychopath blonde?โ
There was a low hiss from the second floor. Cool, sheโd heard me. Bella frowned at me. โDonโt. Roseโฆ understands.โ
โYeah,โ I grunted. โShe understands that youโre gonna die and she doesnโt care, sโlong as she gets her mutant spawn out of the deal.โ
โStop being a jerk, Jacob,โ she whispered.
She looked too weak to get mad at. I tried to smile instead. โYou say that like itโs possible.โ
Bella tried not to smile back for a second, but she couldnโt help it in the end; her chalky lips pulled up at the corners.
And then Carlisle and the psycho in question were there. Carlisle had a white plastic cup in his handโthe kind with a lid and a bendy straw. Ohโย not clear; now I got it. Edward didnโt want Bella to have to think about what she was doing any more than necessary. You couldnโt see what was in the cup at all. But I could smell it.
Carlisle hesitated, the hand with the cup half-extended. Bella eyed it, looking scared again.
โWe could try another method,โ Carlisle said quietly.
โNo,โ Bella whispered. โNo, Iโll try this first. We donโt have time. โ
At first I thought sheโd finally gotten a clue and was worried about herself, but then her hand fluttered feebly against her stomach.
Bella reached out and took the cup from him. Her hand shook a little, and I could hear the sloshing from inside. She tried to prop herself up on one elbow, but she could barely lift her head. A whisper of heat brushed down my spine as I saw how frail sheโd gotten in less than a day.
Rosalie put her arm under Bellaโs shoulders, supporting her head, too, like you did with a newborn. Blondie was all about the babies.
โThanks,โ Bella whispered. Her eyes flickered around at us. Still aware enough to feel self-conscious. If she wasnโt so drained, Iโd bet sheโdโve blushed.
โDonโt mind them,โ Rosalie murmured.
It made me feel awkward. I shouldโve left when Bellaโd offered the chance. I didnโt belong here, being part of this. I thought about ducking out, but then I realized a move like that would only make this worse for Bellaโ make it harder for her to go through with it. Sheโd figure I was too disgusted to stay. Which was almost true.
Still. While I wasnโt going to claim responsibility for this idea, I didnโt want to jinx it, either.
Bella lifted the cup to her face and sniffed at the end of the straw. She flinched, and then made a face.
โBella, sweetheart, we can find an easier way,โ Edward said, holding his hand out for the cup.
โPlug your nose,โ Rosalie suggested. She glared at Edwardโs hand like she might take a snap at it. I wished she would. I bet Edward wouldnโt takeย thatย sitting down, and Iโd love to see Blondie lose a limb.
โNo, thatโs not it. Itโs just that itโโ Bella sucked in a deep breath. โIt smells good,โ she admitted in a tiny voice.
I swallowed hard, fighting to keep the disgust off my face.
โThatโs a good thing,โ Rosalie told Bella eagerly. โThat means weโre on the right track. Give it a try.โ Given Blondieโs new expression, I was surprised she didnโt break into a touchdown dance.
Bella shoved the straw between her lips, squeezed her eyes shut, and wrinkled her nose. I could hear the blood slopping around in the cup again as her hand shook. She sipped at it for a second, and then moaned quietly with her eyes still closed.
Edward and I stepped forward at the same time. He touched her face. I clenched my hands behind my back.
โBella, loveโโ
โIโm okay,โ she whispered. She opened her eyes and stared up at him. Her expression wasโฆ apologetic. Pleading. Scared. โItย tastesย good, too.โ
Acid churned in my stomach, threatening to overflow. I ground my teeth together.
โThatโs good,โ Blondie repeated, still jazzed. โA good sign.โ
Edward just pressed his hand to her cheek, curling his fingers around the shape of her fragile bones.
Bella sighed and put her lips to the straw again. She took a real pull this time. The action wasnโt as weak as everything else about her. Like some instinct was taking over.
โHowโs your stomach? Do you feel nauseated?โ Carlisle asked.
Bella shook her head. โNo, I donโt feel sick,โ she whispered. โThereโs a first, eh?โ
Rosalie beamed. โExcellent.โ
โI think itโs a bit early for that, Rose,โ Carlisle murmured.
Bella gulped another mouthful of blood. Then she flashed a look at Edward. โDoes this screw my total?โ she whispered. โOr do we start countingย afterย Iโm a vampire?โ
โNo one is counting, Bella. In any case, no one died for this.โ He smiled a lifeless smile. โYour record is still clean.โ
Theyโd lost me.
โIโll explain later,โ Edward said, so low the words were just a breath. โWhat?โ Bella whispered.
โJust talking to myself,โ he lied smoothly.
If he succeeded with this, if Bella lived, Edward wasnโt going to be able to get away with so much when her senses were as sharp as his. Heโd have to work on the honesty thing.
Edwardโs lips twitched, fighting a smile.
Bella chugged a few more ounces, staring past us toward the window.
Probably pretending we werenโt here. Or maybe just me. No one else in this group would be disgusted by what she was doing. Just the oppositeโthey were probably having a tough time not ripping the cup away from her.
Edward rolled his eyes.
Jeez, how did anyone stand living with him? It was really too bad he couldnโt hear Bellaโs thoughts. Then heโd annoy the crap out of her, too, and sheโd get tired of him.
Edward chuckled once. Bellaโs eyes flicked to him immediately, and she half-smiled at the humor in his face. I would guess that wasnโt something
sheโd seen in a while.
โSomething funny?โ she breathed. โJacob,โ he answered.
She looked over with another weary smile for me. โJakeโs a crack-up,โ she agreed.
Great, now I was the court jester. โBadaย bing,โ I mumbled in weak rim- shot impression.
She smiled again, and then took another swig from the cup. I flinched when the straw pulled at empty air, making a loud sucking sound.
โI did it,โ she said, sounding pleased. Her voice was clearerโrough, but not a whisper for the first time today. โIf I keep this down, Carlisle, will you take the needles out of me?โ
โAs soon as possible,โ he promised. โHonestly, they arenโt doing that much good where they are.โ
Rosalie patted Bellaโs forehead, and they exchanged a hopeful glance.
And anyone could see itโthe cup full of human blood had made an immediate difference. Her color was returningโthere was a tiny hint of pink in her waxy cheeks. Already she didnโt seem to need Rosalieโs support so much anymore. Her breathing was easier, and I would swear her heartbeat was stronger, more even.
Everything accelerated.
That ghost of hope in Edwardโs eyes had turned into the real thing. โWould you like more?โ Rosalie pressed.
Bellaโs shoulders slumped.
Edward flashed a glare at Rosalie before he spoke to Bella. โYou donโt have to drink more right away.โ
โYeah, I know. Butโฆ Iย want to,โ she admitted glumly.
Rosalie pulled her thin, sharp fingers through Bellaโs lank hair. โYou donโt need to be embarrassed about that, Bella. Your body has cravings. We all understand that.โ Her tone was soothing at first, but then she added harshly, โAnyone who doesnโt understand shouldnโt be here.โ
Meant for me, obviously, but I wasnโt going to let Blondie get to me. I was glad Bella felt better. So what if the means grossed me out? It wasnโt like Iโd said anything.
Carlisle took the cup from Bellaโs hand. โIโll be right back.โ Bella stared at me while he disappeared.
โJake, you look awful,โ she croaked. โLook whoโs talking.โ
โSeriouslyโwhenโs the last time you slept?โ
I thought about that for a second. โHuh. Iโm not actually sure.โ
โAw, Jake. Now Iโm messing with your health, too. Donโt be stupid.โ
I gritted my teeth. She was allowed to kill herself for a monster, but I wasnโt allowed to miss a few nightsโ sleep to watch her do it?
โGet some rest, please,โ she went on. โThereโre a few beds upstairsโ youโre welcome to any of them.โ
The look on Rosalieโs face made it clear that I wasnโt welcome to one of them. It made me wonder what Sleepless Beauty needed a bed for anyway. Was she that possessive of her props?
โThanks, Bells, but Iโd rather sleep on the ground. Away from the stench, you know.โ
She grimaced. โRight.โ
Carlisle was back then, and Bella reached out for the blood, absentminded, like she was thinking of something else. With the same distracted expression, she started sucking it down.
She really was looking better. She pulled herself forward, being careful of the tubes, and scooted into a sitting position. Rosalie hovered, her hands ready to catch Bella if she sagged. But Bella didnโt need her. Taking deep breaths in between swallows, Bella finished the second cup quickly.
โHow do you feel now?โ Carlisle asked.
โNot sick. Sort of hungryโฆ only Iโm not sure if Iโm hungry orย thirsty, you know?โ
โCarlisle, just look at her,โ Rosalie murmured, so smug she should have canary feathers on her lips. โThis is obviously what her body wants. She should drink more.โ
โSheโs still human, Rosalie. She needs food, too. Letโs give her a little while to see how this affects her, and then maybe we can try some food again. Does anything sound particularly good to you, Bella?โ
โEggs,โ she said immediately, and then she exchanged a look and a smile with Edward. His smile was brittle, but there was more life on his face than before.
I blinked then, and almost forgot how to open my eyes again.
โJacob,โ Edward murmured. โYou really should sleep. As Bella said, youโre certainly welcome to the accommodations here, though youโd probably be more comfortable outside. Donโt worry about anythingโI promise Iโll find you if thereโs a need.โ
โSure, sure,โ I mumbled. Now that it appeared Bella had a few more hours, I could escape. Go curl up under a tree somewhere.โฆ Far enough away that the smell couldnโt reach me. The bloodsucker would wake me up if something went wrong. He owed me.
โI do,โ Edward agreed.
I nodded and then put my hand on Bellaโs. Hers was icy cold. โFeel better,โ I said.
โThanks, Jacob.โ She turned her hand over and squeezed mine. I felt the thin band of her wedding ring riding loose on her skinny finger.
โGet her a blanket or something,โ I muttered as I turned for the door.
Before I made it, two howls pierced the still morning air. There was no mistaking the urgency of the tone. No misunderstanding this time.
โDammit,โ I snarled, and I threw myself through the door. I hurled my body off the porch, letting the fire rip me apart midair. There was a sharp tearing sound as my shorts shredded.ย Crap.ย Those were the only clothes I had. Didnโt matter now. I landed on paws and took off toward the west.
What is it?ย I shouted in my head.ย Incoming,ย Seth answered.ย At least three. Did they split up?
Iโm running the line back to Seth at the speed of light,ย Leah promised. I could feel the air huffing through her lungs as she pushed herself to an incredible velocity. The forest whipped around her.ย So far, no other point of attack.
Seth, doย notย challenge them. Wait for me.
Theyโre slowing. Ughโitโs soย offย not being able to hear them. I thinkโฆ What?
I think theyโve stopped.
Waiting for the rest of the pack? Shh. Feel that?
I absorbed his impressions. The faint, soundless shimmer in the air.
Someoneโs phasing? Feels like it,ย Seth agreed.
Leah flew into the small open space where Seth waited. She raked her claws into the dirt, spinning out like a race car.
Got your back, bro.
Theyโre coming,ย Seth said nervously.ย Slow. Walking.
Almost there,ย I told them. I tried to fly like Leah. It felt horrible being separated from Seth and Leah with potential danger closer to their end than mine. Wrong. I should be with them, between them and whatever was coming.
Look whoโs getting all paternal,ย Leah thought wryly.
Head in the game, Leah.
Four,ย Seth decided. Kid had good ears.ย Three wolves, one man.
I made the little clearing then, moving immediately to the point. Seth sighed with relief and then straightened up, already in place at my right shoulder. Leah fell in on my left with a little less enthusiasm.
So now I rank under Seth,ย she grumbled to herself.
First come, first served,ย Seth thought smugly.ย โSides, you were never an Alphaโs Third before. Still an upgrade.
Under my baby brother is not an upgrade.
Shh!ย I complained.ย I donโt care where you stand. Shut up and get ready.
They came into view a few seconds later, walking, as Seth had thought. Jared in the front, human, hands up. Paul and Quil and Collin on four legs behind him. There was no aggression in their postures. They hung back behind Jared, ears up, alert but calm.
Butโฆ it was weird that Sam would send Collin rather than Embry. That wasnโt what I would do if I were sending a diplomacy party into enemy territory. I wouldnโt send a kid. Iโd send the experienced fighter.
A diversion?ย Leah thought.
Were Sam, Embry, and Brady making a move alone? That didnโt seem likely.
Want me to check? I can run the line and be back in two minutes. Should I warn the Cullens?ย Seth wondered.
What if the point was to divide us?ย I asked.ย The Cullens know somethingโs up. Theyโre ready.
Sam wouldnโt be so stupidโฆ,ย Leah whispered, fear jagged in her mind.
She was imagining Sam attacking the Cullens with only the two others beside him.
No, he wouldnโt,ย I assured her, though I felt a little sick at the image in her head, too.
All the while, Jared and the three wolves stared at us, waiting. It was eerie not to hear what Quil and Paul and Collin were saying to one another. Their expressions were blankโunreadable.
Jared cleared his throat, and then he nodded to me. โWhite flag of truce, Jake. Weโre here to talk.โ
Think itโs true?ย Seth asked.
Makes sense, butโฆ Yeah,ย Leah agreed.ย But.ย We didnโt relax.
Jared frowned. โIt would be easier to talk if I could hear you, too.โ
I stared him down. I wasnโt going to phase back until I felt better about this situation. Until it made sense. Why Collin? That was the part that had me most worried.
โOkay. I guess Iโll just talk, then,โ Jared said. โJake, we want you to come back.โ
Quil let out a soft whine behind him. Seconding the statement. โYouโve torn our family apart. Itโs not meant to be this way.โ
I wasnโt exactly in disagreement with that, but it was hardly the point.
There were a few unresolved differences of opinion between me and Sam at the moment.
โWe know that you feelโฆ strongly about the situation with the Cullens.
We know thatโs a problem. But this is an overreaction.โ
Seth growled.ย Overreaction? And attacking our allies without warning
isnโt?
Seth, you ever heard of a poker face? Cool it. Sorry.
Jaredโs eyes flickered to Seth and back to me. โSam is willing to take this slowly, Jacob. Heโs calmed down, talked to the other Elders. Theyโve decided that immediate action is in no oneโs best interest at this point.โ
Translation: Theyโve already lost the element of surprise,ย Leah thought. It was weird how distinct our joint thinking was. The pack was already
Samโs pack, was already โthemโ to us. Something outside and other. It was especially weird to have Leah thinking that wayโto have her be a solid part of the โus.โ
โBilly and Sue agree with you, Jacob, that we can wait for Bellaโฆ to be separated from the problem. Killing her is not something any of us feel comfortable with.โ
Though Iโd just given Seth crap for it, I couldnโt hold back a small snarl of my own. So they didnโt quiteย feel comfortableย with murder, huh?
Jared raised his hands again. โEasy, Jake. You know what I mean. The point is, weโre going to wait and reassess the situation. Decide later if thereโs a problem with theโฆ thing.โ
Ha,ย Leah thought.ย What a load. You donโt buy it?
I know what theyโre thinking, Jake. Whatย Samโsย thinking. Theyโre betting on Bella dying anyway. And then they figure youโll be so madโฆ
That Iโll lead the attack myself.ย My ears pressed against my skull. What Leah was guessing sounded pretty spot-on. And very possible, too. Whenโฆ if that thing killed Bella, it was going to be easy to forget how I felt about Carlisleโs family right now. They would probably look like enemiesโlike no more than bloodsucking leechesโto me all over again.
Iโll remind you,ย Seth whispered.
I know you will, kid. Question is whether Iโll listen to you.
โJake?โ Jared asked. I huffed a sigh.
Leah, make a circuitโjust to be sure. Iโm going to have to talk to him, and I want to beย positiveย there isnโt anything else going on while Iโm phased.
Give me a break, Jacob. You can phase in front of me. Despite my best efforts, Iโve seen you naked beforeโdoesnโt do much for me, so no worries.
Iโm not trying to protect the innocence of your eyes, Iโm trying to protect our backs. Get out of here.
Leah snorted once and then launched herself into the forest. I could hear her claws cutting into the soil, pushing her faster.
Nudity was an inconvenient but unavoidable part of pack life. Weโd all thought nothing of it before Leah came along. Then it got awkward. Leah had average control when it came to her temperโit took her the usual length of time to stop exploding out of her clothes every time she got pissed. Weโd all caught a glimpse. And it wasnโt like she wasnโt worth
looking at; it was just that it was soย notย worth it when she caught you thinking about it later.
Jared and the others were staring at the place where sheโd disappeared into the brush with wary expressions.
โWhereโs she going?โ Jared asked.
I ignored him, closing my eyes and pulling myself together again. It felt like the air was trembling around me, shaking out from me in small waves. I lifted myself up on my hind legs, catching the moment just right so that I was fully upright as I shimmered down into my human self.
โOh,โ Jared said. โHey, Jake.โ โHey, Jared.โ
โThanks for talking to me.โ โYeah.โ
โWe want you to come back, man.โ Quil whined again.
โI donโt know if itโs that easy, Jared.โ
โCome home,โ he said, leaning forward. Pleading. โWe can sort this out.
You donโt belong here. Let Seth and Leah come home, too.โ
I laughed. โRight. Like I havenโt been begging them to do that from hour one.โ
Seth snorted behind me.
Jared assessed that, his eyes cautious again. โSo, what now, then?โ I thought that over for a minute while he waited.
โI donโt know. But Iโm not sure things could just go back to normal anyway, Jared. I donโt know how it worksโit doesnโt feel like I can just turn this Alpha thing off and on as the mood strikes. It feels sort of permanent.โ
โYou still belong with us.โ
I raised my eyebrows. โTwo Alphas canโt belong in the same place, Jared. Remember how close it got last night? The instinct is too competitive.โ
โSo are you all just going to hang out with the parasites for the rest of your lives?โ he demanded. โYou donโt have a home here. Youโre already out of clothes,โ he pointed out. โYou gonna stay wolf all the time? You know Leah doesnโt like eating that way.โ
โLeah can do whatever she wants when she gets hungry. Sheโs here by her own choice.ย Iโmย not telling anyone what to do.โ
Jared sighed. โSam is sorry about what he did to you.โ I nodded. โIโm not angry anymore.โ
โBut?โ
โBut Iโm not coming back, not now. Weโre going to wait and see how it plays out, too. And weโre going to watch out for the Cullens for as long as that seems necessary. Because, despite what you think, this isnโt just about Bella. Weโre protecting those who should be protected. And that applies to the Cullens, too.โ At least a fair number of them, anyway.
Seth yelped softly in agreement.
Jared frowned. โI guess thereโs nothing I can say to you, then.โ โNot now. Weโll see how things go.โ
Jared turned to face Seth, concentrating on him now, separate from me. โSue asked me to tell youโno, toย begย youโto come home. Sheโs brokenhearted, Seth. All alone. I donโt know how you and Leah can do this to her. Abandon her this way, when your dad just barely diedโโ
Seth whimpered.
โEase up, Jared,โ I warned.
โJust letting him know how it is.โ
I snorted. โRight.โ Sue was tougher than anyone I knew. Tougher than my dad, tougher than me. Tough enough to play on her kidsโ sympathies if thatโs what it took to get them home. But it wasnโt fair to work Seth that way. โSueโs known about this for how many hours now? And most of that time spent with Billy and Old Quil and Sam? Yeah, Iโm sure sheโs just perishing of loneliness. โCourse youโre free to go if you want, Seth. You know that.โ
Seth sniffed.
Then, a second later, he cocked an ear to the north. Leah must be close. Jeez, she was fast. Two beats, and Leah skidded to a stop in the brush a few yards away. She trotted in, taking the point in front of Seth. She kept her nose in the air, very obviously not looking in my direction.
I appreciated that. โLeah?โ Jared asked.
She met his gaze, her muzzle pulling back a little over her teeth.
Jared didnโt seem surprised by her hostility. โLeah, youย knowย you donโt want to be here.โ
She snarled at him. I gave her a warning glance she didnโt see. Seth whined and nudged her with his shoulder.
โSorry,โ Jared said. โGuess I shouldnโt assume. But you donโt have any ties to the bloodsuckers.โ
Leah very deliberately looked at her brother and then at me.
โSo you want to watch out for Seth, I get that,โ Jared said. His eyes touched my face and then went back to hers. Probably wondering about that second lookโjust like I was. โBut Jakeโs not going to let anything happen to him, and heโs not afraid to be here.โ Jared made a face. โAnyway,ย please, Leah. We want you back. Sam wants you back.โ
Leahโs tail twitched.
โSam told me to beg. He told me to literally get down on my knees if I have to. He wants you home, Lee-lee, where you belong.โ
I saw Leah flinch when Jared used Samโs old nickname for her. And then, when he added those last three words, her hackles rose and she was yowling a long stream of snarls through her teeth. I didnโt have to be in her head to hear the cussing-out she was giving him, and neither did he. You could almost hear the exact words she was using.
I waited till she was done. โIโm going to go out on a limb here and say that Leah belongs wherever she wants to be.โ
Leah growled, but, as she was glaring at Jared, I figured it was in agreement.
โLook, Jared, weโre still family, okay? Weโll get past the feud, but, until we do, you probably ought to stick to your land. Just so there arenโt misunderstandings. Nobody wants a family brawl, right? Sam doesnโt want that, either, does he?โ
โOf course, not,โ Jared snapped. โWeโll stick to our land. But where is
yourย land, Jacob? Is it vampire land?โ
โNo, Jared. Homeless at the moment. But donโt worryโthis isnโt going to last forever.โ I had to take a breath. โThereโs not that much timeโฆ left. Okay? Then the Cullens will probably go, and Seth and Leah will come home.โ
Leah and Seth whined together, their noses turning my direction in synchronization.
โAnd what about you, Jake?โ
โBack to the forest, I think. I canโt really stick around La Push. Two Alphas means too much tension. โSides, I was headed that way anyway. Before this mess.โ
โWhat if we need to talk?โ Jared asked.
โHowlโbut watch the line, โkay? Weโll come to you. And Sam doesnโt need to send so many. We arenโt looking for a fight.โ
Jared scowled, but nodded. He didnโt like me setting conditions for Sam. โSee you around, Jake. Or not.โ He waved halfheartedly.
โWait, Jared. Is Embry okay?โ
Surprise crossed his face. โEmbry? Sure, heโs fine. Why?โ โJust wondering why Sam sent Collin.โ
I watched his reaction, still suspicious that something was going on. I saw knowledge flash in his eyes, but it didnโt look like the kind I was expecting.
โThatโs not really your business anymore, Jake.โ โGuess not. Just curious.โ
I saw a twitch from the corner of my eye, but I didnโt acknowledge it, because I didnโt want to give Quil away. He was reacting to the subject.
โIโll let Sam know about yourโฆ instructions. Goodbye, Jacob.โ
I sighed. โYeah. Bye, Jared. Hey, tell my dad that Iโm okay, will you?
And that Iโm sorry, and that I love him.โ โIโll pass that along.โ
โThanks.โ
โCโmon, guys,โ Jared said. He turned away from us, heading out of sight to phase because Leah was here. Paul and Collin were right on his heels, but Quil hesitated. He yelped softly, and I took a step toward him.
โYeah, I miss you, too, bro.โ
Quil jogged over to me, his head hanging down morosely. I patted his shoulder.
โItโll be okay.โ He whined.
โTell Embry I miss having you two on my flanks.โ
He nodded and then pressed his nose to my forehead. Leah snorted. Quil looked up, but not at her. He looked back over his shoulder at where the others had gone.
โYeah, go home,โ I told him.
Quil yelped again and then took off after the others. Iโd bet Jared wasnโt waiting super-patiently. As soon as he was gone, I pulled the warmth from the center of my body and let it surge through my limbs. In a flash of heat, I was on four legs again.
Thought you were going to make out with him,ย Leah snickered. I ignored her.
Was that okay?ย I asked them. It worried me, speakingย forย them that way, when I couldnโt hear exactly what they were thinking. I didnโt want to assume anything. I didnโt want to be like Jared that way.ย Did I say anything you didnโt want me to? Did Iย notย say something I should have?
You did great, Jake!ย Seth encouraged.
You could have hit Jared,ย Leah thought.ย I wouldnโt have minded that. I guess we know why Embry wasnโt allowed to come,ย Seth thought.
I didnโt understand.ย Not allowed?
Jake, didya see Quil? Heโs pretty torn up, right? Iโd put ten to one that Embryโs even more upset. And Embry doesnโt have a Claire. Thereโs no way Quil can just pick up and walk away from La Push. Embry might. So Samโs not going to take any chances on him getting convinced to jump ship. He doesnโt want our pack any bigger than it is now.
Really? You think? I doubt Embry would mind shredding some Cullens.
But heโs your best friend, Jake. He and Quil would rather stand behind you than face you in a fight.
Well, Iโm glad Sam kept him home, then. This pack is big enough.ย I sighed.ย Okay, then. So weโre good, for now. Seth, you mind keeping an eye on things for a while? Leah and I both need to crash. Thisย feltย on the level, but who knows? Maybe it was a distraction.
I wasnโt always so paranoid, but I remembered the feel of Samโs commitment. The total one-track focus on destroying the danger he saw. Would he take advantage of the fact that he could lie to us now?
No problem!ย Seth was only too eager to do whatever he could.ย You want me to explain to the Cullens? Theyโre probably still kinda tense.
I got it. I want to check things out anyway.
They caught the whir of images from my fried brain. Seth whimpered in surprise.ย Ew.
Leah whipped her head back and forth like she was trying to shake the image out of her mind.ย That is easily the freakinโ grossest thing Iโve heard in my life. Yuck. If there was anything in my stomach, it would be coming back.
Theyย areย vampires, I guess,ย Seth allowed after a minute, compensating for Leahโs reaction.ย I mean, it makes sense. And if it helps Bella, itโs a good thing, right?
Both Leah and I stared at him.
What?
Mom dropped him a lot when he was a baby,ย Leah told me.
On his head, apparently.
He used to gnaw on the crib bars, too. Lead paint?
Looks like it,ย she thought.
Seth snorted.ย Funny. Why donโt you two shut up and sleep?