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Chapter no 16 – TOO-MUCH-INFORMATION ALERTโ€Œ

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)

I took off early, long before sunrise was due. Iโ€™d gotten just a little bit of uneasy sleep leaning against the side of the sofa. Edward woke me when Bellaโ€™s face was flushed, and he took my spot to cool her back down. I stretched and decided I was rested enough to get some work done.

โ€œThank you,โ€ Edward said quietly, seeing my plans. โ€œIf the route is clear, theyโ€™ll go today.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll let you know.โ€

It felt good to get back to my animal self. I was stiff from sitting still for so long. I extended my stride, working out the kinks.

Morning, Jacob, Leah greeted me.

Good, youโ€™re up. How longโ€™s Seth been out?

Not out yet, Seth thought sleepily. Almost there. What do you need? You think you got another hour in you?

Sure thing. No problem. Seth got to his feet right away, shaking out his fur.

Letโ€™s make the deep run, I told Leah. Seth, take the perimeter. Gotcha. Seth broke into an easy jog.

Off on another vampire errand, Leah grumbled.

You got a problem with that?

Of course not. I just love to coddle those darling leeches. Good. Letโ€™s see how fast we can run.

Okay, Iโ€™m definitely up for that!

Leah was on the far western rim of the perimeter. Rather than cut close to the Cullensโ€™ house, she stuck to the circle as she raced around to meet me. I sprinted off straight east, knowing that even with the head start, sheโ€™d be passing me soon if I took it easy for even a second.

Nose to the ground, Leah. This isnโ€™t a race, itโ€™s a reconnaissance mission.

I can do both and still kick your butt.

I gave her that one. I know.

She laughed.

We took a winding path through the eastern mountains. It was a familiar route. Weโ€™d run these mountains when the vampires had left a year ago, making it part of our patrol route to better protect the people here. Then weโ€™d pulled back the lines when the Cullens returned. This was their treaty land.

But that fact would probably mean nothing to Sam now. The treaty was dead. The question today was how thin he was willing to spread his force. Was he looking for stray Cullens to poach on their land or not? Had Jared spoken the truth or taken advantage of the silence between us?

We got deeper and deeper into the mountains without finding any trace of the pack. Fading vampire trails were everywhere, but the scents were familiar now. I was breathing them in all day long.

I found a heavy, somewhat recent concentration on one particular trailโ€” all of them coming and going here except for Edward. Some reason for gathering that must have been forgotten when Edward brought his dying pregnant wife home. I gritted my teeth. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with me.

Leah didnโ€™t push herself past me, though she could have now. I was paying more attention to each new scent than I was to the speed contest. She kept to my right side, running with me rather than racing against me.

Weโ€™re getting pretty far out here, she commented.

Yeah. If Sam was hunting strays, we should have crossed his trail by now.

Makes more sense right now for him to bunker down in La Push, Leah thought. He knows weโ€™re giving the bloodsuckers three extra sets of eyes and legs. Heโ€™s not going to be able to surprise them.

This was just a precaution, really.

Wouldnโ€™t want our precious parasites taking unnecessary chances. Nope, I agreed, ignoring the sarcasm.

Youโ€™ve changed so much, Jacob. Talk about one-eighties.

Youโ€™re not exactly the same Leah Iโ€™ve always known and loved, either.

True. Am I less annoying than Paul now? Amazinglyโ€ฆ yes.

Ah, sweet success.

Congrats.

We ran in silence again then. It was probably time to turn around, but neither of us wanted to. It felt nice to run like this. Weโ€™d been staring at the same small circle of a trail for too long. It felt good to stretch our muscles and take the rugged terrain. We werenโ€™t in a huge hurry, so I thought maybe we should hunt on the way back. Leah was pretty hungry.

Yum, yum, she thought sourly.

Itโ€™s all in your head, I told her. Thatโ€™s the way wolves eat. Itโ€™s natural. It tastes fine. If you didnโ€™t think about it from a human perspectiveโ€”

Forget the pep talk, Jacob. Iโ€™ll hunt. I donโ€™t have to like it.

Sure, sure, I agreed easily. It wasnโ€™t my business if she wanted to make things harder for herself.

She didnโ€™t add anything for a few minutes; I started thinking about turning back.

Thank you, Leah suddenly told me in a much different tone.

For?

For letting me be. For letting me stay. Youโ€™ve been nicer than I had any right to expect, Jacob.

Er, no problem. Actually, I mean that. I donโ€™t mind having you here like I thought I would.

She snorted, but it was a playful sound. What a glowing commendation! Donโ€™t let it go to your head.

Okayโ€”if you donโ€™t let this go to yours. She paused for a second. I think you make a good Alpha. Not in the same way Sam does, but in your own way. Youโ€™re worth following, Jacob.

My mind went blank with surprise. It took me a second to recover enough to respond.

Er, thanks. Not totally sure Iโ€™ll be able to stop that one from going to my head, though. Where did that come from?

She didnโ€™t answer right away, and I followed the wordless direction of her thoughts. She was thinking about the futureโ€”about what Iโ€™d said to Jared the other morning. About how the time would be up soon, and then

Iโ€™d go back to the forest. About how Iโ€™d promised that she and Seth would return to the pack when the Cullens were gone. . . .

I want to stay with you, she told me.

The shock shot through my legs, locking my joints. She blew past me and then put on the brakes. Slowly, she walked back to where I was frozen in place.

I wonโ€™t be a pain, I swear. I wonโ€™t follow you around. You can go wherever you want, and Iโ€™ll go where I want. Youโ€™ll only have to put up with me when weโ€™re both wolves. She paced back and forth in front of me, swishing her long gray tail nervously. And, as Iโ€™m planning on quitting as soon as I can manage itโ€ฆ maybe that wonโ€™t be so often.

I didnโ€™t know what to say.

Iโ€™m happier now, as a part of your pack, than I have been in years.

I want to stay, too, Seth thought quietly. I hadnโ€™t realized heโ€™d been paying much attention to us as he ran the perimeter. I like this pack.

Hey, now! Seth, this isnโ€™t going to be a pack much longer. I tried to put my thoughts together so they would convince him. Weโ€™ve got a purpose now, but whenโ€ฆ after thatโ€™s over, Iโ€™m just going to go wolf. Seth, you need a purpose. Youโ€™re a good kid. Youโ€™re the kind of person who always has a crusade. And thereโ€™s no way youโ€™re leaving La Push now. Youโ€™re going to graduate from high school and do something with your life. Youโ€™re going to take care of Sue. My issues are not going to mess up your future.

Butโ€”

Jacob is right, Leah seconded.

Youโ€™re agreeing with me?

Of course. But none of that applies to me. I was on my way out, anyway. Iโ€™ll get a job somewhere away from La Push. Maybe take some courses at a community college. Get into yoga and meditation to work on my temper issues.โ€ฆ And stay a part of this pack for the sake of my mental well-being. Jacobโ€”you can see how that makes sense, right? I wonโ€™t bother you, you wonโ€™t bother me, everyone is happy.

I turned back and started loping slowly toward the west.

This is a bit much to deal with, Leah. Let me think about it, โ€™kay? Sure. Take your time.

It took us longer to make the run back. I wasnโ€™t trying for speed. I was just trying to concentrate enough that I wouldnโ€™t plow headfirst into a tree.

Seth was grumbling a little bit in the back of my head, but I was able to ignore him. He knew I was right. He wasnโ€™t going to abandon his mom. He would go back to La Push and protect the tribe like he should.

But I couldnโ€™t see Leah doing that. And that was just plain scary.

A pack of the two of us? No matter the physical distance, I couldnโ€™t imagine theโ€ฆ the intimacy of that situation. I wondered if sheโ€™d really thought it through, or if she was just desperate to stay free.

Leah didnโ€™t say anything as I chewed it over. It was like she was trying to prove how easy it would be if it was just us.

We ran into a herd of black-tailed deer just as the sun was coming up, brightening the clouds a little bit behind us. Leah sighed internally but didnโ€™t hesitate. Her lunge was clean and efficientโ€”graceful, even. She took down the largest one, the buck, before the startled animal fully understood the danger.

Not to be outdone, I swooped down on the next largest deer, snapping her neck between my jaws quickly, so she wouldnโ€™t feel unnecessary pain. I could feel Leahโ€™s disgust warring with her hunger, and I tried to make it easier for her by letting the wolf in me have my head. Iโ€™d lived all-wolf for long enough that I knew how to be the animal completely, to see his way and think his way. I let the practical instincts take over, letting her feel that, too. She hesitated for a second, but then, tentatively, she seemed to reach out with her mind and try to see my way. It felt very strangeโ€”our minds were more closely linked than they had ever been before, because we both were trying to think together.

Strange, but it helped her. Her teeth cut through the fur and skin of her killโ€™s shoulder, tearing away a thick slab of streaming flesh. Rather than wince away as her human thoughts wanted to, she let her wolf-self react instinctively. It was kind of a numbing thing, a thoughtless thing. It let her eat in peace.

It was easy for me to do the same. And I was glad I hadnโ€™t forgotten this.

This would be my life again soon.

Was Leah going to be a part of that life? A week ago, I wouldโ€™ve found that idea beyond horrifying. I wouldnโ€™tโ€™ve been able to stand it. But I knew her better now. And, relieved from the constant pain, she wasnโ€™t the same wolf. Not the same girl.

We ate together until we both were full.

Thanks, she told me later as she was cleaning her muzzle and paws against the wet grass. I didnโ€™t bother; it had just started to drizzle and we had to swim the river again on our way back. Iโ€™d get clean enough. That wasnโ€™t so bad, thinking your way.

Youโ€™re welcome.

Seth was dragging when we hit the perimeter. I told him to get some sleep; Leah and I would take over the patrol. Sethโ€™s mind faded into unconsciousness just seconds later.

You headed back to the bloodsuckers? Leah asked.

Maybe.

Itโ€™s hard for you to be there, but hard to stay away, too. I know how that feels.

You know, Leah, you might want to think a little bit about the future, about what you really want to do. My head is not going to be the happiest place on earth. And youโ€™ll have to suffer right along with me.

She thought about how to answer me. Wow, this is going to sound bad.

But, honestly, it will be easier to deal with your pain than face mine.

Fair enough.

I know itโ€™s going to be bad for you, Jacob. I understand thatโ€”maybe better than you think. I donโ€™t like her, butโ€ฆ sheโ€™s your Sam. Sheโ€™s everything you want and everything you canโ€™t have.

I couldnโ€™t answer.

I know itโ€™s worse for you. At least Sam is happy. At least heโ€™s alive and well. I love him enough that I want that. I want him to have whatโ€™s best for him. She sighed. I just donโ€™t want to stick around to watch.

Do we need to talk about this?

I think we do. Because I want you to know that I wonโ€™t make it worse for you. Hell, maybe Iโ€™ll even help. I wasnโ€™t born a compassionless shrew. I used to be sort of nice, you know.

My memory doesnโ€™t go that far back.

We both laughed once.

Iโ€™m sorry about this, Jacob. Iโ€™m sorry youโ€™re in pain. Iโ€™m sorry itโ€™s getting worse and not better.

Thanks, Leah.

She thought about the things that were worse, the black pictures in my head, while I tried to tune her out without much success. She was able to

look at them with some distance, some perspective, and I had to admit that this was helpful. I could imagine that maybe I would be able to see it that way, too, in a few years.

She saw the funny side of the daily irritations that came from hanging out around vampires. She liked my ragging on Rosalie, chuckling internally and even running through a few blonde jokes in her mind that I might be able to work in. But then her thoughts turned serious, lingering on Rosalieโ€™s face in a way that confused me.

You know whatโ€™s crazy? she asked.

Well, almost everything is crazy right now. But what do you mean? That blond vampire you hate so muchโ€”I totally get her perspective.

For a second I thought she was making a joke that was in very poor taste. And then, when I realized she was serious, the fury that ripped through me was hard to control. It was a good thing weโ€™d spread out to run our watch. If sheโ€™d been within biting distanceโ€ฆ

Hold up! Let me explain!

Donโ€™t want to hear it. Iโ€™m outta here.

Wait! Wait! she pleaded as I tried to calm myself enough to phase back.

Cโ€™mon, Jake!

Leah, this isnโ€™t really the best way to convince me that I want to spend more time with you in the future.

Yeesh! What an overreaction. You donโ€™t even know what Iโ€™m talking about.

So what are you talking about?

And then she was suddenly the pain-hardened Leah from before. Iโ€™m talking about being a genetic dead end, Jacob.

The vicious edge to her words left me floundering. I hadnโ€™t expected to have my anger trumped.

I donโ€™t understand.

You would, if you werenโ€™t just like the rest of them. If my โ€œfemale stuffโ€โ€”she thought the words with a hard, sarcastic toneโ€”didnโ€™t send you running for cover just like any stupid male, so you could actually pay attention to what it all means.

Oh.

Yeah, so none of us like to think about that stuff with her. Who would? Of course I remembered Leahโ€™s panic that first month after she joined the

packโ€”and I remembered cringing away from it just like everyone else. Because she couldnโ€™t be pregnantโ€”not unless there was some really freaky religious immaculate crap going on. She hadnโ€™t been with anyone since Sam. And then, when the weeks dragged on and nothing turned into more nothing, sheโ€™d realized that her body wasnโ€™t following the normal patterns anymore. The horrorโ€”what was she now? Had her body changed because sheโ€™d become a werewolf? Or had she become a werewolf because her body was wrong? The only female werewolf in the history of forever. Was that because she wasnโ€™t as female as she should be?

None of us had wanted to deal with that breakdown. Obviously, it wasnโ€™t like we could empathize.

You know why Sam thinks we imprint, she thought, calmer now.

Sure. To carry on the line.

Right. To make a bunch of new little werewolves. Survival of the species, genetic override. Youโ€™re drawn to the person who gives you the best chance to pass on the wolf gene.

I waited for her to tell me where she was going with this.

If I was any good for that, Sam would have been drawn to me. Her pain was enough that I broke stride under it.

But Iโ€™m not. Thereโ€™s something wrong with me. I donโ€™t have the ability to pass on the gene, apparently, despite my stellar bloodlines. So I become a freakโ€”the girlie-wolfโ€”good for nothing else. Iโ€™m a genetic dead end and we both know it.

We do not, I argued with her. Thatโ€™s just Samโ€™s theory. Imprinting happens, but we donโ€™t know why. Billy thinks itโ€™s something else.

I know, I know. He thinks youโ€™re imprinting to make stronger wolves. Because you and Sam are such humongous monstersโ€”bigger than our fathers. But either way, Iโ€™m still not a candidate. Iโ€™mโ€ฆ Iโ€™m menopausal. Iโ€™m twenty years old and Iโ€™m menopausal.

Ugh. I so didnโ€™t want to have this conversation. You donโ€™t know that, Leah. Itโ€™s probably just the whole frozen-in-time thing. When you quit your wolf and start getting older again, Iโ€™m sure things willโ€ฆ erโ€ฆ pick right back up.

I might think thatโ€”except that no oneโ€™s imprinting on me, notwithstanding my impressive pedigree. You know, she added thoughtfully, if you werenโ€™t around, Seth would probably have the best claim to being

Alphaโ€”through his blood, at least. Of course, no one would ever consider me. . . .

You really want to imprint, or be imprinted on, or whichever? I demanded. Whatโ€™s wrong with going out and falling in love like a normal person, Leah? Imprinting is just another way of getting your choices taken away from you.

Sam, Jared, Paul, Quilโ€ฆ they donโ€™t seem to mind. None of them have a mind of their own.

You donโ€™t want to imprint? Hell, no!

Thatโ€™s just because youโ€™re already in love with her. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldnโ€™t have to hurt over her anymore.

Do you want to forget the way you feel about Sam?

She deliberated for a moment. I think I do.

I sighed. She was in a healthier place than I was.

But back to my original point, Jacob. I understand why your blond vampire is so coldโ€”in the figurative sense. Sheโ€™s focused. Sheโ€™s got her eyes on the prize, right? Because you always want the very most what you can never, ever have.

You would act like Rosalie? You would murder someoneโ€”because thatโ€™s what sheโ€™s doing, making sure no one interferes with Bellaโ€™s deathโ€”you would do that to have a baby? Since when are you a breeder?

I just want the options I donโ€™t have, Jacob. Maybe, if there was nothing wrong with me, I would never give it a thought.

You would kill for that? I demanded, not letting her escape my question.

Thatโ€™s not what sheโ€™s doing. I think itโ€™s more like sheโ€™s living vicariously.

Andโ€ฆ if Bella asked me to help her with thisโ€ฆ She paused, considering. Even though I donโ€™t think too much of her, Iโ€™d probably do the same as the bloodsucker.

A loud snarl ripped through my teeth.

Because, if it was turned around, Iโ€™d want Bella to do that for me. And so would Rosalie. Weโ€™d both do it her way.

Ugh! Youโ€™re as bad as they are!

Thatโ€™s the funny thing about knowing you canโ€™t have something. It makes you desperate.

Andโ€ฆ thatโ€™s my limit. Right there. This conversation is over.

Fine.

It wasnโ€™t enough that sheโ€™d agreed to stop. I wanted a stronger termination than that.

I was only about a mile from where Iโ€™d left my clothes, so I phased back to human and walked. I didnโ€™t think about our conversation. Not because there wasnโ€™t anything to think about, but because I couldnโ€™t stand it. I would not see it that wayโ€”but it was harder to keep from doing that when Leah had put the thoughts and emotions straight into my head.

Yeah, I wasnโ€™t running with her when this was finished. She could go be miserable in La Push. One little Alpha command before I left for good wasnโ€™t going to kill anybody.

It was real early when I got to the house. Bella was probably still asleep.

I figured Iโ€™d poke my head in, see what was going on, give โ€™em the green light to go hunting, and then find a patch of grass soft enough to sleep on while human. I wasnโ€™t phasing back until Leah was asleep.

But there was a lot of low mumbling going on inside the house, so maybe Bella wasnโ€™t sleeping. And then I heard the machinery sound from upstairs againโ€”the X-ray? Great. It looked like day four on the countdown was starting off with a bang.

Alice opened the door for me before I could walk in. She nodded. โ€œHey, wolf.โ€

โ€œHey, shortie. Whatโ€™s going on upstairs?โ€ The big room was emptyโ€”all the murmurs were on the second floor.

She shrugged her pointy little shoulders. โ€œMaybe another break.โ€ She tried to say the words casually, but I could see the flames in the very back of her eyes. Edward and I werenโ€™t the only ones who were burning over this. Alice loved Bella, too.

โ€œAnother rib?โ€ I asked hoarsely. โ€œNo. Pelvis this time.โ€

Funny how it kept hitting me, like each new thing was a surprise. When was I going to stop being surprised? Each new disaster seemed kinda obvious in hindsight.

Alice was staring at my hands, watching them tremble. Then we were listening to Rosalieโ€™s voice upstairs.

โ€œSee, I told you I didnโ€™t hear a crack. You need your ears checked, Edward.โ€

There was no answer.

Alice made a face. โ€œEdwardโ€™s going to end up ripping Rose into small pieces, I think. Iโ€™m surprised she doesnโ€™t see that. Or maybe she thinks Emmett will be able to stop him.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll take Emmett,โ€ I offered. โ€œYou can help Edward with the ripping part.โ€

Alice half-smiled.

The procession came down the stairs thenโ€”Edward had Bella this time. She was gripping her cup of blood in both hands, and her face was white. I could see that, though he compensated for every tiny movement of his body to keep from jostling her, she was hurting.

โ€œJake,โ€ she whispered, and she smiled through the pain. I stared at her, saying nothing.

Edward placed Bella carefully on her couch and sat on the floor by her head. I wondered briefly why they didnโ€™t leave her upstairs, and then decided at once that it must be Bellaโ€™s idea. Sheโ€™d want to act like things were normal, avoid the hospital setup. And he was humoring her. Naturally.

Carlisle came down slowly, the last one, his face creased with worry. It made him look old enough to be a doctor for once.

โ€œCarlisle,โ€ I said. โ€œWe went halfway to Seattle. Thereโ€™s no sign of the pack. Youโ€™re good to go.โ€

โ€œThank you, Jacob. This is good timing. Thereโ€™s much that we need.โ€ His black eyes flickered to the cup that Bella was holding so tight.

โ€œHonestly, I think youโ€™re safe to take more than three. Iโ€™m pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push.โ€

Carlisle nodded in agreement. It surprised me how willingly he took my advice. โ€œIf you think so. Alice, Esme, Jasper, and I will go. Then Alice can take Emmett and Rosaโ€”โ€

โ€œNot a chance,โ€ Rosalie hissed. โ€œEmmett can go with you now.โ€ โ€œYou should hunt,โ€ Carlisle said in a gentle voice.

His tone didnโ€™t soften hers. โ€œIโ€™ll hunt when he does,โ€ she growled, jerking her head toward Edward and then flipping her hair back.

Carlisle sighed.

Jasper and Emmett were down the stairs in a flash, and Alice joined them by the glass back door in the same second. Esme flitted to Aliceโ€™s side.

Carlisle put his hand on my arm. The icy touch did not feel good, but I didnโ€™t jerk away. I held still, half in surprise, and half because I didnโ€™t want to hurt his feelings.

โ€œThank you,โ€ he said again, and then he darted out the door with the other four. My eyes followed them as they flew across the lawn and then disappeared before I took another breath. Their needs must have been more urgent than Iโ€™d imagined.

There was no sound for a minute. I could feel someone glaring at me, and I knew who it would be. Iโ€™d been planning to take off and get some Zโ€™s, but the chance to ruin Rosalieโ€™s morning seemed too good to pass up.

So I sauntered over to the armchair next to the one Rosalie had and settled in, sprawling out so that my head was tilted toward Bella and my left foot was near Rosalieโ€™s face.

โ€œEw. Someone put the dog out,โ€ she murmured, wrinkling her nose. โ€œHave you heard this one, Psycho? How do a blondeโ€™s brain cells die?โ€ She didnโ€™t say anything.

โ€œWell?โ€ I asked. โ€œDo you know the punch line or not?โ€ She looked pointedly at the TV and ignored me.

โ€œHas she heard it?โ€ I asked Edward.

There was no humor on his tense faceโ€”he didnโ€™t move his eyes from Bella. But he said, โ€œNo.โ€

โ€œAwesome. So youโ€™ll enjoy this, bloodsuckerโ€”a blondeโ€™s brain cells die

alone.โ€

Rosalie still didnโ€™t look at me. โ€œI have killed a hundred times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Donโ€™t forget that.โ€

โ€œSomeday, Beauty Queen, youโ€™re going to get tired of just threatening me. Iโ€™m really looking forward to that.โ€

โ€œEnough, Jacob,โ€ Bella said.

I looked down, and she was scowling at me. It looked like yesterdayโ€™s good mood was long gone.

Well, I didnโ€™t want to bug her. โ€œYou want me to take off?โ€ I offered.

Before I could hopeโ€”or fearโ€”that sheโ€™d finally gotten tired of me, she blinked, and her frown disappeared. She seemed totally shocked that I would come to that conclusion. โ€œNo! Of course not.โ€

I sighed, and I heard Edward sigh very quietly, too. I knew he wished sheโ€™d get over me, too. Too bad heโ€™d never ask her to do anything that

might make her unhappy.

โ€œYou look tired,โ€ Bella commented. โ€œDead beat,โ€ I admitted.

โ€œIโ€™d like to beat you dead,โ€ Rosalie muttered, too low for Bella to hear.

I just slumped deeper into the chair, getting comfortable. My bare foot dangled closer to Rosalie, and she stiffened. After a few minutes Bella asked Rosalie for a refill. I felt the wind as Rosalie blew upstairs to get her some more blood. It was really quiet. Might as well take a nap, I figured.

And then Edward said, โ€œDid you say something?โ€ in a puzzled tone.

Strange. Because no one had said anything, and because Edwardโ€™s hearing was as good as mine, and he should have known that.

He was staring at Bella, and she was staring back. They both looked confused.

โ€œMe?โ€ she asked after a second. โ€œI didnโ€™t say anything.โ€

He moved onto his knees, leaning forward over her, his expression suddenly intense in a whole different way. His black eyes focused on her face.

โ€œWhat are you thinking about right now?โ€

She stared at him blankly. โ€œNothing. Whatโ€™s going on?โ€ โ€œWhat were you thinking about a minute ago?โ€ he asked. โ€œJustโ€ฆ Esmeโ€™s island. And feathers.โ€

Sounded like total gibberish to me, but then she blushed, and I figured I was better off not knowing.

โ€œSay something else,โ€ he whispered. โ€œLike what? Edward, whatโ€™s going on?โ€

His face changed again, and he did something that made my mouth fall open with a pop. I heard a gasp behind me, and I knew that Rosalie was back, and just as flabbergasted as I was.

Edward, very lightly, put both of his hands against her huge, round stomach.

โ€œThe fโ€”โ€ He swallowed. โ€œItโ€ฆ the baby likes the sound of your voice.โ€ There was one short beat of total silence. I could not move a muscle,

even to blink. Thenโ€”

โ€œHoly crow, you can hear him!โ€ Bella shouted. In the next second, she winced.

Edwardโ€™s hand moved to the top peak of her belly and gently rubbed the spot where it must have kicked her.

โ€œShh,โ€ he murmured. โ€œYou startled itโ€ฆ him.โ€

Her eyes got all wide and full of wonder. She patted the side of her stomach. โ€œSorry, baby.โ€

Edward was listening hard, his head tilted toward the bulge. โ€œWhatโ€™s he thinking now?โ€ she demanded eagerly.

โ€œItโ€ฆ he or she, is . . .โ€ He paused and looked up into her eyes. His eyes were filled with a similar aweโ€”only his were more careful and grudging. โ€œHeโ€™s happy,โ€ Edward said in an incredulous voice.

Her breath caught, and it was impossible not to see the fanatical gleam in her eyes. The adoration and the devotion. Big, fat tears overflowed her eyes and ran silently down her face and over her smiling lips.

As he stared at her, his face was not frightened or angry or burning or any of the other expressions heโ€™d worn since their return. He was marveling with her.

โ€œOf course youโ€™re happy, pretty baby, of course you are,โ€ she crooned, rubbing her stomach while the tears washed her cheeks. โ€œHow could you not be, all safe and warm and loved? I love you so much, little EJ, of course youโ€™re happy.โ€

โ€œWhat did you call him?โ€ Edward asked curiously.

She blushed again. โ€œI sort of named him. I didnโ€™t think you would wantโ€ฆ well, you know.โ€

โ€œEJ?โ€

โ€œYour fatherโ€™s name was Edward, too.โ€

โ€œYes, it was. Whatโ€”?โ€ He paused and then said, โ€œHmm.โ€ โ€œWhat?โ€

โ€œHe likes my voice, too.โ€

โ€œOf course he does.โ€ Her tone was almost gloating now. โ€œYou have the most beautiful voice in the universe. Who wouldnโ€™t love it?โ€

โ€œDo you have a backup plan?โ€ Rosalie asked then, leaning over the back of the sofa with the same wondering, gloating look on her face that was on Bellaโ€™s. โ€œWhat if heโ€™s a she?โ€

Bella wiped the back of her hand under her wet eyes. โ€œI kicked a few things around. Playing with Renรฉe and Esme. I was thinkingโ€ฆ Ruh-nez- may.โ€

โ€œRuhnezmay?โ€

โ€œR-e-n-e-s-m-e-e. Too weird?โ€

โ€œNo, I like it,โ€ Rosalie assured her. Their heads were close together, gold and mahogany. โ€œItโ€™s beautiful. And one of a kind, so that fits.โ€

โ€œI still think heโ€™s an Edward.โ€

Edward was staring off into space, his face blank as he listened. โ€œWhat?โ€ Bella asked, her face just glowing away. โ€œWhatโ€™s he thinking

now?โ€

At first he didnโ€™t answer, and thenโ€”shocking all the rest of us again, three distinct and separate gaspsโ€”he laid his ear tenderly against her belly.

โ€œHe loves you,โ€ Edward whispered, sounding dazed. โ€œHe absolutely

adores you.โ€

In that moment, I knew that I was alone. All alone.

I wanted to kick myself when I realized how much Iโ€™d been counting on that loathsome vampire. How stupidโ€”as if you could ever trust a leech! Of course he would betray me in the end.

Iโ€™d counted on him to be on my side. Iโ€™d counted on him to suffer more than I suffered. And, most of all, Iโ€™d counted on him to hate that revolting thing killing Bella more than I hated it.

Iโ€™d trusted him with that.

Yet now they were together, the two of them bent over the budding, invisible monster with their eyes lit up like a happy family.

And I was all alone with my hatred and the pain that was so bad it was like being tortured. Like being dragged slowly across a bed of razor blades. Pain so bad youโ€™d take death with a smile just to get away from it.

The heat unlocked my frozen muscles, and I was on my feet.

All three of their heads snapped up, and I watched my pain ripple across Edwardโ€™s face as he trespassed in my head again.

โ€œAhh,โ€ he choked.

I didnโ€™t know what I was doing; I stood there, trembling, ready to bolt for the very first escape that I could think of.

Moving like the strike of a snake, Edward darted to a small end table and ripped something from the drawer there. He tossed it at me, and I caught the object reflexively.

โ€œGo, Jacob. Get away from here.โ€ He didnโ€™t say it harshlyโ€”he threw the words at me like they were a life preserver. He was helping me find the

escape I was dying for.

The object in my hand was a set of car keys.

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