I took off early, long before sunrise was due. Iโd gotten just a little bit of uneasy sleep leaning against the side of the sofa. Edward woke me when Bellaโs 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.
โThank you,โ Edward said quietly, seeing my plans. โIf the route is clear, theyโll go today.โ
โIโll 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, youโre up. How longโs 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.
Letโs 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. Letโs see how fast we can run.
Okay, Iโm 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, sheโd be passing me soon if I took it easy for even a second.
Nose to the ground, Leah. This isnโt a race, itโs 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. Weโd 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 weโd 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 didnโt 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.
Weโre 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 weโre giving the bloodsuckers three extra sets of eyes and legs. Heโs not going to be able to surprise them.
This was just a precaution, really.
Wouldnโt want our precious parasites taking unnecessary chances. Nope, I agreed, ignoring the sarcasm.
Youโve changed so much, Jacob. Talk about one-eighties.
Youโre not exactly the same Leah Iโve always known and loved, either.
True. Am I less annoying than Paul now? Amazinglyโฆ 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. Weโd 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 werenโt in a huge hurry, so I thought maybe we should hunt on the way back. Leah was pretty hungry.
Yum, yum, she thought sourly.
Itโs all in your head, I told her. Thatโs the way wolves eat. Itโs natural. It tastes fine. If you didnโt think about it from a human perspectiveโ
Forget the pep talk, Jacob. Iโll hunt. I donโt have to like it.
Sure, sure, I agreed easily. It wasnโt my business if she wanted to make things harder for herself.
She didnโt 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. Youโve been nicer than I had any right to expect, Jacob.
Er, no problem. Actually, I mean that. I donโt mind having you here like I thought I would.
She snorted, but it was a playful sound. What a glowing commendation! Donโt let it go to your head.
Okayโif you donโt 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. Youโre worth following, Jacob.
My mind went blank with surprise. It took me a second to recover enough to respond.
Er, thanks. Not totally sure Iโll be able to stop that one from going to my head, though. Where did that come from?
She didnโt answer right away, and I followed the wordless direction of her thoughts. She was thinking about the futureโabout what Iโd said to Jared the other morning. About how the time would be up soon, and then
Iโd go back to the forest. About how Iโd 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 wonโt be a pain, I swear. I wonโt follow you around. You can go wherever you want, and Iโll go where I want. Youโll only have to put up with me when weโre both wolves. She paced back and forth in front of me, swishing her long gray tail nervously. And, as Iโm planning on quitting as soon as I can manage itโฆ maybe that wonโt be so often.
I didnโt know what to say.
Iโm happier now, as a part of your pack, than I have been in years.
I want to stay, too, Seth thought quietly. I hadnโt realized heโd been paying much attention to us as he ran the perimeter. I like this pack.
Hey, now! Seth, this isnโt going to be a pack much longer. I tried to put my thoughts together so they would convince him. Weโve got a purpose now, but whenโฆ after thatโs over, Iโm just going to go wolf. Seth, you need a purpose. Youโre a good kid. Youโre the kind of person who always has a crusade. And thereโs no way youโre leaving La Push now. Youโre going to graduate from high school and do something with your life. Youโre going to take care of Sue. My issues are not going to mess up your future.
Butโ
Jacob is right, Leah seconded.
Youโre agreeing with me?
Of course. But none of that applies to me. I was on my way out, anyway. Iโll 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.โฆ And stay a part of this pack for the sake of my mental well-being. Jacobโyou can see how that makes sense, right? I wonโt bother you, you wonโt 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, โkay? Sure. Take your time.
It took us longer to make the run back. I wasnโt trying for speed. I was just trying to concentrate enough that I wouldnโt 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 wasnโt going to abandon his mom. He would go back to La Push and protect the tribe like he should.
But I couldnโt see Leah doing that. And that was just plain scary.
A pack of the two of us? No matter the physical distance, I couldnโt imagine theโฆ the intimacy of that situation. I wondered if sheโd really thought it through, or if she was just desperate to stay free.
Leah didnโt 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 didnโt hesitate. Her lunge was clean and efficientโgraceful, 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 wouldnโt feel unnecessary pain. I could feel Leahโs disgust warring with her hunger, and I tried to make it easier for her by letting the wolf in me have my head. Iโd 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 strangeโour 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 killโs 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 hadnโt forgotten this.
This would be my life again soon.
Was Leah going to be a part of that life? A week ago, I wouldโve found that idea beyond horrifying. I wouldnโtโve been able to stand it. But I knew her better now. And, relieved from the constant pain, she wasnโt 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 didnโt bother; it had just started to drizzle and we had to swim the river again on our way back. Iโd get clean enough. That wasnโt so bad, thinking your way.
Youโre welcome.
Seth was dragging when we hit the perimeter. I told him to get some sleep; Leah and I would take over the patrol. Sethโs mind faded into unconsciousness just seconds later.
You headed back to the bloodsuckers? Leah asked.
Maybe.
Itโs 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 youโll 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 itโs going to be bad for you, Jacob. I understand thatโmaybe better than you think. I donโt like her, butโฆ sheโs your Sam. Sheโs everything you want and everything you canโt have.
I couldnโt answer.
I know itโs worse for you. At least Sam is happy. At least heโs alive and well. I love him enough that I want that. I want him to have whatโs best for him. She sighed. I just donโt 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 wonโt make it worse for you. Hell, maybe Iโll even help. I wasnโt born a compassionless shrew. I used to be sort of nice, you know.
My memory doesnโt go that far back.
We both laughed once.
Iโm sorry about this, Jacob. Iโm sorry youโre in pain. Iโm sorry itโs 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 Rosalieโs face in a way that confused me.
You know whatโs crazy? she asked.
Well, almost everything is crazy right now. But what do you mean? That blond vampire you hate so muchโI 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 weโd spread out to run our watch. If sheโd been within biting distanceโฆ
Hold up! Let me explain!
Donโt want to hear it. Iโm outta here.
Wait! Wait! she pleaded as I tried to calm myself enough to phase back.
Cโmon, Jake!
Leah, this isnโt really the best way to convince me that I want to spend more time with you in the future.
Yeesh! What an overreaction. You donโt even know what Iโm talking about.
So what are you talking about?
And then she was suddenly the pain-hardened Leah from before. Iโm talking about being a genetic dead end, Jacob.
The vicious edge to her words left me floundering. I hadnโt expected to have my anger trumped.
I donโt understand.
You would, if you werenโt just like the rest of them. If my โfemale stuffโโshe thought the words with a hard, sarcastic toneโdidnโt 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 Leahโs panic that first month after she joined the
packโand I remembered cringing away from it just like everyone else. Because she couldnโt be pregnantโnot unless there was some really freaky religious immaculate crap going on. She hadnโt been with anyone since Sam. And then, when the weeks dragged on and nothing turned into more nothing, sheโd realized that her body wasnโt following the normal patterns anymore. The horrorโwhat was she now? Had her body changed because sheโd 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 wasnโt as female as she should be?
None of us had wanted to deal with that breakdown. Obviously, it wasnโt 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. Youโre 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 Iโm not. Thereโs something wrong with me. I donโt have the ability to pass on the gene, apparently, despite my stellar bloodlines. So I become a freakโthe girlie-wolfโgood for nothing else. Iโm a genetic dead end and we both know it.
We do not, I argued with her. Thatโs just Samโs theory. Imprinting happens, but we donโt know why. Billy thinks itโs something else.
I know, I know. He thinks youโre imprinting to make stronger wolves. Because you and Sam are such humongous monstersโbigger than our fathers. But either way, Iโm still not a candidate. Iโmโฆ Iโm menopausal. Iโm twenty years old and Iโm menopausal.
Ugh. I so didnโt want to have this conversation. You donโt know that, Leah. Itโs probably just the whole frozen-in-time thing. When you quit your wolf and start getting older again, Iโm sure things willโฆ erโฆ pick right back up.
I might think thatโexcept that no oneโs imprinting on me, notwithstanding my impressive pedigree. You know, she added thoughtfully, if you werenโt around, Seth would probably have the best claim to being
Alphaโthrough 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. Whatโs 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, Quilโฆ they donโt seem to mind. None of them have a mind of their own.
You donโt want to imprint? Hell, no!
Thatโs just because youโre already in love with her. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldnโt 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 coldโin the figurative sense. Sheโs focused. Sheโs 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 someoneโbecause thatโs what sheโs doing, making sure no one interferes with Bellaโs deathโyou would do that to have a baby? Since when are you a breeder?
I just want the options I donโt 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.
Thatโs not what sheโs doing. I think itโs more like sheโs living vicariously.
Andโฆ if Bella asked me to help her with thisโฆ She paused, considering. Even though I donโt think too much of her, Iโd probably do the same as the bloodsucker.
A loud snarl ripped through my teeth.
Because, if it was turned around, Iโd want Bella to do that for me. And so would Rosalie. Weโd both do it her way.
Ugh! Youโre as bad as they are!
Thatโs the funny thing about knowing you canโt have something. It makes you desperate.
Andโฆ thatโs my limit. Right there. This conversation is over.
Fine.
It wasnโt enough that sheโd agreed to stop. I wanted a stronger termination than that.
I was only about a mile from where Iโd left my clothes, so I phased back to human and walked. I didnโt think about our conversation. Not because there wasnโt anything to think about, but because I couldnโt stand it. I would not see it that wayโbut it was harder to keep from doing that when Leah had put the thoughts and emotions straight into my head.
Yeah, I wasnโt running with her when this was finished. She could go be miserable in La Push. One little Alpha command before I left for good wasnโt going to kill anybody.
It was real early when I got to the house. Bella was probably still asleep.
I figured Iโd poke my head in, see what was going on, give โem the green light to go hunting, and then find a patch of grass soft enough to sleep on while human. I wasnโt phasing back until Leah was asleep.
But there was a lot of low mumbling going on inside the house, so maybe Bella wasnโt sleeping. And then I heard the machinery sound from upstairs againโthe 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. โHey, wolf.โ
โHey, shortie. Whatโs going on upstairs?โ The big room was emptyโall the murmurs were on the second floor.
She shrugged her pointy little shoulders. โMaybe 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 werenโt the only ones who were burning over this. Alice loved Bella, too.
โAnother rib?โ I asked hoarsely. โNo. 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 Rosalieโs voice upstairs.
โSee, I told you I didnโt hear a crack. You need your ears checked, Edward.โ
There was no answer.
Alice made a face. โEdwardโs going to end up ripping Rose into small pieces, I think. Iโm surprised she doesnโt see that. Or maybe she thinks Emmett will be able to stop him.โ
โIโll take Emmett,โ I offered. โYou can help Edward with the ripping part.โ
Alice half-smiled.
The procession came down the stairs thenโEdward 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.
โJake,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 didnโt leave her upstairs, and then decided at once that it must be Bellaโs idea. Sheโd 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.
โCarlisle,โ I said. โWe went halfway to Seattle. Thereโs no sign of the pack. Youโre good to go.โ
โThank you, Jacob. This is good timing. Thereโs much that we need.โ His black eyes flickered to the cup that Bella was holding so tight.
โHonestly, I think youโre safe to take more than three. Iโm pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push.โ
Carlisle nodded in agreement. It surprised me how willingly he took my advice. โIf you think so. Alice, Esme, Jasper, and I will go. Then Alice can take Emmett and Rosaโโ
โNot a chance,โ Rosalie hissed. โEmmett can go with you now.โ โYou should hunt,โ Carlisle said in a gentle voice.
His tone didnโt soften hers. โIโll 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 Aliceโs side.
Carlisle put his hand on my arm. The icy touch did not feel good, but I didnโt jerk away. I held still, half in surprise, and half because I didnโt want to hurt his feelings.
โThank 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 Iโd imagined.
There was no sound for a minute. I could feel someone glaring at me, and I knew who it would be. Iโd been planning to take off and get some Zโs, but the chance to ruin Rosalieโs 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 Rosalieโs face.
โEw. Someone put the dog out,โ she murmured, wrinkling her nose. โHave you heard this one, Psycho? How do a blondeโs brain cells die?โ She didnโt say anything.
โWell?โ I asked. โDo you know the punch line or not?โ She looked pointedly at the TV and ignored me.
โHas she heard it?โ I asked Edward.
There was no humor on his tense faceโhe didnโt move his eyes from Bella. But he said, โNo.โ
โAwesome. So youโll enjoy this, bloodsuckerโa blondeโs brain cells die
alone.โ
Rosalie still didnโt look at me. โI have killed a hundred times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Donโt forget that.โ
โSomeday, Beauty Queen, youโre going to get tired of just threatening me. Iโm really looking forward to that.โ
โEnough, Jacob,โ Bella said.
I looked down, and she was scowling at me. It looked like yesterdayโs good mood was long gone.
Well, I didnโt want to bug her. โYou want me to take off?โ I offered.
Before I could hopeโor fearโthat sheโd finally gotten tired of me, she blinked, and her frown disappeared. She seemed totally shocked that I would come to that conclusion. โNo! Of course not.โ
I sighed, and I heard Edward sigh very quietly, too. I knew he wished sheโd get over me, too. Too bad heโd never ask her to do anything that
might make her unhappy.
โYou look tired,โ Bella commented. โDead beat,โ I admitted.
โIโd 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, โDid you say something?โ in a puzzled tone.
Strange. Because no one had said anything, and because Edwardโs 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.
โMe?โ she asked after a second. โI didnโt 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.
โWhat are you thinking about right now?โ
She stared at him blankly. โNothing. Whatโs going on?โ โWhat were you thinking about a minute ago?โ he asked. โJustโฆ Esmeโs island. And feathers.โ
Sounded like total gibberish to me, but then she blushed, and I figured I was better off not knowing.
โSay something else,โ he whispered. โLike what? Edward, whatโs 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.
โThe fโโ He swallowed. โItโฆ 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
โHoly crow, you can hear him!โ Bella shouted. In the next second, she winced.
Edwardโs hand moved to the top peak of her belly and gently rubbed the spot where it must have kicked her.
โShh,โ he murmured. โYou startled itโฆ him.โ
Her eyes got all wide and full of wonder. She patted the side of her stomach. โSorry, baby.โ
Edward was listening hard, his head tilted toward the bulge. โWhatโs he thinking now?โ she demanded eagerly.
โItโฆ he or she, is . . .โ He paused and looked up into her eyes. His eyes were filled with a similar aweโonly his were more careful and grudging. โHeโs 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 heโd worn since their return. He was marveling with her.
โOf course youโre happy, pretty baby, of course you are,โ she crooned, rubbing her stomach while the tears washed her cheeks. โHow could you not be, all safe and warm and loved? I love you so much, little EJ, of course youโre happy.โ
โWhat did you call him?โ Edward asked curiously.
She blushed again. โI sort of named him. I didnโt think you would wantโฆ well, you know.โ
โEJ?โ
โYour fatherโs name was Edward, too.โ
โYes, it was. Whatโ?โ He paused and then said, โHmm.โ โWhat?โ
โHe likes my voice, too.โ
โOf course he does.โ Her tone was almost gloating now. โYou have the most beautiful voice in the universe. Who wouldnโt love it?โ
โDo 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 Bellaโs. โWhat if heโs a she?โ
Bella wiped the back of her hand under her wet eyes. โI kicked a few things around. Playing with Renรฉe and Esme. I was thinkingโฆ Ruh-nez- may.โ
โRuhnezmay?โ
โR-e-n-e-s-m-e-e. Too weird?โ
โNo, I like it,โ Rosalie assured her. Their heads were close together, gold and mahogany. โItโs beautiful. And one of a kind, so that fits.โ
โI still think heโs an Edward.โ
Edward was staring off into space, his face blank as he listened. โWhat?โ Bella asked, her face just glowing away. โWhatโs he thinking
now?โ
At first he didnโt answer, and thenโshocking all the rest of us again, three distinct and separate gaspsโhe laid his ear tenderly against her belly.
โHe loves you,โ Edward whispered, sounding dazed. โHe 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 Iโd been counting on that loathsome vampire. How stupidโas if you could ever trust a leech! Of course he would betray me in the end.
Iโd counted on him to be on my side. Iโd counted on him to suffer more than I suffered. And, most of all, Iโd counted on him to hate that revolting thing killing Bella more than I hated it.
Iโd 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 youโd 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 Edwardโs face as he trespassed in my head again.
โAhh,โ he choked.
I didnโt 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.
โGo, Jacob. Get away from here.โ He didnโt say it harshlyโhe 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.