best counter
Search
Report & Feedback

Chapter no 13 – KILLER

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

IF IT WAS ANYONE BUT JACOB, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, shaking

my head as I drove down the forest-lined highway to La Push.

I still wasnโ€™t sure if I was doing the right thing, but Iโ€™d made a compromise with myself.

I couldnโ€™t condone what Jacob and his friends, his pack, were doing. I understood now what heโ€™d said last nightโ€”that I might not want to see him againโ€”and I could have called him as heโ€™d suggested, but that felt cowardly. I owed him a face-to-face conversation, at least. I would tell him to his face that I couldnโ€™t just overlook what was going on. I couldnโ€™t be friends with a killer and say nothing, let the killing continue… That would make me a monster, too.

But I couldnโ€™tย notย warn him, either. I had to do what I could to protect him.

I pulled up to the Blacksโ€™ house with my lips pressed together into a hard line. It was bad enough that my best friend was a werewolf. Did he have to be a monster, too?

The house was dark, no lights in the windows, but I didnโ€™t care if I woke them. My fist thudded against the front door with angry energy; the sound reverberated through the walls.

โ€œCome in,โ€ I heard Billy call after a minute, and a light flicked on.

I twisted the knob; it was unlocked. Billy was leaning around an open doorway just off the little kitchen, a bathrobe around his shoulders, not in his chair yet. When he saw who it was, his eyes widened briefly, and then his face turned stoic.

โ€œWell, good morning, Bella. What are you doing up so early?โ€ โ€œHey, Billy. I need to talk to Jakeโ€”where is he?โ€

โ€œUm…I donโ€™t really know,โ€ he lied, straight-faced.

โ€œDo you know what Charlie is doing this morning?โ€ I demanded, sick of the stalling.

โ€œShould I?โ€

โ€œHe and half the other men in town are all out in the woods with guns, hunting giant wolves.โ€

Billyโ€™s expression flickered, and then went blank.

โ€œSo Iโ€™d like to talk to Jake about that, if you donโ€™t mind,โ€ I continued. Billy pursed his thick lips for a long moment. โ€œIโ€™d bet heโ€™s still asleep,โ€

he finally said, nodding toward the tiny hallway off the front room. โ€œHeโ€™s out late a lot these days. Kid needs his restโ€”probably you shouldnโ€™t wake him.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s my turn,โ€ I muttered under my breath as I stalked to the hallway.

Billy sighed.

Jacobโ€™s tiny closet of a room was the only door in the yard-long hallway. I didnโ€™t bother to knock. I threw the door open; it slammed against the wall with a bang.

Jacobโ€”still wearing just the same black cut-off sweats heโ€™d worn last nightโ€”was stretched diagonally across the double bed that took up all of his room but a few inches around the edges. Even on a slant, it wasnโ€™t long enough; his feet hung off the one end and his head off the other. He was fast asleep, snoring lightly with his mouth hanging open. The sound of the door hadnโ€™t even made him twitch.

His face was peaceful with deep sleep, all the angry lines smoothed out.

There were circles under his eyes that I hadnโ€™t noticed before. Despite his ridiculous size, he looked very young now, and very weary. Pity shook me.

I stepped back out, and shut the door quietly behind me.

Billy stared with curious, guarded eyes as I walked slowly back into the front room.

โ€œI think Iโ€™ll let him get some rest.โ€

Billy nodded, and then we gazed at each other for a minute. I was dying to ask him about his part in this. What did he think of what his son had become? But I knew how heโ€™d supported Sam from the very beginning, and so I supposed the murders must not bother him. How he justified that to himself I couldnโ€™t imagine.

I could see many questions for me in his dark eyes, but he didnโ€™t voice them either.

โ€œLook,โ€ I said, breaking the loud silence. โ€œIโ€™ll be down at the beach for a while. When he wakes up, tell him Iโ€™m waiting for him, okay?โ€

โ€œSure, sure,โ€ Billy agreed.

I wondered if he really would. Well, if he didnโ€™t, Iโ€™d tried, right?

I drove down to First Beach and parked in the empty dirt lot. It was still darkโ€”the gloomy predawn of a cloudy dayโ€”and when I cut the headlights it was hard to see. I had to let my eyes adjust before I could find the path that led through the tall hedge of weeds. It was colder here, with the wind whipping off the black water, and I shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my winter jacket. At least the rain had stopped.

I paced down the beach toward the north seawall. I couldnโ€™t see St.

James or the other islands, just the vague shape of the waterโ€™s edge. I picked my way carefully across the rocks, watching out for driftwood that might trip me.

I found what I was looking for before I realized I was looking for it. It materialized out of the gloom when it was just a few feet away: a long bone-white driftwood tree stranded deep on the rocks. The roots twisted up at the seaward end, like a hundred brittle tentacles. I couldnโ€™t be sure that it was the same tree where Jacob and I had had our first conversationโ€”a

conversation that had begun so many different, tangled threads of my lifeโ€” but it seemed to be in about the same place. I sat down where Iโ€™d sat before, and stared out across the invisible sea.

Seeing Jacob like thatโ€”innocent and vulnerable in sleepโ€”had stolen all my revulsion, dissolved all my anger. I still couldnโ€™t turn a blind eye to what was happening, like Billy seemed to, but I couldnโ€™t condemn Jacob for it either. Love didnโ€™t work that way, I decided. Once you cared about a person, it was impossible to be logical about them anymore. Jacob was my friend whether he killed people or not. And I didnโ€™t know what I was going to do about that.

When I pictured him sleeping so peacefully, I felt an overpowering urge toย protectย him. Completely illogical.

Illogical or not, I brooded over the memory his peaceful face, trying to come up with some answer, some way to shelter him, while the sky slowly turned gray.

โ€œHi, Bella.โ€

Jacobโ€™s voice came from the darkness and made me jump. It was soft, almost shy, but Iโ€™d been expecting some forewarning from the noisy rocks, and so it still startled me. I could see his silhouette against the coming sunriseโ€”it looked enormous.

โ€œJake?โ€

He stood several paces away, shifting his weight from foot to foot anxiously.

โ€œBilly told me you came byโ€”didnโ€™t take you very long, did it? I knew you could figure it out.โ€

โ€œYeah, I remember the right story now,โ€ I whispered.

It was quiet for a long moment and, though it was still too dark to see well, my skin prickled as if his eyes were searching my face. There must have been enough light for him to read my expression, because when he spoke again, his voice was suddenly acidic.

โ€œYou could have just called,โ€ he said harshly. I nodded. โ€œI know.โ€

Jacob started pacing along the rocks. If I listened very hard, I could just hear the gentle brush of his feet on the rocks behind the sound of the waves. The rocks had clattered like castanets for me.

โ€œWhy did you come?โ€ he demanded, not halting his angry stride. โ€œI thought it would be better face-to-face.โ€

He snorted. โ€œOh, much better.โ€ โ€œJacob, I have to warn youโ€”โ€

โ€œAbout the rangers and the hunters? Donโ€™t worry about it. We already know.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry about it?โ€ I demanded in disbelief. โ€œJake, theyโ€™ve got guns! Theyโ€™re setting traps and offering rewards andโ€”โ€

โ€œWe can take care of ourselves,โ€ he growled, still pacing. โ€œTheyโ€™re not going to catch anything. Theyโ€™re only making it more difficultโ€”theyโ€™ll start disappearing soon enough, too.โ€

โ€œJake!โ€ I hissed. โ€œWhat? Itโ€™s just a fact.โ€

My voice was pale with revulsion. โ€œHow can you…feel that way? You know these people. Charlieโ€™s out there!โ€ The thought made my stomach twist.

He came to an abrupt stop. โ€œWhat more can we do?โ€ he retorted.

The sun turned the clouds a slivery pink above us. I could see his expression now; it was angry, frustrated, betrayed.

โ€œCould you…well, try toย notย be a…werewolf?โ€ I suggested in a whisper.

He threw his hands up in the air. โ€œLike I have a choice about it!โ€ he shouted. โ€œAnd how would that help anything, if youโ€™re worried about people disappearing?โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t understand you.โ€

He glared at me, his eyes narrowing and his mouth twisting into a snarl. โ€œYou know what makes me so mad I could just spit?โ€

I flinched away from his hostile expression. He seemed to be waiting for an answer, so I shook my head.

โ€œYouโ€™re such a hypocrite, Bellaโ€”there you sit,ย terrifiedย of me! How is that fair?โ€ His hands shook with anger.

โ€œHypocrite? How does being afraid of a monster make me a hypocrite?โ€ โ€œUgh!โ€ he groaned, pressing his trembling fists to his temples and

squeezing his eyes shut. โ€œWould you listen to yourself?โ€ โ€œWhat?โ€

He took two steps toward me, leaning over me and glaring with fury. โ€œWell, Iโ€™m so sorry that I canโ€™t be theย rightย kind of monster for you, Bella. I guess Iโ€™m just not as great as a bloodsucker, am I?โ€

I jumped to my feet and glared back. โ€œNo, youโ€™re not!โ€ I shouted. โ€œItโ€™s not what youย are, stupid, itโ€™s what youย do!โ€

โ€œWhatโ€™s that supposed to mean?โ€ He roared, his entire frame quivering with rage.

I was taken entirely by surprise when Edwardโ€™s voice cautioned me. โ€œBe very careful, Bella,โ€ his velvet voice warned. โ€œDonโ€™t push him too far. You need to calm him down.โ€

Even the voice in my head was making no sense today.

I listened to him, though. I would do anything for that voice. โ€œJacob,โ€ I pleaded, making my tone soft and even. โ€œIs it really

necessary toย killย people, Jacob? Isnโ€™t there some other way? I mean, if vampires can find a way to survive without murdering people, couldnโ€™t you give it a try, too?โ€

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.

โ€œKilling people?โ€ he demanded.

โ€œWhat did you think we were talking about?โ€

He wasnโ€™t trembling anymore. He looked at me with half-hopeful disbelief. โ€œIย thought we were talking about your disgust for werewolves.โ€

โ€œNo, Jake, no. Itโ€™s not that youโ€™re a…wolf. Thatโ€™s fine,โ€ I promised him, and I knew as I said the words that I meant them. I really didnโ€™t care if he turned into a big wolfโ€”he was still Jacob. โ€œIf you could just find a way not to hurt people…thatโ€™s all that upsets me. These are innocent people, Jake, people like Charlie, and I canโ€™t just look the other way while youโ€”โ€

โ€œIs that all? Really?โ€ he interrupted me, a smile breaking across his face. โ€œYouโ€™re just scared because Iโ€™m a murderer? Thatโ€™s the only reason?โ€

โ€œIsnโ€™t that reason enough?โ€ He started to laugh.

โ€œJacob Black, this isย soย not funny!โ€ โ€œSure, sure,โ€ he agreed, still chortling.

He took one long stride and caught me in another vice-tight bear hug. โ€œYou really, honestly donโ€™t mind that I morph into a giant dog?โ€ he

asked, his voice joyful in my ear.

โ€œNo,โ€ I gasped. โ€œCanโ€™tโ€”breatheโ€”Jake!โ€

He let me go, but took both my hands. โ€œIโ€™m not a killer, Bella.โ€

I studied his face, and it was clear that this was the truth. Relief pulsed through me.

โ€œReally?โ€ I asked.

โ€œReally,โ€ he promised solemnly.

I threw my arms around him. It reminded me of that first day with the motorcyclesโ€”he was bigger, though, and I felt even more like a child now.

Like that other time, he stroked my hair.

โ€œSorry I called you a hypocrite,โ€ he apologized. โ€œSorry I called you a murderer.โ€

He laughed.

I thought of something then, and pulled away from him so that I could see his face. My eyebrows furrowed in anxiety. โ€œWhat about Sam? And the others?โ€

He shook his head, smiling like a huge burden had been removed from his shoulders. โ€œOf course not. Donโ€™t you remember what we call ourselves?โ€

The memory was clearโ€”Iโ€™d just been thinking of that very day. โ€œProtectors?โ€

โ€œExactly.โ€

โ€œBut I donโ€™t understand. Whatโ€™s happening in the woods? The missing hikers, the blood?โ€

His face was serious, worried at once. โ€œWeโ€™re trying to do our job, Bella. Weโ€™re trying to protect them, but weโ€™re always just a little too late.โ€

โ€œProtect them from what? Is there really a bear out there, too?โ€

โ€œBella, honey, we only protect people from one thingโ€”our one enemy.

Itโ€™s the reason we existโ€”because they do.โ€

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. โ€œI thought you, of all people, would realize what was really going on.โ€

โ€œLaurent,โ€ I whispered. โ€œHeโ€™s still here.โ€

Jacob blinked twice, and cocked his head to one side. โ€œWhoโ€™s Laurent?โ€

I tried to sort out the chaos in my head so that I could answer. โ€œYou knowโ€”you saw him in the meadow. You were there. โ€ The words came

out in a wondering tone as it all sunk in. โ€œYou were there, and you kept him from killing me. โ€

โ€œOh, the black-haired leech?โ€ He grinned, a tight, fierce grin. โ€œWas that his name?โ€

I shuddered. โ€œWhat were you thinking?โ€ I whispered. โ€œHe could have killed you! Jake, you donโ€™t realize how dangerousโ€”โ€

Another laugh interrupted me. โ€œBella, one lone vampire isnโ€™t much of a problem for a pack as big as ours. It was so easy, it was hardly even fun!โ€

โ€œWhat was so easy?โ€

โ€œKilling the bloodsucker who was going to kill you. Now, I donโ€™t count that towards the whole murder thing,โ€ he added quickly. โ€œVampires donโ€™t count as people.โ€

I could only mouth the words. โ€œYou…killed. Laurent?โ€

He nodded. โ€œWell, it was a group effort,โ€ he qualified. โ€œLaurent is dead?โ€ I whispered.

His expression changed. โ€œYouโ€™re not upset about that, are you? He was going to kill youโ€”he was going for the kill, Bella, we were sure of that

before we attacked. You know that, right?โ€

โ€œI know that. No, Iโ€™m not upsetโ€”Iโ€™m . . .โ€ I had to sit down. I stumbled back a step until I felt the driftwood against my calves, and then sank down onto it. โ€œLaurent is dead. Heโ€™s not coming back for me.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re not mad? He wasnโ€™t one of your friends or anything, was he?โ€ โ€œMy friend?โ€ I stared up at him, confused and dizzy with relief. I started

babbling, my eyes getting moist. โ€œNo, Jake. Iโ€™m so…soย relieved. I thought he was going to find meโ€”Iโ€™ve been waiting for him every night, just hoping that heโ€™d stop with me and leave Charlie alone. Iโ€™ve been so frightened, Jacob. But how? He was a vampire! How did you kill him? He

was so strong, so hard, like marble. โ€

He sat down next to me and put one big arm around me comfortingly. โ€œItโ€™s what weโ€™re made for, Bells. Weโ€™re strong, too. I wish you would have told me that you were so afraid. You didnโ€™t need to be.โ€

โ€œYou werenโ€™t around,โ€ I mumbled, lost in thought. โ€œOh, right.โ€

โ€œWait, Jakeโ€”I thought you knew, though. Last night, you said it wasnโ€™t safe for you to be in my room. I thought you knew that a vampire might be coming. Isnโ€™t that what you were talking about?โ€

He looked confused for a minute, and then he ducked his head. โ€œNo, thatโ€™s not what I meant.โ€

โ€œThen why didnโ€™t you think it was safe for you there?โ€

He looked at me with guilt-ridden eyes. โ€œI didnโ€™t say it wasnโ€™t safe for

me. I was thinking of you.โ€ โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€

He looked down and kicked a rock. โ€œThereโ€™s more than one reason Iโ€™m not supposed to be around you, Bella. I wasnโ€™t supposed to tell you our secret, for one thing, but the other part is that itโ€™s not safe forย you. If I get too mad…too upset. you might get hurt.โ€

I thought about that carefully. โ€œWhen you were mad before. when I was

yelling at you…and you were shaking. ?โ€

โ€œYeah.โ€ His face dropped even lower. โ€œThat was pretty stupid of me. I have to keep a better hold on myself. I swore I wasnโ€™t going to get mad, no matter what you said to me. But. I just got so upset that I was going to lose

you…that you couldnโ€™t deal with what I am. โ€

โ€œWhat would happen. if you got too mad?โ€ I whispered.

โ€œIโ€™d turn into a wolf,โ€ he whispered back. โ€œYou donโ€™t need a full moon?โ€

He rolled his eyes. โ€œHollywoodโ€™s version doesnโ€™t get much right.โ€ Then he sighed, and was serious again. โ€œYou donโ€™t need to be so stressed out, Bells. Weโ€™re going to take care of this. And weโ€™re keeping a special eye on Charlie and the othersโ€”we wonโ€™t let anything happen to him. Trust me on that.โ€

Something very, very obvious, something I should have grasped at once

โ€”but Iโ€™d been so distracted by the idea of Jacob and his friends fighting with Laurent, that Iโ€™d completely missed it at the timeโ€”occurred to me only then, when Jacob used the present tense again.

Weโ€™re going to take care of this.

It wasnโ€™t over.

โ€œLaurent is dead,โ€ I gasped, and my entire body went ice cold. โ€œBella?โ€ Jacob asked anxiously, touching my ashen cheek.

โ€œIf Laurent died…a week ago…then someone else is killing people

now.โ€

Jacob nodded; his teeth clenched together, and he spoke through them. โ€œThere were two of them. We thought his mate would want to fight usโ€”in our stories, they usually get pretty pissed off if you kill their mateโ€”but she just keeps running away, and then coming back again. If we could figure out what she was after, it would be easier to take her down. But she makes no sense. She keeps dancing around the edges, like sheโ€™s testing our defenses, looking for a way inโ€”butย inย where? Where does she want to go? Sam thinks sheโ€™s trying to separate us, so sheโ€™ll have a better chance. โ€

His voice faded until it sounded like it was coming through a long tunnel; I couldnโ€™t make out the individual words anymore. My forehead dewed with sweat and my stomach rolled like I had the stomach flu again. Exactly like I had the flu.

I turned away from him quickly, and leaned over the tree trunk. My body convulsed with useless heaves, my empty stomach contracting with horrified nausea, though there was nothing in it to expel.

Victoria was here. Looking for me. Killing strangers in the woods. The woods where Charlie was searching….

My head spun sickeningly.

Jacobโ€™s hands caught my shouldersโ€”kept me from sliding forward onto the rocks. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek. โ€œBella! Whatโ€™s wrong?โ€

โ€œVictoria,โ€ I gasped as soon as I could catch my breath around the nauseous spasms.

In my head, Edward snarled in fury at the name.

I felt Jacob pull me up from my slump. He draped me awkwardly across his lap, laying my limp head against his shoulder. He struggled to balance me, to keep me from sagging over, one way or the other. He brushed the sweaty hair back from my face.

โ€œWho?โ€ Jacob asked. โ€œCan you hear me, Bella? Bella?โ€

โ€œShe wasnโ€™t Laurentโ€™s mate,โ€ I moaned into his shoulder. โ€œThey were just old friends. โ€

โ€œDo you need some water? A doctor? Tell me what to do,โ€ he demanded, frantic.

โ€œIโ€™m not sickโ€”Iโ€™m scared,โ€ I explained in a whisper. The wordย scared

didnโ€™t really seem to cover it.

Jacob patted my back. โ€œScared of this Victoria?โ€ I nodded, shuddering.

โ€œVictoria is the red-haired female?โ€

I trembled again, and whimpered, โ€œYes.โ€ โ€œHow do you know she wasnโ€™t his mate?โ€

โ€œLaurent told me James was her mate,โ€ I explained, automatically flexing the hand with the scar.

He pulled my face around, holding it steady in his big hand. He stared intently into my eyes. โ€œDid he tell you anything else, Bella? This is important. Do you know what she wants?โ€

โ€œOf course,โ€ I whispered. โ€œShe wantsย me.โ€

His eyes flipped wide, then narrowed into slits. โ€œWhy?โ€ he demanded. โ€œEdward killed James,โ€ I whispered. Jacob held me so tightly that there

was no need for me to clutch at the holeโ€”he kept me in one piece. โ€œShe did get. pissed off. But Laurent said she thought it was fairer to kill me than

Edward. Mate for mate. She didnโ€™t knowโ€”still doesnโ€™t know, I guessโ€” that…that โ€ I swallowed hard. โ€œThat things arenโ€™t like that with us

anymore. Not for Edward, anyway.โ€

Jacob was distracted by that, his face torn between several different expressions. โ€œIs that what happened? Why the Cullens left?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m nothing but a human, after all. Nothing special,โ€ I explained, shrugging weakly.

Something like a growlโ€”not a real growl, just a human approximation

โ€”rumbled in Jacobโ€™s chest under my ear. โ€œIf that idiot bloodsucker is honestly stupid enoughโ€”โ€

โ€œPlease,โ€ I moaned. โ€œPlease. Donโ€™t.โ€ Jacob hesitated, then nodded once.

โ€œThis is important,โ€ he said again, his face all business now. โ€œThis is exactly what we needed to know. Weโ€™ve got to tell the others right away.โ€

He stood, pulling me to my feet. He kept two hands on my waist until he was sure I wasnโ€™t going to fall.

โ€œIโ€™m okay,โ€ I lied.

He traded his hold on my waist for one of my hands. โ€œLetโ€™s go.โ€ He pulled me back toward the truck.

โ€œWhere are we going?โ€ I asked.

โ€œIโ€™m not sure yet,โ€ he admitted. โ€œIโ€™ll call a meeting. Hey, wait here for just a minute, okay?โ€ He leaned me against the side of the truck and released my hand.

โ€œWhere are you going?โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll be right back,โ€ he promised. Then he turned and sprinted through the parking lot, across the road, and into the bordering forest. He flitted into the trees, swift and sleek as a deer.

โ€œJacob!โ€ I yelled after him hoarsely, but he was already gone.

It was not a good time to be left alone. Seconds after Jacob was out of sight, I was hyperventilating. I dragged myself into the cab of the truck, and mashed the locks down at once. It didnโ€™t make me feel any better.

Victoria was already hunting me. It was just luck that she hadnโ€™t found me yetโ€”just luck and five teenage werewolves. I exhaled sharply. No matter what Jacob said, the thought of him coming anywhere close to Victoria was horrifying. I didnโ€™t care what he could turn into when he got mad. I could see her in my head, her face wild, her hair like flames, deadly, indestructible….

But, according to Jacob, Laurent was gone. Was that really possible?

Edwardโ€”I clutched automatically at my chestโ€”had told me how difficult it was to kill a vampire. Only another vampire could do the job. Yet Jake said this was what werewolves were made for…

He said they were keeping a special eye on Charlieโ€”that I should trust the werewolves to keep my father safe. How could I trust that? None of us were safe! Jacob the very least of all, if he was trying to put himself between Victoria and Charlie…between Victoria and me.

I felt like I might be about to throw up again.

A sharp rap on the truckโ€™s window made me yelp in terrorโ€”but it was just Jacob, back already. I unlocked the door with trembling, grateful fingers.

โ€œYouโ€™re really scared, arenโ€™t you?โ€ he asked as he climbed in. I nodded.

โ€œDonโ€™t be. Weโ€™ll take care of youโ€”and Charlie, too. I promise.โ€

โ€œThe idea of you finding Victoria is scarier than the idea of her finding me,โ€ I whispered.

He laughed. โ€œYouโ€™ve got to have a little more confidence in us than that.

Itโ€™s insulting.โ€

I just shook my head. Iโ€™d seen too many vampires in action. โ€œWhere did you go just now?โ€ I asked.

He pursed his lips, and said nothing. โ€œWhat? Is it a secret?โ€

He frowned. โ€œNot really. Itโ€™s kind of weird, though. I donโ€™t want to freak you out.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m sort of used to weird by this point, you know.โ€ I tried to smile without much success.

Jacob grinned back easily. โ€œGuess youโ€™d have to be. Okay. See, when weโ€™re wolves, we can…hear each other.โ€

My eyebrows pulled down in confusion.

โ€œNot hear sounds,โ€ he went on, โ€œbut we can hear…thoughtsโ€”each otherโ€™s anywayโ€”no matter how far away from each other we are. It really helps when we hunt, but itโ€™s a big pain otherwise. Itโ€™s embarrassingโ€” having no secrets like that. Freaky, eh?โ€

โ€œIs that what you meant last night, when you said you would tell them youโ€™d seen me, even though you didnโ€™t want to?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re quick.โ€ โ€œThanks.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re also very good with weird. I thought that would bother you.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s not…well, youโ€™re not the first person Iโ€™ve known who could do that. So it doesnโ€™t seem so weird to me.โ€

โ€œReally?…Waitโ€”are you talking about your bloodsuckers?โ€ โ€œI wish you wouldnโ€™t call them that.โ€

He laughed. โ€œWhatever. The Cullens, then?โ€

โ€œJust…just Edward.โ€ I pulled one arm surreptitiously around my torso.

Jacob looked surprisedโ€”unpleasantly so. โ€œI thought those were just stories. Iโ€™ve heard legends about vampires who could do…extra stuff, but I thought that was just a myth.โ€

โ€œIs anything just a myth anymore?โ€ I asked him wryly.

He scowled. โ€œGuess not. Okay, weโ€™re going to meet Sam and the others at the place we go to ride our bikes.โ€

I started the truck and headed back up the road.

โ€œSo did you just turn into a wolf now, to talk to Sam?โ€ I asked, curious.

Jacob nodded, seeming embarrassed. โ€œI kept it real shortโ€”I tried not to think about you so they wouldnโ€™t know what was going on. I was afraid Sam would tell me I couldnโ€™t bring you.โ€

โ€œThat wouldnโ€™t have stopped me.โ€ I couldnโ€™t get rid of my perception of Sam as the bad guy. My teeth clenched together whenever I heard his name. โ€œWell, it would have stoppedย me,โ€ Jacob said, morose now. โ€œRemember

how I couldnโ€™t finish my sentences last night? How I couldnโ€™t just tell you the whole story?โ€

โ€œYeah. You looked like you were choking on something.โ€

He chuckled darkly. โ€œClose enough. Sam told me I couldnโ€™t tell you.

Heโ€™s…the head of the pack, you know. Heโ€™s the Alpha. When he tells us to do something, or not to do somethingโ€”when he really means it, well, we canโ€™t just ignore him.โ€

โ€œWeird,โ€ I muttered.

โ€œVery,โ€ he agreed. โ€œItโ€™s kind of a wolf thing.โ€ โ€œHuhโ€ was the best response I could think of.

โ€œYeah, thereโ€™s a load of stuff like thatโ€”wolf things. Iโ€™m still learning. I canโ€™t imagine what it was like for Sam, trying to deal with this alone. It sucks bad enough to go through it with a whole pack for support.โ€

โ€œSam was alone?โ€

โ€œYeah.โ€ Jacobโ€™s voice lowered. โ€œWhen I…changed, it was the most…horrible, the mostย terrifyingย thing Iโ€™ve ever been throughโ€”worse

than anything I could have imagined. But I wasnโ€™t aloneโ€”there were the voices there, in my head, telling me what had happened and what I had to do. That kept me from losing my mind, I think. But Sam . . .โ€ He shook his head. โ€œSam had no help.โ€

This was going to take some adjusting. When Jacob explained it like that, it was hard not to feel compassion for Sam. I had to keep reminding myself that there was no reason to hate him anymore.

โ€œWill they be angry that Iโ€™m with you?โ€ I asked. He made a face. โ€œProbably.โ€

โ€œMaybe I shouldnโ€™tโ€”โ€

โ€œNo, itโ€™s okay,โ€ he assured me. โ€œYou know a ton of things that can help us. Itโ€™s not like youโ€™re just some ignorant human. Youโ€™re like a…I donโ€™t know, spy or something. Youโ€™ve been behind enemy lines.โ€

I frowned to myself. Was that what Jacob would want from me? Insider information to help them destroy their enemies? I wasnโ€™t a spy, though. I hadnโ€™t been collecting that kind of information. Already, his words made me feel like a traitor.

But I wanted him to stop Victoria, didnโ€™t I? No.

Iย didย want Victoria to be stopped, preferably before she tortured me to death or ran into Charlie or killed another stranger. I just didnโ€™t want Jacob to be the one to stop her, or rather to try. I didnโ€™t want Jacob within a hundred miles of her.

โ€œLike the stuff about the mind-reading bloodsucker,โ€ he continued, oblivious to my reverie. โ€œThatโ€™s the kind of thing we need to know about. That really sucks thatย thoseย stories are true. It makes everything more complicated. Hey, do you think this Victoria can do anything special?โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t think so,โ€ I hesitated, and then sighed. โ€œHe would have mentioned it.โ€

โ€œHe? Oh, you mean Edwardโ€”oops, sorry. I forgot. You donโ€™t like to say his name. Or hear it.โ€

I squeezed my midsection, trying to ignore the throbbing around the edges of my chest. โ€œNot really, no.โ€

โ€œSorry.โ€

โ€œHow do you know me so well, Jacob? Sometimes itโ€™s like you can read

myย mind.โ€

โ€œNaw. I just pay attention.โ€

We were on the little dirt road where Jacob had first taught me to ride the motorcycle.

โ€œThis good?โ€ I asked. โ€œSure, sure.โ€

I pulled over and cut the engine.

โ€œYouโ€™re still pretty unhappy, arenโ€™t you?โ€ he murmured. I nodded, staring unseeingly into the gloomy forest. โ€œDid you ever think…that maybe…youโ€™re better off?โ€

I inhaled slowly, and then let my breath out. โ€œNo.โ€ โ€œโ€™Cause he wasnโ€™t the bestโ€”โ€

โ€œPlease, Jacob,โ€ I interrupted, begging in a whisper. โ€œCould we please not talk about this? I canโ€™t stand it.โ€

โ€œOkay.โ€ He took a deep breath. โ€œIโ€™m sorry I said anything.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t feel bad. If things were different, it would be nice to finally be able to talk to someone about it.โ€

He nodded. โ€œYeah, I had a hard time keeping a secret from you for two weeks. It must be hell to not be able to talk toย anyone.โ€

โ€œHell,โ€ I agreed.

Jacob sucked in a sharp breath. โ€œTheyโ€™re here. Letโ€™s go.โ€

โ€œAre you sure?โ€ I asked while he popped his door open. โ€œMaybe I shouldnโ€™t be here.โ€

โ€œTheyโ€™ll deal with it,โ€ he said, and then he grinned. โ€œWhoโ€™s afraid of the big, bad wolf?โ€

โ€œHa ha,โ€ I said. But I got out of the truck, hurrying around the front end to stand close beside Jacob. I remembered only too clearly the giant monsters in the meadow. My hands were trembling like Jacobโ€™s had been before, but with fear rather than rage.

Jake took my hand and squeezed it. โ€œHere we go.โ€

You'll Also Like