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Chapter no 14 – FAMILY

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

I COWERED INTO JACOBโ€™S SIDE, MY EYES SCANNING THE forest

for the other werewolves. When they appeared, striding out from between the trees, they werenโ€™t what I was expecting. Iโ€™d gotten the image of the wolves stuck in my head. These were just four really big half-naked boys.

Again, they reminded me of brothers, quadruplets. Something about the way they moved almost in synchronization to stand across the road from us, the way they all had the same long, round muscles under the same red- brown skin, the same cropped black hair, and the way their expressions altered at exactly the same moment.

They started out curious and cautious. When they saw me there, half- hidden beside Jacob, they all became furious in the same second.

Sam was still the biggest, though Jacob was getting close to catching up with him. Sam didnโ€™t really count as a boy. His face was olderโ€”not in the sense of lines or signs of aging, but in the maturity, the patience of his expression.

โ€œWhat have you done, Jacob?โ€ he demanded.

One of the others, one I didnโ€™t recognizeโ€”Jared or Paulโ€”thrust past Sam and spoke before Jacob could defend himself.

โ€œWhy canโ€™t you just follow the rules, Jacob?โ€ he yelled, throwing his arms in the air. โ€œWhat the hell are you thinking? Is she more important than everythingโ€”than the whole tribe? Than the people getting killed?โ€

โ€œShe can help,โ€ Jacob said quietly.

โ€œHelp!โ€ the angry boy shouted. His arms begin to quiver. โ€œOh, thatโ€™s likely! Iโ€™m sure the leech-lover is justย dyingย to help us out!โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t talk about her like that!โ€ Jacob shouted back, stung by the boyโ€™s criticism.

A shudder rippled through the other boy, along his shoulders and down his spine.

โ€œPaul! Relax!โ€ Sam commanded.

Paul shook his head back and forth, not in defiance, but as though he were trying to concentrate.

โ€œJeez, Paul,โ€ one of the other boysโ€”probably Jaredโ€”muttered. โ€œGet a grip.โ€

Paul twisted his head toward Jared, his lips curling back in irritation.

Then he shifted his glare in my direction. Jacob took a step to put himself in front of me.

That did it.

โ€œRight, protectย her!โ€ Paul roared in outrage. Another shudder, a convulsion, heaved through his body. He threw his head back, a real growl tearing from between his teeth.

โ€œPaul!โ€ Sam and Jacob shouted together.

Paul seemed to fall forward, vibrating violently. Halfway to the ground, there was a loud ripping noise, and the boy exploded.

Dark silver fur blew out from the boy, coalescing into a shape more than five-times his sizeโ€”a massive, crouched shape, ready to spring.

The wolfโ€™s muzzle wrinkled back over his teeth, and another growl rolled through his colossal chest. His dark, enraged eyes focused on me.

In the same second, Jacob was running across the road straight for the monster.

โ€œJacob!โ€ I screamed.

Mid-stride, a long tremor shivered down Jacobโ€™s spine. He leaped forward, diving headfirst into the empty air.

With another sharp tearing sound, Jacob exploded, too. He burst out of his skinโ€”shreds of black and white cloth blasted up into the air. It happened so quickly that if Iโ€™d blinked, Iโ€™d have missed the entire transformation. One second it was Jacob diving into the air, and then it was the gigantic, russet brown wolfโ€”so enormous that I couldnโ€™t make sense of its mass somehow fitting inside Jacobโ€”charging the crouched silver beast.

Jacob met the other werewolfโ€™s attack head-on. Their angry snarls echoed like thunder off the trees.

The black and white scrapsโ€”the remains of Jacobโ€™s clothesโ€”fluttered to the ground where heโ€™d disappeared.

โ€œJacob!โ€ I screamed again, staggering forward.

โ€œStay where you are, Bella,โ€ Sam ordered. It was hard to hear him over the roar of the fighting wolves. They were snapping and tearing at each other, their sharp teeth flashing toward each otherโ€™s throats. The Jacob-wolf seemed to have the upper handโ€”he was visibly bigger than the other wolf, and it looked like he was stronger, too. He rammed his shoulder against the gray wolf again and again, knocking him back toward the trees.

โ€œTake her to Emilyโ€™s,โ€ Sam shouted toward the other boys, who were watching the conflict with rapt expressions. Jacob had successfully shoved the gray wolf off the road, and they were disappearing into the forest, though the sound of their snarls was still loud. Sam ran after them, kicking off his shoes on the way. As he darted into the trees, he was quivering from head to toe.

The growling and snapping was fading into the distance. Suddenly, the sound cut off and it was very quiet on the road.

One of the boys started laughing.

I turned to stare at himโ€”my wide eyes felt frozen, like I couldnโ€™t even blink them.

The boy seemed to be laughing at my expression. โ€œWell, thereโ€™s something you donโ€™t see every day,โ€ he snickered. His face was vaguely familiarโ€”thinner than the others. Embry Call.

โ€œI do,โ€ the other boy, Jared, grumbled. โ€œEvery single day.โ€

โ€œAw, Paul doesnโ€™t lose his temperย everyย day,โ€ Embry disagreed, still grinning. โ€œMaybe two out of three.โ€

Jared stopped to pick something white up off the ground. He held it up toward Embry; it dangled in limp strips from his hand.

โ€œTotally shredded,โ€ Jared said. โ€œBilly said this was the last pair he could affordโ€”guess Jacobโ€™s going barefoot now.โ€

โ€œThis one survived,โ€ Embry said, holding up a white sneaker. โ€œJake can hop,โ€ he added with a laugh.

Jared started collecting various pieces of fabric from the dirt. โ€œGet Samโ€™s shoes, will you? All the rest of this is headed for the trash.โ€

Embry grabbed the shoes and then jogged into the trees where Sam had disappeared. He was back in a few seconds with a pair of cut-off jeans draped over his arm. Jared gathered the torn remnants of Jacobโ€™s and Paulโ€™s clothes and wadded them into a ball. Suddenly, he seemed to remember me.

He looked at me carefully, assessing.

โ€œHey, youโ€™re not going to faint or puke or anything?โ€ he demanded. โ€œI donโ€™tย thinkย so,โ€ I gasped.

โ€œYou donโ€™t look so good. Maybe you should sit down.โ€

โ€œOkay,โ€ I mumbled. For the second time in one morning, I put my head between my knees.

โ€œJake should have warned us,โ€ Embry complained.

โ€œHe shouldnโ€™t have brought his girlfriend into this. What did he expect?โ€

โ€œWell, the wolfโ€™s out of the bag now.โ€ Embry sighed. โ€œWay to go, Jake.โ€

I raised my head to glare at the two boys who seemed to be taking this all so lightly. โ€œArenโ€™t you worried about them at all?โ€ I demanded.

Embry blinked once in surprise. โ€œWorried? Why?โ€ โ€œThey could hurt each other!โ€

Embry and Jared guffawed.

โ€œIย hopeย Paul gets a mouthful of him,โ€ Jared said. โ€œTeach him a lesson.โ€ I blanched.

โ€œYeah, right!โ€ Embry disagreed. โ€œDid youย seeย Jake? Even Sam couldnโ€™t have phased on the fly like that. He saw Paul losing it, and it took him, what, half a second to attack? The boyโ€™s got a gift.โ€

โ€œPaulโ€™s been fighting longer. Iโ€™ll bet you ten bucks he leaves a mark.โ€ โ€œYouโ€™re on. Jakeโ€™s a natural. Paul doesnโ€™t have a prayer.โ€

They shook hands, grinning.

I tried to comfort myself with their lack of concern, but I couldnโ€™t drive the brutal image of the fighting werewolves from my head. My stomach churned, sore and empty, my head ached with worry.

โ€œLetโ€™s go see Emily. You know sheโ€™ll have food waiting.โ€ Embry looked down at me. โ€œMind giving us a ride?โ€

โ€œNo problem,โ€ I choked.

Jared raised one eyebrow. โ€œMaybe youโ€™d better drive, Embry. She still looks like she might hurl.โ€

โ€œGood idea. Where are the keys?โ€ Embry asked me. โ€œIgnition.โ€

Embry opened the passenger-side door. โ€œIn you go,โ€ he said cheerfully, hauling me up from the ground with one hand and stuffing me into my seat.

He appraised the available space. โ€œYouโ€™ll have to ride in the back,โ€ he told Jared.

โ€œThatโ€™s fine. I got a weak stomach. I donโ€™t want to be in there when she blows.โ€

โ€œI bet sheโ€™s tougher than that. She runs with vampires.โ€ โ€œFive bucks?โ€ Jared asked.

โ€œDone. I feel guilty, taking your money like this.โ€

Embry got in and started the engine while Jared leapt agilely into the bed. As soon as his door was closed, Embry muttered to me, โ€œDonโ€™t throw up, okay? Iโ€™ve only got a ten, and if Paul got his teeth into Jacob . . .โ€

โ€œOkay,โ€ I whispered.

Embry drove us back toward the village.

โ€œHey, how did Jake get around the injunction anyway?โ€ โ€œThe…what?โ€

โ€œEr, the order. You know, to not spill the beans. How did he tell you about this?โ€

โ€œOh, that,โ€ I said, remembering Jacob trying to choke out the truth to me last night. โ€œHe didnโ€™t. I guessed right.โ€

Embry pursed his lips, looking surprised. โ€œHmm. Sโ€™pose that would work.โ€

โ€œWhere are we going?โ€ I asked.

โ€œEmilyโ€™s house. Sheโ€™s Samโ€™s girlfriend…no, fiancรฉe, now, I guess.

Theyโ€™ll meet us back there after Sam gives it to them for what just happened. And after Paul and Jake scrounge up some new clothes, if Paul even has any left.โ€

โ€œDoes Emily know about…?โ€

โ€œYeah. And hey, donโ€™t stare at her. That bugs Sam.โ€ I frowned at him. โ€œWhy would I stare?โ€

Embry looked uncomfortable. โ€œLike you saw just now, hanging out around werewolves has its risks.โ€ He changed the subject quickly. โ€œHey, are you okay about the whole thing with the black-haired bloodsucker in the meadow? It didnโ€™t look like he was a friend of yours, but . . .โ€ Embry shrugged.

โ€œNo, he wasnโ€™t my friend.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s good. We didnโ€™t want to start anything, break the treaty, you know.โ€

โ€œOh, yeah, Jake told me about the treaty once, a long time ago. Why would killing Laurent break the treaty?โ€

โ€œLaurent,โ€ he repeated, snorting, like he was amused the vampire had had a name. โ€œWell, we were technically on Cullen turf. Weโ€™re not allowed to attack any of them, the Cullens, at least, off our landโ€”unless they break the treaty first. We didnโ€™t know if the black-haired one was a relative of theirs or something. Looked like you knew him.โ€

โ€œHow would they go about breaking the treaty?โ€

โ€œIf they bite a human. Jake wasnโ€™t so keen on the idea of letting it go that far.โ€

โ€œOh. Um, thanks. Iโ€™m glad you didnโ€™t wait.โ€

โ€œOur pleasure.โ€ He sounded like he meant that in a literal sense.

Embry drove past the easternmost house on the highway before turning off onto a narrow dirt road. โ€œYour truck is slow,โ€ he noted.

โ€œSorry.โ€

At the end of the lane was a tiny house that had once been gray. There was only one narrow window beside the weathered blue door, but the window box under it was filled with bright orange and yellow marigolds, giving the whole place a cheerful look.

Embry opened the truck door and inhaled. โ€œMmm, Emilyโ€™s cooking.โ€ Jared jumped out of the back of the truck and headed for the door, but

Embry stopped him with one hand on his chest. He looked at me meaningfully, and cleared his throat.

โ€œI donโ€™t have my wallet on me,โ€ Jared said. โ€œThatโ€™s okay. I wonโ€™t forget.โ€

They climbed up the one step and entered the house without knocking. I followed timidly after them.

The front room, like Billyโ€™s house, was mostly kitchen. A young woman with satiny copper skin and long, straight, crow-black hair was standing at the counter by the sink, popping big muffins out of a tin and placing them on a paper plate. For one second, I thought the reason Embry had told me not to stare was because the girl was so beautiful.

And then she asked โ€œYou guys hungry?โ€ in a melodic voice, and she turned to face us full on, a smile on half of her face.

The right side of her face was scarred from hairline to chin by three thick, red lines, livid in color though they were long healed. One line pulled

down the corner of her dark, almond-shaped right eye, another twisted the right side of her mouth into a permanent grimace.

Thankful for Embryโ€™s warning, I quickly turned my eyes to the muffins in her hands. They smelled wonderfulโ€”like fresh blueberries.

โ€œOh,โ€ Emily said, surprised. โ€œWhoโ€™s this?โ€

I looked up, trying to focus on the left half of her face.

โ€œBella Swan,โ€ Jared told her, shrugging. Apparently, Iโ€™d been a topic of conversation before. โ€œWho else?โ€

โ€œLeave it to Jacob to find a way around,โ€ Emily murmured. She stared at me, and neither half of her once-beautiful face was friendly. โ€œSo, youโ€™re the vampire girl.โ€

I stiffened. โ€œYes. Are you the wolf girl?โ€

She laughed, as did Embry and Jared. The left half of her face warmed. โ€œI guess I am.โ€ She turned to Jared. โ€œWhereโ€™s Sam?โ€

โ€œBella, er, surprised Paul this morning.โ€

Emily rolled her good eye. โ€œAh, Paul,โ€ she sighed. โ€œDo you think theyโ€™ll be long? I was just about to start the eggs.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry,โ€ Embry told her. โ€œIf theyโ€™re late, we wonโ€™t let anything go to waste.โ€

Emily chuckled, and then opened the refrigerator. โ€œNo doubt,โ€ she agreed. โ€œBella, are you hungry? Go ahead and help yourself to a muffin.โ€

โ€œThanks.โ€ I took one from the plate and started nibbling around the edges. It was delicious, and it felt good in my tender stomach. Embry picked up his third and shoved it into his mouth whole.

โ€œSave some for your brothers,โ€ Emily chastised him, hitting him on the head with a wooden spoon. The word surprised me, but the others thought nothing of it.

โ€œPig,โ€ Jared commented.

I leaned against the counter and watched the three of them banter like a family. Emilyโ€™s kitchen was a friendly place, bright with white cupboards and pale wooden floorboards. On the little round table, a cracked blue-and- white china pitcher was overflowing with wildflowers. Embry and Jared seemed entirely at ease here.

Emily was mixing a humongous batch of eggs, several dozen, in a big yellow bowl. She had the sleeves of her lavender shirt pushed up, and I could see that the scars extended all the way down her arm to the back of

her right hand. Hanging out with werewolves truly did have its risks, just as Embry had said.

The front door opened, and Sam stepped through.

โ€œEmily,โ€ he said, and so much love saturated his voice that I felt embarrassed, intrusive, as I watched him cross the room in one stride and take her face in his wide hands. He leaned down and kissed the dark scars on her right cheek before he kissed her lips.

โ€œHey, none of that,โ€ Jared complained. โ€œIโ€™m eating.โ€

โ€œThen shut up and eat,โ€ Sam suggested, kissing Emilyโ€™s ruined mouth again.

โ€œUgh,โ€ Embry groaned.

This was worse than any romantic movie; this was so real that it sang out loud with joy and life and true love. I put my muffin down and folded my arms across my empty chest. I stared at the flowers, trying to ignore the utter peace of their moment, and the wretched throbbing of my wounds.

I was grateful for the distraction when Jacob and Paul came through the door, and then shocked when I saw that they were laughing. While I watched, Paul punched Jacob on the shoulder and Jacob went for a kidney jab in return. They laughed again. They both appeared to be in one piece.

Jacob scanned the room, his eyes stopping when he found me leaning, awkward and out of place, against the counter in the far corner of the kitchen.

โ€œHey, Bells,โ€ he greeted me cheerfully. He grabbed two muffins as he passed the table and came to stand beside me. โ€œSorry about before,โ€ he muttered under his breath. โ€œHow are you holding up?โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry, Iโ€™m okay. Good muffins.โ€ I picked mine back up and started nibbling again. My chest felt better as soon as Jacob was beside me.

โ€œOh, man!โ€ Jared wailed, interrupting us.

I looked up, and he and Embry were examining a fading pink line on Paulโ€™s forearm. Embry was grinning, exultant.

โ€œFifteen dollars,โ€ he crowed.

โ€œDid you do that?โ€ I whispered to Jacob, remembering the bet. โ€œI barely touched him. Heโ€™ll be perfect by sundown.โ€

โ€œBy sundown?โ€ I looked at the line on Paulโ€™s arm. Odd, but it looked weeks old.

โ€œWolf thing,โ€ Jacob whispered.

I nodded, trying to not look weirded out. โ€œYouย okay?โ€ I asked him under my breath.

โ€œNot a scratch on me.โ€ His expression was smug.

โ€œHey, guys,โ€ Sam said in a loud voice, interrupting all the conversations going on in the small room. Emily was at the stove, scraping the egg mixture around a big skillet, but Sam still had one hand touching the small of her back, an unconscious gesture. โ€œJacob has information for us.โ€

Paul looked unsurprised. Jacob must have explained this to him and Sam already. Or…theyโ€™d just heard his thoughts.

โ€œI know what the redhead wants.โ€ Jacob directed his words toward Jared and Embry. โ€œThatโ€™s what I was trying to tell you before.โ€ He kicked the leg of the chair Paul had settled into.

โ€œAnd?โ€ Jared asked.

Jacobโ€™s face got serious. โ€œSheย isย trying to avenge her mateโ€”only it wasnโ€™t the black-haired leechย weย killed. The Cullens got her mate last year, and sheโ€™s after Bella now.โ€

This wasnโ€™t news to me, but I still shivered.

Jared, Embry, and Emily stared at me with open-mouthed surprise. โ€œSheโ€™s just a girl,โ€ Embry protested.

โ€œI didnโ€™t say it made sense. But thatโ€™s why the bloodsuckerโ€™s been trying to get past us. Sheโ€™s been heading for Forks.โ€

They continued to stare at me, mouths still hanging open, for a long moment. I ducked my head.

โ€œExcellent,โ€ Jared finally said, a smile beginning to pull up the corners of his mouth. โ€œWeโ€™ve got bait.โ€

With stunning speed, Jacob yanked a can opener from the counter and launched it at Jaredโ€™s head. Jaredโ€™s hand flicked up faster than I would have thought possible, and he snagged the tool just before it hit his face.

โ€œBella isย notย bait.โ€

โ€œYou know what I mean,โ€ Jared said, unabashed.

โ€œSo weโ€™ll be changing our patterns,โ€ Sam said, ignoring their squabble. โ€œWeโ€™ll try leaving a few holes, and see if she falls for it. Weโ€™ll have to split up, and I donโ€™t like that. But if sheโ€™s really after Bella, she probably wonโ€™t try to take advantage of our divided numbers.โ€

โ€œQuilโ€™s got to be close to joining us,โ€ Embry murmured. โ€œThen weโ€™ll be able to split evenly.โ€

Everyone looked down. I glanced at Jacobโ€™s face, and it was hopeless, like it had been yesterday afternoon, outside his house. No matter how comfortable they seemed to be with their fate, here in this happy kitchen, none of these werewolves wanted the same fate for their friend.

โ€œWell, we wonโ€™t count on that,โ€ Sam said in a low voice, and then continued at his regular volume. โ€œPaul, Jared, and Embry will take the outer perimeter, and Jacob and I will take the inner. Weโ€™ll collapse in when weโ€™ve got her trapped.โ€

I noticed that Emily didnโ€™t particularly like that Sam would be in the smaller grouping. Her worry had me glancing up at Jacob, worrying, too.

Sam caught my eye. โ€œJacob thinks it would be best if you spent as much time as possible here in La Push. She wonโ€™t know where to find you so easily, just in case.โ€

โ€œWhat about Charlie?โ€ I demanded.

โ€œMarch Madness is still going,โ€ Jacob said. โ€œI think Billy and Harry can manage to keep Charlie down here when heโ€™s not at work.โ€

โ€œWait,โ€ Sam said, holding one hand up. His glance flickered to Emily and then back to me. โ€œThatโ€™s what Jacob thinks is best, but you need to decide for yourself. You should weigh the risks of both options very seriously. You saw this morning how easily things can get dangerous here, how quickly they get out of hand. If you choose to stay with us, I canโ€™t make any guarantees about your safety.โ€

โ€œI wonโ€™t hurt her,โ€ Jacob mumbled, looking down.

Sam acted as if he hadnโ€™t heard him speak. โ€œIf there was somewhere else you felt safe . . .โ€

I bit my lip. Where could I go that wouldnโ€™t put someone else in danger? I recoiled again from the idea of bringing Renรฉe into thisโ€”pulling her into the circle of the target I wore. โ€œI donโ€™t want to lead Victoria

anywhere else,โ€ I whispered.

Sam nodded. โ€œThatโ€™s true. Itโ€™s better to have her here, where we can end this.โ€

I flinched. I didnโ€™t want Jacob or any of the rest of them trying toย endย Victoria. I glanced at Jakeโ€™s face; it was relaxed, almost the same as I remembered it from before the onset of the wolf thing, and utterly unconcerned by the idea of hunting vampires.

โ€œYouโ€™ll be careful, right?โ€ I asked, an audible lump in my throat.

The boys burst into loud hoots of amusement. Everyone laughed at me

โ€”except Emily. She met my eyes, and I could suddenly see the symmetry underlying her deformity. Her face was still beautiful, and alive with a concern even more fierce than mine. I had to look away, before the love behind that concern could start me aching again.

โ€œFoodโ€™s ready,โ€ she announced then, and the strategic conversation was history. The guys hurried to surround the tableโ€”which looked tiny and in danger of being crushed by themโ€”and devoured the buffet-sized pan of eggs Emily placed in their midst in record time. Emily ate leaning against the counter like meโ€”avoiding the bedlam at the tableโ€”and watched them with affectionate eyes. Her expression clearly stated that this was her family.

All in all, it wasnโ€™t exactly what Iโ€™d been expecting from a pack of werewolves.

I spent the day in La Push, the majority of it in Billyโ€™s house. He left a message on Charlieโ€™s phone and at the station, and Charlie showed up around dinnertime with two pizzas. It was good he brought two larges; Jacob ate one all by himself.

I saw Charlie eyeing the two of us suspiciously all night, especially the much-changed Jacob. He asked about the hair; Jacob shrugged and told him it was just more convenient.

I knew that as soon as Charlie and I were headed home, Jacob would take offโ€”off to run around as a wolf, as he had done intermittently through the entire day. He and his brothers of sorts kept up a constant watch, looking for some sign of Victoriaโ€™s return. But since theyโ€™d chased her away from the hot springs last nightโ€”chased her halfway to Canada, according to Jacobโ€”sheโ€™d yet to make another foray.

I had no hope at all that she might just give up. I didnโ€™t have that kind of luck.

Jacob walked me to my truck after dinner and lingered by the window, waiting for Charlie to drive away first.

โ€œDonโ€™t be afraid tonight,โ€ Jacob said, while Charlie pretended to be having trouble with his seat belt. โ€œWeโ€™ll be out there, watching.โ€

โ€œI wonโ€™t worry about myself,โ€ I promised.

โ€œYouโ€™re silly. Hunting vampires is fun. Itโ€™s the best part of this whole mess.โ€

I shook my head. โ€œIf Iโ€™m silly, then youโ€™re dangerously unbalanced.โ€ He chuckled. โ€œGet some rest, Bella, honey. You look exhausted.โ€ โ€œIโ€™ll try.โ€

Charlie honked his horn impatiently.

โ€œSee you tomorrow,โ€ Jacob said. โ€œCome down first thing.โ€ โ€œI will.โ€

Charlie followed me home. I paid scant attention to the lights in my rearview mirror. Instead, I wondered where Sam and Jared and Embry and Paul were, out running in the night. I wondered if Jacob had joined them yet.

me.

When we got home, I hurried for the stairs, but Charlie was right behind

โ€œWhatโ€™s going on, Bella?โ€ he demanded before I could escape. โ€œI

thought Jacob was part of a gang and you two were fighting.โ€ โ€œWe made up.โ€

โ€œAnd the gang?โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t knowโ€”who can understand teenage boys? Theyโ€™re a mystery. But I met Sam Uley and his fiancรฉe, Emily. The seemed pretty nice to me.โ€ I shrugged. โ€œMust have all been a misunderstanding.โ€

His face changed. โ€œI hadnโ€™t heard that he and Emily had made it official.

Thatโ€™s nice. Poor girl.โ€

โ€œDo you know what happened to her?โ€

โ€œMauled by a bear, up north, during salmon spawning seasonโ€”horrible accident. It was more than a year ago now. I heard Sam was really messed up over it.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s horrible,โ€ I echoed. More than a year ago. Iโ€™d bet that meant it had happened when there was just one werewolf in La Push. I shuddered at the thought of how Sam must have felt every time he looked at Emilyโ€™s face.

That night, I lay awake for a long time trying to sort through the day. I worked my way backward through dinner with Billy, Jacob, and Charlie, to the long afternoon in the Blacksโ€™ house, waiting anxiously to hear something from Jacob, to Emilyโ€™s kitchen, to the horror of the werewolf fight, to talking with Jacob on the beach.

I thought about what Jacob had said early this morning, about hypocrisy. I thought about that for a long time. I didnโ€™t like to think that I

was a hypocrite, only what was the point of lying to myself?

I curled into a tight ball. No, Edward wasnโ€™t a killer. Even in his darker past, heโ€™d never been a murderer of innocents, at least.

But what if heย hadย been? What if, during the time I that Iโ€™d known him, heโ€™d been just like any other vampire? What if people had been disappearing from the woods, just like now? Would that have kept me away from him?

I shook my head sadly. Love is irrational, I reminded myself. The more you loved someone, the less sense anything made.

I rolled over and tried to think of something elseโ€”and I thought of Jacob and his brothers, out running in the darkness. I fell asleep imagining the wolves, invisible in the night, guarding me from danger. When I dreamed, I stood in the forest again, but I didnโ€™t wander. I was holding Emilyโ€™s scarred hand as we faced into the shadows and waited anxiously for our werewolves to come home.

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