〃He didn't want to hurt anyone—he just wanted to get you grounded； so that
you wouldn't be allowed to
spend time with me；〃 Edward murmured； explaining the thoughts Jacob wouldn't
say。
Jacob's eyes sparked with hate as he glowered at Edward again。
〃Aw； Jake！〃 I groaned。 〃I'm already grounded！ Why do you think I haven't been
down to La Push to
kick your butt for avoiding my phone calls？〃
Jacob's eyes flashed back to me； confused for the first time。 〃That's why？〃 he
asked； and then locked his
jaw； like he was sorry he'd said anything。
〃He thought I wouldn't let you； not Charlie；〃 Edward explained again。
〃Stop that；〃 Jacob snapped。
Edward didn't answer。
Jacob shuddered once； and then gritted his teeth as hard as his fists。 〃Bella
wasn't exaggerating about
your abilities；〃 he said through his teeth。 〃So you must already know why
I'm here。〃
〃Yes；〃 Edward agreed in a soft voice。 〃But； before you begin； I need to say
something。〃
Jacob waited； clenching and unclenching his hands as he tried to control the
shivers rolling down his arms。
〃Thank you；〃 Edward said； and his voice throbbed with the depth of his
sincerity。 〃I will never be able to
tell you how grateful I am。 I will owe you for the rest of my existence。〃
Jacob stared at him blankly； his shudders stilled by surprise。 He exchanged a
quick glance with me； but
my face was just as mystified。
〃For keeping Bella alive；〃 Edward clarified； his voice rough and fervent。
〃When I didn't。〃
〃Edward—；〃 I started to say； but he held one hand up； his eyes on Jacob。
Understanding washed over Jacob's face before the hard mask returned。 〃I
didn't do it for your benefit。〃
〃I know。 But that doesn't erase the gratitude I feel。 I thought you should
know。 If there's ever anything in
my power to do for you〃
Jacob raised one black brow。
Edward shook his head。 〃That's not in my power。〃
〃Whose； then？〃 Jacob growled。
Edward looked down at me。 〃Hers。 I'm a quick learner； Jacob Black； and I don't
make the same mistake
twice。 I'm here until she orders me away。〃
I was immersed momentarily in his golden gaze。 It wasn't hard to understand
what I'd missed in the
conversation。 The only thing that Jacob would want from Edward would be his
absence。
〃Never；〃 I whispered； still locked in Edward's eyes。
Jacob made a gagging sound。
I unwillingly broke free from Edward's gaze to frown at Jacob。 〃Was there
something else you needed；
Jacob？ You wanted me in trouble—mission Acplished。 Charlie might just send
me to military school。
But that won't keep me away from Edward。 There's nothing that can do that。
What more do you want？〃
Jacob kept his eyes on Edward 〃I just needed to remind your bloodsucking
friends of a few key points in
the treaty they agreed to。 The treaty chat is the only thing stopping me from
ripping his throat out right this
minute。〃
〃We haven't forgotten；〃 Edward said at the same time that I demanded； 〃What
key points？〃
Jacob still glowered at Edward； but he answered me。 〃The treaty is quite
specific。 If any of them bite a
human； the truce is over。 Bite； not kill；〃 he emphasized。 Finally； he looked
at me。 His eyes were cold。
It only took me a second to grasp the distinction； and then my face was as
cold as his。
〃That's none of your business。〃
〃The hell it—〃 was all he managed to choke out。
I didn't expect my hasty words to bring on such a strong response。 Despite the
warning he'd e to
give； he must not have known。 He must have thought the warning was just a
precaution。 He hadn't
realized—or didn't want to believe—that I had already made my choice。 That I
was really intending to
bee a member of the Cullen family。
My answer sent Jacob into near convulsions。 He pressed his fists hard against
his temples； closing his
eyes tight and curling in on himself as he tried to control the spasms。 His
face turned sallow green under
the russet skin。
〃Jake？ You okay？〃 I asked anxiously。
I took a half…step toward him； then Edward caught me and yanked me back behind
his own body。
〃Careful！ He's not under control；〃 he warned me。
But Jacob was already somewhat himself again； only his arms were shaking now。
He scowled at Edward
with pure hate。 〃Ugh。 I would never hurt her。〃
Neither Edward or I missed the inflection； or the accusation it contained。 A
low hiss escaped Edward's
lips。 Jacob clenched his fists reflexively。
〃BELLA！〃 Charlie's roar echoed from the direction of the house。 〃YOU GET IN
THIS HOUSE THIS
INSTANT！〃
All of us froze； listening to the silence that followed。
I was the first to speak； my voice trembled。 〃Crap。〃
Jacob's furious expression faltered。 〃I am sorry about that；〃 he muttered。 〃I
had to do what I could—I
had to try〃
〃Thanks。〃 The tremor in my voice ruined the sarcasm。 I stared up the path；
half…expecting Charlie to
e barreling through the wet ferns like an enraged bull。 I would be the red
flag in that scenario。
〃Just one more thing；〃 Edward said to me； and then he looked at Jacob。 〃We've
found no trace of
Victoria on our side of the line—have you？〃
He knew the answer as soon as Jacob thought it； but Jacob spoke the answer
anyway。 〃Trie last time
was while Bella was away。 We let her think she was slipping through—we were
tightening the circle；
getting ready to ambush her—〃
Ice shot down my spine。
〃But then she took off like a bat out of hell。 Near as we can tell； she caught
your little female's scent and
bailed。 She hasn't e near our lands since。〃
Edward nodded。 〃When she es back； she's not your problem anymore。 We'll—〃
〃She killed on our turf；〃 Jacob hissed。 〃She's ours！〃
〃No—；〃 I began to protest both declarations。
〃BELLA！ I SEE HIS CAR AND I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE！ IF YOU AREN'T INSIDE THIS
HOUSE IN ONE MINUTE ！〃 Charlie didn't bother to finish his threat。
〃Let's go；〃 Edward said。
I looked back at Jacob； torn。 Would I see him again？
〃Sorry；〃 he whispered so low that I had to read his lips to understand。 '〃Bye；
Bells。〃
〃You promised；〃 I reminded him desperately。 〃Still friends； right？〃
Jacob shook his head slowly； and the lump in my throat nearly strangled me。
〃You know how hard I've tried to keep that promise； but I can't see how to
keep trying。 Not now〃
He struggled to keep his hard mask in place； but it wavered； and then
disappeared。 〃Miss you；〃 he
mouthed。 One of his hands reached toward me； his fingers outstretched； like he
wished they were long
enough to cross the distance between us。
〃Me； too；〃 I choked out。 My hand reached toward his across the wide space。
Like we were connected； the echo of his pain twisted inside me。 His pain； my
pain。
〃Jake〃 I took a step toward him。 I wanted to wrap my arms around his waist
and erase the expression
of misery on his face。
Edward pulled me back again； his arms restraining instead of defending。
〃It's okay；〃 I promised him； looking up to read his face with trust in my
eyes。 He would understand。
His eyes were unreadable； his face expressionless。 Cold。 〃No； it's not。〃
〃Let her go；〃 Jacob snarled； furious again。 〃She wants to！〃 He took two long
strides forward。 A glint of
anticipation flashed in his eyes。 His chest seemed to swell as it shuddered。
Edward pushed me behind himself； wheeling to face Jacob。
〃No！ Edward—！〃
〃ISABELLA SWAN！〃
〃e on！ Charlie's mad！〃 My voice was panicked； but not because of Charlie
now。 〃Hurry！〃
I tugged on him and he relaxed a little。 He pulled me back slowly； always
keeping his eyes on Jacob as
we retreated。
Jacob watched us with a dark scowl on his bitter face。 The anticipation
drained from his eyes； and then；
just before the forest came between us； his face suddenly crumpled in pain。
I knew that last glimpse of his face would haunt me until I saw him smile
again。
And right there I vowed that I would see him smile； and soon。 I would find a
way to keep my friend。
Edward kept his arm tight around my waist； holding me close。 That was the only
thing that held the tears
inside my eyes。
I had some serious problems。
My best friend counted me with his enemies。
Victoria was still on the loose； putting everyone I loved in danger。
If I didn't bee a vampire soon； the Volturi would kill me。
And now it seemed that if I did； the Quileute werewolves would try to do the
job themselves—along
with trying to kill my future family。 I didn't think they had any chance
really； but would my best friend get
himself killed in the attempt？
Very serious problems。 So why did they all suddenly seem insignificant when we
broke through the last
of the trees and I caught sight of the expression on Charlie's purple face？
Edward squeezed me gently。 〃I'm here。〃
I drew in a deep breath。
That was true。 Edward was here； with his arms around me。
I could face anything as long as that was true。
I squared my shoulders and walked forward to meet my fate； with my destiny
solidly at my side。
Acknowledgments
So much love and thanks to my husband and sons for their continuing
understanding and sacrifice in
support of my writing
At least I'm not the only one to benefit—I in sure many local restaurants are
grateful that I don't cook
anymore
Thank you； Mom； for being my best friend and letting me talk your ear off
through all the rough spots
Thanks； also； for being so insanely creative and intelligent； and bequeathing
a small portion of both into
my genetic makeup
Thanks to all my siblings； Emily； Heidi； Paul； Seth； and Jacob； for letting me
borrow your names I hope I
didn't do anything with them that makes you wish you hadn't
A special thanks to my brother Paul for the motorcycle riding lesson—you have
a true gift for teaching。
I can't thank my brother Seth enough for all the hard work and genius he put
into the creation of
stepheniemeyer I'm so grateful for the effort he continues to expend
as my Webmaster
Check's in the mail； kid
This time； I mean it
Thanks again to my brother Jacob for his ongoing expert advice on all my
automotive choices
A big thank you to my agent； Jodi Reamer； for her continued guidance and
assistance in my career And
also for enduring my craziness with a sm