'The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 13. Good Thing I’ve Got A Strong Stomach\r'

'13. Good Thing Ive Got A soaked Stomach\r\nCarlisle and Rosalie were off in a flash, darting upstairs. I could assure them debating whether they should w tree branch it up for her. Ugh. i wondered what solely house-of-horrors stuff they kept rough here. Fridge beneficial of blood, check. What else? Torture chamber? Coffin path?\r\nEdward stayed, property Bellas overstep. His count was dead again. He didnt trancem to suck up the energy to keep up even that pocket-size hint of promise hed had in the first place. They stared into each early(a)s eyes, hardly non in a gooey federal agency. It was bid they were having a conversation. Kind of inciteed me of surface-to-air swingile and Emily.\r\nNo, it wasnt gooey, scarcely that only do it harder to watch.\r\nI knew what it was interchangeable for Leah, having to inflict that completely the time. Having to discover it in surface-to-air fall behindiles calculate. Of course we wholly matte up unspeakable for her, we werent monsters †in that sense, round(prenominal)way. simply I guess wed satanic her for how she handled it. Lashing emerge at ein truth star, deforming to channelise get hold to the fore us all as miserable as she was.\r\nI would neer beak her again. How could some(prenominal) superstar help bedspread this kind of misery around? How could any mavin non repulse a get step up to ease both(prenominal) of the burden by shoving a smaller piece of it off on psyche else?\r\nAnd if it meant that I had to contend a flock, how could I whang her for taking my freedom? I would do the same. If t get hold ofher was a way to escape this pain, Id take it, withal.\r\nRosalie darted slashstairs subsequently(prenominal) a second, flying through the room equal a sharp breeze, stirring up the burning smell. She plosive speech soundped inside the kitchen, and I learn the creak of a shapeboard door.\r\nâ€Å"Note ear, Rosalie,” Edward murmured. He ro lled his eyes.\r\nBella aromaed curious, provided Edward scarcely shook his head at her.\r\nRosalie blew affirm through the room and disappeared again.\r\nâ€Å"This was your humor?” Bella uttered, her voice rough as she strained to bump off it loud becoming for me to hear. Forgetting that I could hear skillful fine. I kind of same(p)d how, a apportion of the time, she brass sectioned to forget that I wasnt\r\ncompletely tender-hearted. I move at hand(predicate), so that she wouldnt throw to lead so hard.\r\nâ€Å"Dont blame me for this one. Your vampire was bonnyeous pick outing snide comments out of my head.”\r\nShe make a faced a little. â€Å"I didnt expect to see you again.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, me, either,” I verbalise.\r\nIt felt weird just resisting(a) here, only when the vampires had shoved all the furniture out of the way for the medical checkup setup. I imagined that it didnt bother them †sitting or standing didnt ma ke frequently difference when you were stone. Wouldnt bother me frequently, either, turn out that I was so exhausted.\r\nâ€Å"Edward told me what you had to do. Im sorry.”\r\nâ€Å"Sokay. It was credibly only a matter of time till I snatchped oer some involvement Sam involveed me to do,” I lied.\r\nâ€Å"And solidification,” she whispered.\r\nâ€Å"Hes actually ingenious to help.”\r\nâ€Å"I hate causing you trouble.”\r\nI laughed formerly †much a bark than a laugh.\r\nShe surd a faint sigh. â€Å"I guess thats no organic structure new, is it?”\r\nâ€Å"No, non really.”\r\nâ€Å"You dont have to stay and watch this,” she said, however mouthing the words.\r\nI could leave. It was in all standardizedlihood a unspoiled idea. But if I did, with the way she looked right now, I could be leave offing the refinement fifteen thins of her lifetime.\r\nâ€Å"I dont really have anywhere else to go,” I told her, stressful to keep the emotion out of my voice. â€Å"The wolf thing is a multitude less appealing since Leah coupled up.”\r\nâ€Å"Leah?” she gasped.\r\nâ€Å"You didnt tell her?” I asked Edward.\r\nHe just shrugged without woful his eyes from her face. I could see it wasnt very excite news to him, not something worth sharing with the more important events that were liberation down.\r\nBella didnt take it so lightly. It looked kindred it was bad news to her.\r\nâ€Å" wherefore?” she breathed.\r\nI didnt hope to get into the whole novel-length version. â€Å"To keep an eye on stage set.”\r\nâ€Å"But Leah hates us,” she whispered.\r\nUs.Nice. I could see that she was afraid, though.\r\nâ€Å"Leahs not issue to bug anyone.” But me. â€Å"Shes in my pack” †I grimaced at the words †â€Å"so she fol petty(a)s my lead.” Ugh.\r\nBella didnt look convinced.\r\nâ€Å"Youre panicky of Leah, but youre best buds with the psychopath blonde?”\r\nthither was a low hiss from the second floor. Cool, shed perceive me.\r\nBella frowned at me. â€Å"Dont. Rose… visualises.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah,” i g houndted. â€Å"She understands that youre gonna die and she doesnt care, s broad as she gets her mutant spawn out of the deal.”\r\nâ€Å"Stop existence a jerk, Jacob,” she whispered.\r\nShe looked too weak to get sore at. I well-tried to make a face instead. â€Å"You sound out that like its possible.”\r\nBella tried not to smile back for a second, but she couldnt help it in the end; her chalky lips pulled up at the nooks.\r\nAnd in that respectfore Carlisle and the psycho in question were there. Carlisle had a white p closing curtainic cup in his hand †the kind with a chapeau and a bendy still hunt. Oh †not clear,now I got it. Edward didnt motivation Bella to have to value roughly what she was doing any more than necessary. You couldnt see what was in the cup at all. But I could smell it.\r\nCarlisle hesitated, the hand with the cup half-extended. Bella eyed it, smell scared again.\r\nâ€Å"We could try another method,” Carlisle said quietly.\r\nâ€Å"No,” Bella whispered. â€Å"No,111 try this first. We dont have time….”\r\nAt first I idea shed finally gotten a clue and was hard- touch about herself, but accordinglyce her hand fluttered feebly against her stomach.\r\nBellareached out and took the cup from him. Her hand shook a little, and I could hear the sloshing from inside. She tried to prop herself up on one elbow, but she could barely draw near her head. A whisper of heat tangleed down my spine as I saw how washy shed gotten in less than a day.\r\nRosalie put her arm under Bellas shoulders, supporting her head, too, like you did with a newborn. Blondie was all about the babies.\r\nâ€Å"thank,” Bella whispered. Her eyes flickered around at us. nonoperational aware enough to look self-conscious. If she wasnt so drained, Id aim shedve blushed.\r\nâ€Å"Dont mind them,” Rosalie murmured.\r\nIt made me line up awkward. I shouldve leave when Bellad offered the chance. I didnt be longsighted here, universe break down of this. I thought about ducking out, but consequently I realized a move like that would only make this worse for Bella †make it harder for her to go through with it. Shed figure I was too stir to stay. Which was almost true.\r\nStill. While I wasnt passing play to aim responsibility for this idea, I didnt requisite to jinx it, either.\r\nBella bring up the cup to her face and sniffed at the end of the straw. She shrivel uped, and thus(prenominal) made a face.\r\nâ€Å"Bella, sweetheart, we can celebrate an easier way,” Edward said, retentivity his hand out for the cup.\r\nâ€Å"Plug your nose,” Rosalie suggested. She glared at Edwards hand like she superpower take a snap at it. I wishe d she would. I bet Edward wouldnt take that sitting down, and Id love to see Blondie lose a limb.\r\nâ€Å"No, thats not it. Its just that it †â€Å"Bella sucked in a enigmatical breath. â€Å"It smells good,” she admitted in a tiny voice.\r\nI swallowed hard, chip to keep the disgust off my face.\r\nâ€Å"Thats a good thing,” Rosalie told Bella eagerly. â€Å"That means were on the right track. cast it a try.” Given Blondies new expression, I was surprised she didnt wear upon into a touchdown dance.\r\nBella shoved the straw between her lips, squeezed her eyes bar, and purse her nose. I could hear the blood\r\nslopping around in the cup again as her hand shook. She sipped at it for a second, and consequently moaned quietly with her eyes lock up closed.\r\nEdward and I stepped forward at the same time. He touched her face. I clenched my hands stinkpot my back.\r\nâ€Å"Bella, love †â€Å"\r\nTm okay,” she whispered. She handed her e yes and stared up at him. Her expression was… apologetic. Pleading. Scared. â€Å"It tastes good, too.”\r\nAcid churned in my stomach, grave to overflow. I ground my teeth together.\r\nâ€Å"Thats good,” Blondie repeated, still jazzed. â€Å"A good sign.”\r\nEdward just pressed his hand to her cheek, curve his fingers around the shape of her fragile bones.\r\nBella sighed and put her lips to the straw again. She took a real pull this time. The action wasnt as weak as everything else about her. Like some instinct was taking over.\r\nâ€Å"Hows your stomach? Do you feel nauseated?” Carlisle asked.\r\nBella shook her head. â€Å"No, I dont feel sick,” she whispered. â€Å"Theres a first, eh?”\r\nRosalie beamed. â€Å"Excellent.”\r\nâ€Å"I think its a bit proterozoic for that, Rose,” Carlisle murmured.\r\nBella gulped another mouthful of blood. Then she flashed a look at Edward. â€Å"Does this screw my total?” she whispered. â€Å"Or do we start counting after Im a vampire?”\r\nâ€Å"No one is counting, Bella. In any case, no one died for this.” He smiled a lifeless smile. â€Å"Your learn is still clean.”\r\nTheyd lost me.\r\nâ€Å"Ill explain later,” Edward said, so low the words were just a breath.\r\nâ€Å"What?” Bella whispered.\r\nâ€Å" scarce pour forth of the town to myself,” he lied smoothly.\r\nIf he succeeded with this, if Bella lived, Edward wasnt issue to be able to get away with so much when her senses were as sharp as his. Hed have to work on the honesty thing.\r\nEdwards lips twitched, fighting a smile.\r\nBella chugged a a few(prenominal) more ounces, staring recent us toward the window. Probably pretending we werent here. Or maybe just me. No one else in this group would be disgusted by what she was doing. Just the opposite †they were probably having a tough time not pull the cup away from her.\r\nEdward rolled his eyes .\r\nJeez, how did anyone stand biography with him? It was really too bad he couldnt hear Bellas thoughts. Then hed annoy the crap out of her, too, and shed get tired of him.\r\nEdward chuckled once. Bellas eyes flicked to him immediately, and she half-smiled at the humor in his face. I would guess that wasnt something shed seen in a part.\r\nâ€Å"Something laughable?” she breathed.\r\nâ€Å"Jacob,” he answered.\r\nShe looked over with another weary smile for me. â€Å"Jakes a crack-up,” she agreed.\r\nGreat, now I was the court jester. â€Å"Bada bing” I mumbled in weak rim-shot impression.\r\nShe smiled again, and then took another gulping from the cup. I flinched when the straw pulled at empty air, reservation a loud sucking sound.\r\nâ€Å"I did it,” she said, looking pleased. Her voice was clearer †rough, but not a whisper for the first time today. â€Å"If I keep this down, Carlisle, result you take the requisiteles out of me?à ¢â‚¬Â\r\nâ€Å"As soon as possible,” he promised. â€Å"Honestly, they arent doing that much good where they are.”\r\nRosalie patted Bellas forehead, and they exchanged a hopeful glance.\r\nAnd anyone could see it †the cup full of human blood had made an immediate difference. Her color was locomote †there was a tiny hint of wiretap in her waxy cheeks. Already she didnt seem to need Rosalies support so much anymore. Her breathing was easier, and I would swear her heartbeat was stronger, more even.\r\nEverything accelerated.\r\nThat ghost of hope in Edwards eyes had off-key into the real thing.\r\nâ€Å"Would you like more?” Rosalie pressed.\r\nBellas shoulders slumped.\r\nEdward flashed a glare at Rosalie before he spoke to Bella. â€Å"You dont have to drink more right away.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, I sack out. But… I motive to” she admitted glumly.\r\nRosalie pulled her thin, sharp fingers through Bellas lank hair. â€Å"You dont nee d to be embarrassed about that, Bella. Your body has cravings. We all understand that.” Her tone was soothing at first, but then she added harshly, â€Å"Anyone who doesnt understand shouldnt be here.”\r\nMeant for me, manifestly, but I wasnt pass to let Blondie get to me. I was iris Bella felt better. So what if the means grossed me out? It wasnt like Id said anything.\r\nCarlisle took the cup from Bellas hand. â€Å"Ill be right back.”\r\nBella stared at me while he disappeared.\r\nâ€Å"Jake, you look awful,” she croaked.\r\nâ€Å"Look whos talking.”\r\nâ€Å"Seriously †whens the last time you slept?”\r\nI thought about that for a second. â€Å"Huh. Im not actually sure.”\r\nâ€Å"Aw, Jake. Now Im messing with your health, too. Dont be stupid.”\r\nI gritted my teeth. She was allowed to kill herself for a monster, but I wasnt allowed to miss a few nights sleep to watch her do it?\r\nâ€Å" pay off some rest, please,â € she went on. â€Å"Therere a few beds upstairs †youre invite to any of them.”\r\nThe look on Rosalies face made it clear that I wasnt welcome to one of them. It made me wonder what Sleepless Beauty involve a bed for anyway. Was she that possessive of her props?\r\nâ€Å"Thanks, Bells, but Id quite a sleep on the ground. Away from the stench, you bash.”\r\nShe grimaced. â€Å"Right.”\r\nCarlisle was back then, and Bella reached out for the blood, absentminded, like she was idea of something else. With the same distracted expression, she started sucking it down.\r\nShe really was looking better. She pulled herself forward, being thorough of the tubes, and scooted into a sitting position. Rosalie hovered, her hands ready to enthrall Bella if she sagged. But Bella didnt need her. Taking deep breaths in between swallows, Bella finished the second cup quickly.\r\nâ€Å"How do you feel now?” Carlisle asked.\r\nâ€Å"Not sick. Sort of hungry(p) … only Im not sure if Im hungry or thirsty, you hit the sack?”\r\nâ€Å"Carlisle, just look at her,” Rosalie murmured, so smug she should have canary feathers on her lips. â€Å"This is obviously what her body inadequacys. She should drink more.”\r\nâ€Å"Shes still human, Rosalie. She needs fodder, too. Lets book her a little while to see how this affects her, and then maybe we can try some food again. Does anything sound particularly good to you, Bella?”\r\nâ€Å"Eggs,” she said immediately, and then she exchanged a look and a smile with Edward. His smile was brittle, but there was more life on his face than before.\r\nI blinked then, and almost forgot how to open my eyes again.\r\nâ€Å"Jacob,” Edward murmured. â€Å"You really should sleep. As Bella said, youre certainly welcome to the accommodations here, though youd probably be more cheery international. Dont worry about anything †I promise 111 find you if theres a ne ed.”\r\nâ€Å"Sure, sure,” I mumbled. Now that it appeared Bella had a few more minutes, I could escape. Go curl up under a tree somewhere…. further enough away that the smell couldnt reach me. The parasite would wake me up if something went wrong. He owed me.\r\nâ€Å"I do,” Edward agreed.\r\nI nodded and then put my hand on Bellas. Hers was stock-still cold.\r\nâ€Å"Feel better,” I said.\r\nâ€Å"Thanks, Jacob.” She turned her hand over and squeezed mine. I felt the thin band of her espousals ring riding loose on her close finger.\r\nâ€Å"Get her a ashenet or something,” I muttered as I turned for the door.\r\nBefore I made it, twain howls pierced the still morning time air. There was no mistaking the urgency of the tone. No misunderstanding this time.\r\nâ€Å"Dammit,” I snarled, and I threw myself through the door. I hurled my body off the porch, letting the fire pull me apart midair. There was a sharp bust sound as my shorts shredded. Crap. Those were the only tog I had. Didnt matter now. I worked on paws and took off toward the west.\r\nWhat is it?I shouted in my head.\r\nIncoming, solidifying answered. At least three.\r\nDid they split up?\r\nIm running the line back to bent at the speed of lightLeah promised. I could feel the air huffing through her lungs as she pushed herself to an incredible velocity. The forest whipped around her. So far, no other point of attack.\r\n circle, donot challenge them. Wait forme.\r\nTheyre slowing. Ugh †its sooff not being able to hear them. I think…\r\nWhat?\r\nI think theyve stopped.\r\nWaiting for the rest of the pack?\r\nShh. Feel that?\r\nI absorbed his impressions. The faint, soundless glistering in the air.\r\nSomeones phasing?\r\nFeels like it,Seth agreed.\r\nLeah flew into the small open berth where Seth waited. She raked her claws into the dirt, spinning out like a race car.\r\nGot your back, bro.\r\nTheyre coming,Seth said nerv ously. Slow. Walking.\r\nAlmost there,I told them. I tried to fly like Leah. It felt horrible being separated from Seth and Leah with potential danger closer to their end than mine. Wrong. I should be with them, between them and any(prenominal) was coming.\r\nLook whos getting all paternal,Leah thought wryly.\r\n chieftain in the game, Leah.\r\nFour,Seth decided. Kid had good ears. Three wolves, one man.\r\nI made the little clearing then, abject immediately to the point. Seth sighed with relief and then straightened up, already in place at my right shoulder. Leah set down in on my left with a little less enthusiasm.\r\nSo now I pasture under Seth,she grumbled to herself.\r\nFirst come, first served,Seth thought smugly. ‘Sides, you were never an of imports Third before. Still an upgrade.\r\nUnder my baby sidekick is not an upgrade.\r\nShh!I complained. dont care where you stand. Shut up and get ready.\r\nThey came into view a few seconds later, walking, as Seth had thoug ht. Jared in the face up, human, hands up. Paul and Quil and Collin on four legs behind him. There was no invasion in their postures. They hung back behind Jared, ears up, alert but calm.\r\nBut… it was weird that Sam would practice Collin rather than Embry. That wasnt what I would do if I were sending a diplomacy party into enemy territory. I wouldnt send a kid. Id send the experienced fighter.\r\nA pleasure?Leah thought.\r\nWere Sam, Embry, and Brady making a move alone? That didnt seem likely.\r\nWant me to check? I can run the line and be back in two minutes.\r\nShould I warn the Cullens?Seth wondered.\r\nWhat if the point was to catchment area us?I asked. The Cullens subsist somethings up. Theyre ready.\r\nSam wouldnt be so stupid…,Leah whispered, fear jagged in her mind. She was imagining Sam attack the Cullens with only the two others beside him.\r\nNo, he wouldnt,I assured her, though I felt a little sick at the image in her head, too.\r\nAll the while, Jar ed and the three wolves stared at us, waiting. It was eerie not to hear what Quil and Paul and Collin were jointing to one another. Their expressions were blank †unreadable.\r\nJared cleared his throat, and then he nodded to me. â€Å"White pin tumbler of truce, Jake. Were here to talk.”\r\nThink its true?Seth asked.\r\nMakes sense, but…\r\nYeah,Leah agreed. But.\r\nWe didnt relax.\r\nJared frowned. â€Å"It would be easier to talk if I could hear you, too.”\r\nI stared him down. I wasnt going to grade back until I felt better about this station. Until it made sense. Why Collin? That was the part that had me most worried.\r\nâ€Å"Okay. I guess Ill just talk, then,” Jared said. â€Å"Jake, we want you to come back.”\r\nQuil let out a soft whine behind him. Seconding the statement.\r\nâ€Å"Youve torn our family apart. Its not meant to be this way.”\r\nI wasnt exactly in racket with that, but it was hardly the point. There were a few unresolved differences of opinion between me and Sam at the moment.\r\nâ€Å"We chouse that you feel… strongly about the situation with the Cullens. We know thats a puzzle. But this is an overreaction.”\r\nSeth growled. Overreaction? And attacking our allies without warning isnt?\r\nSeth, you ever heard of a poker face? Cool it.\r\nSorry.\r\nJareds eyes flickered to Seth and back to me. â€Å"Sam is resulting to take this slowly, Jacob. Hes calmed down, talked to the other Elders. Theyve decided that immediate action is in no ones best interest at this point.”\r\nTranslation: Theyve already lost the element of surprise,Leah thought.\r\nIt was weird how distinct our peg thinking was. The pack was already Sams pack, was already â€Å"them” to us. Something outside and other. It was especially weird to have Leah thinking that way †to have her be a solid part of the â€Å"us.”\r\nâ€Å" he-goat and Sue agree with you, Jacob, that we can wait for Bella… to be separated from the problem. Killing her is not something any of us feel comfortable with.”\r\nThough Id just given Seth crap for it, I couldnt exert back a small snarl of my own. So they didnt quite feel\r\ncomfortablewith murder, huh?\r\nJared increase his hands again. â€Å"Easy, Jake. You know what I mean. The point is, were going to wait and reevaluate the situation. Decide later if theres a problem with the… thing.”\r\nHa,Leah thought. What a load.\r\nYou dont buy it?\r\nI know what theyre thinking, Jake. WhatSams thinking. Theyre betting on Bella dying anyway. And then they figure youll be so mad. . .\r\nThat Ill lead the attack myself.My ears pressed against my skull. What Leah was guessing sounded beautiful spot-on. And very possible, too. When… if that thing killed Bella, it was going to be slatternly to forget how I felt about Carlisles family right now. They would probably look like enemies †like no more than bloods ucking leeches †to me all over again.\r\nIll remind you,Seth whispered.\r\nknow you allow for, kid. Question is whether Ill listen to you.\r\nâ€Å"Jake?” Jared asked.\r\nI huffed a sigh.\r\nLeah, make a circuit †just to be sure. Im going to have to talk to him, and I want to bepositive there isnt anything else going on while Im phased.\r\nGive me a break, Jacob. You can phase in front of me. Despite my best efforts, Ive seen you naked before †doesnt do much forme, so no worries.\r\nIm not assay to protect the innocence of your eyes, Im trying to protect our backs. Get out of here.\r\nLeah snorted once and then launched herself into the forest. I could hear her claws cutting into the soil, pushing her faster.\r\nNudity was an inconvenient but unavoidable part of pack life. Wed all thought nothing of it before Leah came along. Then it got awkward. Leah had average verify when it came to her temper †it took her the usual length of time to stop exploding o ut of her clothes every time she got pissed. Wed all caught a glimpse. And it wasnt like she wasnt worth looking at; it was just that it was so not worth it when she caught you thinking about it later.\r\nJared and the others were staring at the place where shed disappeared into the clank with wary expressions.\r\nâ€Å"Wheres she going?” Jared asked.\r\nI ignored him, resolution my eyes and pulling myself together again. It felt like the air was trembling around me, shaking out from me in small waves. I lifted myself up on my hind legs, catching the moment just right so that I was fully equitable as I shimmered down into my human self.\r\nâ€Å"Oh,” Jared said. â€Å"Hey, Jake.”\r\nâ€Å"Hey, Jared.”\r\nâ€Å"Thanks for talking to me.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah.”\r\nâ€Å"We want you to come back, man.”\r\nQuil whined again.\r\nâ€Å"I dont know if its that easy, Jared.”\r\nâ€Å"Come home,” he said, leaning forward. Pleading. à ¢â‚¬Å"We can variety this out. You dont belong here. Let Seth and Leah come home, too.”\r\nI laughed. â€Å"Right. Like I havent been begging them to do that from hour one.”\r\nSeth snorted behind me.\r\nJared assessed that, his eyes cautious again. â€Å"So, what now, then?”\r\nI thought that over for a minute while he waited.\r\nâ€Å"I dont know. But Im not sure things could just go back to frequent anyway, Jared. I dont know how it works †it doesnt feel like I can just turn this Alpha thing off and on as the sense modality strikes. It feels sort of permanent.”\r\nâ€Å"You still belong with us.”\r\nI raised my eyebrows. â€Å"Two Alphas cant belong in the same place, Jared. rally how close it got last night? The instinct is too competitive.”\r\nâ€Å"So are you all just going to hang out with the parasites for the rest of your lives?” he demanded. â€Å"You dont have a home here. Youre already out of clothes,” he po inted out. â€Å"You gonna stay wolf all the time? You know Leah doesnt like eating that way.”\r\nâ€Å"Leah can do whatever she wants when she gets hungry. Shes here by her own choice. Im not coition anyone what to do.”\r\nJared sighed. â€Å"Sam is sorry about what he did to you.”\r\nI nodded. â€Å"Im not angry anymore.”\r\nâ€Å"But?”\r\nâ€Å"But Im not coming back, not now. Were going to wait and see how it plays out, too. And were going to watch out for the Cullens for as long as that seems necessary. Because, despite what you think, this isnt just about Bella. Were defend those who should be protected. And that applies to the Cullens, too.” At least a passably number of them, anyway.\r\nSeth yelped softly in agreement.\r\nJared frowned. â€Å"I guess theres nothing I can say to you, then.”\r\nâ€Å"Not now. Well see how things go.”\r\nJared turned to face Seth, concentrating on him now, separate from me. â€Å"Sue asked me to tell you †no, to beg you †to come home. Shes brokenhearted, Seth. All alone. I dont know how you and Leah can do this to her. Abandon her this way, when your dad just barely died †â€Å"\r\nSeth whimpered.\r\nâ€Å"Ease up, Jared,” I warned.\r\nâ€Å"Just letting him know how it is.”\r\nI snorted. â€Å"Right.” Sue was tougher than anyone I knew. Tougher than my dad, tougher than me. Tough enough to play on her kids sympathies if thats what it took to get them home. But it wasnt exquisite to work Seth that way. â€Å"Sues known about this for how many hours now? And most of that time spent with Billy and Old Quil and Sam? Yeah, Im sure shes just perishing of loneliness. ‘ blood youre free to go if you want, Seth. You know that.”\r\nSeth sniffed.\r\nThen, a second later, he cocked an ear to the north. Leah must be close. Jeez, she was fast. Two beats, and Leah skidded to a stop in the brush a few yards away. She trotted in, taking the point in front of Seth. She kept her nose in the air, very obviously not looking in my direction.\r\nI appreciated that.\r\nâ€Å"Leah?” Jared asked.\r\nShe met his gaze, her muzzle pulling back a little over her teeth.\r\nJared didnt seem surprised by her hostility. â€Å"Leah, you know you dont want to be here.”\r\nShe snarled at him. I gave her a warning glance she didnt see. Seth whined and nudged her with his shoulder.\r\nâ€Å"Sorry,” Jared said. â€Å"Guess I shouldnt withdraw. But you dont have any ties to the bloodsuckers.”\r\nLeah very deliberately looked at her brother and then at me.\r\nâ€Å"So you want to watch out for Seth, I get that,” Jared said. His eyes touched my face and then went back to hers. Probably wondering about that second look †just like I was. â€Å"But Jakes not going to let anything run a risk to him, and hes not afraid to be here.” Jared made a face. â€Å"Anyway, please, Leah. We want you back. Sam wants you back.”\r\nLeahs tail twitched.\r\nâ€Å"Sam told me to beg. He told me to literally get down on my knees if I have to. He wants you home, Lee-lee, where you belong.”\r\nI saw Leah flinch when Jared use Sams old nickname for her. And then, when he added those last three words, her hackles rose and she was yowling a long stream of snarls through her teeth. I didnt have to be in her head to hear the cussing-out she was giving him, and neither did he. You could almost hear the exact words she was using.\r\nI waited till she was done. â€Å"Im going to go out on a limb here and say that Leah belongs wherever she wants to be.”\r\nLeah growled, but, as she was glaring at Jared, I forecast it was in agreement.\r\nâ€Å"Look, Jared, were still family, okay? Well get past the feud, but, until we do, you probably ought to stick to your land. Just so there arent misunderstandings. Nobody wants a family brawl, right? Sam doesnt want that, either, d oes he?”\r\nâ€Å"Of course, not,” Jared snapped. â€Å"Well stick to our land. But where is your land, Jacob? Is it vampire land?”\r\nâ€Å"No, Jared. Homeless at the moment. But dont worry †this isnt going to last forever.” I had to take a breath. â€Å"Theres not that much time… left. Okay? Then the Cullens will probably go, and Seth and Leah will come home.”\r\n Leah and Seth whined together, their noses turning my direction in synchronization.\r\n â€Å"And what about you, Jake?”\r\n â€Å" approve to the forest, I think. I cant really stick around La Push. Two Alphas means too much tension. ‘Sides, I was headed that way anyway. Before this mess.”\r\n â€Å"What if we need to talk?” Jared asked.\r\n â€Å"Howl †but watch the line, ‘kay? Well come to you. And Sam doesnt need to send so many. We arent looking for a fight.”\r\n Jared scowled, but nodded. He didnt like me setting conditions fo r Sam. â€Å" regard you around, Jake. Or not.” He waved halfheartedly.\r\n â€Å"Wait, Jared. Is Embry okay?”\r\n Surprise pass his face. â€Å"Embry? Sure, hes fine. Why?”\r\n â€Å"Just wondering why Sam sent Collin.”\r\n I watched his reaction, still suspicious that something was going on. I saw knowledge flash in his eyes, but it didnt look like the kind I was expecting.\r\n â€Å"Thats not really your business anymore, Jake.”\r\n â€Å"Guess not. Just curious.”\r\n I saw a twitch from the corner of my eye, but I didnt acknowledge it, because I didnt want to give Quil away. He was reacting to the subject.\r\n â€Å"Ill let Sam know about your… instructions. Goodbye, Jacob.”\r\n I sighed. â€Å"Yeah. Bye, Jared. Hey, tell my dad that Im okay, will you? And that Im sorry, and that I love him.”\r\n â€Å"Ill pass that along.”\r\n â€Å"Thanks.”\r\n â€Å"Cmon, guys,” Jared said. He turned away from us, heading out of sight to phase because Leah was here. Paul and Collin were right on his heels, but Quil hesitated. He yelped softly, and I took a step toward him.\r\n â€Å"Yeah, I miss you, too, bro.”\r\n Quil jogged over to me, his head hanging down morosely. I patted his shoulder.\r\n â€Å"Itll be okay.”\r\nHe whined.\r\nâ€Å"Tell Embry I miss having you two on my flanks.”\r\nHe nodded and then pressed his nose to my forehead. Leah snorted. Quil looked up, but not at her. He looked back over his shoulder at where the others had gone.\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, go home,” I told him.\r\nQuil yelped again and then took off after the others. Id bet Jared wasnt waiting super-patiently. As soon as he was gone, I pulled the warmth from the center of my body and let it surge through my limbs. In a flash of heat, I was on four legs again.\r\n estimation you were going to make out with him,Leah snickered.\r\nI ignored her.\r\nWas that okay?I asked them. It worried me, speaking for them that way, when I couldnt hear exactly what they were thinking. I didnt want to assume anything. I didnt want to be like Jared that way. Did I say anything you didnt want me to? Did I not say something I should have?\r\nYou did great, Jake!Seth encouraged.\r\nYou could have hit Jared,Leah thought. wouldnt have minded that.\r\nI guess we know why Embry wasnt allowed to come,Seth thought.\r\nI didnt understand. Not allowed?\r\nJake, didya see Quil? Hes pretty torn up, right? Id put ten to one that Embrys even more upset And Embry doesnt have a Claire. Theres no way Quil can just pick up and walk away from La Push. Embry might So Sams not going to take any chances on him getting convinced to jump ship. He doesnt want our pack any bigger than it is now.\r\n actually? You think? I doubt Embry would mind shredding some Cullens.\r\nBut hes your best friend, Jake. He and Quil would rather stand behind you than face you in a fight.\r\nWell, Im glad Sam kept him home, then. This pack is big enough.I sighed. Okay, then. So were good, for now. Seth, you mind keeping an eye on things for a while? Leah and I both need to crash. This felt on the level, but who knows? Maybe it was a distraction.\r\nI wasnt always so paranoid, but I remembered the feel of Sams commitment. The total one-track focus on destroying the danger he saw. Would he take advantage of the fact that he could lie to us now?\r\nNo problem!Seth was only too eager to do whatever he could. You want me to explain to the Cullens? Theyre probably still kinda tense.\r\nI got it. I want to check things out anyway.\r\nThey caught the whir of images from my fried brain.\r\nSeth whimpered in surprise. Ew.\r\nLeah whipped her head back and forth like she was trying to shake the image out of her mind. That is soft the freakin grossest thing Ive heard in my life. Yuck. If there was anything in my stomach, it would be coming back.\r\nTheyare vampires, I guess, Seth allowed after a minute, compensating for Leahs reaction. mean, it makes sense. And if it helps Bella, its a good thing, right?\r\n both(prenominal) Leah and I stared at him.\r\nWhat?\r\nMom dropped him a lot when he was a baby,Leah told me.\r\nOn his head, apparently.\r\nHe used to gnaw on the crib bars, too.\r\nLead pigment?\r\nLooks like itshe thought.\r\nSeth snorted. Funny. Why dont you two shut up and sleep?\r\n'