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〃That doesn't matter； I have to talk to him right now。〃
〃It's pretty early。〃 He frowned when my expression didn't change。 〃Don't you
want breakfast？〃
〃Not hungry。〃 The words flew through my lips。 He was blocking my path to the
exit。 I considered
ducking around him and making a run for it； but I knew I would have to explain
that to him later。 〃I'll be
back soon； okay？〃
Charlie frowned。 〃Straight to Jacob's house； right？ No stops on the way？〃
〃Of course not； where would I stop？〃 My words were running together in my
hurry。
〃I don't know；〃 he admitted。 〃It's just well； there's been another attack—
the wolves again。 It was real
close to the resort by the hot springs—there's a witness this time。 The
victim was only a dozen yards
from the road when he disappeared。 His wife saw a huge gray wolf just a few
minutes later； while she
was searching for him； and ran for help。〃
My stomach dropped like I'd hit a corkscrew on a roller coaster。 〃A wolf
attacked him？〃
〃There's no sign of him—just a little blood again。〃 Charlie's face was
pained。 〃The rangers are going out
armed； taking armed volunteers。 There're a lot of hunters who are eager to be
involved—there's a
reward being offered for wolf carcasses。 That's going to mean a lot of
firepower out there in the forest；
and it worries me。〃 He shook his head。 〃When people get too excited； accidents
happen〃
〃They're going to shoot the wolves？〃 My voice shot through three octaves。
〃What else can we do？ What's wrong？〃 he asked； his tense eyes studying my
face。 I felt faint； I must be
whiter than usual。 〃You aren't turning into a tree…hugger on me； are you？〃
I couldn't answer。 If he hadn't been watching me； I would have put my head
between my knees。 I'd
forgotten about the missing hikers； the bloody paw prints I hadn't connected
those facts to my first
realization。
〃Look； honey； don't let this scare you。 Just stay in town or on the highway—
no stops—okay？〃
〃Okay；〃 I repeated in a weak voice。
〃I've got to go。〃
I looked at him closely for the first time； and saw that he had his gun
strapped to his waist and hiking
boots on。
〃You aren't going out there after the wolves； are you； Dad？〃
〃I've got to help； Bells。 People are disappearing。〃
My voice shot up again； almost hysterical now。 〃No！ No； don't go。 It's too
dangerous！〃
〃I've got to do my job； kid。 Don't be such a pessimist—I'll be fine。〃 He
turned for the door； and held it
open。 〃You leaving？〃
I hesitated； my stomach still spinning in unfortable loops。 What could I
say to stop him？ I was too
dizzy to think of a solution。
〃Bells？〃
〃Maybe it's too early to go to La Push；〃 I whispered。
〃I agree；〃 he said； and he stepped out into the rain； shutting the door behind
him。
As soon as he was out of sight； I dropped to the floor and put my head between
my knees。
Should I go after Charlie？ What would I say？
And what about Jacob？ Jacob was my best friend； I needed to warn him。 If he
really was a—I cringed
and forced myself to think the word—werewolf （and I knew it was true； I could
feel it）； then people
would be shooting at him！ I needed to tell him and his friends that people
would try to kill them if they
went running around like gigantic wolves。 I needed to tell them to stop。
They had to stop！ Charlie was out there in the woods。 Would they care about
that？ I wondered Up
until now； only strangers had disappeared。 Did that mean anything； or was it
just chance？
I needed to believe that Jacob； at least； would care about that。
Either way； I had to warn him。
Or did I？
Jacob was my best friend； but was he a monster； too？ A real one？ A bad one？
Should I warn him； if he
and his friends were were murderers！ If they were out slaughtering innocent
hikers in cold blood？ If
they were truly creatures from a horror movie in every sense； would it be
wrong to protect them？
It was inevitable that I would have to pare Jacob and his friends to the
Cullens。 I wrapped my arms
around my chest； fighting the hole； while I thought of them。
I didn't know anything about werewolves； clearly。 I would have expected
something closer to the
movies—big hairy half…men creatures or something—if I'd expected anything at
all。 So I didn't know
what made them hunt； whether hunger or thirst or just a desire to kill。 It was
hard to judge； not knowing
that。
But it couldn't be worse than what the Cullens endured in their quest to be
good。 I thought of Esme—the
tears started when I pictured her kind； lovely face—and how； as motherly and
loving as she was； she'd
had to hold her nose； all ashamed； and run from me when I was bleeding。 It
couldn't be harder than that。
I thought of Carlisle； the centuries upon centuries that he had struggled to
teach himself to ignore blood；
so that he could save lives as a doctor。 Nothing could be harder than that。
The werewolves had chosen a different path。
Now； what should I choose？
13。 KILLER
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 wasn't sure if I was domg the right thing； but I'd made a promise
with myself。
I couldn't condone what Jacob and his friends； his pack； were doing。 I
understood now what he'd said
last night—that I might not want to see him again—and I could have called
him as he'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
couldn't just overlook what was going on。 I couldn't be friends with a killer
and say nothing； let the killing
continue That would make me a monster； too。
But I couldn't not warn him； either。 I had to do what I could to protect him。
I pulled up to the Blacks' 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 didn't care if I woke
them。 My fist thudded against
the front door with angry energy； the sound reverberated through the walls。
〃e in；〃 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。
〃Well； good morning； Bella。 What are you doing up so early？〃
〃Hey； Billy。 I need to talk to Jake—where is he？〃
〃Um I don't really know；〃 he lied； straight…faced。
〃Do you know what Charlie is doing this morning？〃 I demanded； sick of the
stalling。
〃Should I？〃
〃He and half the other men in town are all out in the woods with guns； hunting
giant wolves。〃
Billy's expression flickered； and then went blank。
〃So I'd like to talk to Jake about that； if you don't mind；〃 I continued。
Billy pursed his thick lips for a long moment。 〃I'd bet he's still asleep；〃 he
finally said； nodding toward the
tiny hallway off the front room。 〃He's out late a lot these days。 Kid needs
his rest—probably you
shouldn't wake him。〃
〃It's my turn；〃 I muttered under my breath as I stalked to the hallway。 Billy
sighed。
Jacob's tiny closet of a room was the only door in the yard…long hallway。 I
didn't bother to knock。 I
threw the door open； it slammed against the wall with a bang。
Jacob—still wearing just the same black cut…off sweats he'd worn last night—
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
wasn'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 hadn'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 hadn'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