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man in Edward's face： watching her sicken and waste away。。。 seeing it hurting her； Rosalie crouched
over Bella's limp body： Bella's life means nothing to her— and for once； no one had anything to say。
Their shock was just a silent shout in my head。 Wordless。
I was halfway home before anyone recovered。 Then they all started running to meet me。
It was almost dark—the clouds covered the sunset pletely。 I risked darting across the freeway and
made it without being seen。
We met up about ten miles out of La Push； in a clearing left by the loggers。 It was out of the way；
wedged between two spurs of the mountain； where no one would see us。 Paul found them when I did； so
the pack was plete。
The babble in my head was total chaos。 Everyone shouting at once。
Sam's hackles were sticking straight up； and he was growling in an unbroken stream as he paced back
and forth around the top of the ring。 Paul and Jared moved like shadows behind him； their ears flat
against the sides of their head。 The whole circle was agitated； on their feet and snarling in low bursts。
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At first their anger was undefined； and I thought I was in for it。 I was too messed up to care about that。
They could do whatever they wanted to me for circumventing orders。
And then the unfocused confusion of thoughts began to move together。
How can this be？ What does it mean？ What will it be？
Not safe。 Not right。 Dangerous。
Unnatural。 Monstrous。 An abomination。
We can't allow it。
The pack was pacing in synchronization now； thinking in synchronization； all but myself and one other。 I
sat beside whichever brother it was； too dazed to look over with either my eyes or my mind and see who
was next to me； while the pack circled around us。
The treaty does not cover this。
This puts everyone in danger。
I tried to understand the spiraling voices； tried to follow the curling pathway the thoughts made to see
where they were leading； but it wasn't making sense。 The pictures in the center of their thoughts were my
pictures—the very worst of them。 Bella's bruises； Edward's face as he burned。
They fear it； too。
But they won't do anything about it
Protecting Bella Swan。
We can't let that influence us。
The safety of our families； of everyone here； is more important than one human。
If they won't kill it； we have to。
Protect the tribe。
Protect our families。
We have to kill it before it's too late。
Another of my memories； Edward's words this time： The thing is growing。 Swiftly。
I struggled to focus； to pick out individual voices。
No time to waste；Jared thought。
It will mean a fight；Embry cautioned。 A bad one。
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Were ready；Paul insisted。
Well need surprise on our side；Sam thought。
If we catch them divided； we can take them down separately。 It will increase our chances of victory；
Jared thought； starting to strategize now。
I shook my head； rising slowly to my feet。 1 felt unsteady there—like the circling wolves were making
me dizzy。 The wolf beside me got up； too。 His shoulder pushed against mine； propping me up。
Wait；I thought。
The circling paused for one beat； and then they were pacing again。
There's little time；Sam said。
But— what are you thinking？ You wouldn't attack them for breaking the treaty this afternoon。
Now you're planning an ambush； when the treaty is still intact？
This is not something our treaty anticipated；Sam said。 This is a danger to every human in the area。
We don't know what kind of creature the Cullens have bred； but we know that it is strong and
fastgrowing。 And it will be too young to follow any treaty。 Remember the newborn vampires we
fought？ Wild； violent； beyond the reach of reason or restraint。 Imagine one like that； but
protected by the Cullens。
We don't know —I tried to interrupt。
Wedon't know； he agreed。 And we can't take chances with the unknown in this case。 We can only
allow the Cullens to exist while we're absolutely sure that they can be trusted not to cause harm。
This。 。 。 thing cannot be trusted。
They don't like it any more than we do。
Sam pulled Rosalie's face； her protective crouch； from my mind and put it on display for everyone。
Some are ready to fight for it； no matter what it is。
It's just ababy； for crying out loud。
Not for long；Leah whispered。
Jake； buddy； this is a big problem；Quil said。 We can't just ignore it。
You're making it into something bigger than it is；I argued。 The only one who's in danger here is Bella。
Again by her own choice；Sam said。 But this time her choice affects us all。
I don't think so。
We can't take that chance。 We won't allow a blood drinker to hunt on our lands。
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Then tell them to leave；the wolf who was still supporting me said。 It was Seth。 Of course。
And inflict the menace on others？ When blood drinkers cross our land； we destroy them； no matter
where they plan to hunt。 We protect everyone we can。
This is crazy；I said。 This afternoon you were afraid to put the pack in danger。
This afternoon I didn't know our families were at risk。
I can't believe this！ How're you going to kill this creature without killing Bella？
There were no words； but the silence was full of meaning。
I howled。 She's human； too！ Doesn't our protection apply to her？
She's dying anyway；Leah thought。 We'll just shorten the process。
That did it。 I leaped away from Seth； toward his sister； with my teeth bared。 I was about to catch her left
hind leg when I felt Sam's teeth cut into my flank； dragging me back。
I howled in pain and fury and turned on him。
Stop！he ordered in the double timbre of the Alpha。
My legs seemed to buckle under me。 I jerked to a halt； only managing to keep on my feet by sheer
willpower。
He turned his gaze away from me。 You will not be cruel to him； Leah； he manded her。 Bella's
sacrifice is a heavy price； and we will all recognize that It is against everything we stand for to
take a human life。 Making an exception to that code is a bleak thing。 We will all mourn for what
we do tonight。
Tonight？Seth repeated； shocked。 Sam— think we should talk about this some more。 Consult with
the Elders； at least。 You can't seriously mean for us to —
We can't afford your tolerance for the Cullens now。 There is no time for debate。 Youwilldo as you are
told； Seth。
SetfYs front knees folded； and his head fell forward under the weight of the Alpha's mand。
Sam paced in a tight circle around the two of us。
We need the whole pack for this。 Jacob； you are our strongest fighter。 Youwillfight with us tonight。 I
understand that this is hard for you； so you will concentrate on their fighters— Emmett and
Jasper Cullen。 You don't have to be involved with the。。。 other part。 Quil and Embry will fight with
you。
My knees trembled； I struggled to hold myself upright while the voice of the Alpha lashed at my will。
Paul； Jared； and I will take on Edward and Rosalie。 I think； from the information Jacob has brought us；
they will be the ones guarding Bella。 Carlisle and Alice will also be close； possibly Esme。 Brady； Collin；
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Seth； and Leah will concentrate on them。 Whoever has a clear lineon—we all heard him mentally stutter
overBella's name— the creature will take it。 Destroying the creature is our first priority。
The pack rumbled in nervous agreement。The tension had everyone's fur standing on end。 The pacing
was quicker； and the sound of the paws against the brackish floor was sharper； toenails tearing into the
soil。
Only Seth and I were still； the eye in the center of a storm of bared teeth and flattened ears。 Seth's nose
was almost touching the ground； bowed under Sam's mands。 I felt his pain at the ing disloyalty。
For him this was a betrayal—durin