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was almost touching the ground； bowed under Sam's mands。 I felt his pain at the ing disloyalty。
For him this was a betrayal—during that one day of alliance； fighting beside Edward Cullen； Seth had
truly bee the vampire's friend。
There was no resistance in him； however。 He would obey no matter how much it hurt him。 He had no
other
choice。
And what choice did I have？ When the Alpha spoke； the pack followed。
Sam had never pushed his authority this far before； I knew he honestly hated to see Seth kneeling before
him like a slave at the foot of his master。 He wouldn't force this if he didn't believe that he had no other
choice。 He couldn't lie to us when we were linked mind to mind like this。 He really believed it was our
duty to destroy Bella and the monster she carried。 He really believed we had no time to waste。 He
believed it enough to die for it。
I saw that he would face Edward himself； Edward's ability to read our thoughts made him the greatest
threat in Sam's mind。 Sam would not let someone else take on that danger。
He saw Jasper as the secondgreatest opponent； which is why he'd given him to me。 He knew that I had
the best chance of any of the pack to win that fight。 He'd left the easiest targets for the younger wolves
and Leah。 Little Alice was no danger without her future vision to guide her； and we knew from our time
of alliance that Esme was not a fighter。 Carlisle would be more of a challenge； but his hatred of violence
would hinder him。
I felt sicker than Seth as I watched Sam plan it out； trying to work the angles to give each member of the
pack the best chance of survival。
Everything was inside out。 This afternoon； I'd been chomping at the bit to attack them。 But Seth had
been right—it wasn't a fight I'd been ready for。 I'd blinded myself with that hate。 I hadn't let myself look
at it carefully； because I must have known what I would see if I did。
Carlisle Cullen。 Looking at him without that hate clouding my eyes； I couldn't deny that killing him was
murder。 He was good。 Good as any human we protected。 Maybe better。 The others； too； I supposed；
but I didn't feel as strongly about them。 I didn't know them as well。 It was Carlisle who would hate
fighting back； even to save his own life。 That's why we would be able to kill him—because he wouldn't
want us； his enemies； to die。
This was wrong。
And it wasn't just because killing Bella felt like killing me； like suicide。
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Pull it together； Jacob；Sam ordered。 The tribe es first
I was wrong today； Sam。
Your reasons were wrong then。 But now we have a duty to fulfill。
I braced myself。 No。
Sam snarled and stopped pacing in front of me。 He stared into my eyes and a deep growl slid between
his teeth。
Yes；the Alpha decreed； his double voice blistering with the heat of his authority。 There are no
loopholes tonight。 You； Jacob； are going to fight the Cullens with us。 You； with Quil and Embry；
will take care of Jasper and Emmett。 You are obligated to protect the tribe。 That is why you exist。
You willperform this obligation。
My shoulders hunched as the edict crushed me。 My legs collapsed； and I was on my belly under him。
No member of the pack could refuse the Alpha。
11。 THE TWO THINGS AT THE VERY TOP OF MY THINGSINEVERWANTTODO LIST
Sam started moving the others into formation while i was still on the ground。 Embry and Quil were at my
sides； waiting for me to recover and take the point。
I could feel the drive； the need； to get on my feet and lead them。 The pulsion grew； and I fought it
uselessly； cringing on the ground where I was。
Embry whined quietly in my ear。 He didn't want to think the words； afraid that he would bring me to
Sam's attention again。 I felt his wordless plea for me to get up； for me to get this over with and be done
with it。
There was fear in the pack； not so much for self but for the whole。 We couldn't imagine that we would
all make it out alive tonight。 Which brothers would we lose？ Which minds would leave us forever？ Which
grieving families would we be consoling in the morning？
My mind began to work with theirs； to think in unison； as we dealt with these fears。 Automatically； I
pushed up from the ground and shook out my coat。
Embry and Quil huffed in relief。 Quil touched his nose to my side once。
Their minds were filled with our challenge； our assignment。 We remembered together the nights we'd
watched the Cullens practicing for the fight with the newborns。 Emmett Cullen was strongest； but Jasper
would be the bigger problem。 He moved like a lightning strike—power and speed and death rolled into
one。 How many centuries' experience did he have？ Enough that all the other Cullens looked to him for
guidance。
' take point； if you want flank； Quil offered。 There was more excitement in his mind than most of the
others。 When Quil had watched Jasper's instruction those nights； he'd been dying to test his skill against
the vampire's。 For him； this would be a contest。 Even knowing it was his life on the line； he saw it that
way。 Paul was like that； too； and the kids who had never been in battle； Collin and Brady。 Seth probably
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would've been the same—if the opponents were not his friends。
Jake？Quil nudged me。 How do you want to roll？
I just shook my head； t couldn't concentrate—the pulsion to follow orders felt like puppet strings
hooked intoall of my muscles。 One foot forward； now another。
Seth was dragging behind Collin and Brady—Leah had assumed point there。 She ignored Seth while
planning with the others； and I could see that she'd rather leave him out of the fight。There was a maternal
edge to her feelings for her younger brother。 She wished Sam would send him home。 Seth didn't register
Leah's doubts。 He was adjusting to the puppet strings； too。
Maybe if you stopped resisting。。。；Embry whispered。
Just focus on our part。 The big ones。 We can take them down。 We own them！Quil was working himself
up—like a pep talk before a big game。
I could see how easy it would be—to think about nothing more than my part。 It wasn't hard to imaging
attacking Jasper and Emmett。 We'd been close to that before。 I'd thought of them as enemies for a very
long time。 I could do that now again。
I just had to forget that they were protecting the same thing I would protect。 I had to forget the reason
why I might want them to win。。。。
Jake；Embry warned。 Keep your head in the game。
My feet moved sluggishly； pulling against the drag of the strings。
There's no point fighting it；Embry whispered again。
He was right。 I would end up doing what Sam wanted； if he was willing to push it。 And he was。
Obviously。
There was a good reason for the Alpha's authority。 Even a pack as strong as ours wasn't much of a
force without a leader。 We had to move together； to think together； in order to be effective。 And that
required the body to have a head。
So what if Sam was wrong now？ There was nothing anyone could do。 No one could dispute his
decision。
Except。
And there it was—a thought I'd never； never wanted to have。 But now； with my legs all tied up in strings；
I recognized the exception with relief—more than relief； with a fierce joy。
No one could dispute the Alpha's decision—except for me。
I hadn't earned anything。 But there were things that had been born in me； things that I'd left unclaimed。
I'd never wanted to lead the pack。 I didn't want to do it now。 I didn't want the responsibility for all our
fates resting on my shoulders。 Sam was better at that than I would ever be。
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But he was wrong tonight。
And I had not been born to kneel to him。
The bonds fell off my body the second that I embraced my birthright。
I could feel it gathering in me； both a freedomand also a strange； hollow power。Hollow because an
Alpha's power came from his pack； and I ha