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of your family—or losing any of ours。 If you were in our shoes； how would you proceed？〃
I leaned away； a little surprised； when he threw it back at me like that。 What would I know about being
in a bloodsucker's expensive shoes？ But； then again； I did know Sam。
〃It's a risk；〃 I said； trying to ignore the other eyes I felt on me and to talk only to him。 〃Sam's calmed
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down some； but I'm pretty sure that in his head； the treaty is void。 As long as he thinks the tribe； or any
other human； is in real danger； he's not going to ask questions first； if you know what I mean。 But； with all
that； his priority is going to be La Push。 There really aren't enough of them to keep a decent watch on the
people while putting out hunting parties big enough to do much damage。 I'd bet he's keeping it close to
home。〃
Carlisle nodded thoughtfully。
〃So I guess I'd say； go out together； just in case。 And probably you should go in the day； 'cause we'd be
expecting night。 Traditional vampire stuff。 You're fast—go over the mountains and hunt far enough away
that there's no chance he'd send anyone that far from home。〃
〃And leave Bella behind； unprotected？〃
I snorted。 〃What are we； chopped liver？〃
Carlisle laughed； and then his face was serious again。 〃Jacob； you can't fight against your brothers。〃
My eyes tightened。 〃I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard； but if they were really ing to kill her—I
would be able to stop them。〃
Carlisle shook his head； anxious。 〃No； I didn't mean that you would be。。。 incapable。 But that it would be
very wrong。 I can't have that on my conscience。〃
〃It wouldn't be on yours； Doc。 It would be on mine。 And I can take it。〃
〃No； Jacob。 We will make sure that our actions don't make that a necessity。〃 He frowned thoughtfully
〃We'll go three at a time；〃 he decided after a second。 〃That's probably the best we can do。〃
〃I don't know； Doc。 Dividing down the middle isn't the best strategy。〃
〃We've got some extra abilities that will even it up。 If Edward is one of the three； he'll be able to give us
a few miles' radius of safety。〃
We both glanced at Edward。 His expression had Carlisle backtracking quickly。
〃I'm sure there are other ways； too；〃 Carlisle said。 Clearly； there was no physical need strong enough to
get Edward away from Bella now。 〃Alice； I would imagine you could see which routes would be a
mistake？〃
〃The ones that disappear；〃 Alice said； nodding。 〃Easy。〃
Edward； who had gone all tense with Carlisle's first plan； loosened up。 Bella was staring unhappily at
Alice； that little crease between her eyes that she got when she was stressed out。
〃Okay； then；〃 I said。 〃That's settled。 I'll just be on my way。 Seth； I'll expect you back on at dusk； so get
a nap in there somewhere； all right？〃
〃Sure； Jake。 I'll phase back soon as I'm done。 Unless 。。。〃 he hesitated； looking at Bella。 〃Do you need
me？〃
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〃She's got blankets；〃 I snapped at him。
〃I'm fine； Seth； thanks；〃 Bella said quickly。
And then Esme flitted back in the room； a big covered dish in her hands。 She stopped hesitantly just
behind Carlisle's elbow； her wide； dark gold eyes on my face。 She held the dish out and took a shy step
closer。
〃Jacob；〃 she said quietly。 Her voice wasn't quite so piercing as the others'。 〃I know it's。。。 unappetizing to
you； the idea of eating here； where it smells so unpleasant。 But I would feel much better if you would take
some food with you when you go。 I know you can't go home； and that's because of us。 Please—ease
some of my remorse。 Take something to eat。〃 She held the food out to me； her face all soft and pleading。
I don't know how she did it； because she didn't look older than her midtwenties； and she was bone pale；
too； but something about her expression suddenly reminded me of my mom。
Jeez。
〃Uh； sure； sure；〃 I mumbled。 〃I guess。 Maybe Leah's still hungry or something。〃
I reached out and took the food with one hand； holding it away； at arm's length。 I'd go dump it under a
tree or something。 I didn't want her to feel bad。
Then I remembered Edward。
Don't you say anything to her！ Let her think I ate it。
I didn't look at him to see if he was in agreement。 He'd better be in agreement。 Bloodsucker owed me。
〃Thank you； Jacob；〃 Esme said； smiling at me。 How did a stone face have dimples； for crying out loud？
〃Urn； thank you；〃 I said。 My face felt hot—hotter than usual。
This was the problem with hanging out with vampires—you got used to them。 They started messing up
the way you saw the world。 They started feeling like friends。
〃Will you e back later； Jake？〃 Bella asked as I tried to make a run for it。
〃Uh； I don't know。〃
She pressed her lips together； like she was trying not to smile。 〃Please？ I might get cold。〃
I inhaled deeply through my nose； and then realized； too late； that that was not a good idea。 I winced。
〃Maybe。〃
〃Jacob？〃 Esme asked。 I backed toward the door as she continued； she took a few steps after me。 〃I left
a basket of clothes on the porch。 They're for Leah。 They're freshly washed—I tried to touch them as little
as possible。〃 She frowned。 〃Do you mind taking them to her？〃
〃On it；〃 I muttered； and then I ducked out the door before anyone could guilt me into anything else。
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15。 TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK
Hey Jake； thought you said you wanted me at dusk。 How e you didn't have Leah wake me up
before she crashed？
'Cause I didn't need you。 I'm still good。
He was already picking up the north half of the circle。 Anything？
Nope。 Nothing but nothing。
You did some scouting？
He'dcaught the edge of one of my side trips。 He headed up the new trail。
Yeah— ran a few spokes。 You know； just checking。 If the Cullens are going to make a hunting
trip。。。
Good call。
Seth looped back toward the main perimeter。
It was easier to run with him than it was to do the same with Leah。 Though she was trying—trying
hard—there was always an edge to her thoughts。 She didn't want to be here。 She didn't want to feel the
softening toward the vampires that was going on in my head。 She didn't want to deal with Seth's cozy
friendship with them； a friendship that was only getting stronger。
Funny； though； I'd've thought her biggest issue would just be me。 We'd always gotten on each other's
nerves when we were in Sam's pack。 But there was no antagonism toward me now at all； just the Cullens
andBella。 I wondered why。 Maybe it was simply gratitude that I wasn't forcing her to leave。 Maybe it
was because I understood her hostility better now。 Whichever； running with Leah wasn't nearly as bad as
I'd expected。
Of course； she hadn't eased up that much。 The food and clothes Esme had sent for her were all taking a
trip downriver right now。 Even after I'd eaten my share—not because it smelled nearly irresistible away
from the vampire burn； but to set a good example of selfsacrificing tolerance for Leah—she'd refused。
The small elk she'd taken down around noon had not totally satisfied her appetite。 Did make her mood
worse； though。 Leah hated eating raw。
Maybe we should runa sweep east？ Seth suggested。 Go deep； see if they're out there waiting。
I was thinking about that；I agreed。 But let's do it when we're all awake。 I don't want to let down our
guard。 We should do it before the Cullens give it a try； though。 Soon。
Right。
That got me thinking。
If the Cullens were able to get out of the immediate area safely； they really ought to keep on going。 They
probably should have taken off the second we'd e to warn them。 They had to be able to afford other
digs。 And they had friends up north； right？ Take Bella and run。 It seemed like an obvious answer to their
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problems。
I probably ought to suggest that； bu