was any measure。 It wasn't like I was normal。
〃Don't touch her！ You'll wake her up；〃 Rosalie whispered。
Someone sighed。
〃Rosalie；〃 Carlisle murmured。
〃Don't start with me； Carlisle。 We let you have your way earlier； but that's all we're allowing。〃
It seemed like Rosalie and Bella were both talking in plurals now。 Like they'd formed a pack of their
own。
I paced quietly in front of the house。 Each pass brought me a little closer。 The dark windows were like a
TV set running in some dull waiting room—it was impossible to keep my eyes off them for long。
A few more minutes； a few more passes； and my fur was brushing the side of the porch as I paced。
I couldsee up through the windows—see the top of the walls and the ceiling； the unlit chandelier that
hung there。 I was tall enough thatall I would have to do was stretch my neck a little。。。 and maybe one
paw up on the edge of the porch。。。。
I peeked into the big； open front room； expecting to see something very similar to the scene this
afternoon。 But it had changed so much that I was confused at first。 For a second I thought I'd gotten the
wrong room。
The glass wall was gone—it looked like metal now。 And the furniture was all dragged out of the way；
withBella curled up awkwardly on a narrow bed in the center of the open space。 Not a normal
bed—one with rails like in a hospital。 Also like a hospital were the monitors strapped to her body； the
tubes stuck into her skin。 The lights on the monitors flashed； but there was no sound。 The dripping noise
was from the IV plugged into her arm—some fluid that was thick and white； not clear。
She choked a little in her uneasy sleep； and both Edward and Rosalie moved in to hover over her。 Her
body
jerked； and she whimpered。 Rosalie smoothed her hand across Bella's forehead。 Edward's body
stiffened—his back was to me； but his expression must have been something to see； because Emmett
wrenched himself between them before there was time to blink。 He held his hands up to Edward。
〃Not tonight； Edward。 We've got other things to worry about。〃
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Edward turned away from them； and he was the burning man again。 His eyes met mine for one moment；
and then I dropped back to all fours。
I ran back into the dark forest； running to join Seth； running away from what was behind me。
Worse。 Yes； she was worse。
12。 SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T GRASP THE CONCEPT OF 〃UNWELE〃
I was right on the edge of sleep。
The sun had risen behind the clouds an hour ago—the forest was gray now instead of black。 Seth'd
curled up and passed out around one； and I'd woken him at dawn to trade off。 Even after running all
night； I was having a hard time making my brain shut up long enough to fall asleep； but Seth's rhythmic
run was helping。 One； twothree； four； one； twothree； four— dum dumdum dam—dull paw thuds
against the damp earth； over and over as he made the wide circuit surrounding the Cullens' land。 We
were already wearing a trail into the ground。 Seth's thoughts were empty； just a blur of green and gray as
the woods flew past him。 It was restful。 It helped to fill my head with what he saw rather than letting my
own images take center stage。
And then Seth's piercing howl broke the early morning quiet。
I lurched up from the ground； my front legs pulling toward a sprint before my hind legs were off the
ground。 I raced toward the place where Seth had frozen； listening with him to the tread of paws running
in our direction。
Morning； boys。
A shocked whine broke through Seth's teeth。 And then we both snarled as we read deeper into the new
thoughts。
Oh； man！ Goaway； Leah！ Seth groaned。
I stopped when I got to Seth； head thrown back； ready to howl again—this time to plain。
Cut the noise； Seth。
Right。 Ugh！ Ugh！ Ugh！He whimpered and pawed at the ground； scratching deep furrows in the dirt。
Leah trotted into view； her small gray body weaving through the underbrush。
Stop whining； Seth。 You're such a baby。
I growled at her； my ears flattening against my skull。 She skipped back a step automatically。
What do you think you're doing； Leah？
She huffed a heavy sigh。 It's pretty obvious； isn't it？ I'm joining your crappy little renegade pack。
The vampires' guard dogs。 She barked out a low； sarcastic laugh。
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No； you're not。 Turn around before I rip out one of your hamstrings。
Like you could catch me。She grinned and coiled her body for launch。 Wanna race； O fearless leader？
I took a deep breath； filling my lungs until my sides bulged。 Then； when I was sure I wasn't going to
scream； i exhaled in a gust。
Seth； go let the Cullens know that it's just your stupid sister —thought the words as harshly as possible。
' deal with this。
On it！Seth was only too happy to leave。 He vanished toward the house。
Leah whined； and she leaned after him； the fur on her shoulders rising。 You're just going to let him run
off to the vampires alone？
I'm pretty sure he'd rather they took him out than spend another minute with you。
Shut up； Jacob。 Oops； I'm sorry— meant； shut up； most high Alpha。
Why thehellare you here？
You think I'm just going to sit home while my little brother volunteers as a vampire chew toy？
Seth doesn't want or need your protection。 In fact； no one wants you here。
Oooh； ouch； that's gonna leave ahuge mark。 Ha； she barked。 Tell me who does want me around； and
I'm outta here。
So this isn't about Seth at all； is it？
Of course it is。 I'm just pointing out that being unwanted is not a first for me。 Not really a motivating
factor； if you know what I mean。
I gritted my teeth and tried to get my head straight。
Did Sam send you？
If I was here on Sam's errand； you wouldn't be able to hear me。 My allegiance is no longer with him。
I listened carefully to the thoughts mixed in with the words。 If this was a diversion or a ploy； I had to be
alert enough to see through it。 But there was nothing。 Her declaration was nothing but the truth。 Unwilling；
almost despairing truth。
You're loyal tome now？ I asked with deep sarcasm。 Uhhuh。 Right。
My choices are limited。 I'm working with the options I've got。 Trust me； I'm not enjoying this any more
than you are。
That wasn't true。 There was an edgy kind of excitement in her mind。 She was unhappy about this； but
she was also riding some weird high。 I searched her mind； trying to understand。
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She bristled； resenting the intrusion。 I usually tried to tune Leah out—I'd never tried to make sense of her
before。
We were interrupted by Seth； thinking his explanation at Edward。 Leah whined anxiously。 Edward's
face； framed in the same window as last night； showed no reaction to the news。 It was a blank face；
dead。
Wow； he looks bad；Seth muttered to himself。 The vampire showed no reaction to that thought； either。
He disappeared into the house。 Seth pivoted and headed back out to us。 Leah relaxed a little。
What's going on？Leah asked。 Catch me up to speed。
There's no point You're not staying。
Actually； Mr。 Alpha； I am。 Because since apparently I have to belong tosomeone— and don't think I
haven't tried breaking off on my own； you know yourself how wellthat doesn 't work — choose
you。
Leah； you don't like me。 I don't like you。
Thank you； Captain Obvious。 That doesn't matter to me。 I'm staying with Seth。
You don't like vampires。 Don't you think that's a little conflict of interest right there？
You don't like vampires either。
But Iam mitted to this alliance。 You aren't。
I'll keep my distance from them。 I can run patrols out here； just like Seth。
And I'm supposed to trust you with that？
She stretched her neck； leaning up on her toes； trying to be as tall as me as she stared into my eyes。
will not betray my pack。
I wanted to throw my head back and howl； like Seth had before。 This isn't your pack！ This isn't even
a pack。 This is just me； going off on my own！ What is it with you Clearwaters？ Why can't you
leave me alone？
Seth； just ing up behind us now； whined； I'd offended him。 Great。
I've been helpful； haven't I； Jake？
You haven't madetoo much a nuisance of yourself； kid； but if you and Leah are a package deal—
if the only way to get rid of her is for you to go home。。。。 Weil； can you blame me for wanting you
gone？
Ugh； Leah； you ruin everything！
Yeah； I know；she told him； and the thought was loaded with the heaviness of her despair。
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I felt the pain in the three little words； and it was more than I would've guessed。 I didn't want to feel that。
I didn't want to feel bad for her。 Sure； the pack was rough on her； but she brought it all on herself with
the bitterness that tainted her every thought and made being in her head a nightmare。
Seth was feeling guil