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make him happy again； Bella。 And I really think he's losing it。 Honestly； I do。〃
She didn't seem to be listening； her hand made small circles on her battered stomach while she chewed
on her lip。 It was quiet for a long time。 I wondered if the Cullens were very far away。 Were they listening
to my pathetic attempts to reason with her？
〃Not a stranger？〃 she murmured to herself。 I flinched。 〃What exactly did Edward say to you？〃 she asked
in a low voice。
〃Nothing。 He just thought you might listen to me。〃
〃Not that。 About trying again。〃
Her eyes locked on mine； and I could see that I'd already given too much away。
〃Nothing。〃
Her mouth fell open a little。 〃Wow。〃
It was silent for a few heartbeats。 I looked down at my feet again； unable to meet her stare。
〃He really would do anything； wouldn't he？〃 she whispered。
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〃I told you he was going crazy。 Literally； Bells。〃
〃I'm surprised you didn't tell on him right away。 Get him in trouble。〃
When I looked up； she was grinning。
〃Thought about it。〃 I tried to grin back； but I could feel the smile mangle on my face。
She knew what I was offering； and she wasn't going to think twice about it。 I'd known that she wouldn't。
But it still stung。
〃There isn't much you wouldn't do for me； either； is there？〃 she whispered。 〃I really don't know why you
bother。 I don't deserve either of you。〃
〃It makes no difference； though； does it？〃
〃Not this time。〃 She sighed。 〃I wish I could explain it to you right so that you would understand。 I can't
hurthim〃—she pointed to her stomach—〃any more than I could pick up a gun and shoot you。 I love
him。〃
〃Why do you always have to love the wrong things； Bella？〃
〃I don't think I do。〃
I cleared the lump out of my throat so that I could make my voice hard like I wanted it。 'Trust me。〃
I started to get to my feet。
〃Where are you going？〃
〃I'm not doing any good here。〃
She held out her thin hand； pleading。 〃Don't go。〃
I could feel the addiction sucking at me； trying to keep me near her。
〃I don't belong here。 I've got to get back。〃
〃Why did you e today？〃 she asked； still reaching limply。
〃Just to see if you were really alive。 I didn't believe you were sick like Charlie said。〃
I couldn't tell from her face whether she bought that or not。
〃Will you e back again？ Before 。。。〃
〃I'm not going to hang around and watch you die；Bella。〃
She flinched。 〃You're right； you're right。 You should go。〃
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I headed for the door。
〃Bye；〃 she whispered behind me。 〃Love you； Jake。〃
I almost went back。 I almost turned around and fell down on my knees and started begging again。 But I
knew that I had to quitBella； quit her cold turkey； before she killed me； like she was going to kill him。
〃Sure； sure；〃 I mumbled on my way out。
I didn't see any of the vampires。 I ignored my bike； standing all alone in the middle of the meadow。 It
wasn't fast enough for me now。 My dad would be freaked out—Sam； too。 What would the pack make
of the fact that they hadn't heard me phase？ Would they think the Cullens got me before I'd had the
chance？ I stripped down； not caring who might be watching； and started running。 I blurred into wolf
midstride。
They were waiting。 Of course they were。
Jacob； Jake；eight voices chorused in relief。
e homenow； the Alpha voice ordered。 Sam was furious。
I felt Paul fade out； and i knew Billy and Rachel were waiting to hear what had happened to me。 Paul
was too anxious to give them the good news that I wasn't vampire chow to listen to the whole story。
I didn't have to tell the pack I was on my way—they could see the forest blurring past me as I sprinted
for home。 I didn't have to tell them that I was halfpast crazy； either。 The sickness in my head was
obvious。
They saw all the horror—Bella's mottled stomach； her raspy voice； he's strong； that's all： the burning
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；