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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 guilty； too。 Jake。。。 You're not rea