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Okay； I'm definitely up forthat
Leah was on the far western rim of the perimeter。 Rather than cut close to the Cullens' house； she stuck
to the circle as she raced around to meet me。 I sprinted off straight east； knowing that even with the head
start； she'd be
passing me soon if I took it easy for even a second。
Nose to the ground； Leah。 This isn't a race； it's a reconnaissance mission。
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I can do both and still kick your butt
I gave her that one。 know。
She laughed。
We took a winding path through the eastern mountains。 It wasa familiar route。 We'd run these mountains
when the vampires had left a year ago； making it part of our patrol route to better protect the people
here。 Then we'd pulled back the lines when the Cullens returned。 This was their treaty land。
But that fact would probably mean nothing to Sam now。 The treaty was dead。 The question today was
how thin he was willing to spread his force。 Was he looking for stray Cullens to poach on their land or
not？ Had Jared spoken the truth or taken advantage of the silence between us？
We got deeper and deeper into the mountains without finding any trace of the pack。 Fading vampire
trails were everywhere； but the scents were familiar now。 I was breathing them in all day long。
I founda heavy； somewhat recent concentration on one particular trail—all of them ing and going
here except for Edward。 Some reason for gathering that must have been forgotten when Edward brought
his dying pregnant wife home。 I gritted my teeth。 Whatever it was； it had nothing to do with me。
Leah didn't push herself past me； though she could have now。 I was paying more attention to each new
scent than I was to the speed contest。 She kept to my right side； running with me rather than racing
against me。
Were getting pretty far out here；she mented。
Yeah。 If Sam was hunting strays； we should have crossed his trail by now。
Makes more sense right now for him to bunker down in La Push；Leah thought。 He knows we're giving
the bloodsuckers three extra sets of eyes and legs。 He's not going to be able to surprise them。
This was just a precaution； really。
Wouldn't want our precious parasites taking unnecessary chances。
Nope；I agreed； ignoring the sarcasm。
You've changed so much； Jacob。 Talk about oneeighties。
You're not exactly the same Leah I've always known and loved； either。
True。 Am I less annoying than Paul now？
Amazingly。。。 yes。
Ah； sweet success。
Congrats。
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We ran in silence again then。 It was probably time to turn around； but neither of us wanted to。 It felt nice
to run like this。 We'd been staring at the same small circle of atrail for too long。 It felt good to stretch our
muscles and take the rugged terrain。 We weren't in a huge hurry； so I thought maybe we should hunt on
the way back。 Leah was pretty
hungry。
Yum； yum；she thought sourly。
It's all in your head；I told her。 That's the way wolves eat。 It's natural。 It tastes fine。 If you didn't
think about it from a human perspective—
Forget the pep talk； Jacob。 I'll hunt I don't have to like it
Sure； sure；I agreed easily。 It wasn't my business if she wanted to make things harder for herself。
She didn't add anything for a few minutes； I started thinking about turning back。
Thank you；Leah suddenly told me in a much different tone。
For？
For letting me be。 For letting me stay。 You've been nicer than I had any right to expect； Jacob。
Er； no problem。 Actually； I mean that。 I don't mind having you here like I thought I would。
She snorted； but it was a playful sound。 What a glowing mendation！
Don't let it go to your head。
Okay— if you don't let this go to yours。She paused for a second。 think you make a good Alpha。
Not in the same way Sam does； but in your own way。 You're worth following； Jacob。
My mind went blank with surprise。 It took me a second to recover enough to respond。
Er； thanks。 Not totally sure I'll be able to stop that one from going to my head； though。 Where did that
e from？
She didn't answer right away； and I followed the wordless direction of her thoughts。 She was thinking
about the future—about what I'd said to Jared the other morning。 About how the time would be up soon；
and then I'd go back to the forest。 About how I'd promised that she and Seth would return to the pack
when the Cullens were gone___
want to stay with you； she told me。
The shock shot through my legs； locking my joints。 She blew past me and then put on the brakes。
Slowly； she walked back to where I was frozen in place。
won't be a pain； I swear。 I won't follow you around。 You can go wherever you want； and I'll go
where I want。 You'll only have to put up with me when we're both wolves。 She paced back and forth
in front of me； swishing her long gray tail nervously。 And； as I'm planning on quitting as soon as I can
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manage it。。。 maybe that won't be so often。
I didn't know what to say。
I'm happier now； as a part of your pack； than I have been in years。
I want to stay； too；Seth thought quietly。 I hadn't realized he'd been paying much attention to us as he ran
the perimeter。 like this pack。
Hey； now！ Seth； this isn't going to be a pack much longer。I tried to put my thoughts together so they
would convince him。 We've got a purpose now； but when。。。 after that's over； I'm just going to go
wolf。 Seth； you need a purpose。 You're a good kid。 You're the kind of person who always has a
crusade。 And there's no way you're leaving La Push now。 You're going to graduate from high
school and do something with your life。 You're going to take care of Sue。
My issues are not going to mess up your future。
But —
Jacob is rightLeah seconded。
You're agreeing with me？
Of course。 But none of that applies tome。 was on my way out anyway。 I'll get a job somewhere