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want you back。 Sam wants you back。〃
Leah's tail twitched。
〃Sam told me to beg。 He told me to literally get down on my knees if I have to。 He wants you home；
Lee…lee； where you belong。〃
I saw Leah flinch when Jared used Sam's old nickname for her。 And then； when he added those last
three words； her hackles rose and she was yowling a long stream of snarls through her teeth。 I didn't have
to be in her head to hear the cussing…out she was giving him； and neither did he。 You could almost hear
the exact words she was using。
I waited till she was done。 〃I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Leah belongs wherever she
wants to be。〃
Leah growled； but； as she was glaring at Jared； I figured it was in agreement。
〃Look； Jared； we're still family； okay？ We'll get past the feud； but； until we do； you probably ought to
stick to your land。 Just so there aren't misunderstandings。 Nobody wants a family brawl； right？ Sam
doesn't want that； either； does he？〃
〃Of course； not；〃 Jared snapped。 〃We'll stick to our land。 But where is your land； Jacob？ Is it vampire
land？〃
〃No； Jared。 Homeless at the moment。 But don't worry—this isn't going to last forever。〃 I had to take a
breath。 〃There's not that much time。。。 left。 Okay？ Then the Cullens will probably go； and Seth and Leah
will come home。〃
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Leah and Seth whined together； their noses turning my direction in synchronization。
〃And what about you； Jake？〃
〃Back to the forest； I think。 I can't really stick around La Push。 Two Alphas means too much tension。
'Sides； I was headed that way anyway。 Before this mess。〃
〃What if we need to talk？〃 Jared asked。
〃Howl—but watch the line； 'kay？ We'll come to you。 And Sam doesn't need to send so many。 We aren't
looking for a fight。〃
Jared scowled； but nodded。 He didn't like me setting conditions for Sam。 〃See you around； Jake。 Or
not。〃 He waved halfheartedly。
〃Wait； Jared。 Is Embry okay？〃
Surprise crossed his face。 〃Embry？ Sure； he's fine。 Why？〃
〃Just wondering why Sam sent Collin。〃
I watched his reaction； still suspicious that something was going on。 I saw knowledge flash in his eyes；
but it didn't look like the kind I was expecting。
〃That's not really your business anymore； Jake。〃
〃Guess not。 Just curious。〃
I saw a twitch from the corner of my eye； but I didn't acknowledge it； because I didn't want to give Quil
away。 He was reacting to the subject。
〃I'll let Sam know about your。。。 instructions。 Goodbye； Jacob。〃
I sighed。 〃Yeah。 Bye； Jared。 Hey； tell my dad that I'm okay； will you？ And that I'm sorry； and that I love
him。〃
〃I'll pass that along。〃
〃Thanks。〃
〃C'mon； guys；〃 Jared said。 He turned away from us； heading out of sight to phase because Leah was
here。 Paul and Collin were right on his heels； but Quil hesitated。 He yelped softly； and I took a step
toward him。
〃Yeah； I miss you； too； bro。〃
Quil jogged over to me； his head hanging down morosely。 I patted his shoulder。
〃It'll be okay。〃
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He whined。
〃Tell Embry I miss having you two on my flanks。〃
He nodded and then pressed his nose to my forehead。 Leah snorted。 Quil looked up； but not at her。 He
looked back over his shoulder at where the others had gone。
〃Yeah； go home；〃 I told him。
Quil yelped again and then took off after the others。 I'd bet Jared wasn't waiting super…patiently。 As
soon as he was gone； I pulled the warmth from the center of my body and let it surge through my limbs。
In a flash of heat； I was on four legs again。
Thought you were going to make out with him；Leah snickered。
I ignored her。
Was that okay？I asked them。 It worried me； speaking for them that way； when I couldn't hear exactly
what they were thinking。 I didn't want to assume anything。 I didn't want to be like Jared that way。 Did I
say anything you didn't want me to？ Did I not say something I should have？
You did great； Jake！Seth encouraged。
You could have hit Jared；Leah thought。 / wouldn't have minded that。
I guess we know why Embry wasn't allowed to come；Seth thought。
I didn't understand。 Not allowed？
Jake； didya see Quil？ He's pretty torn up； right？ I'd put ten to one that Embry's even more upset And
Embry doesn't have a Claire。 There's no way Quil can just pick up and walk away from La Push。 Embry
might So Sam's not going to take any chances on him getting convinced to jump ship。 He doesn't want
our pack any bigger than it is now。
Really？ You think？ I doubt Embry would mind shredding some Cullens。
But he's your best friend； Jake。 He and Quil would rather stand behind you than face you in a fight。
Well； I'm glad Sam kept him home； then。 This pack is big enough。I sighed。 Okay； then。 So we're good；
for now。 Seth； you mind keeping an eye on things for a while？ Leah and I both need to crash。 This
felt on the level； but who knows？ Maybe it was a distraction。
I wasn't always so paranoid； but I remembered the feel of Sam's commitment。 The total one…track focus
on destroying the danger he saw。 Would he take advantage of the fact that he could lie to us now？
No problem！Seth was only too eager to do whatever he could。 You want me to explain to the
Cullens？ They're probably still kinda tense。
I got it。 I want to check things out anyway。
They caught the whir of images from my fried brain。
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Seth whimpered in surprise。 Ew。
Leah whipped her head back and forth like she was trying to shake the image out of her mind。 That is
easily the freakin' grossest thing I've heard in my life。 Yuck。 If there was anything in my stomach；
it would be coming back。
Theyare vampires； I guess； Seth allowed after a minute； compensating for Leah's reaction。 / mean； it
makes sense。 And if it helps Bella； it's a good thing； right？
Both Leah and I stared at him。
What？
Mom dropped him a lot when he was a baby；Leah told me。
On his head； apparently。
He used to gnaw on the crib bars； too。
Lead paint？
Looks like itshe thought。
Seth snorted。 Funny。 Why don't you two shut up and sleep？
14。 YOU KNOW THINGS ARE BAD WHEN YOU FEEL GUILTY FOR BEING RUDE TO
VAMPIRES
When I got back to the house； there was no one waiting outside for my report。 Still on alert？
Everything's cool；I thought tiredly。
My eyes quickly caught a small change in the now…familiar scene。 There was a stack of light…colored
fabric on the bottom step of the porch。 I loped over to investigate。 Holding my breath； because the
vampire smell stuck to the fabric like