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Emmett and Jasper were right in front of me； shoulder to shoulder； hands ready。 Edward gripped me
from behind； fingers tight again on the tops of my arms。 Even Carlisle and Esme moved to get Emmett's
and Jasper's flanks； while Rosalie backed to the door； her arms clutching at Renesmee。 Jacob moved；
too； keeping his protective stance in front of them。
Alice was the only one who held her place。
〃Oh； give her some credit；〃 she chided them。 〃She wasn't going to do anything。 You'd want a closer
look； too。〃
Alice was right。 I was in control of myself。 I'd been braced for anything—for a scent as impossibly
insistent as the human smell in the woods。 The temptation here was really not comparable。 Renesmee's
fragrance was perfectly balanced right on the line between the scent of the most beautiful perfume and the
scent of the most delicious food。 There was enough of the sweet vampire smell to keep the human part
from being overwhelming。
I could handle it。 I was sure。
〃I'm okay；〃 I promised； patting Edward's hand on my arm。 Then I hesitated and added； 〃Keep close；
though； just in case。〃
Jasper's eyes were tight； focused。 I knew he was taking in my emotional climate； and I worked on
settling into a steady calm。 I felt Edward free my arms as he read Jasper's assessment。 But； though Jasper
was getting it firsthand； he didn't seem as certain。
When she heard my voice； the too…aware child struggled in Rosalie's arms； reaching toward me。
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Somehow； her expression managed to look impatient。
〃Jazz； Em； let us through。 Bella's got this。〃
〃Edward； the risk—；〃 Jasper said。
〃Minimal。 Listen； Jasper—on the hunt she caught the scent of some hikers who were in the wrong place
at the wrong time___〃
I heard Carlisle suck in a shocked breath。 Esme's face was suddenly full of concern mingled with
compassion。 Jasper's eyes widened； but he nodded just a tiny bit； as if Edward's words answered some
question in his head。 Jacob's mouth screwed up into a disgusted grimace。 Emmett shrugged。 Rosalie
seemed even less concerned than Emmett as she tried to hold on to the struggling child in her arms。
Alice's expression told me that she was not fooled。 Her narrowed eyes； focused with burning intensity on
my borrowed shirt； seemed more worried about what I'd done to my dress than anything else。
〃Edward！〃 Carlisle chastened。 〃How could you be so irresponsible？〃
〃I know； Carlisle； I know。 I was just plain stupid。 I should have taken the time to make sure we were in
a safe
zone before I set her loose。〃
〃Edward；〃 I mumbled； embarrassed by the way they stared at me。 It was like they were trying to see a
brighter red in my eyes。
〃He's absolutely right to rebuke me； Bella；〃 Edward said with a grin。 〃I made a huge mistake。 The fact
that you are stronger than anyone I've ever known doesn't change that。〃
Alice rolled her eyes。 〃Tasteful joke； Edward。〃
〃I wasn't making a joke。 I was explaining to Jasper why I know Bella can handle this。 It's not my fault
everyone jumped to conclusions。〃
〃Wait；〃 Jasper gasped。 〃She didn't hunt the humans？〃
〃She started to；〃 Edward said； clearly enjoying himself。 My teeth ground together。 〃She was entirely
focused on the hunt。〃
〃What happened？〃 Carlisle interjected。 His eyes were suddenly bright； an amazed smile beginning to
form on his face。 It reminded me of before； when he'd wanted the details on my transformation
experience。 The thrill of new information。
Edward leaned toward him； animated。 〃She heard me behind her and reacted defensively。 As soon as
my pursuit broke into her concentration； she snapped right out of it。 I've never seen anything to equal her。
She realized at once what was happening； and then。。。 she held her breath and ran away〃
〃Whoa；〃 Emmett murmured。 〃Seriously？〃
〃He's not telling it right；〃 I muttered； more embarrassed than before。 〃He left out the part where I
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growled at him。〃
〃Did ya get in a couple of good swipes？〃 Emmett asked eagerly。
〃No！ Of course not。〃
〃No； not really？ You really didn't attack him？〃
〃Emmett！〃 I protested。
〃Aw； what a waste；〃 Emmett groaned。 〃And here you're probably the one person who could take him
—since he can't get in your head to cheat—and you had a perfect excuse； too。〃 He sighed。 〃I've been
dying to see how he'd do without that advantage。〃
I glared at him frostily。 〃I would never。〃
Jasper's frown caught my attention； he seemed even more disturbed than before。
Edward touched his fist lightly to Jasper's shoulder in a mock punch。 〃You see what I mean？〃
〃It's not natural；〃 Jasper muttered。
〃She could have turned on you—she's only hours old！〃 Esme scolded； putting her hand against her heart。
〃Oh； we should have gone with you。〃
I wasn't paying so much attention； now that Edward was past the punch line of his joke。 I was staring at
the gorgeous child by the door； who was still staring at me。 Her little dimpled hands reached out toward
me like she knew exactly who I was。 Automatically； my hand lifted to mimic hers。
〃Edward；〃 I said； leaning around Jasper to see her better。 〃Please？〃
Jasper's teeth were set； he didn't move。
〃Jazz； this isn't anything you've seen before；〃 Alice said quietly。 〃Trust me。〃
Their eyes met for a short second； and then Jasper nodded。 He moved out of my way； but put one hand
on my shoulder and moved with me as I walked slowly forward。
I thought about every step before I took it； analyzing my mood； the burn in my throat； the position of the
others around me。 How strong I felt versus how well they would be able to contain me。 It was a slow
procession。
And then the child in Rosalie's arms； struggling and reaching all this time while her expression got more
and more irritated； let out a high； ringing wail。 Everyone reacted as if—like me—they'd never heard her
voice before。
They swarmed around her in a second； leaving me standing alone； frozen in place。 The sound of
Renesmee's cry pierced right through me； spearing me to the floor。 My eyes pricked in the strangest way；
like they wanted to tear。
It seemed like everyone had a hand on her； patting and soothing。 Everyone but me。
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〃What's the matter？ Is she hurt？ What happened？〃
It was Jacob's voice that was loudest； that raised anxiously above the others。 I watched in shock as he
reached for Renesmee； and then in utter horror as Rosalie surrendered her to him without a fight。
〃No； she's fine；〃 Rosalie reassured him。
Rosalie was reassuring Jacob？