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The sun turned the clouds a slivery pink above us。 I could see his expression now； it was angry；
frustrated； betrayed。
〃Could you… well； try to not be a… werewolf？〃 I suggested in a whisper。
He threw his hands up in the air。 〃Like I have a choice about it！〃 he shouted。 〃And how would that help
anything； if you're worried about people disappearing？〃
〃I don't understand you。〃
He glared at me； his eyes narrowing and his mouth twisting into a snarl。 〃You know what makes me so
mad I could just spit？〃
I flinched away from his hostile expression。 He seemed to be waiting for an answer； so I shook my head。
〃You're such a hypocrite； Bella—there you sit； terrified of me！ How is that fair？〃 His hands shook with
anger。
〃Hypocrite？ How does being afraid of a monster make me a hypocrite？〃
〃Ugh！〃 he groaned； pressing his trembling fists to his temples and squeezing his eyes shut。 〃Would you
listen to yourself？〃
〃What？〃
He took two steps toward me； leaning over me and glaring with fury。 〃Well； I'm so sorry that I can't be
the right kind of monster for you； Bella。 I guess I'm just not as great as a bloodsucker； am I？〃
I jumped to my feet and glared back。 〃No； you're not！〃 I shouted。 〃It's not what you are； stupid； it's what
you do！〃
〃What's that supposed to mean？〃 He roared； his entire frame quivering with rage。
I was taken entirely by surprise when Edward's voice cautioned me。 〃Be very careful； Bella；〃 his velvet
voice warned。 〃Don't push him too far。 You need to calm him down。〃
Even the voice in my head was making no sense today。
I listened to him； though。 I would do anything for that voice。
〃Jacob；〃 I pleaded； making my tone soft and even。 〃Is it really necessary to kill people； Jacob？ Isn't there
some other way？ I mean； if vampires can find a way to survive without murdering people； couldn't you
give it a try； too？〃
He straightened up with a jerk； like my words had sent an electric shock through him。 His eyebrows shot
up and his eyes stared wide。
〃Killing people？〃 he demanded。
〃What did you think we were talking about？〃
He wasn't trembling anymore。 He looked at me with half…hopeful disbelief。 〃I thought we were talking
about your disgust for werewolves。〃
〃No； Jake； no。 It's not that you're a… wolf。 That's fine；〃 I promised him； and I knew as I said the words
that I meant them。 I really didn't care if he turned into a big wolf—he was still Jacob。 〃If you could just
find a way not to hurt people… that's all that upsets me。 These ate innocent people； Jake； people like
Charlie； and I can't just look the other way while you—〃
〃Is that all？ Really？〃 he interrupted me； a smile breaking across his face。 〃You're just scared because I'm
a murderer？ That's the only reason？〃
〃Isn't that reason enough？〃
He started to laugh。
〃Jacob Black； this is so notfunny！〃
〃Sure； sure；〃 he agreed； still chortling。
He took one long stride and caught me in another vice…tight bear hug。
〃You really； honestly don't mind that I morph into a giant dog？〃 he asked； his voice joyful in my ear。
〃No；〃 I gasped。 〃Can't—breathe—Jake！〃
He let me go； but took both my hands。 〃I'm not a killer； Bella。〃
I studied his face； and it was clear that this was the truth。 Relief pulsed through me。
〃Really？〃 I asked。
〃Really；〃 he promised solemnly。
I threw my arms around him。 It reminded me of that first day with the motorcycles—he was bigger；
though； and I felt even more like a child now。
Like that other time； he stroked my hair。
〃Sorry I called you a hypocrite；〃 he apologized。
〃Sorry I called you a murderer。〃
He laughed。
I thought of something then； and pulled away from him so that I could see his face。 My eyebrows
furrowed in anxiety。 〃What about Sam？ And the others？〃
He shook his head； smiling like a huge burden had been removed from his shoulders。 〃Of course not。
Don't you remember what we call ourselves？〃
The memory was clear—I'd just been thinking of that very day。 〃Protectors？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃But I don't understand。 What's happening in the woods？ The missing hikers； the blood？〃
His face was serious； worried at once。 〃We're trying to do our job； Bella。 We're trying to protect them；
but we're always just a little too late。〃
〃Protect them from what？ Is there really a bear out there； too？〃
〃Bella； honey； we only protect people from one thing—our one enemy。 It's the reason we exist—because
they do。〃
I stared at him blankly for one second before I understood。 Then the blood drained from my face and a
thin； wordless cry of horror broke through my lips。
He nodded。 〃I thought you； of all people； would reali2e what was really going on。〃
〃Laurent；〃 I whispered。 〃He's still here。〃
Jacob blinked twice； and cocked his head to one side。 〃Who's Laurent？〃
I tried to sort out the chaos in my head so that I could answer。 〃You know—you saw him in the
meadow。 You were there…〃 The words came out in a wondering tone as it all sunk in。 〃You were there；
and you kept him from killing me…〃
〃Oh； the black…haired leech？〃 He grinned； a tight； fierce grin。 〃Was that his name？〃
I shuddered。 〃What were you thinking？〃 I whispered。 〃He could have killed you！ Jake； you don't realize
how dangerous—〃
Another laugh interrupted me 〃Bella； one lone vampire isn't much of a problem for a pack as big as ours。
It was so easy； it was hardly even fun！〃
〃What was so easy？〃
〃Killing the bloodsucker who was going to kill you。 Now； I don't count that towards the whole murder
thing；〃 he added quickly。 〃Vampires don't count as people。〃
I could only mouth the words。 〃You… killed… Laurent？〃
He nodded。 〃Well； it was a group effort；〃 he qualified。
〃Laurent is dead？〃 I whispered。
His expression changed。 〃You're not upset about that； are you？ He was going to kill you—he was going
for the kill； Bella； we were sure of that before we attacked。 You know that； right？〃
〃I know that。 No； I'm not upset—I'm…〃 I had to sit down。 I stumbled back a step until I felt the
driftwood against my calves； and then sank down onto it。 〃Laurent is dead。 He's not coming back for
me。〃
〃You're not mad？ He wasn't one of your friends or anything； was he？〃
〃My friend？〃 I stared up at him； confused and dizzy with relief。 I started babbling； my eyes getting moist。
〃No； Jake。 I'm so… so relieved。 I thought he was going to find me—I've been waiting for him every
night； just hoping that he'd stop with me and leave Charlie alone。 I've been so frightened； Jacob… But
how？ He was a vampire！ How did you kill him？ He was so strong； so hard； like marble…〃
He sat down next to me and put one big arm around me comfortingly。 〃It's what we're made for； Bells。
We're strong； too。 I wish you would have told me that you were so afraid。 You didn't need to be。〃
〃You weren't around；〃 I mumbled； lost in thought。
〃Oh； right。〃
〃Wait； Jake—I thought you knew； though。 Last night； you said it wasn't safe for you to be in my room。 I
thought you knew that a vampire might be coming。 Isn't that what you were talking about？〃
He looked confused fo