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taking a different path than the wolf。
“Edward。” I fought to force the words through my constricted throat。 “What happened； Edward？ What
happened to Sam？ Where are we going？ What’s happening？”
“We have to go back to the clearing；” he told me in a low voice。 “We knew there was a good probability
of this happening。 Earlier this morning； Alice saw it and passed it through Sam to Seth。 The Volturi decided it
was time to intercede。”
The Volturi。
Too much。 My mind refused to make sense of the words； pretended it couldn’t understand。
The trees jolted past us。 He was running downhill so fast that it felt as if we were plummeting； falling out of
control。
“Don’t panic。 They aren’t ing for us。 It’s just the normal contingent of the guard that usually cleans up
this kind of mess。 Nothing momentous； they’re merely doing their job。 Of course； they seem to have timed
their arrival very carefully。 Which leads me to believe that no one in Italy would mourn if these newborns had
reduced the size of the Cullen family。” The words came through his teeth； hard and bleak。 “I’ll know for sure
what they were thinking when they get to the clearing。”
“Is that why we’re going back？” I whispered。 Could I handle this？ Images of flowing black robes crept
into my unwilling mind； and I flinched away from them。 I was close to a breaking point。
“It’s part of the reason。 Mostly； it will be safer for us to present a united front at this point。 They have no
reason to harass us； but 。 。 。 Jane’s with them。 If she thought we were alone somewhere away from the others；
it might tempt her。 Like Victoria； Jane will probably guess that I’m with you。 Demetri； of course； is with her。
He could find me； if Jane asked him to。”
I didn’t want to think that name。 I didn’t want to see that blindingly exquisite； childlike face in my head。 A
strange sound came out of my throat。
“Shh； Bella； shh。 It’s all going to be fine。 Alice can see that。”
Alice could see？ But 。 。 。 then where were the wolves？ Where was the pack？
“The pack？”
“They had to leave quickly。 The Volturi do not honor truces with werewolves。”
I could hear my breathing get faster； but I couldn’t control it。 I started to gasp。
“I swear they will be fine；” Edward promised me。 “The Volturi won’t recognize the scent — they won’t
realize the wolves are here； this isn’t a species they are familiar with。 The pack will be fine。”
I couldn’t process his explanation。 My concentration was ripped to shreds by my fears。 We’re going to
be fine； he had said before 。 。 。 and Seth； howling in agony 。 。 。 Edward had avoided my first question；
distracted me with the Volturi。 。 。 。
I was very close to the edge — just clinging by my fingertips。
The trees were a racing blur that flowed around him like jade waters。
“What happened？” I whispered again。 “Before。 When Seth was howling？ When you were hurt？”
Edward hesitated。
“Edward！ Tell me！”
“It was all over；” he whispered。 I could barely hear him over the wind his speed created。 “The wolves
didn’t count their half 。 。 。 they thought they had them all。 Of course； Alice couldn’t see。 。 。 。”
“What happened？！”
“One of the newborns was hiding。 。 。 。 Leah found him — she was being stupid； cocky； trying to prove
something。 She engaged him alone。 。 。 。”
“Leah；” I repeated； and I was too weak to feel shame for the relief that flooded through me。 “Is she going
to be okay？”
“Leah wasn’t hurt；” Edward mumbled。
I stared at him for a long second。
Sam — help him — Edward had gasped。 Him； not her。
“We’re almost there；” Edward said； and he stared at a fixed point in the sky。
Automatically； my eyes followed his。 There was a dark purple cloud hanging low over the trees。 A cloud？
But it was so abnormally sunny。 。 。 。 No； not a cloud — I recognized the thick column of smoke； just like the
one at our campsite。
“Edward；” I said； my voice nearly inaudible。 “Edward； someone got hurt。”
I’d heard Seth’s agony； seen the torture in Edward’s face。
“Yes；” he whispered。
“Who？” I asked； though； of course； I already knew the answer。
Of course I did。 Of course。
The trees were slowing around us as we came to our destination。
It took him a long moment to answer me。
“Jacob；” he said。
I was able to nod once。
“Of course；” I whispered。
And then I slipped off the edge I was clinging to inside my head。
Everything went black。
I was first aware of the cool hands touching me。 More than one pair of hands。 Arms holding me； a palm
curved to fit my cheek； fingers stroking my forehead； and more fingers pressed lightly into my wrist。
Then I was aware of the voices。 They were just ahumming at first； and then they grew in volume and
clarity like someone was turning up a radio。
“Carlisle — it’s been five minutes。” Edward’s voice； anxious。
“She’ll e around when she’s ready； Edward。” Carlisle’s voice； always calm and sure。 “She’s had too
much to deal with today。 Let her mind protect itself。”
But my mind was not protected。 It was trapped in the knowledge that had not left me； even in
unconsciousness — the pain that was part of the blackness。
I felt totally disconnected from my body。 Like I was caged in some small corner of my head； no longer at
the controls。 But I couldn’t do anything about it。 I couldn’t think。 The agony was too strong for that。 There
was no escape from it。
Jacob。
Jacob。
No； no； no； no； no 。 。 。
“Alice； how long do we have？” Edward demanded； his voice still tense； Carlisle’s soothing words had not
helped。
From farther away； Alice’s voice。 It was brightly chipper。 “Another five minutes。 And Bella will open her
eyes in thirtyseven seconds。 I wouldn’t doubt that she can hear us now。”
“Bella； honey？” This was Esme’s soft； forting voice。 “Can you hear me？ You’re safe now； dear。”
Yes； I was safe。 Did that really matter？
Then cool lips were at my ear； and Edward was speaking the words that allowed me to escape from the
torture that had me caged inside my own head。
“He’s going to live； Bella。 Jacob Black is healing as I speak。 He’ll be fine。”
As the pain and dread eased； I found my way back to my body。 My eyelids fluttered。
“Oh； Bella；” Edward sighed in relief； and his lips touched mine。
“Edward；” I whispered。
“Yes； I’m here。”
I got my lids to open； and I stared into warm gold。
“Jacob is okay？” I asked。
“Yes；” he promised。
I watched his eyes carefully for some sign that he was placating me； but they were perfectly clear。
“I examined him myself；” Carlisle said then； I turned my head to find his face； only a few feet away。
Carlisle’s expression was serious and reassuring at the same time。 It was impossible to doubt him。 “His life is
not in any danger。 He was healing at an incredible rate； though his injuries were extensive enough that it will still
be a few days before he is back to normal； even if the rate of repair holds steady。 As soon as we’re done
here； I will do what I can to help him。 Sam is trying to get him to phase back to his human form。 That will
make treating him easier。” Carlisle smiled slightly。 “I’ve never been to veterinarian school。”
“What happened to him？” I whispered。 “How bad are his injuries？”
Carlisle’s face was serious again。 “Another wolf was in trouble —”
“Leah；” I breathed。
“Yes。 He knocked her out of the way； but he didn’t have time to defend himself。 The newborn got his
arms around him。 Most of the bones on the right half of his body were shattered。”
I flinched。
“Sam and Paul got there in time。 He was already improving when they took him back to La Push。”
“He’ll be back to normal？” I asked。
“Yes； Bella。 He won’t have any permanent damage。”
I took a deep breath。
“Three minutes；” Alice said quietly。
I struggled； trying to get vertical。 Edward realized what I was doing and helped me to my feet。
I stared at the scene in front of me。
The Cullens stood in a loose semicircle around the bonfire。 There were hardly any flames visible； just the
thick； purpleblack smoke； hovering like a disease against the bright grass。 Jasper sto