me dizzy。 The wolf beside me got up； too。 His shoulder pushed against mine； propping me up。
Wait；I thought。
The circling paused for one beat； and then they were pacing again。
There's little time；Sam said。
But— what are you thinking？ You wouldn't attack them for breaking the treaty this afternoon。
Now you're planning an ambush； when the treaty is still intact？
This is not something our treaty anticipated；Sam said。 This is a danger to every human in the area。
We don't know what kind of creature the Cullens have bred； but we know that it is strong and
fast…growing。 And it will be too young to follow any treaty。 Remember the newborn vampires we
fought？ Wild； violent； beyond the reach of reason or restraint。 Imagine one like that； but
protected by the Cullens。
We don't know —I tried to interrupt。
Wedon't know； he agreed。 And we can't take chances with the unknown in this case。 We can only
allow the Cullens to exist while we're absolutely sure that they can be trusted not to cause harm。
This。 。 。 thing cannot be trusted。
They don't like it any more than we do。
Sam pulled Rosalie's face； her protective crouch； from my mind and put it on display for everyone。
Some are ready to fight for it； no matter what it is。
It's just ababy； for crying out loud。
Not for long；Leah whispered。
Jake； buddy； this is a big problem；Quil said。 We can't just ignore it。
You're making it into something bigger than it is；I argued。 The only one who's in danger here is Bella。
Again by her own choice；Sam said。 But this time her choice affects us all。
I don't think so。
We can't take that chance。 We won't allow a blood drinker to hunt on our lands。
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Then tell them to leave；the wolf who was still supporting me said。 It was Seth。 Of course。
And inflict the menace on others？ When blood drinkers cross our land； we destroy them； no matter
where they plan to hunt。 We protect everyone we can。
This is crazy；I said。 This afternoon you were afraid to put the pack in danger。
This afternoon I didn't know our families were at risk。
I can't believe this！ How're you going to kill this creature without killing Bella？
There were no words； but the silence was full of meaning。
I howled。 She's human； too！ Doesn't our protection apply to her？
She's dying anyway；Leah thought。 We'll just shorten the process。
That did it。 I leaped away from Seth； toward his sister； with my teeth bared。 I was about to catch her left
hind leg when I felt Sam's teeth cut into my flank； dragging me back。
I howled in pain and fury and turned on him。
Stop！he ordered in the double timbre of the Alpha。
My legs seemed to buckle under me。 I jerked to a halt； only managing to keep on my feet by sheer
willpower。
He turned his gaze away from me。 You will not be cruel to him； Leah； he commanded her。 Bella's
sacrifice is a heavy price； and we will all recognize that It is against everything we stand for to
take a human life。 Making an exception to that code is a bleak thing。 We will all mourn for what
we do tonight。
Tonight？Seth repeated； shocked。 Sam—/ think we should talk about this some more。 Consult with
the Elders； at least。 You can't seriously mean for us to —
We can't afford your tolerance for the Cullens now。 There is no time for debate。 Youwilldo as you are
told； Seth。
SetfYs front knees folded； and his head fell forward under the weight of the Alpha's command。
Sam paced in a tight circle around the two of us。
We need the whole pack for this。 Jacob； you are our strongest fighter。 Youwillfight with us tonight。 I
understand that this is hard for you； so you will concentrate on their fighters— Emmett and
Jasper Cullen。 You don't have to be involved with the。。。 other part。 Quil and Embry will fight with
you。
My knees trembled； I struggled to hold myself upright while the voice of the Alpha lashed at my will。
Paul； Jared； and I will take on Edward and Rosalie。 I think； from the information Jacob has brought us；
they will be the ones guarding Bella。 Carlisle and Alice will also be close； possibly Esme。 Brady； Collin；
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Seth； and Leah will concentrate on them。 Whoever has a clear lineon—we all heard him mentally stutter
overBella's name— the creature will take it。 Destroying the creature is our first priority。
The pack rumbled in nervous agreement。The tension had everyone's fur standing on end。 The pacing
was quicker； and the sound of the paws against the brackish floor was sharper； toenails tearing into the
soil。
Only Seth and I were still； the eye in the center of a storm of bared teeth and flattened ears。 Seth's nose
was almost touching the ground； bowed under Sam's commands。 I felt his pain at the coming disloyalty。
For him this was a betrayal—during that one day of alliance； fighting beside Edward Cullen； Seth had
truly become the vampire's friend。
There was no resistance in him； however。 He would obey no matter how much it hurt him。 He had no
other
choice。
And what choice did I have？ When the Alpha spoke； the pack followed。
Sam had never pushed his authority this far before； I knew he honestly hated to see Seth kneeling before
him like a slave at the foot of his master。 He wouldn't force this if he didn't believe that he had no other
choice。 He couldn't lie to us when we were linked mind to mind like this。 He really believed it was our
duty to destroy Bella and the monster she carried。 He really believed we had no time to waste。 He
believed it enough to die for it。
I saw that he would face Edward himself； Edward's ability to read our thoughts made him the greatest
threat in Sam's mind。 Sam would not let someone else take on that danger。
He saw Jasper as the second…greatest opponent； which is why he'd given him to me。 He knew that I had
the best chance of any of the pack to win that fight。 He'd left the easiest targets for the younger wolves
and Leah。 Little Alice was no danger without her future vision to guide her； and we knew from our time
of alliance that Esme was not a fighter。 Carlisle would be more of a challenge； but his hatred of violence
would hinder him。
I felt sicker than Seth as I watched Sam plan it out； trying to work the angles to give each member of the
pack the best chance of survival。
Everything was inside out。 This afternoon； I'd been chomping at the bit to attack them。 But Seth had
been right—it wasn't a fight I'd been ready for。 I'd blinded myself with that hate。 I hadn't let myself look
at it carefully； because I must have known what I would see if I did。
Carlisle Cullen。 Looking at him without that hate clouding my eyes； I couldn't deny that killing him was
murder。 He was good。 Good as any human we protected。 Maybe better。 The others； too； I supposed；
but I didn't feel as strongly about them。 I didn't know them as well。 It was Carlisle who would hate
fighting back； even to save his own life。 That's why we would be able to kill him—because he wouldn't
want us； his enemies； to die。
This was wrong。
And it wasn't just because killing Bella felt like killing me； like suicide。
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Pull it together； Jacob；Sam ordered。 The tribe comes first
I was wrong today； Sam。
Your reasons were wrong then。 But now we have a duty to fulfill。
I braced myself。 No。
Sam snarled and stopped pacing in front of me。 He stared into my eyes and a deep growl slid between
his teeth。
Yes；the Alpha decreed； his double voice blistering with the heat of his authority。 There are no
loopholes tonight。 You； Jacob； are going to fight the Cullens with us。 You； with Quil and Embry；
will take care of Jasper and Emmett。 You are obligated to protect the tribe。 That is why you exist。
You willperform this obligation。
My shoulders hunched as the edict crushed me。 My legs collapsed； and I was on my belly under him。
No member of the pack could refuse the Alpha。
11。 THE TWO THINGS AT THE VERY TOP OF MY THINGS…I…NEVER…WANT…TO…DO LIST
Sam started moving the others into formation while i was still on the ground。 Embry and Quil were at my
sides； waiting for me to recover and take the point。
I could feel the drive； the need； to get on my feet and lead them。 The compulsion grew； and I fought it
uselessly； cringing on the ground where I was。
Embry whined quietly in my ear。 He didn't want to think the words； afraid that he would bring me to
Sam's attention again。 I felt his wordless plea for me to get up； for me to get this over with and be done
with it。
There was fear in the pack； not so