They were well hidden in the thick branches； but I was expecting them； and I knew what to look for。 I
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nodded as I blew past them； not bothering to wonder what they made of my day trip。
I nodded to Leah and Seth； too； as I cruised up the Cullens' driveway。 It was starting to get dark； and
the clouds were thick on this side of the sound； but I saw their eyes glitter in the glow of the headlights。 I
would explain to them later。 There'd be plenty of time for that。
It was a surprise to find Edward waiting for me in the garage。 I hadn't seen him away from Bella in days。
I could tell from his face that nothing bad had happened to her。 In fact； he looked more peaceful than
before。 My stomach tightened as I remembered where that peace came from。
It was too bad that—with all my brooding—I'd forgotten to wreck the car。 Oh well。 I probably wouldn't
have been able to stand hurting this car； anyway。 Maybe he'd guessed as much； and that's why he'd lent
it to me in the first place。
〃A few things； Jacob；〃 he said as soon as I cut the engine。
I took a deep breath and held it for a minute。 Then； slowly； I got out of the car and threw the keys to
him。
〃Thanks for the loan；〃 I said sourly。 Apparently； it would have to be repaid。 〃What do you want now？〃
〃Firstly。。。 I know how averse you are to using your authority with your pack； but。。。〃
I blinked； astonished that he would even dream of starting in on this one。 〃What？〃
〃If you can't or won't control Leah； then I—〃
〃Leah？〃 I interrupted； speaking through my teeth。 〃What happened？〃
Edward's face was hard。 〃She came up to see why you'd left so abruptly。 I tried to explain。 I suppose it
might not have come out right。〃
〃What did she do？〃
〃She phased to her human form and—〃
〃Really？〃 I interrupted again； shocked this time。 I couldn't process that。 Leah letting her guard down right
in the mouth of the enemy's lair？
〃She wanted to。。。 speak to Bella。〃
〃To Bella？〃
Edward got all hissy then。 〃I won't let Bella be upset like that again。 I don't care how justified Leah
thinks she is！ I didn't hurt her—of course I wouldn't—but I'll throw her out of the house if it happens
again。 I'll launch her right across the river—〃
〃Hold on。 What did she say？〃 None of this was making any sense。
Edward took a deep breath； composing himself。 〃Leah was unnecessarily harsh。 I'm not going to pretend
that I understand why Bella is unable to let go of you； but I do know that she does not behave this way to
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hurt you。 She suffers a great deal over the pain she's inflicting on you； and on me； by asking you to stay。
What Leah said was uncalled for。 Bella's been crying—〃
〃Wait—Leah was yelling at Bella about me？〃
He nodded one sharp nod。 〃You were quite vehemently championed。〃
Whoa。 〃I didn't ask her to do that。〃
〃I know。〃
I rolled my eyes。 Of course he knew。 He knew everything。
But that was really something about Leah。 Who would have believed it？ Leah walking into the
bloodsuckers' place human to complain about how /was being treated。
〃I can't promise to control Leah；〃 I told him。 〃I won't do that。 But I'll talk to her； okay？ And I don't think
there'll be a repeat。 Leah's not one to hold back； so she probably got it all off her chest today。〃
〃I would say so。〃
〃Anyway； I'll talk to Bella about it； too。 She doesn't need to feel bad。 This one's on me。〃
〃I already told her that。〃
〃Of course you did。 Is she okay？〃
〃She's sleeping now。 Rose is with her。〃
So the psycho was 〃Rose〃 now。 He'd completely crossed over to the dark side。
He ignored that thought； continuing with a more complete answer to my question。 〃She's。。。 better in
some ways。 Aside from Leah's tirade and the resulting guilt。〃
Better。 Because Edward was hearing the monster and everything was all lovey…dovey now。 Fantastic。
〃It's a bit more than that；〃 he murmured。 〃Now that I can make out the child's thoughts； it's apparent that
he or she has remarkably developed mental facilities。 He can understand us； to an extent。〃
My mouth fell open。 〃Are you serious？〃
〃Yes。 He seems to have a vague sense of what hurts her now。 He's trying to avoid that； as much as
possible。 He。。。 loves her。 Already。〃
I stared at Edward； feeling sort of like my eyes might pop out of their sockets。 Underneath that disbelief；
I could see right away that this was the critical factor。 This was what had changed Edward—that the
monster had convinced him of this love。 He couldn't hate what loved Bella。 It was probably why he
couldn't hate me； either。 There was a big
difference； though。 I wasn't killing her。
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Edward went on； acting like he hadn't heard all that。 〃The progress； I believe； is more than we'd judged。
When Carlisle returns—〃
〃They're not back？〃 I cut in sharply。 I thought of Sam and Jared； watching the road。 Would they get
curious as to what was going on？
〃Alice and Jasper are。 Carlisle sent all the blood he was able to acquire； but it wasn't as much as he was
hoping for—Bella will use up this supply in another day the way her appetite has grown。 Carlisle stayed
to try another source。 I don't think that's necessary now； but he wants to be covered for any eventuality。〃
〃Why isn't it necessary？ If she needs more？〃
I could tell he was watching and listening to my reaction carefully as he explained。 Tm trying to persuade
Carlisle to deliver the baby as soon as he is back。〃
〃What？〃
〃The child seems to be attempting to avoid rough movements； but it's difficult。 He's become too big。 It's
madness to wait； when he's clearly developed beyond what Carlisle had guessed。 Bella's too fragile to
delay。〃
I kept getting my legs knocked out from under me。 First； counting on Edward's hatred of the thing so
much。 Now； I'd realized that I thought of those four days as a sure thing。 I'd banked on them。
The endless ocean of grief that waited stretched out before me。
I tried to catch my breath。
Edward waited。 I stared at his face while I recovered； recognizing another change there。
〃You think she's going to make it；〃 I whispered。
〃Yes。 That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about。〃
I couldn't say anything。 After a minute； he went on。
〃Yes；〃 he said again。 〃Waiting； as we have been； for the child to be ready； that was insanely dangerous。
At any moment it could have been too late。 But if we're proactive about this； if we act quickly； I see no
reason why it should not go well。 Knowing the child's mind is unbelievably helpful。 Thankfully； Bella and
Rose agree with me。 Now that I've convinced them it's safe for the child if we proceed； there's nothing to
keep this from working。〃
〃When will Carlisle be back？〃 I asked； still whispering。 I hadn't got my breath back yet。
〃By noon tomorrow。〃
My knees buckled。 I had to grab the car to hold myself up。 Edward reached out like he was offering
support； but then he thought better of it and dropped his hands。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he whispered。 〃I am truly sorry for the pain this causes you； Jacob。 Though you hate me； I
must admit that I don't feel the same about you。 I think of you as a。。。 a brother in many ways。 A comrade
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in arms； at the very least。 I regret your suffering more than you realize。 But Bella is going to survive〃
—when he said that his voice was fierce； even violent—〃and I know that's what really matters to you。〃
He was probably right。 It was hard to tell。 My head was spinning。
〃So I hate to do this now； while you're already dealing with too much； but； clearly； there is little time。 I
have to ask you for something—to beg； if I must。〃
〃I don't have anything left；〃 I choked out。
He lifted his hand again； as if to put it on my shoulder； but then let it drop like before and sighed。
〃I know how much you have given；〃 he said quietly。 〃But this is something you do have； and only you。
I'm asking this of the true Alpha； Jacob。 I'm asking this of Ephraim's heir。〃
I was way past being able to respond。
〃I want your permission to deviate from what we agreed to in our treaty with Ephraim。 I want you to
grant us an exception。 I want your permission to save her life。 You know 111 do it anyway； but I don't
want to break faith with you if there is any way to avoid it。 We never intended to go back on our word；
and we