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But　Sam　wouldn't　hear　of　it。　We're　not　going　to　break　the　treaty。　Let　them　make　the　breach。　Just　
because　we　had　no　proof　that　the　Cullens　had　done　anything　wrong。　Yet。　You　had　to　add　the　yet；　
because　we　all　knew　it　was　inevitable。　Bella　was　either　ing　back　one　of　them；　or　not　ing　back。　
Either　way；　a　human　life　had　been　lost。　And　that　meant　game　on。　

In　the　other　room；　Paul　brayed　like　a　mule。　Maybe　he'd　switched　to　a　edy。　Maybe　the　mercial　
was　funny。　Whatever。　It　grated　on　my　nerves。　

I　thought　about　breaking　his　nose　again。　But　it　wasn't　Paul　I　wanted　to　fight　with。　Not　really。　

I　tried　to　listen　to　other　sounds；　the　wind　in　the　trees；　it　wasn't　the　same；　not　through　human　ears。　There　
were　a　million　voices　in　the　wind　that　I　couldn't　hear　in　this　body。　

But　these　ears　were　sensitive　enough。　I　could　hear　past　the　trees；　to　the　road；　the　sounds　of　the　cars　
ing　around　that　last　bend　where　you　could　finally　see　the　beach—the　vista　of　the　islands　and　the　
rocks　and　the　big　blue　ocean　stretching　to　the　horizon。　The　La　Push　cops　liked　to　hang　out　right　around　
there。　Tourists　never　noticed　the　reduced　speed　limit　sign　on　the　other　side　of　the　road。　

I　could　hear　the　voices　outside　the　souvenir　shop　on　the　beach。　I　could　hear　the　cowbell　clanging　as　the　
door　opened　and　closed。　I　could　hear　Embry's　mom　at　the　cash　register；　printing　out　a　receipt。　

I　could　hear　the　tide　raking　across　the　beach　rocks。　I　could　hear　the　kids　squeal　as　the　icy　water　rushed　
in　too　fast　for　them　to　get　out　of　the　way。　I　could　hear　the　moms　plain　about　the　wet　clothes。　And　I　
could　hear　a　familiar　voice。。。。　

I　was　listening　so　hard　that　the　sudden　burst　of　Paul's　donkey　laugh　made　me　jump　half　off　the　bed。　

〃Get　out　of　my　house；〃　I　grumbled。　Knowing　he　wouldn't　pay　any　attention；　I　followed　my　own　advice。　I　
wrenched　open　my　window　and　climbed　out　the　back　way　so　that　I　wouldn't　see　Paul　again。　It　would　be　



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too　tempting。　I　knew　I　would　hit　him　again；　and　Rachel　was　going　to　be　pissed　enough　already。　She'd　see　
the　blood　on　his　shirt；　and　she'd　blame　me　right　away　without　waiting　for　proof。　Of　course；　she'd　be　right；　
but　still。　

I　paced　down　to　the　shore；　my　fists　in　my　pockets。　Nobody　looked　at　me　twice　when　I　went　through　the　
dirt　lot　by　First　Beach。　That　was　one　nice　thing　about　summer—no　one　cared　if　you　wore　nothing　but　
shorts。　

I　followed　the　familiar　voice　I'd　heard　and　found　Quil　easy　enough。　He　was　on　the　south　end　of　the　
crescent；　avoiding　the　bigger　part　of　the　tourist　crowd。　He　kept　up　a　constant　stream　of　warnings。　

〃Keep　out　of　the　water；　Claire。　C'mon。　No；　don't。　Oh！　Nice；　kid。　Seriously；　do　you　want　Emily　to　yell　at　
me？　I'm　not　bringing　you　back　to　the　beach　again　if　you　don't—Oh　yeah？　Don't—ugh。　You　think　that's　
funny；　do　you？　Hah！　Who's　laughing　now；　huh？〃　

He　had　the　giggling　toddler　by　the　ankle　when　I　reached　them。　She　had　a　bucket　in　one　hand；　and　her　
jeans　were　drenched。　He　had　a　huge　wet　mark　down　the　front　of　his　tshirt。　

〃Five　bucks　on　the　baby　girl；〃　I　said。　

〃Hey；　Jake。〃　

Claire　squealed　and　threw　her　bucket　at　Quil's　knees。　〃Down；　down！〃　

He　set　her　carefully　on　her　feet　and　she　ran　to　me。　She　wrapped　her　arms　around　my　leg。　

〃UncaJay！〃　

〃How's　it　going；　Claire？〃　

She　giggled。　〃Qwil　aaaaawl　wet　now。〃　

〃I　can　see　that。　Where's　your　mama？〃　

〃Gone；　gone；　gone；〃　Claire　sang；　〃Cwaire　pway　wid　Qwil　aaaawl　day。　Cwaire　nebber　gowin　home。〃　
She　let　go　of　me　and　ran　to　Quil。　He　scooped　her　up　and　slung　her　onto　his　shoulders。　

〃Sounds　like　somebody's　hit　the　terrible　twos。〃　

〃Threes　actually；〃　Quil　corrected。　〃You　missed　the　party。　Princess　theme。　She　made　me　wear　a　crown；　
and　then　Emily　suggested　they　all　try　out　her　new　play　makeup　on　me。〃　

〃Wow；　I'm　really　sorry　I　wasn't　around　to　see　that。〃　

〃Don't　worry；　Emily　has　pictures。　Actually；　I　look　pretty　hot。〃　

〃You're　such　a　patsy。〃　

Quil　shrugged。　〃Claire　had　a　great　time。　That　was　the　point。〃　

I　rolled　my　eyes。　It　was　hard　being　around　imprinted　people。　No　matter　what　stage　they　were　in—about　



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to　tie　the　knot　like　Sam　or　just　a　muchabused　nanny　like　Quil—the　peace　and　certainty　they　always　
radiated　was　downright　pukeinducing。　

Claire　squealed　on　his　shoulders　and　pointed　at　the　ground。　〃Pity　wock；　Qwil！　For　me；　for　me！〃　

〃Which　one；　kiddo？　The　red　one？〃　

〃No　wed！〃　

Quil　dropped　to　his　knees—Claire　screamed　and　pulled　his　hair　like　a　horse's　reigns。　

〃This　blue　one？〃　

〃No；　no；　no。。。；〃　the　little　girl　sang；　thrilled　with　her　new　game。　

The　weird　part　was；　Quil　was　having　just　as　much　fun　as　she　was。　He　didn't　have　that　face　on　that　so　
many　of　the　tourist　dads　and　moms　were　wearing—the　whenisnaptime？　face。　You　never　saw　a　real　
parent　so　jazzed　to　play　whatever　stupid　kiddie　sport　their　rugrat　could　think　up。　I'd　seen　Quil　play　
peekaboo　for　an　hour　straight　without　getting　bored。　

And　I　couldn't　even　make　fun　of　him　for　it—I　envied　him　too　much。　

Though　I　did　think　it　sucked　that　he　had　a　good　fourteen　years　of　monkitude　ahead　of　him　until　Claire　
was　his　age—for　Quil；　at　least；　it　was　a　good　thing　werewolves　didn't　get　older。　But　even　all　that　time　
didn't　seem　to　bother　him　much。　

〃Quil；　you　ever　think　about　dating？〃　I　asked。　

〃Huh？〃　

〃No；　no　yewwo！〃　Claire　crowed。　

〃You　know。　A　real　girl。　I　mean；　just　for　now；　right？　On　your　nights　off　babysitting　duty。〃　

Quil　stared　at　me；　his　mouth　hanging　open。　

〃Pity　wock！　Pity　wock！〃　Claire　screamed　when　he　didn't　offer　her　another　choice。　She　smacked　him　on　
the　head　with　her　little　fist。　

〃Sorry；　Clairebear。　How　about　this　pretty　purple　one？〃　

〃No；〃　she　giggled。　〃No　poopoh。〃　

〃Give　me　a　clue。　I'm　begging；　kid。〃　

Claire　thought　it　over。　〃Gween；〃　she　finally　said。　

Quil　stared　at　the　rocks；　studying　them。　He　picked　four　rocks　in　different　shades　of　green；　and　offered　
them　to　her。　

〃Did　I　get　it？'7　



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〃Yay！〃　

〃Which　one？〃　

Vlaaaawobdem！！〃　

She　cupped　her　hands　and　he　poured　the　small　rocks　into　them。　She　laughed　and　immediately　clunked　
him　on　the　head　with　them。　He　winced　theatrically　and　then　got　to　his　feet　and　started　walking　back　up　
toward　the　parking　lot。　Probably　worried　about　her　getting　cold　in　her　wet　clothes。　He　was　worse　than　
any　paranoid；　overprotective　mother。　

〃Sorry　if　I　was　being　pushy　before；　man；　about　the　girl　thing；〃　I　said。　

〃Naw；　that's　cool；〃　Quil　said。　〃It　kind　of　took　me　by　surprise　is　all。　I　hadn't　thought　about　it。〃　

〃I　bet　she'd　understand。　You　know；　when　she's　grown　up。　She　wouldn't　get　mad　that　you　had　a　life　while　
she　was　in　diapers。〃　

〃No；　I　know。　I'm　sure　she'd　understand　that。〃　

He　didn't　say　anything　else。　

〃But　you　won't　do　that；　will　you？〃　I　guessed。　

〃I　can't　see　it；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　can't　imagine。　I　just　don't。。。　see　anyone　that　way。　I　don't　notice　
girls　anymore；　you　know。　I　don't　see　their　faces。〃　

〃Put　that　together　with　the　tiara　and　makeup；　and　maybe　Claire　will　have　a　different　kind　of　petition　
to　worry　about。〃　

Quil　laughed　and　made　kissing　noises　at　me。　〃You　available　this　Friday；　Jacob？〃　

〃You　wish；〃　I　said；　and　then　I　made　a　face。　〃Yeah；　guess　I　am；　though。〃　

He　hesitated　a　second　and　then　said；　〃You　ever　think　about　dating？〃　

I　sighed。　Guess　I'd　opened　myself　up　for　that　one。　

〃You　know；　Jake；　maybe　you　should　think　about　getting　a　life。〃　

He　didn't　say　it　like　a　joke。　His　voice　was　sympathetic。　That　made　it　worse。　

〃I　don't　see　them；　either；　Quil。　I　don't　see　their　faces。〃　

Quil　sighed；　too。　

Far　away；　too　low　for　anyone　but　just　us　two　to　hear　it　over　the　waves；　a　howl　rose　out　of　the　forest。　

〃Dang；　that's　Sam；〃　Quil　said。　His　hands　flew　up　to　touch　Claire；　as　if　making　sure　she　was　still　there。　〃I　
don't　know　where　her　mom's　at！〃　



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Til　see　what　it　is。　If　we　need　you；　HI　let　you　know。〃　I　raced　through　the　words。　They　came　out　all　
slurred　together。　〃Hey；　why　don't　you　take　her　up　to　the　Clearwaters'？　Sue　and　Billy　can　keep　an　eye　on　
her　if　they　need　to。　They　might　know　what's　going　on；　anyway。〃　

〃Okay—get　outta　here；　Jake！〃　

I　took　off　running；　not　for　the　dirt　path　through　the　weedy　hedge；　but　in　the　shortest　line　toward　the　
forest。　I　hurdled　the　first　line　of　driftwood　and　then　ripped　my　way　through　the　briars；　still　running。　I　felt　
the　little　tears　as　the　thorns　cut　into　my　skin；　but　I　ignored　them。　Their　sting　would　be　healed　before　I　
made　the　trees。　

I　cut　behind　the　store　and　darted　across　the　highway。　Somebody　honked　at　me。　Once　in　the　safety　of　
the　trees；　I　ran　faster；　taking　longer　strides。　People　would　stare　if　I　was　out　in　the　open。　Normal　people　
couldn't　run　like　this。　Sometimes　I　thought　it　might　be　fun　to　enter　a　race—you　know；　like　the　Olympic　
trials　or　something。　It　would　be　cool　to　watch　the　expressions　on　those　star　athletes'　faces　when　I　blew　
by　them。　Only　I　was　pretty　sure　the　testing　they　did　to　make　sure　you　weren't　on　steroids　would　probably　
turn　up　some　really　freaky　crap　in　my　blood。　

As　soon　as　I　was　in　the　true　forest；　unbound　by　roads　or　houses；　I　skidded　to　a　stop　and　kicked　my　
shorts　off。　With　quick；　practiced　moves；　I　rolled　them　up　and　tied　them　to　the　leather　cord　around　my　
ankle。　As　I　was　still　pulling　the　ends　tight；　I　started　shifting。　The　fire　trembled　down　my　spine；　throwing　
tight　spasms　out　along　my　arms　and　legs。　It　only　took　a　second。　The　heat　flooded　through　me；　and　I　felt　
the　silent　shimmer　that　made　me　something　else。　I　threw　my　heavy　paws　against　the　matted　earth　and　
stretched　my　back　in　one　long；　rolling　extension。　

Phasing　was　very　easy　when　I　was　centered　like　this。　I　didn't　have　issues　with　my　temper　anymore。　
Except　when　it　got　in　the　way。　

For　one　half　second；　I　remembered　the　awful　moment　at　that　unspeakable　joke　of　a　wedding。　I'd　been　
so　insane　wit