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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　manded　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　mand。　

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　mands。　I　felt　his　pain　at　the　ing　disloyalty。　
For　him　this　was　a　betrayal—during　that　one　day　of　alliance；　fighting　beside　Edward　Cullen；　Seth　had　
truly　bee　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　secondgreatest　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　es　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　THINGSINEVERWANTTODO　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　pulsion　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　much　for　self　but　for　the　whole。　We　couldn't　imagine　that　we　would　
all　make　it　out　alive　tonight。　Which　brothers　would　we　lose？　Which　minds　would　leave　us　forever？　Which　
grieving　families　would　we　be　consoling　in　the　morning？　

My　mind　began　to　work　with　theirs；　to　think　in　unison；　as　we　dealt　with　these　fears。　Automatically；　I　
pushed　up　from　the　ground　and　shook　out　my　coat。　

Embry　and　Quil　huffed　in　relief。　Quil　touched　his　nose　to　my　side　once。　

Their　minds　were　filled　with　our　challenge；　our　assignment。　We　remembered　together　the　nights　we'd　
watched　the　Cullens　practicing　for　the　fight　with　the　newborns。　Emmett　Cullen　was　strongest；　but　Jasper　
would　be　the　bigger　problem。　He　moved　like　a　lightning　strike—power　and　speed　and　death　rolled　into　
one。　How　many　centuries'　experience　did　he　have？　Enough　that　all　the　other　Cullens　looked　to　him　for　
guidance。　

'　take　point；　if　you　want　flank；　Quil　offered。　There　was　more　excitement　in　his　mind　than　most　of　the　
others。　When　Quil　had　watched　Jasper's　instruction　those　nights；　he'd　been　dying　to　test　his　skill　against　
the　vampire's。　For　him；　this　would　be　a　contest。　Even　knowing　it　was　his　life　on　the　line；　he　saw　it　that　
way。　Paul　was　like　that；　too；　and　the　kids　who　had　never　been　in　battle；　Collin　and　Brady。　Seth　probably　



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would've　been　the　same—if　the　opponents　were　not　his　friends。　

Jake？Quil　nudged　me。　How　do　you　want　to　roll？　

I　just　shook　my　head；　t　couldn't　concentrate—the　pulsion　to　follow　orders　felt　like　puppet　strings　
hooked　intoall　of　my　muscles。　One　foot　forward；　now　another。　

Seth　was　dragging　behind　Collin　and　Brady—Leah　had　assumed　point　there。　She　ignored　Seth　while　
planning　with　the　others；　and　I　could　see　that　she'd　rather　leave　him　out　of　the　fight。There　was　a　maternal　
edge　to　her　feelings　for　her　younger　brother。　She　wished　Sam　would　send　him　home。　Seth　didn't　register　
Leah's　doubts。　He　was　adjusting　to　the　puppet　strings；　too。　

Maybe　if　you　stopped　resisting。。。；Embry　whispered。　

Just　focus　on　our　part。　The　big　ones。　We　can　take　them　down。　We　own　them！Quil　was　working　himself　
up—like　a　pep　talk　before　a　big　game。　

I　could　see　how　easy　it　would　be—to　think　about　nothing　more　than　my　part。　It　wasn't　hard　to　imaging　
attacking　Jasper　and　Emmett。　We'd　been　close　to　that　before。　I'd　thought　of　them　as　enemies　for　a　very　
long　time。　I　could　do　that　now　again。　

I　just　had　to　forget　that　they　were　protecting　the　same　thing　I　would　protect。　I　had　to　forget　the　reason　
why　I　might　want　them　to　win。。。。　

Jake；Embry　warned。　Keep　your　head　in　the　game。　

My　feet　moved　sluggishly；　pulling　against　the　drag　of　the　strings。　

There's　no　point　fighting　it；Embry　whispered　again。　

He　was　right。　I　would　end　up　doing　what　Sam　wanted；　if　he　was　willing　to　push　it。　And　he　was。　
Obviously。　

There　was　a　good　reason　for　the　Alpha's　authority。　Even　a　pack　as　strong　as　ours　wasn't　much　of　a　
force　without　a　leader。　We　had　to　move　together；　to　think　together；　in　order　to　be　effective。　And　that　
required　the　body　to　have　a　head。　

So　what　if　Sam　was　wrong　now？　There　was　nothing　anyone　could　do。　No　one　could　dispute　his　
decision。　

Except。　

And　there　it　was—a　thought　I'd　never；　never　wanted　to　have。　But　now；　with　my　legs　all　tied　up　in　strings；　
I　recognized　the　exception　with　relief—more　than　relief；　with　a　fierce　joy。　

No　one　could　dispute　the　Alpha's　decision—except　for　me。　

I　hadn't　earned　anything。　But　there　were　things　that　had　been　born　in　me；　things　that　I'd　left　unclaimed。　

I'd　never　wanted　to　lead　the　pack。　I　didn't　want　to　do　it　now。　I　didn't　want　the　responsibility　for　all　our　
fates　resting　on　my　shoulders。　Sam　was　better　at　that　than　I　would　ever　be。　



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But　he　was　wrong　tonight。　

And　I　had　not　been　born　to　kneel　to　him。　

The　bonds　fell　off　my　body　the　second　that　I　embraced　my　birthright。　

I　could　feel　it　gathering　in　me；　both　a　freedomand　also　a　strange；　hollow　power。Hollow　because　an　
Alpha's　power　came　from　his　pack；　and　I　had　no　pack。　For　a　second；　loneliness　overwhelmed　me。　

I　had　no　pack　now。　

But　I　was　straight　and　strong　as　I　walked　to　where　Sam　stood；　planning　with　Paul　and　Jared。　He　turned　
at　the　sound　of　my　advance；　and　his　black　eyes　narrowed。　

Ao；　I　told　him　again。　

He　heard　it　right　away；　heard　the　choice　that　I'd　made　in　the　sound　of　the　Alpha　voice　in　my　thoughts。　

He　jumped　back　a　half　step　with　a　shocked　yelp。　

Jacob？　What　have　you　done？　

I　won't　follow　you；　Sam。　Not　for　something　so　wrong。　

He　stared　at　me；　stunned。　You　would。。。　you　would　choose　your　enemies　over　your　family？　

They　aren't—I　shook　my　head；　clearing　it—　they　aren't　our　enemies。　They　never　have　been。　Until　I　
really　thought　about　destroying　them；　thought　it　through；　I　didn't　see　that。　

This　isn't　about　them；he　snarled　at　me。　This　is　about　Bella。　She　has　never　been　the　one　for　you；　she　
has　never　chosen　you；　but　you　continue　to　destroy　your　life　for　her！　

They　were　hard　words；　but　true　words。　I　sucked　in　a　big　gulp　of　air；　breathing　them　in。　

Maybe　you're　right。　But　you're　going　to　destroy　the　pack　over　her；　Sam。　No　matter　how　many　of　them　
survive　tonight；　they　will　always　have　murder　on　their　hands。　

We　have　to　protect　our　families！　

I　know　what　you've　decided；　Sam。　But　you　don't　decide　for　me；　not　anymore。　

Jacob—　you　can't　turn　your　back　on　the　tribe。　

I　heard　the　double　echo　of　his　Alpha　mand；　but　it　was　weightless　this　time。　It　no　longer　applied　to　
me。　He　clenched　his　jaw；　trying　to　force　me　to　respond　to　his　words。　

I　stared　into　his　furious　eyes。　Ephraim　Black's　son　was　not　born　to　follow　Levi　Uley's。　

Is　this　it；　then；　JacobBlack？　His　hackles　rose　and　his　muzzle　pulled　back　from　his　teeth。　Paul　and　Jared　
snarled　and　bristled　at　his　sides。　Even　if　you　can　defeat　me；　the　pack　will　never　follow　you！　



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Now　jerked　back；　a　surprised　whine　escaping　my　throat。　

Defeat　you？　I'm　not　going　to　fight　you；　Sam。　

Then　what's　your　plan？　I'm　not　stepping　aside　so　that　you　can　protect　the　vampire　spawn　at　the　tribe's　
expense。　

I'm　not　telling　you　to　step　aside。　

If　you　order　them　to　follow　you—　

'　never　take　anyone's　will　away　from　him。　

His　tail　whipped　back　and　forth　as　he　recoiled　from　the　judgment　in　my　words。　Then　he　took　a　step　
forward　so　that　we　were　toe　to　toe；　his　exposed　teeth　inches　from　mine。　I　hadn't　noticed　till　this　moment　
that　I'd　grown　taller　than　him。　

There　cannot　be　more　than　one　Alpha。　The　pack　has　chosen　me。　Will　you　rip　us　apart　tonight？　Will　you　
turn　on　your　

brothers？　Or　will　you　end　this　insanity　and　join　us　again？Every　word　was　layered　with　mand；　but　it　
couldn't　touch　me。　Alpha　blood　ran　undiluted　in　my　veins。　

Icould　see　why　there　was　never　more　than　one　Alpha　male　in　a　pack。　My　body　was　responding　to　the　
challenge。　I　could　feel　the　instinct　to　defend　my　claim　rising　in　me。　The　primitive　core　of　my　wolfself　
tensed　for　the　battle　of　supremacy。　

I　focusedall　my　energy　to　control　that　reaction。　I　would　not　fall　into　a　pointless；　destructive　fight　with　
Sam。　He　was　my　brother　still；　even　though　I　was　rejecting　him。　

There　is　only　one　Alpha　for　this　pack。　I'm　not　contesting　that　I'm　just　choosing　to　go　my　own　way。　

Do　you　belong　to　acoven　now；　Jacob？　

I　flinched。　

　don't　know；　Sam。　But　I　do　know　this—　

He　shrunk　back　as　he　felt　the　weight　of　the　Alpha　in　my　tone。　It　affected　him　more　than　his　touched　me。　
Because　I　had　been　born　to　lead　him。　

　will　stand　between　you　and　the　Cullens。　I　won't　just　watch　while　the　pack　kills　innocent—it　was　
hard　to　apply　that　word　to　vampires；　but　it　was　true—　people。　The　pack　is　better　than　that。　Lead　
them　in　the　right　direction；　Sam。　

I　turned　my　back　on　him；　and　a　chorus　of　howls　tore　into　the　air　around　me。　

Digging　my　nails　into　the　earth；　I　raced　away　from　the　uproar　I'd　caused。　I　didn't　have　much　time。　At　
least　Leah　was　the　only　one　with　a　prayer　of　outrunn