

He looked up at me swiftly, hearing the double edge in my words. Will he be mad at you?

Yes, I admitted. He really hates it when I do things he considers . . . risky.

Like hanging out with werewolves.

Yeah.

Jacob shrugged. So dont go back. Ill sleep on the couch.

Thats a great idea, I grumbled. Because then he would come looking for me.

Jacob stiffened, and then smiled bleakly. Would he?

If he was afraid I was hurt or something  probably.
My ideas sounding better all the time.

Please, Jake. That really bugs me.

What does?

 That you two are so ready to kill each other! I complained. It makes me crazy. Why cant you both
just be civilized?

Is he ready to kill me? Jacob asked with a grim smile, unconcerned by my anger.

 Not like you seem to be! I realized I was yelling. At leasthe can be a grown-up about this. He knows
that hurting you would hurt me  and so he never would. You dont seem to care about that at all!

Yeah, right, Jacob muttered. Im sure hes quite the pacifist.

 Ugh! I ripped my hand out of his and shoved his head away. Then I pulled my knees up to my chest
and wrapped my arms tightly around them.

I glared out toward the horizon, fuming.

 Jacob was quiet for a few minutes. Finally, he got up off the ground and sat beside me, putting his arm
around my shoulders. I shook it off.

Sorry, he said quietly. Ill try to behave myself.

I didnt answer.

Do you still want to hear about Sam? he offered.

I shrugged.

 Like I said, its a long story. And very . . . strange. Therere so many strange things about this new life.
I havent had time to tell you the half of it. And this thing with Sam  well, I dont know if Ill even be
able to explain it right.

His words pricked my curiosity in spite of my irritation.

Im listening, I said stiffly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the side of his face pull up in a smile.

 Sam had it so much harder than the rest of us. Because he was the first, and he was alone, and he
didnt have anyone to tell him what was happening. Sams grandfather died before he was born, and his
father has never been around. There was no one there to recognize the signs. The first time it happened
 the first time he phased  he thought hed gone insane. It took him two weeks to calm down enough
to change back.

This was before you came to Forks, so you wouldnt remember. Sams mother and Leah Clearwater
had the forest rangers searching for him, the police. People thought there had been an accident or
something. . . .

Leah? I asked, surprised. Leah was Harrys daughter. Hearing her name sent an automatic surge of
pity through me. Harry Clearwater, Charlies life-long friend, had died of a heart attack this past spring.

His voice changed, became heavier. Yeah. Leah and Sam were high school sweethearts. They started
dating when she was just a freshman. She was frantic when he disappeared.

But he and Emily 

Ill get to that  its part of the story, he said. He inhaled slowly, and then exhaled in a gust.

 I supposed it was silly for me to imagine that Sam had never loved anyone before Emily. Most people
fall in and out of love many times in their lives. It was just that Id seen Sam with Emily, and I couldnt
imagine him with someone else. The way he looked at her . . . well, it reminded me of a look Id seen
sometimes in Edwards eyes  when he was looking at me.

 Sam came back, Jacob said, but he wouldnt talk to anyone about where hed been. Rumors flew 
that he was up to no good, mostly. And then Sam happened to run in to Quils grandfather one afternoon
when Old Quil Ateara came to visit Mrs. Uley. Sam shook his hand. Old Quil just about had a stroke.
Jacob paused to laugh.

Why?

Jacob put his hand on my cheek and pulled my face around to look at him  he was leaning toward me,
his face was just a few inches away. His palm burned my skin, like he had a fever.

 Oh, right, I said. It was uncomfortable, having my face so close to his with his hand hot against my
skin. Sam was running a temperature.

Jacob laughed again. Sams hand felt like hed left it sitting on a hot stovetop.

 He was so close, I could feel his warm breath. I reached up casually, to take his hand away and free my
face, but wound my fingers through his so that I wouldnt hurt his feelings. He smiled and leaned back,
undeceived by my attempt at nonchalance.

 So Mr. Ateara went straight to the other elders, Jacob went on. They were the only ones left who still
knew, who remembered. Mr. Ateara, Billy, and Harry had actually seen their grandfathers make the
change. When Old Quil told them, they met with Sam secretly and explained.

It was easier when he understood  when he wasnt alone anymore. They knew he wouldnt be the
only one affected by the Cullens return  he pronounced the name with unconscious bitterness  but
no one else was old enough. So Sam waited for the rest of us to join him. . . .

The Cullens had no idea, I said in a whisper. They didnt think that werewolves still existed here.
They didnt know that coming here would change you.

It doesnt change the fact that it did.

Remind me not to get on your bad side.
You think I should be as forgiving as you are? We cant all be saints and martyrs.

Grow up, Jacob.

I wish I could, he murmured quietly.

I stared at him, trying to make sense of his response. What?

Jacob chuckled. One of those many strange things I mentioned.

You . . . cant . . . grow up? I said blankly. Youre what? Not . . .aging ? Is that a joke?

Nope. He popped his lips on theP.

 I felt blood flood my face. Tears  tears of rage  filled my eyes. My teeth mashed together with an
audible grinding sound.

Bella? What did I say?

I was on my feet again, my hands balled up into fists, my whole frame shaking.

You. Are. Not. Aging, I growled through my teeth.

Jacob tugged my arm gently, trying to make me sit. None of us are. Whats wrong with you?

 Am I the only one who has to getold ? I get older every stinking day! I nearly shrieked, throwing my
hands in the air. Some little part of me recognized that I was throwing a Charlie-esque fit, but that rational
part was greatly overshadowed by the irrational part. Damnit! What kind of world is this? Wheres the
justice ?

Take it easy, Bella.

Shut up, Jacob. Just shut up! This isso unfair!

Did you seriously just stamp your foot? I thought girls only did that on TV.

I growled unimpressively.

Its not as bad as you seem to think it is. Sit down and Ill explain.

Ill stand.

He rolled his eyes. Okay. Whatever you want. But listen, Iwill get older . . . someday.

Explain.

He patted the tree. I glowered for a second, but then sat; my temper had burned out as suddenly as it
had flared and Id calmed down enough to realize that I was making a fool of myself.

 When we get enough control to quit . . . , Jacob said. When we stop phasing for a solid length of
time, we age again. Its not easy. He shook his head, abruptly doubtful. Its gonna take a really long
time to learn that kind of restraint, I think. Even Sams not there yet. Course it doesnt help that theres a
huge coven of vampires right down the road. We cant even think about quitting when the tribe needs
protectors. But you shouldnt get all bent out of shape about it, anyway, because Im already older than
you, physically at least.

What are you talking about?

Look at me, Bells. Do I look sixteen?

I glanced up and down his mammoth frame, trying to be unbiased. Not exactly, I guess.

 Not at all. Because we reach full growth inside of a few months when the werewolf gene gets triggered.
Its one hell of a growth spurt. He made a face. Physically, Im probably twenty-five or something. So
theres no need for you to freak out about being too old for me for at least another seven years.

 Twenty-five or something.The idea messed with my head. But I remembered that growth spurt  I
remembered watching him shoot up and fill out right before my eyes. I remembered how he would look
different from one day to the next. . . . I shook my head, feeling dizzy.

So, did you want to hear about Sam, or did you want to scream at me some more for things that are
out of my control?

I took a deep breath. Sorry. Age is a touchy subject for me. That hit a nerve.

Jacobs eyes tightened, and he looked as if he were trying to decide how to word something.

 Since I didnt want to talk about the truly touchy stuff  my plans for the future, or treaties that might be
broken by said plans, I prompted him. So once Sam understood what was going on, once he had Billy
and Harry and Mr. Ateara, you said it wasnt so hard anymore. And, like you also said, there are the
cool parts. . . . I hesitated briefly. Why does Sam hate them so much? Why does he wish I would hate
them?

Jacob sighed. This is the really weird part.

Im a pro at weird.

 Yeah, I know. He grinned before he continued. So, youre right. Sam knew what was going on, and
everything was almost okay. In most ways, his life was back to, well, not normal. But better. Then
Jacobs expression tightened, like something painful was coming. Sam couldnt tell Leah. We arent
supposed to tell anyone who doesnt have to know. And it wasnt really safe for him to be around her 
but he cheated, just like I did with you. Leah was furious that he wouldnt tell her what was going on 
where hed been, where he went at night, why he was always so exhausted  but they were working it
out. They were trying. They really loved each other.

Did she find out? Is that what happened?

He shook his head. No, that wasnt the problem. Her cousin, Emily Young, came down from the
Makah reservation to visit her one weekend.

I gasped. Emily is Leahs cousin?
Second cousins. Theyre close, though. They were like sisters when they were kids.

Thats . . . horrible. How could Sam . . . ? I trailed off, shaking my head.

Dont judge him just yet. Did anyone ever tell you . . . Have you ever heard ofimprinting ?

Imprinting? I repeated the unfamiliar word. No. Whats that mean?

 Its one of those bizarre things we have to deal with. It doesnt happen to everyone. In fact, its the rare
exception, not the rule. Sam had heard all the stories by then, the stories we all used to think were
legends. Hed heard of imprinting, but he never dreamed . . .

What is it? I prodded.

 Jacobs eyes strayed to the ocean. Sam did love Leah. But when he saw Emily, that didnt matter
anymore. Sometimes . . . we dont exactly know why . . . we find our mates that way. His eyes flashed
back to me, his face reddening. I mean . . . our soul mates.

What way? Love at first sight? I snickered.

Jacob wasnt smiling. His dark eyes were critical of my reaction. Its a little bit more powerful than that.
More absolute.

Sorry, I muttered. Youre serious, arent you?

Yeah, I am.

Love at first sight? But more powerful? My voice still sounded dubious, and he could hear that.

 Its not easy to explain. It doesnt matter, anyway. He shrugged indifferently. You wanted to know
what happened to Sam to make him hate the vampires for changing him, to make him hate himself. And
thats what happened. He broke Leahs heart. He went back on every promise hed ever made her.
Every day he has to see the accusation in her eyes, and know that shes right.

He stopped talking abruptly, as if hed said something he hadnt meant to.

 How did Emily deal with this? If she was so close to Leah . . . ? Sam and Emily were utterlyright
together, two puzzle pieces, shaped for each other exactly. Still . . . how had Emily gotten past the fact
that hed belonged to someone else? Her sister, almost.

 She was real angry, in the beginning. But its hard to resist that level of commitment and adoration.
Jacob sighed. And then, Sam could tell her everything. There are no rules that can bind you when you
find your other half. You know how she got hurt?

Yeah. The story in Forks was that she was mauled by a bear, but I was in on the secret.

Werewolves are unstable, Edward had said.The people near them get hurt.

Well, weirdly enough, that was sort of how they resolved things. Sam was so horrified, so sickened by
himself, so full of hate for what hed done. . . . He would have thrown himself under a bus if it would have
made her feel better. He might have anyway, just to escape what hed done. He was shattered. . . .
Then, somehow,she was the one comfortinghim , and after that. . . .

Jacob didnt finish his thought, and I sensed the story had gotten too personal to share.

Poor Emily, I whispered. Poor Sam. Poor Leah. . . .

Yeah, Leah got the worst end of the stick, he agreed. She puts on a brave face. Shes going to be a
bridesmaid.

 I gazed away, toward the jagged rocks that rose from the ocean like stubby broken-off fingers on the
south rim of the harbor, while I tried to make sense of it all. I could feel his eyes on my face, waiting for
me to say something.

Did it happen to you? I finally asked, still looking away. This love-at-first-sight thing?

No, he answered briskly. Sam and Jared are the only ones.

 Hmm, I said, trying to sound only politely interested. I was relieved, and I tried to explain my reaction
to myself. I decided I was just glad he didnt claim there was some mystical, wolfy connection between
the two of us. Our relationship was confusing enough as it was. I didnt need any more of the
supernatural than I already had to deal with.

He was quiet, too, and the silence felt a little awkward. My intuition told me that I didnt want to hear
what he was thinking.

How did that work out for Jared? I asked to break the silence.

 No drama there. It was just a girl hed sat next to in school every day for a year and never looked at
twice. And then, after he changed, he saw her again and never looked away. Kim was thrilled. Shed had
a huge crush on him. Shed had his last name tacked on to the end of hers all over in her diary. He
laughed mockingly.

I frowned. Did Jared tell you that? He shouldnt have.

Jacob bit his lip. I guess I shouldnt laugh. It was funny, though.

Some soul mate.

He sighed. Jared didnt tell us anything on purpose. I already told you this part, remember?

Oh, yeah. You can hear each others thoughts, but only when youre wolves, right?

Right. Just like your bloodsucker. He glowered.

Edward, I corrected.

 Sure, sure. Thats how come I know so much about how Sam felt. Its not like he would have told us
all that if hed had a choice. Actually, thats something we all hate. The bitterness was abruptly harsh in
his voice. Its awful. No privacy, no secrets. Everything youre ashamed of, laid out for everyone to
see. He shuddered.
It sounds horrible, I whispered.

 Itis sometimes helpful when we need to coordinate, he said grudgingly. Once in a blue moon, when
some bloodsucker crosses into our territory. Laurent was fun. And if the Cullens hadnt gotten in our way
last Saturday . . . ugh! he groaned. We could have had her! His fists clenched into angry balls.

 I flinched. As much as I worried about Jasper or Emmett getting hurt, it was nothing like the panic I felt
at the idea of Jacob going up against Victoria. Emmett and Jasper were the closest thing to indestructible
I could imagine. Jacob was still warm, still comparatively human. Mortal. I thought of Jacob facing
Victoria, her brilliant hair blowing around her oddly feline face . . . and shuddered.

Jacob looked up at me with a curious expression. But isnt it like that for you all the time? Havinghim in
your head?

Oh, no. Edwards never in my head. He only wishes.

Jacobs expression became confused.

He cant hear me, I explained, my voice a tiny bit smug from old habit. Im the only one like that, for
him. We dont knowwhy he cant.

Weird, Jacob said.

Yeah. The smugness faded. It probably means theres something wrong with my brain, I admitted.

I already knew there was something wrong with your brain, Jacob muttered.

Thanks.

 The sun broke through the clouds suddenly, a surprise I hadnt been expecting, and I had to narrow my
eyes against the glare off the water. Everything changed color  the waves turned from gray to blue, the
trees from dull olive to brilliant jade, and the rainbow-hued pebbles glittered like jewels.

We squinted for a moment, letting our eyes adjust. There were no sounds besides the hollow roar of the
waves that echoed from every side of the sheltered harbor, the soft grinding of the stones against each
other under the waters movement, and the cry of gulls high overhead. It was very peaceful.

 Jacob settled closer to me, so that he was leaning against my arm. He was so warm. After a minute of
this, I shrugged out of my rain jacket. He made a little sound of contentment in the back of his throat, and
rested his cheek on the top of my head. I could feel the sun heat my skin  thought it was not quite as
warm as Jacob  and I wondered idly how long it would take me to burn.

 Absentmindedly, I twisted my right hand to the side, and watched the sunlight glitter subtly off the scar
James had left there.

What are you thinking about? he murmured.

The sun.

Mmm. Its nice.
What are you thinking about? I asked.

He chuckled to himself. I was remembering that moronic movie you took me to. And Mike Newton
puking all over everything.

 I laughed, too, surprised by how time had changed the memory. It used to be one of stress, of
confusion. So much had changed that night. . . . And now I could laugh. It was the last night Jacob and I
had had before hed learned the truth about his heritage. The last human memory. An oddly pleasant
memory now.

I miss that, Jacob said. The way it used to be so easy . . . uncomplicated. Im glad Ive got a good
memory. He sighed.

He felt the sudden tension in my body as his words triggered a memory of my own.

What is it? he asked.

 About that good memory of yours . . . I pulled away from him so that I could read his face. At the
moment, it was confused. Do you mind telling me what you were doing Monday morning? You were
thinking something that bothered Edward.Bothered wasnt quite the word for it, but I wanted an
answer, so I thought it was best not to start out too severely.

 Jacobs face brightened with understanding, and he laughed. I was just thinking about you. Didnt like
that much, did he?

Me?What about me?

 Jacob laughed, with a harder edge this time. I was remembering the way you looked that night Sam
found you  Ive seen it in his head, and its like I was there; that memory has always haunted Sam, you
know. And then I remembered how you looked the first time you came to my place. I bet you dont even
realize what a mess you were then, Bella. It was weeks before you started to look human again. And I
remembered how you always used to have your arms wrapped around yourself, trying to hold yourself
together. . . . Jacob winced, and then shook his head. Its hard for me to remember how sad you were,
and it wasntmy fault. So I figured it would be harder for him. And I thought he ought to get a look at
what hed done.

I smacked his shoulder. It hurt my hand. Jacob Black, dont you ever do that again! Promise me you
wont.

No way. I havent had that much fun in months.

So help me, Jake 

Oh, get a grip, Bella. When am I ever going to see him again? Dont worry about it.

I got to my feet, and he caught my hand as I started to walk away. I tried to tug free.

Im leaving, Jacob.

 No, dont go yet, he protested, his hand tightening around mine. Im sorry. And . . . okay, I wont do
it again. Promise.
I sighed. Thanks, Jake.

Come on, well go back to my house, he said eagerly.

Actually, I think I really do need to go. Angela Weber is expecting me, and I know Alice is worried. I
dont want to upset her too much.

But you just got here!

 It feels that way, I agreed. I glared up at the sun, somehow already directly overhead. How had the
time passed so quickly?

His eyebrows pulled down over his eyes. I dont know when Ill see you again, he said in a hurt voice.

Ill come back the next time hes away, I promised impulsively.

Away?Jacob rolled his eyes. Thats a nice way to describe what hes doing. Disgusting parasites.

 If you cant be nice, I wont come back at all! I threatened, trying to pull my hand free. He refused to
let go.

Aw, dont be mad, he said, grinning. Knee-jerk reaction.

If Im going to try to come back again, youre going to have to get something straight, okay?

He waited.

 See, I explained. I dont care whos a vampire and whos a werewolf. Thats irrelevant. You are
Jacob, and he is Edward, and I am Bella. And nothing else matters.

His eyes narrowed slightly. But Iam a werewolf, he said unwillingly. And heis a vampire, he added
with obvious revulsion.

And Im a Virgo! I shouted, exasperated.

He raised his eyebrows, measuring my expression with curious eyes. Finally, he shrugged.

If you can really see it that way . . .

I can. I do.

 Okay. Just Bella and Jacob. None of those freaky Virgos here. He smiled at me, the warm, familiar
smile that I had missed so much. I felt the answering smile spread across my face.

Ive really missed you, Jake, I admitted impulsively.

 Me, too, his smile widened. His eyes were happy and clear, free for once of the angry bitterness.
More than you know. Will you come back soon?

As soon as I can, I promised.
6. SWITZERLAND

 ASIDROVE HOME , IWASNT PAYING MUCH ATTENTION TO the road that shimmered wetly
in the sun. I was thinking about the flood of information Jacob had shared with me, trying to sort it out, to
force it all to make sense. Despite the overload, I felt lighter. Seeing Jacob smile, having all the secrets
thrashed out . . . it didnt make things perfect, but it made them better. I was right to have gone. Jacob
needed me. And obviously, I thought as I squinted into the glare, there was no danger.

It came out of nowhere. One minute there was nothing but bright highway in my rearview mirror. The
next minute, the sun was glinting off a silver Volvo right on my tail.

Aw, crap, I whimpered.

 I considered pulling over. But I was too much of a coward to face him right away. Id been counting on
some prep time . . . and having Charlie nearby as a buffer. At least that would force him to keep his voice
down.

The Volvo followed inches behind me. I kept my eyes on the road ahead.

Chicken through and through, I drove straight to Angelas without once meeting the gaze I could feel
burning a hole in my mirror.

He followed me until I pulled to the curb in front of the Webers house. He didnt stop, and I didnt look
up as he passed. I didnt want to see the expression on his face. I ran up the short concrete walk to
Angelas door as soon as he was out of sight.

Ben answered the door before I could finish knocking, like hed been standing right behind it.

Hey, Bella! he said, surprised.

Hi, Ben. Er, is Angela here? I wondered if Angela had forgotten our plans, and cringed at the thought
of going home early.

Sure, Ben said just as Angela called, Bella! and appeared at the top of the stairs.

 Ben peered around me as we both heard the sound of a car on the road; the sound didnt scare me 
this engine stuttered to a stop, followed by the loud pop of a backfire. Nothing like the purr of the Volvo.
This must be the visitor Ben had been waiting for.

Austins here, Ben said as Angela reached his side.

A horn honked on the street.

Ill see you later, Ben promised. Miss you already.

 He threw his arm around Angelas neck and pulled her face down to his height so that he could kiss her
enthusiastically. After a second of this, Austin honked again.
Bye, Ang! Love you! Ben shouted as he dashed past me.

Angela swayed, her face slightly pink, then recovered herself and waved until Ben and Austin were out
of sight. Then she turned to me and grinned ruefully.

 Thank you for doing this, Bella, she said. From the bottom of my heart. Not only are you saving my
hands from permanent injury, you also just spared me two long hours of a plot-less, badly dubbed martial
arts film. She sighed in relief.

Happy to be of service. I was feeling a bit less panicked, able to breathe a little more evenly. It felt so
ordinary here. Angelas easy human dramas were oddly reassuring. It was nice to know that life was
normalsomewhere .

I followed Angela up the stairs to her room. She kicked toys out of the way as she went. The house was
unusually quiet.

Wheres your family?

My parents took the twins to a birthday party in Port Angeles. I cant believe youre really going to
help me with this. Bens pretending he has tendonitis. She made a face.

 I dont mind at a