gh
  they　were　long　healed。　One　line　pulled　down　the　corner　of　her　dark；　almond…shaped　right　eye；　another
  twisted　the　right　side　of　her　mouth　into　a　permanent　grimace。
  Thankful　for　Embry's　warning；　I　quickly　turned　my　eyes　to　the　muffins　in　her　hands。　They　smelled
  wonderful—like　fresh　blueberries。
  〃Oh；〃　Emily　said；　surprised。　〃Who's　this？〃
  I　looked　up；　trying　to　focus　on　the　left　half　of　her　face。
  〃Bella　Swan；〃　Jared　told　her；　shrugging。　Apparently；　I'd　been　a　topic　of　conversation　before。　〃Who　else？〃
  〃Leave　it　to　Jacob　to　find　a　way　around；〃　Emily　murmured。　She　stared　at　me；　and　neither　half　of　her
  once…beautiful　face　was　friendly。　〃So；　you're　the　vampire　girl。〃
  I　stiffened。　〃Yes。　Are　you　the　wolf　girl？〃
  She　laughed；　as　did　Embry　and　Jared。　The　left　half　of　her　face　warmed。　〃I　guess　I　am。〃　She　turned　to
  Jared。　〃Where's　Sam？〃
  〃Bella；　er；　surprised　Paul　this　morning。〃
  Emily　rolled　her　good　eye。　〃Ah；　Paul；〃　she　sighed。　〃Do　you　think　they'll　be　long？　I　was　just　about　to　start
  the　eggs。〃
  〃Don't　worry；〃　Embry　told　her。　〃If　they're　late；　we　won't　let　anything　go　to　waste。〃
  Emily　chuckled；　and　then　opened　the　refrigerator。　〃No　doubt；〃　she　agreed。　〃Bella；　are　you　hungry？　Go
  ahead　and　help　yourself　to　a　muffin。〃
  〃Thanks。〃　I　took　one　from　the　plate　and　started　nibbling　around　the　edges。　It　was　delicious；　and　it　felt
  good　in　my　tender　stomach。　Embry　picked　up　his　third　and　shoved　it　into　his　mouth　whole。
  〃Save　some　for　your　brothers；〃　Emily　chastised　him；　hitting　him　on　the　head　with　a　wooden　spoon。　The
  word　surprised　me；　but　the　others　thought　nothing　of　it。
  〃Pig；〃　Jared　commented。
  I　leaned　against　the　counter　and　watched　the　three　of　them　banter　like　a　family。　Emily's　kitchen　was　a
  friendly　place；　bright　with　white　cupboards　and　pale　wooden　floorboards。　On　the　little　round　table；　a
  cracked　blue…and…white　china　pitcher　was　overflowing　with　wildflowers。　Embry　and　Jared　seemed
  entirely　at　ease　here。
  Emily　was　mixing　a　humongous　batch　of　eggs；　several　dozen；　in　a　big　yellow　bowl。　She　had　the　sleeves　of
  her　lavender　shirt　pushed　up；　and　I　could　see　that　the　scars　extended　all　the　way　down　her　arm　to　the
  back　of　her　right　hand。　Hanging　out　with　werewolves　truly　did　have　its　risks；　just　as　Embry　had　said。
  The　front　door　opened；　and　Sam　stepped　through。
  〃Emily；〃　he　said；　and　so　much　love　saturated　his　voice　that　I　felt　embarrassed；　intrusive；　as　I　watched　him
  cross　the　room　in　one　stride　and　take　her　face　in　his　wide　hands。　He　leaned　down　and　kissed　the　dark
  scars　on　her　right　cheek　before　he　kissed　her　lips。
  〃Hey；　none　of　that；〃　Jared　complained。　〃I'm　eating。〃
  〃Then　shut　up　and　eat；〃　Sam　suggested；　kissing　Emily's　ruined　mouth　again。
  〃Ugh；〃　Embry　groaned。
  This　was　worse　than　any　romantic　movie；　this　was　so　real　that　it　sang　out　loud　with　joy　and　life　and　true
  love。　I　put　my　muffin　down　and　folded　my　arms　across　my　empty　chest。　I　stared　at　the　flowers；　trying　to
  ignore　the　utter　peace　of　their　moment；　and　the　wretched　throbbing　of　my　wounds。
  I　was　grateful　for　the　distraction　when　Jacob　and　Paul　came　through　the　door；　and　then　shocked　when　I
  saw　that　they　were　laughing。　While　I　watched；　Paul　punched　Jacob　on　the　shoulder　and　Jacob　went　for　a
  kidney　jab　in　return。　They　laughed　again。　They　both　appeared　to　be　in　one　piece。
  Jacob　scanned　the　room；　his　eyes　stopping　when　he　found　me　leaning；　awkward　and　out　of　place；　against
  the　counter　in　the　far　corner　of　the　kitchen。
  〃Hey；　Bells；〃　he　greeted　me　cheerfully。　He　grabbed　two　muffins　as　he　passed　the　table　and　came　to　stand
  beside　me。　〃Sorry　about　before；〃　he　muttered　under　his　breath。　〃How　are　you　holding　up。'〃
  〃Don't　worry；　I'm　okay。　Good　muffins。〃　I　picked　mine　back　up　and　started　nibbhrg　again。　My　chest　felt
  better　as　soon　as　Jacob　was　beside　me。
  〃Oh；　man！〃　Jared　wailed；　interrupting　us。
  I　looked　up；　and　he　and　Embry　were　examining　a　fading　pink　line　on　Paul's　forearm。　Embry　was　grinning；
  exultant。
  〃Fifteen　dollars；〃　he　crowed。
  〃Did　you　do　that？〃　I　whispered　to　Jacob；　remembering　the　bet。
  〃I　barely　touched　him。　He'll　be　perfect　by　sundown。〃
  〃By　sundown？〃　I　looked　at　the　line　on　Paul's　arm。　Odd；　but　it　looked　weeks　old。
  〃Wolf　thing；〃　Jacob　whispered。
  I　nodded；　trying　to　not　look　weirded　out。
  〃You　okay？〃　I　asked　him　under　my　breath。
  〃Not　a　scratch　on　me。〃　His　expression　was　smug。
  〃Hey；　guys；〃　Sam　said　in　a　loud　voice；　interrupting　all　the　conversations　going　on　in　the　small　room。　Emily
  was　at　the　stove；　scraping　the　egg　mixture　around　a　big　skillet；　but　Sam　still　had　one　hand　touching　the
  small　of　her　back；　an　unconscious　gesture。　〃Jacob　has　information　for　us。〃
  Paul　looked　unsurprised。　Jacob　must　have　explained　this　to　him　and　Sam　already。　Or…　they'd　just　heard
  his　thoughts。
  〃I　know　what　the　redhead　wants。〃　Jacob　directed　his　words　toward　Jared　and　Embry。　〃That's　what　I
  was　trying　to　tell　you　before。〃　He　kicked　the　leg　of　the　chair　Paul　had　settled　into。
  〃And？〃　Jared　asked。
  Jacob's　face　got　serious。　〃She　is　trying　to　avenge　her　mate—only　it　wasn't　the　black…haired　leech　we
  killed。　The　Cullens　got　her　mate　last　year；　and　she's　after　Bella　now。〃
  This　wasn't　news　to　me；　but　I　still　shivered。
  Jared；　Embry；　and　Emily　stared　at　me　with　open…mouthed　surprise。
  〃She's　just　a　girl；〃　Embry　protested。
  〃I　didn't　say　it　made　sense。　But　that's　why　the　bloodsucker's　been　trying　to　get　past　us。　She's　been
  heading　for　Forks。〃
  They　continued　to　stare　at　me；　mouths　still　hanging　open；　for　a　long　moment。　I　ducked　my　head。
  〃Excellent；〃　Jared　finally　said；　a　smile　beginning　to　pull　up　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃We've　got　bait。〃
  With　stunning　speed；　Jacob　yanked　a　can　opener　from　the　counter　and　launched　it　at　Jared's　head。
  Jared's　hand　flicked　up　faster　than　I　would　have　thought　possible；　and　he　snagged　the　tool　just　before　it
  hit　his　face。
  〃Bellais　not　bait。〃
  〃You　know　what　I　mean；〃　Jared　said；　unabashed。
  〃So　we'll　be　changing　oar　patterns；〃　Sam　said；　ignoring　their　squabble。　〃We'll　try　leaving　a　few　holes；　and
  see　if　she　falls　for　it。　We'll　have　to　split　up；　and　I　don't　like　that。　But　if　she's　really　after　Bella；　she
  probably　won't　try　to　take　advantage　of　our　divided　numbers。〃
  〃Quit's　got　to　be　close　to　joining　us；〃　Embry　murmured。　〃Then　we'll　be　able　to　split　evenly。〃
  Everyone　looked　down。　I　glanced　at　Jacob's　face；　and　it　was　hopeless；　like　it　had　been　yesterday
  afternoon；　outside　his　house。　No　matter　how　comfortable　they　seemed　to　be　with　their　fate；　here　in　this
  happy　kitchen；　none　of　these　werewolves　wanted　the　same　fate　for　their　friend。
  〃Well；　we　won't　count　on　that；〃　Sam　said　in　a　low　voice；　and　then　continued　at　his　regular　volume。　〃Paul；
  Jared；　and　Embry　will　take　the　outer　perimeter；　and　Jacob　and　I　will　take　the　inner。　We'll　collapse　in
  when　we've　got　her　trapped。〃
  I　noticed　that　Emily　didn't　particularly　like　that　Sam　would　be　in　the　smaller　grouping。　Her　worry　had　me
  glancing　up　at　Jacob；　worrying；　too。
  Sam　caught　my　eye。　〃Jacob　thinks　it　would　be　best　if　you　spent　as　much　time　as　possible　here　in　La　Push。
  She　won't　know　where　to　find　you　so　easily；　just　in　case。〃
  〃What　about　Charlie？〃　I　demanded。
  〃March　Madness　is　still　going；〃　Jacob　said。　〃I　think　Billy　and　Harry　can　manage　to　keep　Charlie　down
  here　when　he's　not　at　work。〃
  〃Wait；〃　Sam　said；　holding　one　hand　up。　His　glance　flickered　to　Emily　and　then　back　to　me。　〃That's　what
  Jacob　thinks　is　best；　but　you　need　to　decide　for　yourself。　You　should　weigh　the　risks　of　both　options　very
  seriously。　You　saw　this　morning　how　easily　things　can　get　dangerous　here；　how　quickly　they　get　out　of
  hand。　If　you　choose　to　stay　with　us；　I　can't　make　any　guarantees　about　your　safety。〃
  〃I　won't　hurt　her；〃　Jacob　mumbled；　looking　down。
  Sam　acted　as　if　he　hadn't　heard　him　speak。　〃If　there　was　somewhere　else　you　felt　safe…〃
  I　bit　my　lip。　Where　could　I　go　that　wouldn't　put　someone　else　in　danger？　I　recoiled　again　from　the　idea　of
  bringing　Renee　into　this—pulling　her　into　the　circle　of　the　target　I　wore…　〃I　don't　want　to　lead　Victoria
  anywhere　else；〃　I　whispered。
  Sam　nodded。　〃That's　true。　It's　better　to　have　her　here；　where　we　can　end　this。〃
  I　flinched。　I　didn't　want　Jacob　or　any　of　the　rest　of　them　trying　to　end　Victoria。　I　glanced　at　Jake's　face；　it
  was　relaxed；　almost　the　same　as　I　remembered　it　from　before　the　onset　of　the　wolf　thing；　and　utterly
  unconcerned　by　the　idea　of　hunting　vampires。
  〃You'll　be　careful；　right？〃　I　asked；　an　audible　lump　in　my　throat。
  The　boys　burst　into　loud　hoots　of　amusement。　Everyone　laughed　at　me—except　Emily。　She　met　my　eyes；
  and　I　could　suddenly　see　the　symmetry　underlying　her　deformity。　Her　face　was　still　beautiful；　and　alive
  with　a　concern　even　more　fierce　than　mine。　I　had　to　look　away；　before　the　love　behind　that　concern
  could　start　me　aching　again。
  〃Food's　ready；〃　she　announced　then；　and　the　strategic　conversation　was　history。　The　guys　hurried　to
  surround　the　table—which　looked　tiny　and　in　danger　of　being　crushed　by　them—and　devoured　the
  buffet…sized　pan　of　eggs　Emily　place