〃Jake？　You　okay？〃　I　asked　anxiously。
  I　took　a　half…step　toward　him；　then　Edward　caught　me　and　yanked　me　back　behind　his　own　body。
  〃Careful！　He's　not　under　control；〃　he　warned　me。
  But　Jacob　was　already　somewhat　himself　again；　only　his　arms　were　shaking　now。　He　scowled　at　Edward
  with　pure　hate。　〃Ugh。　I　would　never　hurt　her。〃
  Neither　Edward　or　I　missed　the　inflection；　or　the　accusation　it　contained。　A　low　hiss　escaped　Edward's
  lips。　Jacob　clenched　his　fists　reflexively。
  〃BELLA！〃　Charlie's　roar　echoed　from　the　direction　of　the　house。　〃YOU　GET　IN　THIS　HOUSE　THIS
  INSTANT！〃
  All　of　us　froze；　listening　to　the　silence　that　followed。
  I　was　the　first　to　speak；　my　voice　trembled。　〃Crap。〃
  Jacob's　furious　expression　faltered。　〃I　am　sorry　about　that；〃　he　muttered。　〃I　had　to　do　what　I　could—I
  had　to　try…〃
  〃Thanks。〃　The　tremor　in　my　voice　ruined　the　sarcasm。　I　stared　up　the　path；　half…expecting　Charlie　to
  come　barreling　through　the　wet　ferns　like　an　enraged　bull。　I　would　be　the　red　flag　in　that　scenario。
  〃Just　one　more　thing；〃　Edward　said　to　me；　and　then　he　looked　at　Jacob。　〃We've　found　no　trace　of
  Victoria　on　our　side　of　the　line—have　you？〃
  He　knew　the　answer　as　soon　as　Jacob　thought　it；　but　Jacob　spoke　the　answer　anyway。　〃Trie　last　time
  was　while　Bella　was…　away。　We　let　her　think　she　was　slipping　through—we　were　tightening　the　circle；
  getting　ready　to　ambush　her—〃
  Ice　shot　down　my　spine。
  〃But　then　she　took　off　like　a　bat　out　of　hell。　Near　as　we　can　tell；　she　caught　your　little　female's　scent　and
  bailed。　She　hasn't　come　near　our　lands　since。〃
  Edward　nodded。　〃When　she　comes　back；　she's　not　your　problem　anymore。　We'll—〃
  〃She　killed　on　our　turf；〃　Jacob　hissed。　〃She's　ours！〃
  〃No—；〃　I　began　to　protest　both　declarations。
  〃BELLA！　I　SEE　HIS　CAR　AND　I　KNOW　YOU'RE　OUT　THERE！　IF　YOU　AREN'T　INSIDE　THIS
  HOUSE　IN　ONE　MINUTE…　！〃　Charlie　didn't　bother　to　finish　his　threat。
  〃Let's　go；〃　Edward　said。
  I　looked　back　at　Jacob；　torn。　Would　I　see　him　again？
  〃Sorry；〃　he　whispered　so　low　that　I　had　to　read　his　lips　to　understand。　'〃Bye；　Bells。〃
  〃You　promised；〃　I　reminded　him　desperately。　〃Still　friends；　right？〃
  Jacob　shook　his　head　slowly；　and　the　lump　in　my　throat　nearly　strangled　me。
  〃You　know　how　hard　I've　tried　to　keep　that　promise；　but…　I　can't　see　how　to　keep　trying。　Not　now…〃
  He　struggled　to　keep　his　hard　mask　in　place；　but　it　wavered；　and　then　disappeared。　〃Miss　you；〃　he
  mouthed。　One　of　his　hands　reached　toward　me；　his　fingers　outstretched；　like　he　wished　they　were　long
  enough　to　cross　the　distance　between　us。
  〃Me；　too；〃　I　choked　out。　My　hand　reached　toward　his　across　the　wide　space。
  Like　we　were　connected；　the　echo　of　his　pain　twisted　inside　me。　His　pain；　my　pain。
  〃Jake…〃　I　took　a　step　toward　him。　I　wanted　to　wrap　my　arms　around　his　waist　and　erase　the　expression
  of　misery　on　his　face。
  Edward　pulled　me　back　again；　his　arms　restraining　instead　of　defending。
  〃It's　okay；〃　I　promised　him；　looking　up　to　read　his　face　with　trust　in　my　eyes。　He　would　understand。
  His　eyes　were　unreadable；　his　face　expressionless。　Cold。　〃No；　it's　not。〃
  〃Let　her　go；〃　Jacob　snarled；　furious　again。　〃She　wants　to！〃　He　took　two　long　strides　forward。　A　glint　of
  anticipation　flashed　in　his　eyes。　His　chest　seemed　to　swell　as　it　shuddered。
  Edward　pushed　me　behind　himself；　wheeling　to　face　Jacob。
  〃No！　Edward—！〃
  〃ISABELLA　SWAN！〃
  〃Come　on！　Charlie's　mad！〃　My　voice　was　panicked；　but　not　because　of　Charlie　now。　〃Hurry！〃
  I　tugged　on　him　and　he　relaxed　a　little。　He　pulled　me　back　slowly；　always　keeping　his　eyes　on　Jacob　as
  we　retreated。
  Jacob　watched　us　with　a　dark　scowl　on　his　bitter　face。　The　anticipation　drained　from　his　eyes；　and　then；
  just　before　the　forest　came　between　us；　his　face　suddenly　crumpled　in　pain。
  I　knew　that　last　glimpse　of　his　face　would　haunt　me　until　I　saw　him　smile　again。
  And　right　there　I　vowed　that　I　would　see　him　smile；　and　soon。　I　would　find　a　way　to　keep　my　friend。
  Edward　kept　his　arm　tight　around　my　waist；　holding　me　close。　That　was　the　only　thing　that　held　the　tears
  inside　my　eyes。
  I　had　some　serious　problems。
  My　best　friend　counted　me　with　his　enemies。
  Victoria　was　still　on　the　loose；　putting　everyone　I　loved　in　danger。
  If　I　didn't　become　a　vampire　soon；　the　Volturi　would　kill　me。
  And　now　it　seemed　that　if　I　did；　the　Quileute　werewolves　would　try　to　do　the　job　themselves—along
  with　trying　to　kill　my　future　family。　I　didn't　think　they　had　any　chance　really；　but　would　my　best　friend　get
  himself　killed　in　the　attempt？
  Very　serious　problems。　So　why　did　they　all　suddenly　seem　insignificant　when　we　broke　through　the　last
  of　the　trees　and　I　caught　sight　of　the　expression　on　Charlie's　purple　face？
  Edward　squeezed　me　gently。　〃I'm　here。〃
  I　drew　in　a　deep　breath。
  That　was　true。　Edward　was　here；　with　his　arms　around　me。
  I　could　face　anything　as　long　as　that　was　true。
  I　squared　my　shoulders　and　walked　forward　to　meet　my　fate；　with　my　destiny　solidly　at　my　side。
  Acknowledgments
  So　much　love　and　thanks　to　my　husband　and　sons　for　their　continuing　understanding　and　sacrifice　in
  support　of　my　writing
  At　least　I'm　not　the　only　one　to　benefit—I　in　sure　many　local　restaurants　are　grateful　that　I　don't　cook
  anymore
  Thank　you；　Mom；　for　being　my　best　friend　and　letting　me　talk　your　ear　off　through　all　the　rough　spots
  Thanks；　also；　for　being　so　insanely　creative　and　intelligent；　and　bequeathing　a　small　portion　of　both　into
  my　genetic　makeup
  Thanks　to　all　my　siblings；　Emily；　Heidi；　Paul；　Seth；　and　Jacob；　for　letting　me　borrow　your　names　I　hope　I
  didn't　do　anything　with　them　that　makes　you　wish　you　hadn't
  A　special　thanks　to　my　brother　Paul　for　the　motorcycle　riding　lesson—you　have　a　true　gift　for　teaching。
  I　can't　thank　my　brother　Seth　enough　for　all　the　hard　work　and　genius　he　put　into　the　creation　of
  www。stepheniemeyer　I'm　so　grateful　for　the　effort　he　continues　to　expend　as　my　Webmaster
  Check's　in　the　mail；　kid
  This　time；　I　mean　it
  Thanks　again　to　my　brother　Jacob　for　his　ongoing　expert　advice　on　all　my　automotive　choices
  A　big　thank　you　to　my　agent；　Jodi　Reamer；　for　her　continued　guidance　and　assistance　in　my　career　And
  also　for　enduring　my　craziness　with　a　smile　when　I　know　she　d　like　to　use　some　of　her　ninja　moves　on　me
  instead
  Love；　kisses；　and　gratitude　to　my　publicist；　the　beautiful　Elizabeth　Eulberg；　for　making　my　touring
  experience　less　a　chore　and　more　a　pajama　party；　for　aiding　and　abetting　my　cyber…stalkery；　for
  convincing　those　exclusive　snobs　in　the　EEC　（Elizabeth　Eulberg　Club）　to　let　me　in；　and；　oh　yeah；　also　for
  getting　me　on　the　New　York　Times　bestseller's　list
  A　huge　vat　of　thanks　to　everyone　at　Little；　Brown　and　Company　for　their　support　and　their　belief　in　the
  potential　of　my　stories
  And；　finally；　thank　you　to　the　talented　musicians　who　inspire　me；　particularly　the　band　Muse—there　are
  emotions；　scenes；　and　plot　threads　in　this　novel　that　were　born　from　Muse　songs　and　would　not　exist
  without　their　genius
  Also　Linkin　Park；　Travis；　Elbow；　Coldplay；　Marjoric　Fair；　My　Chemical　Romance；　Brand　New；　The
  Strokes；　Armor　for　Sleep；　The　Arcade　Fire；　and　The　Fray　have　all　been　instrumental　in　staving　off　the
  writer's　block
  （全书完）
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