New Moon

abilities,' he said through his teeth. 'So you must already know why I'm here.'

'Yes,' Edward agreed in a soft voice. 'But, before you begin, I need to say something.'

Jacob waited, clenching and unclenching his hands as he tried to control the shivers rolling down his arms.

'Thank you,' Edward said, and his voice throbbed with the depth of his sincerity. 'I will never be able to tell you how grateful I am. I will owe you for the rest of my… existence.'

Jacob stared at him blankly, his shudders stilled by surprise. He exchanged a quick glance with me, but my face was just as mystified.

'For keeping Bella alive,' Edward clarified, his voice rough and fervent. 'When I… didn't.'

'Edward—,' I started to say, but he held one hand up, his eyes on Jacob.

Understanding washed over Jacob's face before the hard mask returned. 'I didn't do it for your benefit.'

'I know. But that doesn't erase the gratitude I feel. I thought you should know. If there's ever anything in my power to do for you…'

Jacob raised one black brow.

Edward shook his head. 'That's not in my power.'

'Whose, then?' Jacob growled.

Edward looked down at me. 'Hers. I'm a quick learner, Jacob Black, and I don't make the same mistake twice. I'm here until she orders me away.'

I was immersed momentarily in his golden gaze. It wasn't hard to understand what I'd missed in the conversation. The only thing that Jacob would want from Edward would be his absence.

'Never,' I whispered, still locked in Edward's eyes.

Jacob made a gagging sound.

I unwillingly broke free from Edward's gaze to frown at Jacob. 'Was there something else you needed, Jacob? You wanted me in trouble—mission Accomplished. Charlie might just send me to military school. But that won't keep me away from Edward. There's nothing that can do that. What more do you want?'

Jacob kept his eyes on Edward 'I just needed to remind your bloodsucking friends of a few key points in the treaty they agreed to. The treaty chat is the only thing stopping me from ripping his throat out right this minute.'

'We haven't forgotten,' Edward said at the same time that I demanded, 'What key points?'

Jacob still glowered at Edward, but he answered me. 'The treaty is quite specific. If any of them bite a human, the truce is over. Bite, not kill,' he emphasized. Finally, he looked at me. His eyes were cold.

It only took me a second to grasp the distinction, and then my face was as cold as his.

'That's none of your business.'

'The hell it—' was all he managed to choke out.

I didn't expect my hasty words to bring on such a strong response. Despite the warning he'd come to give, he must not have known. He must have thought the warning was just a precaution. He hadn't realized—or didn't want to believe—that I had already made my choice. That I was really intending to become a member of the Cullen family.

My answer sent Jacob into near convulsions. He pressed his fists hard against his temples, closing his eyes tight and curling in on himself as he tried to control the spasms. His face turned sallow green under the russet skin.

'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.