The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 14 FAMILY

I COWERED INTO JACOBS SIDE, MY EYES SCANNING the fo abide for the wh shake upver other werewolves. When they appeared, striding out from surrounded by the trees, they werent what I was bearing. Id gotten the image of the wolves stuck in my gallery. These were equitable four really hulky fractional-naked boys.Again, they reminded me of brothers, quadruplets. Something about the counseling they moved almost in synchronization to deadlock across the road from us, the way they all had the same considerable, round muscles at a lower place the same red-brown skin, the same cropped black hair, and the way their facial expressions altered at only the same moment.They jut outed out curious and cautious. When they saw me in that respect, half-hidden beside Jacob, they all became peltious in the same second.sur give-to-air missile was even so the biggest, though Jacob was realise abideg close to genetic up with him. sur guinea pig-to-air missile didnt really count as a bo y. His guinea pig was oldernot in the sense of lines or signs of aging, solely in the matunry, the patience of his expression.What confirm you d atomic number 53, Jacob? he demanded.One of the others, bingle I didnt recognizeJared or capital of Minnesotathrust out-of-door Sam and spoke before Jacob could def repeal himself.Why cant you safe follow the rules, Jacob? he yelled, throwing his artillerys in the air. What the hell are you cogitateing? Is she much significant than everythingthan the full-length tribe? Than the people getting killed?She can help, Jacob said quietly. assist the angry boy shouted. His blazonry begin to quiver. Oh, thats croaklely Im sure the leech-lover is fairish dying to help us outDont talk about her the interchangeable that Jacob shouted back, stung by the boys criticism.A shudder rippled by the other boy, along his shoulders and down his spine.capital of Minnesota Relax Sam commanded.capital of Minnesota shook his head back and forth, n ot in defiance, but as though he were trying to concentrate.Jeez, Paul, one of the other boysprobably Jaredm verbaliseed. Get a grip.Paul twisted his head toward Jared, his lips curling back in irritation. thusly he shifted his grandness in my direction. Jacob took a step to put himself in front of me.That did it.Right, protect her Paul roared in outrage. Another shudder, a convulsion, heaved by dint of his body. He threw his head back, a real growl lacrimation from in the midst of his teeth.Paul Sam and Jacob shouted together.Paul seemed to fall forward, vibrating violently. Halfway to the ground, thither was a bodacious ripping noise, and the boy exploded.Dark silver fur blew out from the boy, coalescing into a shape more than five- epochs his sizea massive, crouched shape, ready to spring.The wolfs muzzle purse back over his teeth, and other growl furled through and through his wide chest. His dark, enraged eyes focused on me.In the same second, Jacob was tally across the road straight for the monster.Jacob I screamed.Mid-stride, a long tremor shivered down Jacobs spine. He leaped forward, diving headfirst into the empty air.With another shrewdly tearing kick the bucket, Jacob exploded, too. He burst out of his skinshreds of black and white framework blasted up into the air. It happened so quickly that if Id blinked, Id oblige missed the undefiled transformation. One second it was Jacob diving into the air, and then it was the gigantic, russet brown wolfso fantastic that I couldnt tie sense of its mass roundhow fitting inner(a) Jacobcharging the crouched silver beast.Jacob met the other lycanthropes eruption head-on. Their angry snarls echoed alike thunder finish the trees.The black and white scrapsthe remains of Jacobs clothesfluttered to the ground w present hed disappeared.Jacob I screamed again, staggering forward. curb where you are, Bella, Sam ordered. It was hard to hear him over the roar of the conflict wolves. They were sna pping and tearing at each other, their sharp teeth flashing toward each others throats. The Jacob-wolf seemed to fuddle the upper go pasthe was visibly bigger than the other wolf, and it looked like le was stronger, too. He rammed his shoulder against the gray wolf again and again, knocking him back toward the trees. set out her to Emilys, Sam shouted toward the other boys, who were watching the conflict with rapt expressions. Jacob had successfully shoved the gray wolf send off the road, and they were disappearing into the forest, though the sound of their snarls was pacify loud. Sam ran after(prenominal) them, kicking off his shoes on the way. As he darted into the trees, he was quivering from head to toe.The growling and snapping was weaken into the distance. Suddenly, the sound cut off and it was very quiet on the road.One of the boys started laughing.I turned to scan at himmy wide eyes felt frozen, like I couldnt even blink them.The boy seemed to be laughing at my expre ssion. Well, theres something you dont see every day, hesnickered. His face was vaguely familiarthinner than the others Embry Call.I do, the other boy, Jared, grumbled. Every single day.Aw, Paul doesnt lose his temper every day, Embry disagreed, still grinning. Maybe two out of three.Jared stopped to pick something white up off the ground. He held it up toward Embry it dangled in limp strips from his leave.Totally shredded, Jared said. nightstick said this was the last pair he could affordguess Jacobs exit barefoot now.This one survived, Embry said, holding up a white sneaker. Jake can hop, he added with a laugh.Jared started collecting various pieces of fabric from the dirt. Get Sams shoes, exit you? All the rest of this is headed for the trash.Embry grabbed the shoes and then jogged into the trees where Sam had disappeared. He was back in a a couple of(prenominal) seconds with a pair of cut-off jeans draped over his arm. Jared gathered the part remnants of Jacobs and Pauls c lothes and wadded them into a ball. Suddenly, he seemed to remember me.He looked at me carefully, assessing.Hey, youre not going to faint or puke or anything? he demanded.I dont think so, I gasped.You dont look so good. Maybe you should sit down.Okay, I mumbled. For the second time in one morning, I put my head between my knees.Jake should bring forth warned us, Embry complained.He shouldnt have brought his girl companion into this. What did he expect?Well, the wolfs out of the bag now. Embry sighed. Way to go, Jake.I raised my head to glare at the two boys who seemed to be victorious this all so lightly. argonnt you upturned about them at all? I demanded.Embry blinked once in confusion Worried? Why?They could hurt each otherEmbry and Jared guffawed.I desire Paul gets a mouthful of him, Jared said. Teach him a lesson.I blanched.Yeah, dear Embry disagreed. Did you see Jake? Even Sam couldnt have phased on the fly like that. He saw Paul losing it, and it took him, what, half a s econd to attack? The boys got a gift.Pauls been fighting longer. Ill bet you ten bucks he leaves a mark.Youre on. Jakes a natural. Paul doesnt have a prayer.They shook muckles, grinning.I essay to encourage myself with their lack of concern, but I couldnt drive the brutal image of the fighting werewolves from my head. My stomach churned, sore and empty, my head ached with worry.Lets go see Emily. You greet shell have food waiting. Embry looked down at me. Mind tolerant us a ride?No problem, I choked.Jared raised one eyebrow. Maybe youd break in drive, Embry. She still looks like she might hurl.Good idea. Where are the keys? Embry asked me.Ignition.Embry opened the passenger-side gateway. In you go, he said cheerfully, hauling me up from the ground with one hand and stuffing me into my seat. He appraised the available space. Youll have to ride in the back, he told Jared.Thats fine. I got a weak stomach. I dont address to be in there when she blows.I bet shes tougher than tha t. She runs with lamias.Five bucks? Jared asked.Done. I feel guilty, taking your money like this.Embry got in and started the engine plot of land Jared leapt agilely into the bed. As soon as his door was closed, Embry muttered to me, Dont throw up, all right? Ive only got a ten, and if Paul got his teeth into JacobOkay, I whispered.Embry drove us back toward the village.Hey, how did Jake get around the injunction anyway?The what?Er, the order. You know, to not spill the beans. How did he ordain you about this?Oh, that, I said, remembering Jacob trying to choke out the honor to me last night. He didnt. I guessed rectify.Embry pursed his lips, looking surprised. Hmm. Spose that would work.Where are we going? I asked.Emilys house. Shes Sams girlfriend no, fiancee, now, I guess. Theyll meet us back there after Sam gives it to them for what near happened. And after Paul and Jake scrounge up some new clothes, if Paul even has any left.Does Emily know about ?Yeah. And hey, dont star e at her. That bugs Sam.I frowned at him. Why would I stare?Embry looked uncomfortable. equivalent you saw incisively now, hanging out around werewolves has its risks. He changed the progeny quickly. Hey, are you okay about the whole thing with the black-haired parasite in the meadow? It didnt look like he was a friend of yours, but. . Embry shrugged.No, he wasnt my friend.Thats good. We didnt want to start anything, break the accord, you know.Oh, yeah, Jake told me about the treaty once, a long time ago. Why would killing Laurent break the treaty?Laurent, he repeated, snorting, like he was amused the vampire had had a name. Well, we were technically on Cullen turf. Were not allowed to attack any of them, the Cullens, at least, off our landunless they break the treaty first. We didnt know if the black-haired one was a relative of theirs or something. Looked like you knew him.How would they go about breaking the treaty?If they bite a human. Jake wasnt so keen on the idea of lett ing it go that far.Oh. Um, thanks. Im glad you didnt wait.Our pleasure. He sounded like he meant that in a literal sense.Embry drove past the easternmost house on the highway before turning off onto a narrow dirt road. Your truck is slow, he noted. down in the mouth.At the end of the lane was a exact house that had once been gray. There was only one narrow windowpane beside the weathered blue door, but the window box under it was filled with bright orange and yellow marigolds, giving the whole place a cheerful look.Embry opened the truck door and inhaled. Mmm, Emilys cooking.Jared jumped out of the back of the truck and headed for the door, but Embry stopped him with one hand on his chest. He looked at me meaningfully, and cleared his throat.I dont have my notecase on me, Jared said.Thats okay. I wont forget.They climbed up the one step and entered the house without knocking. I followed timidly after them. The front room, like Billys house, was mostly kitchen. A immature woman wi th satiny copper skin and long, straight, crow-black hair was standing at the counter by the sink, popping big muffins out of a tin and placing them on a paper plate. For one second, I scene the source Embry had told me not to stare was because the girl was so beautiful.And then she asked You guys hungry? in a melodic voice, and she turned to face us full on, a smile on half of her face.The right side of her face was scar from hairline to chin by three thick, red lines, livid in modify thoughthey were long healed. One line pulled down the corner of her dark, amygdaloidal right eye, another twisted the right side of her mouth into a permanent grimace.Thankful for Embrys warning, I quickly turned my eyes to the muffins in her hands. They smelled wonderfullike fresh blueberries.Oh, Emily said, surprised. Whos this?I looked up, trying to focus on the left half of her face.Bella Swan, Jared told her, shrugging. Apparently, Id 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, youre 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. Wheres Sam?Bella, er, surprised Paul this morning.Emily rolled her good eye. Ah, Paul, she sighed. Do you think theyll be long? I was just about to start the testis.Dont worry, Embry told her. If theyre late, we wont 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 tetchy 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 th ought nothing of it.Pig, Jared commented.I leaned against the counter and watched the three of them banter like a family. Emilys 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 run out with wildflowers. Embry and Jared seemed entirely at ease here.Emily was mixing a humongous freshet of eggs, several dozen, in a big yellow bowl. She had the sleeves of her lavender garment 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 ofttimes 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 tha t, Jared complained. Im eating.Then shut up and eat, Sam suggested, kissing Emilys ruined mouth again.Ugh, Embry groaned.This was worse than any romanticist movie this was so real that it sang out loud with gratification 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 two appeared to be in one piece.Jacob scanned the room, his eyes stopping when he base me tendency, 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 mutt ered under his breath. How are you holding up.Dont worry, Im 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 Pauls forearm. Embry was grinning, exultant.Fifteen dollars, he crowed.Did you do that? I whispered to Jacob, remembering the bet.I barely touched him. Hell be blameless by sundown.By sundown? I looked at the line on Pauls 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 diverseness 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 mustiness have explained this to him and Sam already. Or theyd just hear his thoughts.I know what the redhead wants. Jacob directed his words toward Jared and Embry. Thats what I was trying to tell you before. He kicked the leg of the chair Paul had settled into.And? Jared asked.Jacobs face got serious. She is trying to penalise her mateonly it wasnt the black-haired leech wekilled. The Cullens got her mate last year, and shes after Bella now.This wasnt news to me, but I still shivered.Jared, Embry, and Emily stared at me with open-mouthed surprise.Shes just a girl, Embry protested.I didnt conjecture it make sense. exclusively thats why the bloodsuckers been trying to get past us. Shes been school principal 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. Weve got bait.With stunning speed, Jacob yanked a can opener from the counter and launched it at Jareds head. Jareds hand flicked up faster than I would have thought possible, and he snagged the machine just before it hit his face.Bellais not bait.You know what I mean, Jared said, unabashed.So well be changing oar patterns, Sam said, ignoring their squabble. Well try leaving a few holes, and see if she falls for it. Well have to bust up, and I dont like that. simply if shes really after Bella, she probably wont try to take advantage of our shared numbers.Quits got to be close to joining us, Embry murmured. Then well be able to split evenly.Everyone looked down. I glanced at Jacobs face, and it was hopeless, like it had been yesterday afternoon, outside his house. No question how comfortable they seemed to be with their fate, here in this happy kitchen, none of these werewolves valued the same fate for their friend.Well, we wont 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. Well collapse in when weve got her trapped.I noticed that Emily didnt 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 trounce if you spent as much time as possible here in La Push. She wont 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 hes not at work.Wait, Sam said, holding one hand up. His glance flickered to Emily and then back to me. Thats what Jacob thinks is best, but you need to decide for yourself. You should weigh the risks of both(prenominal) options very seriously. You saw this morning how easily things can get sober here, how quickly they get out of hand. If you choose to stay with us, I cant make any guarantees about your safety.I wont hurt her, Jacob mumbled, look ing down.Sam acted as if he hadnt heard him speak. If there was somewhere else you felt safeI bit my lip. Where could I go that wouldnt put someone else in insecurity? I recoiled again from the idea of bringing Renee into thispulling her into the circle of the target I wore I dont want to lead Victoria anywhere else, I whispered.Sam nodded. Thats true. Its better to have her here, where we can end this.I flinched. I didnt want Jacob or any of the rest of them trying to end Victoria. I glanced at Jakes face it was relaxed, almost the same as I remembered it from before the attack of the wolf thing, and utterly unconcerned by the idea of hunting vampires.Youll be careful, right? I asked, an audible lump in my throat.The boys burst into loud hoots of amusement. Everyone laughed at meexcept Emily. She met my eyes, and I could suddenly see the symmetry under equivocation her deformity. Her face was still beautiful, and alive with a concern even more rough than mine. I had to look away , before the love behind that concern could start me aching again.Foods ready, she announced then, and the strategic conversation was history. The guys locomote to surround the tablewhich looked tiny and in danger of being crushed by themand devoured the buffet-sized pan of eggs Emily placed in their midst in record time. Emily ate leaning against the counter like meavoiding the bedlam at the tableand watched them with affectionate eyes. Her expression clear stated that this was her family.All in all, it wasnt exactly what Id been expecting from a pack of werewolves.I spent the day in La Push, the majority of it in Billys house. He left a message on Charlies phone and at the station, and Charlie showed up around dinnertime with two pizzas. It was good he brought two larges Jacob ate one all by himself.I saw Charlie eyeing the two of us suspiciously all night, especially the much-changed Jacob. He asked about the hair Jacob shrugged and told him it was just more convenient.I knew that as soon as Charlie and I were headed home, Jacob would take offoff to run around as a wolf, as he had make intermittently through the entire day. He and his brothers of sorts kept up a constant watch, looking for some sign of Victorias return. But since theyd chased her away from the hot springs last nightchased her halfway to Canada, according to Jacobshed yet to make another foray.I had no hope at all that she might just give up. I didnt have that kind of luck.Jacob walked me to my truck after dinner and lingered by the window, waiting for Charlie to drive away first.Dont be afraid tonight, Jacob said, while Charlie pretended to be having trouble with his seat belt. Well be out there, watching.I wont worry about myself, I promised.Youre silly. Hunting vampires is fun. Its the best part of this whole mess.I shook my head. If Im silly, then youre dangerously unbalanced.He chuckled. Get some rest, Bella, honey. You look exhausted.Illtry.Charlie honked his horn impatiently.See you tomorrow, Jacob said. Come down first thing.Iwill.Charlie followed me home. I paid scant attention to the lights in my rearview mirror. Instead, I wondered where Sam and Jared and Embry and Paul were, out running in the night. I wondered if Jacob had joined them yet.When we got home, I hurried for the stairs, but Charlie was right behind me.Whats going on, Bella? he demanded before I could escape. I thought Jacob was part of a gang and you two were fighting.We make up.And the gang?I dont knowwho can understand teenage boys? Theyre a mystery. But I met Sam Uley and his fiancee, Emily. The seemed pretty nice to me. I shrugged. Must have all been a misunderstanding.His face changed. I hadnt heard that he and Emily had made it official. Thats nice. Poor girl.Do you know what happened to her?Mauled by a bear, up north, during pinkish-orange spawning seasonhorrible accident It was more than a year ago now. I heard Sam was really messed up over it.Thats horrible, I echoed. More than a year ago. Id bet that meant it had happened when there was just one werewolf in La Push. I shuddered at the thought of how Sam must have felt every time he looked at Emilys face.That night, I put awake for a long time trying to sort through the day. I worked my way backward through dinner with Billy, Jacob, and C harlie, to the long afternoon in the Blacks house, waiting anxiously to hear something from Jacob, to Emilys kitchen, to the horror of the werewolf fight, to talking with Jacob on the beach.I thought about what Jacob had said wee this morning, about hypocrisy. I thought about that for a long time. I didnt like to think that I was a hypocrite, only what was the point of lying to myself?I curled into a tight ball. No, Edward wasnt a killer. Even in his darker past, hed never been a murderer of innocents, at least.But what if he had been? What if, during the time I that Id known him, hed been just like any other vampire? What if people had been disappearing from the woods, just like now? Would that have kept me away from him?I shook my head sadly. Love is irrational, I reminded myself. The more you loved someone, the less sense anything made.I rolled over and tried to think of something elseand I thought of Jacob and his brothers, out running in the darkness. I fell asleep imagining the wolves, invisible in the night, guarding me from danger. When Idreamed, I stood in the forest again, but I didnt wander. I was holding Emilys scarred hand as we faced into the shadows and waited anxiously for our werewolves to come home.