Neither　one　seemed　to　notice　my

noisy　reappearance。

〃You　might　control　yourself　on　occasion；　but　these　leeches　you're　taking　her

to—〃　Jacob　was　furiously

accusing　her。

〃Yes。　You're　right；　dog。〃　Alice　was　snarling；　too。　〃The　Volturi　are　the　very

essence　of　our　kind—they're

the　reason　your　hair　stands　on　end　when　you　smell　me。　They　are　the　substance

of　your　nightmares；　the

dread　behind　your　instincts。　I'm　not　unaware　of　that。〃

〃And　you　take　her　to　them　like　a　bottle　of　wine　for　a　party！〃　he　shouted。

〃You　think　she'd　be　better　off　if　I　left　her　here　alone；　with　Victoria

stalking　her？〃

〃We　can　handle　the　redhead。〃

〃Then　why　is　she　still　hunting？〃

Jacob　growled；　and　a　shudder　rippled　through　his　torso。

〃Stop　that！〃　I　shouted　at　them　both；　wild　with　impatience。　〃Argue　when　we　get

back；　let's　go！〃

Alice　turned　for　the　car；　disappearing　in　her　haste。　I　hurried　after　her；

pausing　automatically　to　turn　and

lock　the　door。

Jacob　caught　my　arm　with　a　shivering　hand。　〃Please；　Bella。　I'm　begging。〃

His　dark　eyes　were　glistening　with　tears。　A　lump　filled　my　throat。

〃Jake；　I　have　to—〃

〃You　don't；　though。　You　really　don't。　You　could　stay　here　with　me。　You　could

stay　alive。　For　Charlie。

For　me。〃

The　engine　of　Carlisle's　Mercedes　purred；　the　rhythm　of　the　thrumming　spiked

when　Alice　revved　it

impatiently。

I　shook　my　head；　tears　spattering　from　my　eyes　with　the　sharp　motion。　I　pulled

my　arm　free；　and　he

didn't　fight　me。

〃Don't　die；　Bella；〃　he　choked　out。　〃Don't　go。　Don't。〃

What　if　I　never　saw　him　again？

The　thought　pushed　me　past　the　silent　tears；