ith　her—after　all；　we　were　both　wolf　girls　now。

But　Sam　checked　in　after　I'd　been　there　for　a　few　hours。　I　only　stayed　long

enough　to　ascertain　that

Jacob　was　fine　and　there　was　no　news；　and　then　I　had　to　escape。　The　aura　of

love　and　contentment　that

surrounded　them　was　harder　to　take　in　concentrated　doses；　with　no　one　else

around　to　dilute　it。

So　that　left　me　wandering　the　beach；　pacing　the　length　of　the　rocky　crescent

back　and　forth；　again　and

again。

Alone　time　wasn't　good　for　me。　Thanks　to　the　new　honesty　with　Jacob；　I'd　been

talking　and　thinking

about　the　Cullens　way　too　much。　No　matter　how　I　tried　to　distract　myself—and

I　had　plenty　to　think　of：　I

was　honestly　and　desperately　worried　about　Jacob　and　his　wolf…brothers；　I　was

terrified　for　Charlie　and

the　others　who　thought　they　were　hunting　animals；　I　was　getting　in　deeper　and

deeper　with　Jacob　without

ever　having　consciously　decided　to　progress　in　that　direction　and　I　didn't

know　what　to　do　about

it—none　of　these　very　real；　very　deserving　of　thought；　very　pressing　concerns

could　take　my　mind　off　the

pain　in　my　chest　for　long。　Eventually；　I　couldn't　even　walk　anymore；　because　I

couldn't　breathe。　I　sat

down　on　a　patch　of　semidry　rocks　and　curled　up　in　a　ball。

Jacob　found　me　like　that；　and　I　could　tell　from　his　expression　that　he

understood。

〃Sorry；〃　he　said　right　away。　He　pulled　me　up　from　the　ground　and　wrapped　both

arms　around　my

shoulders。　I　hadn't　realized　that　I　was　cold　until　then。　His　warmth　made　me

shudder；　but　at　least　I　could

breathe　with　him　there。

〃I'm　ruining　your　spring　break；〃　Jacob