s　left？〃

〃I'm　nothing　but　a　human；　after　all。　Nothing　special；〃　I　explained；　shrugging

weakly。

Something　like　a　growl—not　a　real　growl；　just　a　human　approximation—rumbled

in　Jacob's　chest　under

my　ear。　〃If　that　idiot　bloodsucker　is　honestly　stupid　enough—〃

〃Please；〃　I　moaned。　〃Please。　Don't。〃

Jacob　hesitated；　then　nodded　once。

〃This　is　important；〃　he　said　again；　his　face　all　business　now。　〃This　is

exactly　what　we　needed　to　know。

We've　got　to　tell　the　others　right　away。〃

He　stood；　pulling　me　to　my　feet。　He　kept　two　hands　on　my　waist　until　he　was

sure　I　wasn't　going　to　fall。

〃I'm　okay；〃　I　lied。

He　traded　his　hold　on　my　waist　for　one　of　my　hands。　〃Let's　go。〃

He　pulled　me　back　toward　the　truck。

〃Where　are　we　going？〃　I　asked。

〃I'm　not　sure　yet；〃　he　admitted。　〃I'll　call　a　meeting。　Hey；　wait　here　for　just

a　minute；　okay？〃　He　leaned　me

against　the　side　of　the　truck　and　released　my　hand。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃

〃I'll　be　right　back；〃　he　promised。　Then　he　turned　and　sprinted　through　the

parking　lot；　across　the　road；

and　into　the　bordering　forest。　He　flitted　into　the　trees；　swift　and　sleek　as　a

deer。

〃Jacob！〃　I　yelled　after　him　hoarsely；　but　he　was　already　gone。

It　was　not　a　good　time　to　be　left　alone。　Seconds　after　Jacob　was　out　of　sight；

I　was　hyperventilating。　I

dragged　myself　into　the　cab　of　the　truck；　and　mashed　the　locks　down　at　once。

It　didn't　make　me　feel　any

better。

Victoria　was　already　hunting　me。　It　was　just　luck　that　she　hadn't　found　me　yet

—just　luck　and　five　teenage

werewolves。　I　exhaled　sharply。　No　matter　what　Jacob　said；　the　thought　of　him