ing　anywhere　close　to

Victoria　was　horrifying。　I　didn't　care　what　he　could　turn　into　when　he　got

mad。　I　could　see　her　in　my

head；　her　face　wild；　her　hair　like　flames；　deadly；　indestructible

But；　according　to　Jacob；　Laurent　was　gone。　Was　that　really　possible？　Edward—I

clutched　automatically

at　my　chest—had　told　me　how　difficult　it　was　to　kill　a　vampire。　Only　another

vampire　could　do　the　job。

Yet　Jake　said　this　was　what　werewolves　were　made　for

He　said　they　were　keeping　a　special　eye　on　Charlie—that　I　should　trust　the

werewolves　to　keep　my

father　safe。　How　could　I　trust　that？　None　of　us　were　safe！　Jacob　the　very

least　of　all；　if　he　was　trying　to

put　himself　between　Victoria　and　Charlie　between　Victoria　and　me。

I　felt　like　I　might　be　about　to　throw　up　again。

A　sharp　rap　on　the　truck's　window　made　me　yelp　in　terror—but　it　was　just

Jacob；　back　already。　I

unlocked　the　door　with　trembling；　grateful　fingers。

〃You're　really　scared；　aren't　you？〃　he　asked　as　he　climbed　in。

I　nodded。

〃Don't　be。　We'll　take　care　of　you—and　Charlie；　too。　I　promise。〃

〃The　idea　of　you　finding　Victoria　is　scarier　than　the　idea　of　her　finding　me；〃

I　whispered。

He　laughed。　〃You've　got　to　have　a　little　more　confidence　in　us　than　that。　It's

insulting。〃

I　just　shook　my　head。　I'd　seen　too　many　vampires　in　action。

〃Where　did　you　go　just　now？〃　I　asked。

He　pursed　his　lips；　and　said　nothing。

〃What？　Is　it　a　secret？〃

He　frowned。　〃Not　really。　It's　kind　of　weird；　though。　I　don't　want　to　freak　you

out。〃

〃I'm　sort　of　used　to　weird　by　this　point；　you　know。〃　I　tried　to　smile　without

much　success