fot　food　I　was

actually　trying　my　hand　at　tracking。　I'm　not　very　good　at　it。〃

〃What　were　you　tracking？〃　I　asked；　intrigued。

〃Nothing　of　consequence。〃　His　words　didn't　match　his　expression；　he　looked

upset；　unfortable。

〃I　don't　understand。〃

He　hesitated；　his　face；　shining　with　an　odd　green　cast　from　the　light　of　the

clock；　was　torn。

〃I—〃　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　owe　you　an　apology。　No；　of　course　I　owe　you

much；　much　more　than

that。　But　you　have　to　know；〃—the　words　began　to　flow　so　fast；　the　way　I

remembered　he　spoke

sometimes　when　he　was　agitated；　that　I　really　had　to　concentrate　to　catch　them

all—〃that　I　had　no　idea。　I

didn't　realize　the　mess　I　was　leaving　behind。　I　thought　it　was　safe　for　you

here。　So　safe。　I　had　no　idea　that

Victoria；〃—his　lips　curled　back　when　he　said　the　name—〃would　e　back。　I'll

admit；　when　I　saw　her

that　one　time；　I　was　paying　much　more　attention　to　James's　thoughts。　But　I

just　didn't　see　that　she　had　this

kind　of　response　in　her。　That　she　even　had　such　a　tie　to　him。　I　think　I

realize　why　now—she　was　so　sure

of　him；　the　thought　of　him　failing　never　occurred　to　her。　It　was　her

overconfidence　that　clouded　her

feelings　about　him—that　kept　me　from　seeing　the　depth　of　them；　the　bond

there。

〃Not　that　there's　any　excuse　for　what　I　left　you　to　face。　When　I　heard　what

you　told　Alice—what　she

saw　herself—when　I　realized　that　you　had　to　put　your　life　in　the　hands　of

werewolves；　immature；　volatile；

the　worst　thing　out　there　besides　Victoria　herself—he　shuddered　and　the　gush

of　words　halted　for　a　short

second。　〃Please　know　that　I　had　no　id