Edward　had　said　that　Charlie　was　ready　to　kill　me；　so　he　must　know　that—that

it　was　mine。　There　was

only　one　person　who　could　be　behind　this　treachery。

〃No！〃　I　gasped。　〃Why？　Why　would　Jacob　do　this　to　me？〃　The　sting　of　betrayal

washed　through　me。　I

had　trusted　Jacob　implicitly—trusted　him　with　every　single　secret　I　had。　He

was　supposed　to　be　my　safe

harbor—the　person　I　could　always　rely　on。　Of　course　things　were　strained

right　now；　but　I　didn't　think

any　of　the　underlying　foundation　had　changed。　I　didn't　think　that　was

changeable！

What　had　I　done　to　deserve　this？　Charlie　was　going　to　be　so　mad—and　worse

than　that；　he　was　going　to

be　hurt　and　worried。　Didn't　he　have　enough　to　deal　with　already？　I　would　have

never　imagined　that　Jake

could　be　so　petty　and　just　plain　mean。　Tears　sprang；　smarting；　into　my　eyes；

but　they　were　not　tears　of

sadness。　I　had　been　betrayed。　I　was　suddenly　so　angry　that　my　head　throbbed

like　it　was　going　to

explode。

〃Is　he　still　here？〃　I　hissed。

〃Yes。　He's　waiting　for　us　there。〃　Edward　told　me；　nodding　toward　the　slender

path　that　divided　the　dark

fringe　of　the　forest　in　two。

I　jumped　out　of　the　car；　launching　myself　toward　the　trees　with　my　hands

already　balled　into　fists　for　the

first　punch。

Why　did　Edward　have　to　be　so　much　faster　than　me？

He　caught　me　around　the　waist　before　I　made　the　path。

〃Let　me　go！　I'm　going　to　murder　him！　Traitor！〃　I　shouted　the　epithet　toward

the　trees。

〃Charlie　will　hear　you；〃　Edward　warned　me。　〃And　once　he　gets　you　inside；　he

may　brick　over　the

doorway。〃

I　glanced　back　at　the　house