The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 8. Waiting For The Damn …

8. Waiting For The m some otherfucker Fight To Start AlreadyJeez, capital of Minnesota, dont you freaking meet a bag of your deliver?capital of Minnesota, lounging across my whole couch, reflection some stupid baseb solely game on my crappy TV, practiced grinned at me and and so trustworthy s mortified he lifted whizz Dorito from the bag in his lap and wedged it into his m emergeh in unitary piece.You betterVe brought those with you.Crunch. Nope, he express while chewing. Your sister said to go ahead and help myself to anything I lacked.I tried to make my vowelise sound c ar I wasnt to the highest degree to punch him. Is Rachel present in a flash?It didnt consort. He heard where I was going and shoved the bag behind his rearwards. The bag crackled as he smashed it into the cushion. The chips crunched into pieces. Pauls hold came up in fists, close to his face uniform a boxer.Bring it, kid. I dont need Rachel to protect me.I snorted. Right. Like you wouldnt go crying to her first chance.He laughed and relaxed into the sofa, dropping his hands. Im non going to go tattle to a girl. If you got in a lucky hit, that would be still in the midst of the two of us. And vice versa, ripe(p)?Nice of him to give me an invitation. I make my body slump interchange commensurate Id given up. Right.His eyes shifted to the TV.I lunged.His wind up make a very satisfying crunching sound of its own when my fist connected. He tried to grab me, notwithstanding I danced out of the way before he could find a hold, the ruined bag of Doritos in my left hand.You broke my nose, idiot. conscionable between us, right, Paul?I went to put the chips extraneous. When I turned around, Paul was repositioning his nose before it could set crooked.The air had already stopped it looked worry it had no source as it trickled hatful his lips and off his chin. He cussed, wincing as he pulled at the cartilage.You ar such a pain, Jacob. I swear, Id rather hang out with Leah .Ouch. Wow, I bet Leahs heartyly going to love to hear that you want to spend some quality prison term with her. Itll vindicatory warm the cockles of her heart.Youre going to for irritate I said that.Of course. Im sure it wont slip out.Ugh, he grunted, and then settled jeopardize into the couch, wiping the leftover blood on the collar of his t-shirt. Youre fast, kid.Ill give you that. He turned his worry game to the fuzzy game.I s excessivelyd there for a second, and then I stalked off to my room, muttering round alien abductions.Back in the day, you could count on Paul for a fight reasonably untold whenever. You didnt have to hit him then any mild insult would do. It didnt pull back a circulate to flip him out of control. Now, of course, when I unfeignedly wanted a considerably snarling, ripping, break-the-trees-down match, he had to be solely mel funky.Wasnt it bad enough that yet another member of the brood had imprinted because, in truth, that make four of ten now When would it stop? Stupid myth was supposed to be rare, for crying out loud All this mandatory love-at-first-sight was completely sickeningDid it have to be my sister? Did it have to be Paul?When Racheld come foot from Washington State at the end of the summer semester graduated early, the nerd my biggest worryd been that it would be c one timentrated belongings the inexplicable around her. I wasnt used to covering things up in my own home. It made me real sympathetic to kids ilk Embry and Collin, whose parents didnt hit the sack they were werewolves. Embrys mom image he was going d one some tolerant of rebellious stage. He was permanently grounded for constantly sneaking out, however, of course, there wasnt much he could do about that. Shed check his room all night, and every night it would be empty again. Shed yell and hed take it in silence, and then go through and through it all again the next day. Wed tried to talk Sam into plentiful Embry a break and letti ng his mom in on the gig, but Embryd said he didnt assessment. The secret was too important.So Id been all geared up to be keeping that secret. And then, two days by and by Rachel got home, Paul ran into her on the beach. Bada bing, bada boom true love No secrets necessary when you found your other half, and all that imprinting werewolf garbage.Rachel got the whole story. And I got Paul as a brother-in-law someday. I knew Billy wasnt much thrilled about it, either. notwithstanding he handled it better than I did. Course, he did escape to the Clearwaters more often than usual these days. I didnt work through where that was so much better. No Paul, but plenty of Leah.I wondered would a bullet through my temple actually kill me or just leave a really big mess for me to clean up?I threw myself down on the bed. I was tired hadnt slept since my hold water patrol but I knew I wasnt going to sleep. My head was too crazy. The thoughts bounced around in military position my skull li ke a disoriented swarm of bees. Noisy. Now and then they stung. Must be hornets, not bees. Bees died after superstar sting. And the same thoughts were stinging meagain and again.This waiting was driving me insane. It had been almost four weeks. Id expected, one way or another, the news would have come by now. Id sat up nights imagining what form it would take.Charlie sobbing on the predict Bella and her husband lost in an accident. A plane crash? That would be hard to fake. Unless the leeches didnt mind cleaning a bunch of bystanders to authenticate it, and wherefore would they? Maybe a small plane instead. They probably had one of those to spare.Or would the murderer come home just now if, unsuccessful in his attempt to make her one of them? Or not level(p) getting that far. Maybe hed smashed her like a bag of chips in his motility to get some? Because her life was less important to him than his own pleasureThe story would be so tragic Bella lost in a horrible accident. V ictim of a mugging gone wrong. throttling to death at dinner. A car accident, like my mom. So common. Happened all the time.Would he bring her home? Bury her here for Charlie? Closed-casket ceremony, of course. My moms coffin had been nailed shutI could only hope that hed come back here, at bottom my reach.Maybe there would be no story at all. Maybe Charlie would call to ask my pascal if hed heard anything from Dr. Cullen, who just didnt show up to work one day. The house abandoned. No answer on any of the Cullens phones. The mystery picked up by some second-rate news program, foul play ventureMaybe the big white house would burn to the ground, everyone trapped inside. Of course, theyd need bodies for that one. Eight humans of well-nigh the right size. Burned beyond recognition beyond the help of dental records.Either of those would be clever for me, that is. It would be hard to find them if they didnt want to be found. Of course, I had forever to look. If you had forever, you could check out every single piece of straw in the haystack, one by one, to see if it was the needle.Right now, I wouldnt mind dismantling a haystack. At least that would be something to do. I hated knowing that I could be losing my chance. Giving the bloodsuckers the time to escape, if that was their plan.We could go tonight. We could kill every one of them that we could find.I liked that plan because I knew Edward well enough to know that, if I killed any one of his coven, I would get my chance at him, too. Hed come for r even offge. And Id give it to him I wouldnt let my brothers take him down as a require. It would be just him and me. May the better man win.But Sam wouldnt hear of it. Were not going to break the treaty. permit them make the breach. Just because we had no substantiation that the Cullens had done anything wrong. Yet. You had to add the yet, because we all knew it was inevitable. Bella was either coming back one of them, or not coming back. Either way, a human life had been lost. And that meant game on.In the other room, Paul brayed like a mule. Maybe hed switched to a comedy. Maybe the commercial was funny. Whatever. It grated on my nerves.I thought about breaking his nose again. But it wasnt Paul I wanted to fight with. not really.I tried to listen to other sounds, the wind in the trees, it wasnt the same, not through human ears. there were a million voices in the wind that I couldnt hear in this body.But these ears were sensitive enough. I could hear past the trees, to the road, the sounds of the cars coming around that last bend where you could finally see the beach the eyeshot of the islands and the rocks and the big blue ocean stretching to the horizon. The La Push cops liked to hang out right around there. Tourists never noticed the reduced speed limit sign on the other side of the road.I could hear the voices outside the souvenir shop on the beach. I could hear the cowbell clanging as the door ease uped and closed. I could he ar Embrys mom at the cash register, printing out a receipt.I could hear the tide raking across the beach rocks. I could hear the kids squeal as the opposite water rushed in too fast for them to get out of the way. I could hear the moms complain about the wet c musshes. And I could hear a familiar voice.I was listening so hard that the sudden burst of Pauls donkey laugh made me jump half off the bed. overreach out of my house, I grumbled. Knowing he wouldnt pay any attention, I followed my own advice. I wrenched open my window and climbed out the back way so that I wouldnt see Paul again. It would betoo tempting. I knew I would hit him again, and Rachel was going to be pissed enough already. Shed see the blood on his shirt, and shed blame me right away without waiting for proof. Of course, shed be right, but still.I paced down to the shore, my fists in my pockets. cryptograph looked at me twice when I went through the dirt lot by First Beach. That was one excellent thing about su mmer no one cared if you wore nothing but shorts.I followed the familiar voice Id heard and found Quil easy enough. He was on the south end of the crescent, avoiding the bigger part of the holidaymaker crowd. He kept up a constant stream of warnings.Keep out of the water, Claire. Cmon. No, dont. Oh Nice, kid. Seriously, do you want Emily to yell at me? Im not bringing you back to the beach again if you dont Oh yeah? Dont ugh. You think thats funny, do you? Hah Whos laughing now, huh?He had the giggling toddler by the ankle when I reached them. She had a bucket in one hand, and her jeans were drenched. He had a huge wet mark down the front of his t-shirt.Five bucks on the impair girl, I said.Hey, Jake.Claire squealed and threw her bucket at Quils knees. Down, downHe set her carefully on her feet and she ran to me. She wrapped her build up around my leg.UncaJayHows it going, Claire?She giggled. Qwil aaaaawl wet now.I can see that. Wheres your mama?Gone, gone, gone, Claire sang, Cwaire pway wid Qwil aaaawl day. Cwaire nebber gowin home. She let go of me and ran to Quil. He scooped her up and slung her onto his shoulders.Sounds like somebodys hit the terrible twos.Threes actually, Quil corrected. You missyed the party. Princess theme. She made me wear a crown, and then Emily suggested they all puree out her new play makeup on me.Wow, Im really sorry I wasnt around to see that.Dont worry, Emily has pictures. Actually, I look jolly hot.Youre such a patsy.Quil shrugged. Claire had a great time. That was the point.I roll my eyes. It was hard being around imprinted people. No matter what stage they were in aboutto tie the knot like Sam or just a much-abused nanny like Quil the peace and certainty they always radiated was sheer(a) puke-inducing.Claire squealed on his shoulders and pointed at the ground. Pity wock, Qwil For me, for meWhich one, kiddo? The red one?No wedQuil dropped to his knees Claire screamed and pulled his hair like a horses reigns.This bl ue one?No, no, no, the weensy girl sang, thrilled with her new game.The weird part was, Quil was having just as much fun as she was. He didnt have that face on that so galore(postnominal) of the tourist dads and moms were wearing the when-is-nap-time? face. You never cut a real parent so jazzed to play some(prenominal) stupid kiddie sport their rugrat could think up. Id seen Quil play peekaboo for an hour straight without getting bored.And I couldnt even make fun of him for it I envied him too much.Though I did think it sucked that he had a good fourteen years of monkitude ahead of him until Claire was his age for Quil, at least, it was a good thing werewolves didnt get older. But even all that time didnt seem to bother him much.Quil, you ever think about dating? I asked.Huh?No, no yewwo Claire crowed.You know. A real girl. I mean, just for now, right? On your nights off babysitting duty.Quil stared at me, his mouth hanging open.Pity wock Pity wock Claire screamed when he did nt offer her another choice. She smacked him on the head with her little fist.Sorry, Claire-bear. How about this pretty purple one?No, she giggled. No poopoh.Give me a clue. Im begging, kid.Claire thought it over. Gween, she finally said.Quil stared at the rocks, studying them. He picked four rocks in different shades of green, and offered them to her.Did I get it?7YayWhich one?Vlaaaaw/obdemShe cupped her hands and he poured the small rocks into them. She laughed and immediately clunked him on the head with them. He winced theatrically and then got to his feet and started walking back up toward the parking lot. Probably worried about her getting dusty in her wet clothes. He was worse than any paranoid, overprotective mother.Sorry if I was being pushy before, man, about the girl thing, I said.Naw, thats cool, Quil said. It kind of took me by surprise is all. I hadnt thought about it.I bet shed understand. You know, when shes grown up. She wouldnt get mad that you had a life while s he was in diapers.No, I know. Im sure shed understand that.He didnt allege anything else.But you wont do that, will you? I guessed.I cant see it, he said in a low voice. I cant imagine. I just dont see anyone that way. I dont notice girls anymore, you know. I dont see their faces. coiffe that together with the tiara and makeup, and maybe Claire will have a different kind of competition to worry about.Quil laughed and made kissing noises at me. You available this Friday, Jacob?You wish, I said, and then I made a face. Yeah, guess I am, though.He hesitated a second and then said, You ever think about dating?I sighed. gibe Id opened myself up for that one.You know, Jake, maybe you should think about getting a life.He didnt say it like a joke. His voice was sympathetic. That made it worse.I dont see them, either, Quil. I dont see their faces.Quil sighed, too.Far away, too low for anyone but just us two to hear it over the waves, a howl rose out of the forest.Dang, thats Sam, Quil said . His hands flew up to touch Claire, as if making sure she was still there. I dont know where her moms atTil see what it is. If we need you, HI let you know. I raced through the words. They came out all slurred together. Hey, why dont you take her up to the Clearwaters? swear out and Billy can keep an eye on her if they need to. They force know whats going on, anyway.Okay get outta here, JakeI took off cut, not for the dirt path through the weedy hedge, but in the shortest line toward the forest. I hurdled the first line of driftwood and then ripped my way through the briars, still running. I felt the little tears as the thorns cut into my strip, but I neglected them. Their sting would be healed before I made the trees.I cut behind the workshop and darted across the highway. Somebody honked at me. Once in the safety of the trees, I ran faster, taking longer strides. wad would stare if I was out in the open. Normal people couldnt run like this. Sometimes I thought it might be fun to enter a race you know, like the Olympic trials or something. It would be cool to watch the expressions on those star athletes faces when I blew by them. Only I was pretty sure the testing they did to make sure you werent on steroids would probably turn up some really freaky crap in my blood.As soon as I was in the true forest, detach by roads or houses, I skidded to a stop and kicked my shorts off. With quick, practiced moves, I rolled them up and tied them to the leather cord around my ankle. As I was still pulling the ends tight, I started shifting. The fire trembled down my spine, throwing tight spasms out along my arms and legs. It only took a second. The heat fill through me, and I felt the silent shimmer that made me something else. I threw my heavy paws against the matted commonwealth and stretched my back in one long, rolling extension.Phasing was very easy when I was centered like this. I didnt have issues with my temper anymore. Except when it got in the way.Fo r one half second, I remembered the awful moment at that unspeakable joke of a wedding. Id been so insane with fury that I couldnt make my body work right. Id been trapped, shaking and burning, unable to make the change and kill the monster just a few feet away from me. It had been so confusing. Dying to kill him. Afraid to hurt her. My friends in the way. And then, when I was finally able to take the form I wanted, the order from my leader. The edict from the Alpha. If it had been just Embry and Quil there that night without Sam would I have been able to kill the murderer, then?I hated it when Sam laid down the law like that. I hated the feeling of having no choice. Of having to obey.And then I was conscious of an audience. I was not alone in my thoughts.So self-absorbed all the time,Leah thought.Yeah, no hypocrisy there, Leah,I thought back.Can it, guys,Sam told us.We fell silent, and I felt Leahs wince at the word guys. Touchy, like always.Sam pretended not to notice. Wheres Quil andJared?Quits got Claire. Hes taking her to the Clearwaters.Good. Sue will take her.Jared was going to Kims,Embry thought. Good chance he didnt hear you.There was a low grumble through the pack. I moaned along with them. When Jared finally showed up, no doubt hed still be thinking about Kim. And nobody wanted a replay of what they were up to right now.Sam sat back on his haunches and let another howl rip into the air. It was a signal and an order in one.The pack was gathered a few miles east of where I was. I loped through the thick forest toward them. Leah,Embry, and Paul all were working in toward them, too. Leah was close soon I could hear her footfalls not far into the woods. We proceed in a parallel line, choosing not to run together.Well, were not waiting all day for him. Hell just have to catch up later.Sup, boss?Paul wanted to know.We need to talk. Somethings happened.I felt Sams thoughts faltering to me and not just Sams, but Seths and Collins and Bradys as well. Col lin and Brady the new kids had been running patrol with Sam today, so they would know whatever he knew. I didnt know why Seth was already out here, and in the know. It wasnt his turn.Seth, itemize them what you heard.I sped up, wanting to be there. I heard Leah move faster, too. She hated being outrun. Being the speedy was the only edge she claimed.Claimthis, moron, she hissed, and then she really kicked it into gear. I dug my nails into the loam and shot myself forward.Sam didnt seem in the mood to put up with our usual crap. Jake, Leah, give it a rest.Neither of us slowed.Sam growled, but let it go. Seth?Charlie called around till he found Billy at my house.Yeah, I talked to him,Paul added.I felt a jolt go through me as Seth thought Charlies name. This was it. The waiting was over. I ran faster, forcing myself to breathe, though my lungs felt kinda stiff all of a sudden.Which story would it be?So hes all flipped out. Guess Edward and Bella got home last week, andMy chest eased up.She was alive. Or she wasnt dead dead, at least.I hadnt cognise how much difference it would make to me. Id been thinking of her as dead this whole time, and I only saw that now. I saw that Id never believed that he would bring her back alive. It shouldnt matter, because I knew what was coming next.Yeah, bro, and heres the bad news. Charlie talked to her, said she sounded bad. She told him shes sick. Carlisle got on and told Charlie that Bella picked up some rare disease in South America. Said shes quarantined. Charlies going crazy, cause even hes not allowed to see her. He says he doesnt care if he gets sick, but Carlisle wouldnt bend. No visitors. Told Charlie it was pretty serious, but that hes doing everything he can. Charlies been stewing about it for days, but he only called Billy now. He said she sounded worse today.The mental silence when Seth finished was profound. We all understood.So she would die of this disease, as far as Charlie knew. Would they let him view the c orpse? The pale, perfectly still, unbreathing white body? They couldnt let him touch the cold skin he might notice how hard it was.Theyd have to wait until she could hold still, could keep from killing Charlie and the other mourners. How long would that take?Would they bury her? Would she dig herself out, or would the bloodsuckers come for her?The others listened to my speculating in silence. Id put a lot more thought into this than any of them.Leah and I entered the clearing at nearly the same time. She was sure her nose led the way, though. She dropped onto her haunches beside her brother while I trotted forward to stand at Sams right hand. Paul circled and made room for me in my place.Beatcha again,Leah thought, but I barely heard her.I wondered why I was the only one on my feet. My fur stood up on my shoulders, bristling with impatience.Well, what are we waiting for?I asked.No one said anything, but I heard their feelings of hesitation.Oh, come on The treatys brokenWe have no p roof maybe sheis sick.OH, PLEASEOkay, so the circumstantial evidence is pretty strong. Still Jacob.Sams thought came slow, hesitant. ar you sure this is what you want? Is it really the right thing? We all know what she wanted.The treaty doesnt mention anything about victim preferences, SamIs she really a victim? Would you label her that way?YesJake,Seth thought, they arent our enemies.Shut up, kid Just cause youve got some kind of sick hero worship thing going on with that bloodsucker, it doesnt change the law. They are our enemies. They are in our territory. We take them out. I dont care if you had fun fighting alongside Edward Cullen once upon a time.So what are you going to do when Bella fights with them, Jacob? Huh?Seth demanded.Shes not Bella anymore.You gonna be the one to take her down?I couldnt stop myself from wincing.No, youre not. So, what? You gonna make one of us do it? And then hold a aversion against whoever it is forever?I wouldntSure you wont. Youre not ready for this fight, Jacob.Instinct took over and I crouched forward, snarling at the gangly sand-colored wolf across the circle.JacobSam cautioned. Seth, shut up for a second.Seth nodded his big head.Dang, whatd I miss? Quthought. He was running for the gathering place full-out. Heard about Charlies call.Were getting ready to go,I told him. wherefore dont you swing by Kims and drag Jared out with your teeth? Were going to need everyone.Come straight here, Quil,Sam ordered. Weve distinct nothing yet.I growled.Jacob, I have to think about whats best for this pack. I have to claim the course that protects you all best. Times have changed since our ancestors made that treaty. I well, I dont honestly believe that the Cullens are a risk to us. And we know that they will not be here much longer. Surely once theyve told their story, they will disappear. Our lives can return to normal.Normal?If we challenge them, Jacob, they will defend themselves well.argon you afraid?Are you so ready to lose a brother? He paused. Or a sister? he tacked on as an afterthought.Im not afraid to die.I know that, Jacob. Its one reason I question your judgment on this.I stared into his black eyes. Do you intend to revere our fathers treaty or not?I honor my pack. I do whats best for them.Coward.His muzzle tensed, pulling back over his teeth.Enough, Jacob. Youre overruled.Sams mental voice changed, took on that strange double timbre that we could not disobey. The voice of the Alpha. He met the gaze of every wolf in the circle.The pack is not attacking the Cullens without provocation. The spirit of the treaty remains. They are nota danger to our people, nor are they a danger to the people of Forks. Bella Swan made an informed choice, and we are not going to punish our former associate for her choice.Hear, hear,Seth thought enthusiastically.thought I told you to shut it, Seth.Oops. Sorry, Sam.Jacob, where do you think youre going?I left the circle, touching toward the west so that I could turn my back on him. Im going to tell my father goodbye. on the face of it there was no purpose in me sticking around this long.Aw, Jake dont do that againShut up, Seth,several voices thought together.We dont want you to leave,Sam told me, his thought softer than before.So force me to stay, Sam. Take away my will. Make me a slave.You know I wont do thatThen theres nothing more to say.I ran away from them, trying very hard not to think about what was next. Instead, I concentrated on my memories of the long wolf months, of letting the humanity execute out of me until I was more animal than man. Living in the moment, eating when hungry, sleeping when tired, drinking when thirsty, and running running just to run. Simple desires, simple answers to those desires. Pain came in easily managed forms. The pain of hunger. The pain of cold ice under your paws. The pain of cutting claws when dinner got feisty. Each pain had a simple answer, a clear action to end that pain.Not like being human.Y et, as soon as I was in jogging distance of my house, I shifted back into my human body. I needed to be able to think in privacy.I untied my shorts and yanked them on, already running for the house.Id done it. Id hidden what I was thinking and now it was too late for Sam to stop me. He couldnt hear me now.Sam had made a very clear ruling. The pack would not attack the Cullens. Okay.He hadnt mentioned an individual acting alone.Nope, the pack wasnt attacking anyone today.But I was.