Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [50]
For 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 and Jared?
Quils 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 continued 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 flicker to me-and not just Sams, but Seths and Collins and Bradys as well. Collin 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, tell them what you heard.
I sped up, wanting to be there. I heard Leah move faster, too. She hated being outrun. Being the fastest was the only edge she claimed.
Claim this, 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, and
My chest eased up.
She was alive. Or she wasnt dead dead, at least.
I hadnt realized 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 corpse? The pale, perfectly still, unbreathing