Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer [65]
Tonight? Seth repeated, shocked. Sam-I think we should talk about this some more. Consult with the Elders, at least. You cant seriously mean for us to-
We cant afford your tolerance for the Cullens now. There is no time for debate. You will do as you are told, Seth.
Seths front knees folded, and his head fell forward under the weight of the Alphas command.
Sam paced in a tight circle around the two of us.
We need the whole pack for this. Jacob, you are our strongest fighter. You will fight with us tonight. I understand that this is hard for you, so you will concentrate on their fighters-Emmett and Jasper Cullen. You dont have to be involved with the other part. Quil and Embry will fight with you.
My knees trembled; I struggled to hold myself upright while the voice of the Alpha lashed at my will.
Paul, Jared, and I will take on Edward and Rosalie. I think, from the information Jacob has brought us, they will be the ones guarding Bella. Carlisle and Alice will also be close, possibly Esme. Brady, Collin, Seth, and Leah will concentrate on them. Whoever has a clear line on-we all heard him mentally stutter over Bellas name-the creature will take it. Destroying the creature is our first priority.
The pack rumbled in nervous agreement. The tension had everyones fur standing on end. The pacing was quicker, and the sound of the paws against the brackish floor was sharper, toenails tearing into the soil.
Only Seth and I were still, the eye in the center of a storm of bared teeth and flattened ears. Seths nose was almost touching the ground, bowed under Sams commands. I felt his pain at the coming disloyalty. For him this was a betrayal-during that one day of alliance, fighting beside Edward Cullen, Seth had truly become the vampires friend.
There was no resistance in him, however. He would obey no matter how much it hurt him. He had no other choice.
And what choice did I have? When the Alpha spoke, the pack followed.
Sam had never pushed his authority this far before; I knew he honestly hated to see Seth kneeling before him like a slave at the foot of his master. He wouldnt force this if he didnt believe that he had no other choice. He couldnt lie to us when we were linked mind to mind like this. He really believed it was our duty to destroy Bella and the monster she carried. He really believed we had no time to waste. He believed it enough to die for it.
I saw that he would face Edward himself; Edwards ability to read our thoughts made him the greatest threat in Sams mind. Sam would not let someone else take on that danger.
He saw Jasper as the second-greatest opponent, which is why hed given him to me. He knew that I had the best chance of any of the pack to win that fight. Hed left the easiest targets for the younger wolves and Leah. Little Alice was no danger without her future vision to guide her, and we knew from our time of alliance that Esme was not a fighter. Carlisle would be more of a challenge, but his hatred of violence would hinder him.
I felt sicker than Seth as I watched Sam plan it out, trying to work the angles to give each member of the pack the best chance of survival.
Everything was inside out. This afternoon, Id been chomping at the bit to attack them. But Seth had been right- it wasnt a fight Id been ready for. Id blinded myself with that hate. I hadnt let myself look at it carefully, because I must have known what I would see if I did.
Carlisle Cullen. Looking at him without that hate clouding my eyes, I couldnt deny that killing him was murder. He was good. Good as any human we protected. Maybe better. The others, too, I supposed, but I didnt feel as strongly about them. I didnt know them as well. It was Carlisle who would hate fighting back, even to save his own life. Thats why we would be able to kill him-because he wouldnt want us, his enemies, to die.
This was wrong.