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Oh, Jared said. Hey, Jake.

Hey, Jared.

Thanks for talking to me.

Yeah.

We want you to come back, man.

Quil whined again.

I dont know if its that easy, Jared.

Come home, he said, leaning forward. Pleading. We can sort this out. You dont belong here. Let Seth and Leah come home, too.

I laughed. Right. Like I havent been begging them to do that from hour one.

Seth snorted behind me.

Jared assessed that, his eyes cautious again. So, what now, then?

I thought that over for a minute while he waited.

I dont know. But Im not sure things could just go back to normal anyway, Jared. I dont know how it works-it doesnt feel like I can just turn this Alpha thing off and on as the mood strikes. It feels sort of permanent.

You still belong with us.

I raised my eyebrows. Two Alphas cant belong in the same place, Jared. Remember how close it got last night? The instinct is too competitive.

So are you all just going to hang out with the parasites for the rest of your lives? he demanded. You dont have a home here. Youre already out of clothes, he pointed out. You gonna stay wolf all the time? You know Leah doesnt like eating that way.

Leah can do whatever she wants when she gets hungry. Shes here by her own choice. Im not telling anyone what to do.

Jared sighed. Sam is sorry about what he did to you.

I nodded. Im not angry anymore.

But?

But Im not coming back, not now. Were going to wait and see how it plays out, too. And were going to watch out for the Cullens for as long as that seems necessary. Because, despite what you think, this isnt just about Bella. Were protecting those who should be protected. And that applies to the Cullens, too. At least a fair number of them, anyway.

Seth yelped softly in agreement.

Jared frowned. I guess theres nothing I can say to you, then.

Not now. Well see how things go.

Jared turned to face Seth, concentrating on him now, separate from me. Sue asked me to tell you-no, to beg you-to come home. Shes brokenhearted, Seth. All alone. I dont know how you and Leah can do this to her. Abandon her this way, when your dad just barely died-

Seth whimpered.

Ease up, Jared, I warned.

Just letting him know how it is.

I snorted. Right. Sue was tougher than anyone I knew. Tougher than my dad, tougher than me. Tough enough to play on her kids sympathies if thats what it took to get them home. But it wasnt fair to work Seth that way. Sues known about this for how many hours now? And most of that time spent with Billy and Old Quil and Sam? Yeah, Im sure shes just perishing of loneliness. Course youre free to go if you want, Seth. You know that.

Seth sniffed.

Then, a second later, he cocked an ear to the north. Leah must be close. Jeez, she was fast. Two beats, and Leah skidded to a stop in the brush a few yards away. She trotted in, taking the point in front of Seth. She kept her nose in the air, very obviously not looking in my direction.

I appreciated that.

Leah? Jared asked.

She met his gaze, her muzzle pulling back a little over her teeth.

Jared didnt seem surprised by her hostility. Leah, you know you dont want to be here.

She snarled at him. I gave her a warning glance she didnt see. Seth whined and nudged her with his shoulder.

Sorry, Jared said. Guess I shouldnt assume. But you dont have any ties to the bloodsuckers.

Leah very deliberately looked at her brother and then at me.

So you want to watch out for Seth, I get that, Jared said. His eyes touched my face and then went back to hers. Probably wondering about that second look-just like I was. But Jakes not going to let anything happen to him, and hes not afraid to be here. Jared made a face. Anyway, please, Leah. We want you back. Sam wants you back.

Leahs tail twitched.

Sam told me to beg. He told me to literally get down on my knees if I have to. He wants you home, Lee-lee, where you belong.

I saw Leah flinch when Jared used Sams old nickname for her. And then, when he added those last three words, her hackles rose and she was yowling a long stream