
rude." 

I halfway smiled, too anxious to really feel amused. "There's plenty to be worried about," I 
told Jacob. "Like a bunch of really stupid wolves getting themselves hurt." 

Jacob laughed his coughing bark. 

Edward sighed. "Jasper wants help. You'll be okay without a translator?" 

"I'll manage." 

Edward looked at me wistfully for one minute, his expression hard to understand, then 
turned his back and strode over to where Jasper waited. 

I sat down where I was. The ground was cold and uncomfortable. 

Jacob took a step forward, then looked back at me, and a low whine rose in his throat. He 
took another half-step. 

"Go on without me," I told him. "I don't want to watch." 

 

Jacob leaned his head to the side again for a moment, and then folded himself on to the 
ground beside me with a rumbling sigh. 

"Really, you can go ahead," I assured him. He didn't respond, he just put his head down on 
his paws. 

I stared up at the bright silver clouds, not wanting to see the fight. My imagination had more 
than enough fuel. A breeze blew through the clearing, and I shivered. 

Jacob scooted himself closer to me, pressing his warm fur against my left side. 

"Er, thanks," I muttered. 

After a few minutes, I leaned against his wide shoulder. It was much more comfortable that 
way. 

The clouds moved slowly across the sky, dimming and brightening as thick patches crossed 
the moon and passed on. 

Absently, I began pulling my fingers through the fur on his neck. That same strange 
humming sound that he'd made yesterday rumbled in his throat. It was a homey kind of 
sound. Rougher, wilder than a cat's purr, but conveying the same sense of contentment. 

"You know, I never had a dog," I mused. "I always wanted one, but RenÃ©e's allergic." 

Jacob laughed; his body shook under me. 

"Aren't you worried about Saturday at all?" I asked. 

He turned his enormous head toward me, so that I could see one of his eyes roll. 

"I wish I could feel that positive." 

He leaned his head against my leg and started humming again. And it did make me feel just a 
little bit better. 

"So we've got some hiking to do tomorrow, I guess." 

He rumbled; the sound was enthusiastic. 

"It might be along hike," I warned him. "Edward doesn't judge distances the way a normal 
person does." 

Jacob barked another laugh. 

I settled deeper into his warm fur, resting my head against his neck. 

It was strange. Even though he was in this bizarre form, this felt more like the way Jake and I 

 

used to be - the easy, effortless friendship that was as natural as breathing in and out - than 
the last few times I'd been with Jacob while he was human. Odd that I should find that again 
here, when I'd thought this wolf thing was the cause of its loss. 

The killing games continued in the clearing, and I stared at the hazy moon. 

 

20. COMPROMISE 

EVERYTHING WAS READY. 

I was packed for my two-day visit with "Alice," and my bag waited for me on the passenger 
seat of my truck. I'd given the concert tickets to Angela, Ben, and Mike. Mike was going to 
take Jessica, which was exactly as I'd hoped. Billy had borrowed Old Quil Ateara's boat and 
invited Charlie down for some open sea fishing before the afternoon game started. Collin and 
Brady, the two youngest werewolves, were staying behind to protect La Push - though they 
were just children, both of them only thirteen. Still, Charlie would be safer than anyone left 
in Forks. 

I had done all that I could do. I tried to accept that, and put the things that were outside of 
my control out of my head, for tonight at least. One way or another, this would all be over in 
forty-eight hours. The thought was almost comforting. 

Edward had requested that I relax, and I was going to do my best. 

"For this one night, could we try to forget everything besides just you and me?" he'd pleaded, 
unleashing the full force of his eyes on me. "It seems like I can never get enough time like 
that. I need to be with you. Just you." 

That was not a hard request to agree to, though I knew that forgetting my fears would be 
much easier said than done. Other matters were on my mind now, knowing that we had this 
night to be alone, and that would help. 

There were some things that had changed. 

For instance, I was ready. 

I was ready to join his family and his world. The fear and guilt and anguish I was feeling now 
had taught me that much. I'd had a chance to concentrate on this - as I'd gazed at the moon 
through the clouds and rested against a werewolf - and I knew I would not panic again. The 
next time something came at us, I would be ready. An asset, not a liability. He would never 
have to make the choice between me and his family again. We would be partners, like Alice 
and Jasper. Next time, I would do my part. 

I would wait for the sword to be removed from over my head, so that Edward would be 
satisfied. But it wasn't necessary. I was ready. 

There was only one missing piece. 

One piece, because there were some things that hadnot changed, and that included the 
desperate way I loved him. I'd had plenty of time to think through the ramifications of Jasper 
and Emmett's bet - to figure out the things I was willing to lose with my humanity, and the 
part that I was not willing to give up. I knew which human experience I was going to insist 

 

on before I became inhuman. 

So we had some things to work out tonight. After everything I'd seen in the past two years, I 
didn't believe in the wordimpossible anymore. It was going to take more than that to stop me 
now. 

Okay, well, honestly, it was probably going to be much more complicated than that. But I 
was going to try. 

As decided as I was, I wasn't surprised that I still felt nervous as I drove down the long path 
to his house - I didn't know how to do what I was trying to do, and that guaranteed me some 
serious jitters. He sat in the passenger seat, fighting a smile at my slow pace. I was surprised 
that he hadn't insisted on taking the wheel, but tonight he seemed content to go at my speed. 

It was after dark when we reached the house. In spite of that, the meadow was bright in the 
light shining from every window. 

As soon as I cut the engine he was at my door, opening it for me. He lifted me from the cab 
with one arm, slinging my bag out of the truck bed and over his shoulder with the other. His 
lips found mine as I heard him kick the truck's door shut behind me. 

Without breaking the kiss, he swung me up so that I was cradled in his arms and carried me 
into the house. 

Was the front door already open? I didn't know. We were inside, though, and I was dizzy. I 
had to remind myself to breathe. 

This kissing did not frighten me. It wasn't like before when I could feel the fear and panic 
leaking through his control. His lips were not anxious, but enthusiastic now - he seemed as 
thrilled as I was that we had tonight to concentrate on being together. He continued to kiss 
me for several minutes, standing there in the entry; he seemed less guarded than usual, his 
mouth cold and urgent on mine. 

I began to feel cautiously optimistic. Perhaps getting what I wanted would not be as difficult 
as I'd expected it to be. 

No, of course it was going to be just exactly that difficult. 

With a low chuckle, he pulled me away, holding me at arm's length. 

"Welcome home," he said, his eyes liquid and warm. 

"That sounds nice," I said, breathless. 

He set me gently on my feet. I wrapped both my arms around him, refusing to allow any 
space between us. 

 

"I have something for you," he said, his tone conversational. 

"Oh?" 

"Your hand-me-down, remember? You said that was allowable." 

"Oh, that's right. I guess I did say that." 

He chuckled at my reluctance. 

"It's up in my room. Shall I go get it?" 

His bedroom? "Sure," I agreed, feeling quite devious as I wound my fingers through his. 
"Let's go." 

He must have been eager to give me my non-present, because human velocity was not fast 
enough for him. He scooped me up again and nearly flew up the stairs to his room. He set me 
down at the door, and darted into his closet. 

He was back before I'd taken a step, but I ignored him and went to the huge gold bed, 
plopping down on the edge and then sliding to the center. I curled up in a ball, my arms 
wrapped around my knees. 

"Okay," I grumbled. Now that I was where I wanted to be, I could afford a little reluctance. 
"Let me have it." 

Edward laughed. 

He climbed onto the bed to sit next to me, and my heart thumped unevenly. Hopefully he 
would write that off as some reaction to him giving me presents. 

"A hand-me-down," he reminded me sternly. He pulled my left wrist away from my leg, and 
touched the silver bracelet for just a moment. Then he gave me my arm back. 

I examined it cautiously. On the opposite side of the chain from the wolf, there now hung a 
brilliant heart-shaped crystal. It was cut in a million facets, so that even in the subdued light 
shining from the lamp, it sparkled. I inhaled in a low gasp. 

"It was my mother's." He shrugged deprecatingly. "I inherited quite a few baubles like this. 
I've given some to Esme and Alice both. So, clearly, this is not a big deal in any way." 

I smiled ruefully at his assurance. 

"But I thought it was a good representation," he continued. "It's hard and cold." He laughed. 
"And it throws rainbows in the sunlight." 

"You forgot the most important similarity," I murmured. "It's beautiful." 

 

"My heart is just as silent," he mused. "And it, too, is yours." 

I twisted my wrist so the heart would glimmer. "Thank you. For both." 

"No, thankyou. It's a relief to have you accept a gift so easily. Good practice for you, too." 
He grinned, flashing