I braced myself for the arrival of my pack. I could see them running fast and hard in my direction, determination painting their features. Surprisingly, it was Jacob and not Sam who was in the lead, his russet fur flying with the speed of his movement.

Apparently their determination kept them blind to their surroundings, because they ran straight past me, not even noticing I was there.

Wait…

Jacob was the first to realize he'd just passed the one he was looking for, because he suddenly skidded to a halt, causing the others to yelp and groan as they tried to stop also. Completely ignoring his brethren, he leapt over the pile of tangled wolves, transforming into a human mid-leap, so that he landed in front of me on two feet instead of four. I also transformed.

"Are you hurt?" he demanded.

"No."

"Did they threaten you?"

"No."

"Did they force you to do anything?"

"No."

He paused, apparently trying to think of something else to accuse the Cullens of doing. I took this opportunity to tell him that I'd gone there of my own accord. Disbelief and anger drained the color from his face.

"For the love of God, Bella, what did you think you were doing?" he asked, his fists clenching at his sides.

By this time, the other wolves had managed to order themselves and change into human form. Sam stepped forward and put a hand on Jacob's trembling arm. "Calm down, Jake."

"SHE WENT TO THEIR HOUSE!" he thundered. I took several steps back, but I didn't have the chance to explain myself.

"Bella, you idiot!" Paul accused. "You had us worried sick!"

"Have you gone suicidal?" Jared snapped.

"Maybe she's been helping them," Embry suggested, his eyes narrowing.

"Shut up, both of you," Jacob barked at them.

"How about all of you shut up, and let Bella explain?" Sam said, finally quieting the arguing pack. I let out the breath I'd been holding. "Well, Bella?"

"I'm not suicidal, and I'm not against any of you," I sighed. "I went there to try and make peace with them." Jacob snorted at this, but didn't interrupt. I continued. "Look, someone was bound to start a fight sometime, and where would we be then? At war with the Cullens. How does that help anyone?"

"You could have at least told us where you were going," Paul said.

"And you wouldn't have let me go," I argued.

"Because they're dangerous!" Jacob hissed. "Bella, I don't know how to get it through that thick skull of yours—"

"If they're so dangerous," I snapped, "why didn't they just kill me right then?"

"How are we supposed to know the way a stupid bloodsucker's mind works?" Jared questioned.

"Control yourselves, all of you!" Sam commanded, and with such authority that we all went dead silent. Everyone except Sam and I were trembling with rage, on the verge of morphing.

"I want everyone to go home, now. Except you, Bella," he added, as I'd started to walk away. When we were alone (Jacob was the most reluctant to leave), Sam sighed heavily and turned to me, and then launched into chastisement.

"You've acted foolishly, Bella," he said. "Even if we are avoiding a war at this point, mingling with the Cullens is dangerous. I know they didn't threaten you," he added, as I'd opened my mouth to argue, "but still, our kinds are not meant to be around each other. You've accomplished nothing today. The pack is in turmoil. Therefore, I'm forbidding you to speak with any of the Cullens from now on. Failure to obey my orders will result in your banishment from the pack."

I was silent. This pack was my only family, aside from Charlie. I would never see Jacob or any of the others again. I couldn't be thrown out!

Seeing the desperation on my face, Sam's face and voice softened. "I'm sorry, Bella. But I mean it. Don't try to handle this yourself. It will only end in disaster."

Once again I felt tears in my eyes. I stepped back from Sam, shaking my head. I could see sorrow in his eyes, but no contradiction to anything he'd said. Before the tears could spill over, I morphed into a wolf and ran away.

I plunged from the trees and onto open ground, where the sunlight poured from the sky. Jacob had obviously waited for me out there. He looked shocked when he saw me so upset. "Bella?"

Completely ignoring him, I ran past, not stopping to look back, not even paying attention to where I was going. I finally stopped on a rocky outcrop, overlooking a small lake. Fear, anger, desperation, and misery welled up inside my chest, like a giant snake that constricted all my hope. I howled to the skies, letting it all out.