I took off early, long before sunrise was due. I'd gotten just a little bit of uneasy sleep leaning against the side of the sofa. Elsa woke me when Anna's face was flushed, and she took my spot to cool her back down. I stretched and decided I was rested enough to get some work done.

"Thank you," Elsa said quietly, seeing my plans. "If the route is clear, they'll go today."

Tillet you know."

It felt good to get back to my animal self. I was stiff from sitting still for so long. I extended my stride, working out the kinks.

Morning, Kristoff,Liam greeted me.

Good, you're up. How long's Olaf been out?

Not out yet,Olaf thought sleepily. Almost there. What do you need?

You think you got another hour in you?

Sure thing. No problem.Olaf got to his feet right away, shaking out his fur.

Let's make the deep run,Itold Liam. Olaf take the perimeter.

Gotcha.Olaf broke into an easy jog.

Off on another vampire errand,Liam grumbled.

You got a problem with that?

Of course not. I just love to coddle those darling leeches.

Good. Let's see how fast we can run.

Okay, I'm definitely up forthat

Liam was on the far western rim of the perimeter. Rather than cut close to the Cullens' house, he stuck to the circle as he raced around to meet me. I sprinted off straight east, knowing that even with the head start, he'd be

passing me soon if I took it easy for even a second.

Nose to the ground, Liam. This isn't a race, it's a reconnaissance mission.

I can do both and still kick your butt

I gave him that one. know.

he laughed.

We took a winding path through the eastern mountains. It wasa familiar route. We'd run these mountains when the vampires had left a year ago, making it part of our patrol route to better protect the people here. Then we'd pulled back the lines when the Cullens returned. This was their treaty land.

But that fact would probably mean nothing to Sam now. The treaty was dead. The question today was how thin he was willing to spread his force. Was he looking for stray Cullens to poach on their land or not? Had Jared spoken the truth or taken advantage of the silence between us?

We got deeper and deeper into the mountains without finding any trace of the pack. Fading vampire trails were everywhere, but the scents were familiar now. I was breathing them in all day long.

I founda heavy, somewhat recent concentration on one particular trail - all of them coming and going here except for Elsa. Some reason for gathering that must have been forgotten when Elsa brought her dying pregnant wife home. I gritted my teeth. Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with me.

Liam didn't push himself past me, though he could have now. I was paying more attention to each new scent than I was to the speed contest. he kept to my right side, running with me rather than racing against me.

Were getting pretty far out here,he commented.

Yeah. If Sam was hunting strays, we should have crossed his trail by now.

Makes more sense right now for him to bunker down in La Push,Liam thought. He knows we're giving the bloodsuckers three extra sets of eyes and legs. He's not going to be able to surprise them.

This was just a precaution, really.

Wouldn't want our precious parasites taking unnecessary chances.

Nope,I agreed, ignoring the sarcasm.

You've changed so much, Kristoff. Talk about one-eighties.

You're not exactly the same Liam I've always known and loved, either.

True. Am I less annoying than Paul now?

Amazingly... yes.

Ah, sweet success.

Congrats.

We ran in silence again then. It was probably time to turn around, but neither of us wanted to. It felt nice to run like this. We'd been staring at the same small circle of atrail for too long. It felt good to stretch our muscles and take the rugged terrain. We weren't in a huge hurry, so I thought maybe we should hunt on the way back. Liam was pretty

hungry.

Yum, yum,he thought sourly.

It's all in your head,I told him. That's the way wolves eat. It's natural. It tastes fine. If you didn't think about it from a human perspective -

Forget the pep talk, Kristoff. I'll hunt I don't have to like it

Sure, sure,I agreed easily. It wasn't my business if he wanted to make things harder for himself.

he didn't add anything for a few minutes; I started thinking about turning back.

Thank you,Liam suddenly told me in a much different tone.

For?

For letting me be. For letting me stay. You've been nicer than I had any right to expect, Kristoff.

Er, no problem. Actually, I mean that. I don't mind having you here like I thought I would.

he snorted, but it was a playful sound. What a glowing commendation!

Don't let it go to your head.

Okay - if you don't let this go to yours.he paused for a second. think you make a good Alpha. Not in the same way Sam does, but in your own way. You're worth following, Kristoff.

My mind went blank with surprise. It took me a second to recover enough to respond.

Er, thanks. Not totally sure I'll be able to stop that one from going to my head, though. Where did that come from?

he didn't answer right away, and I followed the wordless direction of his thoughts. he was thinking about the future - about what I'd said to Jared the other morning. About how the time would be up soon, and then I'd go back to the forest. About how I'd promised that he and Olaf would return to the pack when the Cullens were gone_

want to stay with you, he told me.

The shock shot through my legs, locking my joints. he blew past me and then put on the brakes. Slowly, he walked back to where I was frozen in place.

won't be a pain, I swear. I won't follow you around. You can go wherever you want, and I'll go where I want. You'll only have to put up with me when we're both wolves. he paced back and forth in front of me, swishing his long gray tail nervously. And, as I'm planning on quitting as soon as I can

manage it... maybe that won't be so often.

I didn't know what to say.

I'm happier now, as a part of your pack, than I have been in years.

I want to stay, too,Olaf thought quietly. I hadn't realized he'd been paying much attention to us as he ran the perimeter. like this pack.

Hey, now! Olaf, this isn't going to be a pack much longer.I tried to put my thoughts together so they would convince him. We've got a purpose now, but when... after that's over, I'm just going to go wolf. Olaf, you need a purpose. You're a good kid. You're the kind of person who always has a crusade. And there's no way you're leaving La Push now. You're going to graduate from high school and do something with your life. You're going to take care of Sue.

My issues are not going to mess up your future.

But -

Kristoff is rightLiam seconded.

You're agreeing with me?

Of course. But none of that applies tome. was on my way out anyway. I'll get a job somewhere away from La Push. Maybe take some courses at a community college. Get into yoga and meditation to work on my temper issues... And stay a part of this pack for the sake of my mental well-being. Kristoff - you can see how that makes sense, right? I won't bother you, you won't bother me, everyone is happy.

I turned back and started loping slowly toward the west.

This is a bit much to deal with, Liam. Let me think about it, 'kay?

Sure. Take your time.

It took us longer to make the run back. I wasn't trying for speed. I was just trying to concentrate enough that I wouldn't plow headfirst into a tree. Olaf was grumbling a little bit in the back of my head, but I was able to ignore him. He knew I was right. He wasn't going to abandon his mom. He would go back to La Push and protect the tribe like he should.

But I couldn't see Liam doing that. And that was just plain scary.

A pack of the two of us? No matter the physical distance, I couldn't imagine the... the intimacy of that situation. I wondered if he'd really thought it through, or if he was just desperate to stay free.

Liam didn't say anything as I chewed it over. It was like he was trying to prove how easy it would be if it was just us.

We ran into a herd of black-tailed deer just as the sun was coming up, brightening the clouds a little bit behind us. Liam sighed internally but didn't hesitate. His lunge was clean and efficient - graceful, even. he took down the largest one, the buck, before the startled animal fully understood the danger.

Not to be outdone, I swooped down on the next largest deer, snapping her neck between my jaws quickly, so she wouldn't feel unnecessary pain. I could feel Liam's disgust warring with his hunger, and I tried to make it easier for him by letting the wolf in me have my head. I'd lived all-wolf for long enough that I knew how to be the animal completely, to see his way and think his way. I let the practical instincts take over, letting him feel that, too. he hesitated for a second, but then, tentatively, he seemed to reach out with his mind and try to see my way. It felt very strange - our minds were more closely linked than they had ever been before, because we both were trying to think together.

Strange, but it helped him. His teeth cut through the fur and skin of his kill's shoulder, tearing away a thick slab of streaming flesh. Rather than wince away as his human thoughts wanted to, he let his wolf-self react instinctively. It was kind of a numbing thing, a thoughtless thing. It let him eat in peace.

It was easy for me to do the same. And I was glad I hadn't forgotten this. This would be my life again soon.

Was Liam going to be a part of that life? A week ago, I wouldve found that idea beyond horrifying. I wouldn't've

been able to stand it. But I knew his better now. And, relieved from the constant pain, he wasn't the same wolf. Not the same guy.

We ate together until we both were full.

Thanks,he told me later as he was cleaning his muzzle and paws against the wet grass. I didn't bother; it had just started to drizzle and we had to swim the river again on our way back. I'd get clean enough. That wasn't so bad, thinking your way.

You're welcome.

Olaf was dragging when we hit the perimeter. I told him to get some sleep; Liam and I would take over the patrol. Olaf's mind faded into unconsciousness just seconds later.

You headed back to the bloodsuckers?Liam asked.

Maybe.

It's hard for you to be there, but hard to stay away, too. I know how that feels.

You know, Liam, you might want to think a little bit about the future, about what you really want to do. My head is not going to be the happiest place on earth. And you'll have to suffer right along with me.

he thought about how to answer me. Wow, this is going to sound bad. But, honestly, it will be easier to deal with your pain than face mine.

Fair enough.

I know it's going to be bad for you, Kristoff. I understand that - maybe better than you think. I don't like her, but... she's your Sam. She's everything you want and everything you can't have.

I couldn't answer.

know it's worse for you. At least Sam is happy. At least he's alive and well. I love him enough that I want that. I want him to have what's best for him. he sighed. I just don't want to stick around to watch.

Do we need to talk about this?

I think we do. Because I want you to know that I won't make it worse for you. Hell, maybe I'll even help. I wasn'tborn a compassionless shrew. I used to be sort of nice, you know.

My memory doesn't go that far back.

We both laughed once.

I'm sorry about this, Kristoff. I'm sorry you're in pain. I'm sorry it's getting worse and not better

Thanks, Liam.

he thought about the things that were worse, the black pictures in my head, while I tried to tune him out without much success. he was able to look at them with some distance, some perspective, and I had to admit that this was helpful. I could imagine that maybe I would be able to see it that way, too, in a few years.

Slhe saw the funny side of the daily irritations that came from hanging out around vampires. he liked my ragging on Royal, chuckling internally and even running through a few blonde jokes in his mind that I might be able

to work in. But then his thoughts turned serious, lingering on Royal's face in a way that confused me.

You know what's crazy?he asked.

Well, almost everything is crazy right now. But what do you mean?

That blond vampire you hate so much - totally get his perspective.

For a second I thought he was making a joke that was in very poor taste. And then, when I realized he was serious, the fury that ripped through me was hard to control. It was a good thing we'd spread out to run our watch. If he'd been within biting distance...

Hold up! Let me explain!

Don't want to hear it I'm outta here.

Wait! Wait!he pleaded as I tried to calm myself enough to phase back. C'mon, Kristoff!

Liam, this isn't really the best way to convince me that I want to spend more time with you in the future.

Yeesh! What an overreaction. You don't even know what I'm talking about

So whatare you talking about?

And then he was suddenly the pain-hardened Liam from before. I'm talking about being a genetic dead end, Kristoff.

The vicious edge to his words left me floundering. I hadn't expected to have my anger trumped.

I don't understand.

You would, if you weren't just like the rest of them. If my "gay stuff - he thought the words with a hard, sarcastic tone - didn't send you running for cover just like any stupid straight male, so you could actually pay attention to what it all means. I know you aren't homophobic and Sam is defiantly not he dated me but Kristoff the rest seem like it he said sadly.

Oh.

Yeah, so none of us like to think about that stuff with him. Who would? Of course I remembered Liam's panic that first month after he joined the pack - and I remembered cringing away from it just like everyone else. Because he couldn't be fertale like us - not unless there was some really freaky religious immaculate crap going on. he hadn't been with anyone since Sam. And then, when the weeks dragged on and nothing turned into more nothing, he'd realized that his body wasn't following the normal patterns anymore. The horror - what was he now? Had his body changed because he'd become a werewolf? Or had he become a werewolf because his body was wrong? The only gay werewolf in the history of forever. Was that because he wasn't as Manly as he should be?

None of us had wanted to deal with that breakdown. Obviously, it wasn't like we could empathize.

You know why Sam thinks we imprint,he thought, calmer now.

Sure. To carry on the line.

Right. To make a bunch of new little werewolves. Survival of the species, genetic override. You're drawn to the person who gives you the best chance to pass on the wolf gene.

I waited for him to tell me where he was qoinq with this.

If I was any good for that, Sam would have been drawn to me.If I could have kids if...if I were a woman.

His pain was enough that I broke stride under it.

But I'm not There's something wrong with me. I don't have the ability to pass on the gene, apparently, despite my stellar bloodlines. So I become a freak - the gay-wolf - good for nothing else. I'm a genetic dead end and we both know it.

We do not,I argued with him. That's just Sam's theory. Imprinting happens, but we don't know why. Billy thinks it's something else.

I know, I know. He thinks you're imprinting to makestronger wolves. Because you and Sam are such humongous monsters - bigger than our fathers. But either way, I'm still not a candidate. I'm... I'm I can't make children . I'm twenty years old and I can't make kids unless I imprint then I could to pass on the wolf gene.

Ugh. I so didn't want to have this conversation. You don't know that, Liam. It's probably just the whole frozen-in-time thing. When you quit your wolf and start getting older again, I'm sure things will... er... pick right back up.

might think that - except that no one's imprinting on me, not with standing my impressive pedigree. You know, he added thoughtfully, if you weren't around, Olaf would probably have the best claim to being Alpha - through his blood, at least. Of course, no one would ever consider me...

You really want to imprint, or be imprinted on, or whichever? I demanded. What's wrong with going out and falling in love like a normal person, Liam? Imprinting is just another way of getting your choices taken away from you.Besides your a slave to the imprint it's not always a romantic love you are what they WANT you to be.

Sam, Jared, Paul, Quit... they don't seem to mind.

None of them have a mind of their own.

You don't want to imprint?

Hell, no!

That's just because you're already in love with her. That would go away, you know, if you imprinted. You wouldn't have to hurt over her anymore.

Do you want to forget the way you feel about Sam?

he deliberated for a moment. think I do.

I sighed. he was in a healthier place than I was.

But back to my original point, Kristoff. I understand why your blond vampire is so cold - in the figurative sense. he's focused. he's got his eyes on the prize, right? Because you always want the very most what you can never, ever have.

You would act like Royal? You would murder someone - because that's what he's doing, making sure no one interferes with Anna's death - you would do that to have a baby? Since when are you a breeder?

I just want the options I don't have, Kristoff. Maybe, if there was nothing wrong with me, I would never give it a thought.But Kristoff I think I might be transgender. you know and I would love to have a child.

You would kill for that?I demanded, not letting him escape my question.

That's not what she's doing. I think it's more like she's living vicariously. And... if Anba asked me to help her with

this...he paused, considering. Even though I don't think too much of her, I'd probably do the same as the bloodsucker.

A loud snarl ripped through my teeth.

Because, if it was turned around, I'd want Anna to do that for me. And so would Royal. We'd both do it her way.If we were girls I mean.

Ugh! You're as bad as they are!

That's the funny thing about knowing you can't have something. It makes you desperate.

And.. . that's my limit Right there. This conversation is over.

Fine.

It wasn't enough that he'd agreed to stop. I wanted a stronger termination than that.

I was only about a mile from where I'd left my clothes, so I phased back to human and walked. I didn't think about our conversation. Not because there wasn't anything to think about, but because I couldn't stand it. I would not see it that way - but it was harder to keep from doing that when Liam had put the thoughts and emotions straight into my head.

Yeah, I wasn't running with him when this was finished. he could go be miserable in La Push. One little Alpha command before I left for good wasn't going to kill anybody.

It was real early when I got to the house. Anna was probably still asleep. I figured I'd poke my head in, see what was going on, give 'em the green light to go hunting, and then find a patch of grass soft enough to sleep on while human. I wasn't phasing back until Liam was asleep.

But there was a lot of low mumbling going on inside the house, so maybe Anna wasn't sleeping. And then I heard the machinery sound from upstairs again - the X-ray? Great. It looked like day four on the countdown was starting off with a bang.

Alice opened the door for me before I could walk in.

She nodded. "Hey, wolf."

"Hey, shortie. What's going on upstairs?" The big room was empty - all the murmurs were on the second floor.

She shrugged her pointy little shoulders. "Maybe another break." She tried to say the words casually, but I could see the flames in the very back of her eyes. Elsa and I weren't the only ones who were burning over this. Alice loved Anna, too. just not the same way but as a sister.

"Another rib?" I asked hoarsely.

"No. Pelvis this time."

Funny how it kept hitting me, like each new thing was a surprise. When was I going to stop being surprised? Each new disaster seemed kinda obvious in hindsight.

Alice was staring at my hands, watching them tremble.

Then we were listening to Royal's voice upstairs.

"See, I told you I didn't hear a crack. You need your ears checked, Elsa."

There was no answer.

Alice made a face. "Elsa's going to end up ripping Roy into small pieces, I think. I'm surprised he doesn't see that. Or maybe he thinks Emmett will be able to stop her."

"I'll take Emmett," I offered. "You can help Elsa with the ripping part."

Alice half-smiled.

The procession came down the stairs then - Elsa had Anna this time. She was gripping her cup of blood in both hands, and her face was white. I could see that, though she compensated for every tiny movement of her body to keep from jostling her, she was hurting.

"Kristoff," she whispered, and she smiled through the pain.

I stared at her, saying nothing.

Elsa placed Anna carefully on her couch and sat on the floor by her head. I wondered briefly why they didn't leave her upstairs, and then decided at once that it must be Anna's idea. She'd want to act like things were normal, avoid the hospital setup. And she was humoring her. Naturally.

Carlisle came down slowly, the last one, his face creased with worry. It made him look old enough to be a doctor for once.

"Carlisle," I said. "We went halfway to Seattle. There's no sign of the pack. You're good to go."

"Thank you, Kristoff. This is good timing. There's much that we need." His black eyes flickered to the cup that Anna was holding so tight.

"Honestly, I think you're safe to take more than three. I'm pretty positive that Sam is concentrating on La Push."

Carlisle nodded in agreement. It surprised me how willingly he took my advice. "If you think so. Alice, Esme, Jasper, and I will go. Then Alice can take Emmett and Royal - "

"Not a chance," Royal hissed. "Emmett can go with you now."

"You should hunt," Carlisle said in a gentle voice.

His tone didn't soften his. "I'll hunt when she does," he growled, jerking his head toward Elsa and then flipping his hair back.

Carlisle sighed.

Jasper and Emmett were down the stairs in a flash, and Alice joined them by the glass back door in the same second. Esme flitted to Alice's side.

Carlisle put his hand on my arm. The icy touch did not feel good, but I didn't jerk away. I held still, half in surprise, and half because I didn't want to hurt his feelings.

"Thank you," he said again, and then he darted out the door with the other four. My eyes followed them as they flew across the lawn and then disappeared before I took another breath. Their needs must have

been more urgent than I'd imagined.

There was no sound for a minute. I could feel someone glaring at me, and I knew who it would be. I'd been planning to take off and get some Z's, but the chance to ruin Royal's morning seemed too good to pass up.

So I sauntered over to the armchair next to the one Royal had and settled in, sprawling out so that my head

was tilted toward Anna and my left foot was near Royal's face.

"Ew. Someone put the dog out," he murmured, wrinkling his nose.

"Have you heard this one, Psycho? How do a blonde's brain cells die?"

he didn't say anything.

"Well?" I asked. "Do you know the punch line or not?"

he looked pointedly at the TV and ignored me.

"Has she heard it?" I asked Elsa.

There was no humor on her tense face - she didn't move her eyes from Anna. But she said, "No."

"Awesome. So you'll enjoy this, bloodsucker - a blonde's brain cells die alone."

Royal still didn't look at me. "I have killed a hundred times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Don't forget that."

"Someday, blondie, you're going to get tired of just threatening me. I'm really looking forward to that."

"Enough, Kristoff," Anna said.

I looked down, and she was scowling at me. It looked like yesterday's good mood was long gone.

Well, I didn't want to bug her. "You want me to take off?" I offered.

Before I could hope - or fear - that she'd finally gotten tired of me, she blinked, and her frown disappeared. She seemed totally shocked that I would come to that conclusion. "No! Of course not."

I sighed, and I heard Elsa sigh very quietly, too. I knew she wished she'd get over me, too. Too bad she'd never ask her to do anything that might make her unhappy.

"You look tired," Anna commented.

"Dead beat," I admitted.

I'd like to beat you dead," Royal muttered, too low for Anna to hear.

I just slumped deeper into the chair, getting comfortable. My bare foot dangled closer to Royal, and he stiffened. After a few minutes Anna asked Royal for a refill. I felt the wind as Royal blew upstairs to get her some more blood. It was really quiet. Might as well take a nap, I figured.

And then Elsa said, "Did you say something?" in a puzzled tone. Strange. Because no one had said anything, and because Elsa's hearing was as good as mine, and she should have known that.

She was staring at Anna, and she was staring back. They both looked confused.

"Me?" she asked after a second. "I didn't say anything."

She moved onto her knees, leaning forward over her, her expression suddenly intense in a whole different way. Her black eyes focused on her face.

"What are you thinking about right now?"

She stared at her blankly. "Nothing. What's going on?"

"What were you thinking about a minute ago?" she asked.

"Just... Esme's island. And feathers."

Sounded like total gibberish to me, but then she blushed, and I figured I was better off not knowing.

"Say something else," she whispered.

Like what? Elsa, what's going on?"

Her face changed again, and she did something that made my mouth fall open with a pop. I heard a gasp behind me, and I knew that Royal was back, and just as flabbergasted as I was.

Elsa, very lightly, put both of her hands against her huge, round stomach.

'The f - " She swallowed. "no... the baby likes the sound of your voice."

There was one short beat of total silence. I could not move a muscle, even to blink. Then -

"Holy crow, you can hear him!"Anna shouted. In the next second, she winced.

Elsa's hand moved to the top peak of her belly and gently rubbed the spot where it must have kicked her.

"Shh," she murmured. "You startled it... him."

Her eyes got all wide and full of wonder. She patted the side of her stomach. "Sorry, baby."

Elsa was listening hard, her head tilted toward the bulge.

"What's he thinking now?" she demanded eagerly.

"It... he or she, is ..." She paused and looked up into her eyes. Hers eyes were filled with a similar awe- only hers were more careful and grudging. "He's happy" Elsa said in an incredulous voice.

Her breath caught, and it was impossible not to see the fanatical gleam in her eyes. The adoration and the devotion. Big, fat tears overflowed her eyes and ran silently down her face and over her smiling lips.

As she stared at her, her face was not frightened or angry or burning or any of the other expressions she'd worn since their return. She was marveling with her.

"Of course you're happy, pretty baby, of course you are," she crooned, rubbing her stomach while the tears washed her cheeks. "How could you not be, all safe and warm and loved? I love you so much, little EJ, of course you're happy."

"What did you call him?" Elsa asked curiously.

She blushed again. "I sort of named him. I didn't think you would want... well, you know."

"EJ?"

"Your father's name was Edward, tho."

"Yes, it was. What - ?" She paused and then said, "Hmm."

"What?"

"He likes my voice, too."

"Of course he does." Her tone was almost gloating now. "You have the most beautiful voice in the universe. Who wouldn't love it?"

"Do you have a backup plan?" Royal asked then, leaning over the back of the sofa with the same wondering, gloating look on his face that was on Anna's. "What if he's a she?"

Anna wiped the back of her hand under her wet eyes. "I kicked a few things around. Playing with Renee and

Esme. I was thinking... Ruh-nez-may."you know Renee after my mom since i probebly won't see her again. Anna looked down sad.

"Ruhnezmay?"

"R-e-n-e-s-m-e-e. Too weird?"

"No, I like it," Royal assured her. Their heads were close together, gold and mahogany. "It's beautiful. And one of a kind, so that fits"

"I still think he's a boy."

Elsa was staring off into space, her face blank as she listened. Then her face filled with love.

"What?" Anna asked, her face just glowing away. "What's he thinking now?"

At first she didn't answer, and then - shocking all the rest of us again, three distinct and separate

gasps - she laid her ear tenderly against her belly.

"He loves you," Elsa whispered, sounding dazed. "He absolutely adores you."

In that moment, I knew that I was alone. All alone.

I wanted to kick myself when I realized how much I'd been counting on that loathsome vampire. How stupid - as if you could ever trust a leech! Of course she would betray me in the end.

I'd counted on her to be on my side. I'd counted on her to suffer more than I suffered. And, most of all, I'd counted on her to hate that revolting thing killing Anna more than I hated it.

I'd trusted her with that.

Yet now they were together, the two of them bent over the budding, invisible monster with their eyes lit up like a happy family.

And I was all alone with my hatred and the pain that was so bad it was like being tortured. Like being dragged slowly across a bed of razor blades. Pain so bad you'd take death with a smile just to get away from it.

The heat unlocked my frozen muscles, and I was on my feet.

All three of their heads snapped up, and I watched my pain ripple across Elsa's face as she trespassed in my head again.

"Ahh," she choked.

I didn't know what I was doing; I stood there, trembling, ready to bolt for the very first escape that I could think of.

Moving like the strike of a snake, Elsa darted to a small end table and ripped something from the drawer there. She tossed it at me, and I caught the object reflexively.

"Go, Kristoff. Get away from here." She didn't say it harshly - she threw the words at me like they were a life preserver. She was helping me find the escape I was dying for.

The object in my hand was a set of car keys.

so what did u think of the chapter. Also tried something different with Liam what did u think.