“And then the third wife did something the Cold Woman did not expect。 She fell to her knees at the blood
drinker’s feet and plunged the knife into her own heart。
“Blood spurted through the third wife’s fingers and splashed against the Cold Woman。 The blood drinker
could not resist the lure of the fresh blood leaving the third wife’s body。 Instinctively； she turned to the dying
woman； for one second entirely consumed by thirst。
“Taha Aki’s teeth closed around her neck。
“That was not the end of the fight； but Taha Aki was not alone now。 Watching their mother die； two young
sons felt such rage that they sprang forth as their spirit wolves； though they were not yet men。 With their father；
they finished the creature。
“Taha Aki never rejoined the tribe。 He never changed back to a man again。 He lay for one day beside the
body of the third wife； growling whenever anyone tried to touch her； and then he went into the forest and
never returned。
“Trouble with the cold ones was rare from that time on。 Taha Aki’s sons guarded the tribe until their sons
were old enough to take their places。 There were never more than three wolves at a time。 It was enough。
Occasionally a blood drinker would e through these lands； but they were taken by surprise； not expecting
the wolves。 Sometimes a wolf would die； but never were they decimated again like that first time。 They’d
learned how to fight the cold ones； and they passed the knowledge on； wolf mind to wolf mind； spirit to spirit；
father to son。
“Time passed； and the descendants of Taha Aki no longer became wolves when they reached manhood。
Only in a great while； if a cold one was near； would the wolves return。 The cold ones always came in ones and
twos； and the pack stayed small。
“A bigger coven came； and your own greatgrandfathers prepared to fight them off。 But the leader spoke
to Ephraim Black as if he were a man； and promised not to harm the Quileutes。 His strange yellow eyes gave
some proof to his claim that they were not the same as other blood drinkers。 The wolves were outnumbered；
there was no need for the cold ones to offer a treaty when they could have won the fight。 Ephraim accepted。
They’ve stayed true to their side； though their presence does tend to draw in others。
“And their numbers have forced a larger pack than the tribe has ever seen；” Old Quil said； and for one
moment his black eyes； all but buried in the wrinkles of skin folded around them； seemed to rest on me。
“Except； of course； in Taha Aki’s time；” he said； and then he sighed。 “And so the sons of our tribe again carry
the burden and share the sacrifice their fathers endured before them。”
All was silent for a long moment。 The living descendants of magic and legend stared at one another across
the fire with sadness in their eyes。 All but one。
“Burden；” he scoffed in a low voice。 “I think it’s cool。” Quil’s full lower lip pouted out a little bit。
Across the dying fire； Seth Clearwater — his eyes wide with adulation for the fraternity of tribal protectors
— nodded his agreement。
Billy chuckled； low and long； and the magic seemed to fade into the glowing embers。 Suddenly； it was just
a circle of friends again。 Jared flicked a small stone at Quil； and everyone laughed when it made him jump。
Low conversations murmured around us； teasing and casual。
Leah Clearwater’s eyes did not open。 I thought I saw something sparkling on her cheek like a tear； but
when I looked back a moment later it was gone。
Neither Jacob nor I spoke。 He was so still beside me； his breath so deep and even； that I thought he might
be close to sleep。
My mind was a thousand years away。 I was not thinking of Yaha Uta or the other wolves； or the beautiful
Cold Woman — I could picture her only too easily。 No； I was thinking of someone outside the magic
altogether。 I was trying to imagine the face of the unnamed woman who had saved the entire tribe； the third
wife。
Just a human woman； with no special gifts or powers。 Physically weaker and slower than any of the
monsters in the story。 But she had been the key； the solution。 She’d saved her husband； her young sons； her
tribe。
I wish they’d remembered her name。 。 。 。
Something shook my arm。
“C’mon； Bells；” Jacob said in my ear。 “We’re here。”
I blinked； confused because the fire seemed to have disappeared。 I glared into the unexpected darkness；
trying to make sense of my surroundings。 It took me a minute to realize that I was no longer on the cliff。 Jacob
and I were alone。 I was still under his arm； but I wasn’t on the ground anymore。
How did I get in Jacob’s car？
“Oh； crap！” I gasped as I realized that I had fallen asleep。 “How late is it？ Dang it； where’s that stupid
phone？” I patted my pockets； frantic and ing up empty。
“Easy。 It’s not even midnight yet。 And I already called him for you。 Look — he’s waiting there。”
“Midnight？” I repeated stupidly； still disoriented。 I stared into the darkness； and my heartbeat picked up
when my eyes made out the shape of the Volvo； thirty yards away。 I reached for the door handle。
“Here；” Jacob said； and he put a small shape into my other hand。 The phone。
“You called Edward for me？”
My eyes were adjusted enough to see the bright gleam of Jacob’s smile。 “I figured if I played nice； I’d get
more time with you。”
“Thanks； Jake；” I said； touched。 “Really； thank you。 And thanks forinviting me tonight。 That was 。 。 。”
Words failed me。 “Wow。 That was something else。”
“And you didn’t even stay up to watch me swallow a cow。” He laughed。 “No； I’m glad you liked it。 It was
。 。 。 nice for me。 Having you there。”
There was a movement in the dark distance — something pale ghosting against the black trees。 Pacing？
“Yeah； he’s not so patient； is he？” Jacob said； noticing my distraction。 “Go ahead。 But e back soon；
okay？”
“Sure； Jake；” I promised； cracking the car door open。 Cold air washed across my legs and made me
shiver。
“Sleep tight； Bells。 Don’t worry about anything — I’ll be watching out for you tonight。”
I paused； one foot on the ground。 “No； Jake。 Get some rest； I’ll be fine。”
“Sure； sure；” he said； but he sounded more patronizing than agreeing。
“’Night； Jake。 Thanks。”
“’Night； Bella；” he whispered as I hurried into the darkness。
Edward caught me at the boundary line。
“Bella；” he said； relief strong in his voice； his arms wound tightly around me。
“Hi。 Sorry I’m so late。 I fell asleep and —”
“I know。 Jacob explained。” He started toward the car； and I staggered woodenly at his side。 “Are you
tired？ I could carry you。”
“I’m fine。”
“Let’s get you home and in bed。 Did you have a nice time？”
“Yeah — it was amazing； Edward。 I wish you could have e。 I can’t even explain it。 Jake’s dad told us
the old legends and it was like 。 。 。 like magic。”
“You’ll have to tell me about it。 After you’ve slept。”
“I won’t get it right；” I said； and then I yawned hugely。
Edward chuckled。 He opened my door for me； lifted me in； and buckled my seat belt ar