werewolves。
When they appeared； striding out from between the trees； they weren't what I
was expecting。 I'd gotten
the image of the wolves stuck in my head。 These were just four really big
half…naked boys。
Again； they reminded me of brothers； quadruplets。 Something about the way they
moved almost in
synchronization to stand across the road from us； the way they all had the
same long； round muscles
under the same red…brown skin； the same cropped black hair； and the way their
expressions altered at
exactly the same moment。
They started out curious and cautious。 When they saw me there； half…hidden
beside Jacob； they all
became furious in the same second。
Sam was still the biggest； though Jacob was getting close to catching up with
him。 Sam didn't really count
as a boy。 His face was older—not in the sense of lines or signs of aging； but
in the matunry； the patience
of his expression。
〃What have you done； Jacob？〃 he demanded。
One of the others； one I didn't recognize—Jared or Paul—thrust past Sam and
spoke before Jacob
could defend himself。
〃Why can't you just follow the rules； Jacob？〃 he yelled； throwing his arms in
the air。 〃What the hell are
you thinking？ Is she more important than everything—than the whole tribe？
Than the people getting
killed？〃
〃She can help；〃 Jacob said quietly。
〃Help！〃 the angry boy shouted。 His arms begin to quiver。 〃Oh； that's likely！
I'm sure the leech…lover is
just dying to help us out！〃
〃Don't talk about her like that！〃 Jacob shouted back； stung by the boy's
criticism。
A shudder rippled through the oth