“You don’t have any experience with vampires Caleb, Seth does. And even his experience is only with newborn vampires who don’t fight as well as the vampires we are facing.”

“I’m not afraid!” he said stubbornly, and I believed him. “I’ve been training with Seth, he’s taught me everything.”

“Everything?” I shot back. He can’t teach you what he doesn’t know. I told you the vampire Seth fought was a newborn. He has no experience with the Volturi guard. You’ll get hurt Caleb, your not ready for this.”

“I don’t care,” he said defiantly, “And I am ready. I’m a protector just like the other guys.”

“What is it with you Quileute boys, not caring if you’re facing impossible odds that could get you killed?”

“It’s a wolf thing!” He answered with pride.

He was a protector all right, all bravado and no brains! I was starting to feel the frustration I used to feel trying to reason with Jacob. “How did you get here Caleb?” I asked wearily.

“I used Jacob’s old motorcycle.”

I had to smile that I had inadvertently provided him the means to be here.

Hoping my smile meant I was softening, he said, “Please miss Bella, don’t send me home. Let me come and help. I wanna go with Seth and Jacob, please?”

I knew I had to say no, and send this young boy home. I was about to shoo him out and put him back on the motorcycle. But something was needling me, needling me to let him come with us. It was though a voice in my head was telling me that he had some part to play in this battle, and I couldn’t send him home.

“Please?” He asked again.

I hesitated looking into his huge brown eyes, and finally said, “You stay in that shower, until I decide when to let the other’s know you’re here.”

He smiled and I almost gasped as I felt like I was looking into the face of Jacob so long ago on First Beach. I had to smile back.

“The guys already know I’m here” his smile fading a bit. “Sam’s really mad at me.”

“Well, I’ll do what I can to convince him to let you come ok?”