Author's Note – This story is set several years after Breaking Dawn, so all the members of the wolf pack are in their early to mid-twenties. Also, imprinting is a rare thing in my world.

This might be a one-shot for now, though I do have ideas for more chapters. We'll see what happens.

Reviews give me life.

Enjoy!

Going Native

"Truth... or dare?"

Paige pursed her lips contemplatively. The way he'd said the words, like the very question was a dare, gave her pause.

She considered the boy who'd asked. He wore a knowing smile and there was a twinkle in his fire-lit eyes, a good-natured challenge in his posture. His attitude towards her, his casual, comfortable teasing, more than anything that day, made her feel accepted here.

Paige Howell had arrived on the Quileute reservation that morning, a fresh-faced young graduate student from the University of Washington. Studying American history with an emphasis on Native American culture, she had arranged a meeting with the tribal leaders in the interest of learning more about their customs and folklore. The kind, wizened elders – Billy Black, Sue Clearwater, and Quil Ateara – had entertained Paige for the better part of the day, happily sharing their stories as she scribbled endless notes for her thesis. As afternoon wore on, they invited her back to Billy's to meet their children and grandchildren. The younger generation had a different and unique perspective on the tribe's history, Billy explained.

Outside the elder's modest home, beneath the pale sky of a crisp, fall day, Paige was introduced to Jacob Black, Seth and Leah Clearwater, and Quil Ateara the Fifth. A fire was built and the company gathered around it, taking seats on old, weather-worn logs and tree stumps. More stories were told by both the old and young natives, and the circle around the fire grew as more youth – both boys and girls - arrived throughout the deepening afternoon.

Paige was introduced to each newcomer, but their names and faces ran together. She was sure she stood in stark contrast to all the dark beauty around her with her cream-colored skin and flaxen hair, but everyone welcomed her kindly, and she felt less like an outsider looking in the more time passed. This damp, old, wooded yard was a sacred place for these people. It was their home, and all who gathered here were family.

When the sun had just begun to set, the older tribe members said goodnight, leaving Paige with the younger crowd. Jacob and the others encouraged her to stay, and she knew she had no desire to call it a night, so she'd happily set her notebook – nearly every page filled to the margins with impassioned, illegible observations – aside and enjoyed the company of the young Quileutes. Their lively conversation soon devolved into a game of Truth or Dare as the fire grew lower and the sky grew darker. Paige had mostly sat back and watched as the boys in particular participated in various antics, but now it was her turn.

Her observant gaze had not left the daring boy - Jared, Paige remembered, his name was Jared. His face had not stuck out among the many stunning raven-haired, copper-skinned people she had met today, but as night fell and the light of the bonfire swathed the group of native youth in a warm orange glow, his behavior had made an impression. Now that Paige took a good look at him, she noted his boyishly handsome face matched his boyishly jovial personality.

Never one to pass up a challenge, she had been prepared to choose a dare anyway, but the way Jared looked back at her, his eyebrows and shoulders lifting in questioning, mock impatience, solidified her decision.

"Dare." She answered confidently, and a mischievously wide, dimpled grin spread across the boy's face.

Several of the other young men around the fire noised their impressed approval. A few of the girls giggled and laughed, at both the boys' behavior and Paige's pluck.

"Alright," Jared said, his wheels turning, "I dare you..." He switched the near-empty glass bottle he held to his other hand thoughtfully, then held it up, "... to spin this bottle."

He cast a meaningful glance across the fire, his twinkling eyes meeting Paige's. Paige waited for him to finish.

"And kiss whoever it lands on."

Paige's stomach did a back flip. All of the boys in the circle were attractive, tall and leanly muscular, their faces exotically beautiful. She could easily imagine kissing any one of them, but her gaze remained on Jared. A strong desire was growing within her to wipe the smug grin off this impish boy's face.

Paige swiftly rose from the log to her feet and strode purposefully across the fire ring towards Jared, her hand outstretched. He took one last swig of the bottle's contents, emptying it, then handed it to her with a smirk.

Paige dragged her foot across the dirt next to the fire pit, attempting to make a smooth surface, then placed the empty bottle on the ground. The circle of onlookers waited in anticipation as she gave it a good twirl. Paige held her own breath as the glass bottle spun on the rough ground, her eyes moving from boy to boy - Sam (That was his name, wasn't it?), Jacob, Quil, the quiet one (Embry, maybe?), the really hot one (Paul, right?) - as she wondered who she wanted it to be most. The bottle eventually slowed to a complete stop, and Paige exhaled. It pointed inarguably at Jared.

The boys erupted in a chorus of teasing sounds and comments, and the giggling of the girls was renewed. Paige felt her pulse quicken as she met Jared's gaze. She had not expected it to be him, but she was not disappointed. She even appreciated the irony, and felt a faint sense of triumph.

Jared's expression was satisfied, as if he'd planned the whole thing. He stood with nonchalance and sauntered over to meet Paige by the fire, his eyes sizing her up as he drew near.

"Alright, alright, come here," Paige sighed, waving him closer, "Let's get this over with."

Jared stopped just before her, his dimpled grin unfailing, and opened his arms as if to say he was all hers.

Acting before she had time to grow nervous, Paige took another step closer to the young Quileute, gently grasping the front of his hoodie, pulling him to her. His arms reflexively closed around her, his hands holding her arms on either side of her body. The heat radiating off of him was disarming, his breath hot but not unpleasant against her face. Her own breath was visible in the cool night air.

Paige moved her hand from his chest to his warm, smooth cheek, guiding his face towards hers as she tilted her chin up to reach him.

She then carefully placed a soft, brief kiss on his waiting, smiling lips.

There was more hooting and hollering as Paige stepped back from Jared's embrace as quickly as she had entered it. He was left standing akimbo, his brow pulling together in confusion.

"That's it?" He complained. "That's all I get?"

Paige knew what he meant. She'd kissed him so succinctly, she'd hardly felt it herself. She'd experienced only fleeting warmth and softness.

Still, a thrill had shot through her and her heart now beat forcefully inside of her chest.

But she wasn't about to let him know that.

"That's all I think you can handle." She replied, shrugging.

Jared's friends howled with laughter.

"She's got you there, man!" One of them – Paige thought it was Paul – crowed.

"Please." Jared scoffed dismissively. "I'm pretty sure I can handle it." He argued, playful arrogance written on every feature.

"Oh, yeah?" Paige raised her eyebrows, lifting her hand again to his chest, catching the drawstrings of his hoodie and giving them a gentle tug.

Jared blinked, his bravado wavering for the briefest moment.

"Yeah." He agreed, taking a step closer, his confidence back to full force.

Paige felt inclined to take a step back. Her height was perfectly average, but she felt small next to Jared, especially when he was close to her, like he was towering over her. But she stood her ground.

"Well," She said, dropping the drawstrings and giving his chest a light shove, "You'll just have to wait and see."

Jared's expression was both impressed and mildly indignant.

"Alright, alright," He acquiesced, backing up. "If that's how you want to play, fine. It's your turn. Better make it good." He challenged, returning to his seat.

Paige surveyed the circle as she moved back to her own spot. Her heart was still pounding.

Paul – she was fairly confident that was his name – was shoving Jared's shoulder playfully, still giving him a hard time, and it caught her attention. His name escaped Paige's lips without volition.

"Paul." She said simply, and the arguably most attractive young Quileute looked to her, stopping his teasing of his friend.

"Yeah?" He asked, inclining his head, curiosity pulling his brow together.

Relieved she identified him correctly, Paige sat back on her log with a sigh, pushing up the sleeves of her flannel button-up shirt. She felt inappropriately flushed.

"Truth or dare?" She exhaled, willing herself to regain her composure.

The corner of Paul's mouth lifted. If Jared's smirk was playful and mischievous, his friend's was wicked and dangerous.

"Truth." He said, the word rolling out of his mouth as though it tasted good.

These boys are trouble, Paige thought. But she could handle trouble.

"Were you disappointed a few minutes ago," She asked casually, "When the bottle didn't stop on you?"

Perched to Jared's right, the broader-shouldered, sharper-featured boy would have been the recipient of Paige's kiss had the spinning bottle stopped only a moment sooner. Though Paige was pleased with how things played out, she couldn't deny her slight disappointment when the bottle passed by Paul.

She expected the fiery young man to balk at her question, but Paul was harder to faze.

"Of course." He replied without hesitation. "Weren't we all?" He grinned, glancing at his friends on either side.

A few of the other boys chimed in in agreement, nodding and chuckling.

"You're a beautiful girl," Paul looked back at Paige. "…for a pale-face." He added after a moment, with a shrug, his devilish smirk making it evident that he was teasing her. "Any one of us boys would have happily taken Jared's place," He elaborated, "But that's not how the bottle spun, now is it?"

Paige felt heat flooding her cheeks. She'd asked an awfully presumptuous question, she knew she deserved the sarcastic answer she got.

These boys, she thought again.

"Fair enough," She sighed, meeting Paul's steely gaze. "Your turn."

Again, Paul didn't hesitate.

"Jared." He said, his eyes not breaking their hold on Paige's face. She lifted her chin proudly.

"Oh, come on!" One of the younger boys protested. "Jared just went!"

"Shh!" Paul hissed, and though the boy sulked, he was immediately silenced.

"Yes, Paul?" Jared played along.

"Truth or dare?"

"Hmm, I don't know, Paul. I think I'm gonna have to go with truth on this one, what do you think?"

Paul's smile flashed brighter, and Paige had the unsettling realization that she was out of her league.

"Tell me then, Jared," Paul said, finally looking away from Paige and towards his friend, "Since she's so curious – is blondie a good kisser? And would you kiss her again?"

"Not bad, I guess," Jared shrugged, "If you wanna call that a kiss."

Paige frowned. These boys were not playing fair.

"But do you want to kiss her again?" Paul pressed.

Jared's black eyes met Paige's across the fire. His smirk faded slightly.

"Yeah," He admitted, his tone less joking, more sincere. Then he grinned broadly again, turning back to his tribemate. "Yeah, of course. Who wouldn't?" He said, nudging Paul.

Paul laughed appreciatively, accepting his friend's answer, and the game continued as Jared turned his attention towards one of the boys whose name Paige couldn't remember. The boy chose a dare, and the group's focus shifted to him as he proceeded to perform his challenge.

Paige was too distracted to notice what he had been dared to do. She couldn't stop watching Jared. His simple "yeah" had struck a chord. It was obvious that he and Paul had been messing with Paige, but the way he looked at her when asked about kissing her again... He had meant it when he said "yeah." This honest admission set her mind racing.

She wanted to kiss him again, too, she couldn't deny that; her curiosity was piqued. But she wanted it to be real next time. Not a dare, and not in front of all his friends. Did he want that, too?

Because if he does, Paige decided, I'll find a way to make it happen.

Her pale eyes then flitted to the left, and she caught sight of Paul staring back at her intently, his gaze so discerning Paige had the distinct impression he could hear what she was thinking.

The idea intrigued her.

I could make it happen with you, too, you know, she thought, just in case he was actually listening.

Paul's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. He then blinked and turned away.

Paige couldn't help but smile to herself.

She had come to La Push today with only one objective: to absorb as much information about the local tribe as she could. Her interest in the natives' history had waned significantly this night.

The only stories she wanted to learn now were those of these Quileute boys.

These handsome, charming, troublesome boys.