Here is the first chapter of the sequel to The Wolf, The Witch and the Mortal. It picks up a week after the events of the first story :)

Chapter One

Honeymoon Interrupted

Hermione was knelt down in the garden picking some herbs that Jacob had planted to use in a meal she was cooking. It had been only a week since the couple had married and they were enjoyed their time away from reality.

She gave a soft smile as she thought about her wedding and stared at the simple ring on her finger. She ran her fingers against it and sighed. Jacob was inside the house, doing some decorating, while she was preparing an Italian dish that needed basil. She carefully plucked the herb from the ground and smelt them.

The smell took her back to her days in Snape's potions class. Basil was used quite a bit in potions as it gave them balance, and calmed some of the most volatile ingredients.

She placed the herb into a small basket she was carrying, that was already filled with some wild flowers she had gathered from the edge of the forest. They were to be placed on the table as they ate; a romantic gesture from a wife to her new husband. She still couldn't get over that.

Wife.

She was Mrs Hermione Jean Black. Mrs Hermione Black. Mrs H. Black. Mrs Black. Anyway she said it, it sounded like music to her ears.

Hermione gave a small giggle, holding the basket close to her. She was in heaven in their isolation.

Every moment with Jacob, she fell even further in love with him. He did a number of sweet things for her everyday, such as surprising her with flowers he hand picked or giving her massage while they were watching a film.

Out here there was no such thing as the pack or magic. There were no supernatural elements to worry about. It was almost as if all those problems melted away. There was no war she had fought in, no impending argument within the pack about Bella's transformation into a vampire, no dangers of any kind.

Hermione closed her eyes and basked in the sunlight that fell through the trees. This was one of the few sunny days that week, the other being her wedding day, and she revelled in it.

She listened to the bird song that filled the air around her and the gentle ripple of the water in the river as it ran past the cottage. She took a deep breath and smiled at the clean, sweet smell of nature. That was something you couldn't find in towns and cities.

She sat cross legged on the floor, her long skirt settled on the floor around her, and she slipped off her cardigan that covered up her simple tank top. Some scholars in the magical world believed that natural magic was one of the strongest types of magic there was and sitting as she was now was a good way to connect with.

Not that Hermione was trying to do that, of course. She was just getting comfy. She really didn't want to touch magic again unless she had to. Helping Bella with that spell had been a one time thing, and a one time thing only.

A chilling howl echoed through the trees.

Hermione's eyes shot up and she moved so she was kneeling, getting ready to run if need be. Just because the only local wolves were shape shifters, didn't mean that wolves from other areas hadn't travelled. Wolves tended to do that.

Jacob came running out of the house. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah." Hermione agreed, her eyes scanning the tree line.

There was a thundering and a crashing through the bushes. It suddenly stopped, and a few moments later, Embry emerged.

"Embry!" Jacob sounded surprised, but pleased.

"Hey, Jake, Hermione. Sorry to interrupt your honeymoon, but there's some news." Embry got straight down to business.

"What news?" Jacob asked, frowning.

"The Cullens are back, Edward and Bella." Embry told him.

Jacob's frown deepened and Hermione worried a little about frown lines. He had been through so much that it surprised her that he didn't look older.

"So Bella's back and ready to turn." He muttered.

"Something like that." Embry replied evasively.

"Jacob…" Hermione sighed.

"Am I needed?" Jacob asked, glancing at Hermione.

"I'd say so." Embry nodded.

Jacob set his face in a stern expression. "Alright. We'll return."

Hermione frowned and just watched as the two men said goodbye, before Embry nodded at her and phased again. He bounded off into the forest, leaving the couple alone again.

Hermione turned to Jacob. "We'll return! Are you serious?"

"Hermione, the pack is going to start turning on each other because of Bella. I need to be there." Jacob tried to tell her.

Hermione turned away from him, shaking her head. "But what about our little haven? What about our honeymoon?"

Jacob walked over to her and took her hands into his own. "I know, love, but I'm needed."

Hermione turned away and pouted childishly. "I don't want to go back. I like it in the peace."
"We're not leaving the house, just going back to the others. Besides, you have your job to go back to." Jacob pointed out.

Hermione bit her lip. She was looking forward to seeing Mandy, Bob and Natasha, but it would mean she wouldn't be able to spend as much time in her new home as she would like.

Jacob placed his hands on her shoulders and gently began to rub. "We knew we'd have to go back soon."
"I thought we'd have two weeks. Not one!" Hermione protested.

"I know, I know." Jacob sighed.

"When do we go back?" Hermione asked.

"Tomorrow."

Hermione gasped, spinning round and looking at him with tearful eyes. "What? But that's so soon."

Jacob reached out and wiped away a fallen tear. "I know."
Hermione turned and walked away back into the house, grabbing her herb basket as she went.

She stormed into the house and began to cook, angrily chopping meat, vegetables and basil. Slowly a Spaghetti Bolognese began to take form, with carrots and fresh tomatoes in it.

She barely even took notice when Jacob walked back into the house, looked at her, and went back upstairs to finish redecorating the guest bedroom.

Once the meal was cooked, Hermione called Jacob down for dinner. She had set the table like she always did and the fresh flowers were in a vase in the centre of the table, and Jacob had a cold coke at the side of his dinner.

"Thank you." Jacob smiled.

"Welcome." Hermione said shortly, beginning to eat her tea.

The rest of the meal was finished in silence and after they had eaten, Hermione took the dishes to the sink to wash them by hand.

Jacob sighed and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. "Mione, talk to me."

"What's there to talk about?" Hermione replied shortly.

"Don't do this. I don't want to go back any more than you do. But they need me!" Jacob begged.

Hermione slumped, anger seeping from her and defeat filling her in its stead. "I know. I'll go back."

"Thank you." Jacob whispered, kissing her neck.

Hermione wiped her hands and turned round in Jacob's arms, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"If this is our last night, we might as well make it a good one." She purred.

"I like the sound of that." Jacob smirked.

With one easy motion, Jacob lifted Hermione up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Jacob carried her up the stairs and deposited her on their bed. He climbed over her and looked at her lovingly.

"I love you, and us returning to the real world will never change that." He promised. "Never."

Please Read and Review. Hermione is very reluctant to return to the real world because it means she will have to face her problems, something I think we can all relate to. Next Chapter: Jacob visits Bella and is horrified at what he finds.