A/N: I'm really inspired by the amount of response this story has gotten, and I've been giving it a lot of thought recently, so I'm updating again out of turn. I'm trying to get back to my other stories, but writer's block is a female dog.

I've checked this over, but my keyboard is acting up, so please forgive any errors. I'll go over it again when I'm not so sleep deprived.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far. Enjoy!

(Jacob's POV)

It was Leah's patrol night, so rather than risk having to spend time listening to the horrors she continuously spouts while out 'alone', and knowing that despite her complaining she'd be keeping a close eye on Hermione's tent, I wandered back into town but didn't go to Billy's. He was over at Charlie's that night, something he had been doing a lot more because Charlie needed the support to get through the whirl-wind wedding plans. Which meant that, if I wanted food (even though I already ate dinner, I get hungry quickly) my choices were cook it myself or scrounge for the leftovers at Emily's house. Bonus points if I get to make a pest of myself and put off their 'activities' for a couple hours. But as I got close I realized that there was some sort of video game battle royal going on, and that Sam didn't have a prayer of getting lucky for a while.

"Holy shit, he looks happy," Seth announced as I walked in. Being the youngest he had been regulated to the table as Paul, Sam, Quil, and Embry were busy pounding on buttons as though their real, and not cyber, lives depended on it.

"He spent all day with Hermione, why wouldn't he be happy?" Sam shot back, skillfully taking out Paul with a sniper shot to the head. Paul swore so loud I'm pretty sure they heard it all the way in Forks.

"Maybe she slapped him and told him to bugger off or whatever those Brits say," Quil offered.

"Then he wouldn't be smiling, dumbass," Paul hissed.

I decided not saying anything was the best plan of action, and wandered towards the kitchen where Emily was piling food on a plate for me.

"How did it go?" she asked as she spooned potatoes onto the plate.

"Good," I replied as vaguely as possible.

"Where did you take her?"

"Around the boundaries. And then off to the field where the newborns were."

"What did she think?"

"I think she was mildly interested in the borders, and very interested in the newborn fight. Though there was a point where she seemed very distracted, like she was remembering something."

"Did she say anything?"

"Yeah. That she spent what should have been her last year at school in some kind of war. That she felt we were both too young to be going through that."

"She's opening up to you," she said, placing a hand gently on my wrist. "That's a good sign. It's more than she's been willing to tell anyone else around here."

"Mm-hmm," I nodded, thanking her for the food and then going to sit at the table and pretend to be engrossed in the battle playing on the screen. But my mind was in the woods, out in front of Hermione's tent. The moment had been perfect. I would have been an idiot to pass it up. I think I started to realize I was going to kiss her in the clearing, before she even confessed about being a fighter. When she suddenly became distraught and looked to me for comfort. She could have closed herself off, could have blamed me for bringing up old memories, but instead she turned to me as a source of strength and consolation. In that moment she needed a friend, not just an acquaintance, to help her handle her feelings, and she felt I fit that role. I was over the moon. Then she confessed to me that she was a reluctant warrior, and in that moment I realized we were more than two souls that fate decided to randomly throw together. We had a connection, a small little thing like being forced into fighting, something we could bond over, and with any luck, grow a relationship together with.

Then she got out that bike. As much as it looked like it drove through a minefield the fact that she drove it gave me a glimpse at another side of her. A side that was a little rebellious. She dismissed it casually, something to fly on when most witches and wizards chose broomsticks, but not every woman would want to drive that thing. It was big, it was powerful, it could run over Bella's bike as easily as an anthill. And the way she looked at it, like it wasn't just a bike but an important machine that needed a firm but loving touch that few had mastered, was undeniably sexy. So what does she do? Offers me a ride. Knowing there would be no way we could both fit on the thing without being pressed together. And God, did she feel good pressed up against me. I did everything I could to keep from becoming excited at the combination of the sheer power of the bike and the sexy woman wrapped tightly in my arms, but I lost that battle. And if she was bothered by it she didn't say anything.

I could not have scripted the day better. And sometime while we were riding over the ocean I realized that I couldn't even enjoy the beautiful view unfolding below us. All I could think about was when we landed, how I think I would go crazy if I didn't get to kiss her. I played out every scenario in my head, admittedly more turned out in my favor than not, but I did not doubt that she could and would hex me if she thought I was crossing a line. And as hard as it had been for me to think about holding back I decided that I would watch her, read her as best I could to see what happened as soon as she landed. My heart flew when her hand didn't leave mine. It was my opportunity, and I took it with only a moment's hesitation. Right before our lips met I paused, giving her that last second to react. Because I still can't get what that black-haired asshole told me out of my head. She could have any wizard out there, by any means she should be laughing in my face for thinking I was good enough for her. And yet she was leaning towards me in anticipation. So I had to kiss her. And it was perfect. I'm not getting that image out of my head for a long time. Hopefully never.

But now where to? What did this mean between us? Had she had been as caught up in the moment as I had felt? Was she going to re-think what had happened as soon as there was some distance between us? Now that I've gone this far I can't stop. I have to fight for her. Out of everyone in the pack, I was the one in the most danger of losing their imprint, but I was determined not to let that happen.

The sound of the door opening startled me away from the memory of Hermione's lips on mine. I looked up, expecting to see a pissed-off looking Leah or maybe Sue Clearwater coming to insist her youngest get home by a reasonable time, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Rachel standing there.

"Big sis!" I smiled, hurrying over to envelop her in a big hug. I knew she had been coming back after finishing school and doing a little job-hunting for something that would keep her away from LaPush. Nothing had panned out, so she was moving back in for a while until she could get on her feet, but Dad never mentioned exactly when she was coming home.

"Jake?" she asked tentatively, pushing me away so she could look at my face. Not that I blame her. I have about a foot and a half and around seventy pounds of muscle on me since the last time she saw me.

"In the flesh."

"Holy shit, Jake. Dad said you were growing like a weed, I didn't think he meant it literally."

"Love you, too, sis. What brings you over here?"

"I just got home to find an empty house. I headed over to the Clearwaters to see if Dad had gone over there before I bothered making a phone call to Charlie's, and she said those two were watching some game they didn't want to be distracted from, and if I was looking for you to try up here."

"Yeah, this has become a bit of a rez hangout for some of the local..." I trailed off as I turned to the group. I felt the smile leave my lips as fast as if someone had smacked me across the face.

"Jake?" she asked as I fought the vomit threatening to make an appearance.

"Oh, fuck me," I groaned. Sam followed my gaze, and held back a laugh as he realized what I was looking at. Paul was staring at my sister, and not in just one of those 'I'm a teenaged boy and that girl looks hot' ways. It's a look we saw on Quil when he first laid eyes on Claire, how Sam looks at Emily sometimes, how I can only assume I look at Hermione. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Of everyone who could have imprinted on my sister, why the fuck did it have to be Paul?

I knew Quil must have figured it out, because he suddenly doubled over in silent fits of laughter. Embry was looking like the world had gone crazy until Quil stopped long enough to whisper in his ear, then they both started giggling like preteen girls who had just made a sex joke.

"What's going on, Jake?" Rachel asked, now sounding very concerned.

"You'll find out soon enough," I grumbled, pissed that my mood had gone from such an unbelievable high to such a bottomless low in less than a second. "You remember Paul?"

"That's me," Paul said dumbly with an awkward wave.

"Yeah," she said slowly as the ever-supportive Emily showed up next to her, ready to help her through the heap of shit that was about to be laid on her now that she was an imprintee. What a day she must be having. Get home from college to find an empty house, then find your brother only to find him unnaturally tall and muscular, and ending with the revelation that there are werewolves and vampires and for good measure, depending on how many details I'm willing to reveal about my own imprint, witches and wizards. With an extra helping of 'here's a werewolf who is going to be panting after you for the rest of your life'. Not as fun as falling off a cliff with a vampire clinging to you, but she's a sure lock for second-place when it comes to 'shitty moments for our imprints'.

"Sit down," I instructed her, waving at a seat as far away from Paul as possible. "This is going to take a while."

XXXXXXXXX

(Hermione's POV)

Years of dealing with Harry and Ron's rubbish has taught me how to act calm when I'm really going crazy on the inside. I got sick of people commenting on the bushiness of my hair, or the ferocity of my lip-chewing, or my temper to rival Snape's, so I slowly began to internalize. Yes, it's still very possible for someone looking to know I'm troubled, but at least I'm not a pacing, bushy-haired, bleeding-lipped, miniature bat-of-the-dungeons when these sort of things hit now.

Jacob nearly threw me back into my old self. I waited until he was gone to start pacing, and as soon as I realized that I was I pointedly sat down and gripped the sides of the chair as if my life depended on it. Damn, this is not what I needed when I came here. How could things have gone so off-course so fast? How could I come here with no intentions of interacting with the pack and wind up having such an amazing kiss with one of them? How in the hell did I wind up in this mess because of a bloody vampire?

This mess was beyond my control. I had been thinking about it for hours without realizing how much time had actually passed, and had nothing to show forit. I needed help. I needed an expert.

I needed Ginny.

Somehow I managed to expand the little metal wood-burning oven into a full-sized fireplace. I found Floo powder in my bag and tossed in a handful, then leaned over while asking for Grimmauld Place, my head re-emerging in the kitchen.

"Bloody hell, Hermione!" Ginny shrieked, still in her pajamas, as she spilled a cup of tea. Kreatcher was right there with an old rag to start cleaning, but this time I wouldn't say anything about the continued imprisonment of the house-elf. I needed a happy Ginny, or at least not a sour one.

"Morning, Ginny," I smiled. "Harry already at work?"

"Just got home, actually. They had a raid last night. Brought in some former Snatcher. He was out 'til the wee small hours on the raid and doing paperwork."

"So you have a few minutes, then?"

Her eyebrow raised and her tea was immediately forgotten. "What's going on, 'Mione?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to talk, is all."

"Right," she said skeptically. "You want to come through?"

"Why don't you come this way? Privacy and all that," I said, hoping my blush wasn't too evident.

"Out of the way," she ordered, standing up. Within seconds she was stepping out of the makeshift fireplace, dusting herself off without regards for my tent. "What's up?" she asked by way of greeting.

I gestured to a couch with a rickety coffee table in front set with a mismatching tea set that still held the tea I had made earlier to help me try to keep my head on straight. We sat down without me starting anything and I served the tea.

"You're looking great. Harry said you looked like hell the last time he saw you," she said as I served her.

"Tell Harry he's got such a way with words around women. Honestly, Ginny, sometimes I wonder how he hasn't managed to drive you off yet."

"I do believe we're here to talk about you, 'Mione."

"Right," I muttered, absentmindedly swirling my tea. Before continuing I took out my wand and waved it around a few times.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"There's a lot of people, things, out there with extraordinary hearing. I'm just trying to keep things private," I told her, then I took a deep breath before I started at the beginning, detailing everything from the vampire attack to what I had learned about the pack dynamic from being able to interact with them. She gamely listened to everything, but when I finished she, in true Weasley fashion, cut right to the chase.

"While all that is interesting, I doubt it would be enough for you to call me here in the middle of the night," she started at me intently.

I sighed, and decided that I had summoned her for advice, the least I could do was be honest. "I crossed a line tonight, Gin," I said softly.

"What did you do?"

"Well, I've gotten pretty friendly with the one pack member, Jacob. He was the one who took care of me after my accident."

"Right."

"Well, it started today by him showing me the boundaries of the pack's land. He was in his wolf form, and I was riding on his back. Then he showed me this area where they had a battle with a bunch of newborn vampires a few weeks back. And I started confessing a little about the war to him. Then I gave him a ride back on Sirius' bike, we had a bite to eat, rode around a little more, then I brought him back here because he seems to like to make sure I'm safe. And I, er, we, well, he..."

"You kissed him," she said matter-of-factly.

"More like he kissed me," I corrected.

"Mmm," she nodded knowingly. "Did you fight it?"

"No."

"Did you like it?"

"What kind of question...?"

"A very important one. Answer."

"Yeah," I nodded, and I would have been surprised if she heard me say it. There was a moment's pause before I added, "It was like nothing I've ever experienced."

"Better than my brother then?"

"That's probably more than you need to know about Ron."

"You're right. That's a line even purebloods don't cross. Still, are you saying that there was something special about this kiss?" she was leaning forward, now totally engrossed in my story.

"Yeah," I admitted. "I guess I am."

"And you're worried because you're here on a job where you were supposed to stay away from these werewolves, not start a relationship with one."

"That's the bare bones of it."

"And now, because you're Hermione and as worried about your professionalism as your love life, if not more, you're wondering if I think you should just leave and end this before it goes any further or if you should do something crazy like let yourself start to fall for some werewolf half a world away from London."

"Something like that."

She looked as though she were thinking for a moment as she sipped her tea. "Hermione," she finally said, looking me square in the eye. "You know how important family is to me. I'd defend my family to the death, and that includes my idiot brother who messed things up with you. I don't want to see him hurt in any type of way, and I know he's still got feelings for you that I'm not quite sure he understands. I know that seeing you with someone else would probably hurt him, and I don't want that, but at the same time I know that you two just weren't working out, and that a lot of other people seem to be refusing to see that little fact. You are a beautiful, bright woman who has a lot more to offer than what Ron thinks you have. And if he can't appreciate that, you deserve someone who does. Now, I've never met this Jacob, so I don't know if he would appreciate that any more, but I'm thinking that there are feelings you have towards him that you're ignoring or pushing away because you are too scared to have them, at least right now. You may not be the biggest believer in fate, but just think about it. If it wasn't for that vampire that night you wouldn't have met Jacob, and you probably would have already finished your report and right now your biggest concern would be what to do about Ron. But because of that accident you suddenly have a man who can't seem to get enough of your presence, who you seem to be drawn to, and who you can't help but kiss and suddenly have your world turn inside out. I think there's something bigger than you and I realize at work here, Hermione. I think you already know what you really want to do, but because it's not the logical thing to do you need someone else to tell you that it's okay."

My mouth was hanging open. She was right. There was something strange drawing me to Jacob. Something beyond any magic that I knew about. And every part of my body was screaming for me to try to figure it out what these feelings were and where the relationship could go. But my head was realistic. I had a job to do, and the job was suddenly even more important because it effected Jacob, and really the whole pack's futures. I needed to finish my job, to do what I could to ensure the safety of the pack and therefore Jacob, before I could shut down the logical part of my brain off and let myself explore my feelings. I desperately wanted to spend more time with Jacob, to allow the relationship to play out, but it would have to be put on hold just long enough for me to finish my work. After that I had some tough decisions to make.

"Thanks, Ginny," I smiled as we hugged each other. Harry and I might be best friends, but this whole situation needed a woman's touch, and Ginny and I had become each other's shoulders.

"Do I get to stick around long enough to meet this Jacob?"

"You would want to," I smiled.

"Depends. How good looking is he?"

"Ginny!"

"Fine. But I expect to meet him if things start getting serious between you two."

"You'll probably meet him before that. He and the pack's Alpha are coming with me back to London for my presentation."

"Lovely," she smiled. "Way to make the best of a bad situation. I was telling Harry that only you could travel out to the wilderness on an assignment meant to get you away from everything and have a vampire attack you."

"I'm just lucky, I guess. Though that reminds me, I have one more favor I need to ask of you."

"Anything," she nodded.