AN: I've been working on this for a couple weeks now. It's been difficult (of course I would get my writing mojo back when finals are on the horizon) so for those of you who are still with this story, sorry for the long wait. I can't help it when my muse hightails it but I'm determined to finish this story one way or the other. Sometimes a few PM's and reviews are just the kick in the ass that I need to get back on track. So thanks to those who urged me to continue and/or update. It means a lot.

Anways, read. enjoy. review!

Despite the fact that this trip had been decided on for quite some time now, Quinn's brain was still having trouble processing the mere idea of returning to Forks after a near quarter of a century's absence. She had honestly thought she would never set foot in this town, or the state for that matter, again. And yet here she was driving through the place she once called home, maneuvering her way down the familiar streets, like no time had passed at all.

It was bizarre.

So, so bizarre.

She hadn't expected Forks to change much in her absence, and it didn't - save for the creation of a few new outlets and asphalt paved roads - which just made things even weirder. More surreal.

She kind of felt like she was in the middle of a dream or something.

Stressfully pushing her hair back, her fingers tap incessantly against the steering wheel. They were nearly to La Push, she was just realizing, and a huge knot was forming in the pit of her stomach, making her feel a little nauseous. In the back seat Jacob paced around in a skittish manner, expelling agitated whimpers. It was either her nerves that were making him antsy or the vice versa - they just had that effect on one another.

"Rachel." Desperately needing a distraction - or reassurance, or both - she turns her head expectantly toward the brunette occupying her passenger seat.

When she sees that Rachel was still asleep (more like knocked out) her shoulders can't help but slump with a sigh. It was the middle of the afternoon but the girl was still out like a light. Not that Quinn was surprised. Over the course of their trip the short brunette felt she needed to stay awake for both her and Jacob just so they would have someone to talk to. A gesture that, however considerate, eventually had her falling asleep at random hours throughout night and day.

Though she doesn't relish in disturbing the girl's sleep, Quinn needs to wake her up. "Rach," she spoke softly, extending her arm and gingerly poking her in between the ribs. "Rachel wake up. We're nearly there."

It took a few minutes, and some additional poking, but eventually Rachel came out of her drool provoking comatose. "Wha happen?" she mumbles sleepily, head jerking, before her hands come up to rub at her eyes. "Where are we?"

"We're almost at the Reservation borders." she replies, subtly nodding her head toward the land that was slowly coming closer in view. Just the sight of it had her sitting stiffer in her seat and her hand gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. Oh how the hell did she even let Rachel talk her into doing this?

"Quinn." Her eyes flicker to the brunette who, surprisingly, looked concerned. "Breathe. You don't have anything to worry about." Rachel assures, reaching out and giving her hand a squeeze. "We're going to get this curse broken. One way or another."

Though she felt herself exhale and nod, she still held her unease. Coming here was just asking for trouble, she just knew it.

"Do you think there's a current wolf pack?" Rachel questions out of curiosity, distracting her from thoughts of turning the car around and heading back to Lima.

Quinn lifts her shoulders in an unknowing shrug. "It depends on if they are vampires roaming the area." she responds, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the dense forest on either side of the road. "If you happen to spot large hulking young men running around with no shirts on then you'll have your answer."

When she finally made it across the Reservation borders, Quinn couldn't help but expel a long, loaded sigh. Relieved as she was to have gotten this far, she knew there were still many more hurdles to pass before this curse was broken. If it was possible, anyways.

"So where are we driving to exactly?" Rachel wonders, her attention transfixed on the scenery passing them by.

"I figured we could stop by Jacob's old house, see if anyone's living there. Or we could just ask around town and see where we can find members of the council and speak to them." She really wasn't sure how to go about this whole thing but she figured that was the way to start, right?

But what if Jacob's generation was the last to have had to phase? What if now the council only believed the legends of spirit warriors and shape-shifting to be just fictitious stories of the past? What if they thought she was crazy when she tried to explain her situation?

Then what the hell were they going to do?

"Quinn, if you keep depriving yourself of oxygen like that, you'll end up crashing the car and I will not stand for being killed at seventeen." she faintly hears Rachel say. "If you need to pull over to the side of the road please do so."

"Sorry, Rach." she apologizes after swallowing thickly. "This whole thing has my anxiety flaring up." It hasn't been this bad since, well since she had to deal with the aftermath of losing both her child and her husband within the same twenty-four hour period.

Quickly pushing aside the memories of the wreck she had been, she reverts her focus back to the road.

"This place looks abandoned." Rachel comments when she cuts the engine.

Lifting her gaze, Quinn stares over the steering wheel at the house in front of them. Her lips purse at the sight, disgruntled that the Reservation had failed to keep up Jacob's family home. She gets out nevertheless, because Jacob was going stir-crazy, and promptly opens the back door for him.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Rachel wonders, catching sight of Jacob now sniffing around the snow covered land free rein. "Is it safe for him out here?"

"It should be. It's illegal for anyone to hunt wolves here." she responds, pulling her coat tighter around her waist. Figuring that Jacob's house was indeed as abandoned as it looked, she makes her way towards the edge of the trees. "Come on we can take the shortcut to town."

"But I don't want to trek through the snow!" Rachel whines, slamming her side's door closed.

"It's like a five minute walk, Rachel." Quinn sighs, rolling her eyes. "Don't be such a baby. The fresh air will do you good."

"People who say that are almost always the ones who end up getting attacked by ferocious animals in the woods." Rachel retorts, begrudgingly following after the blonde. "So if we die I'm holding you accountable."

"You're ridiculous." she exhales, fighting back the urge to roll her eyes again. "C'mon." Hand wrapping around Rachel's elbow, she proceeds to drag the girl deeper into the foliage.

They hadn't even been walking for more than a minute before a twig snapped and Rachel shrieked. Next thing Quinn knows the girl's latching onto her like some kind of spider monkey. "You heard that right?"

"You are so neurotic." she murmurs, shrugging off the petite brunette with a scowl. She gestures to the russet wolf trailing behind them. "It's just Jacob."

"I heard something else. I swear." Rachel insists, eyes darting around frantically. Just then a low snarling commenced and Quinn inadvertently jumped a little at the sudden sound.

Glaring slightly, she turns and looks at the cause of the sound - her wolf - just as Rachel latched onto her again. "See?" the brunette hisses, gripping her arm like a vise. "Jacob senses something out here too."

She sighs in exasperation, once again pushing Rachel away. "Get a hold of yourself. Both of you."

"If it's a vampire…"

"It's not." she assures, though she would admit that Jacob was going a little crazy, barking and growling, which meant that whatever was lurking about wasn't…well let's just say she had a feeling he wasn't getting all riled up over a rabbit.

"Whoever or whatever you are just please get your ass out here." she calls out to the trees, figuring that here on the reservation the worst thing that could be lurking out in the woods was….

A very naked man.

Surprised, Rachel squeaks a gasp just as Quinn averts her gaze, her cheeks flushing severely. "Uh, no disrespect but could you put on some shorts or something?" she asks uncomfortably to the young man, her head downcast and eyes shut tight.

"What are you two doing out here alone?"

Both Quinn and Rachel dared to open their eyes and let their gaze fall back on the once naked - but thankfully now clothed - young man.

"He looks like Jacob." Rachel automatically whispers to her, taking in the man's abnormally large frame. Quinn nods her head slightly, glancing him over. The cropped hair, the freakish height, extremely muscled body…the cut-off pants. "Yeah he's definitely a wolf."

Said wolf's gaze snaps toward her. "What did you just say?"

Sighing, Quinn moves past Rachel to properly introduce herself. "Look, my name is Quinn Fabray. That's Rachel Berry." she jerks her thumb back toward the brunette. "We've come here to talk to your tribal council and your pack. We have some important matters we need to discuss."

"And how do you know about us exactly?" the wolf inquires, brow furrowed questioningly. He takes a step closer but at Jacob's less than approving rumbling, automatically backtracks half a step.

"Well technically my last name is Black." she begins, hand coming down to give Jacob a reassuring pat. "My husband's name is Jacob Black." Catching sight of the flash of recognition, she nods.

"Yeah, that Jacob Black. But like I said before we have a lot we need to discuss and I have a lot to explain. So if you don't mind I'd rather do that indoors before this one here," she quickly gestures back to Rachel again, "turns into a small Jewish popsicle before our very eyes."

She wasn't kidding. The girl who was trying valiantly to hide her shivering was failing miserably.

She noticed the wariness etch across the wolf's face and exhales deeply. "I promise I'll tell you everything you need to know once I'm in front of your council." she assures. "It's just that my story is not exactly one I like to repeat so I'd prefer to only have to tell it once."

She waits expectantly until she was finally met with a nod. "Okay." he eventually spoke though he shifted his weight with reluctance. Quinn didn't blame him though.

"My name's Sam Uley by the way." he says offering his hand.

Her eyebrow quirks. "Uley?" she couldn't help but repeat. She didn't know why she sounded surprised. If Sam's great-grandfather had been a shape shifter then of course the gene would have been passed down to his descendants.

Sam looks to her, brow furrowed, and nods wordlessly. "I knew your great-grandfather." she explains, lips tugging upward in a smile at the astonished look that crossed his face just then.

To say it was awkward being in the house of a Clearwater was a bit of an understatement.

Not that Quinn had anything against the current Clearwaters who had been kind enough to invite her and Rachel into their home, of course, but still it was one of their ancestors who was the reason she was still standing here today… all cursed and stuff.

Rachel was currently inside idly chatting up Sue Clearwater (a Clearwater by marriage, not by blood) while she absentmindedly traced the rim of her mug out on the porch. Jacob was within sight, his russet figure padding across the blanket of snow out on the front lawn. She could sense he was agitated by the way he maneuvered about and she could clearly hear him rumbling even from her place on the porch steps.

The cold didn't affect her nearly as much as it once did and being closer to Jacob helped to ease her nerves. Sue's husband Harry was a council member and had left to fetch the other members for the meeting while Sam went to round up his pack, leaving her and Rachel to patiently await their return.

She takes another sip from her mug, eyes trained on her wolf. Her gaze only wavered when she noticed him bristle, where she simultaneously caught sight of the figures emerging from the trees.

Jacob went berserk at the disturbance, thinking it a threatening one, and quickly she rose from her place to keep anyone from getting hurt. She pauses briefly at the sight before her though, blinking her surprise. She had expected Sam to bring back two other wolves at the most - not six. And one of them was a girl!

Jacob was definitely going to be in for a shock later tonight.

"Woah what's with the wolf?" one of them asks over Jacob's loud barking, distracting her from any further thoughts of the pack size. "Shouldn't he be on a leash or something?"

She frowns. "He's a wolf. Wolves don't wear leashes." One would think that was common knowledge.

"Harry back yet?" Sam inquires, walking up to her; the others move past them and trek inside the house.

"Not yet." She shakes her head, turning and walking alongside him. "Your pack is abnormally large." she comments, taking a moment to wipe her boots on the welcome mat. "I take it that means the presence of vampires in the area has gone up in recent years."

"Unfortunately." Sam exhales, following her inside. "The Cullen's presence has everyone with the gene, no matter how young or…what gender phasing."

"The Cullen's?" she repeats, confused. "You mean they never left Forks?"

"They left for a time. They've only just returned a few years back." he explains, leading her into the living room. "Our generation is the first to phase since my great-grandfathers."

"I'm sorry to hear that." She knew living the life of a shape-shifter was not an easy one and probably one no one would willingly choose, so to hear it was effecting so many lives was just heartbreaking.

Sam just nods and turns his attention to the packed room. "So what exactly is this about, Sam?" one of the wolves wonder, falling back on the couch.

"Yeah what's with the two babes?" another one asks, winking at both Quinn and Rachel. "Our belated Christmas presents, Sam?"

"Paul shut it." Sam spoke gruffly just as Sue Clearwater smacked Paul upside the head from behind the couch.

"But seriously, what's going on?" the female wolf asks, looking unimpressed. "Who are these girls anyways?"

"Everything will be explained once Harry returns with the rest of the council." Sam responds. He looks to Quinn and Rachel and gestures to the pack. "Quinn. Rachel. Let me introduce you. This is Jared, Paul, Seth, Quil, Embry, and Leah."

"Hello!" Rachel greets brightly with a wave. Quinn fought back the urge to roll her eyes as she crossed the room and took a seat next to the brunette.

"So you girls wouldn't by any chance be single and lookin' to mingle?" Embry asks with a hopeful smile.

"I regret to inform you that both Quinn and I are involved in our own loving relationships - me with my boyfriend Finn and Quinn with her husband Jacob." Rachel responds in her typically excessive way.

"You're married?" Seth exclaims, incredulous. "But you can't be older than seventeen. Wait, is that even legal?"

"Quinn is actually much older than she appears to be." Rachel replies. "In fact she's the oldest person here."

"Gee thanks, Rach."

Rachel turns her head and frowns, not understanding the sarcasm. "What? It's true."

A minute later Harry Clearwater returns with who Quinn assumed to be the other council members. Everyone stood up from their seats, the pack members vacating their spots for their elders.

Quinn stands off to the side with Rachel, wringing her hands nervously as everyone else greeted and gathered in the middle of the room. Her gaze pans the various weathered faces (who were all obviously staring at her out of the corners of their eyes) and with increasing anxiety, she does everything she could to keep her feet from bolting like she desperately wanted.

"Remember to breathe." Rachel murmurs, leaning into her side. She can only nod in response, exhaling shakily.

"I can do the talking if you like." Rachel offers just as everyone was getting settled. "I have no problems with speaking in front of large groups."

"I appreciate the offer, Rach but I think I should probably be the one to do the talking. I'm the reason we're here after all."

"Well, actually, technically I'm the reason we're here. You were the one who didn't -" Catching sight of Quinn's withering expression, Rachel quickly stops talking. "Sorry. Not helping am I?"

"Nope."

"Quinn." Turning her head at the sound of Sam's voice, she found that everyone in the room had gone silent and was staring at her expectantly. She manages a polite smile as best she could as she steps forward, her stomach feeling as though she had Mexican jumping beans dancing around in it. Sam quickly introduces her and Rachel to the council before Harry Clearwater spoke up.

"The council and the pack are all here as you requested, Sam." his gaze flickers to Quinn, though he still addressed Sam. "Now it is time for you to explain why exactly you have gathered us all here today."

"In front of outsiders no less." adds Quil Ataera III, also known as 'Old Quil'.

"My husband's name is Jacob Black, the previous Alpha to your tribe's wolf pack. Seventy-five years ago a curse was placed on us and when we thought all hope was lost we left La Push." Quinn explains calmly. "Now we've come back in hope that you guys might have some answers on how to get the curse reversed." The silence she was met with was deafening. "I mean I know this sounds a little far-fetched," she amends, self-consciously tucking her loose strand of hair back behind her ear, "but it is the truth."

"This girl is nuts." she faintly heard Paul mutter to Jared. Her gaze hardens but before she could respond, Rachel steps in for her.

"Considering you all live in a world where werewolves and vampires roam rampant we, or at least I, had expected you to be a little more understanding and a little less skeptical." Rachel snaps, glaring profusely at Paul.

"The girl speaks the truth." Old Quil announces before Paul had the chance to refute, effectively ending the exchange before it could escalate. "My father relayed the story of such an occurrence to my generation just as we have done to yours." he says, gesturing briefly to the pack. Quinn blinks her surprise. She never could have imagined her and Jacob's story being passed down from generation to generation.

"And this girl's presence just shows that like the legend of the spirit warriors, this tale in deed stems from reality." Old Quil continues. "Though I admit to never expecting you still to be around to this day, looking the way you do. You are exactly as my father described you many years ago."

She smiles slightly. "Your father was a good friend to me. And to Jacob. To this day I sometimes still find myself missing him."

"So you're saying the stories of the cursed Alpha are actually true? And this paleface is actually…wait, hold up, this doesn't make any sense." Jared starts shaking his head with severe confusion. "If that were true it would make you," he points to Quinn. "like a bazillion years old and you look, well you're all hot and stuff."

She shrugs. "Apparently getting cursed keeps you from aging. And I'd hardly consider myself a bazillion years old." she adds with a small huff.

"God, can't any of our legends be just that - legends?" Paul huffs.

"So if the legends are true," Sue Clearwater begins, the realization slowly coming to her. "Then that means the wolf out in the yard - he's…"

"Yeah. That's my Jacob." she nods, smiling faintly. "He's not as furry at night."

"This is so bizarre." Leah murmurs from the couch, her head shaking.

"Says the female werewolf." Embry snickers, earning a punch in the arm from her.

"Knock it off you two." Sam growls out.

"What I want to know," Harry begins after shooting Leah a warning look, "is that if our tribe wasn't able to give you answers then, what makes you think we'll have answers for you now?"

"Actually I already have a solution to breaking the curse," Rachel volunteers, stepping forward. "well really it's a theory more than anything - an incomplete theory I'll admit - but I'm a hundred percent confidant it will pan out. You see I believe that an upcoming solar eclipse is key to reversing the curse, the thing is we don't know what exactly needs to be done, like do we need to recite some kind of incantation, or is there a certain spot that we need to be in when the eclipse hits, or does a ritual sacrifice need to be made? And if so does it need to be an animal or does it need to be human because if it needs to be-"

Quinn discreetly jabbed the girl in the ribs, getting a splitting headache already. "Rachel shut up and breathe."

"Jesus! Hobbit girl talks way too much." Jared groans, his hand coming up to massage his temple.

"Yeah please tell me she comes with a permanent mute button." Paul adds, looking disgruntled.

"So what exactly do you want us to do, Blondie?" Leah questions, arms crossed. "Dance around a bonfire and chant up to the spirits for you?"

"Like Rachel just said we haven't figured that out yet." Quinn responds tightly.

"What Leah means to say is that we will do everything we can to help you." Harry spoke, directing his attention back to her. "The council will look over our tribe's records, see if we can decipher new meaning from the text our forefathers created and find the answers which you are searching for."

Old Quil nods. "The return of the true Alpha and his imprint signifies a powerful omen and shall do everything in our power to see to it that you two are reunited."

Quinn could feel herself getting a little teary-eyed - not just because things with the council were going a lot better than anticipated (which they were) but because everyone was really getting her hopes up and if things didn't work out, she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle it.

"Until we can resolve the situation you two will be under the protection of the pack." Harry announces; the other council members nod in agreement.

"They can stay with me and Emily." Sam declares, giving a curt nod. "We have plenty of room and they'll be safest there."

"Good. Does this mean we can adjourn now?" Leah asks, already pushing herself back onto her feet. "I lost interest in this conversation like twenty minutes ago."

Rachel leans into Quinn's side and whispers, "She reminds me of Santana."

"Maybe they're related." she thinks dryly in the same hushed tone.

Rachel grimaces at the thought. "Ugh. With our luck she would be."

"Nine wolves?"

Rachel nods, her back to Jacob as he threw on some clothes. "Please tell me you're joking. Nine?"

She nods once again with her arms tightly crossed, it was freezing out here in the woods at night. She shuffles around in her place in attempt to warm up. "Yeah, that's what Sam said. Nine wolves in total."

Behind her Jacob exhales with heavy frustration. "If I had known those damn Cullen's would cause this I never would have made that treaty in the first place." Startled, Rachel jumps at the deep crackling sound and spins around to see that he had just punched a tree. "Those fuckin' bloodsuckers are ruining the lives of this entire generation!" he rumbles, jaw rigid. "Shit."

"It doesn't seem like the ideal lifestyle," Rachel concedes with a nod, "but some of the guys don't seem too upset about being wolves." She waits for Jacob before turning back around again.

"Still they shouldn't be phasing." he responds with a shake of his head. "At least not this many of them. Why the hell did those leeches even come back?"

Rachel shrugs, walking alongside him en route to Sam Uley's house. "Who knows. Do you think they know that their presence affects the tribe?"

"Probably." he scoffs. "They just don't care." He blows out a calming breath and shakes it off. "So, the council and the pack, they treated her with respect, right?"

Knowing well enough that he was talking about Quinn, she nods. "Of course." She glances back at him, brow furrowed in confusion. "Why wouldn't they?"

"Just making sure." he replies, his gaze unwavering. He jerks his chin toward the lighted house slowly coming into view. "So tell me what they're like."

"Well Sam is the current Alpha. He's the most serious one of the bunch. He lives with his fiancée Emily. She's his imprint-"

His eyebrow quirks. "Imprint?"

She nods. "Yes. Both Sam and Jared have imprinted. The council all believes that Quinn is your imprint. So apparently your dad had been right about you two being imprints all along."

Jacob purses his lips together in a frown. He hated the idea of some magical force tying him to Quinn. It made it seem like what they had wasn't real. Like it was forced. He fell in love with her and she with him. Simple as that.

There was nothing supernatural about it.

"…Seth and Embry are really sweet. Jared and Quil like to joke a lot. They keep things light which is nice especially when things get tense with Paul or Leah. He's the temperamental one of the group and Leah, well she doesn't seem to care for me or Quinn. But maybe she just doesn't like females."

"She can't seem to stand being in the same room with Emily and she's a lovely person. Quinn and I both really like her and I'm sure you will too. Oh, I can't forget Brady and Collin, they were on patrol while we were at the Clearwater's but they're at Sam and Emily's now. They're thirteen and just adorable -"

"Thirteen. Jesus." he swears, incredulous. "They're just puppies."

"Yeah, huge puppies." she scoffs, thinking back to the enormous brown wolves she'd seen earlier. "They could have swallowed me whole if they wanted."

"Wait," Jacob stops and does a double take. "they were around you while phased?"

Rachel nods even though a small voice in her head urged her not to. "Yeah. I was curious as to what you guys look like phased." she shrugs innocently. "And the boys were more than willing to volunteer." She frowns at the way he was looking at her. "What? Did I do something wrong?"

"Were they around Quinn?"

"Uh, yes?" Her response came out more questioning that she'd realized. "She was petting them and everything." she nods. "They surprisingly had really soft fur. I don't know much about dogs, err, sorry wolves you see. I never had one, a dog I mean - my dads are both allergic to fur- so I was never able to have any pets growing up. Not that I minded, really. Animals, while cute, are quite filthy and thought of having to clean up after them is just…" Realizing she was rambling, she instantly shuts her mouth. Then opens it again to add a quick, "Sorry."

Jacob just shakes his head and keeps walking. Rachel scurries in order to catch up to his pace, still puzzled. "Is there something wrong with us being around the pack?" She hadn't the slightest idea why.

"No. It's just," he sighs stressfully. "I don't know these people. I don't know how much control they have. I'd rather not risk anything happening to you or to Quinn so just…try not to stand too close to any of them. Okay?"

Rachel nods understandingly though she couldn't help but smile a little at his over protectiveness. "Okay."

"I'm positive you'll like the pack." she continues across Sam and Emily's front lawn. "Quinn and I told them all about you - okay, I did." she relents. "They're definitely curious about meeting their long lost Alpha."

Jacob grimaced at the title. He exhales deeply, shaking his head while his gaze fitted upward to the darkened sky. "This whole situation is so bizarre." He was about to meet the great-great grandchildren of the people he once knew after all. A fact he was still having trouble processing.

"Agreed. You know once this whole curse thing is taken care of you and Quinn should really think about turning your life story into a best selling novel. Supernatural romances are all the rage with teens these days and the events are so preposterous that no one would ever suspect them to have any truth to them. You guys would make millions. Maybe even get a movie deal. What am I talking about - of course you'd get a movie deal. Hollywood adapts anything into a movie nowadays."

Jacob glances at her briefly, silently wondering how the hell her brain came up with the things it did before simply opting to ignore it (just like he did with almost everything else that spouted from her mouth).

Anyways.

They proceeded up the porch steps together and once they reached the top, he pauses, waiting for Rachel to lead the way. He didn't like admitting to being nervous but he kind of was. "Relax, Jacob." Rachel sighs, after catching sight of his reluctance. She places a reassuring hand on his arm. "Everything will be fine."

It only takes about an hour and a half before everything went from 'fine' to 'not fine'.

Looking back Rachel probably should factored in something like this happening - considering temperamental wolves were involved - but her bright-eyed optimism had (for once) clouded her good judgment.

"I can't believe you." Shaking her head, she drags a steamed Jacob by the ear (which wasn't particularly comfortable given their height difference) out toward the trees behind Sam and Emily's house. "What is wrong with you?" she demands, simultaneously releasing his ear and whipping around. "You and Paul practically destroyed Emily's entire kitchen!"

"It wasn't like I planned any of this, Rachel." Jacob snaps, still reeling as he paced back and forth in the snow. He releases a huffing breath. "I'll repair the damage myself, okay?"

"I told you Paul was the temperamental one!" she groans, throwing her head back to the sky. "Why did you have to go and antagonize him?"

"Antagonize him?" Rachel jumps slightly at his roaring tone. "Did you not hear what he said about Quinn?"

Rachel gives a curt nod. "I'll admit his comment regarding Quinn was inappropriate but you didn't need to break his face because of it." she pauses before adding, "That is the correct phrase, right?"

Jacob rolls his eyes and goes back to pacing. She sighs, her brain still replaying the battle royal that had erupted during dinner. Jacob may have lost the ability to phase into a horse-sized wolf like the rest of the pack but, unfortunately for Sam and Emily's house, that didn't mean he had lost the ability to kick ass.

And it was a good thing Sam and Jared had been able to get Paul out of the house before he phased otherwise there would have been twice as much damage.

She steals a sidelong glance at Jacob, her pursed lips relaxing slightly. "But you're okay, right?"

Quinn would kill her if Jacob got hurt under her supervision. Though it wasn't like she hadn't tried to break up the fight. If she hadn't pounced on Jacob's back when she did who knows how much longer the scuffle would have lasted.

He snorts as if her insinuation of him being hurt was insulting. "Yeah, I'm fine. Paul may have a temper but he sucks at fighting - at least as a human."

Needless to say Paul Lahote was not on Jacob's favorite people list. Leah either. Quil and Embry, on the other hand, he got along with swimmingly like the three of them were meant to be good friends. Young Seth - to Rachel's amusement - hung onto Jacob's every word with such idolizing eyes (he also looked to be developing a crush on Quinn but she wasn't about to tell Jacob that).

"You'd think Sam would at least teach the pack to fight properly, both when they're phased and human." Rachel looks over at him and breathes another sigh.

Over dinner it had also become apparent that Jacob and Sam did not see eye to eye on many things regarding the pack - but mainly how Sam was dealing with the 'Cullen' situation. Or rather, how he wasn't dealing with it.

"You've got more than enough wolves to wipe them out!" Jacob exclaims. Rachel's water glass rattles on the table from his fist slamming down on it.

"It isn't that simple Jacob." Sam responds, jaw terse. "We have a treaty to oblige to. A treaty that you created."

"To hell with the treaty! Look around at the table here, Uley. You've got twice as many wolves as needed and probably more to come if you don't do something about those fuckin' Cullens." Jacob's eyes dart to Brady and Collin then back to Sam. "You really want more pups phasing? Or is that what you want, to be the pied piper of La Push?"

"They haven't violated the treaty - or at least not that we know of." Sam retorts. "It would be foolish to go to war with them over nothing."

"Over nothing? What about the well-being of this tribe's future generations? You've got nine wolves so far, in another year you could have another nine. Not just boys but girls too apparently." he says, gesturing to Leah. "What's the tribe going to think when all their kids start hanging around Sam Uley - supposed gang leader?"

Everyone's eyes darted back and forth between the former and current Alpha. Rachel couldn't wait to see how things played out so she could report it back to Quinn in the morning.

"If you wanted the Cullens gone so badly you should have taken care of them yourself when you had the chance." Sam snapped, his hand clenched around the fork he was holding. Rachel leaned toward the side, away from Jacob, because she didn't know Sam all too well and he really looked like he wanted to throw his fork at Jacob's face.

"I had a three-man pack against their five. I wasn't about to risk the lives of my pack and endanger my family by provoking them when I knew it wasn't a guarantee that we'd defeat them unscathed. You on the other hand have nine wolves-"

"Nine against their seven." Sam interrupts. "And while we have the advantage in numbers - barely - if we challenge them they will defend themselves well. I have to think about what's best for this pack - just as you did. I have to choose the course that protects them all best - just as you did. But unlike you I honestly don't believe that the Cullens are a danger to us. And as for what they're doing to the tribe…they've been back in Forks long enough as it is. They'll disappear soon enough and then our lives can finally return to normal."

"If you honestly believe that then you're a bigger idiot than I thought."

Which reminded Rachel that really needed to school Jacob in what it meant to be a cordial houseguest.

Shaking her head, she quickly refocuses her attention. "Have I ever told you that I'm part Cherokee?" Random, she knows, but she needed Jacob to simmer down so they could go back inside. It was freakin' cold outside.

Jacob rolls his eyes but his lips can't help but quirk in a small smile. "Rachel, just because you're a little brown…"

"Hey! I'm serious." she cries out indignantly. "My dad Leroy's great grandmother was Cherokee."

"Doesn't mean we're cousins or anything, Rach." he retorts with an amused scoff, knowing her well enough to sense where she was going with this. Crazy kid.

"It could!" she protests with a flail of her arms. "You never know. Wouldn't that be great if we were? Then you, Quinn, and I would be family! I'll have to contact my dads and have them sign up on - who knows maybe I have more Native American heritage. I mean it's possible. I don't know much about my mother's side but - ooh! Wouldn't it be scary if I was actually of Quileute descent?"

"You have no idea." He gives a short laugh and dances out of the way when she tries to smack his arm. "Jerk."

"Whatever. C'mon, Frodo. Let's get you back inside before you catch a hobbit cold or something."

"There's no such thing." she huffs, arms folded tightly across her chest as she trudged through the snow.

They had barely made it around the house before chaos erupted for the second time that night. It first started with a wolf howling from deep within the forest before the rest of the pack came bolting out of the house, some of them phasing on the fly. Jacob yanked her back out of harm's way. Thankfully she had averted her gaze in time before she caught sight of more naked males. Or a naked Leah. Gah.

"What's going on?" she questions once the pack had disappeared into the trees.

"Vampire." Jacob responds, releasing her arm. "Even after all these years I can still sense when one's around." he adds, muttering more to himself. "Huh."

She bends down and picks up one of Quil's shoes, then retrieves what intact clothes that had been left behind. "Do you think it's a Cullen?"

"Hope so. But I doubt it." he says, reaching down and swiping a pair of cut-off jeans. His gaze lingers on the trees. He didn't know why but all of sudden he got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

AN: Just had to get this out there so ya'll would know that I hadn't abandoned this thing. Sorry if it wasn't worth the wait but I'm slowly getting back into the groove of things. Reviews are appreciated.