A/N: So, lots of smut because well, Jacob Black. *Shrugs* It's rated M for a reason. Hope this satisfies some of you raunchy readers. *Wink*


Chapter Twenty-One – Nessie The Minx and Council Qualms


need a little sweetness in my life
your sugar
yes, please
won't you come and put it down on me

-maroon 5, sugar

oOoOo

I sat at the edge of the cliffs, looking over the tumultuous tide as it crashed along the jagged cliff wall. My paws dug into the sandy mud and gravel, and I huffed to myself as I enjoyed the silence momentarily.

I had missed La Push, more so than I realized. Being back home surrounded by my brothers, my father, the scenery and the comforting smell of the ocean brought back a flurry of memories. Being able to phase and run along our patrol trails was something I took for granted, and now that I was back I was excited to set up our schedule again. Sam wanted to retire and age with Emily. It was officially time to accept my calling as Alpha and Chief, passed down from my great-grandfather Ephraim Black.

I should have stepped up a long time ago, but I was lost and selfish back then. The last time I was home, I was infatuated with the idea of a lost love. I had convinced myself into delirium that Bella was the love of my life.

I snorted to myself.

I had let the idea of Bella Swan cloud my judgment past the point of sanity, ignoring the fact that she wasn't even my imprint. I was seventeen though, and thought I had it all figured out. Maybe I needed to go through those years of uncertainty and give myself over to my pure animalistic side to truly understand the value of my role.

I couldn't help but feel like a self-loathing masochist at times, it seemed like it was the only thing that drove me forward. That is, until I met Renesmee.

Nessie.

A deep hum rumbled in my chest as my mind drifted to my imprint. I had left her in bed at my dad's this morning selfishly, because I was up all night staring at the wall thinking myself to death. My Nessie was struggling, more than I recognized on my own. I put her on a pedestal and felt like I failed as an imprint. I should have known she was feeling the affects of those damn evil leeches and her family leaving her behind. I was so lost in my own happiness over having her all to myself that that I didn't consider her trauma's more than at surface level.

She was traumatized to her core, shaken and beat down mentally. I saw it in her face when she showed me in the car, and then again last night when she broke down sobbing. She was trying so hard to be strong that I had to remind her it was okay to be weak.

I would be strong, regardless of my self doubt and fears over if I was good enough for her, for the pack and for the reservation. I had to step up.

I felt the shimmer in the air of another wolf phasing, and soon was greeted with the chattering mind of Brady.

"Jake!" Brady exclaimed mentally to me, and I could feel his tail twitch with excitement through our connection. "Collin is right behind me; we'll meet you at the cliffs."

I huffed and pawed at the dirt, giving him my silent recognition. I had kept my mind open since I first phased early this morning, waiting to absorb them into my pack.

I felt as the rest of the wolves shifted and popped into my mind, all buzzing about my return.

"About time, Black." Paul rumbled.

"Awfully early for a meeting…" Leah muttered with a growl, and I rolled my wolf eyes at her grumbling.

"Shut up, Leah." Seth quipped.

I felt my thoughts unintentionally drift over to Renesmee, unable to really ever keep her off my mind for five seconds.

"She's hot." Collin snickered, "She really half-leech?"

Just as he said that he bounded into the clearing in front of the cliffs and I turned and snarled at him, flashing my canines menacingly.

He yelped and cowered down with his tail between his hind legs. Leah, Seth, Brady, Paul and Jared all loped behind him, pacing around and circling as we stared around at one another.

"Already asserting your dominance, Jacob?" Sam announced, his voice vibrating in my mind as he shifted and headed our way.

I lifted my head and felt the wind whip my fur around as I stared down at the woods, sensing his location.

"Where are Quil and Embry?" I questioned with annoyance, ignoring Sam's passive joke.

"Embry is probably getting rid of some Makah girl right now and you know Quil is probably passed out after spending his night staring at Claire sleep." Jared snapped with a barking laugh.

I sifted through their minds to see what my two friends had been up to regularly while I was gone. It was apparent that the unimprinted wolf took it upon himself to prowl the Makah Reservation for single girls to sleep with on a regular basis, and Quil was doing exactly what I expected . . . catering to Claire. Not that I could blame him, but tea parties and dress up were definitely something I was glad I didn't have to endure.

"Can you blame a guy? We're irresistible." Embry chimed in as he shifted mid thought.

"Get your furry ass here now." I growled, growing impatient being away from Nessie this long. I knew she was perfectly safe, but my soul felt incomplete being away from her longer than a second. I needed her every moment. My thoughts drifted to how she felt writhing under me when I pleasured her, and immediately clammed my mind noticing my pack picking around my memories.

"Jesus, Jake." Quil grumbled groggily. "I just saw more of her than I wanted."

"I see why you don't mind her being a vampire at all." Collin snickered, replaying my memory from his mind now.

I snarled and found myself lunging at him, instinctively needing to protect my imprint.

He scurried back and threw me images of him apologizing, "Sorry, sorry."

I felt the shimmer of four more wolves, and felt myself surprise.

"We got some newbies for ya, Alpha." Jared chuckled. "Only been a few months for these pups."

I listened to their chattering minds for their names. Kai, Takoda, Bodhi and Lucas. They were all sixteen, and I couldn't help feel a little sad for them. To be thrust into this role at such a young age was traumatizing, and I knew that.

"No way, it's badass!" Lucas yipped and I watched through his eyes as Kai shoulder checked him on the way up the hillside.

"Speak for yourself." He grumbled.

I picked at his mind to see that he had the burden of hiding this from his family, and was struggling with his new role and the spells of anger it brought.

I waited until they were standing in front of me to speak, needing to take in their size and appearance before accepting them into my pack.

"Harsh." Seth joked, and a few chuckles flickered through my mind from other wolves.

"Enough." I commanded, and narrowed my eyes as the four new wolves broke through the trees.

They were much smaller than the rest of the pack, which was to be expected. They would grow in time. Kai was grey with streaks of white, lanky and skinny. Bodhi had similar fur to Seth, but his paws were brown as well as his face. He was the biggest of the bunch, standing a few inches taller and wider. Lucas was similar to Takoda, with black and brown fur and a similar build. Takoda had the longest fur though, as well as the scrawniest looking frame.

"You need a haircut." I snuffed, before walking up to them. I watched as they shrank back at my massive frame. I circled them, and bared my teeth. I sniffed and pawed at the earth, giving them my approval.

Soon the entire pack was sitting around me, while Sam and I stared each other down. He opened his Alpha mind to me, showing me everything I might need to know. Past patrols, any new scents they picked up, the vampires that came through to trigger the boys to phase, what the pack was up to outside of shifting for patrols.

I nodded my large, wolf head and my eyes flickered to the woods behind us. "One last run, Sam?"

It was something we had discussed long ago, that when a wolf decided to stop phasing and retire we would run the borders and patrol trails together as a pack. Our form of kumbaya, gathering together for one last run of being connected.

I watched as he inhaled deeply, drifting his gaze over the ocean and La Push.

"I had always thought I would be excited to put this part of my life behind me, and begin my journey with Emily. But, I can't help but mourn. It's been eleven, long years of this life."

The pack chattered their gratitude to Sam, sending him thoughts of encouragement and thanks.

"You've done your job, Sam."

"We're grateful."

"I'm next man, we're getting old." Paul joked, with Jared in agreement right after.

"Same. You've been a good Alpha."

I nodded in agreement, "You've shown us great strength and control, and I'm thankful you stepped up when I wouldn't. It's your time, enjoy your imprint and age with her. I'm ready."

"You're grown, Jacob. I'm proud." Sam complimented me with a bow of his large head.

I lifted my head to the dawning sky, and let out a long howl. The rest of the pack followed suit, harmonizing our howls and barks. Sam took off then, with me and the rest of the pack following. We raced through the trees and along the beaten patrol trails, blurring and yelping with excitement as we ran. Sam and I ran side by side, our shoulders playfully knocking into one another as we thumped our massive paws into the Earth.

"Emily is waiting." He announced as we picked up her scent a few miles ahead where their house was tucked into the woods at the end of our trail.

We howled in response, and made our way to his family.

"Go to her."

We descended down a small hill and broke through the clearing of trees to their front yard, and my eyes fell on Emily who was holding the hand of their son who excitedly bounced in his place. We came to a stop and all sat down, watching Sam stalk towards his imprint and son. He nuzzled against Emily, and bent down to lick Cheveyo. The little boy squealed, and laced his tiny hands through his father's wolf fur.

We watched as Sam phased back for the last time in the arms of his family. He gave us a nod before we retreated back to the woods to continue our run with me as the new Alpha.

Everyone howled and yipped with excitement as our new journey began, with Seth flanking behind me as my Beta.


I stood with my arms crossed, watching as Nessie walked around one of the plots of land I staked out earlier this morning after the pack run. It was the last of three we were looking at. It was tucked against the edge of the woods, close by was a little trail that led to the cliffs I had been looking over at dawn, and you could hear the ocean anywhere you stood

"Oh, Jake. This would be so perfect." She gushed as she twirled around, staring up at the rare, clear sky. He skin didn't sparkle like a vampire's . . . she glowed. It was my first time seeing Nessie under a brightly lit sky, and I was mesmerized. She looked majestic and divine as time slowed down with each twirl of her skirt, dancing under the bright September sun.

"I think so, too." I mused, smiling to myself as I watched her move.

She stopped when she noticed my eyes, and a blush rose to her cheeks.

Beautiful. Amazing. Perfect. Mine.

"What?" She asked nervously, casting her eyes down and tucking a curl behind her ear.

I licked my lips and strode towards her, reaching out to tilt her chin up to look at me. "Does this make you happy?"

I would do anything to make you happy.

Her manicured eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she broke out into a wide grin. "Yeah, it does."

She pulled away from me with a twinkling laugh and danced across the clearing towards the woods. "You know what else makes me happy?"

I narrowed my eyes playfully as I watched her slip out of her shoes, knowing what she would say next.

"When you chase me!"

She giggled and took off into the woods, and I wasted no time dropping out of my clothing and shifting to run after her. My tongue lolled out of my mouth as I dug into the Earth and chased after the white blur that was Nessie running ahead of me. I could hear her laughing, beckoning me to her. I felt the shimmer of another shift and heard Brady's thoughts instantly, he was concerned.

"Oh, Jake. Good. I thought I saw –"

Then he looked into my mind as he saw me running right behind Nessie.

"Oh, shit. Never mind. I didn't know she could run like . . ."

"A vampire?" I huffed.

He wasted no more time in staying in wolf form, and soon I was alone with my thoughts. Good.

"Come on, Jake! You're gonna lose!"

I heard her squeal as she dashed ahead of me. I grunted and lunged, swiftly pining her beneath me as gently as I could.

He laughter was contagious, she wriggled and squealed under me as I licked and nuzzled her face with my giant wolf tongue.

I had a fantasy similar to this one . . . where I chased her as a wolf and took her as a man . . .

I calmed myself and let the shift take over, and soon I was on top of her in human form, holding her arms above her head as I pressed myself down against her.

She let out a gasp as her cheeks flushed.

"Jacob," She murmured.

My name dripping from her tongue like honey. I groaned in response, and dropped my mouth above hers. I hovered my lips there, tasting her sweet breath. I knew it was way too soon for us to have sex, but the wolf in me was screaming. Telling me I needed to claim her, make her mine. Mind, body, and soul.

Taste her . . .

I growled at the wolf, deep in my chest. Nessie squirmed under me, her eyes hazed over and the wolf screamed louder.

Mark her . . .

I wasted no more time and dropped my lips to hers, tasting how sweet her mouth felt against mine. I had to stifle back the moan that wanted to erupt from my chest when her small, warm tongue darted out between my lips.

My attraction to Nessie increased tenfold every hour it seemed, and I knew it was because our relationship had shifted from that of a friendship to a romantic partnership. Imprinting worked like that. It was like the wolf couldn't resist his mate as the bond grew stronger.

I felt her pelvis twitch against mine as she desperately clawed her skirt up so she could rub against my exposed flesh. I hissed through clenched teeth when she began to grind against me, the tiny fabric she wore was the only thing standing between me taking her. She grabbed my back and leg and used my body as leverage as she moved.

I kissed her deeply, enjoying every caress of her tongue and the pucker of her lips as they moved with mine. Nessie was like . . . crack. Honestly. Her sweet scent swirled in my nose, she smelled like citrus, vanilla and spices. Even my brother's thoughts chattered with how surprised they were when they noticed how good she smelled, better than the average human but obviously not as good as their respective imprints. It made me roar with jealousy internally at first, but it was better than them thinking she smelled sickly sweet like a normal vampire.

But of course, Nessie was half-vampire . . . and despite that, she was perfect. Every bone in my body ached for her regardless of her genetic makeup. I didn't care that she was half-vampire, even though my genes told me to hate the half of her that was vampire. We were bred to kill them. We were their natural enemies. We were supreme predators, and they were our prey.

But, Nessie was my prey in a completely different way. I wanted to dominant her, maim her with pleasure.

"You're thinking too much," She whispered.

Her velvety voice snapped me back to reality; the one where she was laying beneath me with her skirt pushed up to her abdomen and her tiny, barely-there panties exposed against my naked lower half.

Her eyes flickered down to see what I was staring at, and she gasped.

"Oh,"

I felt myself smirk, knowing why she was reacting that way. It was one thing for her to feel me, it was another to see.

I was big everywhere, so what would make that different for my nether regions? I definitely knew it was due to my genes. It didn't make me overly cocky . . . just a bit more confident.

"I'm not thinking too much." I mumbled, and shifted my eyes back to her big, chocolate orbs.

"Your eyebrows tell me otherwise." She countered.

I licked my lips and lifted my torso up a bit, to get a better view of my imprints face. Her copper curls were messily sprawled out around her head, a few rogue twigs and leaves tangled throughout. I lifted a hand to pick them out, and caught the blush that crept onto her cheeks.

"Jacob,"

My eyes snapped back to hers, seeing the desire still pooling around in her iris'.

"Nessie," I smirked, and dipped my mouth down to hers in a single, chaste kiss.

"We're alone." She told me pointedly.

"Well, we have a few birds and squirrels as an audience . . ."

She groaned and turned her head to look at a tree next to us. He head rolled back to face mine, and she brought her hands to my cheeks in a flash.

Do you want me?

"I want you more than I can control."

Then why are you worrying?

I sighed, unintentionally, and felt the sting of quick rejection flood through my imprints palms.

"There's a logical part in my brain that says take this slow, then there's the wolf side of my brain that literally is screaming." I explained, focusing on a piece of moss next to one of her curls.

"I mean . . . we kind of already skipped over slow." She reminded me, then the memory of her writing under me with my fingers curling inside her flooded through my mind.

My hands flew to pin her down again and the wolf screamed even louder. I watched her lips curl into a devilish smirk in response to my bodily reaction.

Such a minx.

"You're –"

"Trouble? I know."

He connection showed me the flurry of emotions she felt for me in this moment; mostly rolling back and forth between lust and need.

I licked my lips and sighed deeply, knowing my will was no match for my imprints needs.

"I need you." She repeated verbally this time.

I closed my eyes briefly, knowing the lust was beginning to settle over and the wolf was going to get what he wanted.

She knew I couldn't deny her. She knew she could bend my will with those three words.

"In what way?" I asked as I opened my eyes and settled them on hers.

The blush in her cheeks always drove me mad. She looked so pure and pretty with a blush on her face.

She laced her fingers through my shaggy hair and tugged slightly, digging her nails into my scalp causing me to groan in response.

Her palms pressed flat against my scalp and showed me very detailed fantasies she had.

"Oh, Jacob." She moans, and I watch myself as I feather kisses down her naval and between her thighs, my tongue darts out to taste her sweet center for just a moment. I watch as she looks down at me staring at her exposed breasts, my hand reaches up to kneed one while my tongue works on her.

I growled loudly, and my grip on her wrists tightened. I pressed my hips down against her again, pushing her legs wider apart.

Seeing her perfect breasts earlier nearly made me combust right there in the shop. They were perfect. Full, round, soft and mine. Her nipples small, and rosey pink just like her lips. But seeing them with her gift? Yeah, that made me unable to resist her any more.

My lips went to work on her neck, tasting her skin with open mouthed, panting kisses. I sucked on the tender spot below her ear, causing her to moan my name. That made the wolf hungrier.

I made my way down her neck, and slowed my pace when I began my decent towards her chest. I was going to be selfish and enjoy myself, even if it made her squirm.

Her heartbeat was erratic at this point, thumping so loudly against my mouth. I smirked and dropped my hands from her wrists down to her waist, tugging on the tank top that was tucked into the long skirt she was wearing. Her hands hastily met mine, and pulled it over her head. I gasped when I saw she wasn't wearing anything underneath. How had I not noticed?

My dark eyes snapped up to hers, and saw her cheeks were crimson.

"Ness –"

She licked her lips and pushed my head back down, "Jake," she whined impatiently.

Taste her . . .

I groaned and dropped my mouth back down, kissing down her sternum and circling around her breasts. Fuck. I was here. I was doing what I have been thinking about doing the moment I laid eyes on her.

How was she real?

Slowly, so slowly, I flicked my tongue out across her nipple and she moaned – loud. Her back arched and she forced my mouth around her with her nails that dug into my scalp.

Huh. I guess she liked that.

I pulled her nipple between my teeth for a moment and flicked my tongue around her, swirling her areola tenderly to completely taste her. I thought her mouth tasted amazing, but her breasts? Ten times as good.

I hardened when my thoughts trailed to how good she would taste in other places.

Fuck. Me.

I moved my mouth across her chest to give her right breast the same attention, and I received the same reaction as the one before.

"Jacob," Her voice came out high pitched and breathy.

Nessie was panting, arching her chest into my mouth, and whining my name. How the fuck was I expected to control myself when she said my name like that?

I decided her breasts had gotten enough attention for the time being, and it was evident Nessie agreed with the way she was rubbing herself against my very hard, throbbing member. I could feel her dampness, and the scent of her arousal swarmed the still forest air around us.

I was made to please her. Simple as that.

I shimmied my body lower, groaning in protest when I moved away from her heat. I pushed it down, knowing she needed this and I was dying to give her what she needed. My lips ghosted down her naval, my tongue darted out to lick her hip briefly before moving on. I had to to please her.

"Jacob – oh –" She moaned loudly when my mouth licked gently on her inner thigh, so close to where she wanted my mouth most. I inhaled deeply and my eyes nearly rolled to the back of my fucking skull.

She smelled like fucking paradise. I could taste her scent on my tongue, and my body went into overdrive. My fingers ghosted on the tiny fabric before ripping them clean off, eliciting a gasp from my imprint.

That's right.

I launched my mouth into her folds, needing to taste her more than ever. I snapped my eyes up to watch her react, and she had hers firmly shut, her chest arching with every flick of my tongue.

Oh, God. God? if you're there, I know what heaven is. It's Nessie. So, if I ever die, send me here.

Right fucking here.

Her hips buckled against my mouth, and she was gasping for air between throaty moans. I gripped her hips and kept her ass firmly planted on the ground so I could continue to make my imprint writhe with my tongue. I licked, sucked and even drooled as I pleasured her. I wanted to give her more, though. I could sense from her gift she was climbing – but that still meant I had work to do.

I skimmed my left hand down her hip and over her thigh, watching her face for reaction. Just as my fingers curled around her inner thigh, her eyes snapped open to look at mine.

One word.

Please.

I growled, louder than I expected, and my hand dipped under my tongue that was teasing her bud. I slid it up and down before the whimpers she made forced me into action. Her heat encased around my finger, causing her to gasp as I buried it inside her.

"Jacob,"

Yes, baby. I'm right here.

She was so tight and wet, wetter than she had be the last time I touched her. I thought my hand was buried in her wetness before – I was wrong. It was now.

She was clenching around me as I worked, and I could sense she was close so I added another finger. Her skin resisted against the girth of my fingers, causing her to shudder against me.

"You okay, baby?" I questioned, pulling my lips away just enough to talk.

She nodded her head furiously and slammed it down on the ground below. I licked my lips hungrily and went back to work.

I knew she liked when I curled my fingers inside her, so I found my rhythm and curled right as I was at the deepest point within her.

"Oh!" She yelped in pleasure, buckling her hips against me.

I couldn't help it, I had to ask.

"You like that?"

Again, she was unable to speak and could only nod. She was biting down hard on her bottom lip, her eyes flickering under the closed lids.

She was close, and I would get her there.

My self control at this point was hanging by a thread. The wolf wanted to bury himself deep within her walls and give himself his own release, but I wouldn't do that. Not yet.

Before I knew it was happening, Nessie clenched around my hand and wetness exploded in my hand and mouth. Tasting even sweeter than she had before, I groaned and lapped it up greedily like a dehydrated dog. Her panting was slowing as I worked her back down, relishing in this moment we shared.

She opened her eyes as I pulled my hand away, and kissed her tenderly. I knew she was sensitive when she buckled against my mouth with a blush.

I couldn't help it when I brought my hands to my mouth and licked my fingers clean.

She was definitely one of my favorite things to taste. Ever.

I moved back up her body and smiled at her shyly. I had never done that before with a woman – but it was like my body knew exactly what to do for my imprint. I was made to do this.

"Jacob," She said breathlessly, "that was . . . amazing."

She said the same thing last time I touched her, and my ego definitely inflated some more.

"Good. It was supposed to be." I chuckled and rolled over onto my back so we were laying side my side. I looked down to see I was still rock hard, and blushed when she noticed.

She sat up and her hand flew to my thigh, squeezing gently before wrapping her fingers around me. She grasped me, causing my eyes to widen and my hips to fucking buckle into her hands.

"Holy fuck!" I shouted, and my hands flew down to hers. I tried to pull them away and she fucking tightened her grip.

"Nessie, you don't –"

I shook my head vigorously, trying to shake the wolf away. He was about to lose it.

"Let me."

Oh, honey. Oh, my sweet Nessie. Your hands are on me and I cannot fucking think.

"I really want to."

"Oh, fuck." I muttered, opening my eyes to look at her. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips were swollen and she was giving me the fucking look.

And she looked goddamn amazing.

I nodded slowly, and snapped my eyes shut again. Nessie's hands were on me like I had dreamed about. Wrapped around me and moving in a steady rhythm. If I had any self control left right now, I would have insisted we stop. But, logical Jake was gone. Hornier than hell Jake was in his place and ready to lose it.

She moved harder, and faster. I groaned and rolled my head back and forth, biting down on my lip so hard it drew blood. I heard her gasp, I knew she smelled it.

Before I could react, she was on top of me, her hand still moving but her lips were now sucking on my bottom one, the one I had bit through.

Nessie was drinking . . . from me . . . and that is when I fucking exploded.

I hadn't expected to so quickly, but I couldn't help it. Her hands moving on me . . . stroking me exactly the right way while tasting me? I was done for.

I thrust my hips into her small hands, and groaned out loud. I wanted to roar like an animal – but knew that was way too much, so I bit it back.

She drew her hand back when my body went slack, and my eyes flashed open to see her peering down at me with a shit-eating-grin.

I looked down, and was thankful I had missed her with my . . . release, taking notice it was sprawled out on the dirt next to me. "I – fuck. I don't even know what to say. I love you." I told her sheepishly, unable to really think past that first instinctual thought.

"I love you, too. So, when do we start building?"

I started to laugh from my spot next to her, and shook my head. This girl, my girl. She surprised me every moment.


I stared at her round ass from across the fire a bit too obviously, but hell – I couldn't help it. I didn't have to hide how I felt or tone it down now. No Edward to give me dirty looks, no prying eyes of students . . . just a pack who understood what it was like.

"Earth to Jake." Embry said, waving a hand in front of my face. I startled and snapped my eyes next to my best friend who sat next to me, leaning towards the fire with his neck craned in my direction. He smirked at me, and his gaze flickered over to Nessie.

I bit back the growl that wanted to surface at him looking at my imprint.

"I get it, man. But, not around Claire." Quil muttered this time, his eyes flashing down to Claire who was leaning against his knees, chatting to some other little girl who came to the reservations bonfire. My eyes flashed back to Nessie, who was making small talk with some of the women, many I didn't recognize right away. I knew the majority were pack member's parents, sisters, brothers and what not. I wasn't expecting this turn out, but word got around of my return, with a 'pale face' no doubt, and they all came to investigate. It was a first for the tribe for a Chief to be linked with a non-Quileute.

"Sorry." I mumbled, giving them a half-assed smile. "I can't help it. She's just amazing. Look at her, she's glowing. They love her."

And, they really did. Everyone who had met her only had compliments once they walked away. Old Quil told her she was a beacon of light at the end of a long journey. What did that even mean?

My father wheeled over to us with Rachel, a bright smile on both of their faces.

"Hey, dad. Rach." I greeted, standing to grasp his shoulder. Dad pat my hand and nodded, glancing over at Renesmee before looking back up at me.

"The elders had expressed their doubt prior to meeting her, but she truly is exceptional."

I felt pride surge in my chest. Sure, I had already known how amazing my imprint was. But, to hear the acceptance from my father and the elders was something I couldn't help feel proud of.

Rachel nodded in agreement, her hands resting on her round belly. "A few of the women asked when the wedding was." She teased, rolling her eyes.

I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck, "We haven't really talked about it that in depth . . . still getting used to being together, you know?"

Billy raised his eyebrows, "Sue told you the previous agreement . . ."

I knew exactly what he was talking about. Her compromise was us getting married, to change her last name to Black to satisfy the tribe on the treaty rules. But, she was here now . . . why did it matter what her name was? She was still my imprint and mate, and would be my wife. One day. But, after Nessie just expressed her fears to me last night I wasn't ready to push her towards that. We needed time. She needed time.

"I know. It's just a lot for her." I said slowly, trying to read his emotions.

When I first told Nessie of the agreement, she was pleased. We were peachy keen, but that was with the initial buzz of happiness. Once it settled, I knew how badly it freaked her out. She was still young, regardless of her intellect and physical appearance. She had a lot she's never done, including everything sexual we have done thus far. It's all a first for her. I wasn't willing to rush my imprint's life just to satisfy the council.

He inhaled and nodded, "I understand son, but – "

"I'm not discussing this further without the council fully present. I'll tell them exactly what I think about this agreement. It's fucking unnecessary. She's here, she's not a threat – what else do they want? It's a name, and it doesn't grant a death sentence." I snapped, feeling the Alpha in my tone vibrate. I had noticed in my peripherals that the pack's attention was fully on my conversation, and Rachel sank back towards Paul.

I heard Nessie excuse herself as she fluttered over to me. She looked around and smiled tightly at a few prying eyes before placing a hand on my cheek and dragging my face down to look at her.

Do not do this.

I narrowed my eyes, telling her to drop it.

It's just a piece of paper . . . if it makes them happy –

"I won't do anything you're not ready for." I interjected her thoughts with a whisper.

I grasped her hand that was placed on my cheek and held it there, drawing my own hand to rest on her cheek.

She closed her eyes briefly and leaned into my touch before flashing them back open and giving me a small smile.

I don't want trouble.

I shook my head and looked around, only a few eyes of my pack brothers were on us now with everyone else sneaking glances between conversations. I grasped her hand and pulled her away from prying eyes, needing to talk to her in somewhat private.

"Jake," she protested, following behind me down the beach.

I turned to face her and took her face in my hands.

"Nessie, it's okay. I will fight for this. I'm not rushing this to please some old council."

She shook her head, disagreeing. "You said it was the one agreement. I'm not one to stir up trouble."

I sighed and dropped my hands. "I know, but things change."

She bit her lip and looked over her shoulder at the fire. "Is this about last night? Jake, I was just tired and overwhelmed for a minute . . ."

"No, do not downplay your feelings. It's not fair to you. You've done enough, okay? Let me handle this. It's not just a piece of paper to me. It's a symbol of us coming together. It's a sacrifice. A ceremony of unity. I want to do this right, on our terms. I'm Jacob Black, son of Ephraim Black, successor to our Chief and the true Alpha. I'm calling the fucking shots on this one."

She shivered against me, and I knew what that statement just did to her.

This girl was going to drive me fucking mad.