I forgot to mention how worried I was about writing the date chapter but it seems my worries were for nought because you all seemed to love it!
"Not here," he told her, shaking his head. "Let me take you on a date." She mulled over his words and turned to look back at the group of people he considered family.
"On one condition."
"Name it."
"I want to see you." He blinked at her in confusion before stretching out his arms as if to help her see. She chuckled. "Not you, the other you." His eyes widened and he looked around for some help. "Please." Who was he kidding? He couldn't deny her anything. He stepped back and took a deep breath before transforming before her. Her beautiful smile was totally worth it.
He stood before her on the beach in his wolf form and watched as she walked closer, tentatively and wary even though she was fully aware that it was him inside. He lowered his head and widened his eyes, trying to portray an innocent puppy. He believed he pulled it off when a soft smile flittered onto her face, just before her hand connected with his fur and she started to stroke him.
"You're incredible," she breathed. He grinned wolfishly and nudged her with his nose, making her giggle. He yipped in amusement and the combined noise of his yips and her laugher brought everyone's attention to them.
"Oh shit," he heard Jared mutter. "I fucking knew it," came Seth's excited shout. "Great, woohoo," was Leah's sarcastic response, followed by Jacob's colourful, "He better behave around her," which made him tense and growl with anger. He would never hurt his imprint.
The growling startled Hermione and she stepped back abruptly, her right hand resting on her hip but not grabbing onto anything. He immediately lost all anger in his system when he saw terrified and ready to defend herself. He let his wolf instincts take over and bowed down, letting his tongue dangle out of his mouth non-threateningly which made her smile and return to stroking him. After a few minutes of her stroking his fur and him trying not to roll onto his back so she could scratch his belly, he barked softly before running back to the group by the bonfire, picking something up with his teeth before running into the forest. She stood in her spot, watching him disappear with a confused look on her face.
"'Mione," Jacob called and she turned to face him. "Come over here; he'll be back out in a minute."
She sat down on a log whilst the others ate and mucked around. She exchanged a look with Billy and noticed the question in his eyes. Because of your magic or not? Her subtle nod answered him and he returned to speaking to Embry and Sam about patrols. Only a minute later and Paul walked back out of the forest and joined them, jeans on but his feet and chest bare. She didn't mind the view. He didn't mind the ogling. Everyone else did.
"Spill," Jacob ordered the moment he arrived. "What the hell are you on?" Hermione frowned at her friend but he was glaring at his own. "You could've hurt her."
"Hey!" she protested, standing up in outrage. "I can protect myself." His snort just made her angry and she really wanted to hex his face.
"Against a wolf his size?" Yes, she thought but then she'd have to explain and she wasn't ready for all the questions that would follow. He took her silence as the answer he needed. "Exactly. And don't even bring my attention to you just yet." Her face blushed furiously at the reprimanding that she was receiving as if she was a five year old, but she sat down and ignored everyone whilst he ranted. "You're a fucking animal and you could've hurt her so you better have a good reason!"
"You're a fucking hypocrite," Paul hissed, his face twisted in anger. "You had no problem transforming over Bella and we all know that being that close to her was more dangerous than my proximity to her just now. And she asked me, so screw you." Eyes turned to her and she felt them but she refused to look up. "Hermione, i can take you home if you'd like," he offered.
"Thank you, i'd like that," she replied and stormed away from the group before anybody could stop her.
"Well done for fucking that completely up," Embry grumbled once the two had driven away. Jacob was still standing in the same spot he'd been when they'd left and his face held the emotions of a lost and confused child. "Let's confront them and make them feel like utter crap for taking a huge step in their imprint relationship," he mimicked in a high pitched voice. "Yeah, good job Jake. Good job." The rest of the pack mumbled their agreements before turning back to the conversations or leaving and when Jacob turned to face his father, the anger and disappointment he saw, shocked him.
It's really short because i've been struggling so i'm bringing myself back into things slowly. Other news, it's my birthday on Wednesday (24th) which is exciting!