Howling Moon

Author's Note: This story is slightly AU. I only say this because, while at this moment in time I haven't finished the third novel yet, Wikipedia is great in looking up spoilers in the plot, and I really don't care about spoilers, at this point. I know Jacob ends up imprinting on Nessie, in the end, but I'd like to think that he doesn't. Imprinting on children is a little... Weird, to me. Like a pedophile, almost, and I'd like to think that Jake isn't the kind of guy to end up like that-- it's a damning fate. But, I digress.
Enjoy, will you? This is from Jake's POV, and while it's not normally my style to do POV, fics, I figure I might as well stick to the style and atmosphere of the books... That, and it's surprisingly easier to write from a first-person POV. Really, it is. Anyway... Enjoy! Lemon to come in later chapters! We all know you want it, because once you go "Black", you never go back!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the "Twilight" series of novels or movies. This story is for entertainment purposes only and does not reflect the ideas of the original author. I claim no rights to this story, nor do I have plans for monetary gain from this story. (i.e. Please don't sue; I'm broke and happy with my small-town life. Thanks.)

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In hindsight, I probably should've guessed that something like this would happen-- it was bound to happen, as Fate, with her fickle and capricious nature, cannot be stopped no matter how hard you might try. I was hopelessly in love with Isabella Swan-- now, Isabella Cullen, mother of one and drinker of blood.

I suppose that my first reaction to Bella's decision to 'die' was a little... Outlandish. I was a little more reckless in my past than I am, now, and a little more immature. I don't regret admitting my feelings to Bella in the slightest, nor have my feelings for her diminished the littlest iota, even after all this time; she is always with me in my heart, and my love for her daughter, Nessie, is quite the same; she's grown up so much in such a short time, and while she looks just like Edward, I see Bella in her eyes all the time.

People say that time heals all wounds, and I suppose that it's true, to some extent, but nothing had hurt me more than knowing that I would never be able to rival Edward for Bella's heart. I'm content, now, to know that I'm in there; I'm nestled safely in a corner of her heart, right next to her family, which I have come to know, love, and trust as if they were my own. But, I digress...


It was during my eighteenth year that I was ready to graduate from school on the reservation. Graduations there aren't quite as big of a deal as they are in schools off of the reservation, but I was excited, nonetheless. The people I went to school with numbered less than twenty, but we knew that every relative that could conceivably attend our graduation ceremony would be there; cousins, second cousins, cousins by triple marriage, and so forth-- every blood or marriage related relative would be there, simply because graduation, in the eyes of my people, signaled the entrance into adulthood. It was a big deal.

I was nervous, even though school had already let out for the summer; it was a balmy, but wet day when my father came to offer me the news.

"Jacob," Billy said, "We're having a lot of people come down, so I want you to be on your very best behavior this coming weekend. Some of our family don't know about our tribe's secret... The last thing we need is having Doctor Cullen down here for emergency backup. Also, be sure to clean up your room, some of them will be staying with us, and they'll be staying in your room."

I knew what my father was talking about, though I knew he wouldn't have to worry. I doubted that any of my family members would irritate me into phasing, but there was always the possibility there. I had asked my father, before, if the Cullens -- Bella, especially-- were allowed to attend. He politely refused, claiming that after the family-only celebration, that he would throw another that could include whoever I wanted.

I still didn't care too much for Edward coming along with Bella, though my rivalry with him had faded by this time, but if I could see Bella and Nessie again, I would be more than happy to have Edward along for the ride.

I no longer hated Edward, and while it had taken a long time and a great deal of suppression, our families' hatred for each other had soon waned into something akin to sibling rivalry. Bella was no longer my center of attention as Nessie now was, but Edward knew that I still longed for Bella's love, deep down.

I spent the rest of my day with my bedroom windows flung open to allow the stiff, heavy breeze to flow through my dusty room; I would have to clean it out completely before company arrived the next day, and I had been putting it off for the past week. My hands' occupation didn't give me much room for my mind to wander, and it was a welcome escape.