Breaking Boundaries | Jacob Black

Homemade Stew

The wedding came and went, and Natalia had no choice but to attend it by Jacob's side. He, however, seemed to have done a complete three-hundred and sixty change during that event. Maybe it had been the result of their conversation or the fact that he was tired of fighting — as tired as she was — but whatever that had done to him, he hadn't wanted to let her out of his sight all night. His hand always a protective barrier at the skin of her back and always ensuring there's either a snack or a drink in her hand. He'd stop people from bumping into her by acting as her own protective shield and would gently steer her out of the way, strong firm hands guiding her hips and causing Natalia to swoon inwardly at the sheer heat permeating his palms.

It wasn't like Natalia to act like such a damsel in distress. But she herself couldn't deny that protective Jacob was an attractive one. It made her insides flutter and heat flush through her body just at the thought.

There were only two months left until the final exams that would determine their university choices, meaning that everyone was either panicking or studying like their lives were at stake. The younger ones, like Seth, would have more time out during patrol while Jacob, Embry and Quill would plant themselves in Emily's living room to study. It was tough, being a werewolf who needed to finish exams when sometimes the world was at stake. The boys weren't too keen about it either, despite the fact that Natalia and Leiana often volunteered to tutor them.

"I hate this," Quill grumbled under his breath as he shoved his stack of papers back into his folder. There were multiple F's and D's adorning his page and Natalia almost felt sorry for him. Quill was definitely not gifted in Mathematics.

"Here," she leaned over the desk, hair falling over her shoulder as she tapped her pen against one of the problems he got wrong, "you had the right method. But your answer's wrong. You were getting there though."

"I just don't understand the logic."

"You don't need to, you just have to follow the formula step by step. It's easy. Here," she solved the equation for him, explaining each step as she went until she got the answer they were looking for.

"Hm," Quill still looked suspicious, eyebrows drawn together and looking pissed at himself, "you make it look so easy."

"Alright you try it," she pushed the test paper towards him and with another round of grumbles, he started copying down the question on his blank sheet.

Leiana, on the other hand, was helping out Jacob and Embry remember quotes that they could use for English Literature. So far, both were failing terribly.

"Leiana, be honest. When are we ever going to use these quotes apart from in this exam?" Embry moaned, hitting his face with the papers as though that might help it sink it, "I'm going to study agriculture. I don't need to understand quotes and books."

"It's for your own essay writing skills, now stop complaining and recite it."

By the time the older wolves had made it back to Emily's house, the trio of boys looked like they'd just spent an entire day fighting vampire newborns.

"No, screw that. I'd take fighting those leeches anytime," Jacob groaned, resting his head back against the sofa. One of his hands drifted down to Natalia's backside, skimming up her spine in an affectionate manner as Paul and Jared strode through the door, deep in conversation.

"--gotta tell Sam about it as soon as possible."

"Well what do you think that means?"

"Nothing good, that's for sure--"

Embry tipped his head towards the two, "what are you guys on about?" he asked curiously. Paul and Jared froze, only now spotting the small group by Emily's coffee table. They probably made a funny scene, what with papers scattered all over the place and faces looking like they'd seen better days.