With the confidence Bella had gained as a halfa, she appeared all the more beautiful to him. Still the same caring Bella she always was, but more at the same time.

Not for the first time, he wondered what if. What if he'd been the first to meet her when she first moved to Forks? Would it have changed anything? Or would Edward sneak in and steal her away, like he had when he left for wherever and Bella turned to him for comfort?

Jacob might be lovesick, but he wasn't stupid. Far from it in fact. He knew well that Bella had almost fallen for him, was considering if a life without him would be so bad. But then Alice had shown up and wrecked everything, reminding Bella of her love for Edward, and the two left to find him. If she hadn't shown up, or if he had ignored the phone that day, would anything have changed? Would Bella be in his arms now?

He sighed and shook the depressing thoughts away. Embry and Quil supported him the most because they liked Bella too. Not the way he did, but they enjoyed her company before this whole mess started. She had talked with them, though only briefly, and had listened to Quil's fears before he transformed. She accepted them as they were and didn't consider them monsters; it helped to soothe their initial discomfort around humans when they first changed, though Bella hadn't actually been around when that particular event occurred.

Paul and Jared didn't say much at all. Jacob knew they disliked Bella for hurting him and for joining the vampires, but he also knew they understood the seriousness of the situation. Saving their loved ones meant enough for them to put aside the rivalry with the Cullens, even if only temporarily, and so they also put aside their feelings for the halfa.

Sam was a different story entirely. He hated being a follower rather than the leader, but he cared too much for Emily's well being to question Bella's authority. She knew more about the Tainteds, so she was the better leader. Despite his less-than-stellar opinion of the auburn-haired woman, he understood Jacob's feelings better than anyone. He too loved a woman, unlike the others, so he could imagine how Jacob must feel right now. After all, if Emily left him for another man, he would mope too.