Jacob PoV

At first a heater, then a mechanic and now a pillow. I was definitely right when I said I'll be everything she needs me to be I chuckled, a sound that sounded a little strange coming out of the mouth of a werewolf. But luckily nobody cared. Some of the pack were resting, some fixated on Sam and Carlisle, some talking.

I watched Bella in her sleep, so peaceful and so sure that she was safe.

When he had said that in this world she was merely more than bait and that she always needed someone to protect her, my first instinct had been to protest. She was strong and had survived for so long in this world of monsters. But the longer she spoke the clearer I could see her point.

She was strong, in her own way but this world, the world of vampires and werewolves demanded a different kind of strength. A strength which, as a human, she would never have. But she was okay with that because she knew she would always have someone at her side to protect her. I had liked the part about how relationships worked, how each partner cared as well as he could for his mate.

Bella moved and mumbled something but then stilled again. I hoped she didn't have a nightmare like so many times before. If was here at her side and guarded her which was usually enough to keep the bad dreams away but so much had happened in the last days that I feared not even my presence would be enough to protect her from nightmares.

I felt someone approaching. At once my head turned up and my body tensed, ready to protect what was mine. But it was only Alice, the small vampire with the short hair who had come first when Bella had called her.

She approached slowly, holding up her hands to show me that she wasn't a threat. Although my inner wolf wanted to growl and keep her at distance, my human side won and I allowed her to come nearer. Alice smiled and knelt beside Bella, who was still sound asleep beside me. For a while she merely watched the sleeping girl and I began to wonder why she came.

"She is very lucky to have you," the vampire girl began.

I waited, not sure where she was getting with this.

"I looked for her sometimes after we left Forks. I didn't like what I saw. She took our departure very hard. When she disappeared from my view, I feared to worst. I wanted to come so badly but... maybe I didn't want to see the truth. If something had happened to her, if she did something because of us, I don't know how I would have lived with that guilt. I don't mean it as an excuse because there is none. But then she re-appeared and she called to me for help and it felt like a sign from heaven. She looked so happy when I met her. Just like the girl she'd been before. When we talked and she told me she'd met someone, I knew whoever this person was he must be someone really special to make her happy like that."

She sighed. "I don't know why my brother did what he did, if he really felt like that towards her or not but maybe he'd made the right decision. Seeing her happy like this, healthy and alive... None of us had a choice, you see. Every one of us was turned because they were on the brink of death. I love her like a sister but throwing away your life willingly to live forever as a seventeen-year old girl seemed madness to me, even if I had accepted her choice at that time. I thought it was her destiny to become one of us because I'd seen it in one of my visions but the future is never set in stone. Every decision we make changes the course of our live and she has made the right decision choosing you."

Well, in this we agree.

I listened to her and once more the thought crept up in my mind that she maybe wasn't so bad after all. She really seemed to like Bella and saying that her life at my side was better for Bella than a life with them must not have been easy. She did seem to care about Bella's well-being and that gave her a lot of credit in my eyes. My eyes darted towards the rest of the pack most of which were pacing around, watching Sam, Jared and the Cullens debating and I could see only hatred in their eyes. It wouldn't be easy to convince them that these vampires were the good guys, not like the rest of the bloodsuckers.

"I think you should wake her up now. The discussion is nearly finished and soon everyone will split up for the night." Alice stood up and gave me a small smile before she went back to the rest of her clan.

As for me, I nudged Bella softly with my nose until she began to stir and mumble something.

It sounded like "Just five more minutes" and I rolled my eyes. I nudged her once more and when she didn't wake up I decided to take the maybe not so very gallant but effective way and stood up. Bella fell, hitting her head lightly on the moss covered ground and was immediately awake.

I looked down at her, facing her angry look without regret and then turned my head towards the meeting that indeed seemed to come to an end. Sam and Jared went back to talk to the pack while the pale blond vampire returned to his clan. I joined the wolves but to my regret, Bella didn't follow me. Instead, she walked over to the vampires and talked in a low voice with them and for the fraction of a second I felt the need to join her. But this need vanished at once and I listened to Sam explaining what they had agreed upon.