=Eloise=

As we sat at the dinner table with Rocco's family I looked around at everyone and smiled, I was so blessed to have all these people in my life, and even more so they loved not only me, but they all seemed to genuinely care about my sister as well.

I looked over at Juliette and smiled lovingly as I watched her interact with the cute little girl that was seated in between herself and Dylan.

When I picked Dylan that night to run my sister to the pack house I knew he was Rocco's cousin, and therefore wouldn't do anything bad to my sister like try an take advantage of her or anything like that.

Then (as much as either of them would try and deny it) and obvious attraction began to build up between the two of them.

But what I liked...was the fact that Dylan had a special way of bringing my sister back to us. Drawing her out of her rejection induced depression, something even I couldn't do no matter how hard I tried.

__________

"Want to play Roc?" The cute little girl asked.

I remembered meeting the little girl once before at Rocco's birthday dinner, but to be honest I was so overwhelmed and excited to be meeting My Mates family for the first time I couldn't really remember the little girl that well.

"Sure thing squirt, but if you want to play with dolls you'll have to play with Eloise because I don't like dolls."

The little girl pouted, "I like dolls."

I nodded, "I like dolls too...hi I'm Eloise, but you can call me Lou."

"I'm Grace." She said before abandoning me for Juliette.

"That's Dylan's daughter, she's kinda special to all of us." Rocco filled me in.

"His daughter?" I asked a little shocked before looking over at Jules playing with Grace now as Dylan only watched them with a soft smile.

"So this May be a dumb question but where's her mom?" I wondered, hoping that Juliette wouldn't get hurt all over again.

Only this time it's be my fault for introducing them.

"Grace's mother gave her up...only she knows her real reasoning behind it, it's also something Dylan doesn't talk about to anyone as it's a sore subject for him so please don't ask My Heart."

I nodded once more and Rocco kissed me lightly.

"Do you think we should tell Juliette they've decided on a verdict for the Travers' punishment?" I asked.

Today Rocco and I were actually called by the council to inform us that after further investigation they found not only Dorian, but Mr and Mrs Travers guilty of breaching multiple Were laws.

Dorian was suppose to inform the council of finding his mate but was advised against it by his parents...had the council known about his mate they would have ruled against his engagement to Laura.

Second, as an Alpha's mate Juliette was suppose to learn certain things and begin performing tasks as a Luna, but the previous Alpha and Luna kept her from performing such duties by keeping her blissfully unaware.

Finally Mr and Mrs Travers knowingly let their son carry on with his mate and then urged him to reject her to advance themselves in high regard with other packs.

Because of this the pack has lost its true Luna and their pack can never be whole...the cost for all of this.

The people of Harmond pack have been told they may choose to go to any other packs if they choose, Dorian is now being forced to marry his betrothed and never seek out His mate, and Mr and Mrs Travers are banished from any packs, they will live the rest of their lives as rogues... and if they should try and enter another pack would go against the demands of the council...and and all verdicts broken are punishable by death.

More so...because of all the chaos that the Travers caused a new law was enacted.

-Any Were contracted to marry another Were is hereby sealing their destiny as a life without their mates so long as the original signing Alpha of the contract are both alive. If at any time one of the original signing Alphas shall pass it will then be left to the newly reigning Alpha to designate if they wish for the marriage contract to resume.-

The council said this was their way of trying to begin phasing out of contract marriages without officially flat out, outlawing them.

"She seems happier in this moment...we'll break the news to her this weekend." Rocco's sighed heavily.

How was I suppose to tell my sister that the people who kept her and Dorian apart have been dealt with...but she still can't be with her mate?

No doubt with his parents out of the way Dorian would be able to make his own decision and possibly try and fix things with Juliette, but if he ever comes near her now he will be killed, not only by the council, but by Rocco himself for putting my sister through that and being an overall shitty Alpha.

__________

-Juliette-

"You seem almost happy." Dylan sounded as we sat down on the patio furniture out back.

We had brought Grace outside to chase light bugs with Eloise and Roc.

"That's impossible, I'm still hurting over losing Dorian."

"So I have a theory." He sounded casually as we watched his daughter play carefree.

"And what would that be?" I asked, turning my attention to him.

He looked at me sadly, "what if you're healing faster because you aren't a Were?"

I felt hurt by his words.

"I'm not trying to say my suffering was more important than yours, but realistically as Weres we do feel ten times more than humans do, so maybe because you don't have the Were gene you are able to move on quicker...-"

"Screw you Dylan." I sounded upset. "Do you think you trying to force me out of my grief is going to make me just fall for you...just leave me alone.

"Don't play the victim role Jules...the woman I've gotten to know is more determined than that."

I got up to leave.

He stood up and stopped me from rushing off. "Stop holding onto the pain Juliette...I think you're holding onto it because it's the only thing you have left of him...we both know that the minute you let go of the pain will be the day you finally allow yourself to be happy again."

"You don't know shit Dylan."

This time he nodded his head smoothly. "I'll keep my distance Juliette, I won't bother you if that's what you truly want but I also won't stand by and watch you hold onto your pain and suffering when I know it's only going to hurt you and drag you back down...come and find me when you're ready."

And with that I watched him go and collect Grace, he wished my sister and her a mate a good evening as little grace waved a tiny hand bye to everyone before storming passed me without so much as a goodbye.

Eloise and Roc came over.

"Everything okay?" Roc asked.

I nodded, "yeah...I think I'm just tired, would you both mind if I called it a night?"

They both shook their heads no and watched me go. I gave Mr and Mrs Wylde a polite smile and wished them a good night as well.

I went up to the bedroom, I collected my pajamas and a towel and helped myself into the attached en suite, I stripped and turned on the shower, after I got in I let the hot water wash over me before I finally broken down.

I hated that Dylan was right.

Like a sick masochist I was indulging in the pain I was feeling from being rejected by Dorian, merely because HE had inflicted that pain on me...realistically I knew I couldn't hold onto it forever, but Dylan was forcing me to look at things and deal with them head on.

I let the water from the shower head wash my tears away, and when I couldn't stand the heat of the shower or the truth of the situation at hand any longer I washed up and got out.

I headed over to the bed and laid in the darkness of the room, this is all I wanted right now, complete isolation.

And as took in the silence and darkness it became too overwhelming as I was now faced with my thoughts...and the last thought I had was Dylan's broken face as he promised to keep his distance.

I didn't want to hurt him and yet I had done just that.

I rolled over to my side and let out a shaky sigh, I should have never even though about opening myself up again while I was still so destroyed from Dorian.