<span style="font-style: italic">"I had a present for all of the pack...but I suppose some of the gifts could go to...our new members..." her voice was soft as she sat there a moment looking down at the presents she had shopped long and hard for everyone.</span><br/><br/>Juliet stood, frozen, her hands fumbling through her hair. Her eyes stared, barely open, she felt the tears welling up.<span style="font-style: italic">Is this what they would have wanted?</span>She caught herself in a dark mindset, when she was new, everyone welcomed her as her love's chosen mate... as a sister. These people, they had no claim to the pack, save for a shared curse. How dare Eryan offer up the last memories of the beloved to those who bore no link like the deceased! Juliet screamed in her mind, her anger poured off of her in cascades, her hands shook and she gripped the brush, white-knuckled. She was not over them yet, not over any of them; least of all Romeo.<br/><br/><span style="color: #80BFFF">"Stop." <br/><br/>Her skin goosebumped. Tears welled in her eyes. <span style="font-style: italic">Romeo?</span> She could recognize his voice anywhere. Time seemed to stand still, as her mind once again lulled her into a state of absolution. <br/><br/>"Don't be angry for me." The voice whispered in her mind.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Not real.</span><br/><br/>"They are your brothers and sisters."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Not. Real.</span><br/><br/>"They are lost, alone, just as you were... just as I was."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Please... stop it.</span><br/><br/>"They need you to be strong, I need you to be strong. You're not alone, Juliet."</span><br/><br/>The brush crashing against the floor of the cave seemed to restart time. She stood, awkward for a moment, staring at Eryan, the anger that once filled her soul now replaced by longing. She wanted so badly to make him proud, to honor his memory. This was no way to do it, and she knew it. "Thank you, Eryan." Her voice coarse. She cleared her throat, and dipped to pick up the brush, which had cracked on the hard stone ground. The deep purple now accented by a web of white cracks in the surface. She stared at it overlong, before returning it to her pack.<br/><br/>With a soft sigh, Juliet made her way from the cave, seeing everyone gathered about the fire. She sat, brought her knees up to her chest, crossed her ankles and wrapped her arms around her legs. She looked around, The new wolf, Jaden stared absently into the fire as Aidan attempted to comfort him. Juliet stared at the two, Aidan prepared a stew, and Jaden sat, uncomfortable in his own skin. She remembered how hard that was. "it smells good." She commented on the stew before resting her chin on her arms. Juliet still stared blankly st the two while delivering an awkward half-smile.