Chapter 11: Romeo's Juliette

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Conan's POV:

I sit unmoving in my office chair, my hands folded together with my head resting on them. My mind runs wild with various thoughts: The murders and disappearances, Juliette... Delilah...

I growl at myself and slam my fist down on the desk. Elle walks in, preparing to tell me the exact same thing she always reports back to me. I turn away from her.

"Still no sign of her?" I say.

"It's been a couple of months, Conan," Elle says. "You're not going to find her..."

"Keep looking." I order.

She walks further into the room, gently closing the door behind her, "Conan, no pack has found, seen, or heard of any Delilah entering their territory!"

"She is behind the disappearances and killings of these victims!" I shout. "I know it..."

"You don't know that!"

"She has to be!" I growl.

"No, she doesn't!" Elle yells. I look at her.

"You just want her to be so you have a reason to hate her! So you don't have to admit you love her!"

"I don't love her." I calmly say.

Elle scoffs, "The blind can easily see that you do. The only reason you won't admit it is because you won't let go of Juliette..."

"Don't start this again... Don't you dare speak of--"

"I have every right to talk about my sister!" Elle growls. "Move on Conan... let go of the hurt... let go of all the pain..."

"You wouldn't be saying that if you had to watch the one you love die!" I yell. "You would not be saying that if the one you loved broke their promise and broke your heart..!"

"Conan... Juliette would want you to move on..." She calmly says.

"You don't know that."

"I know my sister. She would." She says. "What she wouldn't want is for you to wallow in anger and sadness."

I turn away from her and look towards the window. The sun starts to rise in the distance. Dawn was something that I once loved only because Juliette had taught me to love it. Now, it is a constant reminder that I will wake up to an empty bed.

I look back at Elle, "What is the news on Alpha Caitriona..?"

"Conan, don't do this..."

"Elle..."

She sighs, "She is still really angry about the murder."

"Does she still believe we have something to do with it?" I ask.

"I have no doubt about it." Elle answers.

I sigh, "I wouldn't blame her. We are still the only pack that has not had its members disappear and wind up dead somewhere."

"This whole thing is complete chaos!" Elle says.  She is getting frustrated. "I don't understand it, why are we the only ones?"

"I don't know," I answer. "But we need to find an answer before any other packs lose their bits of patience with us. They will attack and we will need to either be ready or have answers."

"We don't want war," Elle says. "We don't need a war."

"We don't have a choice!"

"Yes, we do!" Elle yells. "We stop this unnecessary search for Delilah and focus on this, what really matters!"

"Delilah is connected to this whether you believe so or not!" I say. "We double training for our warriors and we keep looking..!"

She sighs and leaves without saying another word. I close my eyes, taking in the few moments of peace I will have before I must start my duties, and let my mind run wild of memories past.

FLASHBACK

"Juliette, please!" I beg. "Can't we just go back to bed?"

She ignores me and continues to rush around the hallways, dragging me along with her. She smiles and starts checking in on all the staff. We finally stop in the busy kitchen.

"How do you expect me to sleep when your birthday is today!?" She gleams.

"My birthday comes every year." I cross my arms over my chest.

"And each and every year, it is my job to make sure it is better than the last." She says.

"No one but the staff is up," I whine. "The sun isn't even up yet!"

"And when it does decide to rise, we will watch the dawn together. Dawn is beautiful, and is a great way to start of your birthday because you are beautiful."

I chuckle and smirk, "I prefer ruggedly handsome."

She smiles, "That too."

I smile at her and she kisses me on the cheek. Then she coughs. An awful cough. My smile falls and is replaced by a face of worry.

"Now I am positive you need to get back to bed." I say.

"It's just a cold." She responds. "You yourself have been plagued by many ailments and still live to love and annoy me unconditionally."

I laugh as she has a short conversation with one of the cooks. She coughs again and I look at her. She rolls her eyes and gives me an annoyed look.

"I'm fine." She tries to walk away but I gently grab her arm, stopping her.

"Juliette, I don't want you getting any sicker," I say. "You need rest. All this setting up for the party can wait."

"Conan, look at me."

She holds both of my hands as I look into her brown eyes. She stares back at me, with love, happiness, and excitement. She smiles and caresses my cheek with her soft hand. I gently touch her hand.

"It is just a cold. Nothing more." She reassures. "I have had colds before, and I have gotten over them... Now! let us enjoy your birthday!"

"Are you sure?" I ask. "You feel a little warm." I place my hand on her forehead but she swats it away and giggles at me, causing a small smile to form on my lips.

"Nothing will happen to me." She says.




"I promise..."

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