Eden Grace
"Eden Grace, come out you bitch!"
Clarisse's furious scream echoed through the house.
Aunt Linda rushed forward, startled by the sudden commotion. "Clarisse??? What brings you here suddenly?"
Clarisse scoffed loudly, her eyes blazing with anger. "What? I cannot come to my own home now?"
Her gaze swept across the room wildly.
"Where is that Eden bitch!"
The moment Clarisse saw Eden, her face twisted with rage.
She suddenly lunged forward, her hand shooting out as she tried to grab Eden by the hair.
"You shameless woman!" she screamed. "After trying to ruin my son, now you dare aim for the Blackthorn pack now!"
"Clarisse!" Grandma shrieked as she rushed forward. "What are you doing!"
"Mother, how could you welcome a wench like her into the house!" Clarisse shouted, her voice rising as she made a scene. "Have you all lost your minds?"
Grandma's face turned red with anger. "Clarisse, watch your words!"
"Watch my words? This witch nearly consumed my son's life and now you bring her into the Blackthorn family like she is some honored bride! Do you all have no pride?"
Freya stood behind her with a satisfied smile, clearly enjoying the chaos.
Grandma frowned deeply, her voice sharp with irritation. "What are you talking about? I don't understand a thing! Explain it clearly, don't just shout."
"You want it simple? Fine!" Clarisse snapped. "This woman right here is Jake's ex girlfriend!"
A ripple of shock passed through the room.
Jake's ex girlfriend!? Everyone turned their face to Eden in disbelief.
Eden suddenly felt her chest tighten, humiliation and fear creeping over her like a cold wave.
"She clung to my son like a parasite. A cunning, money hungry woman who only knew how to climb higher using others!"
Clarisse continued viciously.
"When Jake had status she stayed with him. When she smelled greater power she abandoned him and ran straight to the Blackthorn pack!"
"That is not true! It was him who abandoned me!" Eden blurted out, her voice trembling as she finally forced herself to speak. "He—"
Before she could finish, Clarisse's hand shot up, swinging toward Eden's face in a furious slap.
"You sly woman! Even now you twist the truth." Clarisse snapped viciously, her eyes blazing with fury. "A woman like you only knows how to climb beds and steal status. Do you really think we cannot see through your tricks?"
"Clarisse!"
"What is all this commotion?" Grandpa Blackthorn's commanding voice thundered through the hall as he arrived. Cassian was just behind him.
The moment his eyes landed on Eden, he froze. A red handprint burned across her cheek. His expression darkened instantly.
Cassian strode straight to her side, his hand lifting her chin gently as he looked at the mark on her face.
His voice dropped into a cold, dangerous tone. "Who did this..?"
Clarisse suddenly flinched under Cassian's murderous gaze. She quickly hurried toward Grandpa Blackthorn.
"Dad, did I hear that right? You allowed Eden into the pack?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "Do you even know who she is? She's…she's Jake's ex girlfriend!"
Grandpa Blackthorn's expression stiffened. "What?" His eyes slowly turned toward Cassian, glaring daggers at him.
This trouble maker, what more mess did he make?
Cassian averted his gaze, coughing awkwardly and looked at Clarisse. "So what? Is having an ex a crime?"
"Cassian! Are you blind? How could you let that sly woman like her fool you? Can't you see she's tricking you?"
"What do you mean? I was the one who wooed her, not she. I was the one who tricked her…no wait I threatened her. Either she marries me…or I cut her into pieces and throw her to the rouge wolves. And she agreed, as simple as that." Cassian smiled as he said it, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Everyone stared at Cassian in disbelief. Is this guy really normal? Should we report him to the cops?
Clarisse's face twisted with irritation, "Cassian, do you think this is a joke? You are the future Alpha of the Blackthorn pack. An Alpha's marriage is not a game. It decides alliances, power, the future of the pack. You cannot just choose some woman on a whim."
"It is not a whim, Aunt Clarisse." Cassian's voice carried a chilling edge. "I have known Eden since school days. I have loved her since since school days."
His gaze slowly shifted straight on Jake, who was already staring at him with open hatred.
"Your son knows that better than anyone," Cassian smirked dangerously. "Nothing about this was ever on a whim. In fact…I have biding my time for it." He smirked glaring at him.
"He let it go, I caught it. There is no crime in it. Is it Jake?"
Jake's jaw tightened instantly, rage burning in his eyes his stare turning murderous.
Clarisse's mind reeled in shock. What? Cassian knew her since school days!? Also his love interest was her out of all people?
Grandpa Blackthorn rubbed his temple in irritation. "Enough already! Stop all this drama. What's done is done, do we need to create a fuss now?"
Clarisse stared at him in disbelief. "T-Then what about Rachel Calveris? Was the engagement not already fixed?"
"It is severed," Grandpa replied flatly.
"What? Why?"
"Lucien is cured. And that child right there did it." Grandpa gestured toward Eden.
Everyone from Rowen's family froze in shock, their eyes snapping toward Eden. She did what!?
Grandpa continued calmly, "Ashton Claveris was very happy and approved of their marriage. So who exactly are you to make a fuss now? I don't know what happened between her and your family but past is past. That child is our benefactor, she saved Lucien and freed our guilt and burden running for years. She will stay here."
Clarisse stood there in stunned disbelief.
They are actually accepting her?
Her eyes burned at Eden. What tricks did this woman pull? She has gained the favor of not only Dad's but even the Claveris elder….? With both families backing her… how is she supposed to remove her now?
No, she will not accept this!!
Grandma clapped her hands lightly, trying to break the heavy atmosphere. "Alright, alright. Let's not spoil the mood any further. I have prepared several delicious dishes. Let us eat. Clarisse dear, since you have already arrived, why don't you stay and have dinner too?"
Everyone slowly began moving toward the dining hall, the earlier chaos settling into a tense silence.
Clarisse walked among them with a stiff smile on her face, but inside her thoughts were boiling.
Just wait, Eden. One way or another, I will definitely kick you out of this house!
Eden still stood where she was, her mind blank from everything that had just happened, her hands trembling.
Cassian glanced at Eden and said quietly, "Let's go."
Eden shook her head faintly. "You go ahead. I will be there."
Cassian studied her for a moment before turning and walking toward the dining hall.
Eden remained where she was for a few seconds. Seeing Clarisse, Jake and the rest of that family again had torn open memories she had buried deep.
"Miss… are you not going to the dining hall?"
The sudden voice made her flinch. A servant stood nearby, looking at her with polite confusion.
Eden quickly nodded and forced herself to move. "I am coming."
She walked toward the dining hall, trying to compose herself before anyone noticed.
Inside, the long table was already crowded.
Since many members of Jake's family had joined as well, filling most of the seats.
Eden quietly stepped forward and reached for an empty chair. But just as her fingers touched it, Emily quickly pulled the chair away and sat down.
In seconds the remaining seats were taken. Eden was left standing there beside the table, her hand still slightly raised. Emily and Freya snickered.
It felt like déjà vu.
The same scene was repeating itself as if time had cruelly folded back on her. Eden's trauma has opened once again.
Clarisse, Freya and Emily looked at her with their vicious eyes.