Chapter 35
Eden
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Just like I expected, it is awkward sitting inside the kitchen and sharing the same large oval–shaped table with Elvira and Paris. They were obviously talking shit about me before I entered, even snickered when they saw me, but after realizing I wasn’t alone, they fell silent.
I didn’t think someone like Axel would be enough to scare them, especially since Paris is about to become the future Luna of the Valentine pack. Then again, Axel and Joakim have both been made into Logan’s betas, so Axel is someone worthy of fear and respect within the pack.
“Love carbs,” Axel is munching on a chicken sandwich beside me, talking with his mouth open. “I shouldn’t be eating bread, but fuck–it is soooo good.”
He wipes his mouth with his hand and looks longingly at the sandwich on my plate. Since I don’t have much of an appetite and am busy eating yogurt, I slide him my plate.
The giant immediately rewards me with a grin. “If you weren’t Logan’s girl, I would kiss ya right now.”
Paris gasps. “She isn’t Logan’s girl!”
Axel looks up, amused. “I just that one slip, huh?” He doesn’t look sorry, which pisses off Paris even more.
Her hands are already shifting, and then her long, werewolf claws dig into the tabletop. “I am Logan’s fiancée. We are betrothed.”
“Mmhmm,” Axel hums noncommittally, taking another massive bite of my sandwich. “Betrothed. Very fancy word.”
Paris narrows her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing at all,” Axel says with a shit–eating grin. He then leans back in his chair, perfectly at ease even though the tension in here is thick enough to cut with a knife. “Just making conversation.”
Conversation? Pfft. More like making war with Paris.
I stare down at my yogurt, pushing it around with my spoon. Elvira’s eyes are on me like a physical weight, but I refuse to look up and acknowledge it. What could she possibly have to say that would make any of this better?
“Eden,” Elvira finally says. “Can we talk?”
“We’re talking right now,” I reply flatly, still not meeting her gaze. “Or rather, you’re talking. I’m eating.”
Paris scoffs. “As if you eat anything. Always picking at your food like a bird.”
“Better than picking at other people’s flaws,” I shoot back, then cringe when Paris turns as still as a stone statue.
Am I digging my own grave here, or what?
Rage takes over Paris’s features. I can also see how her wolf is struggling to stay locked inside her, already pushing at the edges of her control. Her eyes flash with murder, claws one second away from tearing my throat.
“You little-”
“Careful,” Axel interrupts, his playful demeanor suddenly gone. He finishes his sandwich, licking his lips and le
“I’d think twice before finishing that sentence, Paris.”
Paris’s gaze snaps to him, furious but also calculating. “You’re defending her now? The pack omega?”
rward, that bassy voice even lower.
“I’m defending my friend,” Axel says simply, and the casual way he claims our friendship makes something warm unfurl in my chest.
Elvira shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “Eden, please. I just want to explain-”
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Chapter 35
“Explain what?” I finally look at her, and the hurt must be written all over my face because she flinches.
Good. I want Elvira to be hurt. Actually, I want more than that. She been such a bitch to me that…you know what? I need this to be settled.
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I pick up my glass of milk and also Axel’s glass, and then I stand up from my seat and walk over to Paris and Elvira. They must know what I am about to do, but since they wouldn’t expect old, weak little me to do anything outrageous, they just sit there like idiots, completely frozen in motion, until i splash
both their faces with milk.
The white liquid splashes and drips frown from their long fake lashes. Even Elvira is wearing makeup that Paris definitely helped her with and now she lifts her chin, staring at me. Paris is doing that too, her mouth hanging open while milk is sliding down between her breasts and into what must be an expensive designer top.
“What the-” Paris sputters, wiping frantically at her face.
The kitchen turns more silent than a church. Then Axel bursts out laughing. It isn’t silent. It’s a deep belly laugh that shakes the entire room.
“Holy shit, Shortstack!” he wheezes between laughs. “I didn’t think you had it in you!”
Paris stands up so quickly that her chair topples, crashing against the floor. Her eyes flash again, her fangs elongating as she snarls, “You’re dead, omega. You are so fucking dead.”
I should be terrified. I should be backing up.
Instead, I slap her across the face.
“Fuck you, Paris! I’m tired of you treating me like garbage! I am a person with feelings, and I’m so tired of being the punching bag for this entire pack!”
Paris’s eyes widen in shock, one hand flying to her reddening cheek. It’s then that I notice that Axel has stopped laughing and when I take a step back, looking at him, I notice his jaw is hanging open in disbelief.
I just slapped the future Luna of the Valentine pack.
I’m fucking dead, aren’t I?
“You just hit me,” Paris whispers, her voice trembling with rage. “You actually hit me.”
Fear is making my heart pound so hard I can feel it in my throat, but I refuse to back down. I’ve spent years cowering, years accepting their treatment,
and I’m done.
“Yeah, I did,” I say. “And I’d do it again.”
Paris lunges for me with a feral snarl, but she yelps and backs up before she can reach me because, behind me, Axel has already shifted into wolf form.
His massive brown form is between Paris and me, blocking her path completely. His lips are curled back to reveal razor–sharp teeth, a deep grow! rumbling from his chest that makes the glasses on the table vibrate.
Paris freezes, her eyes darting between Axel and me. “You can’t protect her forever,” she hisses. “Logan will hear about this.”
I lift my chin. “Go ahead. Tell him. Tell everyone how the pack omega finally stood up for herself.”
Elvira stands slowly, milk still dripping from her hair. Her expression is unreadable as she looks at me. “Eden, I-”
“Save it,” I cut her off. “I heard enough yesterday to last a lifetime.”
Regret flickers over her face. But it’s too little too late for that. She hurt me in ways I’m not sure I can ever forgive. I mean, I lost my home. I lost my mom. I’m going to die, and she betrays me?
Girl’s a fucking bitch, and I’m tired of pretending otherwise. Tired of being okay with everything.
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Chapter 35
Elvira is dead to me.
Axel, however, who licks my cheek and wags his tail at me? He has proven his loyalty. So yeah. Fuck, Elvira. I have my replacement.
