In a week, Clarissa got up and left Cooper's mansion and drove the car off in the hopes of finding her daughter. She made it her determination to find her even if it means dying on this new profound quest of hers.
She only wrote two letters for the remaining ones in the household who would care to read, and hung them on the wall.
For Caleb, she wrote,
CALEB I AM SO SORRY FOR EVERYTHING, I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT WHICH I DID. I FEEL GUILTY FOR EVERYTHING, I HAVE WILLED THE MONEY TO XANDER AND FOR YOUR UPKEEP. PLEASE GET BETTER, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE FOR ME. FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO FORGIVE ME, I WILL NEVER STOP UNTIL I FIND OUR CUTE OLI, I TOOK THE CAR. KEEP OUR BOY SAFE. I LOVE YOU CAL, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU.
CLARISSA.
For her son Xander, she wrote,
XANDER, MY SWEET SWEET BABY BOY. MOM WAS WRONG TO HAVE DONE WHAT SHE DID IN THE PAST. AND NOW THE PAST HAS COME TO HUNT ME, I WILL NOT TELL YOU TO MAKE A GOOD LIFE AND LIVE, HELL I WOULDN'T. BECAUSE IF I TRULY LIVED A GOOD LIFE, OLIVIA WILL STILL BE HERE WITH US, SO I AM GOING AWAY FAR AWAY TO THE EAST TO LOOK FOR HER. OUR FAMILY HAS TORN APART BECAUSE OF ALL THIS. BUT ONE HAS TO KEEP LIVING, SO LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULL. CHECK YOUR BANK ACCOUNT THERE IS MONEY ENOUGH TO BRING YOU A GOOD LIFE, BE SAFE MY BABY. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH SON, EVERYTHING I DID, I DID FOR YOU, FOR US.
BE A GOOD SON AND STAY SAFE, I WON'T COME BACK UNTIL I CAN BRING OLIVIA HOME. I LOVE YOU
MOM
The next day, Caleb came out of Olivia's room to get a cup of water and found a letter on the floor with his name on it, he read it and fell face down. After which he took his bag and left the house. With the determination that he will try to make something of himself and maybe buy his daughter back in the nearest future.
Leaving Xander all alone in the Cooper's house
Since Xander was the only one at home, he had been sweating profusely because of the cut given to him by Axel earlier, he was shivering all through. For days, he had been coughing out loud, not just that was coughing out blood, and he never came out of his room due to that.
He knew right then and there that he wouldn't make it. After he dozed off for a little while, he woke only to become violent. He began throwing things and carrying heavy things and then he broke his mirror when he found out he had claws after which he saw something was different in him. He became a werewolf, not in any way attractive. A very ugly big thing, at first it was a scary thing for him but as days went by he began to accept this other part of him, at least he won't be a weakling anymore.
The next day, he went out of his house into the forest. He wanted to test out his strength and so he did, he found out he could lift heavy things like rocks and so on. Even trees, he became satisfied. And then he thought.
'If it was as a result of a scratch given to me by that man that I became like this, that would mean he was way stronger than I was. Maybe I can build an army by scratching them and buy another hidden mansion elsewhere since I have money now and I can feed them. That's good.'
He needed to browse more of those things so he'll know how well to channel his newfound power.
Meanwhile, Gabe was on his way to the mansion to do as he was instructed by Clara. Gabe left Clara and headed to Cooper's house when he got there he found everything and everywhere strange but then he was just here to do as he was told so he knocked on the door, he was hoping the door would be opened as usual by Olivia, but it wasn't. Nope, no one answered, he just had to place the invitation through the doorway hoping any of them would read the invite and then accept it to be in attendance. Since it was still a week from now.
After slipping it inside, through the doorway he headed back to Clara back home.
When he got home, Clara was busy waiting for him,
"Gabe... Gabe... Did they accept the invite? Well?"
"I didn't find anyone at home so I just slipped it through the door, so I am sure they'll see it and when they do, hopefully, they'll be in attendance even if they don't come. You did well by inviting them to your family. Even after everything they did to you, you still invited them to your wedding, so if they have any humanity left in them or if they feel any guilt at all which I doubt, they will come to you"
"Are you sure Gabe?"
"Yeah am very sure"
"Thank you, Gabe, thank you so much," Clara said and hugged Gabe tightly. Just then Liam coughs so that they'll disengage from that hug because that was his bride, Gabe was hugging so tight so he said,
"Gabe, what are you doing out here this evening with another man's woman?"
"Liam, actually I was about to take her away from you, you see."
"Hahaha you two can be something else," Clara said
"What? Something else? You mean to say your husband is being childish and jealous of your childhood friend again?"
"Well isn't that what you are displaying here? Anyways my beautiful Clara, I will talk to you later who knows I may give you another man or even Eric to marry you instead. Cause this husband of yours to be is being all grumpy" Gabe said like he was Clara's father or something.
And then he hugged her (Clara) affectionately before leaving and Liam's eyes were filled with envy that he spanked Gabe's ass while he left and they all laughed out heartily.
Seeing the fact that his wife and Luna to be was smiling again. Made his heart glad that he hugged her and said,
"I am glad you are okay now honey, did he deliver the invite to them as you asked?"
"Yeah, he did, thanks, Liam. Come on let's go inside"
"When you mean inside, you mean to bed?" Liam asked, grinning.
"Nope I mean to the bathroom, you stink," Clara said walking away
"Bathroom huh? That would do" Liam said, running after her.
~~~~~~~
The day before the wedding
"Come on, let's put that long veil on you and see how it goes," Marisa said
And they began putting it on her. When they did their eyes lit up, she looked like an angel in that white dress.
Seeing herself in the huge mirror, she was sure Liam would be astonished at her beauty and thinking about how tomorrow's night will be, she couldn't wait anymore. She blushed so much.
Marisa saw how she was blushing and she smiled and said,
"Thinking of something blush-worthy huh?"
This made Clara blush more because she was caught off guard by the older woman.
Jasmine wasn't there at all; she was trying to figure out which of the four dresses would look captivating for her so that Gabe would notice her even more tomorrow.
'If I should wear this blue one, its design isn't scarce. I need something, not of this earth, but this shows me you're back kind of dress. It won't be much of a new design since my back is always exposed. Hmm, what about this off-shoulder dress? No no, I think I wore a familiar one at the coronation party... Oh, I don't know what to wear so that he'll look at me. How about this handless gown that is slatted by the side? Hmm, maybe he can easily caress it if he has the chance. Or this ball gown, What if I dress decently for a change? No no, I need to ask Marisa and Clara. I think whatever they say will be better because I can't seem to make up my mind.'
Just then, Clara and Marisa were through with her wedding gown styling and everything so she helped her out of the dress and came to Jasmine who was thinking so hard.
"Jasmine what are you doing so lost in thoughts?" Marisa asked a confused Jasmine
"I am actually thinking of what to wear so I'll stand out, you know. It's my brother's wedding and I need to look presentable" Jasmine whined
Just then Clara came walking towards them and said
"What's happening, have you picked a dress yet?"
"Not really still thinking of what to wear and choose from. I need to stand out you know, I need to be eye-catching"
"Hmm, why do I feel like you are doing this for one person in particular?"
"My thoughts exactly Luna" Marisa said
"What? Why would I do that?"
"Because Jasmine you are in love with someone I know it, I have known you ever since you were a little girl, and the eyes and look you have now are the same as you have when you find something you love in my shop then and now since you haven't found a dress you must be battling on what to wear tomorrow that will please him or catch his attention am I correct?" Marisa said
"Admit it, Jasmine you have been caught, I know who that person you are trying so hard to impress is"
"There is no one like that" Jasmine retorted
"Come on it's a lady's secret you see," Marisa said and they (Clara and Jasmine) both laughed at her joke of saying she was a lady too.
"Yeah she is right," Clara said
"Come on I just want to look good for myself tomorrow, it's my brother's and your wedding day so I need to look presentable"
"Uhh, it's all because of Gabe isn't it?" Clara asked and seeing that there was no way she could escape or talk her way out of this she then answered
"Yes, it is for Gabe"
"Aha, I knew it, the way you both look at each other and argue I knew it. Gabe acts so strangely when you are both in the same space"
"Really? Do you think she likes me too?"
"I know Gabe like the palm of my hands, we grew up together you know."
"So what do you think would catch his attention?" Jasmine asked
"Well since he is attracted to you and since you are dressing up for him tomorrow I think this handless gown that is slatted by the side will do so he'll stare at you like a moron. You are beautiful and this one will look good on you, it's sexy as well you see? He'll come running to you himself at the reception party. Who knows he may ask for your hand as well."
"You think so?" Jasmine asked blushing
"I know so dear," Clara replied.
"Mind you, I want to ask you something though, it's about your inner wolf self. He may have a mate. Did your wolf self tell you he is the one? Do you feel drawn to him, do you feel you want to have him right there?" Marisa the older woman asked
"Whenever we brush hands or we sit down together I feel close to him, it first happened at the coronation party, and then when we went for flower decorations
'What happened when you both went for the flower decorations, I missed a lot so you asked me to go to bed so you'll have him all to yourself huh?" Clara asked a bit angry that she was tricked by Jasmine.
"Actually that wasn't the case I needed you to be fit you looked stressed being in my brother's room so I needed you to be healthy and so you won't be tired of the facemask session" Jasmine defended herself
"Okay, okay what happened?" Clara asked
"So we were arguing about what your favorite flowers were so he was all you loved roses and orchids but then I said orchids aren't so pretty so guess what combo of bouquet you are going to be holding tomorrow?" Jasmine asked excitedly
"Roses," Clara said giving her best guess
"Nope but you are partly right since you love roses I decided to let you have your way"
~~~~~~
Flashback
"Are you two arguing?" Eric asked
"No, we are not," Jasmine said
"Good," Eric said, "I asked you both to choose which flowers are to be used not bicker and you Gabe you are beginning to make it a habit of arguing with people thinking you are always right but just a tip you are fighting with a girl you're going to lose," Eric said and Gabe glared at him
"Thanks for the support Eric so as I was saying we could use orchid and hydrangea for the minor decors and then roses for the main ones since they are her favorite and also..." Jasmine was about to continue with her speech when Gabe cut her
"May I ask why you are including hydrangea in the decorations at all?" Eric was signaling him not to ask but the arrow was already shot so he just held his head thinking Jasmine was going to explode at his words but a tear dropped off Jasmine's eyes
"They were my mother's favorite" she answered and then wipe the tear off her face Gabe felt guilty he made her cry but before he could apologize Jasmine continued
"And also for her bouquet, she would be using rose and peony bouquet with a torch of eucalyptus" Eric was a bit shocked Jasmine didn't blow up she must have really grown up after her talk with Liam
"That's settled then Clara's favorite flowers would be present and as well as the late Luna's memory now since this is wrapped up you both help me with the rest of the decorations then but I didn't mean you should both argue again okay," Eric said and handed Jasmine's proposal to the florist without asking for Gabe's idea and Gabe was not ready to argue with her anymore Jasmine was about to walk out when she tripped and was immediately caught by Gabe
"Be careful, are you okay?" Gabe asked
"I'm fine thank you," Jasmine said, holding his hands and getting up. And helped Eric with the other preparations.
"So that's what happened," Jasmine said
"Hmm that means he liked you a lot to pay attention to your every move," Marisa said
"That's right Marisa and I'll make sure you both end up together," Clara said smiling and Jasmine couldn't help but blush.
~~~~~~
Xander raced back home, opening the door he saw a card and opened it. It was a wedding invitation he chuckled Clara was getting married to a certain Liam he wanted to go see for himself where the girl who was supposed to be taken in place of his little sister was and how she was fairing it's all her fault his family was ruined he vowed to take his revenge on her and then save his little sister with his newly acquired power. He went to his room and slumped on his bed
