Derek's POV
The next second, the scene cut to a stunning view. Above the clear blue sea, seagulls were hovering. Everything seemed so peaceful.Well, except for those two women hanging by ropes.Daphne was in an expensive gown. Even though she was blindfolded, I could see tears streaming down her face. Obviously, she was freaked out.Next to her was Tabitha. She was blindfolded, too, only revealing her delicate chin and pale lips.Leo began to roar in my head.Though Daphne couldn't see anything, she seemed to sense everyone's gaze on her.She screamed her lungs out, "Derek! Dad! Help! Please! I don't wanna die!"Tabitha wasn't doing good. Her forehead was covered in beads of sweat.Unlike Daphne, she was too weak to shout.Seemed she was suffocating because of the rope around her waist.Tabitha's POVDerek chose Daphne a year ago. I didn't think he'd choose differently now.This time, I wouldn't wait for an answer thaDerek's POVI'd never been so uneasy in my whole life. 'Could it be those guys?' I wondered.If it was them, I guessed neither Tabitha nor Daphne would make it out alive today. Chances were, they might die horribly.I'd been in all kinds of danger, yet now, I found myself trembling.Each of my fingers shook uncontrollably.I had witnessed the terrible deaths of many, and I was prepared for the day that I, too, would die the same way.Yet I didn't want it to happen to my loved one.It took me years to keep my identity under wraps. Finally, I reached where I was today, becoming that formidable Alpha Derek in everyone's eyes. What gave me away?Did my trip to the island attract someone's attention?I shook my head, getting those thoughts out of my mind, as it was pointless to dwell on these things.I didn't even dare to show the slightest hint of worry.If money was the only thing the person was after, I'd be relieved.Both th
Derek's POVAs soon as the person finished, everyone looked at me.Daphne kept shouting. Meanwhile, Justin said coldly, "Isn't the answer obvious? Tell the person you'll choose Daphne."Mark patted my shoulder. "Decide it yourself. I won't blame you whoever you choose."The person in the black cloak took out an hourglass out of the blue. "You've got one minute. If the time's up, and you still can't make a choice, then I'll decide it for you."The sand in the hourglass fell as fast as time flew now.I looked at Daphne and Tabitha quietly.Daphne kept pleading for help, whereas Tabitha remained silent.When Holly was faced with the dilemma, at least Tabitha said something to make Holly pick her. Yet when it came to me, she zipped her lips.I guessed she had been totally disappointed in me.As I gave a bitter smile, what happened on the cold snowy night a year ago came sweeping back.At that time, Tabitha and Daphne both felt unwel
Tabitha's POVDaphne's wailing annoyed me.All of a sudden, Holly spoke up, "Derek, don't do anything silly. Daphne and the kids can't live without you!"Then she shouted at the woman, "Kill Tabitha! We choose Daphne!"Just when I thought I wouldn't feel pain anymore, her words stung me. How ironic.She went on, "Tabitha, don't blame me. If there's a next life, I'll make it up to you!"Amidst the noise, I heard Holly and Derek's voices clearly.Derek bellowed, "Shut up! Who said you got to make that decision?""Derek, please! Mark can't do without Daphne!" Holly cried out.It was funny, wasn't it? My mom wanted me dead, whereas the man who hated my guts was willing to give up his life for mine.Finally, I gave up my hopes for Holly.I spent a lot of time, including those days Derek and I weren't on speaking terms, sitting in front of my house and watching the road that Holly had left on.She didn't show up, not even once. A
Tabitha's POV"Who the fuck said you could hurt her?"Before I fell into the sea, I seemed to hear a man's voice amidst the sea breeze.Her? Who was he referring to?Could it be me?I clutched the knife, my only chance to survive.Once I fell into the sea, I easily cut the ropes that bound my wrists and ankles.After what happened today, I was 100% sure that the mastermind was a woman, and the last thing she wanted was to see Derek getting hurt.Daphne was just a disguise, a tool for her to hurt me. I was the one she was really after. She wanted to see me suffer in hell.Who the heck was she? I had never offended anyone! How come someone hated me this much?But no matter who she was, I wouldn't let her off the hook!I swore to myself, 'Tabitha, you gotta survive this, no matter how hard it is.'You gotta find that bitch and let her taste what she's put you through!'All this time, I had been struggling to come to terms
Tabitha's POVAs the sound of their footsteps faded away, I popped to the surface and gasped wildly for fresh air.There was a lingering smell of the corpse in the air, but it was still better than being underwater.I was supposed to be scared, but I laughed heartily instead.I made it!As long as I was alive, I had a chance to make that bitch go through all the shit I'd suffered!My desire to live was so strong that even the pain from my wound eased.I pressed the switch on my phone watch, and it gave off a faint light.Holly gave me the watch, and I put it on because I still craved her love. Who would have thought my softheartedness actually did me a great favor?In front of me was the body. Apparently, the woman died miserably. And I bet her family had no idea she was dead.Right now, I was so overjoyed to have survived that I couldn't feel scared.So I got ashore, suppressing the churning in my stomach while examining the co
Derek's POVSince that day, I'd had Alvin and Rolf hire a bunch of guys to search for Tabitha's body.I hadn't eaten anything or slept at all, just keeping an eye on the salvage situation 24/7.Yet, they found nothing, not even a piece of her clothes.Day by day, I grew more and more anxious. For more information, I began to spend a lot of time online.Maybe someone would find clues about Tabitha, I thought.But every time, I ended up disappointed.The netizens were all either mocking Daphne or cursing Holly.Daphne had called me more than once to complain about it, but I dismissed it as soon as I saw the caller ID.Afterward, Mark rang me up, asking me to visit Holly at the werewolf hospital.I turned him down at first, yet on second thought, it wouldn't hurt to see how miserable she ended up now.When I arrived, I learned that Holly had been admitted to the hospital since she vomited blood that day.Her wolf had completel
Derek's POVThe realization filled me with excitement."Yeah. Tabitha isn't the revengeful type. It doesn't make any sense she said that. She was definitely implying something," Alvin echoed.As he spoke, I recalled Tabitha's hesitant looks when she was with me as well as her odd behavior for the past few months. Offering to work in my company, giving presents with mini trackers to my secretaries..."What she really wanted me to look into wasn't just the kidnapper but also Elena's death," I concluded.Once again, those cameras in my office popped into my mind. Clearly, someone had been watching my every move all along.And it would've been easy if the person wanted to mess with my investigation, making me believe that John was Elena's murderer so I would hate Tabitha.Maybe Tabitha had felt something fishy, and she knew I wouldn't trust her even if she told me, let alone reinvestigate the whole case.So she chose to find out the truth with her
Derek's POVAs the Alpha of the most powerful wolf pack in Seattle, no one dared accuse me like this carer in front of me.Plus, she was only an Omega.But at that moment, not even a touch of anger rose in me.My wolf whimpered in my mind, his sound hurt and heartbreak.I had been talking to Leo in my mind.I hoped he could help me sense Tabitha.But Leo refused to respond until just now when he finally told me that he couldn't sense Tabitha's wolf."I guess no one has told you those, right? But after seeing how Ms. Hartley has been struggling alone, I found it hard to stand by and say nothing," the carer added.Alvin, who was standing beside, interrupted after a delicate cough, "You need to calm down first.""Humph, you want me to calm down? Do you even know how much Ms. Hartley has suffered in the past two years? But what she got? Although I'm not her family or even friend, I feel sorry for her. I've seen the video and I'm so confu
Derek's POVI rushed over to Tabitha at once and prevented her from falling down.But I couldn't stop the blood from pouring out of her mouth.Leo howled frantically in my mind.He seemed to sense Tabitha's weakness.Everyone in the banquet hall was in a panic, rushing around anxiously. "Doctor! Why hasn't the doctor arrived yet?"
Third person's POVThe ongoing drama was no longer the center of attention. Instead, the woman at the door caught everyone's eye.The expressions of Alpha Elliott and Andrea changed drastically.How did Daphne manage to be here?They had already taken measures, not giving Daphne a chance to come near Tabitha.Who helped Daphne?
Tabitha's POVPhoebe was still trying to defend herself, but her voice was so weak in the face of solid evidence.She could only tell Ambrose over and over again how much she loved him.Ambrose held her hand, a hint of disgust appearing in his eyes for the first time. "Stop talking. Let's just go."No matter what kind of person Phoebe really was, what she did today was against everything Ambrose thought she was and also embarrassed him.
Ambrose's POVI frowned as I recalled. Back then, I was swamped with work every day.Phoebe would always come to me for money every few days.She used all kinds of excuses, such as her father getting sick, her mother losing her job to take care of her father, or something happening to her younger brother.She claimed that her father was in the intensive care unit, which alone would cost a huge amount of money in just one day, not to mention all the various expenses.
Third person's POVAmbrose turned around and looked at Phoebe, saying in confusion, "Aren't you the one who kept insisting on leaving?"Phoebe's expression froze for a second, and then she immediately burst into tears, saying with a grievance, "Do you think I want to stay here? I just can't bear to leave Zander behind. He has suffered so much with us over the years while we were building our career."Then she walked up to Alpha Elliott, and crouched down, grabbing his hand as she cried, "Elliott, do you know how much we've suffered these years? I know I co
Third person's POVPhoebe was gagged, and she stared at Derek with wide eyes.Obviously, she found it hard to believe. After all, she was an elder!"Phoebe!" Ambrose quickly pulled the towel out of her mouth.Phoebe instinctively was about to continue crying, yet Derek's cold gaze silenced her at once. She then pointed at Zander on the ground and said, "Save Zander first."Ambrose knew that it
Third person's POVTabitha was already suffering from excruciating pain. And then she was aggravated and verbally insulted by Zander, which made her so pissed off.Derek's hug made her feel like an abandoned puppy finally seeing its owner.She reached out and hugged him, saying, feeling utterly aggrieved, "Finally, you're back."Derek gently caressed her face. Though she had makeup on her face, he could tell at a glance that something was off with her expression.
Third person's POVAt that moment, a group of people clad in suits and polished leather shoes made a sudden appearance at the entrance, swiftly drawing the crowd's gaze.Rolf and Alvin had noticeable cuts on their faces, but they stood behind Derek with solemn expressions and respectful attitudes.Derek stood tall and imposing, a fresh scar marring his brow, yet it did nothing to soften his icy demeanor. His commanding presence was as intense as a force of nature, crashing over like a tidal wave.
Third person's POVZander never expected that someone would actually record this scene and expose it without any regard for the prestige of the Greenwood family.Orson's recording ripped off his fig leaf right on the spot.The dreams of all the hopeful young ladies present were shattered. This seemingly virtuous man turned out to be such a beast behind the scenes.Andrea couldn't hold back anymore. Her short temper flared up instantly.