Derek's POV
Amidst the flickering fireflies, I looked earnestly into Tabitha's eyes. She licked her dry lips and asked softly, "Derek, is Daphne just a passing fancy for you, or is she your beloved?"I smiled bitterly and replied, "If she were my true love, why would I marry you? Tabitha, you are undoubtedly my mate."Though I had hurt her, my love and care for her were genuine. Otherwise, she wouldn't have hesitated to let go."So you mess around with her just to get under my skin?" Tabitha snapped.It had been two years since our breakup, yet she still sought an explanation.I held her close and sighed, "I'll explain everything about me and her, but not now. Will you trust me one last time?"Afraid of being rejected, I added hastily, "Rumor has it that she is my true love, but that's not the case. She's just like a younger sister to me, growing up together in the pack. However..."Suddenly, I met Tabitha's gaze. "There is someoneTabitha's POVSoon came the sound of the helicopter taking off. I stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the little red dot fade away into the sky.Unlike before, I didn't feel sad about it. In fact, I was way more at ease without his presence.The signal here was pretty decent, so I got to make phone calls.But since the internet was blocked, I had no access to it.I'd heard from a maid that this place was a total deserted island, and it wasn't even on the map. Even if the internet was available, I still wouldn't be able to tell where I was.If I did manage to get a call through, all I could say was that I was stuck on an island with zero info.The next day after Derek left, I called Gloria, telling her that I was alright. As soon as I hung up, I got a call from an unknown number."Tabitha, is that you?"A serious voice came from the other end of the line—it was Mark.Derek's hunch was right. The Amber's Eye Pack
Third person's POVWhile Tabitha was enjoying her peaceful life, things were totally chaotic for Mark.He turned to the Alphas of different packs and even the Council of Elders in Seattle for help.As a result, many werewolf doctors came to check on Holly.But no one could be of help regarding her situation.Some werewolves were born without a wolf. They couldn't shift or heal themselves like others, so they were basically nothing but regular humans.But Holly's situation was different. She had a wolf. It was just that it left her.The only way to help her was to hold an ancient ritual using the potion made from the blood of her family.Her health kept nosediving, and Mark was busting his butt to take care of her, which made him lose a lot of weight.Daphne would swing by every now and then, but she just sat there, glued to her phone, texting or scrolling.She never even peeled an apple for Holly.She said she was here to visit, but it was actually just for show.Daphne had always bee
Derek's POVAfter getting rid of all the snitches, I sat down in my office, grinding away.No one dared to disturb me.Once I wrapped up my work, Leo told me someone was waiting outside.As soon as I opened the door, Daphne rushed at me. "Derek!"I frowned the second I saw her. "What are you doing here? If you want something, go tell Alvin. I'm busy."I didn't wanna see her at all. Same went for Leo.She gazed at me, frozen, tears welling up in her eyes."Derek, can't you see my face is swollen?"I finally looked up at her, noticing there was a slap mark on her cheek."Who did this to you?""My dad.""Well, I can't help you with that." I turned and plopped back down at my desk, flipping through a folder.Of course, I couldn't go and settle accounts with Mark.Not just because he was Daphne's dad but because he was a venerable man.Daphne dashed over, complaining, "If it had been Tabitha who was hurt, would you have been so cold as well?"I wanted to snap back and say she didn't deserv
Derek's POVI agreed readily, but I asked her to give me some time, for Tabitha was pregnant, too.Although I had started to give Tabitha the cold shoulder by then, I never wanted to hurt her with the whole cheating thing during her pregnancy.We had wanted a baby of our own so badly. Yet when she was finally expecting one, I had to give Daphnemy full attention while neglecting Tabitha for the sake of my promise.I insisted on giving Daphne whatever she wanted, even though it upset Tabitha.Daphne became greedier because of my indulgence. And she even aimed to hurt Tabitha on purpose.I was constantly thinking about how I owed Randall, so I kept giving in.As time passed by, Daphne had no difficulty enjoying everything and asking for whatever she wanted.Till this moment, she was still using Randall's death to blackmail me."Anyway, you promised to take good care of me, and you have to keep your word."Daphne smirked, "Don't think I'm clueless about what you're up to. You marrying me
Tabitha's POV"Tabitha, the afternoon tea's ready. Are you dining here or somewhere else?" asked the Omega."Here.""Sure. Just a sec. It'll be ready right away."The afternoon tea was a selection of snacks and juices from various countries, and I felt that I was staying in a seven-star hotel rather than a secluded island.At first, I was dying to go back to Seattle as soon as possible, but Jasper's call this morning changed my mind.He told me that the ship where Dad was on had been sailing smoothly, and within a few more days, it'd arrive at the island he designated.He also mentioned that Dad's vital signs were stable, which put my mind at ease.As long as Dad was safe, no one could ever force me to do anything.Now that the woman couldn't find me, I bet she was getting fidgety and angry.If I went back to Seattle now, Mark would definitely make me donate blood for Holly.I had everything I needed here, and I felt great.
Derek's POVAfter hanging up the phone, I looked at the pile of new evidence in front of me.During the time Tabitha was not in Seattle, I devoted all my time to finding out everything about Poison and Wolf Shadow and digging into some old stuff.I tracked down the pack where Ethan used to be and found a photo of a child from some nearby werewolves. The kid looked very much like Vilda and a bit like Ethan.Though I couldn't find the kid, his existence said it all.All that talk about Vilda being pregnant with John's kid and being pushed into a corner proved to be nothing but a big, fat lie.Someone spread the rumors on purpose to tarnish John's reputation.And the person even pinned John's worsening condition on me.Whoever was behind all this had the whole thing planned out from the get-go.But it seemed like this person wasn't trying to hurt me. Instead, the person wanted to drive a wedge between me and Tabitha.To make me reject h
Derek's POVI pinched the bridge of my nose, lowered my head, and said in a low voice, "I never wanna hurt her again, neither physically nor mentally.""But finally, you've got a chance to cut things off with Miss Sutton. I'm afraid there will never be such a good reason again," suggested Alvin.In others' eyes, it seemed obvious what I should do, as Mark's offer would only do me good. But I didn't say yes.On the contrary, I turned him down at the risk of offending him."It's never the Amber's Eye Pack that forces me to be together with Daphne."It's my promise to Randall. I promised him I'd take care of Daphne for him.""Alpha Derek...""Enough. I want you to do something for me. Tabitha can't wait to be back, and I don't have time to deal with them slowly."Alvin gave a reluctant nod. "Yes, Alpha Derek."I looked out the window at the pitch-black night, thinking, 'Tabitha, I'd make things right for you and get back what was yours.
Tabitha's POVSitting in the helicopter, I heard nothing except for the rotor roar outside the window. The cabin was dead quiet.Perhaps feeling uneasy because of the silence, Mark finally spoke up, "I don't get it. Blood ritual is one of the traditions of us werewolves. We have strong self-healing abilities, so losing a bit of blood isn't a big deal."Besides, Holly is your mom. Is giving her a hand that difficult for you?"Hearing his words, I couldn't help but sneer.Crystal growled in my mind, "They've hurt us!""Yes. I won't forget that," I replied inwardly, kinda reminding myself too.Then I turned and looked at Mark, scoffing, "Will you be this forgiving towards a werewolf who wants you dead?"Mark froze.I continued, "The second Holly chose to save Daphne instead of me, she's no longer my mom. As I said, I owe her nothing now."Mark opened his mouth as if trying to say something.But I turned away, ignoring him completel
It wasn't until the bamboo flute's melody faded completely that Misha collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.She felt as though she'd lost half her life force, every ounce of strength drained from her body.Initially planning to leave the next day, Misha fell ill that very night.Delirious and raving, she was swallowed by confusion.Back at their quarters, Rolf returned with a face flushed with excitement, eager to recount yesterday's events to Alvin in vivid detail.Gesturing wildly, he said, "You should've seen it—spectacular! Those snakes came pouring in from every direction, like something out of a horror movie. It gave me the creeps just watching."Alvin listened, his brow furrowing with each passing word.Recalling Alma's parting words— "See that you behave" —a nagging sense of unease settled in his stomach. Misha's illness felt anything but coincidental."What're you thinking?" Rolf asked, noti
Rolf was so focused on escaping that he barely had time to marvel at the spectacle unfolding before him."If this isn't a nightmare, I don't know what is", he thought, sprinting for his life.He knew if he fell, he'd be bitten to death by the venomous snakes.Never in his life had Rolf run so fast. He sprinted in the direction of the sound, desperation lending him strength.Up ahead, perched in a peach tree like a guardian angel, sat Hedwig.Her tiny fingers danced over a bamboo flute, its melody ringing in the charged air.To Rolf and Misha, however, the "ding-dong" notes felt like a death knell tolling ever closer.Snakes swarmed from all directions like a rising tide. Rolf knew if this kept up, they'd both end up as snake fodder.Panic clawed at his throat. Without a word to Misha, he unceremoniously dumped her onto the ground.Misha was still disoriented when she was roughly thrown to the ground. Before she could rea
"Agreed," Alvin replied. The memory of Hedwig's earlier glare at Misha sent a shiver down his spine.He had a foreboding that Misha might already be in Hedwig's crosshairs.Given that this was Hedwig's home turf, Alvin worried their group might not stand a chance in a confrontation.This added a layer of anxiety to an already tense situation.Meanwhile, Tabitha remained fast asleep, a serene smile playing on her lips.After a short play with the fawn, a pigeon flew in from outside the cave and landed on Hedwig's shoulder, cooing softly. Hedwig paused at the sound, glancing at Tabitha still lost in slumber.With a moment of hesitation, she quietly rose and tiptoed away, not wanting to disturb Tabitha's rest.Misha, who had always sailed through life with ease, had encountered her greatest challenge in the form of unrequited love.Ever since Derek had rescued her, she had vowed to marry him when she grew up.Throughout her
Hedwig nodded understandingly, her face lighting up with innocent joy.She carefully lowered herself onto the lawn and gently pressed a sweet kiss to Tabitha's cheek, her movements as delicate as a butterfly's wings.Her movements were incredibly gentle, for fear of disturbing Tabitha.Then, she sat quietly by the pool, watching butterflies dance around them—a scene so serene it could have been plucked from a masterpiece painting.Tabitha's exhaustion overwhelmed her, her eyelids growing heavier by the second until she drifted into a deep sleep by the pool's edge.Her long, silk-like hair cascaded down, and without her mask, her porcelain skin glowed.Compared to before, she seemed even more beautiful now, like a sleeping fairy, radiating an enchanting charm.Hedwig stayed by her side without disturbing Tabitha, quietly gathering herbs nearby with focused and skillful movements.The forest creatures adored her—a faw
Misha watched Tabitha and Alma walk away, her anger flaring up again.She glared at the back of Tabitha's head and instinctively touched her red cheek.Growing up, she had never been treated like this. The humiliation filled her heart with resentment."Once Derek's poison is neutralized, I'll make them pay", she vowed silently.Alban, seeing the hatred in Misha's eyes, felt a chill.He knew Misha's background—her family's influence was no secret. He'd brought her here out of concern for Derek's blood type.Having watched Misha and Derek grow up, he was well aware of their temperaments.Given Misha's current state, he feared she would cause more trouble.So, he tried to persuade her again, "Look, things are under control here. It's not proper for a young lady like you to stay. I'll have someone escort you out.""I'm not leaving, Dr. Weaver. I'm staying to take care of Derek!" Misha said stubbornly, turning her head
Misha's eyes welled up the moment she saw Derek awake. She lunged toward him, crying, "I've been so worried!"Derek sidestepped her embrace instinctively and said coolly, "I'm fine. I've delayed you long enough. I need to stay for treatment; you should head back."Misha's jaw dropped in shock.Misha had traveled so far and gone through so much, only to hear Derek tell her to leave as soon as he woke up."I need to care for you—your eyesight's impaired. I've already taken leave," she pleaded."You'll be fine. Rolf and Alvin are here. It's not convenient for you, a young woman, to stay," Derek insisted.Misha stamped her foot in frustration. "What's inconvenient about it? You're not married, and neither am I. Remember when we were on missions together? We took care of each other then, didn't we?"Alma happened to pass by and overhear the conversation, finally realizing that Misha had been the one making advances all along.
Derek jolted awake after an hour of sleep.In a daze, sensing someone beside him, he instinctively pulled them into his arms, exclaiming, "Tabitha, you came for me."Alvin sighed, "Alpha Derek, it's me."Derek fumbled blindly in the air, urgency lacing his voice, "Where's Tabitha? Where did she go?""You were dreaming again," Alvin explained patiently."A dream?" Derek frowned, confusion washing over him.But why did the dream feel so real? So real that he could almost feel the give of Tabitha's skin, recall the touch of her body, and even remember the warmth of her flesh. Her voice still seemed to linger in his ears."Tabitha's probably miles away. She couldn't be here," Alvin added.Derek's heart sank, the joy from moments ago replaced by emptiness. It felt as though he'd found his most precious treasure, only to realize it was just a dream.He bowed his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Right, how could I rea
At Derek's words, Tabitha was suddenly reminded of his words from years ago, when he had said the person in his dreams was her.She couldn't help but wonder what exactly this scoundrel had done to her in his dreams."Tabitha, hold me," Derek pleaded like a petulant child.Tabitha recalled the early days of their marriage. Back then, Derek was reticent and self-absorbed in bed, rarely showing any emotion or expressing his feelings.She often doubted whether he even liked her, if not for the fact that his actions left her bedridden the next day.Derek had locked all his emotions in an airtight box, allowing no one to peek inside.But over the years, their dynamics had done a complete turnaround.Now, Tabitha buried her feelings deep within, becoming cold and distant, while Derek had transformed into someone unrecognizably vulnerable and open.At this moment, Derek was like an overly affectionate, enthusiastic dog, intimately fami
Tabitha was deeply focused on listening to Derek's heartbeat. Irritated by his question, she simply hushed him with a "Shh" and said, "Don't talk." Her attention was entirely on his heart rate. She had no intention of being distracted by others.After finishing with his heartbeat, Tabitha gently pried open Derek's eyelids for a closer look.His pupils were dull and lifeless, making it impossible to assess the internal damage with the naked eye.It seemed that only after administering the antidote and conducting a professional examination outside could they determine the extent of the eye damage.Tabitha silently resolved that if they could just detoxify him, there would be hope for the gradual recovery of his other organs.At Tabitha's "Shh," Derek obediently fell silent.Despite feeling as though he were in a dream, he cherished this fleeting moment, thinking that even an extra minute with Tabitha would give him more memories to hold onto i