Derek's POV
Since I wasn't allowed in, I quietly hid under the eaves. I had already scouted the cameras nearby, and it was easy peasy for me to disable them for a while. A few minutes later, the cameras froze on the same feed while I began to observe the structure of the castle. I moved through the darkness like a black panther, silently sneaking in through the pipes on the ground floor. The castle was so empty that it made me uneasy, and even my footsteps echoed like a wild soundtrack. In the late night, only a few old wall lamps cast a faint light down the hallway, while everything else was swallowed up by darkness. Suddenly, some piano tunes sliced through the silence of the night. It was "MARIAGE D'AMOUR." It should be that mysterious Madam Rose, I figured. In a place like this, the originally soothing melody sounded creepy. I guessed Mark must be going up the stairs along with the sound of music. Like him, I found therTabitha's POV I followed Klein closely, both of us wearing masks that matched the mysterious atmosphere of the castle. Klein swapped out his usual blue sapphire ring for an opal one. The change, though small, seemed to presage an unusual evening. Entering the gate, I heard the sound of a piano from the top floor just as two crows swooped past. The rose vines looked enchanting and mystical in the dim light. A gust of wind blew, and though it was almost summer, I suddenly had goosebumps crawling up my back. Klein deliberately lowered his voice. "Don't be afraid. Just stay close to me. Don't do or say anything later." I nodded. After all, seeing Elena was the only goal I came here today. Just as we entered the hall, the piano sound ceased abruptly. The whole place felt like it went into silent mode. Two people came towards us, their footsteps hurried and disordered. As they got closer, I recognized them right away, even
Tabitha's POV I stood outside the door, my heart pounding as I waited to see Elena's face. Crystal, feeling my mood, was restless in my mind. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. But I still unconsciously clenched the folds of my shirt. Before, I was out in the open while Elena was pulling all the strings from the shadows. And now, our positions were reversed, and she didn't even know I was here. How could I not be excited when the truth was just around the corner? As the door slowly opened, a woman in a white dress walked in. She was tall and slender, with a mask on her face, and her exposed skin looked smooth and fair. I was dying to see the face hidden behind this mask. Her legs looked normal. Presumably, she deliberately disguised herself as a janitor with a leg problem and darkened her face to stay under the radar. The wind swirled around her dress. If I hadn't known she was Elena, I would think she wa
Tabitha's POV In this dimly lit room, I scrutinized Elena's face. For countless times, I had pictured in my mind what this woman would look like—envisioning a fierce countenance, perhaps even marred by a twisted expression. However, the fact in front of me was telling a different story. I once saw the photos of Zack, the former Beta of the Black Thorn Pack, when he was young. She inherited Zack's perfect features and yet she looked more delicate. Her face mirrored her father's, especially in the captivating depth of her eyes. She had delicate facial features and long hair, making her look exceptionally pure. Anyone who didn't know her past would think that she was still in college. At this moment, the mystery in my mind finally unraveled. I was right. The culprit was no one else but Elena! Thinking about the Silver Moon Pack, John, and all the pain I had endured in the past two years, I felt rage surging within me.
Mark's POV On the top floor, the air was filled with the fragrance of roses. They were in full bloom as if hosting a party that only I could perceive. I stepped onto the ground covered with petals, my gaze drawn to a woman sitting in front of a black piano. As the son of Justin, the Alpha of the Amber's Eye Pack, I inherited the sharp senses of the werewolves. Yet, amidst the floral aroma, I detected something extraordinary. She wore a black evening gown adorned with rose patterns along the hem, blending seamlessly with the blossoms around her. The gown bestowed upon her an air of elegance and enigma. Her skin emitted a radiant glow in the dim light, pulling me in without me even realizing it. As her soft fingertips landed on the last note on the piano keys, the music abruptly stopped, and silence took over the space. She didn't turn around, so I broke the silence. "Madam, as per your request, I'm here." My voice echoed on the ro
Mark's POV I repressed my anger, fully aware that those from Poison and Wolf Shadow were all ruthless. I couldn't afford to provoke her. Seeing the woman move to make room for me, I sat beside her. I was so anxious, but I had to stay calm. I knew how to play the piano, but nothing beyond following a score and playing a clumsy piece. With the woman's lead, I put my hands on the piano keys left untouched for a long time. They began to produce sounds. I played slowly, and each note sounded so uncertain. After finally finishing the piece, I asked again with urgency, "Did you kidnap my daughter?" My eyes locked onto her, searching for answers in her reaction. The woman gave a little chuckle, and it echoed through the empty top floor, with a touch of eeriness. "I remember you came looking for a cure. Your mate is still in the ICU, right?" Her words stung me. "Do you have a way to save her?" I asked almost instinctively, des
Tabitha's POV From Elena's reaction, I could tell she must've thought Klein came to punish her. So after Klein allowed her to leave, she looked quite surprised. I knew that Daphne might also be in this castle, so I told Klein I wanted to stay. Albert soon came in, his voice calm and polite as he said, "Please follow me. Your room's ready." He arranged for us to stay in a suite. After making sure that there was no bug in the room, Klein asked, "What do you want to know?" I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "So you've known her for a long time?" "Yes, I saved her before," replied Klein in a low voice. "But when I found her back then, she was in pretty rough shape. Most of her body was burned, including 40% of her face. So at first, I wasn't sure if she was the one you were looking for." I was taken aback. "No wonder her voice sounds a bit strange." "Besides the burn, she had many scars on her body too," Klein continued, w
Tabitha's POV I saw the helplessness and despair in Daphne's eyes. "Tabitha," she began, her voice weak and shaky, "in fact, it's all Madam Rose's schemes." I gripped her hand tight, trying to push her on, "Who's Madam Rose? What the hell happened?" Daphne took a deep breath, like she was digging for some courage. "She's my mom—no. I should call her Megan now. She's been pulling all the strings." I stood there, listening carefully as she narrated the whole story, every word hitting my heart like a ton of bricks. When she finished, I couldn't help snapping, "So you knew your blood could save Mom, yet you denied it and watched her suffer? And even die? "Even if you didn't know she was your biological mother, you should've treated her like that! You have enjoyed her motherly love for so many years. How can you be so ungrateful?" My voice echoed in the room, filled with anger and disappointment. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
Tabitha's POV When I tiptoed to the corridor, a man suddenly silenced me and pulled me to the terrace. The faint scent of incense told me it was Klein. Though I wasn't too surprised, I was still curious about what he was going to do. His sharp gaze directed me to look down. Down? I followed his direction and saw two figures on the lawn below from the terrace of the second floor. Even though one of them had their back turned, my keen senses immediately recognized Derek. He was holding a slender woman in a white dress by her wrist. What was he doing with Elena? Derek's goal was to eliminate Poison and Wolf Shadow in one fell swoop. So he knew Elena didn't die a long time ago but he didn't tell me? This thought sent a chill down my spine, but I quickly shook my head. He loved me, and no way would he lie to me about such a grave matter. This must have been some kind of coincidence; perhaps he had just discovered the truth.
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.