Derek's POV
Tabitha instinctively rested her hand on her belly, but then she quickly pulled it back, as if fearing that I would notice something.She had no idea that this move just made it all the more suspicious.As an Alpha, my observation skills were sharper than most, especially when it came to my mate, even though she was my ex-mate.I walked closer to her, sensing her nerves.I could tell her heartbeat was racing and her breath hitched, as these were the physiological responses she couldn't hide.When my hand brushed her back, she tensed up like a deer caught in headlights."Something's off with her emotions," Leo chimed in my mind.As my wolf, he was always able to perceive subtle emotional changes.But even without his reminder, I could feel Tabitha wasn't her usual self.After all, we were once mates, and such a profound connection couldn't be easily severed."What are you doing?" Tabitha shot out, her voice dripping wDerek's POVI threw in a bit of Alpha aura in my words.Joanna's knees buckled, and she dropped to the floor with a thud. "Yes, Alpha Derek, I'll tell you everything!" Her reaction caught me off guard. I hadn't even started putting any real pressure on her yet."Speak," I ordered sharply."I felt it was a pity to throw away the trimmed roses from the garden, so I sold them for 2 dollars each in the evening. I didn't mean to do it, I've been strapped for cash and my grandma's sick. I'm sorry, Alpha Derek, I won't do it again."Joanna confessed incoherently, tears streaming down her face.I frowned, surprised that she actually confessed so soon.But this trivial matter wasn't what I really wanted to know. "Is that all you want to say?"My tone revealed obvious impatience.Joanna wiped away her tears, adding, "No, there's more. I have to confess. Last time when I was trimming, my hands were shaking, and I accidentally cut the heart-shaped on
Derek's POVJoanna shot me a weird look, as if she was puzzled.I knew why she was feeling that way. My concern for Tabitha these days was evident to everyone.Even though I was about to marry Daphne, my care for Tabitha was genuine, and everyone in Rose Manor could tell.But here I was, totally clueless about how she was handling her pregnancy.Joanna wasn't a long-standing member of the Black Thorn Pack.So she didn't really know the history between me and Tabitha."I heard Ms. Hartley say that she had no idea what she was doing with her first pregnancy. She had morning sickness for three months and the fetus seemed to be in a bit unstable condition. In the early stages of pregnancy, she had to get shots to keep the baby safe every day. My mom had to do that too, and it hurt like hell."Joanna's words hit me like a punch in the gut. I had never thought that Tabitha would go through such pain."However, Ms. Hartley was really excited abo
Derek's POVI have heard countless advice that I should have treated Tabitha better.However, the current situation was that I have put her in such a predicament. Guilt and a sense of powerlessness filled my heart.But I was aware that now was not the time to indulge in self-blame."Okay, I got it. She holds a grudge against me, so she doesn't want me to know about her pregnancy. You don't need to say much. Just take good care of her. If anything happens to her, let me know immediately. Try to fulfill all her needs at Rose Manor."I gave instructions to Joanna.As Tabitha's personal Omega, she was an important source for me to know Tabitha's condition."Okay, Alpha Derek, I understood," Joanna responded simply.She did not know Tabitha's secret, nor did she realize that she had unintentionally revealed too much."You can leave now," I said to Joanna, and I stayed alone in the study, with my hand on my forehead, filled with conflict and st
Tabitha's POVDerek suddenly appeared in my room, acting strangely.I couldn't help but frown, wondering what was wrong with this man and why he came here acting so weird.I stretched out my left hand, wanting to push away his body, which made me suffocate. However, when my fingers touched his body, I felt a damp liquid.No, it was blood.As a werewolf, I was very sensitive to the smell of blood."What's going on?" I immediately asked my wolf in my mind."There were no other scents of wolves, so he didn't experience an attack," Crystal calmly responded to me.I turned on the light and looked at his snow-white shirt, which was covered in crimson blood. The blood was still oozing out.How could he have turned out like this in just a short while, even though he hadn't even left the villa?"Who did it?" I asked.Derek, however, didn't care at all and instead reached out his hand to touch my face."Tabitha, I hurt your hand. I a
Derek's POVEver since I learned about Tabitha's pregnancy, I had been in constant agony.I suppressed the beast within me hard, afraid that my loss of control would harm her.However, the anger and jealousy in my chest continued to grow, almost reaching the point of exploding.I asked myself over and over again, "Why am I not the father?"If she were pregnant with my baby, I wouldn't have to suffer all this."However, no matter how brutal it was, the truth was the truth. I had to face it.Alvin helped me bandage the wound on my arm while comforting me. "Alpha Derek, calm down and please don't harm yourself again."I responded with a bitter smile, "Alvin, what would you do if you were in my shoes?"He remained silent for a moment and then said, "Alpha Derek, I don't have a mate yet. Thus, it's impossible for me to imagine what you're suffering now. I'm sorry that I can't be of any help."I was like a fatigued driver on a highway, whi
Tabitha's POVAfter the farce made by Derek, he didn't appear for a couple of daysI became more and more uneasy, always feeling like maybe he sensed something was off.Could it be that he figured out I was pregnant?But I doubted that. If he had known about my pregnancy, why would he remain silent and even make sure that I had my meals on time?Recently, my meals became more and more nutritious and every dish seemed to have been carefully selected. But again, maybe that was just my illusion.The meals contained fresh, high-protein ingredients, such as grilled chicken breasts, fish, and a lot of veggies.I asked Joanna about the change in my meals, and she told me she had instructed the kitchen to prepare them this way.She said that I suffered a lot carrying the baby and that the morning sickness was so intense. So I gotta eat right.Without Derek around, Rose Manor was eerily quiet every day, but I couldn't shake this feeling that a sto
Third person's POVSince Derek took Tabitha and John back in a hurry from the island, he hadn't paid much attention to Klein.According to Alvin, Klein had already returned to Canada and showed no intention to come back to Seattle to steal Tabitha away from Derek.That was to say, to Klein, Tabitha was just a temporary fling or a plaything—no feelings involved whatsoever.At the realization, Derek was both angry and upset.Tabitha was the love of his life, yet apparently, she didn't receive the treatment she deserved from the father of her baby.Derek was confused about how to deal with Tabitha. These days, even though he tried to convince himself to accept the baby, he just couldn't.No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to treat the illegitimate child as his own.Since Tabitha had already been pregnant for about twenty days, she could use an abortion very soon.But she wasn't in good health, looking way too frail.
Derek's POVFaced with Tabitha's vigilant gaze, I couldn't help but feel a wave of bitterness in my heart.Guessed she saw me as an enemy now.I sighed and tried to break the silence with a gentle tone. "Tabitha, don't worry. I won't do anything to you. I came here today to tell you that, Miss A, the musician you like is having a concert. I bought tickets. How about we go together tomorrow?"Tabitha shot me a skeptical stare as if doubting whether I was plotting something again.I understood her reaction. After all, I had caused her too much harm."Tabitha, I didn't mean anything else. Miss A hasn't shown up in public in recent years, and I know you have always been a huge fan. This concert could possibly be her farewell performance, and I don't want you to miss it."Speaking of which, Tabitha hadn't been to any concerts for two and a half years.The last time she listened to live music was the time when we were at a music festival. We were we
Third person's POVOrson felt a chill down his spine as the current Derek seemed like a wild beast about to break free from its chains.Tabitha was the last chain that could hold him. Once something happened to her, who knew what he would become?Orson's wolf had already sensed a strong danger and kept reminding Orson in his mind to stay away from Derek."Don't you think you're being too arbitrary? At least you should ask Tabitha herself for her opinion about this."
Third person's POVTabitha's test results came out overnight. She did have cancer.What was worse, her cancer had metastasized to her head. Now she had an early malignant tumor in her brain.The oncologists gathered for a consultation, and their conclusion was consistent with Orson's. Treatment wasn't recommended.Derek's gaze was extremely cold. Suppressing his anger, he said, "You haven't even tried. And you're already giving up?"
Derek's POVShe even tried moonlight therapy once!I had no idea. I felt a lump in my throat, and with difficulty, I said slowly, "Was it those days you took care of her?""Yes. She was wasting away as she spent her days in and out of the hospital, working several jobs to support John. Later, because her wound still wouldn't heal after a long time, she came to the hospital for examination. She conducted moonlight therapy by herself deep in the forest. I simply brought her food and water.
Third person's POVTabitha was taken to the emergency room that night.Kamp was at the Black Thorn Pack in Seattle. When he heard the news, he felt he was gonna lose it.His premonition that had been haunting him came true. He flew overnight.Derek stood outside the emergency room. His shirt was stained with Tabitha's blood, but he wasn't bothered at all.His eyes were bloodshot.
Third person's POVDerek was stupefied. Andrea's face turned pale, and even Alpha Elliott found it unbelievable."No way! Tabitha is so healthy. How could she have been poisoned by wolfsbane?"Orson took Derek's hand away and continued to explain with a hint of sadness and anger in his eyes."Two years ago, when you and she rejected each other, she had a check-up at the Werewolf Hospital. At that time, the wolfsbane had already caused her body to deteriorate. Judging from th
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.