Tabitha's POV
My babies were playing freely. Their movements were not very strong, as they were only over four months old.I simply had a vague feeling. It wasn't as strong as in the late stage of pregnancy.I gently stroked my belly, and they gradually calmed down.They had been good these days. I had vomited a lot in the early stages of pregnancy, but now, I didn't feel sick anymore.My babies were so sweet. They didn't wanna see me suffer."It doesn't matter. I just want them to be healthy."Joanna cupped her chin and said, "You're right. I now get it. Health beats everything, including money and power."I sighed, "It's only after you've lost so much that you realize there's nothing better than having your loved ones around and healthy."She said, "Look at you. You're such a glowing, energetic pregnant woman, not to mention you're getting prettier every day. And your babies are both so sweet. I'm so jealous."I joked, which was aTabitha's POVI was both nervous and excited for tomorrow's prenatal check-up.Compared to the last pregnancy, I was more nervous and concerned this time.I'd see the growth of my babies in four dimensions tomorrow. How could I not be excited?I walked into Dad's room as usual.He had been asleep for three months without any signs of waking up.He was with me physically, but his soul had gone somewhere else. It was like he was making a compromise with me.But as long as he was breathing, he was still here with me, and I wasn't some homeless kid.After wiping his body as usual, I took a book, read for a few minutes, and then started talking to him."Dad, I'll know the babies' gender tomorrow. If you can hear me, come around, OK? I want you to be there with me for every happy moment."I'm due in a few months. I've got all those toys you made stored away for the babies to play with. They're gonna love them."I said a lot. When I tu
Tabitha's POVIt took us a long time before we finally saw the baby's face. Apparently, its features were more delicate compared to those of the other one."Tabitha, she looks exactly like you. How nice! You're having a baby boy and a baby girl."I kept wiping my tears. "The gender doesn't matter. I just want to see them healthy.""Don't worry. They're both developing perfectly. I don't see any abnormalities at all. And I'm sure you can tell that they have different personalities, one being calm and the other being active. I'll export the video and send it to your phone later, so you can watch it whenever you want."I nodded and said, "Thanks, Doctor.""Don't say that. It's what I should do. Relax, Tabitha. You'll get to meet them soon.""OK." After going through all the checks, I felt much relieved.I showed Joanna the video, and she said happily, "Gosh! What a pair of cutie pies! I look forward so much to the day they're born."I stroke
Tabitha's POVEarly in the morning, I woke up from a nightmare.The awful dream was still fresh in my mind, and I could feel the sweat dripping down my back.These days, I had been having a peaceful mind. This was the first time I had such a horrifying dream.After taking a few deep breaths, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash myself.Standing under the shower, I placed my hand on my bulging belly, feeling my pups kicking me. I guessed they both loved shower time, as they were always quite active when I was in here.The water wasn't too hot, just gentle droplets splashing on my body.Weird enough, most pregnant women ended up with rough skin and more hair on their faces, but my skin remained fine and smooth.I stroked my belly, soothing the babies inside me with a smile. Having them around just gave me hope for brighter days ahead.As soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, my spirits drooped—the empty room was deadly s
Tabitha's POVIn the past couple of days, Joanna had been noticeably more excited. She was never a fan of skincare, yet now, she even started putting on face masks.Obviously, her Prince Charming meant the world to her.Anyone in this house could tell she looked so forward to the upcoming short meet-up.Finally, it was the big day. She looked thrilled but also kinda fidgety."Tabitha, this outfit looks a bit cheugy, doesn't it? Will he think of me as a hillbilly?"I wanted to lend her some of my clothes, but even the cheapest ones cost at least tens of thousands of dollars.Since they might develop a romantic relationship, I hoped Joanna would show her true self so things wouldn't get complicated between them."Not at all! If he really likes you, even if you're wearing a potato sack, he'll still think you look amazing. Chill, girl. Just take it easy and go pick him up confidently. You don't have to be stressed out," I reassured her.Then
Tabitha's POVBefore they kicked the door open, I opened it.Standing at the doorway, I saw Spike with one of his cheeks red and another guard rushing over to protect me.As Derek's subordinates, they were just like him—cold, silent, and low-key.They never stirred up trouble or threw their weight around.Since their job was to protect me, they had been patient and tolerant from the very beginning, lest drawing any attention.But even so, the lady and her guards weren't backing down. Instead, they went so far as to slap Spike.I assumed she was the so-called Miss Gutierrez. Her face seemed unfamiliar, and her accent didn't sound very Seattle to me. She was decked out in luxury brands, looking like a walking fashion show. A typical spoiled girl.Before I could say anything, she sized me up and finally fixed her gaze on my belly."I thought some big shot was inside. Turns out it's just a pregnant woman."With a snort, she pulled
Tabitha's POVAmidst the crowd, my eyes locked with Klein's.A whirlwind of complicated feelings rushed through me, finally settling on guilt.I had agreed to give him my kidney, and that day, he was all prepped and ready for surgery. But at the last minute, Derek swooped in and took me away.I didn't even get to say I was sorry before leaving.After I was brought back to Seattle, my number got changed, so I couldn't reach Klein, let alone apologize to him.I never expected to run into him here.Didn't he return to his home country? Why was he back in Seattle?Unlike me, who was feeling incredibly sorry, Klein seemed pretty chill.Instead of being upset, he just gave me a gentle smile and nodded as if to say hi.Ivonne, who had been cursing me the whole time, suddenly realized I wasn't even glancing her way.She grew even angrier, yelling to draw my attention, "Hey! Who the hell are you looking at? You're pregnant, OK? Stop flir
Tabitha's POVIvonne was slack-jawed.I had heard from Derek before that his youngest aunt wasn't a werewolf.Obviously, Ivonne wasn't either.That was probably why she and her mom weren't in the Black Thorn Pack.Like everyone else, she didn't know Derek and I used to be mates.Without knowing my background, she probably figured that I was just some ordinary girl who had climbed the social ladder through marriage.From her expression, I could tell that she didn't respect me.Derek glanced at the crowd and ordered coldly, "Alright, everyone, please return to your seat."Hearing that, the onlookers fled like roaches, not daring to stay for one more second.Once the door shut, Ivonne started complaining. The two slaps made her cheeks flush, but she still wasn't ready to back down."Derek, did you really marry her? What about Kelsey? She's been waiting for you for so long! Ever since she found out you were marrying Daphne, she's be
Tabitha's POVMy heart skipped a beat. What Ivonne had said was indeed a touchy subject for Derek.I remembered very well how hard I managed to keep my babies back then. If Derek went off the rails again, I wasn't sure if I would be able to handle it.Derek glared at Ivonne fiercely. "Shut up."She snorted, "You're gonna be tricked by her if you don't listen to me." Though saying so, she didn't dare to upset him again. After all, she was no fool.Just then, a new item popped up on the auction block—a rose diamond necklace.Designed by Niko, a famous contemporary jeweler, it was part of a collection with a rose theme.The big screen showcased every angle and detail of that necklace's sparkle. I had been dozing off, yet seeing that, my eyes were wide open.Derek rarely saw me interested in any jewelry, so he quickly asked, "You like it?"I covered his mouth, snapping, "Shut up and listen. I wanna know the details."Derek looked h
Derek clung to Tabitha like a koala to a tree trunk, refusing to let go.His voice was urgent and filled with longing as he declared, "Tabitha, you have no idea how long I've been searching for you! Every day, every night, your image haunted my thoughts. I was such a fool. If I had known you would vanish completely, I never would have let you go."Tabitha's heart skipped a beat at his words.Recalling her departure, she realized how strange it had been—how smoothly she had left.Back then, Tabitha had barely left when someone came chasing after her. Had Derek known of her plan from the start?If he had wanted to stop her, he could have nipped her plan in the bud."Why did you let me go, then?" she asked.Derek, lost in the joy of their reunion, poured out his feelings unreservedly. "I've always felt guilty for the wrongs I did you. I wanted to make amends."Tabitha gazed into Derek's eyes, noticing the red marks on his face.Despite his usual handsomeness, these marks added an air of
Third person's POVThis was why Tabitha had chosen Alvin over Rolf.She adjusted her waterlogged mask, now nearly peeling off, and swiftly exited the scene.Rolf muttered behind her, "Alpha Derek, don't go around hugging people. What if she gets clingy? Tabitha's still out there—what if she sees this and makes you wait another decade?"Derek remained silent."But seriously," Rolf continued, "the doctor's build and height are identical to Tabitha's. Just the face is different."Derek seized on this. "What did you say?""I said she looks like Tabitha, except for the face. Alpha Derek, don't get carried away—it's not like Tabitha to pop up just because you're poisoned. You've looked for her for three and a half years with no luck."Derek rubbed his temples, chalking it up to longing-induced hallucinations.Tabitha retreated to her room, exhausted from the sleepless night of brewing and changing medicines.
Third person's POVDerek loosened his grip slightly, allowing her to breathe. "Sorry, I can't see. No idea what's going on," he muttered."You're in a tub. No dialysis here—just using heat to sweat out the wolfsbane. I was checking your condition," Tabitha explained, her tone flat.Derek realized his mistake. "Apologies.""Now that you're more lucid, let's do a quick check-up. How do you feel?""Body's burning. Blind as a bat. Hearing's there but muffled, ringing in the ears. Headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, weak limbs...""Your entire body's under toxin attack. Recovery will take time. Don't stress. You're in good shape—should bounce back faster. Can you stand? Let me see your condition."The tub's dark liquid hid Derek's nudity, so Tabitha didn't push him to move.Derek suddenly realized something. "Wait, I'm naked?""Yep."Silence.His face twisted in discomfort."I'm a
Third person's POV"Are you serious?" Tabitha frowned. "This is life or death. Do you want him to die?""You don't get it," Alvin said quickly. "That woman isn't really Alpha Derek's fiancée. She made it up to convince Mrs. Atkinson to help. Derek's got someone else—someone he loves. If he finds out she fed him the medicine, he'll lose it.""So what? It's just medicine. I can't exactly summon his 'someone else' here," Tabitha muttered."Everything else is negotiable, but Alpha Derek's stubborn about this. He's loved Tabitha his whole life. He won't let another woman touch him intimately. I can't make that call for him. Any other ideas?"Tabitha froze. Tabitha? She hadn't heard that name in years."Since he loves Tabitha so much, where is she? Why isn't she here?""Tabitha left over three years ago. Derek's searched everywhere but couldn't find her. This time, he got distracted because someone hired a Tabitha look-alike. T
Third person's POVAlvin froze, panic rising. "Sorry, Alpha Derek's delirious," he blurted, terrified of offending Doctor Venessa."Get his clothes off and put him in the tub," Tabitha instructed, turning away to sort herbs."Fully?" Alvin asked, unsure."Fully," Tabitha confirmed, her voice flat.Alvin hesitated, then stripped Derek bare.Tabitha's mind flashed with memories of Derek's body—the same one she'd once known intimately.Compared to when she'd left, Derek's physique was more muscular.When she'd gripped his waist earlier, she'd distinctly felt the elasticity and definition of his muscles.Now, with his clothes removed, several new scars were visible across his chest.She'd watched him from afar over the years, always avoiding contact, always ensuring she remained invisible to him.Several times over the years, Derek had nearly crossed paths with Tabitha during missions. Each time, she deli
Third person's POVTabitha was used to Alvin calling her by name. Hearing him call her "doctor" made her wince."Use a different name," she said."May I know your name, Doctor?""Vanessa."Wait, what?Alvin nearly choked. "You're Vanessa? The all-around physician?"An "all-around physician" was a rarity—doctors usually specialized.But Vanessa wasn't just rare. She was legendary.Alvin had first heard her name last year when she became one of the few surgeons capable of performing interdental artificial cornea surgery.The procedure was so complex it required collaboration across dental, ophthalmological, and radiological fields.Yet Vanessa, a twenty-something newcomer, pulled it off.Media swarmed, patients flocked—but she vanished.Then came a high-risk heart surgery, again under her name.Another worldwide sensation.Reporters chased shadows. She remained elusive,
Third person's POVA cold female voice cut through the tension, "One more tear and you're out. You're deafening."Misha's open mouth froze mid-sob, the comical expression plastered on her face.She glanced around, finally noticing the unfamiliar woman in the room. "Who is she?" she demanded."This is the miracle doctor who can save Alpha Derek. Show some respect," Rolf warned, wary of Misha's infamous temper flaring up again.Despite her pride, Misha's love for Derek was genuine.She quickly composed herself. "Of course, Doctor. I entrust my Derek to you," she said, the possessive words slipping out before she could catch them.Rolf's eyebrow twitched. Since when was Derek "hers"?Alma appeared in the doorway. "You're back.""Yes," the woman replied, her tone neutral."Let me introduce everyone. These folks are here for treatment. The young man's poisoned—Nine-Heart Wolfsbane, nearly dead. The hysterical one
Third person's POVRolf's eyes were red and puffy from crying. "What's Alpha Derek trying to do?" he blubbered."Let him have this one last moment of freedom," Alvin said, holding Rolf back.The mountain wind chilled their tears, but Derek couldn't feel it anymore.His knees shook with every movement, each step draining what little strength he had left.Still, he didn't give up, gritting his teeth and forcing one foot in front of the other.The child stood bathed in sunlight—just a few steps away, and he could hold her.What should've been a quick stride took dozens of seconds, maybe longer.Hedwig stood with her back to him, pigeons swirling around her. A speckled one landed on her finger, cooing.Hedwig's eyes lit up—her mom was back!She spun around to see Derek lurching toward her, unsteady and lifeless yet driven by sheer will.He reached out, fingers trembling, when his body swayed dangero
Third person's POVWhy did it have to be Derek?Alvin's fists tightened as he stared at the horizon. Derek had lived with a clear conscience—except for Tabitha. He didn't deserve this end.But Alvin wasn't a healer. All he could do was watch as Derek's breaths grew shallower, his skin paler.The bell tinkled again—Hedwig had followed them here.When they finally stopped, Alvin eased Derek against a gnarled pine, its needles pricking Derek's back like needles of ice."This spot's good," Alvin said, voice cracking. "You'll see the sunrise."Derek nodded weakly. "Good."The mountain wind bit through Derek's coat, but it cleared his head a little."Alvin... my biggest regret was letting Daphne's demands tear Tabitha and me apart. If I hadn't blamed her for Silver Moon Pack's problems... none of this would've happened.""Alpha Derek, you had your reasons," Alvin said, though the words felt hollow."R