Derek's POVInstead of returning to the Black Thorn Pack, I came to one of the hotels that I owned.There was a private suite for me.Sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room, I lit a cigarette.I didn't turn any lights, and only moonlight shone through the French windows.It was dark and quiet. The torment and the pain were eating me up.My craving for Tabitha and my need to claim her didn't reduce after the rejection. It only grew stronger.As I was lost in thought, the door opened, and Alvin brought Tabitha in."Leave us," I said to him.Alvin hesitated, fixing his gaze on me. But he was my Beta, and he gotta obey my orders. So despite his disapproval of my behavior, he had to leave as I said.When the door closed, I got up from the sofa and walked towards Tabitha. She instinctively took a few steps back."You scared of me?" My voice was cold and indifferent. I walked briskly towards her, lifting her chin with my finger. "Where did you and Orson go? What did you do?"Tabitha p
Derek's POVI dropped my gaze to Gloria, my wolf eyeing her through me.As Alpha of one of the oldest packs, I got that natural press vibe on regular werewolves.Gloria's eyes deepened, and I could feel her wolf getting all on edge."What are you talking about? Where's Tabitha? Ain't that my line?" I shot back."I can feel Tabitha's scent's gone from here," Gloria said anxiously."Yeah, I saw her. But she's already left," I calmly replied.'Gotcha. Tabitha's right here on the top floor!' I smirked inwardly."Alright, I gotta keep searching for Tabitha. Bye," Gloria blurted out before spinning around.Seeing her all anxious, I asked, "Why the rush? Let's talk."Gloria cracked an awkward smile. "Well, maybe next time."With that, she ran in the opposite direction. But she was on my turf, and no way she was getting outta here without my permission. So Alvin stopped her immediately. Gloria almost crashed into him out of panic. As I
Derek's POVWhat the hell? Tabitha collapsed right in front of me.Never in my life had I felt so terrified.In my memory, Tabitha'd always been a strong werewolf. She'd got Alpha blood, killer combat skills, and a sharp brain.That was why I was stoked about her being my Luna.I thought getting drenched would give her a little sniffle at worst. I never imagined that she would pass out.Noticing my tie hanging around her body, I immediately released her. Then her limp body fell, her cold, cutting words echoing.How could she hurt herself this badly just trying to break free from a tie? She used to whine for hours over a tiny needle prick.I scooped her up, fixing my gaze on her face. She looked as white as a sheet. With long hair stuck to her cheeks, she was like a lifeless doll, fragile and delicate.Panic seized me. I couldn't help wondering, 'What the hell happened?'She used to be tough enough for winter swims. How could a bit of
Derek's POVThinking back, Tabitha was always bundled up in thick down jackets, a far cry from her vanity of only wearing wool coats back in the day.So she wasn't putting on an act.She really was sick.I wrapped her up tight, not letting a bit of wind sneak in.Tabitha's cheeks were burning up, looking all pitiful yet cute.What had she been through exactly? How come she got so weak?Holding her, I realized she was way lighter than before. I couldn't help tightening my embrace.Finally, the car arrived at the pack hospital. Kamp came over with the blood test report, saying, "Alpha Derek, I heard about what had happened from Alvin. Luna's critical. We gotta put her on a drip."I held Tabitha the whole time, and she seemed delirious from fever, mumbling non-stop.She instinctively covered her belly with one hand and reached out into the void with another. "Save me. Save our child," she exclaimed.Her right hand still got the IV
Tabitha's POVI felt I had sunk into a deep ocean, my mind bobbing in and out of the water.This surreal feeling got me confused. I didn't even know if I was in a dream or reality.I lost the remote to my own body—caught up in the chilly seawater one sec, the next basking in some cozy sunbeams.Amidst this chaos, I caught sight of a blurry figure. It was my wolf, Crystal, treading all slow and heavy like she was trying to lead me somewhere.Sensing her weariness and pain, I was devastated.I wanted to catch up, to comfort her a bit, but no matter how hard I tried, I could only stagger on, my legs feeling like lead."Crystal," I called out in my heart.But she didn't even turn her head.Just as I was about to drop to my knees in this never-ending dream, a soft glow lit up before me.Then, a beautiful lady in a white dress walked out.She looked so kind, her eyes brimming with empathy and wisdom.Though I had never seen her, I knew she was the Moon Goddess, the guardian of werewolves.S
Tabitha's POV He knitted his brows but gave no reply. Instead, he poured me a glass of water, cooing, "Here, have some water." This side of him took me back to the days we were madly in love. How he treated me like I was the love of his life. Just then, my abdominal wound started aching, reminding me how he had treated me after he confirmed that my dad murdered Elena. I scoffed, disgust overwhelming me. Derek, though, wasn't discouraged. Seeing that I wouldn't take the water, he came closer, wanting to feel my forehead. That was when those memories of being tied up in the bathroom came flooding back. Startled, I jumped off the bed, keeping as much distance as I could to avoid getting hurt again. "What do you want?" I looked at him warily and asked. "I just wanna check if you're still running a temperature," Derek explained. He looked very hurt, but that wouldn't stir up any guilt in me. Served him right. As I stared at him, I called out in my mind, "Crystal, you there?" She
Derek's POVTabitha's words freaked me out. I widened my eyes, staring at her in disbelief.Right now, tears were trickling down her cheeks as she stared out the window, making her look gorgeous yet fragile.Inside my head, Leo was losing his mind, howling like crazy, giving me a splitting headache. I knew he didn't want me to do this to her, but I couldn't help it.I thought she was just bluffing. As someone who would cry over a simple scratch, she could never hurt herself that way. That was what I told myself. However, I was so damn wrong.She showed her claw, going straight for her collarbone before I could even stop it.Desperate, I rushed over, reaching out my arm to stop her. But clearly, I underestimated her resolve to cut ties with me.Her claw gouged a wound in her skin as well as my arm.Blood poured out of our wounds, dying our clothes red.I frowned in pain, yet I didn't flinch."Tabitha, have you lost your damn mind?!" I
Tabitha's POVI slowly opened my eyes, my mind shifting from fuzzy to clear.Looking around, I realized I was moved to another ward, a far cry from the one before.The walls here were slapped with plain white paint, not a single decor in sight. Some parts were even peeling off, showing the grey concrete underneath.The light was utterly dim. The only tiny window was covered by rough, faded curtains.The bed was hard and thin. And when I touched the sheets and covers, they were so rough that I felt they were gonna cut my fingers. Guessed they must've been washed countless times.In the corner was a simple metal cabinet, topped with a plastic cup and a box of tissues.And that was all.The air was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant as well as a hint of dampness, which made me uncomfortable.I knew it must be Derek's doing. It was so typical.Ruining the mark was like challenging his authority. As a domineering man, he defini
Third person's POVGloria held Helios on her lap, skillfully peeling a grape and feeding it to him, her experience with children evident."Feeling better now that it's out," she said, watching the child play quietly nearby.Tabitha casually inquired, "Why did you hold back on the day we met, only to tell me today?"Gloria had her excuse ready, responding, "You had just returned to the States, and I didn't know your situation. I was afraid it would cause you trouble."Tabitha peeled a few more grapes before setting them aside when Helios indicated he'd had enough.She then looked at Gloria and said slowly, "You weren't afraid of causing me trouble. You were afraid I would leave, weren't you?"Gloria was taken aback, about to argue, but Tabitha saw through her, "Every time you lie, you subconsciously avert your gaze, fearing I'll see through you."Gloria, in a fit of exasperation, covered her face with a blanket, "You two are tru
Third person's POVDerek's face contorted with pain as he continued, "After Tabitha faked her death, I suspected what had happened. I was torn at the time, wanting to bring her back, but I also understood that doing so would only repeat past mistakes. So, I protected her within my control and waited silently. Gloria, I swear, I won't hurt her again."A hint of pleading appeared on Derek's face as he went on, "I'm asking for your help not out of selfishness. Tabitha's illness isn't fully healed, her body hasn't recovered, and with two children in tow, she wouldn't be able to protect herself if danger arises."Gloria had never seen Derek so humble.She remembered how Derek had always approached her with a condescending attitude four years ago.Derek continued, "You are Tabitha's friend, and your starting point should be considering her safety, right? If I wanted to harm her, I could just bring her back directly, so why would I go through the trouble
Third person's POVThe two children were a blend of their parents. The girl resembled Derek, while the boy took after Tabitha, which was quite different from their brother, Kyrian.Derek thought to himself that if Kyrian knew he had two younger siblings, he would be thrilled.But when he considered his relationship with Tabitha, he sighed deeply, filled with regret for his past actions.At that moment, Alvin approached swiftly and reported, "Just received news from the island. Noah is taking Ayla away, and Lucian's direction also leads to the island. He plans to take Tabitha away."Derek, with his hands behind his back and a furrowed brow, spoke with a melancholic expression, "Lucian intends to take more than just Ayla—Tabitha as well. She has always sought opportunities to leave me, and this presents her with an excellent chance.""What should we do? Should we stop him now? Otherwise, with his capabilities, if he truly takes Tabitha a
Third person's POVPlans... Tabitha's original goal had been to find her two children and Jasper.The children were found, but Jasper was without a trace.However, she couldn't search aimlessly without a target.Thinking of Derek's anxious appearance last night, it was clear he still had feelings for her.Gloria's text warning Tabitha to be careful of Derek came to Tabitha's mind again.Tabitha felt she had overlooked some subtle details. What exactly had she missed?It seemed a key point was missing, and once found, it would connect all the events."I don't know. I just wanted to find the children, but I didn't expect to court death. And Derek's attitude towards me is ambiguous. Outside this cabin, I don't know what awaits me," Tabitha said, her face full of entanglement.Seeing her struggle, Lucian took a big gulp of mineral water and mustered the courage to say, "Have you severed ties with him?"Tabitha nodded,
Third person's POVDerek had painstakingly built up Tabitha's trust by posing as Wilmot.He knew that if she ever discovered his true identity, her anger would be immense, and the trust he had spent half a year constructing would crumble entirely.Derek continued, "Send someone to discreetly protect her without revealing themselves. Ayla is still on the island. Tabitha will go to see her."Rolf nodded in agreement, "Understood."Derek added with caution, "Remember, Lucian has a strong ability to detect surveillance, so do not get too close."Rolf responded, "Yes, Alpha Derek. We will handle it immediately."Turning to Alvin, Derek instructed, "Investigate the identities of those deceased men thoroughly."Derek pondered whether Tabitha's survival had been leaked, perhaps when she was seen on the boat.The assailants had been ruthless, and if not for Lucian's timely arrival, Tabitha could have been in grave danger. He had
Third person's POVForrest's voice was laced with worry, "Ms. Hartley, where are you now?"Tabitha had already settled her wages with Forrest before sending the children to the island. She couldn't fathom why he would contact her at this juncture.She couldn't help but feel puzzled.Tabitha inquired, "What's wrong?"Forrest replied, "Wilmot's had an accident. You need to come see him."Tabitha was still trying to make sense of Derek's appearance at the bar when she heard about Wilmot's predicament, and her heart immediately filled with worry.She quickly asked, "What happened to him?"Forrest explained, "Wilmot was already ill recently, and he drank a lot tonight. He's suffered from alcohol poisoning and has been taken to the hospital. He keeps asking to see you, Ms. Hartley. Where are you? Can you come to see him?"Tabitha thought to herself that even if she knew her current location, she couldn't just tell anyone.
Third person's POVTwo more gunshots rang out, the shooter's aim dead on as two more men fell to the ground.Tabitha saw a tall figure standing deep in the alley, shrouded in a cloak, making it impossible to discern who it was.Tabitha's mind raced with questions. Was he a friend or foe?The man removed his hat, revealing the distinctive totem mask beneath.Tabitha stared in disbelief and uttered, "Lucian, why are you here?""Long story. Come with me," Lucian said, grabbing Tabitha's hand and leading her away.They didn't get far before Tabitha glanced back to see Derek and Leopold rushing out of a bar together.Surprise washed over Tabitha. How could Derek be here?Her blood seemed to freeze. 'When did he return?'Lucian pulled Tabitha into a dilapidated black car that passed right in front of Derek.Leaning against the car window, Tabitha gazed at Derek, lost in thought.'If Leopold had arranged to
Third person's POVLeopold carefully compared the photos. Although the person in the photos was dressed differently and had a different appearance, the body shape and the action of holding things with the left hand were identical.Derek became alert, thinking to himself, "People like us are more sensitive than ordinary people. Such photos wouldn't catch the attention of most, but I've noticed something.""Where's the negative?" Derek asked."I'll have it sent over right away," Leopold replied."And Tabitha?" Derek inquired again."Don't worry, she followed me to the bar. She's in the lobby outside. I have my bodyguards keeping an eye on her," Leopold said.Tabitha had been following Leopold for several days, and Derek, concerned about his own people being exposed, asked Leopold's men to watch her.She maintained a simple daily routine without any issues.However, the photos now revealed to Derek that someone was tracking
The next day, Tabitha began to investigate Leopold's movements meticulously.For several days, she did not dare to slack off. Gloria, who had recently suffered a miscarriage, had been recuperating in Leopold's home, not venturing out.A tight-lipped woman handled the daily tasks of shopping, cooking, and cleaning.Despite Tabitha's attempts to get close to her, she couldn't extract any information.As a week passed, it had been half a month since Gloria's miscarriage, and by her nature, she should soon be able to go out.On the sixth day of tracking Leopold, he called Derek out for drinks.He rubbed his temple, looking troubled, "Your mate, doesn't she think she's disguising herself well?"With that, Leopold threw out a stack of photos, all of which were taken while Tabitha was following him.Tabitha's curious little head appeared adorable in the photos."Or do you think I'm so idle that I play house with her every day?"