Tabitha's POV
Laughter rang out as I calmly glanced around.There were a total of eleven shifters in the room, nine he-wolves and two she-wolves. Besides me, there was another she-wolf curled up in the corner.Since they were all condemned prisoners, no doubt that they were ruthless.I knew Derek must have had a backup plan, and at least one of these guys had to be on his side.I then found an empty corner to hunker down in. Just then, the man who first spoke to me started striding over.It must've been a long time since he had taken a shower, as the stench he got was almost unbearable.He loomed over me, with one hand pressing on the wall right next to my ear.I frowned and asked in a cold voice, "What do you want?""I don't care how you got here. But now that you're on my turf, you gotta listen to me. Once I give an order, you'll have to obey, get it?"I looked him dead in the eye, asking, "What do you want me to do?"HearingTabitha's POVThe rest of the time passed without any drama. I kept to my corner, leaning against the wall.Jamar and his crew would occasionally cast hostile glances at me.I knew they were just waiting for their moment.Once we hit the island, the real bloodbath would start.After a month of training, I ranked top with outstanding results.The twin brothers, who often huddled together to keep warm in the corner, wanted to team up with me, but I rejected them.I always flew solo while observing that she-wolf named Kylie Perez.Everyone kept their distance from her, even Jamar didn't dare to provoke her.She had this dark vibe about her, like a snake lurking in the shadows.It was like if everyone behaved themselves, she wouldn't do anything, but once someone crossed her, she'd strike hard.These days, I tried getting closer to her, but she just ignored everyone.Having survived the peaceful month, we'd be dropped onto an u
Derek's POVMy mood was conflicted. I wanted to grant Tabitha freedom, but it had to be under my control.On the island, danger was unpredictable, and any unexpected event could haunt me for life."Yes, Alpha Derek. I will arrange for her elimination immediately."A few minutes later, Devin ran over in a panic and said, "Something is wrong, Alpha Derek. The tracking device on Tabitha has been turned off."I flicked away the cigarette I was holding and stared at him. "What do you mean?""Not long ago, I checked the device myself and there was no issue. It's not that there's no signal—it's like it just vanished! The device is very durable and hard to destroy, so Tabitha must have turned it off herself."I furrowed my brows. Clearly, this was Tabitha's doing.She guessed that I would eliminate her in this round, and she had already made up her mind to enter the Black Wolf Guild, so she made the first move.I shouldn't have underestimat
Tabitha's POVIn no time, I threw him over my shoulder and ran forward without a backward glance.From behind, I could hear Jamar cursing up a storm. "Asher, you are so weak. Can't you even handle a woman?"Damn it. You messed up the sure thing."Hurry up and chase after her!" Several people quickly set off in my direction.The guy called Asher suddenly murmured, "Found her."Upon hearing this, I turned around alertly.I saw him slowly getting up, watching his buddies rush off with a smirk on his face. Feeling weird, I still turned around and kept running.I ran as fast as I could, but the jungle terrain was rough and uneven, with the occasional snakes slithering across my path.The sky was darkening, and sweat drenched my clothes.The pursuers were closing in, turning our chase into a tense game of cat and mouse."Run all you want; let's see where you think you're going today!"Seeing that I was physically weak, someone se
Tabitha's POVMost of Derek's people were like him, quiet and not fond of smiling.But Asher was obviously an exception. He didn't play by the rules, full of evil.Asher got no response. Jamar smoked a cigarette and sneered, blood flowing from his shoulder, "You don't think she would be in the water, do you? Below is a rapid current. If she goes down, she will die."Asher ignored Jamar and continued, "This time I will break through. Tabitha, don't worry. I will do what you want for you."Jamar wanted to say something, but suddenly I emerged from the water with a splash.He was so scared that he wanted to scream, and I gave him a cold glance.All my disguises were washed clean in the water, and I even became fairer than before.With wet hair sticking to my cheeks, I looked around and all the men present were stunned."There was such a beautiful woman in the world!"Asher said, "I had already discovered your disguise. The scar on your
Tabitha's POVUnfortunately, I didn't feel the same. I was trembling with fear."I finally made it this far, Derek. Let me go. I have something else to do," I said.But he didn't relent. I tried to fight back, but Derek's strength was overwhelming.I was quickly held tightly in his arms, and he said, "Nothing is more important than your safety.""This is my path. If you truly love me, you should support my decisions.""It is precisely because I love you that I will not let you go down such a dangerous path, Tabitha. I would seek revenge for you in my way. All you need to do is return and fulfill your role as the Luna of the Black Thorn Pack."I stared at him in disbelief. "What are you saying? I have already said that I wouldn't accept you. It's impossible.""Nothing is impossible in this world."Just then, Alvin and Rolf appeared. I noticed Alvin holding a syringe.My intuition told me that it was not something good."What do y
Tabitha's POVI was fighting like hell to break free, but Derek knew me too well.I couldn't move one bit in his arms.It took me so much effort to come this far. I was so close to entering the Black Wolf Guild and shaking off Derek for good."No! I don't wanna lose my memories."Derek, don't make me hate you."What about the antidote? There's gotta be one, right?"I yanked on Derek's collar, but he just smirked stubbornly. "No, Tabitha, there's no turning back for me now."I fell back onto the ground, staring at my battered palms.Only I knew how difficult it was for me to come this far. I endured so much pain, and there were times when I thought I wouldn't make it through.It was those painful memories that kept me alive, and after all that struggle, here I was.I became stronger. And fear didn't own me anymore.I broke free from the cage I'd built around myself in the past, but now, Derek wanted to shove me back into tha
Tabitha's POVCrystal roared, "No, we couldn't lose these memories! They're our treasures, a part of our lives!"Of course, I knew that, but there was nothing I could do other than watch helplessly as those moments gradually slipped away, swallowed by darkness."Tabitha, be happy.""I promised to ... protect you well. Goodbye, Tabitha.""Sweetheart, don't worry. I'll protect you and your pups.""You're so beatiful, sweetie. I'm sorry for abadoning you for so long. I love you.""You are so amazing, Tabitha. You got the highest score on the test again.""Tabitha, I like you. Can we date?""Hi, little girl, here for bread again? Same old deal, right?""If my grandson dares to bully you, I'll definitely kick his ass.""Have you thought about studying abroad? You are the most talented student I have ever seen.""Kiddo, what's your name? I'll come find you."The faces of those I knew appeared before me as if bidding me farew
Tabitha's POVFeeling the warm sunlight pouring in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, I woke up, squinting my eyes, only to find myself on a big, fancy bed.My mind was a complete blank, and I felt a slight headache.It was like something had deleted everything from my brain, making me feel empty and hollow.I couldn't help asking myself inwardly, 'Who am I? And where am I?'Suddenly, I heard the sound of rushing water. Out of curiosity, I looked towards the bathroom, wondering, 'So someone's in there? Who is it?'I threw off the covers and got out of bed, stepping barefoot onto the soft plush carpet.Even though it was freezing outside, the room felt as warm as a spring day because of the heating.Looking around, I noticed that this room was decorated mainly in warm colors.The bed looked like a fluffy cotton candy, and the sofa, a white cloud.On the wall hung a massive photo of a girl in a wedding dress falling into some g
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
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