Tabitha's POV I fixed Holly with pleading eyes, hoping that she would agree. But before she said anything, a voice I knew too well filled the doorway. "Seriously? You came begging at my house?" I stood up in disbelief and watched as Daphne and Derek walked in. Then I whipped around back at Holly. Holly smiled at Daphne dotingly. Then she told me, "Daphne is Mark's daughter. I was about to introduce her to you just now. You're about the same age, and I'm sure you can be friends." Talk about a cruel twist of fate. Daphne's father stole my dad's mate. And now, she stole mine. Like that was not enough, they saw me in such a sorry state. I was literally a clown in their ritzy life. Of course, Daphne wouldn't miss such a perfect chance to humiliate me. She walked over and said to Holly in an ironic tone, "Friends with her? Not gonna happen. She's a thief. You'd better go check if anything is missing." Hearing Daphne's words, Holly started to scrutinize me. "What's g
Derek's POV Holly actually slapped Tabitha right before me! While I stood there in silence, my wolf Leo roared in my mind, "Damn it, Derek! What were you thinking? How could you let her insult our mate like that?" Recently, I'd been forcing myself to spend more time with Daphne, which brought Leo's wrath upon me. Now, I could hardly contain his fury. I used to believe that all I left for Tabitha was hatred. I thought I had gotten over her. Yet I was wrong. The moment I saw her stubborn expression and reddened cheek, my heart ached. Yet before I could even speak, Holly raised her arm again. She wanted to give Tabitha a second slap?! The nerve of her! Enraged, I immediately grabbed her arm. "Alpha Derek?" Holly looked at me in disbelief. I took a deep breath, suppressing Leo's anger, and said, "Tabitha's still Luna of the Black Thorn Pack. How dare you slap her in front of me?" "C'mon, Derek. Why so serious? Holly was just punishing her for disrespecting me. B
Tabitha's POV Watching Derek ham it up, trying to stick it up for me with all his bullshit, I felt ridiculous. Just when I thought my day couldn't be any worse, I heard a baby's cry. The kiddo was literally a mini version of Derek, with big eyes, a prominent nose, and all the stuff. I felt like my heart broke into pieces. And my last bit of hope was shattered. I used to believe that Derek loved me, especially when we first tied the knot. I remembered once he gently caressed my cheek and told me that he would take me as his destined mate even if I wasn't. He promised we'd have a baby of our own, and he would go the extra mile to make it happen. Then when I really got pregnant, he killed our baby with his indifference. I used to be puzzled, wondering why he became a totally different person all of a sudden. Now seeing the baby boy before me, I finally realized that all the good old days I had spent with Derek were nothing but an illusion. No wonder he was so eager t
Tabitha's POV Shortly after I hung up the phone, a black car rolled up next to me. Two tall, strong men got out. One was Beta Alvin, and the other was Gamma Rolf. Both were members of the Black Thorn Pack. "Luna Tabitha." Alvin nodded at me, as politely as he always did. It had been quite some time since I was addressed as Luna. Lump in my throat, I asked, "Beta Alvin, I just came out from a friend's place. Can you take me back to the Black Thorn Pack?" They looked puzzled as if wondering why I didn't turn to Derek. "I guess you've heard that Alpha Derek and I are about to have the rejection ceremony soon. I wanna stay in peace with him until then," I quickly added. When I reigned the Black Thorn Pack as Luna, I got along well with Alvin and Rolf. So after hearing my explanation, Alvin immediately agreed. "Let's go then." "Can we swing by 32 Seaside Avenue first? I've left something there, and I wanna take it back." That was where Derek put Daphne, and it used to be
Tabitha's POV "That's right." I went straight to the point, and he was faster at it. "You jerk!" I felt desperate, tears streaming down my face. "How could you treat me like this? And how on earth did the werewolves of the Silver Moon Pack offend you?" Derek remarked, his tone icy, "Tabitha, if you wanna know the answer, go ask your dear father what he's done." "What did he do? Just fucking tell me!" I shouted hysterically. Derek stood there, looking nonchalant. "Go ask him yourself." "So, marrying me was never about love?" I asked, sobbing. I tried to find some trace of warmth in his eyes but I failed. "That's right. I plotted to get close to you from the very beginning. It's all about revenge." "You hate me?" "Exactly. Tabitha, it's what you gotta go through for being John's daughter. I want y'all to live in agony forever to atone for your sins!" With that, I heard a painful whimper from Crystal. She was trembling, getting even weaker. And my wound started h
Tabitha's POV 200,000 dollars was a small fortune. Now that I had it, I didn't have to worry about Dad's medical bills for quite some time. According to the werewolf's agreement, after Derek rejected me, he would have to pay me alimony, which could be used to repay the money. After paying the bills, I finally felt relieved. Stepping outta the hospital, I barely took two steps before my world started spinning. It seemed that there had been too much to take in on a single night. And the running just now drained my last bit of energy. After taking two wobbly steps, I blacked out. When I woke up again, I found myself in a ward. I was put on a drip, the cold liquid slowly seeping into my blue veins. And my wound had also been bandaged. The clock showed that it was already the next afternoon. Before I could say anything, Orson's gentle voice sounded. "As soon as I got here this morning, someone told me you fainted at the entrance last night. If I had known this, I wouldn'
Derek's POV The moon's round orb shone high in the sky, casting its velvety light on the Black Thorn Pack's turf. It was bedtime, but I couldn't sleep, my mind in turmoil. As long as I closed my eyes, Tabitha's face would haunt me. Her stubborn look, the agony in her eyes... Every detail was etched in my mind. I gotta admit, restoring her rights as Luna was quite a relief, even if it was just to chill Leo out. After staying up all night, I got up early the next morning, spending the whole day dealing with pack biz. Hopefully, it'd distract myself from all the mess inside my head. My phone kept ringing, but the sight of Daphne's name killed my urge to pick up. After a while, I heard a knock at the door. "Come in," I grunted, rubbing at my forehead. Then the door swung open and in walked Daphne. Not expecting her presence, I asked with a frown, "What are you doing here?" She walked over, grumbling, "I rang you up a few times, but you didn't answer. Got a bit worri
Tabitha's POV The guy's kiss on the back of my hand gave me goosebumps. Then I realized, even though I had given up on Derek, I still couldn't stand other guys getting close to me. Having no vibes to chill at the club, I left with Gloria. We came on foot, so we decided to walk back, too. The cool night breeze was like a balm for all the drama. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Alvin. "Good evening, Luna Tabitha. Alpha Derek asked me to inform you that the reject ceremony's set for tomorrow morning at the Council of Elders," came Alvin's apologetic voice. The news took me by surprise. But soon, I figured out why. Since I felt pain due to Derek's intimacy with Daphne, he must've felt the same when that guy kissed my hand just now. As someone with a big ego, he surely couldn't stand it. With a wry smile, I paused my tracks a sec before answering, "Got it. Thanks." "What's wrong?" Gloria asked with concern when she saw me hang up the phone. I shook my head and smile
Third person's POVForrest's account seemed flawless at first glance, but Tabitha's heart was filled with doubts.This was not a small sum. It was three hundred million dollars, not three thousand or thirty thousand.Moreover, before the auction, no one could predict the final price, so the amount Wilmot would need to borrow would certainly far exceed three hundred million.Orson, though well-off, could hardly come up with hundreds of millions in liquid funds.Besides, she and he were merely friends, not lovers.And how could he have access to mercenaries?It wasn't that Orson couldn't do these things, but everything seemed unlikely for him.Yet, aside from Orson, who else could have lent a helping hand?It couldn't be Derek... As soon as she thought of him, Tabitha shook her head.Derek was supposedly still in Africa. He couldn't have rushed over so quickly.Even if it were him, he would have taken her awa
Third person's POVTabitha wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, but she gradually woke from her slumber in a daze.She moved her fingers, and the numbness and weakness spread throughout her body as if every muscle was silently protesting the previous ordeal.Before even opening her eyes, her body felt as if it was being pricked by fine needles, with waves of soreness following one after another.However, a strange coolness emanated from a certain part of her body, which instantly brought her back to her senses.She slowly lifted the covers and, upon seeing the unfamiliar yet soft and comfortable pajamas, was taken aback before a blush crept onto her cheeks.She subconsciously clenched her legs, her mind involuntarily recalling the previous ambiguous scenes, thinking to herself, "He was so meticulous..."The bed was filled with a faint scent, a mix of some cleaning products and a masculine aroma, suggesting that the man had meticu
Third person's POVAfter the mercenaries had plundered the ship's wealth, they swaggered away without a care.As dawn approached, Tabitha, still in the throes of sleep, was quietly transferred amidst the chaos.Derek, freshly groomed and composed, gently opened the door to a burst of invigorating sea breeze, the wind's caress gradually dispersing the gloom that had long lingered in his heart.The entire ship, except for the level they occupied, was in disarray. Ninety percent of the passengers had already disembarked, and the remaining ten percent were their own people. Over a hundred enforcers, tightly bound with ropes, huddled on the ground in disarray.Matilda, released from her restraints by Alvin, rushed downstairs with urgency. The restaurant, dance floor, luxury boutiques, and entertainment venues were all reduced to chaotic ruins.Stumbling and falling into the wreckage, Matilda's tears flowed as she lamented, "It's gone. Everything
Third person's POVThe soft sunlight gently bathed the vast ocean, the sea shimmering with a dreamlike radiance.The large ship, after a night of turmoil, finally regained its calm, drifting effortlessly on the sea like a light leaf.For the guests on board, the previous night had been nothing short of a catastrophic disaster.All the ship's infrastructure had been subjected to large-scale, wanton destruction.ATMs were brutally pried open, the casino left in disarray, and all cash looted clean.Items that couldn't be taken were either smashed to pieces or utterly ruined.Wealthy merchants stood naked and disgraced, gamblers with bloodshot eyes, having lost everything, huddled helplessly in corners, too afraid to make a sound.In such a critical moment, they knew that preserving their lives was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. Wealth was but an external possession.Matilda was forcibly dragged to a high place by Alvin
Third person's POVOn a distant rooftop, a man stood quietly, witnessing the chaos unfold from afar.When Manager Dalton, filled with fear and trepidation, called to inform him about the helicopters, he was initially delighted, thinking he had finally caught Derek off guard."Let them cause a ruckus. The more, the better," he instructed.Dalton couldn't help but wonder if his boss had lost his mind, questioning the logic behind such an order.In his view, if a single ship could bring down Derek, it would be a bargain.However, when he realized the arriving forces were private mercenaries, the man's face turned pale instantly.Derek hadn't used his men.This realization meant he couldn't link the events on the ship to Derek."Stop them, quickly!" the man shouted in a panic."It's too late, boss, they... ah!!" The call was cut off abruptly.Furious, the man hastily switched on the surveillance system, only to
Third person's POVThe one who kicked the door in was none other than Forrest.Gone was the simple and honest demeanor he displayed in front of Tabitha and Ayla; even the mask on his face had changed to one featuring a fierce demon totem.Standing there with the sea breeze at his back, he exuded a strong and imposing presence."Bingo, you got it. We're here for you," Forrest declared loudly.Matilda roared in anger, "Who are you? Do you know where you are? How dare you act so recklessly on this ship?"As she spoke, Matilda quickly pressed the alarm button. All the enforcers, upon hearing the alarm, rushed out with their weapons at the ready.Matilda seemed not to fully grasp the gravity of the situation, still snarling viciously, "Do you know what happened to the last person who acted out on this ship? They were minced and fed to the fish."At that moment, the personnel from the helicopters descended onto various decks in an or
Third person's POV"Don't bite. It hurts," the words echoed in Tabitha's mind, bringing back a memory from the past.When she first started her relationship with Derek, she had no sex experience.At that time, she found it extremely embarrassing to make any noise during their moments of intimacy, so she would always tightly bite her lips, refusing to let out a sound.It was on an unforgettable day when the man gently turned her chin, whispering these words into her ear.Tabitha vividly remembered that night as one filled with passion and madness.At this moment, she was completely unaware of how enticing she appeared.Her eyes covered with a silver scarf, the man slowly lifted her chin, forcing her to raise her head, revealing her long, swan-like neck.Her once neat dress slipped from her shoulders, exposing arms as white as snow and sexy, charming collarbones, with fine glitter on her skin twinkling a mysterious light in the d
Derek's POVI held her quietly, without any intention of pressuring her.I knew she was in immense pain and turmoil, and all I wanted was to help her escape this predicament."Ms. Hartley, we can discuss everything else later. The most pressing matter at hand is to resolve your current difficult situation. I understand you are an innocent woman, unwilling to submit easily to others. Still, the circumstances leave us with no other options," I took a deep breath and continued, "I can promise you solemnly that I will not disclose a word of what happens tonight to anyone. After tonight, everything will return to how it was, as if nothing had happened. If you don't have special feelings for me, I can... find someone else for you, like Forrest or..."Before I could finish, she reached out and gently covered my mouth with her hand, her eyes slightly reproachful. At that moment, my heart fluttered with a hint of panic."If there really is no other choice,
Third person's POVAs Tabitha spoke, her face flushed a deep red.Had it not been for the immense willpower forged through her chemotherapy, she would have lost control long ago.Derek gazed at her, a mix of shyness and allure, and despite knowing the drugs were to blame, his heart still raced uncontrollably."Alright, I'll turn away and not look at you," Derek slowly turned his head towards the window.In the pitch-black darkness, the sea appeared particularly gloomy and oppressive.The approaching roar of helicopter blades grew louder in the sky, signaling that the true revelry of the night was about to begin.About ten minutes later, Derek suddenly heard a soft moan from behind him.He quickly turned to see Tabitha, her face rosy and flushed, not only her hair and body drenched, but her eyes as well, as if misted over with steam, glistening and red-rimmed at the corners, exuding an irresistible, fatal sex appeal."Are