Tabitha's POV I felt really relieved that shifters from the Black Thorn Pack were as respectful to me as before. Not everyone was as cruel as Derek, after all. I gave Alvin a smile, replying, "Thank you. But I'm gonna wait for my friend." Right after finishing my words, I saw Gloria walking towards me in a flamboyant red dress. She even wore sunglasses! Stopping before Alvin in her high heels, she took off her sunglasses and glared at him, "Are you messing with Tabitha again?" Alvin hesitated before speaking, "Why are you dressed up like this? This is the Moonshadow Fair, not a mating gathering!" I couldn't help but chuckle at Alvin's words. It turned out that Gloria went to get changed in the parking lot. No wonder it took her so long to return. "Even if it were a mating gathering, my mate would be an Alpha, not a Beta like you. Just go and mind your own business!" Gloria was always candid. Alvin shook his head resignedly. "Fine. Just come with me." "Thank you. But we've got
Tabitha's POVI gave Gloria a tug.Just as Gloria was about to leave with me, Daphne threatened in a low voice, "Gloria, don't push your luck.""You sure I'm pushing my luck? I haven't even made it public that you broke the marriage between Derek and Tabitha."Daphne's face looked particularly pale under the dim light.Gloria was glad to see Daphne's reaction. "I got evidence for everything you did. If you ever mess with me or Tabitha again, I'd consider making them public."Daphne gave Gloria a hard glare, but didn't say anything else.We didn't talk much any more.Because the auction started soon.As the only recipient of the golden full moon invitation, I sat near Derek.I didn't expect to meet Derek again so soon after we parted ways.It was just that we didn't talk at all, just like two strangers.I showed no interest in the auction at first.Until Lysander announced the auction of Hope Ranch.According to Ly
Derek's POVAs the hammer went down, the bidding for Hope Ranch came to an end. I got the ranch, but the joy of victory didn't last in my heart.My gaze followed Tabitha, her figure appearing lonely and desolate.Her sad look made me heartbroken.Although our mate bond had been severed, I could somehow sense her pain.Standing in the venue, I wanted to walk towards her out of impulse.My wolf Leo growled in my mind, telling me that Tabitha's pain had much to do with me."What did you feel?" I talked to my wolf in my mind."I can feel her pain. Go over to her. I need to know if she's our second chance mate." Leo's voice was deep and powerful, his words direct and honest.I furrowed my brow. "We lost her. She's no longer our mate. And I don't think there's a chance she's our second chance mate.""I need to confirm that!" Leo roared out his displeasure.I couldn't ignore Leo.So I went to chase after Tabitha immediately. When
Tabitha's POVUnder the soft lights of Duke Seafood Restaurant, Gloria and I sat facing each other. On the table before us were all kinds of fancy seafood dishes.The meal was a pretty penny, but I couldn't care less.I gently lifted my glass, telling Gloria, "You know what? The moment I failed to snag Hope Ranch, I realized all that cash meant nothing to me. Our friendship is way more precious than that. So here's to our friendship!" I clinked my glass with her.We chatted as we savored the dishes, her laughter dissipating the gloom in the air.She eased up pretty quick, but I had this nagging feeling of loss that I couldn't shake off.After downing a few glasses of wine, Gloria got tipsy."Tabitha, you always look so tough, like nothing could ever hurt you. It breaks my heart to see you like that. Sometimes I wish you could just open up to me. Tell me exactly how you feel instead of forcing a smile to reassure me," she slurred.She sounded b
Tabitha's POVEnraged, I spat through gritted teeth, "How dare you? Does Derek know he has such a vicious fiancée?"Daphne's triumphant laughter came from the other end of the line, "You saw how Derek doted on me last night. He supports my every decision."I gripped my phone, my nails nearly digging into my palm. "You can't just wreck it like it's nothing."Daphne snorted in a tone of disdain, "What are you talking about? I'm not wrecking it. I'm just planning its future."Despair filled my heart.Hope Ranch was Dad's dream, and he named it that way because it was meant to be a beacon of hope for those packless pups.Now, however, Daphne was gonna turn it into a den for aggressive rogues.They would become a formidable evil force, threatening the safety of other werewolves.Everyone would despise Hope Ranch, even dying to destroy it.I couldn't image how Dad would feel if he knew about it when he came around."You're digg
Tabitha's POVI had imagined all the possible scenarios on my way here. Now I was just gonna swallow my pride. To save Hope Ranch, it was worth it.Daphne smiled triumphantly upon hearing my answer. Then she waved her hand, and the Omega who had opened the door for me tossed a dirty, torn dress on the floor."Go put it on!" Daphne commanded.Before I could squat down, someone grabbed my leg—it was Kyrian, who I hadn't met for a couple of days."Mommy," he called out to me, sounding all cute and sweet. I found his pronunciation more accurate than before.I looked into his sparkling eyes, my face softening.Meeting my gaze, Kyrian extended his chubby little arms, murmuring, "Mommy, I want a hug..."Just when I was about to stroke his hair, the Omega rushed over and scooped him up."Let's go upstairs. Daphne's got important stuff to do," she told him.Not happy about being taken away, Kyrian burst into tears. He reached out for me
Tabitha's POV"Stop it, you motherfucker! Hey, you over there, can't you see I'm in danger! Come help me out!" Daphne shrieked, looking less frightened.Apparently, seeing me shift back into my human form boosted her confidence.The only Omega in the kitchen was already scared stiff. By the time she rushed over to help, I had unleashed an even bigger wave of Alpha aura on Daphne.The sheer power pinned Daphne down. After all, she was just a pampered rogue.She soon realized she was down for the count, even unable to get up, let alone fight back.My aura left her powerless, even talking was a struggle."Don't come any closer!" I barked, my tone icy.Petrified, Daphne stammered out, "Tabitha, if you dare hurt me, Alpha Derek won't let you off the hook."I scoffed, "Oh, yeah? You know what? He never let me off the hook. I've got nothing to fear. I don't get it. Why are you always trying to snatch everything from me? First, Derek, and now, Ho
Derek's POVThere was a mounting pile of documents on my desk, waiting for me to handle, but I couldn't focus at all.The memory of seeing Tabitha last night kept playing on a loop in my head.Her every look and every word evoked a complex emotion inside me, hard to put into words.I couldn't help closing my eyes, asking in my head, "Leo, let me know. Is Tabitha...our second chance?"Leo paused for a moment before sayin
Third person's POVMatilda was eagerly anticipating the sight of Derek's frustration and agony.The conditions she set were deliberately tricky. If Derek didn't pay, there would certainly be other men willing to bid.Thus, the initial unmasking fee was a must for Derek.The ten million was merely the starting price and, in reality, a clever way for Matilda to test the depth of Derek's wealth.She pondered to herself that if Derek could easily come up with the money, it would only buy a kiss, and the subsequent bidding for the right to use would undoubtedly require an astronomical sum. What would he use to continue competing then?On the other hand, if he saved the money for the later bidding, Tabitha would inevitably be kissed by other men.No matter how Derek chose, Matilda was determined to disgust him thoroughly and make him suffer in this cruel game.However, despite all her scheming, Matilda never expected that Derek had b
Third person's POVDerek took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.Tabitha and Ayla, dressed in silver gowns, appeared grand, vintage, and exquisite.With silver chains as accessories, they had a unique beauty.Ayla's face was unobstructed.When her innocent and angelic face appeared on the large screen, many were captivated by her heavenly appearance.She wasn't drugged, her large eyes clear and bright.Adorned with crystal and feather headpieces, she looked like an exotic princess.Her innocent eyes didn't understand what was happening. She didn't cry but stared curiously at everything around her, like a curious fawn that had wandered into a den of wolves.Her tender pink lips were slightly parted, and Derek could read her lips from the screen."Mommy, Wilmot."Derek's fingers had already touched his weapon. At this moment, he wished he could draw it out and shoot Matilda on the spot.The r
Third person's POVDerek's fingers dug tightly into the armrests of his chair. During the time Tabitha had been taken from him, he worried about what might have been done to her and the child.Although he was aware of the rule that "merchandise" must be kept clean before delivery, he couldn't help but feel anxious.When the host announced the first item for auction, his heart raced, and he breathed a sigh of relief when it had nothing to do with Tabitha.It seemed as if he had imagined Matilda would save Tabitha for last.His grip on the armrests tightened.As time ticked by, the audience's enthusiasm for the early items was lackluster, their attention fixed on the finale. They had been promised something special, and they were waiting for it.Forrest passed Derek water a few times, but he didn't take a sip.When it came to the grand finale, Matilda made her personal appearance.She wore a red, form-fitting dress and hig
Third person's POVDerek entered the auction venue with an upright posture and steady steps, blending into the bustling crowd.The auction had not officially begun, but the venue was already filled with noise and excitement, a cacophony of excited and thrilled voices rising and falling."I heard there will be a stunning beauty featured tonight," one voice said."I've heard that too. It's said to be a rare sight," another chimed in."These past few days on the ship have been utterly boring. With the ship about to dock, we must seize the last chance for some real fun," a third voice added.Everyone in the venue wore masks of various kinds, as if they were shields hiding their true selves.However, in Derek's eyes, beneath those masks lay ugly and filthy faces, immersed in this sinful transaction, chasing twisted desires.Derek had barely settled into his seat when a man approached hurriedly, his steps slightly rushe
Third person's POVThe Black Thorn Pack had withstood the test of time for centuries, and its resilience was not solely due to its business acumen.Derek's position was underpinned by the support of the royal wolf pack. Without it, his pack would have crumbled long ago.Even with his vast wealth, Derek would be vulnerable without the protection of this powerful backing.Derek's actions now threatened to upset the interests of many factions, which could severely impact his future and provide his rivals with an opportunity to strike.From a rational and strategic perspective, this was far from a wise move.However, what other options did he have?His beloved wife and child were in the clutches of others, and every path to rescue them was fraught with obstacles.In his heart, this was the most direct and only viable way to save Tabitha.Derek's heart was filled with helplessness and determination.He let out a soft s
Third person's POVIn the auction venue for living "merchandise," the atmosphere is always more heated and agitated than in those for inanimate objects.The guests had collected their entry number cards early and stepped into the venue with anticipation, each secretly speculating on what kind of "prey" they might acquire today.Their eyes gleamed with greed, excitement, and curiosity, as if they were about to participate in a grand and thrilling carnival, rather than a sinful transaction.On the eve of the auction's commencement, Matilda suddenly received a message from her subordinates, informing her that someone was attempting to prevent the auction from starting.Matilda immediately guessed who was behind this mischief, a disdainful sneer curling her lips.She whispered, "He arrived quite promptly. Ignore it, proceed with the plan."One of her subordinates, hearing this, showed a worried expression and cautiously advised, "He seems
Third person's POVWhen Tabitha uttered those words, her heart was filled with bitterness and helplessness, as if a dense cloud of gloom shrouded her soul.She could never have imagined that the person she once despised so much, wishing never to see again, would now be the one she invoked to try to escape danger.It was a tragic and absurd reality."If you don't believe me, look it up online. If you let us go, I'll pretend today never happened, and I promise I won't pursue this," Tabitha said, forcing back the humiliation inside and trying to make her voice sound calm.But the slight tremor in her tone betrayed her anxiety and fear.Matilda's henchmen, upon hearing Tabitha's words, began to persuade Matilda cautiously.One of them spoke tentatively, "This woman really seems to have some background. Maybe we shouldn't mess with her. Those rich folks are not to be trifled with. Once you get entangled with them, it's hard to disentangle
Third person's POVAfter being injected with some drug by Matilda, Tabitha felt as if all her strength had been instantly drained.Her body was limp, like a pile of mud, making it extremely difficult to even stand.Overwhelmed by intense drowsiness, she felt groggy, her head unusually heavy, her thoughts mired in a dense fog, and her reactions severely slowed.She could hear Matilda speaking clearly, but her brain, like a rusty machine, took several seconds to respond with effort.In her heart, she was screaming, wanting to escape this terrifying place, but her limbs seemed to be under a spell, refusing to obey.She was deeply worried. If she had been injected with drugs, she didn't know what had happened to Ayla or where she was.Had those perverts done something terrible to her?Tabitha was roughly dressed by several rude individuals in a gorgeous yet humiliating outfit.Then, someone meticulously applied makeup to her
Third person's POVDerek's health had shown a marked improvement over the past two days.With the ship about to dock in Seattle, all matters had reached a critical juncture.Following Derek's instructions, Rolf and Alvin had discreetly disembarked.Their mission was twofold: to swiftly return to the company with the various contracts Derek had meticulously signed aboard the ship and to handle the backlog of internal affairs, ensuring the company's operations proceeded smoothly and efficiently.And secondly, Derek, in his thoroughness, knew arrangements had to be made in advance to prevent Tabitha from suspecting his identity once she disembarked.Everything had to appear natural and reasonable.In the days leading up to this, life had been as calm as a tranquil sea without a ripple.Forrest, as usual, delivered meals to Tabitha on schedule, and the process had gone off without a hitch, with no errors or mishaps.But just