Derek's POV
As 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. WhenTabitha'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
Derek's POVAfter I punished the Omega who disobeyed my order, Leo gradually calmed down.I turned around, finding Daphne running towards me with teary eyes."Derek, listen, it's all Tabitha's fault," she sobbed.Then, she took my hand, hoping to seek comfort from me. But I just stood there, looking at her coldly.Noticing the aloofness in my eyes, she involuntarily took a step back.My gaze then shifted to Tabitha.She was still lying on the ground, obviously in too much pain to rise on her own.I rushed over, carefully helping her up.Though as cautious as I could, my fingers still accidentally brushed the wound on her back, making her wince.Seeing her in pain broke my heart.I immediately called out to Alvin, "Tabitha's injured. Go get Kamp, hurry."Alvin nodded and went for Kamp right away.I supported Tabitha, letting her lean on me.I could feel her warmth through her clothes. And her breathing sounde
Derek's POV"You! Bring Kyrian to me!" Daphne pointed at Alvin, commanding, like she was his superior.Alvin simply ignored her, not budging an inch.Noticing his reaction, she got frustrated and walked over to me, complaining in an injured tone, "You see that? I'm the future Luna, and he just flouted my order!"I glanced at her, replying, "Well, you ain't Luna yet. So he didn't do anything wrong."She glared at me, her eyes filled with disbelief."Derek, how could you treat me like this?" she cried.Her sharp, resounding voice was like nails on a chalkboard, making the already tense vibe even heavier.Annoyed at her fuss, I watched her with a frown, saying, "Calm down."But she kept shouting like she didn't hear it, "Calm down? Am I supposed to sit and watch that snake use Kyrian for her schemes?!"Unable to tolerate her nonsense, I cut her off with a roar, "Enough!"Just then, a knock at the door eased th
Tabitha's POVI strode out of Daphne's villa as fast as I could.Looking up at the clear blue sky, I took a deep breath.Recalling Kyrian's chubby face, I couldn't help cracking a smile. Then, Daphne's twisted face popped into my head, sending a chill down my spine. How could someone use her own child to win a man's attention?If I didn't lose my baby, I'd definitely pamper him, making him the happiest kid on earth.At the thought of my dead baby, I felt my heart broke into pieces.Taking a few steps ahead, I felt dizzy. My legs buckled, and I nearly fell to my knees."Luna!" Rolf called out, panic-stricken as he rushed to my side, steadying me.With his support, I regained my balance."Luna, you alright? Kamp's still in the villa. How about we go back and have him check you out?" he asked, all concerned.I shook my head, dismissing the suggestion. "It's okay. I'm just worn out. Btw, don't call me Luna anymore. De
Third person's POVDespite the overwhelming sense of shame, Tabitha found herself with little choice in the urgency of the moment.Her only thought was to shield her face, unwilling to let anyone catch a glimpse.The long dress cascaded down like a waterfall, making her appear as a wounded mermaid, pitifully appealing.Derek strode forward with determined steps, swiftly leading her away from the venue.Forrest followed closely behind, carefully holding Ayla and matching their pace."Get the doctor over here right away," Derek commanded urgently."Yes, Alpha Derek," Forrest responded promptly.Derek's mind was a whirlwind of turmoil. His desire for Tabitha was undeniable, but not under the current humiliating and perilous circumstances.Moreover, he was uncertain about the exact nature of the drugs Matilda had administered to Tabitha and the potential harm they might inflict.As the doctor conducted a thorough exam
Third person's POVThe entire venue erupted into an uproar as if a bomb had been detonated, shockwaves rippling through the crowd.Minds raced with speculation—where had this ultra-wealthy individual come from, willing to spend a staggering three hundred million dollars on a woman?Was this person out of his mind?This was Derek's first time bidding, and Matilda, who had been eagerly anticipating a chance to mock him after the auction, was caught off guard by the swift turn of events.Three hundred million dollars—did he even comprehend the magnitude of such a sum?"Sir, we have very strict penalties on this ship for the act of bidding falsely," Matilda warned through gritted teeth, her tone laced with a hint of menace.Derek calmly lowered his head, quickly wrote out a check, and held it between his fingers with an air of composure. "Here's three hundred million dollars."There was a bank on the ship, operating aro
Third person's POVHer words, laced with provocation and temptation, were like adding fuel to the fire, causing the flames of Derek's long-suppressed anger to burn even more fiercely.Matilda seemed to be walking further and further down a dangerous path from which there seemed to be no return.Forrest did his best to hold Derek back, preventing him from acting impulsively, while silently praying for Matilda.His demeanor was akin to lighting a stick of incense that foretold impending misfortune for her.He knew all too well that the higher she climbed, the harder her fall would be.Under Matilda's inflammatory rhetoric, the crowd began a new round of fierce bidding.This round was significantly more intense than before. The starting price was set at ten million dollars, but it doubled rapidly as if by magic, soaring to forty million dollars in the blink of an eye and continuing to rise like a rocket.The giant electronic scree
Third person's POVThe intense spotlight shone directly on Tabitha's face, highlighting her slender figure and accentuating the delicate depth of her features.Derek, who had always known of Tabitha's exceptional beauty, nearly lost his breath at the sight of her under the spotlight, his heart pounding with a mix of awe and admiration.Tabitha's eyes were adorned with silver contacts, a touch that transformed her entire aura, setting her apart from the woman he knew.The subtle shimmer of glitter on her exposed skin conjured images in Derek's mind of a mysterious mermaid stranded on the shore."Damn it, I should have kept bidding," Baxter muttered, his face a mix of annoyance and regret.The person beside him quickly offered consolation, "Mr. Rios, while the woman is indeed stunning, she's not an innocent young girl, as you can see from the age of her daughter. It's just a kiss; what does it matter? Once you have her in your grasp, you can d
Third person's POVIn this social circle, it was well known that Baxter Rios was always keen on various entertainment activities and was notorious for his indulgence in them.The Rios family was wealthy and had a deep foundation that left many in awe. However, when it came to certain matters, Mr. Rios was known to be particularly stubborn.Derek was deeply concerned. He really didn't want to get entangled with the Rios family.He was well aware that once things got out of control, the elder of the Rios family, Spike Rios, would become an extremely troublesome problem.Standing in the corner, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with worry, he occasionally looked warily towards the direction of the bidding.At this moment, Derek's hands unconsciously clenched and relaxed, his inner unease surging like tidal waves.At this time, only Mr. Rios was still continuously raising the bid, and just for the cost of unmasking, it had soared all
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