Derek's POV
Leaving Tabitha, I headed to the private lounge on the second floor. I didn't know why, but recalling the expression on Tabitha's face before I left made me uneasy. If it weren't for dealing with Daphne's mess, I definitely wouldn't leave Tabitha's side. I felt like staying with her, protecting her. Walking into the reception room, I saw Daphne causing havoc and tearing the place apart. She stopped only when she saw me walk in. "Derek, what did it mean? You held Tabitha in your arms in front of everyone?!" Daphne shouted at me, her eyes filled with doubt and anger. I looked at her coldly. "Daphne, you planned all of this, and now you question me?" My voice was calm, but every word carried undeniable authority. "I just wanted to expose her true nature!" Daphne defended, but her voice had already lost its edge. "Expose her? You are only bringing shame on yourself," I replied with disdain in my tone. "Do you think you can acTabitha's POVDerek left after saying some words that I couldn't figure out.There was no reproach, no madness, and no question.What did that mean, the most correct choice?The door slammed shut, and a new round of fireworks soared into the sky again.I watched the fleeting brilliant fireworks, which resembled my barren life.Apart from the transient brilliance, all that remained was endless desolation and darkness.While everyone was immersed in the lively atmosphere, I suddenly heard a woman scream."Kyrian!"Did I hear it wrong?I rushed out of the room, only to see several men hurriedly running downstairs, passing by my door.One of them was holding Kyrian!I didn't know what had happened, but by the time I realized, I had already chased after them.Kyrian's mournful cry echoed through the corridor, but at that moment, everyone was immersed in the fireworks feast, even the wolf guards had been called away to set o
Derek's POV I had Alvin and Rolf call Alphas of the surrounding packs in the banquet to figure out a search plan in the meeting room. Afterward, I contacted some of the bosses who had cooperated with my company. All of this didn't make me feel relaxed for a single moment. Though a little restless, Leo did not affect me at that time. Finding Kyrian and Tabitha was our common goal. Kyrian, the little boy, had never left his family before, while Tabitha, though with Alpha blood, had to confront rogues. I frowned upon thinking of this and became even more uneasy. I blocked the news of Kyrian's missing. After the fireworks display, I ended the banquet ahead of schedule. The guests were still unaware of what had happened, but the Black Thorn Pack guards quickly arrived at the Rikta Manor to evacuate them. When everyone else had been sent away from the Rikta Manor, Daphne immediately started causing a scene. "Why not let someone g
Tabitha's POV While I was in a coma, I heard the call of Crystal. At the same time, I also felt my body constantly jolting. It seemed as if I was constantly floating and sinking in the sea. Her sound grew closer and closer, and when I finally heard it clearly, I gradually became conscious. Afterward, I felt sore all over my body. I opened my eyes, recalling the image before passing out. Oh! Kyrian. How is that child doing? I suddenly opened my eyes and got up, only to find a dagger pressed against my neck. "Don't move!" the person holding the dagger hoarsely reminded. I suddenly realized that I was in a dilapidated small wooden house, which should not be far from the seaside. I could hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. I glimpsed the man standing beside me dressed in black. The blade of the knife he held against my neck was very sharp, and there was no Kyrian in the room. I tightened my nerves and spoke
Tabitha's POV Upon hearing the conversation between Aiden and Noah, I was instantly speechless. They probably didn't know that Derek had spent tens of millions on Kyrian's birthday party. The Black Thorn Pack could be said to be the most powerful wolf pack in Seattle. If they had directly asked for 500 thousand, Derek would probably have left them with a whole body. But they kidnapped Kyrian, and Derek would definitely have thrown them to feed the sharks. For the first time, I felt that these rogues were a bit naive. Seeing that I remained silent, Noah weakly spoke up, "Um, can't they afford five hundred thousand? Then two hundred thousand is fine, right?" I sighed helplessly as I heard them lowering the ransom. "Oh my God, I heard before that these rich people owe a lot of money to the bank. Could it be that Derek is a poor guy? Then kidnapping his child is of no avail." I sincerely advised, "Why not jack up the price a bit? Otherwi
Tabitha's POV I took out my phone without any signal and opened the photo album reluctantly in front of those people. There were many candid photos of Derek that I took in the past, whether he was working, sleeping, or drinking coffee. There were also one or two photos of him sleeping while I made funny faces and took selfies beside him. These photos all reveal one message that we used to lead a happy life. There was another set of photos that were taken after I became pregnant, but by that time, Derek was no longer around. Only I held my bulging belly, with a faint smile on my mouth. "My story is true, but there is indeed one thing I lied to you about. Although I hate Derek and Daphne, their child is innocent. Last night, when I saw you leaving with the child in your arms, I didn't think much and followed along." I took a deep breath and said, "I didn't want to hurt the child, I wanted to save him. But I didn't expect to faint due to ex
Tabitha's POV I looked at the she-wolf in front of me, who had already turned completely white-haired. Her fingers were rough, and her face was covered in wrinkles, but there was a kind and uneasy smile on her face. Aiden had already taken off the hood, revealing a handsome face. He explained earnestly, "Julia was afraid of hurting the little guy, so she cut her own warm clothes. You should know that Julia only has one set, and it was a gift from Lucian on her birthday." I looked at the yellowed diapers, and my emotions were complicated for a moment. I smiled, "This one is good enough." Kyrian changed drastically in just half a day, taking off his branded clothes. He put on the clothes of the other werewolf children on the island. I had no idea how many children had worn it as it was scattered with patches. But it was thick and relatively warm. Kyrian was perfectly fine wearing it, following behind me like a little tail. So
Tabitha's POV I looked at the large pieces of meat on the plate and didn't know what to say. Aiden and Noah just hit their growth spurt, so they gobbled the food while praising Julia's skills. Lucian explained, "The food on the island was limited, so you had to make do with it." Aiden bit his lip and, although reluctant, generously pushed the plate of roasted chicken towards me. "You look so pale. You should eat a little more." As I looked into his sincere eyes, my heart ached even more. Even if others' kindness towards me was only as faint as the light of fireflies, it could still illuminate my entire life. "Sorry, I'm not very hungry. You guys go ahead and eat." I held Kyrian and left. The island at night appeared even lonelier under the quiet moonlight. Before long, a person had already sat beside me, and it was the silent and reserved Lucian. "No food available here if you got hungry at night." "Well, I know. I'm not hu
Tabitha's POV Upon hearing Lucian's words, I felt a hint of warmth in my heart. I had faced so many changes alone. Orson and Gloria supported me, but they couldn't confront Derek. "You were never alone," my wolf said in my mind. It was like being gently stroked by a pair of furry claws. I gratefully responded to her. Then I looked at Lucian and smiled slightly, saying, "Even if we killed him, it wouldn't change anything. What has happened could never be changed, and the damage is done." "But at least you won't be hurt any further," Lucian said calmly. His tone, though composed, held a fierce determination. He wasn't trying to comfort me. So, I said, "Don't provoke him. He's a madman. Madmen are not scary, but madmen with wealth and power are. Perhaps you think this place is like a utopia, but it's only a matter of time before he finds it." He listened to my words and fell into silence. I continued, "I have already used some of t
Third person's POVTabitha closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if trying to calm her emotions. After a while, she opened her eyes again and asked, "Were you also involved that night on the boat?""Yes," Derek replied without hesitation."Is Wilmot your man?" Tabitha's voice carried a hint of doubt.Derek paused for a moment, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, before slowly answering, "Yes, I was just too worried about you, so I had him go to protect you.""Then do you know what we..." Tabitha's words were cut short as Derek suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a stop on the side of the road.He turned to look at Tabitha, his eyes filled with sincerity and urgency, and said, "Tabitha, I am very clear about what happened that night. He was there to help you."Tabitha did not believe Derek's words. Her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment as she shouted, "Wilmot disappeared as soon as he came back. Forrest told me last night that he was dying. Was that y
Third person's POVDerek never expected that as soon as Tabitha returned, he would receive a call from Gloria.On the other end of the line, Gloria's voice came through, "Tabitha wants to see you."Hearing this, Derek's heart sank, and he sighed, thinking to himself, 'I knew it. I couldn't hide it from her.'On an evening with snowflakes drifting down, the sky was shrouded in gloom, and the snow fell gently, covering the entire world in a silver-white veil.Tabitha wrapped her coat tightly and saw Derek again.Since her staged death, Tabitha had only seen Derek through news reports.Now, as she approached him, she was surprised to find that he had become much thinner, his figure appearing particularly frail.Derek was dressed in a black coat, leaning quietly against the car. In just a minute, snowflakes began to fall on his head, accumulating a thin layer of white snow.Tabitha took a deep breath, calming her emotions, and then walked towards Derek.Looking at Derek, her eyes carried
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