Derek's POV
Standing by the street, I was gearing up to hit the mall myself to look for Tabitha. Just then, Alvin mind-linked me, all urgent-like. "Alpha Derek, we have a lead on Tabitha." His voice rang in my mind, sounding rushed. "Spill it! What is it?" I asked promptly. "One of our guys tailing Tabitha snapped her heading into a shopping mall. And a strange guy was with her," Alvin answered. "Lock down all the mall exits," I ordered immediately. "We've already combed the whole mall, but there's no sign of her. She should've left," Alvin cautiously replied. Angry, I cut the mind-link without answering him. It took me a while to calm myself down. Then, I mind-linked Alvin again. "Send me all the footage." I checked every video, trying to keep my cool, and finally, in one of the videos, I spotted her silhouette at an intersection. Even though her face wasn't captured, I knew it was her, along with a man walking closely beside hTabitha's POVThe speedboat was going fast. Sitting on the speedboat, I looked up at the receding shore.I could no longer see Derek's expression clearly, yet somehow, I felt he was smiling.The way he looked at me made me feel that he was a viper, and I was his prey.The thought of that gave me goosebumps all over, and those days being controlled by his sick obsession came back to me.His words kept haunting me. After the speedboat had gone a long way, I still felt deadly cold.I sat motionless, feeling that my soul had been drained.Lucian squatted in front of me and handed me a bottle of milk. I took it, and it was still warm. Guessed it was the temperature of his palm."I can take you back if you're scared," he said.I took a sip. The sweet milk dispelled the gloominess overwhelming me."I don't wanna go back," I said, clutching the bottle. "He'll lock me up in the room forever."Frowning, Lucian looked puzzled."He's a
Tabitha's POVStanding in front of Noah's painting, I could feel his unpolished spirit strongly.In the past, he could already create stunning works using black and white only.And now, the addition of colors enhanced his work even greatly.Staring at his painting, I felt relieved and happy."It's perfect," I said. Then I encouraged him, "Given more opportunities to learn, I'm sure you're gonna be something."Noah lifted his head, his eyes sparkling."I learn from the best, Tabitha. You'll stay here, right?"Feeling bitter, I answered hesitantly, "Yeah."Actually, I had no idea how long I could stay here.Derek's shadow and the unknown risks hung over my head like a sword that might fall at any moment.Noah said with concern, "Tabitha, you look terrible. And you've been moping these days. Are you worried about Kyrian?"Shaking my head gently, I said, "Not at all. Why should I? He eats well and sleeps well, and there are a b
Tabitha's POV Holding the pistol, I felt more powerful than ever. Lucian held me from behind and wrapped my hands in his palms, his voice echoing in the base. "Don't be afraid. Find your target and shoot. Just like this..." In the next second, the piercing sound of a gunshot rang out the shooting range. The gunshots echoed in my ears, and it felt like a shockwave passing through my body. For a second, all I could hear was my heart pounding. It was the first time I had experienced the power of a gunshot so close up. It was so loud that it almost took my breath away. I stood still, trembling involuntarily. Meanwhile, I felt my fingers tightly gripping the trigger, and my palms were sweating from nervousness. Lucian said next to my ear, "Like this. Got it?" His voice, soft yet firm, slowly roused me back to consciousness. I turned to look at him and realized that the shooting had shocked me. He noticed my reaction and qui
Tabitha's POVI picked up dead branches and dried firewood quickly. Suddenly, I felt a churn in my stomach."What's wrong?" Lucian, who was gutting the fish, strode toward me.He squatted on the ground and looked at me.I retched a bit was all. Stroking my stomach, I said awkwardly, "Nothing. I'm just feeling a bit uncomfortable.""Does it hurt a lot?"A drop of water fell on my cheek. I looked up into Lucian's concerned eyes beneath the mask.Water droplets kept dripping down along his hair ends.Only then did I suddenly realize that I was almost entirely held in his arms.I felt myself surrounded by the heat of his body mixed with steam, and somehow, things got weird.Even though we didn't touch physically, being so close to him made me a bit uneasy.Seemed he realized the same thing. He stepped away at once.After that, I said, "No. I'm just feeling a bit nauseous."On this small island, words traveled quickly.
Derek's POV I walked off the helicopter with Kyrian in one arm. I felt how excited he was while standing on the island. He waved his hands and shouted, "Mommy! Mommy!" I sneered, "Seems we're at the right place." Everyone was on high alert. After all, we knew they were armed. No one dared to underestimate such a threat. Rolf was no longer at ease. He gave rapid instructions into the intercom. Soon, several speedboats appeared on the sea, surrounding the island from all sides. More and more werewolves landed on the island. Finding Tabitha's whereabouts was just a matter of time. Kyrian struggled excitedly in my arms, wanting to get down. I put him down only after making sure there was no danger nearby. "Good boy, go find her." Tabitha, there was nowhere to run. Kyrian was like a well-trained military dog, very familiar with the environment on the island. Rolf shouted non-stop, "Kyrian, slow down, or y
Tabitha's POV I looked up at Derek. The sun shone on him but failed to touch the cold abyss in his eyes. His pupils flickered with anger, mockery, and contempt. "Derek, what the hell do you want from me? I don't even deserve to have my own life?!" My voice was filled with despair. We had already performed the rejection ceremony, yet his possessiveness somehow grew stronger because of it. Derek's gaze fell on Lucian's large hand gripping my wrist. Lucian noticed his gaze and imperceptibly stood in front of me. Their gazes confronted each other in the air, that of Lucian's firm and unyielding. "The mate bond between you is broken. She won't leave with you." His actions and words added fuel to the fire. Derek's eyes became unfathomable. Clearly, he was displeased. The surrounding air became tense as the aura belonging to the Alpha swept over. I knew Derek's wolf was angry. The sea breeze blew rampantly, stirring my slight
Tabitha's POV I knew it was impossible to escape my doom today. Fuck it. Guessed I no longer had to be cautious anymore. All the inhibitions I had been building up burst out right at this moment. "I hate you, Derek!" I almost shouted at the top of my lungs, expressing how dissatisfied I was with him. "I hate you for being condescending, and I hate you for being so moody. You were the one who betrayed me! Then why are you haunting me right now? Why can't you just leave me alone? You said my dad should atone for his sins. In case you haven't noticed, Silver Moon Pack is almost on the verge of disbanding, my dad has fallen critically ill more than once, and I've sacrificed my marriage and my kid. Tell me, is that still not enough for you? OK then! Take my life away if you want!" Derek's gaze grew colder and colder as I spoke. To be honest, I was very nervous, and my heart was beating rapidly in my excited state. "You drove me away when you felt like i
Tabitha's POV Everything happened in the blink of an eye. I stood in situ, facing the brown wolf that was about to pounce on me. His claws were sharp and gleaming with cold light. Time seemed to freeze at this moment, and I could see the horror in his eyes clearly. In this tense confrontation, I met his eyes, and all of a sudden, I knew. He was Aiden. He must have jumped out in a rush, and now, he couldn't control his movements in time. Just as Aiden was about to pounce at me, I saw Derek again. Derek held me close and protected me with his body. And that left his back fully exposed to Aiden's claws. Aiden's claws left several blood marks on Derek's back. In the next second, Aiden quickly leaped away so as not to cause further harm and landed on the ground. Alvin and Rolf quickly surrounded him. Rolf commanded, his voice carrying authority and control, "Shift! Now!" Aiden's body began to change visibly. His body gradua
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
Third person's POVForrest's eyes widened in sudden realization, his voice tense as he spoke, "Alpha Derek, you don't mean the ship's owner is..."He cast a wary glance around, checking for any surveillance cameras.Derek nonchalantly extinguished his cigarette, his tone affirmative. "Relax, I disabled all the cameras around us as soon as we boarded. Yes, it's him. He's determined to see me dead."A salty sea breeze swept over them, raising goosebumps on Forrest's skin.He had only ever known to follow Derek's orders, completely unaware of the intricate web of schemes and calculations hidden beneath.What kind of difficult and perilous situation was Derek in?Besides the discord within his family, he also faced fierce competition and endless machinations in his professional life."Alpha Derek, how should we proceed now?" Forrest asked, his face etched with confusion.Derek's gaze was deep and dark, his voice as cold as i
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