Tabitha's POV
Derek put his hands on my shoulders and said, "Tabitha, Jasper approached you with an agenda. Remember that night on the ship when he was drugged? I checked the surveillance footage afterward. You know what? He saw Lyrique spiked the beverage, but he still drank it. Why do you think that was?""So, you knew something was off that night?" I asked."Yeah. I didn't wanna spook him, so I decided to be patient and play the long game. Although he was cautious, I still managed to find something."I discovered Poison and Wolf Shadow's underground base, so I took my men there, wanting to take them all down. He got mad, so he shot me.""Wait,are you saying he's a member of Poison and Wolf Shadow?""Yep."What the woman's assistant said the other night rang out in my mind again: Matthew had left to settle the score with Derek.So, the person I was looking for was right under my nose the whole time. Matthew was Jasper. He had been lurking byTabitha's POVDerek piped up again, "He never really cared about helping John. He just wanted to use John to manipulate you. After last night's fight, I bet those weasels have found a new hideout to lay low for a bit."They won't dare to make waves anytime soon, especially him. So you're not gonna see him for the time being."He placed his hand on my shoulder, persuading me, "I'm the only one you can trust, Tabitha. I always look out for you and want nothing in return. Tell me where John is, and I'll help you."Having learned all this stuff all of a sudden, I was at a loss.I didn't get it. How come things became so complicated?I always thought Jasper was a righteous man, yet he turned out to be a bloodthirsty monster.And behind Derek's affectionate façade, he had his own agenda.Who should I trust?Who could I trust anyway?Perhaps noticing my confused expression, Derek whispered, "It's OK if you don't wanna tell me. I just
Tabitha's POVIt was, of course, Daphne. She was the rudest person I'd ever seen.She stormed in like a hurricane and raised her hand, ready to slap me across the face."Bitch! It's you again! You just won't go away, huh?"Mark grabbed her wrist, disappointment in his eyes."You don't need to be perfect or even obedient, but at least, you can't be this mean."Holly almost died in front of you, but you weren't fazed at all and even kicked her!"And now you wanna hurt Tabitha too? I don't get it. What's gotten into you? How come you've turned into such a monster?"Daphne, don't go too far. Didn't I tell you to stay away from the hospital?"Hearing Mark's words, Daphne became even angrier."Like mother like daughter. They're two bitches alright. Don't you forget that I'm your daughter!"A crisp sound rang out as Mark slapped Daphne's face.Caught off guard, Daphne widened her eyes in disbelief."All these years, Holly has
Third person's POVDaphne ran out of the werewolf hospital, heartbroken.She had reflected on her actions these days and felt that what she had done was uncalled for—she almost got Holly killed.Thus, she brought fruits today to express her apology.But as soon as she arrived, she heard Mark saying he wished Tabitha were his daughter. How could she not be mad?And instead of helping her, Mark actually sided with Tabitha.As Daphne walked down the street, she felt so aggrieved, tears streaming down her face.A lot of things had changed, and she could feel it.Derek promised to marry her, but he kept postponing it.And he seemed to have no patience left for her, as using Randall's death as an excuse to make him do anything was no longer an option.In fact, even the sight of her disgusted him.Even Mark no longer loved her as much as before. When he looked at her, his eyes were filled with nothing but disappointment.She
Third person's POVAlpha Justin's words had Daphne scratching her head. As far as she knew, most of his friends were here at the Amber's Eye Pack, and he seldom had contact with other packs.So, who was this guest exactly?She acted like she was gonna left but secretly snuck back and hid behind a big tree in the square.She had thought she'd be happy that Holly was beyond saving, but she was wrong.She did indeed hate Holly a lot.Yet knowing that she was the reason why Alpha Justin wanted Holly dead, she couldn't help feeling guilty.Alpha Justin had protected the pack from many rogue attacks, so he had always been a hero in her eyes.Yet this hero actually did such a horrible thing to Holly just because she couldn't conceive. Daphne didn't know how to process the news.Suddenly, the Beta's voice sounded in the courtyard. "Ma'am, please wait here."Daphne immediately jerked her head up.The guest was a woman in a long black coa
Tabitha's POVI sent Derek a message, laying out all the chaos that'd been going down.Derek texted me back at once.Staring at his reply, I couldn't help but give a wry smile.I kept all of our chat history, and as I slid my finger up, I saw that most of the texts came from me, while he barely replied.Looking at all those desperate messages begging him to come back home, I felt like it was ages ago—even though it had only been six months.Shaking my head, I put away my phone and returned to Holly's ward.She was silently shedding tears, probably lost in her thoughts.Seeing me, she quickly dried her face and forced a smile. "Tabitha, I thought you'd left. Why are you back?""Mark seems a bit unwell. Guess he's exhausted.So I'll take care of you tonight in his stead."Holly waved her hand. "No need. Just go home. I've got a carer. I'm fine here.""Mark said you would be scared, so he's been staying with you at night. I go
Tabitha's POVIt was the man I took to the hospital the other day. I was in a hurry to get to the cemetery back then, so I left before he came around."Are you feeling better now?" I asked.He was dressed in a well-ironed navy suit, his shirt spotless and wrinkle-free, a dazzling sapphire ring on his finger. His face still looked a bit pale, though.I could sense there was something extraordinary about him.He didn't reply, just staring at me with a look of disbelief.Then it dawned on me that I hadn't even told him who I was. He didn't get to see my face that day, so he, of course, wouldn't recognize me.I introduced myself, trying to jog his memory, "I'm the one who got you to the hospital when you passed out that day."He snapped back to reality and murmured, "You look just like—""What?""Nothing. Thank you so much. Are you available now? I'd like to treat you to lunch to express my gratitude."I waved my hand. "Nah, i
Tabitha's POV Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Mark calling. 'Did he get a lead about my family?' I wondered. With that thought, I cut Klein off, "Sorry. I gotta take this." "Mark, what's up?" I asked after picking up the phone. "It's Holly. She's rushed to the ER," he replied, sounding anxious. Dumbfounded, I blurted out, "I'll be right there." Then I hung up the phone and turned to Klein. "Sorry. Something urgent came up. I gotta go." When I returned to the hospital, I found Mark standing by the ER door, his face ashen. Feeling worried, I immediately asked him, "What happened? Before I left, she seemed good. She even told me she wanted to have Canneles. How did she end up in the ER?" Mark looked at the bags in my hands and said in a broken voice, "S-she suddenly started to vomit blood." I quickly put the bags on the chair and took Mark's rough, callused hand. He always looked so tough, yet now, his hands were shaki
Tabitha's POV Rolf replied, "Alright, let me take you back home first. You've had a rough night." Since I couldn't get into the ICU, I'd have to head back for now. If it was Elena's doing as well, it threw a real wrench in my earlier thoughts. Elena was clearly after me. So why would she hurt Holly? Just when the truth was about to be out, I got confused again. I sighed deeply, not knowing what to do. Thinking of Holly, who was barely hanging in there, I shook my head, a wave of sadness washing over me. When I pushed open the door, I was slack-jawed. "Derek?" I exclaimed. Hearing my voice, he turned around, a spatula in his hand. "Welcome home," he said. He turned off the stove and came over, pulling me into a hug. "I've heard everything. Sorry for what happened to Holly. Come on, I made you roast turkey today." I melted into his familiar embrace. I wasn't sure if it was because I was just wiped out or if Derek's hug was just too warm, but I didn't pull away, just staying
Rolf was so focused on escaping that he barely had time to marvel at the spectacle unfolding before him."If this isn't a nightmare, I don't know what is", he thought, sprinting for his life.He knew if he fell, he'd be bitten to death by the venomous snakes.Never in his life had Rolf run so fast. He sprinted in the direction of the sound, desperation lending him strength.Up ahead, perched in a peach tree like a guardian angel, sat Hedwig.Her tiny fingers danced over a bamboo flute, its melody ringing in the charged air.To Rolf and Misha, however, the "ding-dong" notes felt like a death knell tolling ever closer.Snakes swarmed from all directions like a rising tide. Rolf knew if this kept up, they'd both end up as snake fodder.Panic clawed at his throat. Without a word to Misha, he unceremoniously dumped her onto the ground.Misha was still disoriented when she was roughly thrown to the ground. Before she could rea
"Agreed," Alvin replied. The memory of Hedwig's earlier glare at Misha sent a shiver down his spine.He had a foreboding that Misha might already be in Hedwig's crosshairs.Given that this was Hedwig's home turf, Alvin worried their group might not stand a chance in a confrontation.This added a layer of anxiety to an already tense situation.Meanwhile, Tabitha remained fast asleep, a serene smile playing on her lips.After a short play with the fawn, a pigeon flew in from outside the cave and landed on Hedwig's shoulder, cooing softly. Hedwig paused at the sound, glancing at Tabitha still lost in slumber.With a moment of hesitation, she quietly rose and tiptoed away, not wanting to disturb Tabitha's rest.Misha, who had always sailed through life with ease, had encountered her greatest challenge in the form of unrequited love.Ever since Derek had rescued her, she had vowed to marry him when she grew up.Throughout her
Hedwig nodded understandingly, her face lighting up with innocent joy.She carefully lowered herself onto the lawn and gently pressed a sweet kiss to Tabitha's cheek, her movements as delicate as a butterfly's wings.Her movements were incredibly gentle, for fear of disturbing Tabitha.Then, she sat quietly by the pool, watching butterflies dance around them—a scene so serene it could have been plucked from a masterpiece painting.Tabitha's exhaustion overwhelmed her, her eyelids growing heavier by the second until she drifted into a deep sleep by the pool's edge.Her long, silk-like hair cascaded down, and without her mask, her porcelain skin glowed.Compared to before, she seemed even more beautiful now, like a sleeping fairy, radiating an enchanting charm.Hedwig stayed by her side without disturbing Tabitha, quietly gathering herbs nearby with focused and skillful movements.The forest creatures adored her—a faw
Misha watched Tabitha and Alma walk away, her anger flaring up again.She glared at the back of Tabitha's head and instinctively touched her red cheek.Growing up, she had never been treated like this. The humiliation filled her heart with resentment."Once Derek's poison is neutralized, I'll make them pay", she vowed silently.Alban, seeing the hatred in Misha's eyes, felt a chill.He knew Misha's background—her family's influence was no secret. He'd brought her here out of concern for Derek's blood type.Having watched Misha and Derek grow up, he was well aware of their temperaments.Given Misha's current state, he feared she would cause more trouble.So, he tried to persuade her again, "Look, things are under control here. It's not proper for a young lady like you to stay. I'll have someone escort you out.""I'm not leaving, Dr. Weaver. I'm staying to take care of Derek!" Misha said stubbornly, turning her head
Misha's eyes welled up the moment she saw Derek awake. She lunged toward him, crying, "I've been so worried!"Derek sidestepped her embrace instinctively and said coolly, "I'm fine. I've delayed you long enough. I need to stay for treatment; you should head back."Misha's jaw dropped in shock.Misha had traveled so far and gone through so much, only to hear Derek tell her to leave as soon as he woke up."I need to care for you—your eyesight's impaired. I've already taken leave," she pleaded."You'll be fine. Rolf and Alvin are here. It's not convenient for you, a young woman, to stay," Derek insisted.Misha stamped her foot in frustration. "What's inconvenient about it? You're not married, and neither am I. Remember when we were on missions together? We took care of each other then, didn't we?"Alma happened to pass by and overhear the conversation, finally realizing that Misha had been the one making advances all along.
Derek jolted awake after an hour of sleep.In a daze, sensing someone beside him, he instinctively pulled them into his arms, exclaiming, "Tabitha, you came for me."Alvin sighed, "Alpha Derek, it's me."Derek fumbled blindly in the air, urgency lacing his voice, "Where's Tabitha? Where did she go?""You were dreaming again," Alvin explained patiently."A dream?" Derek frowned, confusion washing over him.But why did the dream feel so real? So real that he could almost feel the give of Tabitha's skin, recall the touch of her body, and even remember the warmth of her flesh. Her voice still seemed to linger in his ears."Tabitha's probably miles away. She couldn't be here," Alvin added.Derek's heart sank, the joy from moments ago replaced by emptiness. It felt as though he'd found his most precious treasure, only to realize it was just a dream.He bowed his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Right, how could I rea
At Derek's words, Tabitha was suddenly reminded of his words from years ago, when he had said the person in his dreams was her.She couldn't help but wonder what exactly this scoundrel had done to her in his dreams."Tabitha, hold me," Derek pleaded like a petulant child.Tabitha recalled the early days of their marriage. Back then, Derek was reticent and self-absorbed in bed, rarely showing any emotion or expressing his feelings.She often doubted whether he even liked her, if not for the fact that his actions left her bedridden the next day.Derek had locked all his emotions in an airtight box, allowing no one to peek inside.But over the years, their dynamics had done a complete turnaround.Now, Tabitha buried her feelings deep within, becoming cold and distant, while Derek had transformed into someone unrecognizably vulnerable and open.At this moment, Derek was like an overly affectionate, enthusiastic dog, intimately fami
Tabitha was deeply focused on listening to Derek's heartbeat. Irritated by his question, she simply hushed him with a "Shh" and said, "Don't talk." Her attention was entirely on his heart rate. She had no intention of being distracted by others.After finishing with his heartbeat, Tabitha gently pried open Derek's eyelids for a closer look.His pupils were dull and lifeless, making it impossible to assess the internal damage with the naked eye.It seemed that only after administering the antidote and conducting a professional examination outside could they determine the extent of the eye damage.Tabitha silently resolved that if they could just detoxify him, there would be hope for the gradual recovery of his other organs.At Tabitha's "Shh," Derek obediently fell silent.Despite feeling as though he were in a dream, he cherished this fleeting moment, thinking that even an extra minute with Tabitha would give him more memories to hold onto i
Derek clung to Tabitha like a koala to a tree trunk, refusing to let go.His voice was urgent and filled with longing as he declared, "Tabitha, you have no idea how long I've been searching for you! Every day, every night, your image haunted my thoughts. I was such a fool. If I had known you would vanish completely, I never would have let you go."Tabitha's heart skipped a beat at his words.Recalling her departure, she realized how strange it had been—how smoothly she had left.Back then, Tabitha had barely left when someone came chasing after her. Had Derek known of her plan from the start?If he had wanted to stop her, he could have nipped her plan in the bud."Why did you let me go, then?" she asked.Derek, lost in the joy of their reunion, poured out his feelings unreservedly. "I've always felt guilty for the wrongs I did you. I wanted to make amends."Tabitha gazed into Derek's eyes, noticing the red marks on his face.Despite his usual handsomeness, these marks added an air of