Mark's POV
I repressed my anger, fully aware that those from Poison and Wolf Shadow were all ruthless. I couldn't afford to provoke her. Seeing the woman move to make room for me, I sat beside her. I was so anxious, but I had to stay calm. I knew how to play the piano, but nothing beyond following a score and playing a clumsy piece. With the woman's lead, I put my hands on the piano keys left untouched for a long time. They began to produce sounds. I played slowly, and each note sounded so uncertain. After finally finishing the piece, I asked again with urgency, "Did you kidnap my daughter?" My eyes locked onto her, searching for answers in her reaction. The woman gave a little chuckle, and it echoed through the empty top floor, with a touch of eeriness. "I remember you came looking for a cure. Your mate is still in the ICU, right?" Her words stung me. "Do you have a way to save her?" I asked almost instinctively, desTabitha's POV From Elena's reaction, I could tell she must've thought Klein came to punish her. So after Klein allowed her to leave, she looked quite surprised. I knew that Daphne might also be in this castle, so I told Klein I wanted to stay. Albert soon came in, his voice calm and polite as he said, "Please follow me. Your room's ready." He arranged for us to stay in a suite. After making sure that there was no bug in the room, Klein asked, "What do you want to know?" I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "So you've known her for a long time?" "Yes, I saved her before," replied Klein in a low voice. "But when I found her back then, she was in pretty rough shape. Most of her body was burned, including 40% of her face. So at first, I wasn't sure if she was the one you were looking for." I was taken aback. "No wonder her voice sounds a bit strange." "Besides the burn, she had many scars on her body too," Klein continued, w
Tabitha's POV I saw the helplessness and despair in Daphne's eyes. "Tabitha," she began, her voice weak and shaky, "in fact, it's all Madam Rose's schemes." I gripped her hand tight, trying to push her on, "Who's Madam Rose? What the hell happened?" Daphne took a deep breath, like she was digging for some courage. "She's my mom—no. I should call her Megan now. She's been pulling all the strings." I stood there, listening carefully as she narrated the whole story, every word hitting my heart like a ton of bricks. When she finished, I couldn't help snapping, "So you knew your blood could save Mom, yet you denied it and watched her suffer? And even die? "Even if you didn't know she was your biological mother, you should've treated her like that! You have enjoyed her motherly love for so many years. How can you be so ungrateful?" My voice echoed in the room, filled with anger and disappointment. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.
Tabitha's POV When I tiptoed to the corridor, a man suddenly silenced me and pulled me to the terrace. The faint scent of incense told me it was Klein. Though I wasn't too surprised, I was still curious about what he was going to do. His sharp gaze directed me to look down. Down? I followed his direction and saw two figures on the lawn below from the terrace of the second floor. Even though one of them had their back turned, my keen senses immediately recognized Derek. He was holding a slender woman in a white dress by her wrist. What was he doing with Elena? Derek's goal was to eliminate Poison and Wolf Shadow in one fell swoop. So he knew Elena didn't die a long time ago but he didn't tell me? This thought sent a chill down my spine, but I quickly shook my head. He loved me, and no way would he lie to me about such a grave matter. This must have been some kind of coincidence; perhaps he had just discovered the truth.
Tabitha's POV I turned around and walked away, unable to endure their conversation any longer. Every moment spent there felt like a personal insult. My wolf growled deeply within me, echoing my pain and anger. "We have to go, Tabitha." Its sound echoed in my mind, carrying a subtle and imperceptible sadness. How ridiculous my love for Derek now seemed. Despite the misery Elena caused me and the Silver Moon Pack, Derek still spoke of her as the gentle one. My wolf whispered again, "Perhaps it was the Moon Goddess' mistake." I recalled the wolfsbane potion nearly injected into my body that night. I was almost about to die that day. Downstairs, Derek's every breath made me sick. He had professed his love and promised explanations, yet in reality, he was erasing evidence, preventing me from discovering the truth. Was this what he called love? My heart was filled with bitterness. As I left, I picked up a stone from the edge of the terrace. For a moment, I wante
Derek's POV At this critical moment, I was reluctant to trouble Mark, so I tried not to provoke her too much. When I saw Elena, all the complex emotions in my heart eventually boiled down to disappointment. I couldn't understand how the sweet girl from my childhood had transformed into who she was now. "Did you have plastic surgery on your face?" My voice carried a note of disbelief. The girl before me bore no resemblance to Zack. My wolf couldn't sense her presence either. Elena had been away from the Black Thorn Pack for too long, and she could no longer be recognized as a member of the pack. I had too many questions. "Yes," she admitted, showing no reluctance to answer. "Why did you get plastic surgery?" I continued to ask. She avoided any eye contact with me, "There's nothing to say to you. I can't stay here any longer. Leave. Just pretend you never saw me." I stopped her, insisting, "You left the Black Thorn Pack, ignored me as your Alpha, and hurt your Lu
Derek's POV Elena met my gaze straight on, her eyes reflecting profound fatigue and despair. "Yes, I've had enough of this life, so I escaped, wanting to see the outside world. But back then, I was still naive. I thought everyone else, apart from my mother, was kind..." Then, her voice trailed off. I asked, "Even if your mother hurt you, what grudge do you have against Tabitha? Why did you treat her like that?" "Tabitha." When this name was brought up, Elena's eyes suddenly turned cold. Her emotions surged as she grabbed my collar. "Do you think that I never went to you? However, back then, did you show any concern for me, your childhood sweetheart? You only had her in your mind. I saw you smile at her, dote on her, just like you used to do with me. She smiled so happily..." Tears, which she had fought to hold back, now streamed down her face. Elena cried out, "Do you know what kind of life I have been living all these years? What have I gone through just to see you
Derek's POV "Derek, why do you think I had plastic surgery and ran away?" The scars on her fair skin were horrific. Almost instinctively, I rolled up her sleeve only to see her arm covered with scars. I persistently lifted the sleeve of her other hand, which was also covered in burn marks and twisted scars. It looked really heartbreaking. "What happened to you?" I asked, my voice trembling with shock and concern. Elena suddenly pulled her hand away from mine, and an uneasy expression appeared on her face. "It has nothing to do with you. Like I said, if you don't kill me, I will leave. Whether I live or die in the future has nothing to do with you." Her words revealed a sense of determination and avoidance. I stood still with complex emotions. I wanted to stop her and ask her what she had gone through all these years, but she ran away without even looking back. I didn't even have time to react. My heart was beating rapidly. What had happened behind those scars
Tabitha's POV I kept quiet, not saying a word. It wasn't that I didn't wanna answer him. It was just that I didn't know where to begin. A moment later, Klein spoke again, "You know, everyone might be trapped in darkness sometimes. No matter how dark it gets, as long as you keep moving forward, you'll eventually see the light. "Tabitha, fate's brought us together. I'll be leaving this city soon, but if you ever need anything, you can always call me." "I'm already super grateful for all your help. But there's still no word about your sister, aren't you gonna wait a bit longer?" I wondered. Klein sighed heavily, "No, it's just wasting my time. Honestly, I'm not doing great, and I gotta head back home country for dialysis." Looking at Klein's face, which clearly showed signs of illness, I asked, "Is it kidney failure?" "Yeah," he answered softly. "But don't you have the best doctors there? Can't they cure you?" I asked, puzzled. "Tabitha, they're excellent doctors, true. Maybe t
It wasn't until the bamboo flute's melody faded completely that Misha collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.She felt as though she'd lost half her life force, every ounce of strength drained from her body.Initially planning to leave the next day, Misha fell ill that very night.Delirious and raving, she was swallowed by confusion.Back at their quarters, Rolf returned with a face flushed with excitement, eager to recount yesterday's events to Alvin in vivid detail.Gesturing wildly, he said, "You should've seen it—spectacular! Those snakes came pouring in from every direction, like something out of a horror movie. It gave me the creeps just watching."Alvin listened, his brow furrowing with each passing word.Recalling Alma's parting words— "See that you behave" —a nagging sense of unease settled in his stomach. Misha's illness felt anything but coincidental."What're you thinking?" Rolf asked, noti
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