Tabitha's POV
When Derek and I were in a deadlock, a shifter wheeled Dad in.Seeing him lying there, I felt endless bitterness in my heart.He was my only family, always looking out for me like no one else.My poor old man didn't know that Derek was why he ended up this way.I forced myself to hide the pain, not wanting him to find out anything.Derek's big hand enveloped mine, his voice gentle yet making me feel nauseous. "John, I'm sorry for being such a jerk. I was so busy with work that I failed to take care of you and Tabitha."I felt the heat from his palm, but it didn't bring me any comfort.Sure enough, Derek caged me again.He brought me back to Rose Manor, the place where he planted a rose garden just to impress me.I hadn't been here in two years, and the garden had totally overgrown.All kinds of roses swayed in the evening breeze as if mocking my past ignorance.Derek piped up, "Tabitha, from now on, you and JoDerek's POVI wasn't putting on a show.I was going all out to help John get back on his feet because I sincerely felt guilty for what I'd done to John and Tabitha.I had never served anyone before in my life. But when it came to taking care of John, I spared no effort.While working from home, I'd thrown just about all my time into John's recovery process.Over the past week, I'd witnessed John go from barely being able to string a sentence together to being able to slowly but clearly express his thoughts.His cheeks were less pale, too.Right now, he held my hand and said with concern, "Derek, don't just focus on me. You should pay attention to Tabitha, too. Don't ignore her."I assured him, "John, don't worry. I'll spend equal time taking care of you two."Despite Tabitha scoffing at my promise, I was sticking to my guns.Every day, after finishing taking care of John, I headed back to my room to schedule some treatment for Tabith
Derek's POVFacing Tabitha's disgust and resistance, I held her tight, not wanting to let go."Tabitha, can we be mates again? Let me mark you, okay?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation."The fuck you just said? Why the hell would I let you mark me? Just seeing you makes me feel sick," Tabitha shot back, her response sharp and straight to the point.I knew she probably thought I was insane, but I just couldn't help it.She added, "Oh, I get it. Now that Daphne's paralyzed, so you don't want her anymore, huh? You truly disgust me."Her accusation felt like a knife, piercing my heart.I knew I had to be honest with her now.The misunderstanding between us was too deep, and I didn't want to lose her again.I wanted to spill the truth, hoping it would win her back.So I furrowed my brows, replying, "It's not like that. About Daphne's matter, I can explain. She's actually..."However, before I could finish speaking, an Omega's
Derek's POVDaphne had gone through the death of her parents. I guessed she was filled with regret and fear all this time she was in the hospital with the comminuted fracture.She cried and said to me, her voice trembling, "I know I made a lot of mistakes in the past. Please, Derek, I promise it won't happen again. I'll learn to be a good Luna. I won't cause you any more trouble. I ... just want one thing. Please... Please marry me."I remained silent for a long time.Her request was like a heavy stone on my chest, making it difficult for me to breathe.Not getting an answer from me, she continued, "You promised Randall that you'd take care of me forever. You can't abandon me."She played the trump card, and I felt that I had already run out of excuses to turn her down. But when I closed my eyes, all that emerged in my mind was Tabitha's face. After quite a while, I replied somewhat weakly, "Fine. I promise you."Getting an affirmative answer, Daph
Tabitha's POVThe news of Derek and Daphne's wedding spread quickly and soon became a hot topic discussed by pretty much all the werewolves."Have you heard? Alpha Derek is gonna marry Miss Sutton this month. It's really happening. I heard they've already booked the hotel," an Omega shared the news excitedly."What should Ms. Hartley do? I thought she was the one Alpha Derek loved. He's always by her side," another Omega chimed in."I'm only sharing you with this. Ms. Hartley is his ex-wife. I thought they were gonna remarry. Miss Sutton was the reason why they went through the rejection ceremony back then," one of them said, lowering her voice.I was sitting in the corridor in the rose garden reading a book when I accidentally overheard their idle gossip.I calmly lifted my head and coldly stared at them. "You can gossip however you want. But do it where no one else is around. If my father hears any of this, you're gonna suffer."I warned them and
Tabitha's POVI almost burst into tears when I heard Dad's words. I had so many things I wanna ask him, for example, did he know anything about my real family at all?But I still chose to swallow back those questions when I saw his worried eyes.I had to be patient. His nerves hadn't fully recovered yet, and he couldn't be stimulated."Dad, I'm fine. I mean it. I just... I've grown up. I'm not that childish anymore," I said to him, trying my best to sound calm so that he wouldn't notice anything different."Alright then. Well, Derek is as good to you as always. I guess there's nothing for me to worry about."Dad reached out and ruffled my hair, his actions filled with paternal love."The doctor says I'll be able to walk around on my own in a week or so." There was a hint of expectation in his tone.In fact, these days, he had been able to take a few steps with the help of external force. The recovery wasn't easy, but he managed to hang in ther
Derek's POVI smiled helplessly, "John, I did some things that upset her. But you've got nothing to worry about. I'll see to it that she forgives me."Faced with John's concerns, I tried my best to show confidence and determination."I'm glad, Derek. I know you still love her." John's tone was filled with expectations and trust in us.Seeing the confidence on my face, he continued, "It's not easy for a person to meet someone they love and who loves them back, not to mention ending up together. Don't let the chance slip. You two are meant to be together."His tone showed his concern for Tabitha and his expectations of me."I know, John. I'll treat her right forever," I answered firmly, hoping that could reassure him.He smiled gently, "I told you already. You don't have to give me a foot massage at all. You're a pack's Alpha, and if word gets out, others will look down upon you."He always looked out for me and didn't want me to be looked down
Tabitha's POVI didn't take the retching thing to heart until the following days when I couldn't help but feel nauseous every time I saw the oil on the dishes.And I wasn't just retching anymore. I started to puke.I could no longer remain calm. Werewolves had more acute senses than human beings, and such an abnormal physical reaction greatly attracted my attention.Since I came back from the island, I hadn't taken any meds, and it had been quite a while since my wound hurt.At first, I thought it was just my old problem acting up, but these past few days, my vomiting had become more and more intense, which was kind of like when I was in the early stages of my pregnancy.Realizing that, I felt a chill run through my entire body.After I had a severe hemorrhage and gave birth to that stillborn child, the doctor told me that my body had been severely damaged, and it'd be very difficult for me to get pregnant again.I hadn't really taken care of
Tabitha's POV I quickly put my finger to my lips to stop the Omega from talking. And She shut up at once. "What's your name?" I asked. "Joanna Foster. I go by Joanna," she answered obediently. "What do you do?" She replied, "I majored in horticulture. I've been here taking care of the rose garden ever since I graduated from college." The look in her eyes was very pure, and after these days, I already had a pretty good picture of the personalities of those servants in the rose garden. While others were gossiping, Joanna focused on her job dutifully, never joining in on the chatter. Thus, I figured she could be trusted. "Can you do me a favor?" "Ms. Hartley, you don't have to be so formal. You are the employer, so you can tell me whatever you want me to do. I'm just glad I can be of help." I then leaned in closer and whispered something in her ear. Then I added, "Keep it to yourself. You think you can manage that?" "Sure, but
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