LOGINTabitha's POV
I meant what I said.My love for him was long gone. And all that was left was hatred.Just then, Crystal groaned in my mind, as if trying to comfort me.I stared at Derek, looking forward to hearing what chicanery he was gonna use this time."I know," he finally responded, his voice carrying a hint of guilt instead of the usual anger."Every single day, all I think about is how to wreak my revenge. Derek, stop wasting your time and energy, for you aTonight was a descent into a sea of desire for some, and a celebration of a plot coming together for others.In the master bedroom, Bonnie held a bottle of warm medicinal oil, half-kneeling beside Algernon's lounger.It was the formula Tabitha had prepared."Algernon, counting the days, we've known each other for decades," Bonnie said softly. "We've weathered so many storms together. In the blink of an eye, we've reached this age. Time really flies."Algernon reached out and tilted her chin up, his gaze conflicted. "You're still in your prime. I'm the only one who's actually grown old."Bonnie was more than a decade younger than him. Combined with years of luxury and top-tier cosmetic upkeep, the visual gap between her and the visibly aging Algernon was stark.Bonnie took his hand, her expression tender. "Don't say that. Everyone ages. Marrying you was the greatest stroke of luck in my life. Now, I only have one wish left—for our child
Before she could finish her sentence, Derek stormed in like a predator on the prowl.He pinned Tabitha against the wall with one hand and slickly locked the door behind him with the other.His heavy breathing hit her neck, his Alpha pheromones far hotter and more aggressive than usual.Clearly, the drug had fully ignited him. His deep eyes shimmered with a faint, golden glow in the dim light."Tabitha, you smell so good..." he whispered into her ear, his voice incredibly raspy.Of course she did. Between the cold water soak and the fatal attraction of the mating bond, how could she not?"Are you okay?" Tabitha asked, feeling like she was about to be crushed under his weight."No. I'm a mess." Derek's fingertips slid under the collar of her robe. That icy touch against her burning skin sent a wave of shivers through her body.Tabitha struggled, pushing against his firm chest, her breathing shallow. "You're crazy... this is the H
The reason Derek had downed that drink without a second thought was because, as the Alpha of the Black Thorn Pack, he had his own ways of dealing with things.Back in her room, Misha was so excited she could barely stand. The thought that Derek would finally be hers in a matter of moments sent a surge of adrenaline through her.She quickly changed into a piece of delicate lace lingerie she'd been saving, her curves hauntingly visible in the moonlight.Still, she remained cautious. She was terrified that if Derek were fully sober and saw her face, he might reject her.After weighing her options, she cut all the lights.Darkness was the perfect catalyst; between the alcohol and the drug, as long as he couldn't see her clearly, his primal instincts would take over.Once tonight was over, it would be a done deal.Misha let out a wild, triumphant laugh as she imagined waking up tomorrow and announcing her relationship with Derek to all of
Derek discreetly sniffed the liquid in his glass. It was a top-shelf single malt, the heavy peat and alcohol masking any subtle inconsistencies.He caught Tabitha's eye, and they downed their drinks at the same time.Across the room, Misha saw Derek empty his glass, and a smile bloomed on her face like a opening flower."Misha, what's got you looking so happy?" Bentley asked, sliding over like a piece of gum you can't kick off your shoe.The smile vanished instantly. Misha turned stone-cold. "Nothing. None of your business."To be honest, Misha wasn't even Bentley's type. But to gain a foothold in the Holmes family, he had to force himself to suck up to this arrogant brat.After being rejected over and over, his patience was hitting a breaking point. A dark, predatory glint flashed in his eyes."Misha, why won't you just look at what's right in front of you?"Bentley lowered his voice, his tone suggestive. "You've chased him fo
Under the cover of the ballroom music, a faint, hidden blush crept onto Tabitha's cheeks.It felt strange. In all the time they'd known each other, this was probably their first time actually dancing together in a formal setting.Derek didn't hide his intentions, wrapping his arm firmly around her waist and pulling her close, while her hand naturally found its place against his solid chest.They were parents to several children, yet in this moment, their hearts were racing like two teenagers in over their heads.Tabitha could feel a light sweat on Derek's broad palm—the most honest sign of a werewolf's physical arousal when facing his true mate.Misha, meanwhile, was standing on the sidelines, literally shaking with rage as her carefully laid plans turned to dust.Bentley saw his opening and moved in, trying to sound like a gentleman. "Misha, may I have this dance?""No," Misha snapped, not even bothering to look at him.
Cyrus pulled a cigarette from his pocket but didn't light it. He just flipped it irritably between his fingers, a look of pure, untamable frustration on his face. "I'm not looking to get married," he snapped."You're in your thirties, Cyrus. When exactly were you planning on starting?"Bonnie shot him a look. "Look at Derek. He already had—well, regardless, you're trying a girl out tonight. No excuses.""Women are nothing but trouble," Cyrus scoffed. Yet, for some reason, Tabitha's cold, stubborn face flashed in his mind."What trouble? Just go! These ladies have the bloodlines and the degrees to match yours. This is an order from your father. When the dancing starts, you pick a partner."Cyrus tossed the unlit cigarette, his eyes dark. "This sucks."He scanned the room. Every socialite in high-fashion silk felt her heart skip a beat when his gaze passed over her.Being the heir to the Holmes family meant he had the kind of powe
Mark's POV On the top floor, the air was filled with the fragrance of roses. They were in full bloom as if hosting a party that only I could perceive. I stepped onto the ground covered with petals, my gaze drawn to a woman sitting in front of a black piano. As the son of Justin, th
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 tw
Tabitha's POVDerek 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
Tabitha's POVThe storm had subsided a lot today, and it seemed the clouds were dispersing.I dialed Jasper's number, wanting to ask him about Matthew.In fact, whether John was my dad or not didn't matter. He had been nothing but good to me and given me all the fatherly love I nee







