Derek's POV
Kamp looked at me and couldn't help but say, "Alpha Derek, we're talking about two lives here. Women have to go through a lot before finally giving birth. I think..."Obadiah might be slow, but the intense atmosphere made him feel something off. He asked, "What are you talking about?"I had already lost patience and got up to leave. "Prepare for the surgery."Obadiah grabbed Kamp's hand. "Tell me the truth. What surgery?"Kamp sighed and followed me while saying to Obadiah, "It's been a month. You tell me."Obadiah stood in situ with a confused look on his face.Then he caught up with us and asked me, "Alpha Derek, you love Tabitha a lot, right? Why would you want her to have an abortion? It's twins!"I didn't answer him.He continued, "Obviously, Tabitha has no idea. She discreetly texted me last night, asking me to do her a favor. You really think this is a good idea? Can you really bear to see her losing her babies now thatTabitha's POVAt that moment, my mind was completely blank.I felt like I was dreaming, thinking there must have been something wrong.I knew all of Derek's few good friends. Even if I hadn't met all of them in person, I had at least heard their names.There was no man named Alpha Leopold.I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.Maybe Derek deliberately chose someone unfamiliar because he was afraid of being noticed.I couldn't scare myself. Even if I lived in Alpha Leopold's house, it didn't prove anything.But what Gloria said in the next moment made me lose all reason."I said the house was my boss'. Do you remember the day we met? I was holding the bottle of folic acid to chase after you when he said something. He said that he knew you and that you were someone's crush. I was in a hurry to give you the folic acid and changed the topic to talk about work with him when I came back. I completely forgot about this matter."
Tabitha's POVJust then, the call ended abruptly, and I was out of options.I knew Derek, just like he knew me.During this period, I always thought that I was deceiving him in every possible way.Looking back now, I found that he was actually the one pulling the strings on me.I guessed by now, Alpha Leopold had already informed Derek, so I must escape.Right when I was stressing, Joanna came in looking for me. "Tabitha, what took you so long? The doctors have been waiting.""I'm not doing it. Let's go. We must leave immediately.""Why? Aren't there other tests to do?"I held her hand and pulled her out of the door. "I can't explain it right now, but in short, we can't stay here. It's way too dangerous."Joanna was confused. "The pack guards are here. Where is the danger? I will call Alpha Derek right now and let him handle it.""Fool, he's the biggest danger."I pulled Joanna and ran towards the outside. She insisted, "No
Tabitha's POVDerek stopped right in front of me, reaching out his hand, whispering, "Come on, be a good girl and follow me."He sounded so gentle like he was trying to calm a child, but it sent chills down my spine.Even Joanna sensed that something was wrong and instinctively stood in front of me."Alpha Derek, Ms. Hartley has finished her check-up. Let me take her back," she said.Derek finally shifted his gaze from my face to Joanna's, snapping, "Fuck off."Obviously, he was pissed. I didn't want to drag Joanna into this mess, so I shook my head at her."Just wait for me at the entrance. I need to talk to him."She looked between me and Derek and then waved her hand before leaving.Now that just the two of us remained in the hallway, I hurriedly spoke up, "Derek, let's talk about my pups."He stared at me icily before uttering a chilling sentence, "You're not gonna tell me they are mine, are you?""But that's the truth. Don'
Derek's POV Tabitha bit her lip, looking at me with a look of despair. "Derek, besides the twins in my belly, I've got nothing left. If you don't believe me now, just wait until they're born. No, in another three to four months, I'll be able to do an amniocentesis. By then, you'll know if you're the father." Anger boiled up inside me. "Tabitha, you've changed for the worse. You never used to lie to me. If I wait until then, the kids will be all formed up. The abortion's gonna have a significant impact on your body. Plus, you'll be even more unwilling to get rid of them when they are that big. I've consulted an expert. Doing an abortion now would cause the least harm." I stroked her hair, trying to soothe her, "Tabitha, how can you say that you've got nothing left? John's condition is improving day by day, and in one or two years, he'll fully recover, running the Silver Moon Pack like he used to. If it's Daphne that makes you feel insecure, I can assure you, I'm just m
Tabitha's POVI was placed on the operating table, and Derek stood by my side.He looked at me, who was in utter despair, his face showing a tangled mix of emotions."Tabitha, stop with the tears. I told you we'd have more kids later, a ton of them. Both me and our kids will be with you.""Derek, I have no future anymore. These two children are my only hope!"I still tried to talk him out of it. "Derek, just wait a little longer. In three months at most, you will know that I didn't lie to you.""Tabitha, I won't change my mind. Just hang tight. The surgery will be over soon."Derek seemed unwilling to stay here any longer, probably scared he'd cave.He turned around, ready to leave. Seeing this, I kept on pleading, "Derek, don't go, trust me! Why can't you just believe what I say?"Derek, they are your kids. You are killing your heirs!"You're gonna regret this, I swear!"With a bang, the door was closed. Along with that closed
Tabitha's POVI was already in extreme unease and fear, and Dr. Palmer's words just made me even angrier."Have you no manners or professional ethics? Is your job just a weapon to attack others? Do you even know me? Do you know the whole story? Who do you think you are to insult me like this?!"Dr. Palmer crossed her arms, looking pissed off.She darted her gaze at me, snapping, "Insult? I'm just telling the truth. Everyone knows Alpha Derek is getting married, but he brought you here for an abortion. What else would you be if not his mistress?"Then she gave me a once-over like I was some piece of trash. "These days, women don't seem to know how to behave. All they do is mess around instead of focusing on their studies, obsess about seducing others' mates like crazy. Bitches like you should have an abortion once you're pregnant, for you deserve to be alone forever!"Goaded beyond endurance, I broke free from my restraints and slapped her right across t
Tabitha's POVHearing Joanna's words, Rolf let out a furious roar, startling me."Aren't you a doctor? Is that how you do your job?!" he barked.The surrounding nurses were freaking out.In the world of werewolves, the werewolf hospital didn't belong to any specific pack, so the docs here were under no protection. They gotta be very cautious."Dr. Palmer, calm down. Even if she's Alpha Derek's mistress, she's still one of the Black Thorn Pack," one of the nurses pointed out.She was implying that if the Black Thorn Pack decided to make a fuss about this, they wouldn't be able to handle it.Just then, Rolf roared again, sounding really pissed off, "You were supposed to be doing her surgery like a pro. Why couldn't you just focus on your job? Who do you think you are? What makes you think you could insult her and even beat her? I'm telling you; this isn't over."Then, I heard him striding toward me. He fixed his eyes on me, saying, "Tabitha, thi
Derek's POVWhen I saw Tabitha, who was in a sorry state, anger and pity surged in my heart.Tabitha cried so hard that she couldn't even speak. How could she even get checked out like this?And how could I trust that doctor when she hurt Tabitha before the surgery even started?Dr. Palmer stammered as she tried to explain herself."Alpha Derek, it was all a misunderstanding. I thought this young lady was... Well..."But seeing her panicked expression and shifty eyes next to Tabitha's pitiful look made it clear to me that her excuses were just an attempt to dodge responsibility.I would never allow anyone to harm Tabitha. This doctor must pay for what she did."No, you weren't like this earlier! Alpha Derek, she slapped me first. It's her fault," yelled Dr. Palmer.Tabitha sobbed softly, "But don't you know why I did so? We don't even know each other, yet you called me a slut and said I'd slept with loads of guys. And you even claimed tha
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