Derek's POV
When I arrived at the baby care store, I finally got a taste of what Tabitha must've felt back then.Kyrian was my first child. Logically speaking, I should have cared for him more than anyone else. However, at that time, Elena's death became the biggest rift between us.Looking at all those tiny and colorful clothes, I finally understood why Tabitha had so much to say back then.No wonder her eyes would shine with excitement whenever she talked about our baby.Everything for babies could melt your heart. They were so small and soft, yet they could smooth out all the rough edges in life."Wow, Alpha Derek, check out this little horse. It's so cute! And this toy gun too."It was funny how Rolf seemed to be even more thrilled than me.The salesperson on the side rushed over to my side after taking a glance at my outfit. Well, it made sense. Just the cost of the watch on my wrist could probably buy out this place with sone change leftJoanna's POVAfter what happened at the hospital, Tabitha seemed to become a total zombie, looking lifeless and dejected.Looking at her, I felt so worried.The spark in her eyes brought about by her pregnancy had vanished. Even though the swelling on her face had gone down a bit, she looked pale as a ghost.She just sat quietly by the window, staring blankly at the rain outside, completely zoned out."Tabitha, you must be starving. The kitchen just made spaghetti with meat sauce. You told me you wanted it a few days ago, didn't you? Why don't you give it a try and see if it's what you're craving?" I asked softly."Just leave it there. I'm not hungry," she replied flatly, no emotion in her voice."You've gotta eat something—even if it's just for the kids."I knew that it was the only topic that could persuade her to do something.Seeing her nod, I quickly handed her the fork and knife."Eat while it's hot! I snuck a taste earli
Tabitha's POVAlthough I managed to keep my twins, I felt like Derek took away the last bit of light in my world.He already knew he was their father. From now on, he would definitely not let me go.But I had already grown tired of this game.I felt like I was trapped under a huge net, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape.I didn't know how to seek revenge, nor could I see any glimmer of hope.I couldn't do anything while I was pregnant. I could only rub my belly over and over again.Every day, I prayed to the Moon Goddess that I could safely give birth to my babies.I was getting more and more depressed, even talking less to Dad.His legs had gotten a lot better, and he could now walk freely around the house without needing assistance.It was already summer, and it was getting hotter. I was dozing off on a lounge chair under the shade of a tree.When I woke up, I found that someone had covered me with a blanket. Da
Tabitha's POVDad's face went from astonishment to shock and finally settled on a happy emotion. "Really?"I watched Dad's reaction and had some guesses in my mind.Although I didn't know his exact thoughts, from the change in his expression, I could tell that he might have thought that the conflict between Derek and I had reached a dead end.Now that he knew I was pregnant, his attitude changed. It made me realize that, in his mind, having children was a good thing."How can I lie about this? I'm pregnant with twins and it has been more than a month."Dad was extremely excited. "Great, that's great."I thought back to those days when Dad was seriously injured and hospitalized and I lost my child. By then, I forced a smile every time I went to see him, but I was getting haggard. Dad must have been worried about me all along.Now that I was pregnant again, he might think that there was still hope between me and Derek."What's the deal betw
Tabitha's POVDad looked up at the sky and said, "Then let me ask you, what would happen if I didn't let her go?"I remained silent, thinking about this question in my mind.Dad continued speaking, "I'd only get resentment and silent treatment. She wouldn't yell at me, but every day after that, she would hate me and this unfair world."There would be no light in her eyes, no smile on her lips. And even though I kept her by my side, I couldn't have her heart. All I got would be a broken family. Even you would have to grow up discreetly."I never forget how carefully you tried to please her. You were so little back then. While other kids your age enjoyed a carefree childhood, you had to do everything you could to win her favor, but in the end, you failed, right?"In this suffocating family, a battlefield without smoke, it wouldn't be long before you became like her."The reason why peacocks are beautiful is because they have a vast expanse of space.
Tabitha's POVFrom Poison and Wolf Shadow to Elena, I thought I had already found the answer.It didn't seem like that now.Yet, Dad was unaware of what had happened later."Tabitha, don't you trust your old man? Even if I wanted to find a new Luna for the pack, I would ask for your consent. I would only have a child when all the conditions got stable and mature in every aspect. How could I possibly do something irresponsible like that?"If it weren't for my dad saying it with his own mouth, I would probably have misunderstood it for a lifetime."Didn't she like you very much? How did she end up getting pregnant with someone else's child?"Dad sighed again. "This is what I often say about young people being impulsive. After she angrily left me, she went to a nightclub and got drunk. Then, she had a one-night stand with someone. Later, I found her and made my position clear. No sooner had we been together than we discovered that she was pregnant."
Tabitha's POVDad continued, "Tabitha, I have protected you well since you were little. You don't know the challenges that werewolves face in human society. Both men and women will do whatever it takes to climb up the ladder for power, money, and status.'""I know it now.""Back then, she spent long enough time on me. I was her best choice. Firstly, I was the Alpha of a pack, and secondly, I didn't have a mate while my only child was not in the Silver Moon Pack."If she could join the pack and become my mate, she wouldn't have to worry about anyone else taking her place. Most importantly, I am much older than her, and she would receive a lot of money after my death."Only after receiving a clear answer from me did she give up on pursuing others. Do you know who she targeted that night?"I suddenly felt a chill down my spine. "Who?""It was Derek."I was completely dumbfounded. "How could it be him?""Well, she has a high self-esteem. Mayb
Tabitha's POVSeeing me lost in thought, Dad cleared his throat twice, and I immediately looked over."Look at me. I was gonna talk about you and Derek, but somehow, we ended up on my stuff. Tabitha, don't worry. Derek's a good guy. He won't be messing around out there. Before you mated with him, I had people check him out. He has always been faithful."I didn't wanna talk about Derek at all, so I changed the subject."Dad, how much do you know about that girl?"Dad didn't want to dive into this again, but seeing that I seemed to be very interested, he added, "Her name is Lillian Brady. At first, I thought she was a smart and sensible kid. But later, when I learned what she had done, I realized I barely scratched the surface of who she really was. Why do you ask? Do you know her?"I calmly replied, "No. Just kinda interested in your relationship."Dad smiled gently, "It's all in the past now. All I want now is to see you happy."It seemed that
Tabitha's POVWhile I was lost in thoughts, Dad's words snapped me back to reality. "What's wrong, Tabitha? If something's bothering you, spill it. Don't keep it to yourself.""Dad, this is just a temporary spot for us. I'm thinking about where we'll live once the babies are born."Honestly, I didn't want anything to do with Derek anymore, but how was I supposed to escape with my twins in tow?And where could I even run to?My wolf paced restlessly in my heart. "The future is so uncertain. I really don't know what to do."Dad sighed, "I heard from Derek that he bought back the assets of the Silver Moon Pack. Why don't we just head back there?""I'll think about it. No rush. It's still early."I picked up the carpentry tools and said, "Dad, teach me. I wanna make something for my kids too.""Sure. let's get started," he beamed before patiently guiding me in carving.I tried to concentrate and followed his steps while my mind was still
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