Derek's POV
Priscilla, who had clearly forgotten who she was, still had these things engraved in her bones. "Priscilla, just consider this place as your own home. Please go inside first." Tabitha also came to this house for the first time and casually looked around. I pointed to the nearby guest room and said, "I have had an Omega tidy it up. Priscilla can stay here for now, living with you every day. Maybe she can remember some things faster." "Okay." "Let her settle in first and get used to this place, then I will have someone give her a thorough examination." "Thank you." Tabitha's attitude towards me was always lukewarm as if I were the neighbor next door. I sighed helplessly, knowing that there was no way we could change things for the time being. "Tabitha, you still need to have a good rest. You haven't fully recovered. Starting today, I will arrange for someone to come and treat your hand. As for John, the medical team will prDerek's POV My brows furrowed as I continued to ask, "Which city?" "Priscilla couldn't remember clearly. Back then, she wandered around from her hometown without any purpose, just following other werewolves and going with the flow. She only said that the city was relatively close to the sea." "At that time, even the names of various places were constantly changing, and it would probably be impossible to find accurately based solely on such clues." "It's okay. Take your time to search. I'm already happy to have met Priscilla. It's like a sign from above. Maybe Priscilla will remember more things one day," Tabitha said. "Tabitha, it is true that there are clues, but you also need to be mentally prepared. Even if Shana, who was served by Priscilla, looks very similar to you, it could just be a coincidence. "It is normal to find similar people in this world, especially considering it was sixty years ago. There is a possibility that she has no connection to
Tabitha's POV After I finished taking a shower, I found Derek leaning on the leather sofa. His head tilted slightly back, his handsome face filled with exhaustion. His eyes were tightly closed. It seemed that he had fallen asleep. I glanced at him and didn't wake him up. Instead, I sat down quietly across from him and casually picked up a programming book. A cool breeze blew in through the window, and Derek woke up slowly. I looked at the desolate scene outside. It seemed like it would snow in a few days. The room was brightly lit, forming a sharp contrast with the dark and gloomy sky outside. On the table were freshly flown-in flowers, trimmed elegantly, with a faint scent of freshness lingering in the air. However, no matter how cozy this place was decorated, it could not change the relationship between me and Derek. The cold used to be outside, but now it was between us. Like before, when I saw him sleeping, I would definitely cov
Tabitha's POVOn the day when the first snowfall arrived, I went out.I thought pushing myself too hard would make my condition worse, but oddly enough, ever since I got pregnant, my abdominal wound had hardly bothered me at all.I didn't know if I had gotten rid of the wolfsbane in my body, but one thing was for sure: my health had stabilized and wasn't getting any worse.For me, that was the best outcome I could ask for.It had been almost a year since I'd really enjoyed a good shopping spree or just soaked in life.Standing in the hottest shopping center, I spotted this woman in work attire walking fast in high heels and a wool coat.As she was glancing around under the billboard, I walked over, calling her name softly, "Gloria."Hearing my voice, she whipped around to look at me, her face lighting up as she recognized me.Today, I wore a black wool coat. My hair had grown quite a bit, so I curled it up in a bun.A pair of simple
Tabitha's POV Gloria grabbed my hand anxiously and asked, "Goodbye? Where are you going?" "Don't worry. I just need a spot to chill for a bit," I tried to soothe her. "Well, I could tell from your outfit today that you're trying to clear your head. I mean, you look like an ice queen. Will it gonna take long?" she asked. "Well. Yes, I guess," I replied softly. "Alright, it might actually be a good choice for you to leave this hell." Gloria had always been lively and cheerful. But now, she didn't know how to comfort me because she knew that the suffering I had gone through couldn't be wiped away with just a few words. To shift my attention, she ordered many expensive dishes. With a smile, she said to me, "Tabitha, just eat whatever you want today. My treat. I'm loaded now, so don't hold back!" I chuckled, "Keep your voice down, or people will think you're a nouveau riche." "What's the big deal? I earned this myself! Tabitha, tell you w
Tabitha's POVThe next morning, I went to check on Dad, who was all skin and bones in bed, for the last time.His muscles had atrophied, and his face appeared aged and gaunt.The room was thick with the smell of medicine.I hadn't had the guts to come in here for days, for I knew that once I made up my mind, I would have to let him go.A heavy snowfall last night blanketed the yard outside.I pulled back the thick blackout curtains and opened the window, letting sunlight and snow swirl into the room.I hadn't sensed Dad's wolf for a long time.Looking at him, I whispered, "Dad, you haven't enjoyed the fresh air for a long time, right? It's winter again, and it's snowing."My right hand wasn't as nimble as my left one yet, but I could manage basic movements just fine now.Thus, before I came in, I scooped up a handful of snow and shaped a little snow bunny.Putting that bunny on the bedside table, I went on chatting with Dad.
Daphne's POVI also attended John's funeral.Sitting in a wheelchair, I watched from a distance as Derek held an umbrella for Tabitha. The scene of them standing together while snow fell all around them looked so dreamlike as if they were the prince and princess in some fairy tale.In the past few days, I asked Derek many times about John's whereabouts, but he never spilled a word.It wasn't until this morning that I heard the news of John, yet, it was about his death.I couldn't even get to say goodbye to him before he died, and he never knew that I was his biological daughter.Derek was ruthless indeed.It was the punishment for my sin, he said.But what did I do wrong?I'd been kept in the dark for so many years. And now, both of my parents tragically died because of me, and I was tormented by guilt every single day.At first, I felt like the luckiest person on earth.I had a venerable father, a loving mother, and a caring fi
Derek's POVTabitha halted and turned when she heard Daphne's heartbroken cry.The servant tried to help Daphne up, but she stubbornly crawled toward me.Her helpless, pitiful appearance reminded me of Tabitha a year ago when she begged me not to reject her.Now I felt so sorry for her."Aren't you gonna do something?" Tabitha crossed her arms, clearly thinking I was ignoring Daphne for her sake."You don't need to care about my feelings. I don't mind." I felt a bit hurt. I reached out and held Tabitha's hand. "Tabitha, you misunderstand. I never had feelings for Daphne. I agreed to make her my Luna out of obligation."Tabitha sneered, "Interesting. So you paid your debt by taking her to bed.""Tabitha, Kyrian is..." I was about to blurt out the truth.But as I closed my eyes, the image of me rescuing Tabitha from the sea that night flashed through my mind. She was barely breathing. A sharp pang of pain struck my heart.The mas
Derek's POVThe Thunderflame Isles, also known as the Hell Isles, was composed of five islands.This place was like a garbage disposal center, taking prisoners on death row and slaves from everywhere, which also made this place a breeding ground for fighting beasts.Anyone who wanted to survive here had to keep running and keep fighting.All the skilled werewolf hunters in the world had to go through the deadly fighting of the Hell Isles.The rule was that the participants of the new round of trials would be randomly placed on four different islands, starting the wilderness survival mode.Ninety percent of the werewolves were eliminated within three months, leaving only ten percent to advance from four islands to the main island, and finally determining the top three individuals.After the top three passed the test, they would be sold at a high price.Perhaps they would become a high-ranking guard of some royal werewolves in the future, or per
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