Chapter 3

Tabitha's POV

When I dashed to the hospital, they'd just finished saving Dad.

I rushed to the doctor and asked, "How's my dad?"

"Don't worry. Mr. Hartley's out of the woods now. Just keep him from any more shocks."

"Got it," I sighed with relief. "Thanks."

Dad was still in a coma, so I couldn't ask him what happened. I had to turn to the pack members, "Dad had stayed unconscious the whole time. How come he suddenly came around today?"

Silver Moon Pack's Beta quickly replied, "We don't have a clue, either. He came around this afternoon. We wanted to call the pack doctor to give him a checkup, but he wouldn't allow it. He just went straight to the packhouse. After he found the pack in chaos, he passed out."

He paused and went on, his tone guilty, "It's all my fault. I should've stopped him."

Something felt off.

Dad woke up the very same day I decided to divorce Derek?

It just didn't seem like a coincidence.

Yet I couldn't figure out the connection between the two events right now.

So, I reassured the Beta, "I'm gonna need you to take care of Dad. Don't beat yourself up. The pack has suffered a loss. As the Alpha, it's perfectly normal that he's anxious about it. By the way, did anyone visit him today?"

"No, the pack members didn't know he came around."

I nodded and left the ward.

When I was about to leave the hospital, the nurse stopped me.

"Ms. Hartley, have Mr. Hartley's emergency and hospital expenses been settled?"

"I'll pay as soon as I can, sorry," I replied, hiding my embarrassment.

After heading out of the hospital, I rushed to the Council of Elders, but Derek was nowhere to be seen.

I had to give him a call. "Where are you? I'm at the Council."

"I got some stuff to attend to. So I'm back at my pack," Derek answered in an icy tone.

"Can you come for the reject ceremony?" I asked, feeling helpless.

He sneered, "You think you matter more than the pack stuff?"

"I can wait until you're done. Derek, please, I'm begging you. I need money to treat my dad."

"Really? I'll take my time then," he snorted. "I'll be over the moon if he dies."

With that, he hung up.

Looking at the crowd passing by on the street, I felt helpless.

A deep sense of regret overwhelmed me.

Since I became Black Thorn Pack's Luna, I had become jobless, and I got no income.

Now that I lost Derek's love, I was no longer able to help Dad.

Had I not fallen for Derek, maybe I'd meet my fated mate, or marry some werewolf from Silver Moon Pack per Dad's arrangements.

My life would be mundane, but my mate would've been by my side whenever I needed help.

I walked down the street, feeling numb.

The rain fell all of a sudden, but it didn't stop me from marching forward.

Completely drenched, I found myself wandering back to Black Thorn Pack before I knew it.

The Black Thorn Pack's patrol members nodded at me and greeted me, "Luna Tabitha, good afternoon."

Their words inspired me.

I was still Black Thorn Pack's Luna!

I strode to the packhouse, went straight to the Financial Office, and opened the door.

"Tiffany, I wanna withdraw 20,000 dollars," I told the accountant as I walked in.

"Sorry, I can't help you." Tiffany casually took off her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone lofty.

I frowned and snapped, "I'm ordering you, as Luna."

Tiffany let out a mocking chuckle. "Alpha Derek has revoked your privileges as Luna."

"What?" I exclaimed, dumbfounded.

"You heard her right," a sharp female voice chimed. I turned around, only to see a face that disgusted me.

Daphne!

Tiffany's attitude flipped. With a sweet smile, she said to Daphne, "Anything I can help with, Miss Sutton?"

"I wanna buy a bag, and I'm 20,000 dollars short," Daphne said, flicking her golden hair.

"Got it. I'll withdraw 20,000 dollars for you right now," Tiffany said as she sat back in her seat and started operating the computer.

I took a deep breath and roared, "Are you nuts? She's not part of the Black Thorn Pack. She shouldn't even be here! And you're giving her pack assets just like that?"

"Tabitha." Tiffany rolled her eyes at me. "Alpha Derek authorized this. If you got any problem, take it up with him."

I turned around, staring at Daphne's smug face, and commanded, "As Black Thorn Pack's Luna, I have the right to expel non-pack members. Leave now."

"Luna? If it weren't for your trick today, you'd no longer be Luna," Daphne scoffed. "Besides, Alpha Derek invited me here. Who are you to kick me out?"

Clenching my fists in rage, I was about to unleash my Luna aura.

"STOP!" A voice filled with Alpha aura came from the door.