Tabitha's POV
I gave Gloria a tug.Just as Gloria was about to leave with me, Daphne threatened in a low voice, "Gloria, don't push your luck.""You sure I'm pushing my luck? I haven't even made it public that you broke the marriage between Derek and Tabitha."Daphne's face looked particularly pale under the dim light.Gloria was glad to see Daphne's reaction. "I got evidence for everything you did. If you ever mess with me or Tabitha again, I'd consider making them public."Daphne gave Gloria a hard glare, but didn't say anything else.We didn't talk much any more.Because the auction started soon.As the only recipient of the golden full moon invitation, I sat near Derek.I didn't expect to meet Derek again so soon after we parted ways.It was just that we didn't talk at all, just like two strangers.I showed no interest in the auction at first.Until Lysander announced the auction of Hope Ranch.According to LyDerek's POVAs the hammer went down, the bidding for Hope Ranch came to an end. I got the ranch, but the joy of victory didn't last in my heart.My gaze followed Tabitha, her figure appearing lonely and desolate.Her sad look made me heartbroken.Although our mate bond had been severed, I could somehow sense her pain.Standing in the venue, I wanted to walk towards her out of impulse.My wolf Leo growled in my mind, telling me that Tabitha's pain had much to do with me."What did you feel?" I talked to my wolf in my mind."I can feel her pain. Go over to her. I need to know if she's our second chance mate." Leo's voice was deep and powerful, his words direct and honest.I furrowed my brow. "We lost her. She's no longer our mate. And I don't think there's a chance she's our second chance mate.""I need to confirm that!" Leo roared out his displeasure.I couldn't ignore Leo.So I went to chase after Tabitha immediately. When
Tabitha's POVUnder the soft lights of Duke Seafood Restaurant, Gloria and I sat facing each other. On the table before us were all kinds of fancy seafood dishes.The meal was a pretty penny, but I couldn't care less.I gently lifted my glass, telling Gloria, "You know what? The moment I failed to snag Hope Ranch, I realized all that cash meant nothing to me. Our friendship is way more precious than that. So here's to our friendship!" I clinked my glass with her.We chatted as we savored the dishes, her laughter dissipating the gloom in the air.She eased up pretty quick, but I had this nagging feeling of loss that I couldn't shake off.After downing a few glasses of wine, Gloria got tipsy."Tabitha, you always look so tough, like nothing could ever hurt you. It breaks my heart to see you like that. Sometimes I wish you could just open up to me. Tell me exactly how you feel instead of forcing a smile to reassure me," she slurred.She sounded b
Tabitha's POVEnraged, I spat through gritted teeth, "How dare you? Does Derek know he has such a vicious fiancée?"Daphne's triumphant laughter came from the other end of the line, "You saw how Derek doted on me last night. He supports my every decision."I gripped my phone, my nails nearly digging into my palm. "You can't just wreck it like it's nothing."Daphne snorted in a tone of disdain, "What are you talking about? I'm not wrecking it. I'm just planning its future."Despair filled my heart.Hope Ranch was Dad's dream, and he named it that way because it was meant to be a beacon of hope for those packless pups.Now, however, Daphne was gonna turn it into a den for aggressive rogues.They would become a formidable evil force, threatening the safety of other werewolves.Everyone would despise Hope Ranch, even dying to destroy it.I couldn't image how Dad would feel if he knew about it when he came around."You're digg
Tabitha's POVI had imagined all the possible scenarios on my way here. Now I was just gonna swallow my pride. To save Hope Ranch, it was worth it.Daphne smiled triumphantly upon hearing my answer. Then she waved her hand, and the Omega who had opened the door for me tossed a dirty, torn dress on the floor."Go put it on!" Daphne commanded.Before I could squat down, someone grabbed my leg—it was Kyrian, who I hadn't met for a couple of days."Mommy," he called out to me, sounding all cute and sweet. I found his pronunciation more accurate than before.I looked into his sparkling eyes, my face softening.Meeting my gaze, Kyrian extended his chubby little arms, murmuring, "Mommy, I want a hug..."Just when I was about to stroke his hair, the Omega rushed over and scooped him up."Let's go upstairs. Daphne's got important stuff to do," she told him.Not happy about being taken away, Kyrian burst into tears. He reached out for me
Tabitha's POV"Stop it, you motherfucker! Hey, you over there, can't you see I'm in danger! Come help me out!" Daphne shrieked, looking less frightened.Apparently, seeing me shift back into my human form boosted her confidence.The only Omega in the kitchen was already scared stiff. By the time she rushed over to help, I had unleashed an even bigger wave of Alpha aura on Daphne.The sheer power pinned Daphne down. After all, she was just a pampered rogue.She soon realized she was down for the count, even unable to get up, let alone fight back.My aura left her powerless, even talking was a struggle."Don't come any closer!" I barked, my tone icy.Petrified, Daphne stammered out, "Tabitha, if you dare hurt me, Alpha Derek won't let you off the hook."I scoffed, "Oh, yeah? You know what? He never let me off the hook. I've got nothing to fear. I don't get it. Why are you always trying to snatch everything from me? First, Derek, and now, Ho
Derek's POVThere was a mounting pile of documents on my desk, waiting for me to handle, but I couldn't focus at all.The memory of seeing Tabitha last night kept playing on a loop in my head.Her every look and every word evoked a complex emotion inside me, hard to put into words.I couldn't help closing my eyes, asking in my head, "Leo, let me know. Is Tabitha...our second chance?"Leo paused for a moment before sayin
Derek's POVAfter I punished the Omega who disobeyed my order, Leo gradually calmed down.I turned around, finding Daphne running towards me with teary eyes."Derek, listen, it's all Tabitha's fault," she sobbed.Then, she took my hand, hoping to seek comfort from me. But I just stood there, looking at her coldly.Noticing the aloofness in my eyes, she involuntarily took a step back.My gaze then shifted to Tabitha.She was still lying on the ground, obviously in too much pain to rise on her own.I rushed over, carefully helping her up.Though as cautious as I could, my fingers still accidentally brushed the wound on her back, making her wince.Seeing her in pain broke my heart.I immediately called out to Alvin, "Tabitha's injured. Go get Kamp, hurry."Alvin nodded and went for Kamp right away.I supported Tabitha, letting her lean on me.I could feel her warmth through her clothes. And her breathing sounde
Derek's POV"You! Bring Kyrian to me!" Daphne pointed at Alvin, commanding, like she was his superior.Alvin simply ignored her, not budging an inch.Noticing his reaction, she got frustrated and walked over to me, complaining in an injured tone, "You see that? I'm the future Luna, and he just flouted my order!"I glanced at her, replying, "Well, you ain't Luna yet. So he didn't do anything wrong."She glared at me, her eyes filled with disbelief."Derek, how could you treat me like this?" she cried.Her sharp, resounding voice was like nails on a chalkboard, making the already tense vibe even heavier.Annoyed at her fuss, I watched her with a frown, saying, "Calm down."But she kept shouting like she didn't hear it, "Calm down? Am I supposed to sit and watch that snake use Kyrian for her schemes?!"Unable to tolerate her nonsense, I cut her off with a roar, "Enough!"Just then, a knock at the door eased th
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