Derek's POV
After 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 soundeDerek'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
Tabitha's POVI strode out of Daphne's villa as fast as I could.Looking up at the clear blue sky, I took a deep breath.Recalling Kyrian's chubby face, I couldn't help cracking a smile. Then, Daphne's twisted face popped into my head, sending a chill down my spine. How could someone use her own child to win a man's attention?If I didn't lose my baby, I'd definitely pamper him, making him the happiest kid on earth.At the thought of my dead baby, I felt my heart broke into pieces.Taking a few steps ahead, I felt dizzy. My legs buckled, and I nearly fell to my knees."Luna!" Rolf called out, panic-stricken as he rushed to my side, steadying me.With his support, I regained my balance."Luna, you alright? Kamp's still in the villa. How about we go back and have him check you out?" he asked, all concerned.I shook my head, dismissing the suggestion. "It's okay. I'm just worn out. Btw, don't call me Luna anymore. De
Tabitha's POVIf my memory served me right, Derek never mentioned him or anyone from the Black Thorn Pack visiting Dad.I scrutinized the photo, my brow knitting with confusion.Then I spot some tiny digits in the bottom right corner—the timestamp.My breathing hitched immediately, my eyes widening in shock.It was the day when everything changed. A day I'd never forget.On that day, Orson told me my wound was beyond healing. For the first time, I felt the agony of the mate bond breaking.It was when I decided to leave Derek, to go through with the rejection ceremony that would mark the end of us.Right in front of the Council of Elders, I got a call, telling me that my father came to but fell back into a coma because of an emotional blow.At that time, I had asked Gary about it, and he claimed that no one from the Silver Moon Pack knew about Dad coming around.Though something felt off, I chalked it up to a
Derek's POVThe next day, while I was engrossed in work at the packhouse, Alvin approached me with a cheerful look in his eyes.He was a wizard when it came to getting things done. According to him, he headed straight to the Council of Elders right after I gave the order, handing Hope Ranch over to the Silver Moon Pack the very day.To boost credibility, he even had the Council of Elders inform Tabitha about it.I gave him a thumbs-up after he finished his words."Alpha Derek, I'm sure Tabitha'll be grateful about it." His voice was dripping with glee.I remained silent, just tapping my fingers on the desk, the sound crisp and clear.I wasn't sure how I felt, actually. Part of me wanted Tabitha to see I was helping out, yet another part didn't wanna admit I gave a damn about her feelings.Masking the turmoil in my mind, I instructed Alvin, "Fetch me Matthew's report. I needa review the details again."A few days ago, I h
Derek's POV"Alpha Derek, I got a weird vibe from this Matthew guy," he added.After pondering for a while, I figured it out, "We've been played."I thought to myself, 'It all went smooth until I offered to come pick him up. Since he just vanished into thin air, he could've avoided being found in the first place. Maybe he was the one leaking his own whereabouts to us. Guess this is what he wants. Watching us plumb the depths of despair after getting our hope up.'"He dares to mess with us?" Alvin hissed.I mused, 'A rogue gaining benefits from so many packs has to be more than ordinary.'Snapping out of it, I snapped, "Let the Council of Elders inform all packs—whoever tells me about Matthew's whereabouts will be rewarded with ten million dollars.""Copy that. But what about Tabitha?" he asked."Keep her in the dark for now," I replied.Just then, the wound in my shoulder hit me again. I couldn't help grimacing."Alpha, you sho
Tabitha's POVWith every step Derek took forward, I stepped back. Eventually, he had me cornered right up against the sink.Feeling my back pressed against the cold mirror, I realized I got nowhere to run. His scent enveloped me completely.In his deep-set eyes flickered some complex emotion I couldn't quite get a read on.His hand gently caressed my cheek, his thumb rubbing back and forth on my lip, sending my heartbeat into overdrive.Then, he trailed his fingers down the back of my neck. An electrical feeling was left in its wake as the tiny hairs on my arm stand up to attention.My mind was in turmoil.Part of me hated him because of what he had done to Dad, while another couldn't say no to his touch.Suddenly, I felt Crystal whimpering low in the depths of my heart.She seemed to grow a strange desire for Derek—something closely related to our bittersweet love but went beyond our mate bond before.Puzzled, I closed my eyes
Tabitha's POVSeeing me, Rolf said to me all respectfully, "Luna Tabitha, Alpha Derek asked me to lead the way for you. We've laid on a huge spread for the party, and Alpha Derek even got a fireworks show planned."I gave a wry smile upon hearing how he addressed me. I'd corrected him quite a few times, yet he still called me that way. "Derek and I have already rejected each other, so you don't have to call me Luna anymore. Just Tabitha is fine," I told him.Rolf rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh. Then he gestured for me to follow him.As we headed into the manor, he started hyping up how swanky it was. Guessed he was hoping I'd chill and have fun.But he seemed to forget, everything here belonged to Derek and Daphne.I felt sick just standing here, let alone enjoying it.I made small talk with Rolf along the way. Soon, we arrived at the main building's entrance.It was basically a castle, having a total of five floors.Th
Tabitha's POV"Tabitha, it's been a long time! So nice seeing you here! When did you bob your hair? I missed your flowing locks. You look great either way, though."I turned around, only to find Holly beaming at me, all cheerful.Her words kinda reminded me of the motherly love I yearned for but never possessed as a child.Back then, I even feigned illness just so she could show a bit more care. I spent almost my entire childhood trying to make her love me. Sadly, it ended up in vain.She left me and Dad for Mark still. No matter how I begged her to stay, she wouldn't change her mind.After so many years, I had long grown disillusioned with her, even starting to hate her."Does it matter to you if my hair is long or short?" I piped up, looking her dead in the eye."Mrs. Sutton, you've never texted me after you walked out on me and Dad. And now, here you are, playing the doting mom out of the blue. Don't you think it's a bit late for that? You'
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
Third person's POVThis was why Tabitha had chosen Alvin over Rolf.She adjusted her waterlogged mask, now nearly peeling off, and swiftly exited the scene.Rolf muttered behind her, "Alpha Derek, don't go around hugging people. What if she gets clingy? Tabitha's still out there—what if she sees this and makes you wait another decade?"Derek remained silent."But seriously," Rolf continued, "the doctor's build and height are identical to Tabitha's. Just the face is different."Derek seized on this. "What did you say?""I said she looks like Tabitha, except for the face. Alpha Derek, don't get carried away—it's not like Tabitha to pop up just because you're poisoned. You've looked for her for three and a half years with no luck."Derek rubbed his temples, chalking it up to longing-induced hallucinations.Tabitha retreated to her room, exhausted from the sleepless night of brewing and changing medicines.
Third person's POVDerek loosened his grip slightly, allowing her to breathe. "Sorry, I can't see. No idea what's going on," he muttered."You're in a tub. No dialysis here—just using heat to sweat out the wolfsbane. I was checking your condition," Tabitha explained, her tone flat.Derek realized his mistake. "Apologies.""Now that you're more lucid, let's do a quick check-up. How do you feel?""Body's burning. Blind as a bat. Hearing's there but muffled, ringing in the ears. Headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, weak limbs...""Your entire body's under toxin attack. Recovery will take time. Don't stress. You're in good shape—should bounce back faster. Can you stand? Let me see your condition."The tub's dark liquid hid Derek's nudity, so Tabitha didn't push him to move.Derek suddenly realized something. "Wait, I'm naked?""Yep."Silence.His face twisted in discomfort."I'm a
Third person's POV"Are you serious?" Tabitha frowned. "This is life or death. Do you want him to die?""You don't get it," Alvin said quickly. "That woman isn't really Alpha Derek's fiancée. She made it up to convince Mrs. Atkinson to help. Derek's got someone else—someone he loves. If he finds out she fed him the medicine, he'll lose it.""So what? It's just medicine. I can't exactly summon his 'someone else' here," Tabitha muttered."Everything else is negotiable, but Alpha Derek's stubborn about this. He's loved Tabitha his whole life. He won't let another woman touch him intimately. I can't make that call for him. Any other ideas?"Tabitha froze. Tabitha? She hadn't heard that name in years."Since he loves Tabitha so much, where is she? Why isn't she here?""Tabitha left over three years ago. Derek's searched everywhere but couldn't find her. This time, he got distracted because someone hired a Tabitha look-alike. T