Derek's POV
On the helicopter, I tried to talk with Tabitha. But she was very careful with her words now, afraid of offending me. Realizing this, I leaned towards her. But she looked at me with alerted vigilance. After the helicopter landed, I took her off the plane hand in hand. Through peripheral vision, I saw her legs trembling. She was like a stray dog in the wild, particular wary of humans after experiencing their abuse. Whenever I looked at her, I would see fear in her eyes. Just like now, I didn't do anything. But her body shuddered when I simply gave her a glance. Although she was back now, she became even more sensitive and timid than before. She checked my expression carefully and no longer spoke out her ideas freely. I was annoyed by all of this. As soon as we arrived home, Chloe had taken Kyrian away to play. Tabitha followed me upstairs. As soon as she stepped into the bedroom, the door was closed behind hTabitha's POV I widened my eyes. I had imagined numerous scenarios about what Derek would do to me after he found me. It was just... I had never thought about what was going on now. He was like a traveler in the desert, longing for water. And finally, he found a pool of clear spring water. He kissed me carefully. My heart was pounding. Her long eyelashes trembled lightly in the sunlight, hiding the expression in his eyes/ I couldn’t read his mind at the moment. He was showing me the long-lost tenderness again. I was about to immerse myself in his tenderness. Then he suddenly muttered "mate". Crystal responded excitedly in my mind. I then realized that we were each other's second chance mate. Derek sniffed my neck. His breathed heavily around my neck. His sharp fangs lightly grazed my skin, causing a shiver through me. Crystal was longing for him. I realized that he was about to mark me. Bu
Tabitha's POVAlpha Obadiah's voice came through the receiver."Tabitha, finally. How are you? You OK?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.Leaning against the wall, I said softly, "Yes. Thanks, Alpha Obadiah."He seemed to sigh softly and then continued, not that anxious anymore, "Glad to hear that. Alpha Derek reached out to me after you disappeared, wanting me to help find you, but then he suddenly stopped me from getting involved. Seems he's found you."Then he paused for a moment before asking cautiously, "He didn't give you a hard time, did he?"Upon hearing his words, I immediately thought of that beautiful island.Swallowing the bitterness, I said, "No.""Oh, about that Ethan you asked me to look into? I've got some leads." Obadiah's voice became serious again.I focused at once. "He was the one who showed up at the werewolf hospital, wasn't he?""Yes. Witnesses confirmed that he was at the hospital. But what's weird is t
Derek's POVAs the wheels whirled through the night, I drove away from Black Thorn Pack and headed for 32 Seaside Avenue.Leo was not at all quiet. He roared with discontent in my mind."Why did we leave her?" he asked. There was an obvious complaint in his tone."She needed time," I said, trying my best to sound calm."Time? We almost finished marking her!" he retorted. "She's the mate we chose. We can't leave her alone there!"I tightly gripped the steering wheel and didn't respond.I knew Leo was right.When Daphne called, I didn't wanna go.But she threatened me that if I didn't come to see her, she'd ask the Amber's Eye Pack's Alpha to talk to me.I didn't give a damn about Daphne, but the Amber's Eye Pack was one powerful pack.Mark had already left the Amber's Eye Pack because of Holly.But I knew the Amber's Eye Pack's Alpha never really gave up on Mark. After all, Mark was his son.So, I had to say yes to Daph
Derek's POVI came back after dealing with Daphne, thinking Tabitha would be waiting for me in the living room.It was always like this. No matter how late I came home, I could always see her in the living room, sleeping on the sofa.She always kept a light on for me.But today was an exception. When I pushed open the front door, the room was dark, and Tabitha wasn't on the sofa.In the past, Tabitha would have met me by this time, grumbling and helping me with my clothes.She would nag and nag non-stop, but I liked her like this the most.Yet now, though the room was filled with warm air, I still felt cold.As I pushed open the door, through the light outside the bedroom, I could vaguely see a lump on the bed.Tabitha had already slept.I walked to the bedside and gently lay down beside her.Her unique scent lingered on the tip of my nose.I couldn't help but reach out and hold her in my arms.When I heard her wake up
Tabitha's POVUpon hearing Derek's words, I closed my eyes quickly.The next morning, I woke up in his arms.It had been ages since we slept together while hugging each other. The second I opened my eyes, I saw his handsome sleeping face.I suddenly felt that time had gone back three years when I could see him whenever I opened my eyes.He closed his eyes tightly. With a few strands of hair softly resting on his usually smooth forehead, he no longer looked that cold and aloof.There was a faint stubble on his tightly clenched jaw, and even in his sleep, he was still frowning tightly.I instinctively raised my hand to smooth his furrowed eyebrows.Yet after I lifted my hand, I realized that we were no longer mates. I was about to retract my hand when he opened his eyes at that moment.Our eyes met, and I saw fine dust flying in the air.My hand froze in mid-air. Either putting it back or leaving it there seemed a bit awkward.Whi
Tabitha's POV"Shut up!" Derek shouted angrily.My words pissed him off."Leo's in pain," Crystal said in my mind.I didn't have time to dwell on her words.Out of anger, I blurted out, "Derek, my family was ruined, Silver Moon Pack is on the verge of dissolution, and my dad has been in a coma. Everything happened because of you! Who gave you the balls to make me such an offer?"Derek pulled me out of the wardrobe with one hand, and I took the chance to punch and kick him hard."You think I'm gonna give in just because it's the second chance? No! And I won't be marked by you! Forget it!"After I finished speaking, I felt Crystal let out a painful whimper in my head.I knew the feeling well.Meanwhile, I saw a hint of pain flash across Derek's eyes.In the next second, he became even angrier. His face turned red, his eyes were filled with anger, and he raised his hand, about to hit me.I roared with fury, "Hit me! Better yet
Tabitha's POVWhen I pushed open the door to Derek's office, he was sitting in front of the desk, all zoned into his work on the computer.I scoped out his office setup, a hint of irony crossing my face. Who would have thought my first visit here would be as his ex-wife?After placing the lunchbox on the coffee table, I then fixed my gaze on him, who seemed too caught up in his work to even notice me.The night had fallen, and the city lights started to twinkle like a bunch of stars.Derek's handsome profile looked even more chiseled under the light, his jaw all clenched up.Neither of us spoke, and the room was dead silent.I couldn't read his mind, but I guessed he wouldn't blow up at me.After all, he didn't lose his temper after I went off on him this morning.With that thought in mind, I mustered up the courage and walked over, feeling his intense vibe the closer I got, even though he hadn't said a word.I had planned to suppres
Tabitha's POVThe purpose of the person who'd been lurking in the shadows was to tear me and Derek apart.Guessed he or she wouldn't be too thrilled about me and Derek being so close.Shame that I couldn't catch any vibe off the secretary's face to tell if she was the spy working for that mastermind.I piped up, trying to sound casual, "That secretary's got some nerve, barging in without giving you a heads-up."My voice carried a hint of jealousy.Derek wasn't mad, though. He just smiled and said, "Well, I won't fuss over the formalities when swamped with work."I hopped off his lap and wandered over to the huge French window.Staring out at the sea of lights, I couldn't help feeling lonely.Before I noticed it, Derek walked up behind me, asking in a low voice, "What's on your mind?"I said calmly, "Just imagining your engagement party with Daphne. Heard she picked the Magnolia Garden. It's definitely gonna be stunning."I knew
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