LOGINThird person's POV
"What... What did you say?""Maybe they were suffocated when they came out. Tabitha, don't be sad. You are only six months pregnant, even if you delivered them successfully, it was unlikely for them to survive."Now the most important thing is your health. You're still young. You will have other children.""No, I don't believe it. They won't just die like this. I've carried them for so long and went through so much difficulty, I...""Tabitha, the kiHe whispered it into her ear over and over, his burning breath making her shrink back. "Tabitha, stop trying to push me out of your world. You're my everything."Tabitha felt a bit helpless. She reached up and unceremoniously flicked the smooth forehead of the Black Thorn Alpha."Derek, please control yourself. This is Holmes territory. If the guards on patrol catch you shamelessly hiding out in my room, how exactly do you plan to explain this to those old farts outside?""If you kick me out right now, wouldn't that just prove to everyone that the Black Thorn Alpha never left the Holmes estate last night?" Derek tightened his arms around her like a brat, looking completely unbothered.Tabitha's temples throbbed. "...Then what do you suggest we do?""Wait for dark." A sly glint flashed in his dark gold eyes. "I'll bypass all the infrared security and scale the wall.""The outside is crawling with Lycan-level sentries.""Compared to the
Derek let out a cold laugh, his tone completely dead. "If apologies actually worked, you wouldn't be crying to me right now like a stray dog, Misha. There's an old rule in this world: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. When you and your mother were planning to trap me, did you ever stop to think about how incredibly unfair your cheap little stunt was to me?"Misha choked on her tears, her chest heaving violently. "I regret it... Derek, I swear I regret it so much! Please...""The rule of the pack has always been simple: you pay your own debts, Misha. Besides, do you think I'm crazy or stupid? Why would I waste Black Thorn resources to help a woman who tried to set me up?"Derek's freezing, brutal voice cut through the line like a judge's gavel, smashing Misha's last delusion to pieces. "As an old friend, I'll be sure to send a massive gift to the Rios on your mating day. Let me be the first to say congratulations on the wedding.""No&mdash
"Bentley and I... we had an incident last night."Misha ground her teeth so hard it hurt to speak, but the cold reality forced her to swallow the last of her pride. "Now he's got proof and he's forcing me to marry him. The Rios elders and their lawyers are already at our front gate!""Oh? And how exactly do you expect me to save you?" Derek asked casually, twirling a strand of Tabitha's hair around his long fingers."If you just show up... if you walk into the parlor right now and crash this, tell everyone you're marrying me, the Rios family wouldn't dare push it! I wouldn't have to marry that pig!"Misha sobbed, gripping her phone like a maniac. "Derek, I'm begging you, help me! I can't marry Bentley, I'd rather die!""Misha, do you hear yourself right now?"Derek let out a cold laugh, his deep voice cutting like a knife. "I don't love you, and you're not my mate. Why on earth would I play the knight in shining armor for some random girl? Besides, things between the Black Thorns and
"Ma'am, let's not make this uglier than it needs to be."Bentley took a step forward, a smug, menacing smile creeping onto his face.Even facing the high-status Lycan Luna, he didn't blink. "Misha's reputation is tied to the Rios family now. As an Alpha, I can't exactly sit back and watch my fiancée become the biggest joke in L.A., can I?"Bonnie ground her teeth, her nails digging so deep into her palms they almost drew blood.Never in her wildest dreams did she think that after running the L.A. social scene for decades, she would be outsmarted by a nobody Alpha from the Rios family.This time, she and Misha were backed into a corner with no way out.Bentley was clearly rubbing it in, playing the savior while reaping all the rewards.Meanwhile, Misha—the one who had started this entire disaster—showed none of the dignity expected of a high-ranking werewolf. She just curled into a ball under the duvet, bawling hysterically.Lycan Algernon sat in his wheelchair while Cyrus stood by the
"Miss Holmes has a very straightforward personality. She's easily manipulated by men with deep, hidden agendas. Honestly, you can't really blame her."Tabitha stood behind him, her fingertips applying just the right amount of pressure to his temples. "After an accident like this, she's actually the one hurting the most."Algernon was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected Tabitha to speak up for Misha, especially after how Misha had targeted her. "She's made life so difficult for you, yet you're still willing to be understanding. Agh... if she had half your maturity, I wouldn't be this worried."Tabitha knelt by his side, offering a gentle but confident smile. "She's just a spoiled princess. Why would I take it personally? The situation still needs a leader like you to take charge. Your stomach can't handle the stress right now—let me go make you some hot oatmeal.""You're very kind. I'll leave it to you."Tabitha went to the greenhouse to p
Meanwhile, in another guest room.Tabitha was curled up in Derek's arms. The distant commotion finally woke her, and she blinked her eyes open, feeling exhausted. "What's going on? Why is it so loud?"Derek was leisurely kissing her fingertips, his dark gold eyes full of post-coital laziness. "Who knows?" he said casually. "Maybe someone's little dream just turned into a nightmare.""It's barely dawn, and they're already at it." Tabitha tried to sit up, but Derek pinned her back down. "Even for a drama-filled family, they should have some boundaries!"Derek pouted, his voice low and gravelly. "You weren't this 'calm' last night, Tabitha. Acting like you don't even know me the second you get your clothes on... it really hurts my feelings."Tabitha rolled her eyes and pulled her robe tight. "I'm going to go see the show. Since everyone is distracted over there, you need to head out the back door now."She could hear Misha's sobbing from across
Tabitha's POVMy eyes slowly focused, and the first thing I saw was the collar of a crisp white shirt.My gaze drifted up, settling on a man's strong jawline. Turned out it was Derek.Just like that, any hope I had fizzled out.Well, it made sense. Dad was still out cold in th
Derek's POV"I don't think it's any business competitor. After all, all the bidding projects this year are quite normal. Then... If it isn't for commercial interests, why are these cameras here?" Rolf pondered."Find out every single person who has been in my office this past year," I s
Tabitha's POVIn fact, deep down, everyone knew I had nothing to do with the failure of the proposal.Yet I refused to cooperate, which annoyed Sonia.She'd give me a hard time if I didn't quit.I was just a newcomer, whereas my colleague had worked here for years. Of course,
Tabitha's POVI opened my mouth, and at that moment, I had the urge to let everything out.The thought flashed through my mind, and soon I remembered Derek's contemptuous face.He had mocked me countless times in the past, playing tricks and manipulating me. If I spoke up now, he m







