Derek's POV
Instead of returning to the Black Thorn Pack, I came to one of the hotels that I owned.
There was a private suite for me.
Sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room, I lit a cigarette.
I didn't turn any lights, and only moonlight shone through the French windows.
It was dark and quiet. The torment and the pain were eating me up.
My craving for Tabitha and my need to claim her didn't reduce after the rejection. It only grew stronger.
As I was lost in thought, the door opened, and Alvin brought Tabitha in.
"Leave us," I said to him.
Alvin hesitated, fixing his gaze on me. But he was my Beta, and he gotta obey my orders. So despite his disapproval of my behavior, he had to leave as I said.
When the door closed, I got up from the sofa and walked towards Tabitha. She instinctively took a few steps back.
"You scared of me?" My voice was cold and indifferent. I walked briskly towards her, lifting her chin with my finger. "Where did you and Orson go? What did you do?"
Tabitha pushed my hand away and snapped, "What's it to you? We ain't mates no more."
"I'm running out of patience." I suppressed my anger and desire. I looked into her eyes and said, "You don't want anything to happen to Orson or the Silver Moon Pack, right?"
"He took me home, that's all. We are just friends." Fear flared in her eyes, mixed with disgust.
That stung me.
How could she hate me? Did she fall in love with that jerk?
I could feel her trembling, so I draped my coat over her.
She immediately removed it, saying, "Calm down, Alpha Derek. I'll stick to the contract. I won't remarry."
I grabbed her wrist. The exact same place Orson had held.
Leo snarled as he smelt the scent of another werewolf.
Not just me, my wolf also had a strong desire for Tabitha. I was so eager to mark her again.
"Alpha Derek, your fiancée is still waiting for you. Do you want everyone to know that I'm your ex-wife?"
I ignored her words and said icily, "He touched you. Let's go clean you up."
Tabitha's eyes were filled with fear as my cold fingertips traced down her cheek.
She began to struggle desperately, but no way she was gonna wriggle free.
I dragged her into the bathroom.
"Alpha Derek, we are divorced. Let me go," she shouted.
But I hit the shower switch anyway. The cold water poured down, drenching her straight through.
Looking into her eyes, I whispered, "Tabitha, didn't I tell you not to let another man touch you? I don't like it, you hear me?"
"Turn it off! I'm cold, Derek. I'm so cold," Tabitha pleaded as she collapsed onto the ground.
"Well, how about I hold you. Will it warm you up a bit?" I crouched down and wrapped her in my arms.
"You're nuts!"
Tabitha trembled as she tried to reach the shower switch, but I caught her hand before she could touch it.
I leaned to her ear and growled, "Tabitha, even if I reject you, you're still mine. Get it?"
"Let go of me," Tabitha sobbed. "I told you there's nothing between me and Orson." She continued with a trembling voice, "Are you a tyrant? Why bust back into my life if you're leaving? If this is your new way of torturing me, you might as well kill me."
"Tabitha, divorce doesn't change squat. You're under my thumb forever."
She suddenly asked, "What if I died?"
"Nonsense!" Fear immediately engulfed me, and I roared, "I'll never let you die. I don't allow it!"
The light in Tabitha's eyes dimmed. She grabbed my collar and whispered in my ear, "Your love disgusts me."
"Stop trying to defy me. It won't do you any good."
I twisted her arms behind her, using my tie to bind her up.
"No! What are you doing?"
"You made a mistake, so I'll punish you," I remarked.
"No, Derek, you can't do this to me." Tabitha panicked.
I tied her hands fast before pinning her under the shower with a towel.
Tabitha struggled with all her might, but the unique way I tied her up made it impossible for her to escape.
Suddenly, Alvin mind-linked me.
"Alpha, Gloria's been waiting downstairs. She wants to see you."
"Tell her to wait in the lounge," I snapped back, ending the link.
I let go of Tabitha.
Her pleading voice softened me for a sec, but then I told myself that I gotta teach her a lesson.
So ignoring her angry protest, I left the room.
Soon, I came downstairs.
When I pushed open the lounge door, I saw Gloria pacing inside, edgy as hell.
She came over as soon as she noticed me. "Where's Tabitha?" she roared.