Tabitha's POV
"Tabitha, I'm not taking anyone's side. But this isn't the style of Poison and Wolf Shadow. If she really wanted to kill you, she could've easily found a way to poison you. Why go through all this trouble?
"You know that Megan's the leader. After Mark's death, she left Seattle with her crew, and Elena also left a few months ago."
Derek took my hand gently, his expression softening. "To hire Black Wolf Guild takes serious cash and connections. This person is straightforward and ruthless. Tabitha, think carefully. Have you offended anyone?"
I shook my head, replying, "You know my past. To become your mate, I dropped out of college. Who could I possibly offend? Not to mention a tycoon who can casually spend 15 million dollars to take me out."
Derek frowned. "I suspect it has something to do with your biological family. To help Holly, you accidentally had a DNA test and found out you're not her daughter. Someone wanted to stop you from digging deeper, so they put a price on your head. They probably thought that if you're gone, problem solved."
That seemed like the only possibility.
Exactly how influential was my biological family? With this curiosity, I was even more determined to survive.
My pups and Joanna all died because of me. So, I'd gotta find out the truth and avenge them!
"Will Black Wolf Guild send more people to kill me?"
"I don't think so. This time, they sent a hundred members. You can see how determined they were to get the job done. But they underestimated us. Our men are skilled too. So they took heavy losses.
"Although some managed to escape, most of them died here. Just the C-level talents are extremely valuable, let alone B-level and A-level ones. After failing a mission like this, they would evaluate the risks for further actions. So I guess they'll give up."
Derek added, "Of course, that person won't give up so easily. He or she will try other methods but probably won't come at you again in a short time. So, for now, you should be safe enough to rest easy."
"I see." With that, I reached out to him.
Derek looked at me in confusion. The next second, I applied a little pressure with my fingers and pulled him onto the bed.
Then, I moved my body away a little to make room for him.
"Get some sleep."
Since he refused to go home and rest because he was worried about me, I might as well let him sleep next to me.
With my back turned toward him, I felt his breathing became steady. Then I spoke up softly, "Derek, I'm tired of living like this."
"Tabitha..."
"I'm done hiding out—it led nowhere! I'm so weak. I failed to keep my pups, and so many people died or suffered protecting me. If I wasn't such a coward, would things have turned out differently?"
Derek wrapped his arms around me from behind, and my body trembled silently.
I was silently shedding tears, but I didn't want anyone to see me being vulnerable.
"The memory of that day is stamped indelibly on my memory. I remember Joanna standing in front of me, telling me to run. Her blood splattered on me. I also remember Spencer, barely hanging on, still blocking the killers for me. Dr. Evans is just a woman, yet she had to climb the cliff carrying me on her back. I saw her palm get sliced open, her blood staining the rocks!"
I choked, "And I remember my poor pups struggling inside my belly. They must be so scared at that time. I promised them all that I would take care of them, but in the end, I couldn't do anything and ended up dragging everyone else down with me!"
I opened my palm and gazed at it. "I watched their lives slip away right before my eyes. You know what? Back then, I kept wondering why it wasn't me who died, but them. If my death could make a difference, I'd gladly trade my life for theirs!"
"Tabitha, it wasn't your fault. You've done your best."
"All along it's been either Elena or someone else pulling strings while I'm stuck playing defense, hiding and running. Yet, I still end up in this situation. Derek, once I'm healed up, please take me to the Thunderflame Isles."
As soon as he heard the name, he said, "No, why do you want to go there? Tabitha, listen, you dreamed of being a doctor, aren't you? Let's focus on that instead. I can help you further your studies."
"In the past, I wanted to save everyone, but in the end, I realized that I couldn't even save my pups. If avenging them means getting blood on these hands? Then so be it!"