Tabitha's POV
With a slight pull, Derek took me into his arms.
As he had just finished his shower, I could smell the scent of body wash on him.
When I pressed my palm against his chest, his body heat felt like it was burning me up.
Leaning his head towards mine, he cooed in my ear, "You've got a mole on your inner thigh."
His breath, together with the refreshing scent of mint, brushed against my skin, making my cheeks flush red.
I couldn't help asking my wolf inwardly, 'He actually knows such a secret of mine!
'So he's really my mate?'
Sadly, my wolf wasn't responding to me at all, and I couldn't sense the mate bond between me and him.
Just then, I noticed Derek's expression soften as if he had thought of something.
He playfully tapped the tip of my nose, saying, "Alright, let's have breakfast now. After that, I'll tell you everything, okay?"
With that, he took my hand and led me out of the bedroom. The hallway was lined with many photos of us together.
In every one of them, I was smiling brightly and happily.
There was one where I was playing on a swing in a rose garden while Derek pushed me from behind. My lips curled up into a sweet smile as I turned to look at him, and a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.
Another photo showed me popping up from the water, trying to pull Derek down with me. He looked so helpless but still had that doting smirk on his face.
Then, I moved my eyes to the third photo, in which I was chasing butterflies in the distance while Derek stood with one hand in his pocket, gazing at me fondly.
These photos felt so real, without a hint of artificiality, each one showing me how happy we were together.
The layout of the house appeared cozy, making me feel familiar. I could tell that I'd definitely lived here before.
Subconsciously, I found myself standing at the door of another room, and I had a feeling that I used to come here often.
"What's this room..."
As I asked, I turned to look at Derek. Unexpectedly, I saw a trace of shock in his eyes.
But soon, he masked it with calmness.
"Let's have breakfast first." With that, he led me downstairs, where delicious food was already served on the dining table.
An Omega greeted us with a bright smile, "Alpha Derek, Luna Tabitha, please have a seat and enjoy your food. I'll make two more dishes for you."
Derek pulled out the chair for me like a gentleman.
The servants were so earnest, and Derek was so tender. Plus, there were fresh flowers on the table, and the house was tidy and cozy. It should've felt like home. Yet somehow, I felt this weird sense of resistance creeping in.
When I looked at the beautiful flowers on the table, an image flashed across my mind: on a gloomy day, the flowers on the table withered, and a woman stood alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at falling snowflakes outside.
"What's wrong? Anything you don't like?" Derek picked up on my mood shift pretty quickly.
I shook my head and replied, "Nothing. The food's great."
I was indeed starving, so I started gobbling the dishes.
Meanwhile, I noticed that Derek had been silently watching me eat with a gentle smile on his lips.
Just like in all those photos, all he had in his eyes was me.
After I finished breakfast, he asked, "There's this new movie out featuring an actor you used to love. Do you wanna go watch it?"
But I pointed to my head, replying, "I wanna know how I lost my memories."
Derek reached for my hand again. Confused but trusting him anyway, I placed mine into his palm. Then, he led me back to the door of the room I had asked him about early today.
"Tabitha," he said gently, "even if this memory isn't good, you still wanna have it back?"
I nodded without hesitation.
"Then push open the door," he told me.
Standing at the door of this very room, I somehow felt a suffocating pain in my chest.
My heart raced uncontrollably.
What secrets did this room hold? Why did it make me feel this way?
Curious yet perturbed, I slowly pushed open that door.