Third person's POV
With her previous experiences, Elena was filled with fear towards Derek.
Her body trembled, a subconscious reaction to the man who once was like a brother to her but now embodied the very essence of her nightmares.
Andrea initially thought Derek had vented enough. After all, during the whole day and night when Elena was unconscious, it was Derek who had asked the medical team that take care of her.
"Derek, Elena has just woken up. You will scare her like this," Andrea said, her tone a gentle plea for restraint.
Derek's glance at Andrea was devoid of warmth, his eyes cold and distant. "Mom, after all that Elena did to Tabitha, don't you think it will just end so easily?" His question hung in the air, a stark reminder of the gravity of Elena's actions and the consequences that followed.
Andrea's expression shifted, a mix of sorrow and defiance. She stood in front of Elena, a protective barrier against the storm that was Derek's wrath.
"Look at her head. It's already injured so much. Even if she has wronged Tabitha in the past, isn't that enough?"
Although Andrea had a soft spot for Tabitha and lamented the tragic turn their marriage had taken, she also recognized Elena as the daughter of the former Beta of the Black Thorn Pack.
A sense of duty and a lingering affection for Elena's lineage stirred within her, complicating her emotions.
Derek sneered and limped towards Elena.
His knees were damaged from kneeling for too long, altering his usual gait.
"What she has done, you know very well. She killed many people. Besides, she has sown discord in my marriage with Tabitha and has attempted to kill Tabitha not only once. She even maliciously stimulated Tabitha when Tabitha was in the late stages of cancer. She is a devil."
Andrea looked at Derek, who was much taller than her, and his face etched with grief. Her heart softened.
"Derek, she is undoubtedly at fault, but Tabitha is already gone. What you do means nothing to her anymore. Let the dead rest, and let the living continue to atone, okay?"
Derek clearly wasn't listening, pulling Andrea aside. "Mom, I understand your sympathy for her, but her sins cannot just be ignored."
"What exactly do you intend to do, Derek?" Andrea asked, worried.
Derek's gaze was icy, "I just want to repeat what she did to Tabitha."
He held a sharp dagger in his hand. Elena stared at Derek, aghast. "Are you gonna kill me for her?"
"No."
Derek took Elena's left hand, "Tabitha lost a hand once, you should return it to her."
Elena's breath caught, "You know how important my hand is to me."
Looking at Elena, Derek's eyes had a flicker of complex emotions.
Once, he had treated her as a sister and cared for her.
But she became the executioner who hurt Tabitha.
Gently caressing her face, Derek said, "Why did you do this? I thought we could coexist peacefully, but you destroyed everything."
Speaking softly, he drew his knife and severed her tendons.
Elena was in severe pain but didn't make a sound.
She just stared at the blood flowing from her wrist.
Tick tock.
There was also a warm liquid falling on her wrist, Derek's tears.
Looking into each other's eyes, Elena saw his pain.
It was her body that hurt, but his heart ached.
He struggled between love and hate, between protecting the pack and avenging his lover.
He knew he had fallen into darkness. But for Tabitha, he was willing to bear everything.
"Does it hurt?" Elena asked him.