Third person's POV
Forrest hadn't been wrong. Derek was indeed sick, feverish for a day and a night, barely clinging to life in his bed.
Rolf, like a pack Omega by the bedside, was peeling an apple and chattering incessantly.
"Alpha Derek, look at you now. What was the point? You've been chasing after Tabitha for half a year, hiding your identity, and in the end, you can't even hold her hand."
Alvin glared at him, "Shut your mouth. Do you think Alpha Derek wanted it this way?"
He brought a glass of water to Derek, "Alpha Derek, drink more water to recover faster."
Derek's face was pale, his lips dry, and he looked haggard.
After finishing a glass of water, he leaned against the bed, rubbing his forehead with one hand, his head still feeling dizzy. His first words were about Tabitha.
"How is Tabitha doing?"
"Forrest is as attentive as a nurse. You can trust him with Tabitha's preferences. He knows them by heart, and he won't make a mistake. It's just..."
Derek's gaze fell on Rolf's hesitant face, "Speak."
"Tabitha has been asking about you, and Forrest had no choice but to tell her the truth."
"What did she say?"
"Tabitha wanted to come see you, but Forrest refused."
There was a hint of disappointment in Derek's eyes, "Alright."
"Alpha Derek, you should focus on getting better. Since you and Tabitha have been through so much, your health has been severely compromised. If it were the old you, how could you get so sick just from being in cold water for a night?"
Alvin chimed in, "Although he talks without a filter, he's right about that. Your health isn't what it used to be, and you often stay up late, overdrawing your energy. Alpha Derek, if you don't take care of yourself, how will you protect Tabitha in the future? The person behind the threats against her is still out there."
Derek knew they were telling the truth. He used to never get sick.
Now, when he got sick, it was severe.
This time, to disguise himself and be with Tabitha, he had taken wolfsbane.
The wolfsbane suppressed his wolf, but it also meant that when he was drugged, he couldn't heal by waking his wolf and instead fell ill.
"And food?"
"I'll have Forrest bring it over. That's right, Alpha Derek. You need to eat more to get better."
"Mm."
Seeing Derek so compliant, Rolf brought out a pile of things from another room.
"Alpha Derek, these are gifts I specially picked for you."
Derek was eating, not even lifting his eyelids, "What are they?"
"Of course, they're good stuff. Come on, take a look. I guarantee you've never heard of them before."
Derek finally looked at him. Was there anything in this world he hadn't seen?
Rolf fished out a silicone toy from a box, something he indeed hadn't seen before.
"What is this..."
Rolf began to sell it with enthusiasm, "This thing is called a masturbatory cup, specifically for men to solve their needs, to release and enjoy the peak of life."
Derek's eyes turned cold, "Get out of here with this crap, and don't make me say it twice."
Alvin also scolded, "Get out now."
So these two had left on their own to buy this kind of stuff. Derek was so angry his temples were throbbing.
Rolf's voice came from afar, "Come on. If you don't like it, there are silicone dolls, one-to-one real-person customization, and even the voice is the same. It just takes a bit of time..."
"Bang!"
Derek directly smashed the bowl against the door. The remaining soup splattered all over the floor.
Alvin quickly explained, "He's like that, but he means well. Alpha Derek, don't be angry."
Derek's gaze was icy, "In your eyes, is a woman just a tool for lust? Can anything replace her? I love her for who she is. What's the point of being with someone you don't love?"