Third person's POV
Finally, the room was just the two of them.
Even though the wound on his back burned like fire, Derek's heart was filled with joy.
He gazed at Tabitha, thinking to himself, "My Tabitha. No matter how many times looking at her, it was never enough."
It was true that Tabitha had saved his life all those years ago, but he couldn't deny that her beauty had also deeply attracted him.
Even as a young girl, her features had been strikingly delicate, as if she'd stepped out of a comic book.
Now, he had the rare chance to stare at her without restraint.
As if sensing Derek's intense gaze, Tabitha slowly woke from her light sleep.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of affectionate eyes that seemed to drown her in their depth.
"You're awake," Derek said, his voice soft and filled with concern. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
Tabitha's dry lips moved slightly as she instinctively explained, "No. After you passed out, you held onto my hand and wouldn't let me go."
A faint smile tugged at Derek's lips, and he chuckled lightly, his eyes warm. "Whether I'm asleep or awake, I never want to let go of your hand."
His face was pale, almost ghostly, the usual healthy glow replaced by a sickly pallor.
He had just survived a life-threatening ordeal and undergone hours of surgery, yet he seemed remarkably composed.
Tabitha looked at him and said, "I heard you didn't take any anesthesia."
Derek's expression remained calm as he replied, "I didn't. I was afraid if I died, I wouldn't get to see you one last time."
But there was another reason behind his decision.
He remembered that Tabitha had a natural resistance to anesthesia.
Every time she was injured, she had to endure the pain without any relief—whether it was during childbirth, when her arm was stitched up, or even when her wrist was injured.
So, this time, Derek chose not to use anesthesia either. He wanted to truly remember the pain Tabitha had endured.
More importantly, he wanted to stay conscious so he could see her the moment he woke up.
If he had died during the surgery without ever seeing her again, it would have been his greatest regret.
Tabitha fell silent after his response, lost in thought.
For a moment, the room was filled with a suffocating quiet.
It was Derek who broke the silence first. "I'll arrange for you to be sent to the island as soon as possible. It's not safe here anymore."
"What do you mean by not safe?" Tabitha asked, confused.
Derek didn't answer immediately. Instead, he called for Alvin.
Alvin had been incredibly busy lately. When he entered the room, he looked rushed, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.
"Alpha Derek, it's our fault for not protecting you well enough," Alvin said guiltily as soon as he walked in.
Derek folded his hands, his demeanor calm and composed.
"Surviving such an ordeal means good luck is coming our way. Send Tabitha away as soon as possible," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Tabitha knew that, deep down, Derek wanted her to stay by his side more than anything. Yet, he was choosing to send her away first.
She couldn't help but wonder what Derek was planning.
He must have already figured something out about what had happened last night.
She turned to Alvin and pressed, "What have you found out?"
But Alvin glanced at Derek, hesitant to speak without his permission.
"Tabitha, the kids have been missing you all night. Ayla and Helios should have already met up. You should go join them. I'll be fine here," Derek continued, his tone almost pleading.
His behavior was unusual. The Derek she knew would have chained her to his side if he could. Now, he was pushing her away.
The feeling of being dismissed that she'd felt last night resurfaced.
Tabitha could tolerate cold treatment from others, but she couldn't accept it from Derek.
Why?
Her voice turned icy as she said, "I'm not leaving."
"Haven't you always wanted to leave? Why are you being so stubborn now? Listen, Gloria will go with you. You can relax and recover there," Derek said, his tone growing more urgent.
He then turned to Alvin. "Alvin, what are you waiting for? Take Tabitha away."
"Tabitha, let's go. Alpha Derek is out of danger now. He just needs to rest," Alvin added, trying to persuade her.
But Tabitha didn't budge. "I almost died last night. Why don't I even have the right to know who did this?"
She had thought it was normal for others to exclude her, but she never expected Derek to be the same deep down.
Even after all they'd been through—their intimacy, their shared life, their near-death experiences—in Derek's eyes, she was still an outsider.
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