Third person's POV
At the mention of the word "will," Rolf's face, which had been tense for days, crumpled. His eyes instantly reddened.
"Alpha Derek, you don't need a will! You're gonna be fine, you hear me?!"
But at this moment, Derek became calm. "I don't have much time left. It took me a lot of effort to get to this camp. Even if I leave, it would take a day. What's the point of leaving if she comes back right after I go? It's better to stay here. If she doesn't come back in the end, I at least need to settle things, I can't just die without any explanation."
"Alpha Derek..."
"Alvin, go get it," Derek said.
Alvin's eyes welled up. "Alright."
Alban, with red eyes, said, "I'm sorry, kid. I couldn't help you this time."
"Dr. Weaver, I'm already grateful to you. You're right, there are some things beyond our control. I guess this is just my fate."
In just two days, Derek had gone from a healthy man to someone whose organs were affected and gradually losing sensation. During this time, he thought about many things.
What he thought about the most were the days he spent with Tabitha.
Over the past three years, separated from her, he had relied on memories to sustain himself.
He kept himself busy every day, trying to dull his feelings for Tabitha.
But whenever he had a moment of peace, his longing for her would flood in like a tidal wave, overwhelming his mind and heart, like thorny vines that tightly bound him.
The more he struggled, the more it hurt.
It felt as if his heart was being pierced, causing immense pain.
So, would death bring him the chance to see Tabitha again?
Tabitha had suffered terribly from the wolfsbane, and now he could at least empathize with a fraction of her pain.
He had only been in agony for two days, yet she had endured it for years on end.
Every time he thought of this, he felt a deep ache in his heart, knowing that no amount of repentance could make up for Tabitha's suffering.
Tabitha...
She had always been the one who captivated his soul.
But he had lost her forever, perhaps never to see her again in this life.
Derek picked up the pen and paper and began to write his will.
There was no hesitation. Kyrian would inherit the Black Thorn Pack, and all his assets would go to his children and ex-wife.
The Greenwood family's vast wealth would take considerable time to detail in writing.
As time ticked by, the sunset gradually dipped below the horizon.
Watching the sun sink into the earth, Derek realized his life was slipping away moment by moment.
"Alpha Derek, take a break," Rolf suggested.
"No need. I'm afraid that soon I won't be able to see, hear, or even hold the pen," Derek replied.
He needed to finish the will while he still had the strength.
Misha burst into tears nearby. She looked at Derek, who had always seemed godlike, and for the first time, she saw vulnerability on his face.
The passage of time felt like the ebbing of Derek's life.
Why did fate have to treat him this way? What had Derek done to deserve this?
"Hush," Rolf pulled her away.
The somber mood in the room weighed heavily on everyone. Her crying only made it harder for them to hold back their own tears.
Derek felt a tickle in his throat and coughed lightly.
Unexpectedly, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, splattering the white paper.
"Alpha Derek!" Alvin rushed over immediately.
With a "clatter," the fruit and vegetables Hedwig was holding fell to the ground.
Everyone turned to look at her, and Hedwig's beautiful green eyes welled up with tears, which fell one by one to the floor.
Derek nonchalantly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, "Look, I've scared the little girl."
Hedwig snapped back to reality, squatted down, and picked up the scattered fruit.
She wrapped some in her clothes and placed them in front of Derek.
Derek treated her with unusual gentleness, "Is this for me?"
Hedwig nodded, her large eyes still brimming with tears.
Derek's rough fingers gently wiped the tears from her eyes, "Don't cry. I've only spit up a little blood. I'm not going to die just yet."
Hedwig offered a fruit resembling a cucumber to him, indicating he should eat it.
"Alright, I'll have some," Derek said, not wanting to refuse Hedwig's offering.
Derek hadn't eaten in two days. This cucumber-like fruit, with its faint fragrance, piqued his appetite.
After a few bites, the sweet juice refreshed him, easing some of his pain.
"Is this medicine?" he asked Hedwig.
Hedwig nodded and brought more fruits and vegetables he had never seen before.
Derek quickly ate them. Although they couldn't detoxify him, they restored some of his strength, improving his condition slightly.
"Thank you, Hedwig," Derek said, ruffling her hair. "I don't know who your parents are, but you're such a sweet child."
Hedwig blinked at him, wondering, "Ella looked so much like him. Could he be her father?"
As Hedwig pondered, Derek released his hold, "I'm sorry, I don't have much time left. I need to hurry, I can't play with you anymore."