At Derek's words, Tabitha was suddenly reminded of his words from years ago, when he had said the person in his dreams was her.
She couldn't help but wonder what exactly this scoundrel had done to her in his dreams.
"Tabitha, hold me," Derek pleaded like a petulant child.
Tabitha recalled the early days of their marriage. Back then, Derek was reticent and self-absorbed in bed, rarely showing any emotion or expressing his feelings.
She often doubted whether he even liked her, if not for the fact that his actions left her bedridden the next day.
Derek had locked all his emotions in an airtight box, allowing no one to peek inside.
But over the years, their dynamics had done a complete turnaround.
Now, Tabitha buried her feelings deep within, becoming cold and distant, while Derek had transformed into someone unrecognizably vulnerable and open.
At this moment, Derek was like an overly affectionate, enthusiastic dog, intimately familiar with every sensitive spot on her body.
His moist lips trailed down from Tabitha's neck, leaving a path of wetness, as he murmured, "Tabitha, I miss you, I'm going crazy missing you."
Tabitha was growing anxious, knowing Alvin would return soon.
If he found her lying helplessly beneath Derek, the scene would be unimaginable—Alvin would undoubtedly cause a scene.
In her panic, Tabitha quickly shifted her tone to soft and gentle. "Derek, I miss you too, but it's getting late, I have to go back," she said.
"Go back where?" Derek asked, puzzled.
"I'll find a way to see you again," Tabitha said, taking the initiative to kiss Derek as she spoke.
This sudden move left Derek momentarily at a loss.
Tabitha knew that to Derek, this was all a dream—a place where the bizarre was normal.
So, she kissed him passionately, leaving him dazed. Seizing the moment, she sprang up and ran toward the cave's entrance.
Derek lay there, calling out, "Tabitha, Tabitha..."
Tabitha stumbled out of the cave, hastily straightening her disheveled clothes.
She found the others had already left, with only the giant red snake remaining outside.
Not far off, Hedwig picked wild berries on the mountain, the snake silently guarding her.
A mountain breeze swept by, its coolness dispelling the lingering heat. Tabitha felt the irritation in her heart blown away as well.
She walked to a large tree, climbed it nimbly, and lay back comfortably, her hands behind her head.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows over her.
She watched the drifting clouds and flocks of birds, memories of her time with Derek replaying like a movie in her mind—moments of joy, and times of pain and despair, all as if they were yesterday.
Tabitha realized with a start that nearly a decade had passed since she and Derek had become entangled.
Now approaching her twenty-seventh year, she remembered the innocent girl she had been, throwing herself into her love for Derek, only to see their marriage crumble.
In the darkest days, she had contemplated ending it all, but she had emerged from that shadow.
She told herself to savor the present and not dwell on the past. As these thoughts flowed, Tabitha closed her eyes, her racing heart gradually calming.
"Dr. Vanessa," Alvin called from beneath the tree. "How's Alpha Derek?"
"Stable," Tabitha replied, leaping down from the tree. "Let's go. If we get through today, half his toxins will be neutralized."
"Thanks for all this," Alvin said gratefully.
"Don't mention it. I don't save lives for free," Tabitha replied.
Derek lay sprawled on the furs, fast asleep.
His frail body couldn't sustain the pretense much longer.
When he awoke, he would undoubtedly believe the encounter with Tabitha had been just another dream.
Tabitha took the herbs from Alvin and began to brew the medicine.
To stay alert, she took a few pills to keep her focused.
Since deciding on the medicated pregnancy, she had ingested countless herbs, altering her constitution over time.
While her blood wasn't as miraculous as Hedwig's, it was certainly not ordinary.
Alvin quietly watched over Derek, knowing three daily medicinal baths were now sufficient. He let Derek sleep peacefully, not wanting to disturb him.