Derek jolted awake after an hour of sleep.
In a daze, sensing someone beside him, he instinctively pulled them into his arms, exclaiming, "Tabitha, you came for me."
Alvin sighed, "Alpha Derek, it's me."
Derek fumbled blindly in the air, urgency lacing his voice, "Where's Tabitha? Where did she go?"
"You were dreaming again," Alvin explained patiently.
"A dream?" Derek frowned, confusion washing over him.
But why did the dream feel so real? So real that he could almost feel the give of Tabitha's skin, recall the touch of her body, and even remember the warmth of her flesh. Her voice still seemed to linger in his ears.
"Tabitha's probably miles away. She couldn't be here," Alvin added.
Derek's heart sank, the joy from moments ago replaced by emptiness. It felt as though he'd found his most precious treasure, only to realize it was just a dream.
He bowed his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Right, how could I really see her?"
A cool voice cut through the silence. "You're awake—have some food."
Derek snapped back to reality, noticing the doctor beside Alvin.
His heart skipped a beat. "Had she heard his ramblings in that dream?"
"Has she been here the whole time?" he asked, reaching for the fruit Alvin offered.
"Dr. Vanessa's been outside. We just came in together. Why?" Alvin replied.
"Nothing," Derek muttered, forcing down the fruit.
Derek hadn't eaten properly in days and had been surviving on fruits and vegetables.
Though weak, he ate more of them upon learning they were specially grown for recovery.
While lacking protein and fat, they eased his discomfort.
"Change the water in the tub. I'm redosing the medicine later—today's for residual toxins. Starting tomorrow, it won't be needed," Tabitha instructed.
Alvin agreed, always quick to act. He'd do anything to help Alpha Derek recover.
Tabitha yawned, her focus returning to the simmering herbs.
The day dragged on in tense silence.
By the next day, Derek's improvement was visible.
Rolf burst in, eager for updates. "Is he cured?" he asked Tabitha.
"Not yet. Three days in, the toxins are halfway gone. Six more days to clear the rest. No more hot baths—just an hour in the medicinal spring daily, and three doses of medicine," Tabitha explained.
Everyone could see the exhaustion etched on Tabitha's face, a testament to the grueling days she'd endured.
"Thank you for saving Alpha Derek!" Rolf said sincerely.
"I'll collect my debt from Mr. Greenwood. Take care of him. I'm retiring to my room," Tabitha said, leaving with a yawn.
After she left, Derek seized Rolf's arm. "Did you mention my name to her?"
Rolf, startled, shook his head. "No, I called you 'Alpha Derek' outside."
Derek looked at Alvin again and asked, "Did you say anything?"
Alvin shook his head and said, "No, I didn't mention your surname."
Derek's red marks had faded by half, lingering only around his eyes and forehead. Against his somber expression, they added an air of mystery and eeriness.
"How did she know I'm a Greenwood?" he muttered.
Rolf, oblivious to the subtleties that even Alvin had missed, frowned and asked, "Alpha Derek, are you saying…?"
Derek's face was a mask of seriousness as he declared, "She knows me."
Alvin, noting Derek's confusion, quickly reasoned, "She's a renowned doctor who's not always in the village. It's no surprise she recognized you, especially since you weren't masked."
Despite Alvin's explanation, Derek's brow furrowed slightly. "Is that really it?" he pressed, doubt lingering in his voice.
Alvin continued, "Famous doctors can be aloof, but she's been nothing but dedicated to saving you."
Derek still felt something off. The doctor's manner with him seemed different somehow, not quite the same as with others.
But he shook off the thought. Probably just being paranoid after everything that's happened, he told himself. "Maybe you're right," he said, though doubt still lingered.