Third person's POV
Derek asked cautiously, his voice barely above a whisper, as if fearing Tabitha would vanish like a dream if he spoke too loud.
Tabitha punched his chest. "You idiot, do you have any idea where we are?"
Derek snapped out of his shock and grasped her hand. "Tabitha, there are snakes here. You need to leave, now."
Spike, though puzzled by Derek's cry of "Tabitha," interjected helpfully, "Alpha Derek, the snakes are gone. You're safe now."
Under the moonlight, Hedwig rode a fawn, her bamboo flute in hand. Like a woodland fairy, she played a melodious tune.
Witnessing Tabitha and Derek's tearful reunion, she felt a warmth in her small heart.
Tabitha had never truly let go of Derek.
Jasper, however, chose not to bear witness to their love. He left without looking back.
Though Derek had been slapped, he laughed and held Tabitha tightly.
"Tabitha, I've really found you. You've been here all along."
Gently cupping her face, he wiped her tears. "Don't cry. I'm fine, truly."
Tabitha's emotions settled, and she pushed Derek away, roughly wiping her tears.
"If you're not dead, go back to sleep," she said, her heart still racing from the night's turmoil.
The crisis was over, and with it, the emotional rollercoaster of the night. Tabitha's heart slowly returned to its normal rhythm. She was no stranger to such scenes, yet each time left her shaken. Now, as the adrenaline faded, exhaustion crept in, and she welcomed the return of her usual calm and level-headedness. It was time to wrap things up.
Leading the way, she felt Spike's recognition and his quiet bow. "Tabitha, long time no see," he said.
Tabitha paused. "Still as clueless as ever," she remarked.
Spike scratched his head, wondering where the kind Tabitha he once knew had gone. Why was she now so quick to insult him?
"Get him back to the pool," Tabitha instructed.
Tabitha had had enough and wasn't going to bother anymore. Derek could face whatever came next on his own.
As she walked away, Spike noticed Derek's bleeding knee and yelped, "Tabitha, Alpha Derek's knee is hurt—blood's everywhere!"
When did Spike become as excitable as Rolf?
In the unseen corner, Derek withdrew his hand from Spike's waist. Spike winced in pain, thinking to himself that this job was really not for him.
Unlike Alvin, who seemed to intuitively understand Derek's every move, Spike wasn't cut out for such schemes.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have just realized what was happening after Derek had pinched him fiercely.
Tabitha halted and turned back. "Carry him out first. This place is dangerous. Let's get out of here," she said.
"Alright."
Spike swiftly hoisted Derek onto his back and fled, even outrunning Tabitha.
Hedwig, perched on her fawn, sighed in relief. She had arrived just in time.
Tabitha, however, had no time for words. Decisions could wait until they returned.
Glancing at the spot where Jasper had been flipped, she found him gone.
Tabitha told Spike to take Derek to the spring and wait there while she went back to prepare some herbs.
Jasper's room was downstairs. She knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
The candle still burned. She entered to find the room empty.
Jasper had left again.
Tabitha sighed.
She had treated him like a brother, grateful for all he'd done and trying to pull him from his darkness.
But Jasper remained as reclusive as a snake in a cave.
Perhaps one day he'd meet a girl to draw him out, but it wouldn't be her.
Tabitha sighed and closed the door gently.
Outside, Hedwig stood behind her. Tabitha patted her head. "Good job, sweetheart. I'll tend to him. You rest—you've had a long night too," she said.
Hedwig nodded and left.
Tabitha watched her go, lost in thought. She feared Derek's reaction if he learned Hedwig wasn't his daughter.
His past ruthlessness flashed before her eyes. He had once said he'd never allow betrayal.
Forgiving her and Wilmot didn't mean he'd accept a child from another man.
Hedwig would be a constant thorn in his side.
When Tabitha returned, Derek was already undressed and soaking in the spring. Knowing it was her, Spike tactfully excused himself, leaving the two alone.
Derek had so much to say.
Before, he could only recognize her and suffer in silence. Now, he could finally speak.
"Tabitha, I..."
Tabitha silenced him with a finger to his lips. "I don't want to hear it. You know why I've been in hiding. I hope you won't disrupt the balance now."
A single remark effectively silenced all of Derek's arguments.
Derek's voice turned bitter. "What balance?"