Tabitha's POV
I knew it was impossible to escape my doom today. Fuck it. Guessed I no longer had to be cautious anymore.
All the inhibitions I had been building up burst out right at this moment.
"I hate you, Derek!" I almost shouted at the top of my lungs, expressing how dissatisfied I was with him.
"I hate you for being condescending, and I hate you for being so moody. You were the one who betrayed me! Then why are you haunting me right now? Why can't you just leave me alone? You said my dad should atone for his sins. In case you haven't noticed, Silver Moon Pack is almost on the verge of disbanding, my dad has fallen critically ill more than once, and I've sacrificed my marriage and my kid. Tell me, is that still not enough for you? OK then! Take my life away if you want!"
Derek's gaze grew colder and colder as I spoke.
To be honest, I was very nervous, and my heart was beating rapidly in my excited state.
"You drove me away when you felt like it, and you asked me to come back to you when you wanted me. Derek, I'm a person, not some toy. Do you have any idea why I'd rather stay on this desert island than go back to the bustling city? Because everyone here sees me as a person! They respect me and make me feel worth living!"
Derek's pupils suddenly contracted and turned golden.
Amidst his anger, he extended his claws as if ready to tear everything apart anytime.
"You're mine, Tabitha!" His voice was deep and dangerous.
"You betrayed me and disobeyed me at all costs for him, simply because he was nice to you. You forgot all about our agreement, didn't you? Seems you're as naive as ever."
I frowned at his words. What was wrong with him? Couldn't he understand what I was talking about? Were we on the same page?
"I don't..."
"Do you know who he is? Do you know what he wants? Tabitha, nothing in this world is free. You, of all people, should know what's gonna happen when a moth darts into the fire."
I didn't like how he made Lucian sound at all.
Pissed off, I said, "Yeah, you're right. I don't know about his past or his identity. But I do know one thing. He'll never hurt me like you do!"
Derek's face went completely cold.
He looked at me gloomily.
I felt his strong aura suppressing me, which was suffocating.
Leo roared in anger, trying to force me to submit.
But no. I wouldn't give up just like that. I closed my eyes and talked to Crystal.
"Crystal, I need you," I called out inwardly.
Crystal's voice was as calm and firm as ever. "Don't worry. Leo is just affected by his anger."
Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened my eyes.
I released my own aura.
Derek looked at me in shock.
Before we rejected each other, I had never disobeyed him.
"As I said, there would be consequences for doing wrong. Tabitha, you're gonna pay a heavy price for your actions," he said sullenly.
"You leave me no choice. I must kill that kidnapper." He sounded ruthless.
My heart sank, as I knew he was referring to Lucian.
"No! Derek, don't do this!" I said, almost begging. Trying to convince him, I continued, "He's done nothing wrong. He helped me. That's all!"
Too bad he had already made up his mind. He pulled me away from the cabin.
Lucian's eyes were filled with shock and concern when he saw Derek dragging me out.
I didn't give a damn if Derek killed me or not. But everyone on this island, including Julia, Noah, and Lucian, meant something to me. I cared about every one of them.
"Let go of her," Lucian warned Derek in a low voice.
Derek's anger seemed to trigger his wolf instincts, and his arms started to change.
The muscles beneath his skin were twisting and bulging, and his bones were rattling slightly. It seemed some kinda force was tearing apart his human form.
The hair covering his arms quickly grew thicker and coarser, changing from skin color to dark gray.
His fingers grew longer, and sharp claws protruded from the fingertips, gleaming with a cold light.
"Let your wolf take over. I wanna see how capable you are, you rogue," Derek said.
While saying this, he released his aura.
The atmosphere of the entire place became tense and dangerous.
I could feel the wolf inside Lucian responding to Derek's aura.
Lucian's body began to tremble. Seemed that he was trying to resist the coming change.
Meanwhile, his eyes sparkled.
The veins on his arms burst, and the hair began to grow, revealing his hidden strength.
I could feel the Beta blood running through him. Though he was a rogue, his strength was not to be underestimated.
However, Derek was nothing but a powerful Alpha. Perhaps Lucian didn't stand a chance at all.
"Lucian, no..." I tried to stop Lucian, but I knew it was futile.
Just then, a brown wolf dashed out from the crowd.
He charged at Derek directly, quick and agile.
He wasn't as big as Leo, but there was strong determination and courage in his eyes.
He stood between Lucian and Derek, his fur gently swaying in the breeze.
He looked straight at Derek, seemingly challenging Derek.
Derek's eyes turned from Lucian to the brown wolf.
"Who are you?" Derek's voice carried a hint of threat.
The wolf, however, let out a long howl and charged towards Derek straightforwardly without responding to Derek's question at all.
Derek dodged aside swiftly.
I, standing behind him, failed to dodge in time. Under my gaze, the brown wolf lunged towards me.