The day Tabitha got shattered by the news that she was about to meet her end, Alpha Derek, her mate, was screwing around with another she-wolf. Devastated, she decided to accept Derek's rejection.

But as the fine pack doctor, Orson, entered Tabitha's life, Derek lost his cool, tormented by jealousy.

He locked her down at the crib, regardless of his new mate being green-eyed with envy.

To his surprise, Tabitha coldly announced, "Derek, I'm over you." Finally, it dawned on him that Tabitha was, and always had been, his destined mate.

Tabitha's POV

The very day I found out that my life was about to end, Alpha Derek Greenwood, my husband, was staying with another she-wolf.

I was lying in the hospital bed when Orson Romero came in with my medical report. "Tabitha, when did you get hurt?" he asked.

"A month ago. Why do you ask?" I wondered, knuckles white.

Orson was the doctor for the Red Moon Pack and my classmate from werewolf school.

"Your abdominal wound isn't healing as it should. For a werewolf, even serious injuries start patching up in about three days," Orson told me, his expression grave. Then he asked, "So how did you get hurt exactly?"

"In an attack on my father's pack by rogues. Both my dad and I got injured," I replied, staring at the floor.

Dad's business was slow, so I came home for a visit. That was when the rogues raided the Silver Moon Pack all of a sudden.

They were extremely cruel and savage.

Fortunately, the other pack members escaped serious harm. Only Dad's head and my abdomen were wounded.

I had expected a swift recovery, but to my surprise, I found myself getting weaker.

Snapping back to reality, I looked up at Orson and asked, "When will I get better?"

"Well, can't give you a concrete answer on that one. You gotta have a thorough check-up once you're admitted. And I needa snag a sample from that wound for testing. Your wolf's hanging on by a thread, might be the wolfsbane doing a number on it. If things go on like this, you could be in real danger," Orson explained. "I'll get you admitted pronto."

"No. Dad's out cold, and I can't just up and vanish." I turned him down.

Orson tried to say more, but I cut in, "Keep this under wraps, okay? I don't want my family freaking out."

"Alright. I'll zip it. Hey, you're the pack's Luna, right? Stick close to your mate, that'll help," he reassured me.

I gave a bitter smile upon hearing what he said. Having no intention of continuing this topic, I strode out of the hospital.

Since the Silver Moon Pack was attacked, I had been busy. It had been a month since I last saw Derek.

Looking back, things were peachy when I first became Derek's Luna.

However, after that rogue, Daphne Sutton, showed up, he had been so cold to me.

Walking out of the hospital, I got a dull ache in my abdomen.

Just when I was about to call Derek, my chest was seized with pain as if something was gnawing at me from within.

I collapsed, clutching my chest, unable to withstand the agony.

A nurse dashed out of the hospital and helped me settle by the flower bed.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" she asked with concern.

"I'll manage. Just a bit of chest pain," I whispered, barely catching my breath.

"What kind of pain is it?" the nurse asked cautiously. "Like something's gnawing at you?"

"How do you know?" I looked up at her in astonishment, forgetting about the pain.

The nurse's eyes showed pity.

She told me in a low voice, "Werewolves don't suffer from heart diseases. That's for humans. If your heart aches, it means your mate's breaking your mate bond."

She didn't explain what kind of behavior could break the mate bond.

Yet I already knew what she meant. Derek was with another woman.

He had always been by Daphne's side after she showed up, yet this was the first time I felt a heartache.

What were they doing now?

The thought tormented me.

Ignoring the nurse's advice, I stood up and stumbled away.

Through the mate connection between our wolves, I sensed Derek's location.

Enduring the pain, I reached the Black Thorn Pack's border.

As I supported myself with a tree, I saw that Derek and Daphne were sitting side by side on the grass, her head resting on his shoulder.

Not far away, a boy was frolicking with joy.

The scene stung me, my numb heart aching again.

My mate, Alpha Derek, was cheating with a rogue after I lost our baby and got seriously hurt.

All those happy times we had after we became mates now felt like a cruel joke.

I steadied my breath, stepping forward.

"Alpha Derek, let's divorce." My icy voice shattered the serene, wonderful scene.

Daphne turned around hesitantly and let out a soft scream, covering her mouth.

Then she looked at Derek nervously.

Derek slowly rose to his feet, fixing his cold gaze at me. "Not until I reject you first. Since when do you call the shots?"

"Fine. I'll agree as long as the settlement satisfies me," I replied, pretending that I didn't give a damn.

"Now I see why you wanna divorce me. So it's all about money, huh?" Derek sneered.

Dad's pack was on thin ice due to his failing business. And he was in a coma now.

I desperately needed funds to help the Silver Moon Pack out.

However, I didn't feel like explaining to Derek. I was just exhausted today.

So, I just stood in situ and answered softly, "Don't worry. I'm not asking for much. For an Alpha who betrayed his mate, it's too light a punishment."

Derek stepped closer, looming over me.

He said icily, "Betrayed? Tabitha, you don't deserve to be my Luna at all."

Tabitha's POV

Derek's words shattered my pride.

I looked at him in shock, unable to maintain my cool anymore.

I fired back, all worked up, "How dare you say that! Ever since I became Luna of the Black Thorn Pack, I've been faithfully fulfilling my duties, taking care of the pack members. I didn't mess around with some sorry rogue and break our mate bond! I'm way more worth my salt than you!"

"Oh really?" Derek was as cool as ice. He stared at me, hatred glinting in his eyes.

"You haven't given Black Thorn Pack an heir, and you have the nerve to claim that you are worth your salt?"

His accusation brought a lump to my throat.

Derek and I weren't fated mates, so having a baby was a tough gig. But we'd been expecting one.

During my pregnancy, I had an accident. Ironically, Derek chose to stay with Daphne and ignored my cries for help.

Failing to get immediate treatment, I miscarried.

It had always been my deepest pain. And he owned a piece of that.

How could he use that to accuse me?

"You're such a letdown, Derek," I gritted my teeth and spat out.

Derek locked eyes with me, about to say something. But Daphne stepped forward before he spoke.

Hand on Derek's shoulder, she cooed, "Forget about those unpleasant things. You still got me and Kyrian. He's cute, too, right? We'll always be with you."

"You're right." Derek softened up.

He bent down and planted a kiss on Daphne's hair right in front of me.

That stabbing pain hit my heart again. Cold sweat oozed down my back as I tried to endure it.

"Alright then. Let's divorce ASAP," I said.

"As you wish," replied Derek. "I'll make Daphne my Luna."

"If you love her that much, let's go straight to the Council of Elders today to complete the rejection ceremony," I suggested.

Cutting my mate bond with Derek would ease the chest pain, but my wolf would be even weaker.

Even so, I didn't wanna wait any longer. I had had enough.

"As I said, you don't get to call the shots. Just wait," Derek snapped.

I replied in a sardonic tone, "Seriously? You wanna keep her labeled 'the homewrecker'? Just show me how deep this love goes."

Daphne piped up, "You don't have to do this for me, Alpha Derek. I can wait."

Her lips said one thing, but her eyes screamed 'I want it'.

Derek glanced at Daphne, then locked eyes on me for a beat, marching over.

As he passed by, he grabbed my arm, pulling me along, not caring if I could keep up or not.

"Don't regret this," he whispered in my ear.

"Never," I promised.

I followed Derek out of Black Thorn Pack, stumbling.

Just as we were about to reach the Council of Elders, my phone buzzed.

As soon as I picked up, the doctor's anxious voice came. "Tabitha, John suddenly gets worse. He has been rushed to the ER."

"What?" I froze.

"He came around just now. But after an emotional blow, he was back in a coma. He's now in emergency care."

"I'll be right there!" I hung up, turning to leave.

Derek's voice came from behind me. "Where are you going?"

"Got something urgent to attend to. Just wait at the Council of Elders. I'll be there in a while," I replied anxiously.

"Are you playing me?" Derek hissed.

"My dad's in the ER now. I gotta go to the hospital," I took a deep breath and said.

"Tabitha, nice try," Derek smiled coldly. "No wonder you've been acting weird today. Your lie is so lame. Do I look like a fool to you?"

"I'm not lying," I explained, trying to stay patient. "I did have fantasies about fixing our relationship, but now, I'm ready to end it. Anyway, my dad's in emergency care now, so let's wait until I get back, okay?"

"He's in emergency care? That means he's not dead. Why the rush?" Derek shrugged.

His words puzzled me. As I recalled, Derek had always respected Dad. Why would he speak like that?

Derek's face read disgust, and it wasn't an act.

Then another thing hit me. Two years ago, Derek ended the partnership with my dad's company all of a sudden.

Since then, Dad's business had been on the wane, leading to Silver Moon Pack's decline.

Now I could finally piece things together.

But why did Derek do such things?

Silver Moon Pack never clashed with Black Thorn Pack.

I couldn't figure it out, nor did I have the time.

"Anyway, I gotta go to the hospital. Wait at the Council of Elders. I will be back soon." With that, I turned around and left in a hurry.

Tabitha's POV

When I dashed to the hospital, they'd just finished saving Dad.

I rushed to the doctor and asked, "How's my dad?"

"Don't worry. Mr. Hartley's out of the woods now. Just keep him from any more shocks."

"Got it," I sighed with relief. "Thanks."

Dad was still in a coma, so I couldn't ask him what happened. I had to turn to the pack members, "Dad had stayed unconscious the whole time. How come he suddenly came around today?"

Silver Moon Pack's Beta quickly replied, "We don't have a clue, either. He came around this afternoon. We wanted to call the pack doctor to give him a checkup, but he wouldn't allow it. He just went straight to the packhouse. After he found the pack in chaos, he passed out."

He paused and went on, his tone guilty, "It's all my fault. I should've stopped him."

Something felt off.

Dad woke up the very same day I decided to divorce Derek?

It just didn't seem like a coincidence.

Yet I couldn't figure out the connection between the two events right now.

So, I reassured the Beta, "I'm gonna need you to take care of Dad. Don't beat yourself up. The pack has suffered a loss. As the Alpha, it's perfectly normal that he's anxious about it. By the way, did anyone visit him today?"

"No, the pack members didn't know he came around."

I nodded and left the ward.

When I was about to leave the hospital, the nurse stopped me.

"Ms. Hartley, have Mr. Hartley's emergency and hospital expenses been settled?"

"I'll pay as soon as I can, sorry," I replied, hiding my embarrassment.

After heading out of the hospital, I rushed to the Council of Elders, but Derek was nowhere to be seen.

I had to give him a call. "Where are you? I'm at the Council."

"I got some stuff to attend to. So I'm back at my pack," Derek answered in an icy tone.

"Can you come for the reject ceremony?" I asked, feeling helpless.

He sneered, "You think you matter more than the pack stuff?"

"I can wait until you're done. Derek, please, I'm begging you. I need money to treat my dad."

"Really? I'll take my time then," he snorted. "I'll be over the moon if he dies."

With that, he hung up.

Looking at the crowd passing by on the street, I felt helpless.

A deep sense of regret overwhelmed me.

Since I became Black Thorn Pack's Luna, I had become jobless, and I got no income.

Now that I lost Derek's love, I was no longer able to help Dad.

Had I not fallen for Derek, maybe I'd meet my fated mate, or marry some werewolf from Silver Moon Pack per Dad's arrangements.

My life would be mundane, but my mate would've been by my side whenever I needed help.

I walked down the street, feeling numb.

The rain fell all of a sudden, but it didn't stop me from marching forward.

Completely drenched, I found myself wandering back to Black Thorn Pack before I knew it.

The Black Thorn Pack's patrol members nodded at me and greeted me, "Luna Tabitha, good afternoon."

Their words inspired me.

I was still Black Thorn Pack's Luna!

I strode to the packhouse, went straight to the Financial Office, and opened the door.

"Tiffany, I wanna withdraw 20,000 dollars," I told the accountant as I walked in.

"Sorry, I can't help you." Tiffany casually took off her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone lofty.

I frowned and snapped, "I'm ordering you, as Luna."

Tiffany let out a mocking chuckle. "Alpha Derek has revoked your privileges as Luna."

"What?" I exclaimed, dumbfounded.

"You heard her right," a sharp female voice chimed. I turned around, only to see a face that disgusted me.

Daphne!

Tiffany's attitude flipped. With a sweet smile, she said to Daphne, "Anything I can help with, Miss Sutton?"

"I wanna buy a bag, and I'm 20,000 dollars short," Daphne said, flicking her golden hair.

"Got it. I'll withdraw 20,000 dollars for you right now," Tiffany said as she sat back in her seat and started operating the computer.

I took a deep breath and roared, "Are you nuts? She's not part of the Black Thorn Pack. She shouldn't even be here! And you're giving her pack assets just like that?"

"Tabitha." Tiffany rolled her eyes at me. "Alpha Derek authorized this. If you got any problem, take it up with him."

I turned around, staring at Daphne's smug face, and commanded, "As Black Thorn Pack's Luna, I have the right to expel non-pack members. Leave now."

"Luna? If it weren't for your trick today, you'd no longer be Luna," Daphne scoffed. "Besides, Alpha Derek invited me here. Who are you to kick me out?"

Clenching my fists in rage, I was about to unleash my Luna aura.

"STOP!" A voice filled with Alpha aura came from the door.