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.

Tabitha's POV

Derek walked into the room.

He released the Alpha aura on me, and I immediately felt suffocating as if an invisible wall was pressing against me.

I lifted my head defiantly, only to see him looking at Daphne with gentle eyes. "Are you OK?" he asked her.

Daphne glanced my way, smirking with victory written all over her face.

I clenched my fists in fury.

Daphne leaned closer to Derek with a smile and said, "Derek, thank God you're here. When I walked past the Financial Office, I heard someone arguing, so I came in to see what was going on. I didn't expect to come across Tabitha trying to take money."

"Miss Sutton, do you hear yourself? You're nothing but a mistress. Do you really think you're Black Thorn Pack's Luna?" I sneered.

"You tryna take money?" Derek turned his head and asked me slowly.

"No!" I said, biting my lip.

"Tabitha's lying," Tiffany chimed in. "A minute ago, she ordered me to withdraw money for her, and I said no. Then she tried to force me."

"I'm your Luna. Can't I even take 20,000 dollars?"

Every member of the Black Thorn Pack knew that Derek favored Daphne, and no one saw me as their Luna anymore.

I looked up and met Derek's cold and indifferent gaze. The black suit accentuated his figure, making him look sharp and stylish.

It reminded me of the first time we met. He was wearing a handsome and warm smile, something I had never seen later on.

Right now, his poker face showed no emotion at all. "That's right. You can't," he replied, fixing his cold gaze on me.

Holding back tears, I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. "I'm still the Luna."

Derek smiled sarcastically, "Seems to me that you're no different from a thief. Call yourself a competent Luna."

Never in my mind was stealing on the books. I just wanted to save Dad. I planned to give it back once I got the divorce settlement.

I was about to answer when my abdominal wound pained me.

Derek and Daphne stood next to each other, appearing like each other's fated mates.

Suddenly, I found it unnecessary to explain. He was in love with someone else. However hard I tried to defend myself, he wouldn't buy it.

I stepped back, swallowing my pain.

I didn't want to show weakness in front of Derek. Though I was in so much pain that I felt like fainting, I still managed to walk steadily.

As I passed Derek, I said, "As long as you haven't rejected me, I'm still the Luna. If you don't wanna see me again, come with me to the Council of Elders now."

Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, so I quickened my pace, wanting to leave.

Derek suddenly grabbed my arm, asking in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

I shook off his hand. "None of your business."

Without a backward glance, I straightened my back and disappeared from his sight.

After leaving Black Thorn Pack, I sat by the curb and rested for a while.

When the pain dimmed, I looked up at the sky.

"Crystal, what should I do?" I couldn't help but call out to my wolf in my mind.

Crystal had been sleeping all along, so I never expected to get a response from her. When her faint voice sounded in my head, I almost yelled in surprise.

"Tabitha, go to your mom."

"Is that the only way?" I wondered. She was the last person I wanted to see.

"If you wanna save John, it's your last shot. After all, she's your family."

After answering me, Crystal fell asleep again.

After making up my mind, I took a cab to the villa area where the humans lived.

Judging from the fancy villa, I guessed my mom had been doing well these years.

Soon, the door was opened.

Holly Sutton, my so-called mother, showed up, whose face I found somewhat familiar. She looked at me in surprise and gasped, "Tabitha?"

She left when I was a child.

She claimed that she had met her fated mate, so she rejected Dad despite my pleas and left with that werewolf.

I heard that the werewolf left his pack, too. So both of them became rogues.

They could only live among humans to this day. No pack would take them.

Holly betrayed Dad, and I had sworn that I would never see her again. Yet to save Dad, I had to seek her help now.

Holly led me into her luxurious home and had me sit on the sofa.

"I heard that there was an attack on the Silver Moon Pack. Is that why you're here? You may stay with me for the time being," she offered.

"So you knew? Then do you know that Dad's injured? He's still in a coma," I asked.

There was only surprise on her face, no guilt.

I went on, "He's the reason I'm here. I need money for his medical bills. Can you help? I promise I'll pay you back."

Tabitha's POV

I fixed Holly with pleading eyes, hoping that she would agree.

But before she said anything, a voice I knew too well filled the doorway.

"Seriously? You came begging at my house?"

I stood up in disbelief and watched as Daphne and Derek walked in.

Then I whipped around back at Holly.

Holly smiled at Daphne dotingly. Then she told me, "Daphne is Mark's daughter. I was about to introduce her to you just now. You're about the same age, and I'm sure you can be friends."

Talk about a cruel twist of fate. Daphne's father stole my dad's mate.

And now, she stole mine.

Like that was not enough, they saw me in such a sorry state. I was literally a clown in their ritzy life.

Of course, Daphne wouldn't miss such a perfect chance to humiliate me.

She walked over and said to Holly in an ironic tone, "Friends with her? Not gonna happen. She's a thief. You'd better go check if anything is missing."

Hearing Daphne's words, Holly started to scrutinize me.

"What's going on? You're thieving now? Tabitha, how'd you get like this?"

The memories of Holly heartlessly letting go of my hand and leaving with Mark when I was little came flooding back.

I looked at her in disappointment and asked, "You take her word over mine just like that? You didn't even bother to ask me, huh? Are you really my mom?"

"Watch your tone!" Holly glared at me. "Daphne has always been a sweet girl. She never lies. But you've always been lack of parental control. Maybe that's why you picked up some bad habits."

"Parental control? You're making it sound like I didn't want a mom to set me straight. Wasn't it you who walked out on me and Dad?"

Holly blushed with shame. It seemed she didn't want me to bring up her past when Daphne was around.

I looked away in disappointment, sick of the sight of her. Then I caught a glimpse of Derek, who stood there in silence and showed no response.

Daphne noticed what I was doing and glanced at Derek, too.

Then she immediately turned around and complained to Holly, "Can you kick her out? I don't want her in my house."

"Something happened to Tabitha's pack, so I offered to let her stay here for a few days. Well, I'll go tell her otherwise if you don't like it," Holly sounded so affectionate as if Daphne were her real daughter.

Then, Holly looked back and said to me apologetically, "Tabitha, I've been busy planning Daphne's wedding, so I might not have the time for you... Maybe you should..."

I had long stopped craving maternal love from Holly. However, getting ditched again after so many years, I couldn't help feeling heartbreak.

Biting back tears, I replied, "Mrs. Sutton, I never wanted to stay in your house, and I would never be friends with a homewrecker. Don't sweat it."

"Nonsense! How can you say that about Daphne when her fiancé is here! Do you know who he is?" Holly shot a nervous glance at Derek while scolding me.

When Daphne slandered me, Holly took her word for it right away. Yet when I stated the facts, Holly sided with Daphne still.

I stared at Derek, remarking, "Of course. He's Black Thorn Pack's Alpha. How could I not know him? Alpha Derek, didn't expect you to tie the knot again so soon. Well, why don't you introduce me to Mrs. Sutton?"

Holly looked at Derek in confusion, obviously having no idea that he was married.

"Alpha Derek, Mark and I don't know much about Black Thorn Pack. Who is Tabitha to you?"

Derek replied with a cold face, "She used to be my Luna. But I'm gonna reject her pretty soon."

He made our years of romance sound like crap.

At such thought, I was rather disheartened than angry.

"You'd better keep your word. If you don't reject me, Daphne will always be the homewrecker," I warned.

Daphne chuckled and cut in, "You're about to be expelled from Black Thorn Pack. How dare you act all cocky? If I were you, I'd start to worry about what to do when I became homeless."

I turned my head and glared at Daphne. "I wouldn't end up homeless even if I left Black Thorn Pack! So what if you become part of his pack? To me, you're always a shameless bitch, a pathetic rogue!"

"Shut up!"

Holly interrupted me loudly before I finished.

Then she slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek stung. I looked back, only to see her breathing heavily out of rage.

"Apologize to Daphne!" she commanded.

"No way!" I roared through gritted teeth.

Boiling with anger, Holly lifted her hand, trying to smack me again, but someone stopped her.

Derek eyed Holly icily and ordered, "Apologize to her."