Chapter 3

• 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.