Chapter 256

　　Derek's POV 　　Daphne had gone through the death of her parents. I guessed she was filled with regret and fear all this time she was in the hospital with the comminuted fracture. 　　She cried and said to me, her voice trembling, "I know I made a lot of mistakes in the past. Please, Derek, I promise it won't happen again. I'll learn to be a good Luna. I won't cause you any more trouble. I ... just want one thing. Please... Please marry me." 　　I remained silent for a long time. 　　Her request was like a heavy stone on my chest, making it difficult for me to breathe. 　　Not getting an answer from me, she continued, "You promised Randall that you'd take care of me forever. You can't abandon me." 　　She played the trump card, and I felt that I had already run out of excuses to turn her down. But when I closed my eyes, all that emerged in my mind was Tabitha's face. After quite a while, I replied somewhat weakly, "Fine. I promise you." 　　Getting an affirmative answer, Daphne stopped crying and smiled, "I knew it. You'd never leave me alone." 　　I hung up the phone, my heart filled with mixed feelings. 　　Justin was relieved. "I'm glad you aren't the ungrateful type. You see how the Amber's Eye Pack has been doing. What I'm saying is, you should hold a wedding ASAP. In such a way, Daphne will be happy and recover sooner." 　　My mind went blank already. All I could think of was I was gonna break my promise to Tabitha again. 　　I was ready to make it up to Tabitha, but I guessed I couldn't after all. 　　"Alpha Derek, I'm talking to you. Are you listening?" 　　"What?" 　　"I said, let's keep the wedding simple. I've already picked a date. You OK with holding it at the end of this month?" 　　I pursed my lips and said, "I have only one condition." 　　"Yeah?" 　　"The Silver Moon Pack is my bottom line." 　　I figured that Justin knew that I had already brought Tabitha back. Given what Daphne had done, she should be glad I was willing to marry her. 　　Clearly, Justin realized that it was no longer realistic to gain the support of the Black Thorn Pack by making Daphne its Luna. 　　"I know. She's your ex-wife after all. As long as you treat Daphne well and don't go too far, I guess it's fine." 　　Justin wasn't stupid. I was his only hope to carry the Amber's Eye Pack forward. 　　He knew better not to offend me at a time like this. 　　"Then it's settled. I'll take care of the wedding arrangements. I'm going back," he said. 　　I got up and walked to the yard to see him off. Then I said, "Alpha Justin, those of Poison and Wolf Shadow aren't to be messed with. A word of advice? Stay away from them. Or both you and those around you won't come out good." 　　Justin paused and looked at me seriously. "What did you find out?" 　　"Pretty much everything. Alpha Justin, do you know why you ended up in this situation today? It's precisely because of your obsession with the drug provided by them and your alliance with Madam Rose." 　　His eyes turned red, his forehead veins bulging. "I simply hated Holly. I thought Mark would remarry and have children once she was dead. But ... he was such a fool in love. He actually chose to die with her." 　　Until now, Justin still had no idea who Madam Rose really was. 　　I sighed helplessly, "I hope you stop while you still can. Even the royal family was ruined after their collusion with Poison and Wolf Shadow, let alone you. Of all people, you know how the Amber's Eye Pack is doing the best. Do the right thing, OK?" 　　"I see." Justin staggered, hunched over with his cane, and left slowly. 　　Looking at his back, I had mixed feelings. 　　As werewolves, we were supposed to prioritize loyalty and honor, but what Justin had done had gone against those principles. 　　I just hoped he really learned his lesson and avoided further disaster.