Caitlyn's POV
"Caitlyn, don't worry; it's going to be okay."
Talon and I were sitting in the car on the way back to the palace. Perhaps because I had been silent the whole way, Talon opened his mouth to reassure me.
"Yeah, I know."
I attempted to squeeze out a smile to convey that I was okay, but my extremely unnatural expression still betrayed my true thoughts. From the moment I impulsively left my father's side, vowing to go to the Fullmoon Pack to learn the method of transforming into a wolf, I inadvertently ignored my father's feelings.
Thinking about the man who held me in his heart, whether he was alive or dead at this moment, couldn't help but make my heart twinge.
"In fact, from the time I first emerged, I had already deployed my men to protect your father and Leona in the shadows. With your father's combat abilities, it would be nearly impossible to capture him unknowingly, unless..."
Talon said, his eyes slowly turning a little cold.
"Unless what?"
I looked at the shape of Talon's mouth; what he said next was my true concern.
"Unless the king does it himself or arranges for his Gamma, Fandom."
Talon spoke softly, but I silently clenched my teeth and subconsciously tightened my fists at the thought of that cold, tall man.
"But don't worry; my men are no losers. Before returning, I was contacted and informed that I had found out where your father and Leona were being held. I instructed them to wait for us to return before making any arrangements."
Talon said, then brushed his hand over my head.
Talon's words were the most reassuring thing I'd heard in days, so I stopped talking and watched the scenery outside the window recede, trying to overcome the fact that it was due to my own willfulness.
Despite the constant jittery state of my mind, I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up again, I found myself lying on Talon's soft lap. The dim sunset spilled over his long eyelashes; his eyes were closed, and his head was propped up on his hand, breathing evenly.
Talon's nostrils grazed my face, which quickly made my face redden. In the dim light of the car, however, he didn't notice that I was different.
"Are you awake?"
Perhaps sensing my intense gaze, Talon blinked and lowered his head, speaking in a soft voice.
"Uh-huh."
Realizing my shyness, I quickly sat up and glanced around, as if searching for an escape.
"Get ready; it's almost time."
Suddenly, Talon's face darkened, and he spoke with a serious expression.
Just as Talon's words fell, the magnificent and immense dome of the Imperial Palace slowly emerged before my eyes. I swore in my heart that this time I would not hastily escape from here again.
Due to the royal family's strict scrutiny, the caravan disguised itself as other groups who had an audience with the king. Purposefully, we circled around to the back of the palace, entering through a small path.
As soon as I got out of the car, I impatiently inquired about the whereabouts of my father and Leona.
"Don't worry, Ms. Caitlyn. We have the location locked. It was previously an abandoned hospital later converted by the royal family into a prison for important prisoners."
The one answering my question was a tall werewolf, and I noticed something peculiar about him, likely stemming from Talon's original pack.
"Tell me the location."
I said grimly and coldly.
The werewolf hesitated for a moment, sensing the angry howl of the wolf inside me, and wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Take us there. Nothing can calm her down at this point."
Talon gave a bitter smile and shook his head gently.
I couldn't help but feel warmth in my heart because, perhaps subconsciously, Talon also regarded me as a partner who could fight side by side, rather than a human who only needed protection from others.
The werewolf warrior who received the order nodded respectfully, then turned toward a direction to take the lead. Talon and I followed closely behind, slowly approaching the abandoned hospital they mentioned in the dim moonlight.
The hospital had looked deserted for a long time, and the moonlight, shrouded by a layer of mist, gave it a particularly eerie appearance. After a gust of sluggish autumn wind, faint screams could be heard.
"There it is, three minutes until the next set of guards makes their rounds; hurry up."
The werewolf soldier looked at his watch and squared his shoulders.
"I'll go by myself; you can meet me outside."
Talon was just about to get up when I stopped him. His face looked puzzled, and he was about to say something when he heard footsteps ringing around him.
"Be careful," Talon barked softly before his whole body ducked into the bushes once more. I crept onto the grass, slowly advancing towards the entrance.
The group of guards patrolled cautiously along the perimeter of the hospital, passing almost directly above me as I held my breath, waiting for them to pass. Just as their silhouettes disappeared around the corner, I dashed toward the doorway with a jerk.
"Who?"
A surprised shout came from the shadowy corner beside me. My whole body instantly tightened, and I turned to lock eyes with the hasty soldier. Nervously grabbing the whistle hanging around his neck, he was about to blow it when I struck him in the neck with an elbow, and he collapsed unwillingly to the side.
With this sudden turn of events, my time to rescue my father and Leona became shorter. I didn't stop but followed the tunnels in the hospital at breakneck speed, bypassing a few more patrolling soldiers until I reached the previously determined address.
Just inside a metal grate, I saw a woman with loose hair cowering in a corner and shivering. Something about her figure struck me as vaguely familiar.
"Leona?" I called out uncertainly.
The woman was electrified for a moment at the sound of my voice, then crawled along the ground. It was only through the moonlight from the window that I got a good look at her face.
"Leona!" I gently stroked Leona's face through the cold railing while her rolling tears fell onto the back of my hand, causing my heart to clench violently.
"I'm sorry I'm late," my voice trembled a little, as I couldn't imagine the inhuman torture Leona had suffered during her time in captivity. Leona choked a little and just shook her head gently.
Without any further hesitation, I instantly gathered my strength into my arm, finding a crevice and breaking it enough to a distance that could accommodate a man.
"Where's my father?" I scanned the area where Leona was being held, but saw no sign of anyone.
Leona froze for a moment and opened her mouth to say something, but there was a sudden sound of muffled footsteps behind me.