Caitlyn's POV
When Talon appeared in front of me once again, I wondered if I was still dreaming. It wasn't until my eyes met Talon's that I became convinced this was real.
Talon stood before me just as firmly as before.
"Are you... okay?" I took a deep breath, attempting to stay calm. My mind flashed back to the image of Talon bathed in golden light, a determined expression on his face—a sight that seemed like his last resort when he was at the end of his strength.
"Yeah, I’m okay." Talon seemed surprised by my concerned response, his relief slowly turning to self-condemnation as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, Caitlyn. This is all my fault. I wouldn't have involved you in my life if I knew it would end up like this."
Talon looked somewhat forlorn and glanced sheepishly at my father.
"Hmph, I warned you about that back in the day. You're too young and think too simply to realize the difficulties you'll face. If you'd made it as same as you boasted in front of me, Caitlyn wouldn't have..."
Seeing Talon in this state, my father grimaced and couldn't help but complain.
"Father!" To spare Talon further embarrassment, I spoke up, interrupting my father's next words.
My reaction left my father momentarily speechless, staring wide-eyed and shaking his head in dismay.
"Well, you guys are on your own." My father opened the door, walked out without looking back, and left Talon and me in the large room again.
I didn't know why, but as I looked at Talon, I sensed hesitancy within him. More than ever, there seemed to be something missing in the way he looked at me.
"Talon, is there nothing you want to tell me?"
After hesitating for a moment, I finally couldn't help but look up at Talon.
"Yes, of course there is. I just..."
Talon frowned and cast a slightly averted gaze at me.
"Just what?"
"It's just that I don't know where to start."
Talon pursed his lips and slowly sat down on the edge of my bed.
"It's okay; you can say whatever you want. I just want to hear you talk."
I took Talon's hand and gently stroked the lines on his broad palm. Touching his skin again gave me a real sense of peace since the last time I experienced the pain of a near separation.
"I'm sorry, Caitlyn..."
Before Talon could speak, I slowly covered his mouth with my hand.
"Don't say that again. Like I said before, this is the path I've chosen for myself. Even if there's never a greater obstacle ahead of me, I'll stand with you without question because you're the mate I've chosen."
I looked up at Talon with determination, and I noticed his eyes becoming a little moist.
"So even though I know that's how it's going to end now, if I were given the chance to choose again, I'm sure I'd do that too. It has nothing to do with you, and if I have to hate, I just feel like I'm still too weak."
"Caitlyn..."
Talon's voice trembled a little as he gently took me in his arms, his head dropping to my shoulder.
"I know it must be hard on your heart, but I want to tell you something. We were indeed saved by that Alpha named Kaisa. Without her, I'm afraid that's where we would have ended up that day..."
Talon didn't finish, but we understood each other perfectly.
"Alpha?"
"Yes, she is the newest Alpha of The Shadow Moon Pack. She has been on the battlefield before and has only returned to the palace in the recent past. Her father was also once part of the royal family, so at his behest, the king promised that he would help Kaisa find a suitable mate."
Talon paused at that and instinctively glanced out the window.
"That's you?"
I pulled away from Talon's embrace, forcing myself to sit up straight even though my body still ached, as usual.
"I didn't know that, Caitlyn. You can trust me; I only met her for the first time that day as well. I was also unaware that she claimed to be my fiancée."
Seeing my puzzled expression, Talon began defending a few things.
I looked at Talon seriously, trying to decipher his truest thoughts from his expression, but unfortunately, I couldn't discern anything.
"So, what's your plan now?"
After I asked this, I distinctly noticed Talon freeze for a moment, and his eyes shifted away from my face.
"Caitlyn, there may be some things I need to..."
"I just need a clear answer, that's all."
My heart sank when I saw Talon looking like that, sadness spreading through the space.
Talon's hesitation increasingly made me feel like a complete joke.
"Caitlyn, it's not as simple as you think. It's not a black and white issue. Please trust me, give me some time, and I will provide the answer you want."
A little flustered, Talon grabbed my shoulder, looking at me seriously, as if trying to convey his true feelings.
"Is it that hard? Is there anyone else here besides us? What did I fight so hard to save you before? I bent over backward for you, so tell me, am I a human now, or am I a werewolf?"
My eyes widened, and tears welled up uncontrollably, but reason restrained my anger.
"I'm sorry, Caitlyn. I just..."
"Can you say anything else besides that?"
I indignantly shouted at Talon, the heartache and aggression accumulated over such a long time hitting me all at once, delivering a heavy blow. My chest tightened, and a chill crept into my heart.
"Caitlyn, I......"
"Get out. I never want to see you again!"
I turned my face away and shouted at Talon with all the strength I could muster. Talon seemed taken aback by my reaction, and a wave of heartache surged within me at his blank expression. However, my sanity reminded me that I had to do what was necessary to break free.