Caitlyn's POV
"You look surprised, Talon!"
Upon hearing the king's declaration, Alpha Shaco's face immediately lit up with ecstasy.
"Talon..."
The unfolding situation surpassed my expectations, prompting me to subconsciously turn towards Talon, who stood beside me. Talon sensed my concern and responded with a reassuring smile, gently shaking his head.
I comprehended that Talon intended to convey a message of not worrying, though I had yet to learn anything about Talon's origins from the beginning until now. Despite Talon's outward calmness, I could sense an underlying unease emanating from the wolf within him, a subtle growl of discomfort.
Nobody knew what might occur when Yone arrived later.
I cautiously surveyed my surroundings, mentally calculating a potential retreat route. If the king harbored any hostile intentions towards Talon, I felt confident in my ability to create an escape route during my transformation.
I sank down, attempting to catalyze the power within me. However, no matter how much I called out, the power in my heart remained unresponsive.
Just as I fretted, a loud and cheerful laugh suddenly echoed from outside the great hall. All eyes converged on the source of the laughter.
"Your Majesty, sorry I'm late."
A tall man in battle armor strode into the great hall. Despite his white hair, a palpable murderous aura emanated from his radiant eyes. It was unmistakably Yone, a warrior seasoned by countless wars.
"Not too late, Yone. You came at the right time. I happen to have a surprise for you."
The king, seated on the stage, abruptly stood up and embraced Yone like an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time, patting his back fiercely.
"A surprise?"
Yone's brows furrowed upon hearing the king's words.
"Look who's here," the King remarked, slowly taking a step back, just enough to reveal Talon to Yone's line of sight.
"Father," Talon bowed respectfully towards Yone before gently lowering his head.
Upon hearing the call, Yone froze for a moment, a flicker of shock in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"What's the matter, Yone? Can't even recognize your own child after so many years of fighting?" the king teased, and it was evident that the brief moment of shock in Yone's eyes hadn't escaped the king's notice.
"You're quite the joker, Your Majesty. I just never thought I would see my son here. You're right. It's truly a surprise for me. I arranged for him to go out alone to train him when he was underage. I initially thought he would come back to me if he couldn't endure, but I didn't expect him to be away for ten years. He has changed so much; I'm almost afraid to recognize him," Yone explained as he walked over to Talon. I noticed something strange about the way Yone looked at Talon. Instead of a father looking at his child, it was more like a henchman looking at his Alpha.
"How have you been after all these years?" Yone asked, patting Talon on the shoulder. His eyes momentarily turned a little red.
"Pretty good. It's been a long time," Talon responded, standing in front of Yone and nodded gently.
"Well then, since this is all a misunderstanding, we'll be family from now on," the King declared, laughing once again in the middle of the hall.
"Earlier, I was a bit puzzled as to how such an outstanding talent suddenly emerged that even I didn't know about. Now that I think about it, Talon is your child, and everything makes sense," the king added, patting Yone's shoulder and looking at Talon with a hint of relief.
"If you have no other business, we will leave for now. It's been so many years since we've seen each other, and there's so much I'd like to talk to my son."
Yone smiled politely and gestured for Talon to follow him out of the great hall.
"Yone, slow down. Of course, I didn't invite you here today just for a casual chat. I have exciting news," the king said, slowly turning his gaze towards Kaisa, who had been standing silently beside him for quite some time. A sudden wave of uneasiness washed over me.
"Exciting news?" Yone froze.
"Yes," the king replied, greeting Kaisa and positioning her between Yone and Talon.
"This is Kaisa, the daughter of Alpha Kassadin, and the one who independently unified the pack. Now, I propose that Kaisa and Talon become mates. What are your thoughts?" Although the king directed the question at Yone, his eyes remained fixed on Talon.
Talon clearly didn't anticipate the king making such a suggestion at this moment; he immediately looked at me. The king, noticing Talon's reaction, couldn't conceal a hint of displeasure on his face.
"I hadn't realized that Alpha Kassadin's daughter had grown so much. Previously, I was concerned that Talon wouldn't find a suitable mate, but now it seems my concerns were unwarranted."
Upon hearing the king's words, Yone looked at Talon, seemingly speculating on his reaction. However, as he followed Talon's gaze to me, his brows furrowed suddenly. Evidently, he had also discerned my human identity and, speaking as an Alpha, understood how to make his pack stronger by strategic alliances.
"That sounds wonderful. How about we set Talon and Kaisa's wedding date for next month? What do you all think?" The king smiled and made the decision with a casual wave of his hand.
However, his seemingly light statement nearly took my breath away. My brain went blank from the rush of blood, and in that moment, my body felt as if it had plunged into a frigid ice cave, a chilling sensation spreading from my heart throughout my entire being.
"Talon, what are your thoughts?" Yone inquired, noticing the uncharacteristic expression on Talon's face.
"I..." Talon hesitated, pursing his lips, unsure of how to respond.
He glanced at me and Kaisa, took a deep breath, and was about to say something.
But...
"I don't think there's any need to rush. I believe Talon doesn't have to provide an answer at this moment. I understand that some things don't turn out well when forced. How about this—I'll give you two months. Coincidentally, I have some matters to attend to during that time, and I also wish to engage in a fair duel with Caitlyn."
At that moment, Kaisa unexpectedly chimed in, blinking her eyes suggestively. It left me momentarily bewildered.