Caitlyn's POV
"What? You mean Talon actually has a new love?"
After hearing my story, Leona stood up with a face full of indignation.
"You can't say that. To be honest, he didn't explicitly mention choosing Kaisa. I just think that lately, Talon hasn't been looking at me with the same determination as he once did."
I pursed my lips and looked up at the stars outside the window. Perhaps, even I didn't realize that I still subconsciously choose to defend Talon at times like this.
"I'm telling you, any hint of hesitation is disrespectful. You've sacrificed so much for him—you've miscarried your child, you've even put your life on the line. It's not too much to ask for a clear answer."
Leona frowned tightly, her face looking a little red from anger.
"By the way, tell me more about what kind of person that Kaisa really is."
Seeing that I didn't say anything for a long time, Leona couldn't help but come to me again.
"Well... she's a perfect woman."
"Hey, how can you speak like that? Right now, she's your enemy."
Hearing me speak like that, Leona frowned and lightly hit me.
"I'm also telling the truth. She's good-looking, powerful, and with the king as a backer. If you were the alpha of a pack and such a woman found you, wouldn't you be moved?"
I looked up at Leona.
"I..."
Leona's mouth opened wide, and for a moment, she too froze in place. Seeing Leona's reaction, a wave of loss welled up in my heart as well.
"Caitlyn, you don't look like yourself at all now."
Leona slowly took my hand and looked at me with a firm gaze.
"You know what? There always seems to be a magic in you that makes people feel close. It's because you're always full of sunshine every day. People are always unconsciously affected by you when they're with you."
Leona's voice was gentle, yet something tenderly stirred within me.
"Although your original self was just a vulnerable human, your innate optimism conveys a message to everyone—that as long as it's a goal you desire, no matter how challenging, it can be achieved. Moreover, you've now tapped into some of your werewolf abilities and possess the courage to stand alongside your cherished ones. You're gradually growing stronger."
As I listened to Leona's words, my heart softened further, and a latent power slowly surged through my body. In a daze, I seemed to catch a faint wolf howl—a soft sound akin to a child exploring a new world.
"Did you hear that?" Leona exclaimed, looking at me with surprise.
"Caitlyn, you're the first human I've seen with their own wolf without any rituals; that's unbelievable. No one would believe it if word got out," she added, closing her eyes tightly, as if trying to sense the wolf within me. After a prolonged wait, she reluctantly opened her eyes.
"I can't be mistaken. Just now, I'm certain I heard a wolf howl, and it originated from none other than within you."
"But I don't know. I tried calling out a few times, but there's still no response."
Observing Leona's perplexed expression left me feeling somewhat disoriented.
"So, if I transform into a werewolf, does that mean I can prove myself capable of facing Kaisa head-on and potentially breeding a powerful Alpha?"
I ran my hand over my belly, as if caressing hope.
"Caitlyn, you don't have to think that way. Once, you were just a human who bonded with Talon as a mate by choice, let alone one who has evolved. You don't have to be subservient; you can choose to be yourself now!"
Leona's words hit me like a hammer to the heart. It dawned on me that after the last time Talon distanced himself from me, it felt as if my heart had lost its autonomy, and I had been consumed by anxiety about the repercussions of Talon's potential abandonment. It wasn't until Leona's recent words that I realized how mistaken I had been.
"Thank you, Leona. I know what I have to do."
I nodded earnestly toward Leona, achieving my own redemption in that moment.
"Can you tell me about the pack?"
At this moment, thoughts of Leona's arrival at the palace suddenly crossed my mind. It was the last significant event that led to the rupture between my father and the pack. Alpha Shaco's decision had placed the entire clan in an awkward situation. On one hand, he and Talon had reached a point of incompatibility, and on the other hand, he hadn't gained full acceptance from the king. With the loss of many warriors, the tribe's situation was becoming increasingly difficult.
"Since the last time Alpha Shaco failed to besiege you guys, the pack has been targeted by surrounding forces. Alpha Shaco came to the palace, leaving Jayce alone to struggle to support the pack. However, I'm afraid that he's also in a bad way now."
Even after saying this, Leona couldn't help but sigh. I shared similar sentiments for the place where I had lived for more than ten years. The once prosperous community had transformed into a desolate field in a short period, prompting a sigh from me as well.
"Forget it, let's not dwell on this. It's better to think about what you should do in the future."
A smile returned to Leona's face as she encouraged me once again.
"I don't believe Talon is as heartless as you think. Before, Alpha Shaco had every intention of bringing him to the palace. Now that he's here and not in any danger, it suggests that he's part of Shaco's plan. As an Alpha of a pack, he undoubtedly has more considerations. In public, he might be more cautious about what he says and does."
Leona clasped her hands to her chest and analyzed the situation carefully.
"So, you're saying there's a good chance that Talon is just acting for them?"
My eyes lit up with excitement at the thought.
"It's quite possible. Didn't Talon mention that he would come back to you again? You'll have a nice chat with him at that time."
Leona said slowly as she walked over to the window, looking up at the darkening sky.
"So when should I go?"
"Now."