Talon's POV
"Alpha, it's cold; you should probably head back."
I stood on the raised platform, ensuring I had a view of the entire venue from the backdoor. Just then, Bard's voice came from behind me.
"I'm fine; leave me alone for a while."
I didn't turn around but responded softly to Bard. At that moment, following last assassination attempt, I emerged from the back door in a daze, waiting for half a day without finding any trace of Caitlyn.
Despite my reluctance to accept this fact, Caitlyn had indeed failed to uphold our agreement and left first.
"Are you sure Braum delivered the message to Caitlyn last time?"
I couldn't help but frown; I had to admit Caitlyn's departure hit me hard.
"Alpha, this is the third time you've asked that question. Either that, or I'll drag Braum out of the hospital and let him tell you himself."
Bard grimaced and shrugged helplessly.
"So how could Caitlyn have left? Did something bad happen to her?"
A sudden thought flashed through my mind, instantly alerting me. Given all that occurred before, it was very likely that someone took advantage of the chaos and abducted Caitlyn. Although I was pretty sure I hadn't revealed my identity, any possibility at the moment could easily jeopardize Caitlyn's safety.
"Get extra manpower; Caitlyn must be found!"
I commanded Bard coldly.
"But Alpha, after all the commotion yesterday, they're currently searching for the murderer..."
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
I raised my head to look at Bard, and despite being two heads taller than me, I detected a hint of fear in his eyes.
"No... no need."
Bard hung his head and prepared to carry out my orders.
"Alpha, there's a female werewolf who says she needs to see you."
This time, one of the guards hurriedly informed me, perhaps sensing my frustration, speaking in a voice that trembled slightly.
"I have no time."
I coldly rebuffed.
The guard looked a bit embarrassed and was about to say something when he was suddenly interrupted by a breezy voice.
"Don't worry; Caitlyn's fine."
I glanced towards the voice and saw Leona standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, while behind her stood several stern-faced guards.
"Do you know where Caitlyn went?"
Hearing Leona say that eased my mind, but a twinge of bitterness lingered inside.
Why would Caitlyn choose to tell Leona where she went rather than meeting me one last time?
"Of course, she followed Zed back to the pack," Leona said casually.
"What?!" A nameless fire surged within me as I looked at Leona incredulously. I had considered many possibilities, but I couldn't fathom it being this.
"What's so impossible? Consider all you've brought to Caitlyn and what Zed has offered," Leona remarked, smirking with her arms folded over her chest.
Feeling taunted, I looked at Leona coldly.
"Leona, I will not allow you to speak to my Alpha like that."
Perhaps sensing my unusual emotions, Bard quickly intervened, attempting to lighten the situation. Seeing Bard's expression, Leona pouted slightly, turning her face away indignantly.
"I genuinely feel sorry for Caitlyn."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, collecting my emotions as I sensed the hidden message in Leona's words.
"The reason Caitlyn followed Zed in the first place was that she felt like a liability around you. She wanted to do more to help you, which is why she followed Zed to learn to take control of shifting into a wolf," Leona explained, shaking her head before fixing a critical gaze on me.
"But I never thought that you'd doubt her feelings for you."
Leona's words instantly left me a little speechless.
"Couldn't Caitlyn really see through that Zed? I find it hard to believe that it wasn't a conspiracy."
I regretted it a little as soon as the words came out of my mouth; it was as embarrassing as being caught red-handed in a lie.
"Are you jealous?" Leona's eyes held a hint of amusement.
"How could I be? I'm just afraid that Caitlyn, that silly woman, trusts others too easily, and that pack doesn't have a lot of patience for a human." Recognizing my own insecurity, I had to continue my indignation to hide it.
"You can rest easy; Zed doesn't have much interest in Caitlyn."
"How can you say that? Even though Caitlyn is only human, does that man have the audacity to ignore her? No, I mean Caitlyn is such a nice person; I won't allow anyone else to choose for her." I was a little incoherent by the end of my sentence; obviously, the thought of Caitlyn had made me lose my mind a little.
"Zed is Caitlyn's cousin," Leona said calmly. Her reaction, combined with my paranoid words, made me look like a comical clown.
"Cousin? What do you mean? Isn't she out of her original pack?"
Leona's words made my heart skip a beat. So, Caitlyn is actually part of the Fullmoon pack. "Right, that's actually Caitlyn's mother's pack as well, and it's just a homecoming for Caitlyn," Leona explained impatiently, as if my worries seemed purely superfluous to her.
"So what, is it always safe for Caitlyn to follow him back? Especially for the pack that values bloodlines, her going back will definitely draw more resentment. She can't even control her transformations until now. If she encounters danger, who can protect her? It's just too capricious!" I couldn't help but slap the table, which stunned the people around me.
"Are you afraid Caitlyn will never come back?" Leona laughed softly, looking at me teasingly.