Talon's POV
"Alpha, Braum has traveled to the Fullmoon pack; he'll report anything," Bard whispered as he stood guard over me.
In the time that Caitlyn had been gone, I couldn't help but think of the images of her that I used to carry with me.
That stubborn human girl was full of all sorts of unexpected surprises from the very beginning.
Although I was not sure what Caitlyn would experience in the Fullmoon pack, I could imagine her face that never gave in.
"Any news from the King?" I craned my head to look at Bard, trying to divert my attention for a moment. Otherwise, thinking about Caitlyn all day makes me unable to get almost anything done.
"Well... this is unclear." Bard frowned and became a little hesitant to speak.
"Just be direct with what you have to say."
"I do think it's a bit strange because, according to our intelligence, the king is not awake for the time being, and we're not revealing our identities at the moment. However, the people entering and exiting the palace in recent times have become a lot more frequent, and their destinations are scattered. Invariably, they're all from other clans that are more powerful," Bard explained, laying out a map for me.
The location of the palace was right in the center, and the scouts that had been delegated out were traveling to and from various communities.
It just so happened that they became more frequent after the king was caught up in the assassination incident. It's hard not to wonder what their true purpose is.
Or was it that the king had woken up early and was purposely hiding the news in the shadows so that he could better find the murderer?
I pursed my lips and hugged my arms in deep thought.
But just at this time, my heart suddenly emitted a sharp pain. I covered my heart, my back instantly drenched in cold sweat, and subconsciously fell to my knees.
"Alpha, what's wrong with you?" Bard came over with concern. It was obvious to see that he was a bit flustered, crouching down in front of me, ready to carry me up and take me to the hospital.
"Wait."
I halted Bard's movements with a feeble effort. It was evident to me that what afflicted Caitlyn wasn't merely an illness but a peril she was facing.
"Caitlyn..."
I whispered her name, yet the pain in my body intensified. It felt as though something was slowly being pulled from within me.
Furrowing my brow, I unconsciously emitted an aura that forced Bard a few steps backward.
"Alpha, I'm going to fetch a doctor."
Sensing my distress, Bard hastily exited the room. At that moment, I had no inclination to explain to Bard.
Since the bonding with Caitlyn, I could sense her pain before she even expressed it. While I had experienced similar sensations in the past, this time the intense shock nearly overwhelmed me.
I lay weakly on the floor of my office; the mural above gradually blurred before my eyes, and I closed them.
Upon reopening my eyes, I found myself in a world of chaos. Numerous shimmering masses of light floated around me, and at the edge of my vision, I discerned a glowing figure.
Drawing nearer, I realized it resembled a humanoid. Countless balls of light emanated from her body, and inexplicably, I felt a strange familiarity whenever I looked at her.
"Caitlyn!"
Finally, a renewed connection between Caitlyn and me. Through the mark I left on her body, I could feel the torment she was enduring. She struggled in an empty space, eyes tightly shut, while waves of sadness, grief, and pain engulfed her.
Caitlyn raised her head, releasing a wail of agony.
I attempted to approach her, but an invisible barrier seemed to persist. No matter how hard I pushed, an insurmountable distance always separated us.
"Caitlyn, hold on! I'm on my way!" I shouted at the top of my lungs into the void space where Caitlyn disappeared. However, there was a delay in receiving any response.
Just as I began to feel disheartened, I sensed the mark on Caitlyn's body gradually loosening.
Even though I knew Caitlyn had gone to the Fullmoon pack to find a better way to transform into a wolf, no one warned me it would lead to this point.
A growl of resignation escaped me, and the wolf within howled with its head held high. Despite my attempts to reestablish the connection with Caitlyn, an irresistible force was slowly dissolving the mark I had left on her.
"Talon..." I heard Caitlyn's soft call filled with infinite longing and resignation. My heart pumped violently, as if someone were forcefully pulling us apart.
An indescribable pain radiated from my heart in all directions, and the sensation of being torn apart made me scream uncontrollably.
I lost track of time during this agonizing process, and my consciousness gradually blurred, as if it were repeatedly pounded upon.
"Alpha! Alpha!" Bard's anxious voice reached my ears. Struggling to reopen my eyes, I found myself lacking the strength to do so, my body aching and exhausted.
I knew I was still fighting fearlessly. Eventually, with a small thud, the connection between Caitlyn and me was completely severed. A wave of profound sadness engulfed me like a swift, icy tsunami.
Strangely, a warm tear fell onto my face, and I could sense that it was Caitlyn's tears. Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself surrounded by concerned members.
"Alpha, don't scare us. What happened?" Bard asked as he gently placed me on his lap. With a calm expression, I uttered, "I’ve lost my connection with Caitlyn."
Despite my composure, everyone in the room understood it was the calm before the storm.
"I'm going to find Caitlyn," I declared. As soon as the words left my mouth, an eerie silence settled over the surroundings. They knew a bloodthirsty and cruel wolf was about to set off.