Vayne's POV
"Why don't you...dodge away?" At the moment, Talon and I revert to our human forms, and I can't help but take two steps back.
"Alpha!"
Everything just happened almost instantly, so when Talon was injured, Bard rushed over impatiently. Bard supported Talon while twisting his head around to stare at me dead-on with eyes filled with resentment.
"Bard, get up; this small injury is nothing."
Talon's forehead already had a fine bead of sweat on it, and the blood seeping out from his shoulder slowly stained his clothes red. But as he looked at me, a smile was still barely squeezed out of his miserably pale face.
"Why? I know there's no way I could have hit you at that speed just now."
Seeing Talon in this state, I can't say why, but my heart was flustered while still hiding a trace of heartache.
"Because it was you." Perhaps because of his injuries, Talon's voice became soft as he spoke, but his words made me a little more incredulous.
"What did you say?" I frowned, thinking I'd misheard him.
"I don't have to dodge away because it's you, Caitlyn, and I'll give you my life if you want it." Talon repeated the name that I found unfamiliar again; his eyes were sincere and moving. I could tell he must have loved the girl named Caitlyn.
"I'm sorry for...I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. I'm really not the person you're looking for, so you guys should just go back." I sighed softly before turning my head and getting ready to head back to the pack.
I couldn't say why, but whenever I looked into Talon's eyes, my head always hurt vaguely, as if something was being forced into my head.
"Vayne, what are you waiting for? Just take him down while you can, to avenge our previous clansmen!" Seeing that I was ready to withdraw from the battlefield, Zed raised his voice and ordered me!
I realized that at this moment, I should follow Zed's orders to take Talon down. But no matter how hard I tried, I could no longer awaken the desire to hurt him.
"Alpha, I'm afraid..."
I pursed my lips and didn't finish the second half of my sentence. Facing Talon, who was now severely injured, I really didn't want to put him in harm's way again.
"Damn it, you're the Gamma of our pack!"
Seeing that I was unmoved, Zed looked a bit annoyed while launching a hand signal for the surrounding pack members to slowly surround Talon and Bard.
"I've known it for a long time; I'm afraid you've already planned this day from the very beginning when you participated in the King's hunting match in the forest."
Talon raised his head unwillingly and looked towards Zed, who stood high above him. Though Talon looked powerless, there was no fear in his eyes.
"And what about you? What are your choices when you can properly protect someone? As an Alpha, I suppose you have a better idea of why I did what I did."
Zed looked at Talon with a smirk.
"Shut up, I'm not as same as you are!"
Talon shouted indignantly while slowly backing up to stand side by side with Bard. After the previous battle coupled with the injuries sustained, Talon's face was extremely pale at the moment, and merely straightening his body was considered a difficult task for him.
"Talon, stop struggling unnecessarily; you don't want to end up that embarrassed either."
Zed turned to Talon, then twisted his head to look at me. I wasn't quite sure what Zed meant and just pursed my lips as I watched the situation on the battlefield.
Soon enough, the Fullmoon pack's werewolf soldiers slowly formed a square formation, as they had trained before, firmly locking Talon and Bard into the center position.
I had felt the powerful strength of the two of them before, but after half a day of attrition, it was probably only a matter of time before they were defeated.
"Surrender early so you don't have to suffer some more physical pain."
Zed had a smile on his lips, as if he had anticipated that the balance of victory was slowly tipping in his favor.
Bard let out a roar that shocked the surrounding wolves, and for a while, no one dared to take a step forward.
But this marvelous balance was broken with Zed's next command. The werewolf warriors closest to Talon had already begun to raise their spears in their hands in a foolish manner.
"Make them stop!"
Just then, a young voice abruptly echoed behind them, and everyone turned in unison, only to discover a young werewolf wielding a sharp blade where Zed had stood.
"Braum!"
Bard exclaimed excitedly at the young man, who bore a striking resemblance to Bard between the eyebrows, suggesting that this was part of their plan.
Braum held a dagger to Zed's throat and emitted a low growl, his intimidating gaze scanning the crowd, though a hint of confusion crossed his face when he glanced at me.
It was unclear when he had materialized behind Zed.
However, Zed remained unusually composed and even smiled enigmatically.
"I repeat, tell them to stand down!"
Braum warned Zed, increasing the pressure on his hand slightly, causing a trickle of blood to seep from Zed's pale neck.
"Damn it, release the Alpha, or I'll ensure you meet a gruesome end!"
Perhaps due to a momentary lapse in concentration earlier, allowing Braum to capitalize on the situation, Zed was now a hostage. As the one closest to him, I bore the greatest responsibility.
"Caitlyn?"
Braum frowned as he looked at me.
"Fine, I promise to let you guys go. It wouldn't be much fun for me to end this game so easily."
Zed, still in captivity, displayed no signs of panic. Instead, he gestured for the werewolf soldiers of the Fullmoon Pack to quickly clear a path.
"Alpha Zed, it's not that we don't trust you, but you still have to come with us."
Braum informed as he moved toward Bard and Talon's location, holding Zed hostage.
Zed shrugged indisputably.
"Alpha!"
I stepped forward, keeping a watchful eye on Braum's retreating path, searching for any opportunity to disrupt the plan.
"Relax, Vayne, I'll be fine."
Zed smiled at me and waved his hand casually, but I remained vigilant, fists clenched and warily observing them.
Soon, the trio backed up toward the exit, holding Zed hostage.
"Caitlyn, wait for me. I'll be back for you."
Abruptly, Braum pushed Zed forward, and Talon called me again before the three of them vanished instantly.
Zed stood still, sneering as he watched Talon's disappearing figure.