Vayne's POV
"What are you waiting for, Vayne? Get on it!"
Just as the stalemate began, Azir turned his attention to me standing next to him and couldn't help but urge me on. This reminder from him also made the eyes of the people around focus on me.
After all, I was the Gamma of the Fullmoon Pack, and my actions at this moment needed to reflect my attitude.
If I pushed back, it meant that I had some involvement with the offender in front of me.
If I confronted him head-on, it meant that I was still loyal to the Fullmoon Pack.
However, no matter how I chose, someone would always get hurt.
I looked up at Talon, who was under siege, and took a deep breath before joining the fray.
"Caitlyn? You!"
Talon jerked to the side, managing to dodge my attack. His eyes looked a little complicated as he glanced at me, but he quickly collected himself and instead spared a sideways glance at Zed. Zed smiled at the sight and greeted Talon as if he had already seen the end of today's farce.
"Caitlyn, calm down. You're being used by Zed; he's just trying to keep you in this damn pack to make you his weapon!"
Talon dodged through the others while finding an opening to explain what he called the truth to me.
"Stop wasting your breath; I'm not going to believe your nonsense!"
Perhaps it was because of my previous hesitation that made me try hard to maintain my image as the Gamma of the Fullmoon Pack in front of outsiders when facing Talon. That's why I coldly refused to communicate with Talon, but the strength of my attack towards him was significantly weaker.
But it still required quite a bit of energy for Talon to deal with me, giving others a chance to take advantage of it.
"Go to hell!"
A relatively short werewolf warrior found an opening to suddenly launch a surprise attack from the shadows towards Talon's backside. He wore a grim smile on his face, as if he had already anticipated the achievement he would acquire after successfully sneaking in.
"Watch out!"
For some reason, the wolf inside me suddenly growled, making me subconsciously shout to Talon.
Talon sensed the hostile intent behind him, but as he attempted to avoid it, it became almost impossible.
He jerked back a step, his body spinning in the air, yet the bright dagger still cut across his back. Bright blood blossomed into a blood-colored flower in the air. Talon cringed in pain and, in the process, kicked over the werewolf that had sneaked up on him earlier.
Only then did he have time to glance at me, nodding gently as if expressing gratitude and touched by the moment.
Though I couldn't fathom why I raised my voice as a reminder to him, in my heart, I was certain that if Talon had died so easily before me, profound grief would have consumed me. The events had unfolded in the blink of an eye, hidden from the onlookers.
"He's hurt! Hurry up!" The captain of the previous werewolf team shouted excitedly, seeing his men succeed in the attack. Simultaneously, he threw back his head, let out a long whistle into the air, prostrated himself, and launched a second attack toward Talon.
Talon's giant wolf seemed disorganized after consecutive attacks, blood gushing from his earlier wounds. He faced unprecedented pressure at this moment.
"Talon, you'd better surrender; I'll spare you for Alpha's sake." Witnessing Talon in this state, I found it increasingly difficult to bear.
"Impossible. Although you may not believe me now, I'll make him pay the price he deserves!" Talon's face expressed reluctance as he breathed heavily. Amid his struggles, dying werewolf soldiers lay on the ground beside him.
"Surrender, Talon. I don't want to witness this again!" I pleaded from where I stood.
Talon froze for a moment, gazing at me with tenderness in his eyes, but he shook his head gently.
"You're not really Caitlyn, because she's the only one who understands what's in my heart and, as a warrior, will never choose to surrender, no matter what."
"But you're going to die."
I pursed my lips, hoping my words would sway Talon's stubborn mind.
"Honestly, since I left you, I've wondered if I could have simply forgotten about you and started my life anew. Would I have adjusted to being without you?"
Talon frowned, a pained expression on his face, unsure whether it was due to physical pain or the heartache he was recalling under his breath.
"I've pondered this question for a long time. It occurred to me that even if I get my great revenge, what can I do? I'm already missing someone by my side to share this joy with. Then what about all the days we've experienced together? I'm someone who has always been unwilling to owe anyone any favors."
Talon's eyes slowly became crystallized and reddened.
"But Caitlyn, you have given too much for me. If I let you go from my life so easily, I will never forgive myself. Even if I die here today, I will take you away!"
After Talon finished speaking, a monstrous aura erupted from his body. He raised his head high, roaring towards the sun that was gradually setting in the west. After his roar, a round of faint moonlight was reflected in the sky, while his entire body faintly carried a light golden color.
I froze in place, listening to Talon's true feelings for me, as if something were slowly loosening in my heart.
An image of a young girl who looked exactly like me slowly emerged in my mind. She was with Talon, her face radiating happiness, and Talon's eyes filled with warm affection as he gazed at her.
Tears streamed down my face in an instant; my emotions were a bit out of control, and my entire being plunged into darkness as I subconsciously sank to my knees.
"Caitlyn!"
Witnessing this scene, Talon, his eyes filled with heartache, took a step toward me.
"Now!"
Suddenly, a werewolf warrior seized the opportunity and thrust a poisoned dagger towards Talon's back. Talon, completely focused on me, failed to notice the impending attack.
I snapped out of my trance and observed the unfolding danger. All the nerves in my body tensed up, and I leaped towards Talon. His eyes widened in surprise, a hint of elation appearing as he held me tightly in his arms.
"Caitlyn..."
Talon mumbled my name. I was about to respond to his words, but a cold touch behind me rendered me powerless. I could only emit a muffled grunt of pain as my consciousness began to grow drowsy.
"Go to hell!"
The werewolf soldier, his eyes already filled with malice, let out a sardonic laugh, and then the entire sky in front of me dimmed.