Chapter 179: Will You Be Able To Bear That?
"...What?"
Rhaegar’s pulse quickened, his blood rushing mercilessly to his head. He couldn’t believe his luck—he had wanted to find a witch to help him shift, but he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
Still, having only just met the witch, a nagging wariness stirred inside him.
"How can you tell it’s time for me to shift?" he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
Naveen narrowed her icy blue eyes for a moment before exhaling sharply, the sigh fluttering the black fabric covering her nose and mouth. "You will have to tell me how you’ve managed to spend the last eleven years of your life knowing absolutely nothing about yourself, my dear boy. Although..."
She leaned closer suddenly, making Rhaegar recoil instinctively. Her cold gaze bore into him, her pupils narrowing before snapping wide in realization. "It makes sense now... You’re Fenrir’s son!"
Rhaegar’s amber eyes widened in amazement. "How did you know?!" he blurted, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Though he knew about his father being the King of Beasts, it was still rather strange to meet someone speak his name so freely. Before, it was only Cara who uttered his name without hesitation, but even then, she only spoke of him twice, though it was enough to make him remember the burning hatred in her voice.
The witch sighed again, her tone tinged with exasperation. "You look too much like him," she replied. "At first, my eyes refused to believe it, but there’s a certain... quality about your entire presence that betrays your lineage. Fenrir is a strong lycan, and it’s only natural that you’ve inherited his strength."
Before he could react, Naveen stepped forward, her long black cloak trailing behind her as she placed a firm hand on his thin shoulder. Her touch was cool, almost unnervingly so, yet it brought a sense of relief to the boy’s small body.
"Your mother’s seal was meant to be unbreakable," she said, her voice softening slightly as her curious gaze scrutinized him. "But... did something happen to make your soul waver? It should not be like this––your inner beast is clawing to break free, fighting desperately against the seal. Why?"
Lorelai—the princess’s face—flashed before Rhaegar’s eyes, and his heart sank. Why was she the first person he thought about? No, if anything, she continued to torment his mind relentlessly, and it made him feel utterly uncomfortable.