Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-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.

He shook his head, as if trying to dispel her image, and locked his glowing amber gaze on Naveen’s cold, steady stare.

"A lot has happened... which made me realize that I want to be strong. Cara—the woman who looked after me—told me that my seal protects me from being discovered by my father, but it also prevents me from growing stronger. I want to get rid of it. I don’t care if my father finds me. I want to be strong so that I can protect those I care about."

Cara. The name sent a jolt through Naveen’s mind. She recognized it instantly—the royal shifter who had once tended to Tanya and helped her escape. A pang of nostalgia twisted her heart.

So she has been raising the boy all these years, huh? Who would have thought... I would say it’s a miracle he survived, but then again... He had no other choice but to live on and return.

"Have you met her? Cara?" Rhaegar asked suddenly, as if reading her thoughts. Naveen quickly shook her head and answered in a sharp but controlled tone. "No, I’ve never heard that name before."

Disappointment clouded Rhaegar’s face, his features shadowed by a fleeting sadness. He still hoped to meet her again. Sensing the need to shift the mood, Naveen tilted her head thoughtfully. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"I can help you conceal your presence even after the seal is broken," she said. "However, what will you do then? Once the seal is gone, you’ll have to train to control your powers; even to just use them to the full extent. Do you even have a place to go?"

Rhaegar’s shoulders slumped as he lowered his head, his tanned face drawn with a defeated expression. "I’ll find a place... I know I can."

Naveen let out a slow, somber sigh. With a Gypsy mother, he would be welcomed into her tribe without hesitation. But he was also part lycan. That bloodline carried risks. If he fell in with the wrong group, he could easily meet a fate similar to hers—or worse. He could be sold to Erelith as a gladiator slave.

perhaps thanks to Cara, Tanya’s family has been searching for the boy for the past two years... Naveen mused, her thoughts weighing heavily on her. I could try to send a messenger hawk to their camp in secret. Perhaps he truly could find safety with them there...

Clearing her throat, she stepped away from Rhaegar and spoke again in a clear, confident voice.

"The seal is losing its powers, though it won’t break fully on its own. I cannot reapply the seal to keep your wolf hidden. I brought you here because I didn’t want you to die from fever. If you change your mind and decide to stay unshifted, I can help manage your symptoms. But know this: even with my help, your body will constantly fight against its nature. You will feel the pain of that struggle every single day."

Her hand moved to the desk, and she lifted a large, curved dagger with a golden hilt. The blade gleamed ominously in the dim light as she fixed her piercing blue eyes on him.

"Choose wisely," she continued, her tone unyielding. "Shifting against the seal will be excruciating. Every bone in your body will shatter and then reknit itself. Every muscle will tear apart and rebuild. Your blood vessels will burst open and reconnect. It will feel like dying over and over again, until the process is complete. And even after enduring all that, you’ll have to remain hidden until you’re reunited with your people. Will you be able to bear it?"