Chapter 105: A Deception
Raymon sat in his room long after the conversation with Teacher Shim had ended, deep in thought. Teacher Shim had agreed to let the other woman try, but even so, he was not assured. He did not like to depend on others for the fulfilment of his plan.
He needed to do something about Zen and Kael. While Kael was proving to be impossible for Ramona due to his powers, Zen should have been easier to control. The problem was, even now, no one knew which latent power Zen held.
That had to be it. Triplets among the werewolves were rare and even more so that all three of them would be alphas. Which meant that each carried latent powers. That Kael was an empath had been discovered early on due to the kidnapping but Lance and Zen’s power was hidden... The previous Alpha had made sure of it to keep them protected.
Over the years, Raymon could guess what Lance’s power was even though he could not be sure... but Zen... He had yet to find out...
Prince Zen... the boy who had once been pliant, amiable and one who had adored Ramona had looked at her as if she were the moon itself had suddenly changed after discovering Ramona’s averseness to Kael.
Back then, Raymon had believed that Zen would be the easiest of the princes to secure. He had thought the bond would be sealed quickly. That his daughter would soon become Luna, and the path for both of them would be set in stone.
Yet here they were, years later. And instead of being pliant, Zen had become the biggest obstacle.
Raymon clenched his teeth and rubbed his forehead. He could not ignore this any longer.
The deadline was fast approaching. The Master had been clear when he gave him that task years ago that the princes need to be mated to someone of their choosing. They had to believe they had found their true mate.
But four years had passed. Four long years.
He had thought there would be more time, that Ramona’s charm, combined with the subtle push of the potion, would be enough.
He sighed. He had worked so hard to prepare the potion that would eventually fool all three of their wolves into believing that Ramona was their mate. The effect of the potion had been enough to bend the minds of three young princes, strong enough to make them believe that Ramona was the one their souls longed for.
He remembered their eyes, glazed but shining, filled with that pull. He remembered how Ramona had smiled, not quite understanding the full weight of what had been done, but happy all the same.
Yes, it had worked.
But the effect of any potion could only last so long. Added to that, Prince Zen and Prince Kael had kept their distance over the years and with the appearance of the omega, everything was shifting.
He could feel it. And he worried. If this Omega was really the true mate then...
Raymon’s heart thudded. He could not allow the princes to discover the truth. If they ever realized that their bond with Ramona had been forced and manipulated, twisted by a potion, his entire plan would fall apart. His daughter’s future would be destroyed. And he himself... he would not survive the consequences.
He needed to act.
He needed more of the potion to reinforce the bond.
Slowly, Raymon rose from his chair and crossed the dim room.
He stopped before the far wall and lowered himself to his knees. His joints ached, but he ignored the pain. Pressing his palms together, he bowed his head and began to chant the words he had been taught long ago. The language was old, unfamiliar to most, but to him it was as easy as breathing.
At first, nothing happened. Then the mark at the base of the wall began to glow like an ember.
The light spread slowly, crawling up the stones until it reached the center of the wall. There, it swirled and gathered, twisting and folding into itself until it shaped into a floating orb.
The orb pulsed faintly, white at first, then silver, then shifting into a strange pale blue. It hovered in the air, steady and watchful, like an unblinking eye.
Raymon lowered his head further. "Greetings, Master. It has been too long since I last called upon you."
The orb flickered once, then a voice filled the room, "Raymon Vye."
He bowed lower. "Yes, Master. I am here."
The orb pulsed. "Why have you summoned me?"
Raymon took a deep breath. His palms were slick with sweat, though the room was cold.
"Master... I wish to request more of the potion you gave me before."
There was silence. For a long moment, the orb simply glowed, and Raymon felt as though his heart might stop. Then the voice cut through him like a blade.
"More?"
Raymon flinched. "Yes, Master. The situation... it has become difficult. One of the princes has turned his eyes toward an omega who might be their... If I had more of the medicine, I could-"
"Fool," the orb hissed. "Do you think it is so easy? Do you imagine that because they were fooled once, they would do so again without suspicion? Years ago, they were young and unsuspecting. They were naive. They did not question what pulled their hearts, and so they believed. But so much time has passed. Their minds are no longer soft. If they even suspect that they were tricked, if they trace it back to you..."
The light flared again, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply. "You will not be spared."
Raymon’s chest seized. He pressed his forehead to the floor. "Forgive me, Master. I beg you. It will not fail. The bond will be sealed. I only ask for one more chance."
There was silence again. Then the orb spoke, its voice cold but steady. "You dare to come before me, with your task still unfulfilled, and ask for more? You were given what you needed. But... I will give you one more chance..."