The Alpha's long lost heir
Chapter 130: Risa’s back plan

Chapter 130: Risa’s back plan

Aegis sat alone in the royal garden, his brow furrowed in deep thought. The garden, usually a place of tranquility and beauty, now felt oppressive, its vibrant flowers and lush greenery doing little to soothe his troubled mind. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow on the stone bench where he sat, a stark contrast to the turmoil within him. He had spent hours sketching out plans, scribbling furiously on parchment, only to discard each one as unworthy.

"Oberon," he muttered under his breath, frustration tightening his chest. "Where are you hiding?"

He threw the quill down and leaned back, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts raced, each idea colliding with the next, leaving him more agitated than before. No matter what strategy he devised, it seemed there was no clear path to finding and eliminating Oberon. His enemies were slipping through his fingers like sand, and with every passing day, his grip on power felt more precarious.

The soft rustle of leaves behind him drew Aegis’s attention, and he turned to see Risa, approaching.

"You’re out here late," she said softly, her voice a gentle murmur against the night’s silence.

"What are you doing here all alone?"

Aegis sighed, rubbing his temples. "I needed some air. My thoughts are a tangled mess, and no matter how hard I try, I can not seem to untangle them."

Risa nodded, moving closer until she sat beside him.

"Still searching for Oberon, I see," she said, a touch of concern in her voice.

Aegis let out a frustrated breath. "Yes, but every plan I come up with falls apart before it even begins. I have sent word to the neighboring packs, questioning them about Oberon’s whereabouts, but their responses are always the same—nothing. It is like he has vanished into thin air."

He shook his head, the weight of his failure pressing down on him. "I am starting to think the other packs are hiding something from me, or worse, that they are siding with Oberon. But I have no proof, no leads, nothing to go on."

Risa watched him quietly for a moment, then placed a hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps you’re looking in the wrong places," she suggested gently.

Aegis looked up at her, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"You’ve been focusing on the neighboring packs, expecting them to know something," Risa explained.

"But if Oberon were anywhere near them, would they not have already turned him over to you, out of fear or loyalty? It’s possible that he is hiding somewhere much farther away, in a plac you have not yet considered."

Aegis mulled over her words, his eyes narrowing in thought. "A distant pack... But which one? I have sent scouts to all the major territories within our reach."

Risa smiled faintly. "That is precisely why he wouldn’t stay in those territories. Oberon is clever, and he knows how you think. He would have chosen a place where you would least expect him to be—a place beyond the borders of the packs you consider allies or threats. Somewhere remote, where he can gather strength without attracting attention."

Aegis nodded slowly, the idea beginning to take root in his mind. "A distant pack... perhaps even one that is considered neutral, or one that has been overlooked in our past conflicts."

"Exactly," Risa agreed.

"You need to search without relying on others. This is a task that only you can accomplish. If you want to find Oberon, you will need to think outside the usual strategies, beyond the immediate circles of power. Seek him where the others dare not tread."

Aegis felt a renewed sense of determination building within him. He had been so focused on his immediate surroundings, on the packs closest to him, that he had forgotten to consider the possibility of Oberon hiding in the fringes.

Risa smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I’m glad I could help, Aegis. But be careful.

Aegis nodded, his gaze hardening, "I will be fine."

As Risa watched Aegis leave the garden, she felt a pang of guilt twist in her chest. She had advised him honestly, but her own motives were far more complicated than she had let on.

***

Later that night, long after Aegis had retired to his chambers, Risa slipped out of the palace under the cover of darkness. She moved swiftly through the quiet streets, her hood pulled low over her face to avoid recognition. She made her way to a small, secluded hut at the edge of the territory, where a faint light flickered in the window.

Inside the hut, an elderly Lycan with silver hair and piercing blue eyes awaited her. He was known only as the Seer, a mysterious figure who had lived on the outskirts of the pack for as long as anyone could remember.

His abilities to see into the future and connect with the spirits were unparalleled, and though his services were rarely sought, those who did visit him knew they could trust his visions.

Risa entered the hut, closing the door behind her. The Seer looked up from the fire he was tending, his expression unreadable.

"You came," he said simply, as if he had expected her all along.

"I need your help," Risa replied, her voice hushed. "Oberon is in danger, and I need to know where he is. Aegis is closing in on him, and if he finds him..."

The Seer nodded, motioning for Risa to sit across from him. "You care for this Oberon," he observed, his tone neutral.

Risa hesitated, then nodded. "I do not want to hurt him, actually. I do love him, but for circumstances beyond my control, I had to let Aegis defeat him."

The Seer studied her for a moment, then reached for a bowl filled with water. He placed it on the table between them, the surface of the water eerily still. He closed his eyes and began to chant in a low, rhythmic tone, his hands hovering over the bowl. Slowly, the water began to ripple, and images started to form on its surface.

Risa leaned forward, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the vision unfold. At first, the images were unclear, a blur of shapes and colors, but gradually they sharpened into a recognizable landscape—a dense forest, far from the known territories, with towering trees and a river winding through it.

"There," the Seer murmured, pointing to a small clearing near the river. "Oberon is hiding in this forest, in the territory of the distant Eastern part of the savannahs."

Risa’s heart soared with relief, but it was quickly tempered by the knowledge that this information was dangerous. If Aegis were to discover it, he would not hesitate to launch an attack on the forest, even if it meant starting a war.

"Thank you," Risa whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I owe you a great debt."

The Seer shook his head. "The debt is not to me, but to the spirits who have granted this vision. Besides, know that you did a wrong thing, and this might be a indulgence for it."

Her eyes turned sad with guilt, she sighed as she looked away quickly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"If you can not keep up with it, I suggest you tell him the truth, and leave him alone."

Risa nodded, her resolve hardening. She had to act quickly. As she left the hut, her mind raced with the implications of what she had learned.

She knew she couldn’t let Aegis discover Oberon’s location, but she also couldn’t leave Oberon defenseless. There was only one option left to her.

***

Risa returned to the palace just before dawn, her movements swift and silent. She went directly to the barracks, where the palace guards were housed. Selecting a few of the most loyal and discreet guards, she pulled them aside, speaking in hushed tones.

"You must leave immediately," she instructed, her voice low but firm. "There is a forest to the east, far beyond the borders of the neighboring packs. Oberon is hiding there. Warn him of the danger. Tell him that Aegis is searching for him, and that he must prepare to defend himself."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, but they trusted Risa implicitly, "My lady, if Aegis knew about.."

"Forget about him, and do as I say."

"We will leave at once, Lady Risa," one of the guards said, bowing his head. "We will make sure the message reaches Oberon."

"Good," Risa replied, her voice tight with worry, "and be careful. If Aegis finds out what you’re doing, it will be their end. You must travel under the cover of darkness and avoid detection at all costs."

The guards nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of their mission. They quickly gathered their gear and slipped out of the palace, vanishing into the night like shadows.

"Forgive me Aegis. Though I wanted power, I never meant harm for Oberon," she hung her head low, the loom of impending doom hanging over her.

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