156

156

Kevin sat on the Alpha’s throne with a shaking hand. A guard stood in front of him, breathing hard after running through the halls.

“Alpha,” the guard said. “We saw Prince Keegan near the evidence storage again. He spoke to two servants. They left before we could stop them.”

Kevin’s jaw tightened. “He was told to stay away from that room.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Kevin stood up at once. The guards stepped back. There was anger in his eyes. His hands were shaking with rage. He pushed the doors open and stormed toward the main hall.

“Bring Keegan to me. Now!” Kevin shouted.

The guards rushed away. Moments later, they dragged Keegan into the throne room.

Keegan pulled his arms free. “I can walk by myself. You don’t have to drag me.”

Kevin stood on the steps of the throne, looking down at him.

“What were you doing near the evidence storage?” Kevin asked.

Keegan kept his voice calm. “Walking. The palace belongs to all of us. I can go anywhere.”

Kevin stepped closer. “Do not joke with me. You are hiding something.”

“And you are afraid,” Keegan replied. “That is why you watch me.”

A long silence followed. The guards stared at the floor, afraid to move.

Kevin’s breathing became loud. “You forget who you are talking to. I am the Alpha.”

“And you forget that I know you,” Keegan said. “You are scared that the truth will come out.”

“Truth about what?” Kevin demanded.

Keegan did not look away. “The truth about Father.”

Kevin’s eyes widened. His voice dropped. “Leave. All of you.”

The guards hurried out and shut the doors.

Only the brothers remained in the room.

Kevin pointed at him. “Whatever you think you know, stay away from it. If you keep digging, I will not protect you.”

“I’m not asking for protection,” Keegan said. “I want the truth.”

Kevin took a step forward. “You will regret this. I promise you.”

Keegan didn’t answer. He walked out of the hall, leaving Kevin breathing hard, shaking with rage and fear.

Night fell over the palace. Kevin shut himself in his private room, unable to calm the storm inside him. He kicked a chair and sent it crashing into the wall.

“He’s getting too close,” Kevin muttered to himself. “He knows something. I can feel it.”

A servant knocked softly. “Alpha? Your advisor is here.”

“Send him in.”

The advisor entered quietly. He bowed.

“You look troubled, Alpha,” he said.

Kevin walked back and forth. “Keegan is close to the truth. He has been speaking to guards. Servants. He is building something behind my back.”

“Do you want him watched?” the advisor asked.

“He is already watched!” Kevin slammed his fist on the table. “He is slipping through it. That boy… he is a danger.”

The advisor leaned closer. “Then you must make him harmless.”

“How?”

“Break his will,” the advisor said. “Find something he cares about and use it. Or frame him. Make the pack see him as unstable.”

Kevin stared at him. “Frame him for what?”

“That depends on what you want,” the advisor replied. “If you want him quiet, you must hurt him where it matters.”

Kevin sank into his chair. “He will not stop. He thinks he can follow clues. He thinks he can expose me.”

“He can,” the advisor said calmly. “Unless you act now.”

Kevin looked up with tired eyes. “Then I need something powerful. Something he will fear.”

The advisor bowed. “You already have something like that.”

Kevin frowned. “Explain.”

“In the dungeon,” the advisor whispered. “You kept something hidden there years ago. Something no one else knows about.”

Kevin froze.

Then he slowly nodded.

Meanwhile, in their quiet room, Keegan and Rosa sat on the floor with papers spread around them.

Rosa held their babies, who was finally asleep. She looked tired. Her voice was low.

“Keegan, this is too much. You barely sleep. You are running around the palace all day.”

“I can’t stop,” Keegan said. “Too many things are wrong. The king’s last orders. The guard’s sudden execution. Sandra’s death. The missing servants. Everything points to one place.”

“To Kevin,” Rosa whispered.

“Yes.”

Rosa shifted nervously. “What did you find out about the Alpha transfer document?”

Keegan held the paper up. “He had Father sign it the same day Father disappeared. Hours before his death.”

Rosa looked at the document. “That means Kevin knew something would happen that night.”

Keegan nodded. “Yes.”

Rosa touched his shoulder. “Then you need to be careful. Kevin is not stable. He watches every corner of this palace. He already suspects you.”

“I know,” Keegan said. “But I can’t stop now. Not after everything.”

Rosa lowered her head. “I am scared for you.”

Keegan took her hand. “I’ll be fine.”

Rosa didn’t look convinced. “Promise me you will slow down.”

“I’ll try,” he said, though they both knew he wouldn’t.

Kevin stood on his balcony overlooking the palace grounds. The wind blew cold across his face. His hands clenched the railing as he breathed heavily. He felt pressure in his chest.

He whispered, “Everyone doubts me. Everyone watches me.”

He closed his eyes and heard voices in his mind.

He imagined the guards talking. The council is worrying. The servants whispering. Keegan investigating.

He felt trapped.

“Keegan wants to take everything from me,” he said aloud. “He wants the throne. He wants to destroy me.”

He began pacing again.

“No. I must move first.”

His breath was uneven. He looked around even though no one was there.

“Bring me that weapon,” he whispered to himself. “The one from the dungeon.”

A guard arrived at the door. “Alpha? You called?”

Kevin turned slowly.

“Yes. Go to the dungeon. Bring me the item locked in the old stone chest. The one only I know about.”

The guard hesitated. “Alpha… are you sure?”

Kevin’s voice grew firm. “Now.”

The guard bowed and ran out.

Kevin stood alone again, pressing a hand to his face.

“This will end Keegan,” he said quietly. “He will never dare fight me once I show him this.”

Down in the dungeon, torches burned quietly. The guard walked to a hidden corner where a large stone chest sat. Heavy chains wrapped around it.

He unlocked it with shaky hands, using the key Kevin had given him.

Inside the chest was a small wooden box. Old. Dusty. Untouched for years.

The guard swallowed hard and picked it up.

He did not know what was inside, but he could feel it mattered.

He ran back up the stairs.

Kevin stood in his room when the guard returned.

“Here, Alpha.”

Kevin took the wooden box. His hands trembled.

“This will destroy him,” Kevin whispered. “He has no chance now.”

He opened the lid and stared inside with a cold smile on his face.