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The sky above the palace looked pale, and the air felt cold. Keegan stood inside his room, staring at his reflection. His hands were shaking, and he tried to control his breathing. He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered Kevin’s threats. He remembered the sealed box and the dark secret that Kevin held over him. He knew he did not have a choice. He had to do what Kevin ordered.

Rosa stood near the window, holding the baby. She watched Keegan quietly. She felt something terrible was happening, but he had refused to tell her the truth.

“Keegan,” Rosa said softly. “Please talk to me. What is going on?”

Keegan forced a weak smile. “It is nothing. I just need to get through today.”

Rosa shook her head. “You are lying. You look sick. You look scared. I know something is wrong.”

“I will explain later,” Keegan said. “I promise. I just need to do something first.”

Rosa wanted to argue, but Keegan walked away before she could speak again. She watched him leave, feeling a pain growing in her chest. She held the baby closer, afraid of what was coming.

The great hall was filled with pack members. Warriors stood in lines. Elders gathered in the front. Servants stood along the walls. Guards were everywhere, each holding their weapons tight. Kevin had ordered heavy security to make sure no one could interfere.

Kevin stood on the raised platform where the throne was placed. He looked calm, almost too calm. He watched the crowd with sharp eyes, making sure everyone was present.

Keegan entered the hall from the side door. He felt all eyes turn toward him. Some members whispered. Some looked confused. Some looked worried. He moved slowly toward the center of the hall. His heart hit hard inside his chest.

Kevin raised a hand. The hall went silent.

“Thank you all for coming,” Kevin said in a strong voice. “Today, we will hear a truth that has been hidden for too long.”

He turned to Keegan. “Step forward.”

Keegan forced his feet to move. He reached the center of the hall and stood still. His hands were shaking again. He clasped them together to hide it.

Kevin nodded at him. “Tell the pack what you told me.”

Keegan swallowed hard. His throat felt dry. He looked at the crowd. He then looked at Rosa, who stood at the back holding their baby. Her eyes were wide with fear. Seeing her made his chest tighten. He wished he could stop this. He wished he could run to her and tell her everything. But Kevin’s threats came back to him like a heavy shadow.

Keegan breathed in.

“I have something to confess,” he said. His voice sounded weak at first, but he forced it to stay steady. “I was involved in the death of the king… our father.”

A loud stir spread through the hall. People gasped. The Warriors looked at each other. Elders whispered among themselves.

Keegan continued, even though his voice shook. “On the night he died, we argued. It got heated. I… I pushed him. He fell. I did not mean to kill him. It was an accident.”

The murmurs grew louder. A few people stepped forward, wanting to speak, but the guards blocked them. Kevin stood behind Keegan, watching everything with cold eyes.

Keegan felt sweat on his forehead. He knew the words coming out of his mouth were not the truth. He felt sick saying them. But every time he hesitated, he remembered Kevin’s voice from the night before.

“If you don’t confess, I will destroy everything you love.”

Keegan continued. “I panicked. I didn’t know what to do. I hid what happened. I told no one. I let the guard be blamed. I let him die for something he didn’t do.”

The hall grew restless. A few warriors looked angry. A few looked confused. Some elders frowned, looking at Kevin instead of Keegan.

One elder whispered to another, “This story… does not match the timeline.”

Another elder whispered back, “His injuries didn’t match a fall.”

Rosa pressed her hand to her mouth. Tears filled her eyes. She shook her head again and again. “No… Keegan… what are you doing?” she whispered.

Keegan felt her pain even from across the hall.

Kevin stepped forward. “You all heard him. The truth has been spoken. My brother takes full responsibility for what happened.”

He placed a hand on Keegan’s shoulder, pretending to comfort him. But the grip was tight. Controlling. Threatening.

“It is time for the pack to heal,” Kevin said loudly. “There will be no more questions.”

But the pack did not look healed. Warriors exchanged suspicious glances. Elders stared at Keegan with troubled expressions. Some looked at Kevin with doubt. Some whispered that Keegan looked forced. Some whispered that the confession felt too sudden.

A young warrior near the front whispered, “But why now? Why after all these months?”

Another whispered back, “He doesn’t even look like he believes what he said.”

Kevin noticed the growing murmurs. His jaw tightened. His eyes darkened. He scanned the hall, trying to see who was doubting him.

Keegan lowered his head, feeling a wave of shame. He felt like he had betrayed the entire pack. He felt like he had betrayed his father. But he also knew he had no choice.

Kevin stepped beside him and said quietly, “Well done. You did what you were told.”

Keegan did not answer.

Kevin turned back to the crowd. “The matter is closed. Keegan will step back from pack duties until further notice. Anyone who questions this confession is questioning the Alpha’s command.”

The hall fell silent again. Not out of respect — out of fear.

Kevin walked back to the throne and sat down with a calm expression.

Rosa stepped forward, trying to reach Keegan, but two guards blocked her. “Move,” she snapped. “Let me go to him.”

The guards shook their heads. “Alpha’s order.”

Rosa’s eyes filled with anger. “He needs me. Let me through.”

But the guards held their position.

Keegan saw her struggling. He whispered, “It’s okay… don’t fight. Please.”

Rosa shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks.

The elders began to leave the hall in confusion. Warriors followed slowly, whispering among themselves. Servants moved silently, afraid of making noise.

But Kevin stood still on the throne, watching everyone walk out. Watching the doubt grow. Watching the confusion spread. Watching his control begin to slip little by little.

Then, as the last few warriors left the hall, Kevin leaned back and let out a slow breath.

A smirk formed on his lips.

He believed he had won.

He believed Keegan was broken.

He believed that no one would look deeper now.

Kevin sat on the throne, his cold smirk shining through the dim hall, convinced that he had regained control unaware that the truth was already reaching for him from the shadows.