161

161


The morning air inside the old archive room felt cold. The shelves were stacked with dusty books, folded scrolls, and boxes that no one had opened in years. The old advisor, Elder Maron, had been searching since dawn. His hands shook a little, but his focus stayed sharp. He believed something had been hidden during the final weeks of the late king’s life.

He pulled out another wooden drawer and muttered, “Please… let something still be here.”

Inside the drawer lay a small leather book with the king’s symbol. Elder Maron froze. Then he lifted it gently, brushed off the dust, and opened the first page.

His eyes widened as he began to read.

The journal did not hold the calm thoughts of a peaceful ruler. The entries grew darker near the final days of the king’s life. The handwriting looked rushed and tense. The king wrote about Kevin. He wrote about arguments. He wrote about fear.

Elder Maron whispered, “This cannot be real.”

One entry said Kevin had become unstable. Another said the king planned to meet Kevin privately to talk sense into him. A third entry mentioned the king preparing to change the Alpha succession document—again.

“That night,” Maron breathed. “The night he died…”

He turned the page and saw an unfinished sentence. Kevin came to my room tonight. I fear—

Then it stopped.

The ink line ended suddenly, like the king never got to finish the thought.

Elder Maron closed the journal with shaking hands. “The council needs to see this,” he whispered. “But if Kevin finds out first…”

He pressed the journal under his cloak and rushed out of the archive before anyone could see him.

Across the palace, Rosa tried to stay calm, but her heart beat fast. She carried a candle as she searched the old storage wing. Keegan had told her only a piece of the truth, but she knew he was hiding something painful. She could see it in his eyes every time he avoided her questions.

She entered a small storage room filled with boxes, crates, and old armor. She began opening them one by one.

“I need answers,” she whispered.

After searching for almost an hour, she found a small wooden box pushed behind a pile of old shields. She pulled it out, wiped the dust away, and opened it.

Inside were items that once belonged to the king’s personal guard—the one who died days after the king.

Rosa froze when she found a broken wax seal wrapped inside cloth. The pattern on the seal matched the royal symbol that Keegan described from the missing envelope.

“This… this is it,” Rosa whispered. “The envelope he never found.”

Her hands trembled. She hid the box under her cloak and left the room quickly, checking the hallway for guards.

“I have to show Keegan,” she said, but she also knew she needed to be careful. Kevin watched everything.

Keegan sat alone in his room, leaning against the wall. His body felt weak. His stomach twisted as he remembered the lie he told the pack. His voice still echoed in his head.

“I killed my father…”

He covered his face. His breath shook. He felt empty.

Rosa knocked softly on the door. “Keegan? Can I come in?”

He froze. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to protect their children. He wanted to tell her everything, but Kevin’s threat had crushed him.

He opened the door slowly. Rosa stepped inside and studied his pale face.

“You haven’t slept,” she said.

“I’m fine,” Keegan answered, but the weakness in his voice betrayed him.

“No, you’re not. Talk to me.”

Keegan sat on the edge of the bed. “I can’t. Not yet.”

Rosa stepped closer. “Keegan, I found something.”

He looked up sharply. “What?”

She pulled the box from under her cloak and placed it on the bed. “These belonged to the king’s guard. Look inside.”

Keegan’s hands shook as he opened the box. His breath caught when he saw the broken seal.

“This matches… this matches the envelope he carried that night,” Keegan said. “The envelope that disappeared.”

Rosa nodded. “He must have been trying to deliver something important to the king. Something he never got to give.”

“Because Kevin took it,” Keegan whispered. “He has been hiding evidence since the beginning.”

Rosa swallowed. “Keegan… we are close to the truth.”

Keegan clenched his jaw. “Kevin knows. He knows I am still digging. He will not stop until he destroys everything.”

Rosa touched his arm gently. “Then we cannot be afraid. We have children. We have each other. We fight smart.”

Keegan looked into her eyes. His own eyes softened, but they were filled with exhaustion.

“If Kevin hurts you,” Keegan said quietly, “I will—”

“He won’t,” Rosa cut in. “We stay careful, and we stay together.”

Before Keegan could respond, they heard footsteps outside the room. Heavy footsteps.

Keegan stood at once. Rosa stepped back, clutching the box.

The door opened, and Kevin’s voice filled the room.

Kevin stood in the doorway, hands behind his back, face blank.

“What are you doing here?” Keegan asked sharply.

Kevin tilted his head. “Checking on my brother. After all, you gave a shocking confession yesterday. I just wanted to be sure you are… stable.”

Rosa remained silent, hiding the box under a blanket behind her leg.

Kevin stepped into the room with calm steps. “Keegan, you acted bravely in front of the pack. You have taken responsibility. You have helped the kingdom.”

Keegan clenched his fists. “I only told them what you forced me to say.”

Kevin’s eyes darkened. “Lower your voice.”

Rosa stepped between them. “Enough. Both of you.”

Kevin smirked. “Rosa, you should keep your husband under control. He forgets his position.”

Keegan’s voice rose. “I remember my position. And I remember what you did.”

Kevin stepped closer, dropping his calm tone. “Say one more thing, Keegan. Say it again.”

Rosa quickly placed a hand on Keegan’s arm. “Please. Not here.”

Keegan took a slow breath. “Leave our room.”

Kevin stared at him for a long moment, then smiled lightly. “Rest well, brother. You will need your strength.”

He walked out and shut the door.

Rosa heard his footsteps fade. Only then did she let out a shaky breath.

“He suspects something,” she said.

Keegan nodded. “He always does.”

Elder Maron hurried through the palace hallways, clutching the king’s journal under his cloak. He approached the council chamber, but before he reached the door, two guards stepped in front of him.

“Where are you going, Elder?” one guard asked.

“To see the council,” Maron said. “I have important information.”

“The council is not meeting today,” the guard replied.

“That is impossible,” Maron said. “They meet every morning.”

The guard stared at him without blinking. “Not today.”

Maron understood immediately. Kevin had blocked access. Kevin sensed something.

The guards stepped closer. “You should return to your room, Elder.”

Maron forced a calm smile. “Of course.”

He turned away slowly, then hurried down another hallway. If he could not reach the council, he needed to reach someone else.

Someone Kevin did not control.

He whispered to himself, “Keegan. I must find Keegan.”

Meanwhile, Rosa and Keegan sat together. Rosa had spread out the guard’s items on the bed. Keegan paced the room.

“We have two parts of the truth,” Keegan said. “But we need the rest.”

“We will find it,” Rosa said. “Kevin cannot hide everything forever.”

Keegan stopped pacing. “I want to tell you everything, Rosa. I want to tell you why I confessed.”

Rosa looked at him softly. “Then tell me.”

Keegan opened his mouth, but then the door shook from a sudden knock.

Rosa jumped. Keegan stepped in front of her.

The door opened slightly, and Elder Maron slipped inside.

“Keegan,” he whispered urgently. “I found something. Something that changes everything.”

Keegan’s eyes sharpened. “What is it?”

Elder Maron pulled out the king’s journal and handed it to Keegan. “Read it. Quickly.”

Keegan opened it, scanning the entries. His breath grew heavy.

“The king wrote this,” Keegan said. “He feared Kevin… he feared what he might do.”

Rosa leaned close, reading the words with him.

Elder Maron said, “This proves your confession was false. You must take this to the council. You must show them.

Keegan closed the journal and looked up.

“This is the proof we needed.”

Rosa whispered, “This will expose Kevin.”

Elder Maron nodded. “But be careful. Kevin will kill to protect himself.”

Keegan clenched the journal tightly. “Then we move before he does.”

The three of them looked at one another, understanding the danger ahead.