164

164


The morning began with noise echoing across the palace halls. Warriors rushed from one corridor to another as rumors flew like sparks. Everyone felt something building, something heavy. Kevin had lost his calm for days, but on this morning, his anger finally surfaced for all to see.
Kevin stood in the middle of the training yard, shouting orders. His voice carried across the stone walls.
“Line up now! No one leaves until I say so!”
The warriors hurried into formation. Some kept their eyes low. Others exchanged fast, worried looks. Kevin began pacing in front of them. His breathing was angry and sharp.
“I heard things,” Kevin said. “I heard some of you think you can question me. Question your Alpha.”
No one answered. No one dared.
Kevin pointed at a warrior in the front row. “You. Step forward.”
The warrior’s boots hit the ground loudly as he obeyed.
Kevin walked up to him and stared into his eyes. “Did you say anything against me? Did you whisper anything?”
“No, Alpha,” the warrior said quickly.
Kevin stepped closer and growled. “If I ever hear you speak out of place, I will punish you in ways you will not forget. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Kevin waved him away and called another forward. And then another. He questioned them one by one, raising his voice, demanding total loyalty, threatening them if they even looked uncertain.
The rest of the pack watched from a distance, scared. The tension inside the palace grew stronger each hour.

Meanwhile, Keegan met Rosa and the old advisor in their hidden meeting place. It was a wide storage room behind the library, filled with dusty shelves and old crates. Keegan closed the door behind him and took a deep breath.
“He is losing control,” Keegan said. “If he hears even one rumor about us, he will turn the whole kingdom upside down.”
“We know,” the old advisor replied. “That is why we must move faster. We cannot let him hide the truth much longer.”
Rosa walked toward them holding something in her hand. “I found something,” she said quietly.
Keegan stepped closer. “What is it?”
“A letter,” Rosa said. “From the king. It was inside a hidden drawer in his old study.”
Keegan felt his heart beat faster. “What does it say?”
Rosa opened the paper. Her hands shook a little.
“It says he was worried about Kevin,” she explained. “He said Kevin’s behavior was changing. He was afraid Kevin might do something violent. He wrote that he needed to speak to you before making any decisions.”
Keegan lowered his head, anger and regret rising inside him. “He wanted to warn me… but he never got the chance.”
“We have enough proof to make people look closer,” the advisor said. “But we need more. Kevin will deny everything unless we can show solid evidence.”
Rosa nodded. “Kevin is acting like someone who knows the truth is coming. He is getting more aggressive.”
Keegan clenched his fists. “He killed our father. I know it now. Every piece is falling into place.”
Rosa touched his arm. “We must be careful. He is unpredictable right now. One wrong step and he could hurt the children.”
Keegan turned toward her. “I won’t let that happen. Never.”
The advisor placed the journal and letters on a wooden table. “We need to gather more statements from guards who were on duty that night. Some may be scared, but some may speak now that Kevin is showing his true behavior.”
Rosa frowned. “But how do we speak to them without alerting Kevin?”
Keegan exhaled slowly. “We must move quietly. At night. And never in the same place twice.”

Kevin continued his search for traitors. He stormed into the palace kitchens, startling the cooks.
“Everyone stop!” he shouted.
The room froze.
Kevin walked up to one cook. “You. I heard you spoke to one of the warriors. What did you say to him?”
The cook trembled. “I only asked if he wanted extra bread for his shift…”
“Are you lying to me?” Kevin asked.
“No, Alpha. I swear.”
Kevin stared at him for several seconds. Then he smashed a bowl on the floor, making everyone flinch.
“Next time you talk to any warrior without permission, you will regret it.” He stormed out, leaving silence behind.
His behavior frightened everyone. Even children noticed the tension. Parents pulled them away from the windows and kept them inside.
Kevin returned to the throne room and sat down, running his hands through his hair. “Who is spreading rumors? Who is trying to turn the pack against me?” he muttered.
A guard walked in carefully. “Alpha? Do you need something?”
“Bring me all the names of workers and warriors who have been near Keegan in the past three days. Every single one.”
The guard bowed and left quickly.
Kevin slammed his fist on the armrest. “Someone is testing me. They think they can push me. I will show them they cannot.”

Later that evening, Rosa went back to the hidden meeting room with Keegan and the advisor.
“We need to look deeper inside the king’s study,” she said. “There might be more letters. Or hidden notes.”
“Kevin hardly ever goes there,” the advisor added. “He avoids anything connected to the king.”
Keegan nodded. “Good. That means we can search it again tonight.”
Rosa reached for his hand. “We need to be fast.”
“Always,” Keegan said.
As they prepared to leave the room, a soft knock sounded from the door. Keegan froze.
“Who is that?” Rosa whispered.
Keegan signaled for silence and stepped closer. He opened the door a crack. A warrior stood there, sweating and looking around nervously.
“Please,” the warrior whispered. “Let me inside.”
Keegan pulled him in and shut the door.
“What do you want?” Keegan asked sharply.
The warrior swallowed hard. “Kevin questioned me today. He asked if I knew anything about the king’s death. I said no, but he kept pushing. He is searching for people who are close to you.”
Keegan exchanged a look with Rosa.
“Why are you telling us this?” Rosa asked.
The warrior took a shaky breath. “Because… I was on guard duty the night the king died. And what Kevin said in the great hall does not match what I saw.”
Keegan stepped closer. “Tell me everything.”
“I saw Kevin leaving the king’s chambers very late. He looked angry. Very angry. He told all of us to stay silent about seeing him.”
Keegan felt something inside him tighten. “Did he threaten you?”
“Yes,” the warrior answered. “He said if anyone talked, they would disappear.”
Rosa closed her eyes. The advisor nodded slowly. “This is what we needed. A witness.”
“I came here because I want the truth,” the warrior said. “But if Kevin finds out I spoke to you, he will kill me.”
Keegan put a hand on the warrior’s shoulder. “You did the right thing. Stay out of sight. We will protect you.”
The warrior nodded, then slipped out through the back passage.
The advisor turned to Keegan. “It is clearer now. Kevin is losing control, and people are noticing. If we keep gathering evidence, soon the whole pack will see the truth.”
Rosa wrapped her arms around herself. “We must be faster. Kevin is getting dangerous. He attacked a cook today. He is shouting at everyone. This can turn into something bigger.”
Keegan reached for her hand. “We will finish this before he hurts anyone else.”

That night, Kevin walked through the palace halls with an angry expression. He shoved open the doors to the council chamber where several elders sat.
“We need to talk,” Kevin growled.
The elders stood up, startled. One of them asked, “What is troubling you, Alpha?”
Kevin glared at him. “There are people in this kingdom who think I am weak. Who thinks they can question me? I want names.”
The elders exchanged looks.
“Alpha,” one of them said carefully. “The pack is worried because things have been… tense.”
“You think I do not know that?” Kevin snapped. “I hear whispers everywhere. I want loyalty. No more questions. No more doubt.”
“People are scared, Alpha,” another elder said softly. “They need reassurance, not fear.”
Kevin slammed his hand on the table. “I will rule this kingdom. And anyone who challenges me will answer for it.”
The elders went silent. None dared speak further.

Back in the hidden room, the advisor opened the king’s journal again, pointing to a page.
“Here,” he said. “The king wrote that Kevin was changing. He said Kevin had become distant and angry. He feared Kevin might one day act without thinking.”
Keegan read the page with trembling hands. “He saw it coming. He tried to warn me.”
Rosa looked at the letters. “This is enough to open people’s eyes. They will listen once we present this.”
“We must gather a few more testimonies,” the advisor said. “That will make it undeniable.”
Keegan nodded. “Tomorrow night we meet again. I will speak to two warriors who might know more.”
Rosa touched his cheek. “Be careful.”
“I will,” Keegan said quietly.

Across the palace, Kevin stood on his balcony, staring into the night.
“They think they can hide from me,” Kevin whispered. “They think they can turn my kingdom against me.”
His hands shook with frustration.
“I will not lose this crown. I will not let anyone take it.”
He turned away from the balcony with a sharp breath.
“I will crush this rebellion before it grows.”
He walked slowly toward the door, planning his next move.