Chapter 167

Kevin marched through the palace halls with ten loyal guards behind him. His face was tense, his eyes sharp, and his steps loud enough to wake anyone nearby. He was breathing fast. He did not try to hide his anger anymore. He reached the council hall doors and pushed them open with force.

Inside, the elders were standing in a circle. Papers were spread across the large table. Keegan’s evidence lay in clear view. Some elders were arguing in low voices. Others were shaking their heads in disappointment and shock. When the doors flew open, everyone froze.

Kevin stepped forward and shouted, “All of you will sit down. Now.”

The elders did not move. Elder Rowan, the oldest member, stepped out from the group and said in a steady voice, “We know the truth about the king’s death. You cannot hide it anymore.”

Kevin blinked hard. His hand curled at his side. “You will declare me the rightful king. You will tell the pack that Keegan lied. That is your duty.”

“We will not lie,” Elder Rowan answered. “The evidence is clear. You were the last one seen with the king. You removed the guards. You destroyed the envelope. You—”

“Stop talking!” Kevin shouted.

His voice echoed across the room. The guards behind him placed their hands on their weapons, ready to strike if he gave the order.

Another elder, Elder Maira, stepped forward. “Kevin, listen. The pack is already troubled. If we reveal this gently, we may avoid a war. But if you continue down this path, you will destroy the kingdom.”

Kevin took one step toward her and asked, “Destroy the kingdom? You think I will destroy it? I saved this place. I built its strength.”

“You built fear,” she replied quietly.

Kevin’s eyes widened. For one second he looked confused, then angry again. He reached out suddenly and grabbed Elder Rowan by the collar. Everyone gasped.

“Say I am king!” Kevin shouted into the old man’s face. “Say it now!”

Elder Rowan did not flinch. “You are not the king. You forced your way into power. Your father chose Keegan.”

Kevin snapped.

He shoved the elder back with so much force that the man hit the wall and fell to the floor. The elders rushed toward him. One of them shouted for help. Another yelled, “Kevin has attacked an elder. This is treason!”

Kevin roared, “You all want to betray me! You think I will step aside for Keegan? Never!”

The room exploded into movement. Warriors loyal to Kevin pushed into the hall, swords drawn. Warriors loyal to Keegan, who had been waiting nearby, rushed inside too. Metal hit metal. Shouts filled the air. Tables fell over. Papers scattered. The entire hall became a storm of movement.

Keegan heard the noise while running toward the hall. Rosa was beside him, holding their youngest child tightly in her arms. Two of Keegan’s loyal warriors ran ahead of them. When they reached the hall entrance, the guards fighting inside nearly pushed them back out.

Rosa grabbed Keegan’s arm. “We need to go. He is trying to kill the elders.”

Keegan shook his head. “We need to protect them and stop him.”

A warrior shouted, “Keegan! Rosa! We must move now. Kevin is trying to capture both of you.”

Rosa looked frightened, but she nodded. “Please. Let’s go before he reaches you.”

Keegan hesitated only a moment before agreeing. He knew Rosa and the children could not stay here any longer. He turned and ran beside her. The warriors helped shield them as they moved.

Behind them, the battle inside the council hall grew louder. Kevin yelled orders.

“Find them! Capture Keegan! Find Rosa and the children!”

His voice was full of fury, loud enough to shake the hall.

Keegan, Rosa, and the warriors raced through side corridors. They rushed down stairs and moved into the deeper parts of the palace. Rosa was breathing hard, clutching her child close to her chest. Keegan kept looking back, ready to confront anyone who chased them.

They reached a hidden passage behind an old tapestry. One of the warriors pushed it open. Rosa stepped inside quickly. Keegan followed her. The stone door closed behind them.

Inside the passage, it was dark and tight. Rosa whispered, “Keegan, what will we do now?”

“We will get you somewhere safe,” he said firmly. “Kevin will not hurt you.”

Their older child, who had been hiding behind Rosa, grabbed Keegan’s hand and whispered, “Daddy, I’m scared.”

Keegan kneeled and hugged the child tightly. “I know. I am here. I will protect you.”

But inside, Keegan knew things were only getting worse.

Across the palace, Kevin was out of control. His guards chased everyone who ran. He shouted at warriors. He pushed the furniture aside. The entire palace felt like it was shaking with his rage.

One of his spies ran to him and said, “My king, Keegan is gone. We cannot find Rosa either.”

“They will not escape,” Kevin growled.

He grabbed the spy by the neck and hissed, “Find them. Bring Rosa to me. Bring the children too. Keegan will learn what happens when he tries to take what is mine.”

He pushed the spy away and stormed down the hall. His steps were heavy and uneven. He was angry. He was scared. He felt everything slipping away from his hands. He could not think clearly anymore.

More warriors joined him, awaiting orders. Kevin shouted at them, “Lock the palace gates. No one leaves. Block the borders. Send messengers to the outer pack camps. Tell them Keegan is a traitor. Tell them he tried to kill me. Tell them he is trying to take the crown with lies.”

Some warriors obeyed immediately. Others hesitated. Kevin noticed their hesitation.

“Are you disobeying me?” he asked in a dangerous tone.

One warrior shook his head quickly. “No, Alpha. We will follow your orders.”

They ran off.

Kevin walked slowly down the grand corridor, breathing in and out in short bursts. “You will not take my crown, Keegan,” he muttered. “You will not win.”

His anger grew. His eyes narrowed. He felt the whole kingdom turning against him. He would not let it happen.

Meanwhile, the kingdom had already begun to split. The news spread quickly. Warriors were whispering to each other. Families locked their doors. Children cried because of the loud fighting. Some wolves stood with Keegan, believing he had been wronged. Others supported Kevin out of fear.

Small fights broke out in the village. Some warriors began guarding their homes. Others tried to calm the crowd. The tension was thick in the air.

In a hidden house outside the palace gates, a group of Keegan’s loyal warriors gathered. They prepared supplies and weapons. They knew a war was coming.

One warrior said, “Kevin will not step down. He is out of control.”

Another replied, “We must protect Keegan’s family. That is the most important thing.”

They started forming defense lines and planning safe routes in case they needed to move Rosa and the children again.

Back in the palace, Keegan and Rosa reached an old storeroom at the end of the hidden passage. Rosa set the baby down on a blanket and held the older child close. She looked tired and worried.

Keegan touched her shoulder gently. “I will fix this.”

Rosa shook her head. “You cannot do this alone anymore.”

Keegan sat beside her. “I know. But we have to survive tonight first.”

Their children clung to them. Their fear was clear.

A warrior opened the storeroom door quietly. “Alpha Keegan, Kevin’s men are searching every room. We cannot stay here long.”

Keegan stood. “We move now.”

Rosa picked up the baby again. “Where will we go?”

“To the eastern tunnels,” Keegan said. “From there we can reach the village without being seen.”

The warrior nodded. “I will lead.”

They left the storeroom and rushed down another tight hallway.

Kevin, at the same time, learned from another spy that the elders had escaped the hall and joined Keegan’s loyal warriors.

Kevin slammed his fist into a wall. “I will crush all of them.”

He ordered, “Send more guards to the tunnels. Block every exit. Keegan will not get out of my palace.”

His men ran off again.

Kevin stood alone for a moment, breathing heavily. His eyes were full of fury and panic.

“This is my kingdom,” he whispered. “Mine.”

Outside, near the palace gates, the first true clash of the divided kingdom broke out.

Kevin’s men tried to block the gates.

Keegan’s loyal warriors arrived and tried to push them open.

Shouts filled the air.

“Stand back!”

“Open the gate!”

“No one leaves!”

“Move or fight!”

Swords clashed. Wolves shifted and attacked. The fight was brutal. The entire kingdom watched from windows, terrified.

Keegan and Rosa reached the eastern tunnels just as Kevin’s men started searching the nearby rooms. Keegan heard their voices echoing.

“Search everything!”

“Keegan is close!”

Rosa held the children and whispered, “Please. Let us make it out.”

Keegan drew a deep breath and nodded.

“We will,” he said.

But he knew Kevin would not stop.