Chapter 86: A Leaked Secret II.
With Eira’s assistance, Arianna finally reached Astrid’s tent. Located far from the royal camp, the long journey had been a thorn in her side, but she pressed forward until they reached their destination.
To be safe, she had brought two royal guards along for protection.
"How are we going to catch her attention without waking the entire household?" Arianna asked, eyeing the entrance. Unlike the royal pavilion, where servants waited to fetch the master of the house, this modest home had no such luxury.
"I will try calling for her," Eira offered, leaning forward a few steps. "Astrid," she called out in a low whisper that sounded almost eerie in the dead of night.
"No, stop...you are going to scare everyone in the house," Arianna said, shaking her head before calling out herself. "Astrid."
On her second attempt, the sound of movement stirred from within. Arianna took a step back and waited patiently.
To her relief, the fabric flapped to reveal the exact person she had come to find. Astrid had her vibrant red hair pinned up into a loose bun and wore a simple gown crafted from animal hide.
She stared in utter surprise at the guests standing on her doorstep. Scanning the guards flanking her, Astrid realized with a start that the Queen had truly come to her home.
"Good morrow, Your Highness," Astrid greeted, bowing deeply and holding the posture. "I was not expecting your arrival. Please, step inside."
"There is no time for formalities, Astrid," Arianna said quickly. "My enemies have plotted against me, and I fear they have dragged you into their web as well."
Astrid’s brows furrowed in confusion. With no time for a lengthy explanation, Arianna briefly summarized the situation before ordering the two guards to conduct a swift search of the house.
To Astrid’s relief, the search yielded nothing suspicious.
"I should feel relieved, yet a heavy restlessness lingers in my chest," Arianna admitted, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. A dark instinct told her something was still terribly wrong. "What about your stall at the marketplace? May we search there as well?"
"As you wish, My Lady," Astrid agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
******
Kane returned to his tent and freshened up to begin his day. He had expected to find his wife inside, but there was no sign of her.
Her relentless investigation had made her scarce lately, and it worried him that she was pushing herself far too hard.
He could have simply pardoned Maria to put an end to the matter, but that would be a grave injustice. Deep down, he knew Arianna was telling the truth..her handmaiden would never steal the jewelry. But who would accept that without cold, hard proof?
Kane believed her because he trusted Arianna. Yet his family and the rest of the tribe would never accept her word on faith alone.
They already held a quiet resentment toward rianna, and he refused to fan the flames of their hatred by appearing to grant her unearned favors.
Still, if she failed to uncover solid evidence soon, he would be forced to intervene, pardon the maiden himself, and stand openly by his Queen’s side...even if the elders protested.
The council would undoubtedly push back, and the pack might voice outrage over what they perceived as favoritism.
Kane draped his heavy fur cloak over his shoulders, catching his own somber reflection in the mirror. Just then, a voice called out from beyond the entrance, requesting an audience.
It was his son, Ethan.
Kane couldn’t recall the last time Ethan had sought him out this early in the morning—not since he was a young boy.
"Come in, son," Kane called out.
The heavy canvas flap parted, and Ethan stepped into the room. His eyes instantly darted toward the bed, checking for Arianna’s presence, but the bed was empty and neatly made.
"Greetings, Father," Ethan offered, bowing his head.
"Good morrow, my Prince," Kane replied, turning to face him. He immediately caught the nervous, restless edge in the young man’s eyes. "What has happened?"
"It is about Maria... what is your final decision going to be, Father?" Ethan asked, his tone laced with eager curiosity. "I am desperate to know whose side you stand on."
"I can barely believe this is the reason you sought me out so early," Kane replied, his brow furrowing as he looked down at him. For a moment, he had hoped his son had come simply to spend time with him, just like in the old days. "My decision will be announced tomorrow before the council. You can exercise patience, just like everyone else."
"I am concerned. Will you let Aunt Freya send your wife away?" Ethan pressed, struggling to conceal the pulse of excitement beneath his breath. He was scheduled to return to border patrol that morning and would miss the public judgment.
If he could learn the outcome now, he could begin making quiet preparations to leave alongside Arianna.
However, the rapid shift in his father’s expression instantly froze the air in the room.
Ethan instinctively took a step back as an icy, dangerous fury swept over Kane’s features.
"Who told you that my wife will be sent away?" Kane’s voice dropped to a low, lethal murmur.
"It... it is being whispered across the entire tribe, Father. Are you only just hearing of it?" Ethan swallowed hard, taking another cautious step back. "Everyone is talking about it. They say you surrendered full authority over the matter to Aunt Freya."
Kane’s hands clenched into tight fists, every muscle in his arms straining as he forced himself to hold back. He had to remind himself not to vent his rising rage on his son—Ethan was merely delivering the whispers of the camp.
"I am only worried about you, Father," Ethan added softly, trying to soften his tone. "That is why I came to ask what you intend to do tomorrow. Will you truly banish Queen Arianna and her maid if she fails to prove the girl’s innocence?"
Get out," Kane commanded softly, turning back to face the mirror as his expression hardened into absolute fury.
Ethan bowed silently, not daring to utter another word before swiftly slipping out of the tent.
Kane swallowed a sharp intake of air and tilted his head back toward the ceiling, a throbbing pulse of raw pain surging behind his temples.
Ethan’s words echoed relentlessly in his ears, cutting like a blade.
He knew better than to let idle tribe gossip rattle him, but this wasn’t mere court chatter—they were speaking of his Queen.
What in the Goddess’s name gave them the right?
And Arianna... was this the shadow hanging over her last night? Was this the burden she was silently carrying while trying to prove her maid’s innocence?
He had been a utter fool to let his wife suffer through such humiliation alone.
And had Aunt Freya truly dared to parade such arrogance around his camp? How could she possibly entertain the delusion that she possessed the authority to banish his wife?
Who on earth gave her such audacity?
Kane let out a heavy breath, his decision made as he swept out of the tent into the crisp morning air.
"Fetch Cassius at once," he ordered the sentry standing guard, his voice laced with venom. "Tell him to await me at the central pavilion immediately."
The guard bowed low before bolting off to fulfill the King’s command.
********
Kane set out to search for his wife himself. He could have simply dispatched sentries to find her, but no...this required a personal touch.
It was better to seek her out with his own eyes than command her to be brought before him like a subordinate.
As he walked past a row of tents a short distance from his own, he noticed an unusual gathering of tribe members gathered outside his cousin’s tent.
At first, Kane intended to pass by especially as the crowd quickly dispersed the moment they caught sight of their King approaching. But curiosity stayed his feet. Wondering what could be causing such commotion inside, he stepped closer and stood quietly in the shadow outside the canvas wall.
Focusing his heightened primal senses, he tuned in to the hushed, fiery voices within.
Samantha’s voice pierced through first, saying something that instantly caught him off guard:
"Mother, do not take his side now! Your son must have fallen in love with the Queen. Why else would he defend a woman he barely knows?"
Kane remained still, listening intently for them to reveal more. The idea that Ragnar could harbour feelings for Arianna felt absurd.
Samantha was almost certainly spouting venomous lies, because her brother knew far better than to cross such a line with his Alpha.
Yet Samantha pressed on with her accusation, relentless and sharp, while Ragnar offered no immediate denial.
His silence struck a chord in Kane’s mind, planting a seed of doubt. Could there actually be any truth behind her words?
Just as Kane reached for the flap, ready to burst into the tent and demand answers himself, Ragnar’s heavy voice cut through the air, freezing him in his tracks.
"Let her go, Mother. Go to the King and report," Ragnar said. "Then, make sure you tell him that you were the one who stole Mother’s jewelry and accused his wife."
A cold shiver ran straight down Kane’s spine as those words met his ears. Had Ragnar merely blurted that out in a moment of reckless anger, or was it the truth?
He knew the siblings were constantly at each other’s throats, but he also knew Ragnar was not the type to fabricate a lie like this.
Kane decided against stepping inside. He had heard more than enough to act. Turning to the guards standing at the entrance, he issued a command in a low, dangerous tone "Tell every one of them to report to the pavilion immediately."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.
The weight of what he had just uncovered shattered something deep within his chest.
He could barely wrap his mind around the fact that his own blood...his own family...could betray him so deeply.
Unbidden tears stung his eyes as a wave of rage tore through his heart, yet he forced every muscle in his face to remain stoic.
He had to carry himself as a King, not a broken man.
He was certain of one thing, however: every single person involved in this treason would pay dearly.