Oops… I Went Into Heat and My Alpha Daddies Claimed Me

Callum’s POV

I remained at the table with Daniel and Klein after Dane excused himself, saying he had matters to attend to in his quarters. The conversation eventually drifted toward pack politics, though it was obvious Daniel had little interest in any of it.

He listened whenever either Klein or I spoke, but the moment the discussion became too deep, his attention drifted toward his plate or toward the doorway where Lyra and Keisha had disappeared.

I watched him for a moment before resting my glass on the table. "You don’t seem particularly interested in council matters," I said, studying him across the table.

Daniel gave an embarrassed smile as he placed his glass down. "To be honest, sir, I’m not. I understand that politics are important here, but I’ve never been someone who enjoys sitting around discussing what one elder thinks another elder should do. My family has always stayed away from pack disputes whenever possible, and I’d rather keep it that way."

I nodded slowly. "That’s probably wise. Too many people involve themselves in matters that have nothing to do with them, then wonder why they end up with enemies."

Klein glanced at me from across the table. "And yet you’re sitting at the center of most of those matters."

"Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you’re Alpha," I replied, leaning back in my chair.

The conversation continued, but I couldn’t ignore the way Klein kept looking at me. It happened several times. I’d catch his eyes on me, he’d hold my gaze for a moment, then turn away as though he’d never been watching me in the first place. I didn’t know exactly what he wanted yet, but I knew enough about men to recognize when someone was studying me for a reason.

Daniel eventually pushed his chair back and looked between us. "I should probably go and check on Lyra. She said she wanted to speak with Keisha, and I don’t want to interrupt them but it’s been a while."

"Go ahead," I told him, giving him a small nod. "I’m sure Lyra will be pleased to know you’re looking for her."

He smiled before leaving the room, and the moment he was gone, I looked across the table at Klein. He remained seated, saying nothing, and I didn’t bother pretending I hadn’t noticed the tension between us. "I’m going to my study," I said as I stood.

Klein nodded. "Of course."

I left him there and headed upstairs. I had barely settled behind my desk when someone knocked on the door, and I looked up from the papers in front of me. "Come in."

The door opened, and Klein stepped inside. I leaned back in my chair, watching him close the door behind himself. "Is there something you wanted to discuss with me?"

"There is," he replied, remaining near the door.

His expression was different now. Whatever amusement he’d shown downstairs had disappeared.

"I’ve been looking into Keisha’s family history," he said as he walked farther into the room.

I didn’t move. "That’s hardly surprising."

"There are things I want to understand about what happened to her father. That’s why I’m here. You must know I wouldn’t come here for a chat."

I looked at him carefully. "And what exactly do you want from me?"

Klein stopped a few feet from my desk. "According to what I’ve found, you were there when he died."

My expression hardened before I gave him a cold smile. "You’ve done your research."

"I needed to."

I rose slowly from my chair. "You needed to? You arrive after years of leaving two young girls without their uncle, start digging through their family’s history and then walk into my study expecting me to explain myself to you?"

Klein didn’t back away. "I think I have the right to ask questions."

I laughed quietly, though there was nothing amused in it. "No. You don’t."

His eyes narrowed. "Keisha might disagree."

The mention of her made me straighten. "What does Keisha have to do with this?"

His expression remained the same. "If she knew there were things about her family’s past that you had kept from her, do you really think she’d simply accept it?"

I walked around the desk until I stood a few feet from him. "Be careful."

"I’m not threatening you," he said, his voice remaining steady.

My voice became low. "It sounds very much like one."

"I’m telling you that Keisha deserves the truth." He countered.

I folded my arms. "Good for you. And if I decide I have nothing to tell you?"

Klein held my gaze. "Then I’ll tell her you refused to answer."

I studied him for several seconds before gesturing toward the chair opposite my desk. "Fine. Ask whatever you came here to ask."

He sat down, keeping his eyes on me. "You were present when the man died."

"Yes." I agreed.

"You knew what had happened before everyone else." He reminded me.

"I was informed." My voice remained tight.

"Did you kill him?"

The question settled heavily between us. I stared at Klein for several seconds before giving him another cold smile. "If you came here expecting me to confess to something simply because you’ve assembled a few pieces of information, you’re going to be disappointed."

"So you’re refusing to answer?" he asked, leaning back slightly.

I tilted my head. "I’m telling you that you’re not entitled to interrogate me."

"You said I could ask." He shrugged.

A rueful smile tugged at my lips. "I said you could ask. I never promised you’d like the answers."

Klein studied my face for a long moment before speaking again. "You really don’t care what Keisha might think if she finds out?"

"I care about Keisha more than you seem to understand," I replied, my voice dropping.

"Then you should understand why I’m asking."

I turned away from him and walked back toward my desk. "I understand perfectly. What I don’t understand is why you think you can walk into my home after years of absence and start demanding answers about things you weren’t here to deal with."

"You weren’t her father," he said. "But you stepped into his place so willingly."

Oh goddess.

I sighed. "I protected them. That’s it."

His tone remained the same. "After their parents were dead."

I turned sharply toward him. "Exactly."

His expression tightened. "And that’s where you failed."

My jaw clenched. "Watch yourself."

"You may have protected them from some dangers, but you couldn’t protect Keisha from what happened to her. You couldn’t protect her from the whole bond shit. You couldn’t stop everything that’s happened since."

"I’ve been doing everything I can."

"And I’ll be doing the same now." He suddenly said.

I stared at him, my arms dropping to my sides. "Is that supposed to be a warning?"

Klein stood and straightened his jacket. "It’s supposed to be a promise." He walked toward the door, then paused with his hand on the handle. "I left those girls once. I won’t make that mistake twice."

I said nothing as he opened the door and stepped outside.

I waited a moment before leaving my study as well. From the upper floor, I watched him cross the entrance hall and head toward the doors. He didn’t look back once. I remained there until he was almost outside, still trying to decide whether his words had been a threat or the warning of a man who had suddenly decided he wanted his family back.

A guard came rushing through the entrance before I could think any further. "Alpha!"

I turned toward him, immediately noticing the urgency in his face. "What happened?"

The guard stopped in front of me, breathing heavily as he struggled to catch his breath. "There’s something urgent you need to see."