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

Author’s POV

Callum stood over the large table in the war hall, one hand firmly against the wooden surface while his other moved across the map spread in front of him.

Several routes had been marked, showing the positions of the Duskfen forces around the borders and the paths their warriors could potentially take if the attack began.

Dane stood opposite him, studying another section of the map while quietly discussing the number of warriors they could move to each border without leaving the central areas exposed.

"If Cael is positioning that many warriors this close to the western border, then he’s either trying to intimidate us or he’s already decided that negotiations are over," Dane said, tapping one of the marked routes with his finger. "Either way, we need to assume the second possibility because we can’t afford to be caught preparing after they’ve already crossed."

Callum nodded slowly. "Move another group toward the western side. If they’re watching our movements, I want them uncertain about where we’ll place the majority of our strength."

Dane reached for another map. "I’ll have the commanders adjust their positions before nightfall. We still need to figure out how much food we can store without causing panic among the pack. If people start seeing supplies being moved around, they’ll know know it’s bad."

Callum scoffed. "Oh please, they already know."

Dane looked up at him. "What?"

Callum’s expression remained hard as he studied the map. "The rumor about the bond is spreading almost as quickly as the news about Duskfen. We have two problems now, and pretty sure everyone is aware of both."

Before Dane could respond, the doors opened and Vera walked into the hall.

Dane glanced at her, then at Callum, before gathering the papers he had been holding.

"I’ll leave you two to talk," he said, moving toward the door. "I need to check on the western patrol before I forget."

Callum barely looked away from the map. "Go."

Dane left, and the doors closed behind him.

Vera approached the table and took the seat Dane had occupied. She didn’t immediately speak, instead looking over the maps as though she were genuinely interested in the war preparations.

Callum noticed the silence and finally lifted his eyes toward her. "What is it?"

Vera folded her hands together. "You’ve heard what the pack is saying about Keisha now."

"Well yes, something I would have clarified if you had decided to keep your mouth shut."

She didn’t seem to take offense at the bite in his voice. "The council is discussing a vote of no confidence."

Callum’s expression hardened. "And?"

"They’re serious, Callum. They’re questioning your judgment, your ability to rule them now and whether you’re allowing your personal relationship with Keisha to interfere with your responsibilities as Alpha."

Callum leaned back slightly. "Get to the point."

Vera took a breath. "You need to distance yourself from her."

He stared at her like she had gone crazy.

"You need to deny the bond," she continued. "If you publicly deny the claims and make it clear that Keisha isn’t influencing your decisions, you can prevent the council from gaining enough support to remove you."

Callum’s hand slammed against the table. "Enough."

Vera stopped speaking.

Callum stared at her with an expression that was clear he was irritated. "Don’t ever come to me again and suggest that I abandon my mate because the council doesn’t like her."

She stiffened. "I’m trying to protect you. You’re my brother."

"Really? Because she’s my mate also. You’re telling me to protect my position by sacrificing Keisha."

Vera shook her head. "That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying you have responsibilities to the entire pack. If they remove you, what happens to everyone? What happens to Keisha when the people who replace you decide she’s the reason you lost your position?"

Callum’s jaw tightened. "You’re assuming I’m going to let them do that." He stepped away from the table and faced her directly. "Keisha is my mate. She’s carrying my child. And I will not be leaving her in the dust because of the council."

Vera stared at him. "You can’t let one woman become more important than the entire pack," she argued, keeping her voice controlled despite his anger. "I’m your sister, Callum. I’m telling you this because I want what’s best for you. I’ve watched you carry this pack for years, and I know what it has cost you. You can’t throw everything away because you finally found someone you care about."

Callum’s expression didn’t soften. "Don’t use being my sister as an excuse to tell me what I should do with my mate."

She immediately scoffed. "I’m not trying to control you."

"Then stop talking."

Vera froze at the sharp tone of his words.

Callum returned to the table and began gathering the papers. "If the council wants to challenge me, they can come and do it openly. I won’t deny Keisha, and I won’t distance myself from her to make a few elders comfortable."

Vera slowly stood. "You’re making a mistake."

"That’s enough."

"Callum—" She tried again.

"Leave." He ordered.

She stared at him for another moment, anger flashing across her face before she turned and walked toward the doors.

The moment Vera stepped outside the hall, however, the calm expression she had maintained disappeared.

She walked quickly through the corridor, her steps hard against the floor. She barely noticed Elder Osric standing nearby with another elder until the two men turned toward her.

"Lady Vera," Osric greeted politely.

Vera stopped and she looked at him coldly. "Drop the pretense."

The elder’s expression changed and Vera stepped closer. "Come with me."

Osric exchanged a quick glance with the other elder before following her down the corridor. Once they reached a quieter corner away from the guards and passing servants, he stopped.. "What happened?"

Vera turned toward him. "Callum."

Osric frowned. "What did he say?"

"He refuses to distance himself from Keisha."

Osric looked surprised. "After everything we’ve done to create pressure around him?"

"He doesn’t care." She ran a hand through her hair.

The elder lowered his voice. "We’ll continue what we’ve been doing then. Working from the shadows. He had no evidence on me yet to publicly condemn me. This what we’ve been doing all this time, and it’s worked. We don’t need to expose ourselves now."

Vera gave him a sharp look. "We’ve spent months hiding behind everything, and look where that has gotten us. Keisha is still alive, Callum is still sitting on the Alpha seat, and the pack hasn’t turned against him."

Osric’s expression tightened. "You sound like you’re ready to abandon the entire strategy. So tell me, what exactly are you suggesting?"

Vera looked toward the corridor to make sure no one was approaching before answering. "The war."

Osric stared at her. "Explain."

"The Duskfen are already at the borders like we wanted," Vera continued. "We need to make sure they don’t leave. We need this conflict to become bigger, messier and impossible for Callum to control. Once the pack starts losing people and the warriors become exhausted, the elders will have everything they need to question his leadership."

Osric listened carefully." Correct. I’ll bring that up."

"If Callum loses control of the pack," Vera said, "the rebellion becomes much easier. People won’t need to be convinced that he’s weak. They’ll see it themselves."

Osric nodded. "That is true."

Vera straightened. "And perhaps it is near time for me to leave the shadows."