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

The Announcement

Keisha’s POV

I was on my way to the library when I started hearing voices from the main corridor.

Weird.

I slowed down without meaning to when I caught pieces of the conversation.

There were servants there, their voices hushed. "They’ve been standing outside the gates for nearly an hour now, demanding that the Alpha come out and explain himself."

Another person lowered their voice. "They’re asking about the bond too."

I stayed where I was for a moment, listening as they continued talking about the crowd outside. The moment they noticed me, however, the conversation stopped so abruptly that it told me everything I needed to know.

Both of them looked at me, exchanged an uncomfortable glance and immediately pretended that their discussion had been about something else.

"I think we should get back to work," one of them said quickly.

The other nodded. "Yes, there’s still plenty to do." They walked away without another word.

I stood there watching them disappear down the corridor. The people were now firmly demanding answers?

I continued toward the library, but before I reached it, another conversation caught my attention.

"There’s no way the Alpha will admit to it."

A woman’s voice answered quietly, "He’d be foolish to do that. If he wants to keep his position, he’ll deny the whole thing and separate himself from her."

I stopped again, my ears perking up at their words.

"They’re saying the council is already discussing what they can do if he refuses."

"Then he should know better than to make things worse for himself. Whatever he has secretly for Keisha, the pack has to come first."

I didn’t wait for them to notice me this time. I turned away and continued walking, my chest tightening.

It hurt hearing people speak about me as though I were some problem Callum needed to remove in order to save himself. I understood their concerns, but they didn’t know what had actually happened between us, and they certainly didn’t know how much Callum had already done to protect me.

But it would also be smart to put the pack first. Surely he wouldn’t afford something like that on times like this. He couldn’t afford his members not being in support of him right now.

I was still trying to clear my head when I caught sight of him through the large windows overlooking the front of the mansion.

Callum was walking toward the entrance.

I quickened my pace, hoping to reach him before he went outside, but by the time I stepped into the main hall, the doors were already closing behind him, so I followed.

Loud was an understatement of the situation around me right now.

There were dozens of pack members gathered outside, with more people standing farther behind them. Guards had formed a line between the crowd and the estate entrance, keeping everyone at a safe distance while Callum stood in front of them.

Everyone seemed to pay no attention to me as I drew my shawl tighter over my head, trying not to draw any attention to myself.

No one seemed to even pay any heed to me, they were all focused on Callum overlooking them, a stern look on his face.

I didn’t approach him. Instead, I moved through the crowd until I found a place where I could see him clearly without drawing attention to myself.

Someone near me was whispering about what was happening, but I barely heard them because Callum had begun speaking. "I’ve heard the questions you’ve been asking, and I know why you’re here."

The noise hushed down as everyone listened.

Callum stood straight, his expression calm as he looked over the people gathered outside his home. "You’ve heard rumors about my relationship with Keisha, and you’ve heard claims concerning the bond between us. You want to know whether those claims are true, and you’re expecting me to deny them, isn’t that right?"

Several people exchanged looks.

Callum continued without hesitation. "I’m not going to deny it simply because it makes some of you uncomfortable. Keisha is my mate. The bond between us is real, and I won’t stand here and say otherwise because someone believes my personal life should be hidden from the pack. She is mated to Dane and I."

The crowd gasped and I felt my heart pounding.

Callum’s demeanour remained calm. "The Moon Goddess chose my mate, and I accepted that choice. Nobody in this pack has the authority to make me ashamed of it, and nobody is going to convince me that protecting the woman I love is a failure of my responsibilities as your Alpha."

The crowd went almost completely silent, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

I had wondered whether the pressure from the council would eventually force him to distance himself from me, especially with the war approaching and the pack already unstable.

But he had just given me my answer.

"I will continue to rule this pack," Callum said firmly. "I will continue to protect every person under my authority, and I will protect my family as well. Those responsibilities do not cancel each other out. If anyone believes they have a legitimate challenge against my leadership, they can bring it before the council and address it properly. I will not respond to threats, rumors or demands made outside my gates."

He looked across the crowd one final time before turning away.

The guards immediately moved with him, and Callum walked back toward the mansion without looking behind him.

I remained where I was, surrounded by people who were now speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"He’s actually admitting it."

"He’s going to ruin the pack."

"How can he expect everyone to accept this?"

He had chosen me.

He had stood in front of his entire pack and refused to deny what we were, even knowing exactly what it could cost him.

But he had also just caused an uprising in his pack.