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

KEISHA’S POV

The moment I stepped into the annex, Lyra looked up from where she had been arranging herbs on the kitchen counter. She had been humming to herself only seconds earlier, but the sound trailed off the instant her eyes landed on me and her smile disappeared.

I expected her to bombard me with questions on where I was coming from but she didn’t ask where I had been not did she ask why I had returned so quickly.

She simply stared at me, her expression changing from curiosity to concern as she took in my pale face and trembling hands. "Keisha..." Her voice was quieter than usual. "What happened?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but before a single word came out, a sharp ache rolled across my stomach, followed by another that made me wince and double over.

Oh shit.

Diane was right there in my mind. "The babies."

Of course it was the twins. I sucked in a breath. The twins had been active before, but never like this.

Lyra noticed immediately and in two hurried strides, she was beside me. "They’re kicking?"

I nodded, unable to speak as another kick landed hard enough to make me wince.

Without wasting another second, Lyra guided me toward the couch and gently eased me down before disappearing into the kitchen. I heard cupboards opening, jars clinking together and water being poured into a kettle. She moved around the room with surprising speed, returning only a few minutes later carrying a steaming mug with a refreshing scent that immediately made the knots in my shoulder loosen. "Drink."

I accepted it without argument.

The hot herbal tea soothed my throat as she settled beside me, waiting patiently until my breathing evened out and the restless movements in my movements from the twins gradually calmed.

Only then did she ask again. "What happened?"

I stared into the cup for a long moment. "I saw Orin." The words left my lips so quietly I almost thought she hadn’t heard them.

Every trace of color drained from her face and her expression changed. "What?"

She knew who Orin was. She had been briefed about what happened before she got here. And she knew exactly how dangerous he was.

"He sent me a letter asking to meet at the back gate. I thought..." I let out a bitter laugh. "I don’t even know what I thought. Maybe someone wanted to pass me information. Maybe it was something important." I swallowed hard. "But it was him."

Lyra didn’t interrupt, she simply listened as I told her everything about how he had casually threatened me about the babies. How easy he had me cornered like he had been waiting for me. How he had spoken with absolute confidence, claiming someone powerful had brought him back into the estate and was protecting him.

And finally... "The person on the phone," I murmured. "He called her Madam V."

She didn’t say anything for a second but I watched as Lyra’s hands curled into fists on her lap. "So he threatened a pregnant woman without shame. And matter of fact, my sister."

I nodded. "I don’t Orin really cares about any of that."

"Why didn’t you call for someone who was around? Why didn’t you scream? Why didn’t you come to me the moment you got back?"

"I was scared."

"I know you were scared."

"No..." My eyes dropped to my lap. "I mean afterwards. I couldn’t think. I just wanted to get somewhere safe."

Lyra sighed heavily before reaching over to squeeze my hand. "You’ve been carrying everything by yourself for far too long so I get it that you’re scared now."

I didn’t know how to answer that.

After everything that had happened these past months... maybe she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Her expression softened after a while. "Tell me honestly." She searched my face carefully. "Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?"

The question lingered between us for a while without an answer as I thought about the countless secrets that I had once kept.

She knew them all.

I slowly shook my head. "No." I met her eyes. "If anything else happens... you’ll be the first person I tell."

She held my gaze for another moment before giving a small nod. "You’d better."

Almost immediately, another thought crashed into me. "Nadia." I sat up. "I was supposed to see Nadia."

"You are not going anywhere today."

"I have to."

"Keisha—"

"I promised myself I’d fix this."

Lyra studied me for several seconds before exhaling in defeat. "I knew arguing wouldn’t work." She stood, picked up my unfinished cup and carried it into the kitchen.

"Fine." She returned moments later with my shawl. "But I’m coming with you."

*********

The mansion was strangely quiet as we got there.

A maid led us upstairs before quietly informing us that Nadia had refused to leave her room since the previous evening.

Lyra knocked first. "Nadia?"

There was no answer.

"It’s Lyra."

Several seconds passed before a muffled voice came from inside. "...Go away."

"It’s important."

She didn’t answer again, and I stepped closer. "Nadia..."

No answer.

I rested my forehead lightly against the closed door. "I’m sorry."

The only response was silence and I wasn’t going to lie, it almost hurt. Then, after nearly a full minute, Nadia spoke again. "I don’t want to talk to you."

The words hit harder than I expected but I swallowed the pain. "I understand."

She didn’t say anything for a while in response. Then finally — "But... If Lyra wants to come in..." The lock clicked. "...she can."

Oh.

The door opened only wide enough for Lyra to slip through before closing again but it never opened for me.

I remained standing in the hallway long after the footsteps inside stopped echoing, and eventually, my legs gave out. I lowered myself onto the floor outside Nadia’s room and wrapped my arms around my knees.

I wasn’t even sure how much time had passed before a maid approached me with an awkward smile. "Miss Keisha..."

I looked up.

"Perhaps you’d be more comfortable downstairs."

Before I could answer, another voice joined in. "I was thinking exactly the same thing."

I turned to see Aunt Vera who stood a short distance away.

She smiled warmly. "Come. Sitting on the floor won’t solve anything."

I hesitated before following her downstairs.

She led me into one of the sitting rooms and poured me a chilled fruit drink herself before taking the armchair opposite mine.

For the next several minutes, she didn’t ask me what I was doing outside Nadia’s room. She only spoke about other random stuff which I appreciated because I wasn’t sure I could bring myself to talk about how my best friend didn’t want to talk to me.

Aunt Vera spoke about the borders where she had been stationed. She described the endless paperwork that somehow followed every military assignment, as well as funny stories that made me smile despite myself.

Perhaps that had been her goal all along because she had noticed that I was down but eventually, her smile faded. "You’ve been awfully quiet."

"I’m just tired."

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "Did something happen today?"

The question caught me completely off guard and for a brief second, Orin’s face flashed through my mind and the name I had head.

Should I tell her about it?

My fingers tightened around the glass. "No." I forced a small smile. "Nothing happened."

Vera held my gaze for a heartbeat longer, as though deciding whether to believe me. Then she simply nodded. "I’m glad."

Before either of us could continue, footsteps echoed down the staircase and Lyra appeared.

The moment she saw me, relief flickered across her face. "There you are."

I stood immediately. "How’s Nadia?"

Lyra glanced briefly toward the staircase before answering. "She isn’t ready."

Disappointment rested heavily inside me.

"She cried." Lyra told me, her voice soft, "But she also listened."

I searched her face hopefully. "Did she say anything?"

"Not much." Lyra slipped an arm through mine. "She needs time, Keisha."

I lowered my head. "I’ll wait as long as she needs."

Instead of leading me toward the front door, however, Lyra steered us down a different path. "Come with me."

"Where?"

"You’ll see." Several minutes later, she stopped behind one of the quieter gardens within the estate and then, she reached behind me. "Close your eyes."

I laughed weakly. "Lyra..."

"Trust me."

Smiling despite myself, I obeyed as she guided me forward slowly before finally stopping.. "Now."

I opened my eyes and for a moment, I simply stared.

The small unused room overlooking the garden had been completely transformed.

Soft cream curtains framed the windows, sunlight spilling across polished wooden floors. Two tiny cribs stood side by side beneath the window, each draped with delicate blankets. Shelves lined one wall, already holding stuffed wolves, carved wooden toys and tiny storybooks. A rocking chair sat in the corner beside a woven basket overflowing with folded baby clothes.

Fresh wildflowers brightened the room, their gentle scent mixing with the clean smell of newly carved wood.

Everything had been prepared with love and apparent care.

Oh.

I couldn’t speak.

Lyra smiled nervously. "I know it’s early." She rubbed the back of her neck. "But I kept thinking about them."

Her eyes drifted toward the little cribs.. "I wanted them to have somewhere warm. Somewhere safe before they were even born."

Tears blurred my vision before I even realized they were falling and I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around her. "Thank you."

She hugged me just as tightly. "They’re my family too."

Goddess, I loved her so much.

We left the nursery much later than we’d planned and I felt much better about everything that had happened today.

We were still talking quietly as we rounded the path toward the annex when footsteps approached from the opposite direction and I stopped when I saw who it was.

Dane.

The easy conversation died instantly and our smiles faded while silence settled over the path as all three of us came to an abrupt stop.

Lyra looked from him to me before clearing her throat. "I’ll head back first," she said, taking a deliberate step away. "I’ll be waiting for you in the annex."

Without another word, she walked past Dane, leaving the two of us alone.