Chapter 234: A MARCH TO DEATH

Keisha’s POV

I hated that there was nothing I could do.

The estate was preparing for war, warriors were gathering weapons and supplies, and everyone seemed to have a role except me. I couldn’t fight, I couldn’t go with them, and with everything that had happened to Nadia, Callum had made it very clear that he wasn’t willing to let me anywhere near the battlefield.

My biggest fear wasn’t even the war itself. It was Callum and Dane walking into Duskfen territory when the enemy already had more warriors than we did. I kept thinking about how quickly everything had changed.

I left the hospital with Nadia after she was cleared to return home and went straight to the main hall.

I needed to see Callum before he left. When I reached the hall, Dane was already walking out, dressed for the coming battle. He stopped when he saw me, and the expression on his face told me he had already guessed why I was there.

"Callum is inside," he said. "I’ve finished helping him with the preparations."

I looked at him. "You’re not going with him?"

Dane shook his head. "I’m staying here."

That caught me off guard. "Why?"

"He needs me to stay behind and deal with Vera if she comes back. Callum believes she’ll try to return once she realizes the estate is distracted."

I frowned. "And you’re actually comfortable letting him go without you?"

He shook his head. "No, but this isn’t something we can argue about anymore. Callum has made the decision, and he’s convinced this gives us a better chance of catching Vera."

I looked past him toward the hall. "Then I need to speak to him."

Dane stepped aside, allowing me through. I found Callum near the large table where maps and reports had been spread across the surface. His armor was already being prepared, and several weapons had been placed nearby. He looked up as soon as I entered. "You came."

"I wanted to see you before you leave."

He walked toward me, and I could tell from his face that he was already expecting the conversation. I stopped in front of him, trying to keep myself calm, but it was difficult when the only thing I could think about was the possibility of him not coming back.

"I don’t like this, Callum," I admitted. "I understand why you’re doing it, but I’m scared. Duskfen knows you’re the Alpha. If they attack, you’re going to be one of the first people they look for, and with everything Vera has told them, they probably know exactly how important you are to this pack."

Callum took my hands. "That’s why we’re going before they reach our borders. If they get here first, they’ll have time to choose where and how they want to attack us. At least this way, we’re making the first move."

"You’re still walking into their territory. That’s the problem." My voice cracked slightly.

He looked at me for a moment before pulling me closer. "Keisha, I have been preparing for situations like this for years. I’m not walking into this without a plan, and I’m not going there expecting to fight every Duskfen warrior by myself. We’re going together, we’ll stay together, and we’ll come back."

I looked at him, still unconvinced.

He continued, "You have every reason to be worried, but please— Stay with Nadia. Let Dane handle things here. I’ll deal with the war."

I lowered my eyes for a moment before nodding. "Just come back."

"I will." He assured me.

Without thinking, I wrapped my hand around his neck, pulling him down for a brief kiss before I pulled away.

I stayed with him for a little longer before finally leaving the hall. I didn’t feel better, but there was nothing else I could do there.

When I returned to the hospital room, Nadia was gathering the rest of her things. We packed what she had left and headed back to the estate together.

Once we arrived, she went to find her father, while I stepped aside and called Klein.

He answered after several rings. "You’re calling at a bad time."

I ignored his statement. "I need you to do something for me."

There was a pause. "What?"

"Callum is taking the warriors to Duskfen tonight. I need you to join them with your troops."

Klein was silent. I waited, then heard him breathe out. "I don’t see why I should help Callum."

His answer immediately bothered me.

I was confused. "You have troops that could make a difference."

"And?"

I frowned. There was something in his voice that I couldn’t quite place. I wouldn’t term is as simply reluctance or fear. It was something colder underneath it, something that sounded like he had been waiting for an opportunity to say that he didn’t care what happened to Callum.

"Klein, this isn’t about whether you like him that much. Duskfen is preparing to attack the pack. If you have people who can help protect everyone, then please use them."

"I have no reason to fight his War, Keisha. I’ve been helping for a long time." He sounded slightly resigned.

"It’s not only his war."

He didn’t respond and I tightened my grip around the phone. "Please. I wouldn’t be asking you if I didn’t think we needed you."

Klein sighed. "I’ll think about it."

"Klein, please—"

He cut me off. "Keisha, I’m not making a promise I may not keep."

I lowered my voice. "If something happens to Callum and I lose him because we didn’t have enough people to defend ourselves, I don’t know how I’m supposed to live with that. I’m asking you because you’re my uncle and because you have people who can help. Please don’t make me beg you for this."

There was another long silence. Finally, Klein spoke. "I’ll think about what you said."

Then the call ended.

I stared at my phone for several seconds before putting it away. I didn’t understand his reaction, but I didn’t have time to question it. There were too many other things happening, and I needed to focus on what was in front of me.

The estate became quieter as the sun dipped below the horizon, but the pack wasn’t silent. People were preparing to leave.

Then the alarm sounded and I immediately knew what it meant.

The warriors were assembling.

I stood up and headed outside, but as soon as I stepped forward, a sharp pain moved through my stomach.

I stopped and my hand went to my stomach automatically.

The pain lasted only a moment before easing, and I forced myself to ignore it. I had been stressed all day, and there was no point worrying about every uncomfortable feeling when there was already enough happening around me.

I continued toward the courtyard to see that the warriors were already there.

There were far more people than I had expected, including the warriors Riven had brought. They stood in formation while weapons were checked and final instructions were given as everyone seemed ready to move.

Except Callum wasn’t there.

I looked around. "Where is he?" I muttered to no one in particular.

One of the guards told me he was still inside the hall and I turned around immediately.

I wanted to say goodbye before he left. I didn’t care if I had already spoken to him earlier. With everything happening tonight, I wanted those last few minutes with him before he walked out of the estate.

I hurried back inside and approached the hall, but before I entered, I heard voices.

I pushed the door open and froze. Callum was standing near the table and Klein was with him.

I stopped when I saw them together. Klein was looking directly at Callum, his expression serious.

"You can’t keep avoiding the conversation forever," he said. "When are you going to tell Keisha how you and the others killed her father?"

My heart stopped.

What?