Chapter 132 - The request

**Callums pov**

With less than 24 hours left until the attack, Hope and I felt the pack needed to relax, have fun and socialize. Many would return injured, some not at all. Jesse, Cathy and a few others had come from Low Falls and were staying the night, the rest would join tomorrow. Best of all, Zandra had returned a couples of hours ago. She didn’t say much, said we would talk later and she wanted us to relax and enjoy the evening. I could tell it was frustrating for Hope, probably for Luna as well, but they accepted her wish to wait.
I looked around the garden. Long tables were set up and a large buffet laid out, that was what we managed, but it was very beautiful. Once again, Greta and her omegas had outdone themselves. Beautiful lanterns hung from the trees and stood on the tables. Fire baskets burned in the fringes around the garden as a frame that promised protection.
“Alpha Callum!” I heard Jesse’s voice behind me.
“Alpha James!” We looked at each other seriously for a few seconds before bursting into laughter and sharing a brotherly hug.
“I hear things are going well in Low Falls?”
“Better than I thought, no dropouts at all, everyone has sworn in. There’s still a lot to do. Renovations, improvements, restructuring…things like that, not much has been done in a very long time. Some of the pack members lives in misery.” He had an undertone of irritation at the way the previous management had handled the pack.
“I take it Kevin took it upon himself to train the warriors?”
“Yeah, that’s one of his roles as my Beta, but we usually do it together and the Gods should know they need training.”
“And Cathy? Has she been helpful?” I looked at him curiously.
“Hrm...well, sure...she’s been a big help with the conflicts that happened, right now she’s in charge of the renovations.
“Nothing else has happened regarding Cathy and you?” I could see the pain in his eyes for a split second.
“Nothing of importance...”
“I’m not giving up hope, she’s my little sister and I love her, that’s why I know you’re right for her, regardless of the idiotic things you did as children...it will happen, when both human and wolf are healed.” I patted him on the back and an awkward silence fell.
“Jesse!” Thank you Goddess for Hope. She came over and put her arms around Jesse’s neck and a low growl escaped my throat. I excused myself and let them make up for lost time, their friendship is important to Hope, so it is important to me. I saw a familiar face that I didn’t expect to see. Zara.
“Zara, welcome…I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Callum…No, I had no plans to, but Grandma insisted.
“I see, she can be stubborn when she wants something, it’s good to see you!.” I gave her a light hug. She had changed since we were children and she had really shown that she was there for us if we needed her. Everything she helped with the captured hunters, how she was by Zandra’s side when she slept...what she went through with Ambrogio for Zandra’s sake...Zara would always be welcome with us.
“I think she wants to see us.”
“Who? Zandra?”
“Yeah…she’s waiting in the bedroom she has here in the packhouse, she didn’t want you to say anything to Hope.”
“Hope is my mate, I can’t keep things from her, nor do I want to.”
“Can we at least listen to her and you can decide later? It might just be a surprise for Hope.” I thought about the mood Zandra had been in when I met her. It wasn’t the regular hag that snarled or reprimanded me, nor the battle-bright version. She had been very calm, giving me a hug that lasted a long time and she had had sadness in her eyes as she smiled melancholy. I followed Zara to Zandra’s room. Hope was busy in a discussion with Jesse so she didn’t notice my digression.
Zandra stood by the window looking out over the garden and the party below. She had her hair down, something I’ve seen a couple of times now, but I can’t remember seeing it growing up. She always had it up in the tight bun which made her look a little extra severe. She also didn’t have her cane and those two things alone made her look much younger, she could have been Zara’s older sister.
“Zandra?” She turned when she heard my voice.
“Callum!” She smiled her warm smile and showed us that she wanted us to sit.
“You wanted to talk? What about Zandra?”
“The future.”
“What about it?”
“I had a vision...and an experience with Ambrogio.” I felt a small twinge of irritation, what had she actually done there? Why did she go there?
“Tell...”
“I can’t tell you everything…you don’t want to hear everything…” A faint blush reached her cheeks.
“Zandra! For gods sake…really? You couldn’t avoid giving a hint about it? I will have nightmares..”
“Like I said, I’m not going to tell you everything. You know we’re mates…Anyway, I went there to kill him, I really did…but I couldn’t and I probably never will.”
“But grandma..after all he’s done!?” Zara had a desperate note in her voice.
“Zara, you forget that if he dies she dies, this is a good thing.” I put my hand on hers to try to give her some comfort and peace.
“Regardless…I saw a new side to the vampires…they’re not that different from wolves when it comes down to it.”
“What do you mean?” Beacon interfered, he didn’t like being compared to bloodsuckers.
“There is family, unconditional love...I felt at home there...I felt at home with Ambrigio.”
“Zandra, what are you saying? What was that vision you had?”
“The vision can change…but…” She rubbed her hands and went back to the window, looking at everyone down there.
“You both have to promise me something…you have to promise that what I’m about to tell you stays in this room. Hope and Luna won’t know anything until the fight tomorrow…If they were to try to change the vision, I’ve only seen bad outcomes . For their sake, for the baby, you must promise me.”
She looked at us and I could tell she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Zara nodded weakly.
“Of course Grandma, if that’s what you want I promise not to say anything.”
“Zandra…I don’t like keeping things from Hope.”
“I understand, but if it’s for her safety, you do it anyway.”
“Can’t you just not tell me?”
“I tried to see that version too, like the others it also puts Hope and your baby in danger.” She looked at me and waited for my answer. Beacon backed off, he would never do anything to put the ones we loved at risk, his respect for Zandra also removed any hope that she would meet us halfway. I heaved a deep sigh and rubbed my face. Whatever it was, whatever she saw in her vision, I hoped to explain my silence to Hope when it was all over, and to gain her forgiveness. I nodded and I gave her a silent yes. She came and sat with us and cleared her throat before she started.
“I’ve lived among the wolves for so long and I’ve loved every second...”
“And you will continue to live with us for a long time to come.” I could hear in my voice how I was trying to convince us all. She turned to me and a tear left one of her eyes.
“Zara…Great Falls is going to need you so I want to ask you to help me keep the promise I once made to Aayla.”
“Absolutely grandma, just say what.”
“I want you to move here, into my house and watch over the pack. Callum’s bloodline has magic, both he, Cathy and their children will need help taming it, learning how to use it right. Teach them about the different species, about magic, help them in matters where a witch can help.”
“But...what are you going to do Grandma?”
“Zandra! That’s enough! You’re not going anywhere and certainly not to the vampires! I suspect that is what you want to tell us? That you are going to move in with your mate? I won’t allow it, won’t even discuss it!” I could feel a faint panic rising inside. Zandra took both of our hands in hers.
“I don’t know what the future will look like...I just know that I have to come with you tomorrow, to help you.”
“Absolutely not! You are needed more here with the pack than with us in the attack.” While her magic would be a great asset, I’d always preferred her to stay and keep those not fighting protected.
“It is of great importance that I come along, the Gods have decided it, they will not benefit you if I go against them.”
“Zandra…the vision, what did it show?”
“It showed that my time with the wolves ends tomorrow...Tomorrow is the day I die.”