The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 36

Erick POV

Andrew and Shawn leave me to make arrangements; I have the responsibility of Austin and two packs now. I start making notes for Cassie. I try to think of every small detail that may come up while I am gone. What am I doing? Cassie is bright, and these notes make it look like I do not trust her. I throw the notes in the garbage.

As I lean back in my chair, thinking when I should be running out the door to get my wife, Cassie knocks and enters my office. "Alpha Erick, Andrew said you needed to see me urgently," Cassie says.

I lean forward. "Yes, we are going to search for Kate. I have a lot of responsibility to throw in your lap on short notice, and I am sorry for this, but I need you to do this for me. You are the only wolf I trust to oversee the pack while I am away," I say to her. "It is okay; I can handle it. Whatever you and the pack needs, I am willing to help," Cassie says.

"I can have someone come to help you with Austin in the mornings and at night. I know he has a nanny, but you have a lot of responsibility with him. Now until I come back, I need you to be responsible for the pack," I say.

"No, I enjoy being his caretaker. If anything comes up, I will have his nanny help me. He does not need people he does not know around him. He has been through enough. I love that boy," Cassie says.

"Andrew will help with the day-to-day stuff, and he will stay in the house until we return. I hope we are not gone long," I say.

"Andrew told me she looks pregnant in the picture Shawn has of her. Did Shawn say where he got the photo of her from?" Cassie asks.

"It does appear she is pregnant. I need to get her home quickly. I bet she is terrified," I say.

"And the photo, where is it from, Alpha Erick?" Cassie asks again.

"Alexander tracked her down," I say.

"Alexander, can you trust him?" Cassie asks.

"Right now, I only want to get Kate back. I have no choice but to trust him. We are meeting him tonight at Seanet," I say.

"Vampire country, you are going to vampire country," Cassie says, worried.

"Yes, I know, but I have no choice; I need to get her home," I say.

Cassie sits down in a chair in front of my desk. "Listen to me, Erick, we need you to come back here in one piece. Try not to take any unnecessary risks and keep your temper under control. Get her and get back here to us. The pack needs you, and Austin needs you," Cassie says.

"I understand all of that. I will be careful. I will try not to lose my temper with those damn vampires," I say. "Good, don't worry about the pack. Andrew and I will take care of the pack," Cassie says.

"Cassie, thank you for everything you do here. This pack is lucky to have you," I say.

Cassie smiles and leaves me to prepare myself to look for Kate. I am fortunate to have her here. She has been good for Austin and the pack. She has become the pack mother in Kate's absence. She has fought with the men and consoled the women in times of need. Cassie has been at the side of every woman having a baby or losing a husband. She has become something very special to this pack. Cassie is a warrior and a gentle counselor to everyone, even me.

I look at the photo of Kate. She looks so beautiful-her petite frame with a prominent baby bump. I wish I had been there for her through this. I hope she is not scared. I want her home to give birth. I want to be with her. I do not want even to think about what Macon would do to our child. He said our child would be a great weapon. I will be damned if he uses our child as a weapon.

I finish up in my office. I go out and close the door. I hope when I return that I return with my pregnant wife. I hope Macon has treated her well over the last six months. I cannot bear the thought of her being mistreated in any way.

I walk out onto the front porch. John, Trip, and Shawn are waiting for me. "Are you ready?" Shawn asks me.

"Yes, let's go get our Luna," I say to the men.

John and Trip are ready. They are both well packed with weapons. "I hope you have something in that pack to kill vampires," I say to John.

"You know it. Andrew fixed us up with some badass weapons just in case," John says.

Trip does not say anything. I pull Trip to the side. "If you are afraid, I can take someone else. I know you are expecting a child any day, and I do not want you to feel obligated to go," I say to him

"No, Alpha, I am not afraid to go with you. I am worried about my wife having our baby alone while we are gone," Trip says.

"Cassie will look out for her, I promise you. Megan will not be alone. The pack will look after her," I say to him. This seems to put his mind at ease.

We walk across the yard to my truck. I hand the keys to Shawn to let him drive since he knows where in the hell we are going. Vampire country is where we are headed. Not a place any wolf should go, but I will face it for Kate and hope we come back alive with her. Shawn drives with care as we head to Seanet. Seanet is a beautiful town on the bayou. It is the perfect place for vampires. There are a lot of tourists to feed on and plenty of land to spread out. The vampires in Seanet are older vampires. The older vampires have a strong distaste for wolves. It makes me wonder why Alexander wanted to meet there of all places. Right now, he is calling the shots. He is the only one that can lead me to Kate. If he wanted me to meet him in hell, I would storm the gates and fight the devil to get my wife back.