The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 41

Erick POV

Shawn is unusually quiet. He seems distant and almost sleeping as we ride with the vampires to the compound. Alexander has twenty vampires going with us. The plan is to park our trucks and walk up to the compound from the north side. Alexander believes Macon is holding Kate close to the Alpha's house. Shawn agreed with him. I trust Shawn but not Alexander. "Shawn, are you nervous or something?" I ask him. It is freaking me out, he is being too damn quiet.

Shawn opens his eyes and looks at me with the strangest look on his face. "I have been trying to communicate with Kate. I have tried for months but today is the first time I think I might have gotten through to her," Shawn says.

"I hope she does not wig out like before. When the wolves tried to communicate with her before, she had a hard time coping with it," I say to Shawn.

"No, I have been doing a different type of mental link with her. It is very subtle. It should not frighten her, but it will make her sleepy," Shawn says.

"I do not understand the whole mind link thing. I saw her when the wolves were trying to communicate with her, and it was not good for her. Be careful with that," I say.

"I only want her to know that we are coming for her and to be ready. I tried to reach her in her dreams, but I was not sure it went through. I think she can hear me. As I get closer to her, I should be able to link to her and locate her. All I can tell now is that she is in a small room underground, I think. I am not sure," Shawn says.

"We have to get her out of there. She only has a few more months until she has our baby. I want to be with her," I say.

Shawn pats me on the shoulder. "I get it. I do not know what you are going through, but I can imagine it is hard on you both," Shawn says.

Shawn has no idea how hard this is or how much I blame myself for what happened to Kate. I should have been more in control of the situation, and I damn sure should not have let Kate run around making all those decisions that put her in danger. She knew they wanted her, and she took risks. I cannot think like this. I cannot be that way with her. I want her to be free to make her own decisions. I will not be the overbearing, controlling husband.

We pull into a small dirt drive and park the trucks under trees. I get out of the truck with Shawn. John and Trip follow us. Alexander gathers his vampires and begins to give them instructions. The vampires speed off into the woods toward the compound. I guess it is time for us to get ready as well.

Shawn and I begin to run into the woods. We take our wolf form and speed toward the compound behind the vampires. I stick close to Shawn since he seems to think he knows where Macon is holding Kate. We reach a long gate. Shawn rips the gate. He motions for John and Trip to go in through the gate with two vampires.

Shawn and I run to the other side, closer to the Alpha's house. There is a brick building. "That is where she is at," Shawn says.

Shawn and I make our run toward the building. It is only moments before all hell breaks loose. Alexander's vampires and Macon's wolves are fighting. I keep my focus on Kate. I run with everything I have to get to my wife and child, with Shawn following behind me. We reach the building. I pull the door off of the hinges and go inside.

Two wolves are waiting for us. I do not want to kill anyone, but I want my wife. "Where is she?" I growl at the two wolves. They refuse to answer. Shawn comes up behind me and kills both of the wolves before I have time to react.

"Follow me," Shawn growls, leading the way to where he thinks Macon has Kate. We go down a corridor and then a set of steps.

"Here, I am in here," I hear Kate calling from behind a door. Shawn goes for the door.

"Back away from the door, Kate," Shawn screams.

Kate backs away from the door. I saw her beautiful face for only a moment. Shawn begins working on the door. I look around for a key or anything to open it with but replace nothing.

"Looking for this?" I hear an angry voice coming toward us. It is Macon, and he has the key around his neck. Shawn stops working on the door.

"You killed my father!" Shawn growls. He circles Macon quickly.

Shawn takes his mighty paw and rips the key from Macon's neck. He throws me the key. Macon attacks Shawn. "Get her out of her!" Shawn screams at me.

I go for the door. I open it quickly, and Kate comes running to me. "You need to take your wolf form so I can protect you and the baby," I say to her.

"I don't think I can," Kate cries.

"Do it, RUN!" I scream. Kate starts running toward the steps to get out of the dungeon. I go after Macon to help Shawn. Macon has Shawn pinned. I free Shawn throwing Macon against the wall. "Come on; he is not worth it. You want to live, Shawn," I growl at him.

Kate waits for us at the top of the stairs. "Come on, Shawn," I plead with him. Shawn follows me out. Macon lies on the ground next to the wall I threw him against moments ago, appearing unconscious. We sprint up the stairs to meet Kate and get the hell out of here.

We rush down the corridor. Shawn in front of us, killing any wolf that gets in our way. I feel a claw dig into my back. "She is staying here," Macon growls as he digs his mighty claw into me. Kate leaps toward him. He strikes her hard across her face. She lands face down on the ground. Shawn jumps over me and attacks Macon. This time he will have his revenge, and no one will stop him.

I rush to Kate. "Get her out of here, Erick!" Shawn growls. Kate is not moving. I slide my nose under Kate and push her upon my back. She comes awake long enough to know to grab hold of my fur so she can ride me out of this hell.

I run as fast as I can to get her out and back to the clearing. Damn Shawn, I hope he makes it out alive. He saved Kate. I owe him everything.