The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 59

Kate POV

Time seems to stop for no one. Belle is growing so fast. She is a month old today. Erick is the best father to her and helps me with her so much. I knew he would be after the way I watch him care for Austin. He never told me what happened when he went to look for Alexander and Macon. That thought of my father, even though we are not close, being out there somewhere hurts my soul. I want to replace him. I want him to meet baby Belle and know her.

Nothing that happened in the past was anyone's fault, not even his. The past is the past, and I choose to leave it there. I will never step on the spiritual plane again or try to mind-link with the wolves. I still feel a deep connection to nature, just like all imperial wolves, but I try to keep my knowledge and source of power to a minimum.

Belle is extraordinary. She already has her fangs. I have to supplement her feedings with deer blood, or she will bite whoever is holding her. I do not want the wolves to be afraid of her. This is the best Erick, and I can do for now with her. She will be a mighty Alpha to this pack someday.

Imperial Wolf descendants have come from far and wide to see this miracle baby. Our pack has grown so much. Our small pack is now one of the biggest packs in the world. To me, being the Luna with such a huge responsibility to family and the pack has been a joy, a blessing, and something I can take so much pride in and enjoy. Cassie has helped me become a better Luna to the pack, and I am grateful to her for all of her help.

"She is sleeping soundly, isn't she?" Erick says as we watch baby Belle sleep.

"Yes, she is for once," I say.

Erick holds me in his arms. "Desire is coming to see Cassie today. I think things are getting serious between the two of them," Erick says.

"I hope Cassie does not move off to vampire country and leave me here all alone," I say.

"No, actually, I invited Desire to stay here with us. You know, just until we locate Alexander," Erick says.

"Do you think we will ever replace my father?" I ask.

"I do not know, but I will never stop trying. I promised you I would replace him. He did help me rescue you when you were kidnapped, and he deserves to meet Belle," Erick says.

"I know. I want him to be located but not at the cost of losing the Alpha of this pack. Remember pack first," I say to him.

Erick leans down and kisses me. "I love you, Luna Kate," Erick says.

"I love you too, Alpha Erick," I say to him with a giggle.

Belle giggles when I do in her sleep. We both look down at her sleeping and giggling. We leave Belle to sleep and go into Erick's office. As I sit down in the office chair, there is a knock on the door. "Hey, can I come into the office?" Trip says.

Erick motions for him to come into the office. "I did not want to disturb you, but I thought you might want to know that Isabella died this morning," Trip says.

"What!" I exclaim.

"Luna Kate, she was ancient. She had lived way beyond her years," Trip says.

"I know, but I have enjoyed her so much. She has become a part of the family. Where is she?" I ask Trip.

"She is still in her home. We covered her when Meagan took her breakfast this morning," Trip says.

"Trip, we need to go check on her," I say.

"I assure you she has expired," Trip says.

"I can assure you that unless she was staked through the heart, she is still home," I say to Trip.

"What?" Trip asks me.

"Isabella is a hybrid, like me," I say.

Trip, Erick, and I leave the house to go check on Isabella. "Why did I not know this?" Trip asks.

"Because we did not want wolves freaking out and treating her any differently. She is a good wolf and probably a vampire now since her wolf life expired," I answer him.

We pull into the cottage where Isabella lived. The three of us get out, and Trip hangs back. "Trip, she is still Isabella; stop being ridiculous," I say to him.

I go ahead of the men. I cannot believe they are scared of this little old lady wolf. She is a sweet older woman, and surely she is not a crazy blood-thirsty vampire since this morning.

I open the door and go into the house. I walk back to the bedroom, and there is a sheet on the bed but no Isabella. Trip comes up behind me. "This is where she was this morning. She was dead. Meagan covered her with the sheet and came to get me. I came to check on her before I come to let you guys know about it," Trip says.

"It is fine, and we will replace her," I say.

We look around the house. The deep freezer has been emptied of meat. "She was looking for blood to feed on so she could control the blood thirst," I say.

I look at Trip; he looks terrified. The three of us look over the house and in the backyard. There is a trail of blood going into the woods. Isabella went deer hunting to control her thirst. A blood trail goes into the woods and then back out and straight to the Omega house. "Erick, your mother," I say softly.

The three of us start walking toward the Omega house. As we get closer, there are dead deer everywhere walking toward the Omega house. We get to the back door of the Omega house. Erick goes in; first, I am behind him, and Trip is behind me, shaking in his boots. We walk through the back. It is quiet as we go into the house from the back entrance. We reach the end of the hall, going to the front of the Omega house, we hear Erick's mother.

"Finally, decide to come by to see your mother, Alpha," she says.

"Where is Isabella?" Erick asks the former Luna.

His mother cackles. "I tried to warn little miss Luna Kate. I tried to tell her the imperial wolf would come for her, but she did not listen. You just could not listen, Alpha. You two are idiots. That Isabella is from THE bloodline, and she will not stop until she destroys anything that threatens the purest of imperial wolf bloodline, starting with your baby," she cackles.

"I am an imperial wolf," I scream at the former Luna.

"No, you are a mistake! Imperial hybrids are to be bred with other imperial hybrids. You are filth, and that baby is too. The only thing going for that baby is the fact it came from a bloodline of vampire hybrids that can transform into a vampire at will. Don't you get it, Luna? Your baby is a threat and a weapon to the imperials. They will not rest until she is dead, or they will use her to destroy everything they fear, even you and your Alpha," she cackles.

"The baby, Erick, we have to get home to Belle," I cry.

We run back to the truck. Erick floors it to get to the house. He is driving as fast as this old truck will go. "Don't kill us!" Trip screams.

He drives into the driveway and goes all the way to the front porch. We get out of the truck, and I speed fast everyone to the baby's room. She is sleeping peacefully in her crib.

The floor creaks in the darkness of her room, and then I look up to see him. "Father," I say softly.

"YESSSS," Alexander hisses at me.

"Where have you been?" I ask him.

"Hiding from your brother. You have to take her and hide from Isabella. You have to keep her safe, Kate. Go, do not tell Erick, just take her and hide her. He will understand. I will explain everything to him. Isabella and the Omega are planning to kill her. Take your child and GO!" Alexander says to me.

I grab baby Belle and a few things. I jump out the window with my baby in my arms. I use my vampire speed to get away as fast as possible. I am sorry, Erick. I cannot risk her life. I cannot put your pack before our child.