The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 64

Erick POV

I try to occupy myself in my office while Cassie takes on the task of taking a meal to Kate. John and Trip left to try to replace an Imperial wolf here that might can help us. At least someone that knows about the ghostly figure following my wife and child. There has to be someone here from the Imperial pack that knows what the hell is going on with Kate.

My wife, Kate, is still my wife, and I still love her. She no longer cares anything for this pack or me, and that is what frightens me the most. What if she turns that hate to baby Belle? What if she harms her while that damn wolf is controlling her? There are too many questions and absolutely no answers to anything going on here. I have no one to turn to and no one that can help her.

I struggle to focus when I hear Cassie screaming and crying in the kitchen. I hope Kate did not hurt her. I get up from my desk and open the office door. I go into the kitchen and stand in the doorway. Cassie is sobbing while looking out the kitchen window. This is too much for her. Cassie loves Kate and baby Belle. I can only imagine the stress this is causing her.

I walk up behind Cassie and put my arms around her. "Are you okay? Did Kate say or do something to you?" I ask. I hold Cassie for a moment, and then she breaks free from my embrace.

"She is not herself. She is so full of rage and anger. I do not think she will hurt baby Belle, but I have no idea what she is capable of anymore. She was chomping her vampire fangs at me and going on and on about the pack hurting her and the baby. She is not making any sense. She touched me, Erick, and wanted to show me baby Belle's future. Erick, she is crazy! Erick, she thinks we are sleeping together. She has it in her head that I want to take you and baby Belle away from her. I would never take her child or her husband from her," Cassie says, sobbing.

I pull Cassie into me. I hold her. "Cassie, we will figure out a way to help her. No matter what, we will protect baby Belle, and hopefully, we can help Kate too. I love her, but I cannot allow her to keep hurting people, especially not baby Belle," I say. Cassie is distraught. "I am taking Austin with me to my house. I am not staying here with her, and he cannot stay here either. She could hurt him in a fit of rage. She is so angry, Erick. I am terrified of her," Cassie says.

Cassie is right. I have not thought about my brother and his disabilities and what Kate could possibly do to him in a fit of rage or what that wolf could do to him. I do not blame Cassie for not wanting to be here. Especially with Kate accusing her of trying to take her husband and child. Why does she think that I am sleeping with Cassie? Kate knows I love her. The wolf, that damn wolf is manipulating her into thinking she has no one but the white wolf on her side.

"We will make arrangements. I will need some wolves here at night to help me keep an eye on her and baby Belle until we figure out what is going on with her," I say.

Cassie lays her head on my chest. She sobs. I know she loves Kate and the baby, but I do not want to put her in danger or Austin. I have to think of their lives too. "I love you, Cassie; you are like a sister to me. I will not let you get hurt in all of this. I am sorry for everything that Kate has done to you," I say to her.

"I know, Erick. Baby Belle needs to be the only priority you cannot worry about protecting me and Austin plus everything else. I will have one of the guys stay with me. We will be fine. I do not want to come back here until this is settled. When Kate is better, I will come back here until then I have to take care of myself and Austin," Cassie says.

As I am holding Cassie, I hear footsteps behind us. I turn expecting John or Trip, but it is Kate. She looks at Cassie and me with so much anger. Her eyes turn black, and the wolf begins to growl at us. "I knew you were fucking her. You just could not wait to get rid of me and jump into bed with her, could you, Erick? You are a dog. I hate you. You will pay for everything. Your little whore will die!" Kate screams at us.

The white wolf jumps on Cassie. I try to pull the wolf off of her, but the wolf is tearing her body to shreds. "Stop this, Kate, Stop! I only love you!" I scream at her.

Kate moves close so she can watch the white wolf kill Cassie. Kate grabs me. "Watch the white wolf kill your whore!" Kate screams.

I pull away from Kate and try to pull the white wolf off of Cassie. The white wolf pushes me back and takes a bite out of my arm before returning its attention back to Cassie. "Kill her! Kill the Alpha's whore!" Kate screams at the white wolf. The wolf obeys Kate and begins clawing into Cassie's chest.

"Stop, Kate. Cassie is your friend. She loves you and baby Belle, stop this! There is nothing between Cassie and I. Cassie loves you! Stop this, Kate!" I scream at her.

The only way to stop the wolf is to stop Kate. I have to stop Kate. I look around the kitchen for something to knock Kate out, I grab the skillet off of the stove and clock Kate in the head hard, knocking her out cold. Kate falls to the floor, and the wolf disappears. Cassie lays on the floor bleeding. I rush to Cassie, and I pick Cassie up carefully, leaving Kate knocked out on the floor. I will deal with her later. I have to get Cassie's help. Austin's nanny comes to see what the commotion is in the kitchen.

"I need you to go upstairs and get the baby. Take her and Austin to Cassie's house. I will send someone to watch out for you. I have to get Cassie to the pack doctor, now," I tell the nanny.

Austin's nanny looks back at Kate. "What about Luna Kate? Is she okay?" she asks.

I look over and Kate. "She is fine, just get Austin and baby Belle somewhere safe. Do it quickly," I say.

I run out of the house with Cassie in my arms. I take Cassie to my truck. As I load her into the truck, John and Trip arrive with an older man and woman. "We found help, but it looks like we are too late. What the hell happened?" Trip says.

"Trip, go into the kitchen. Kate is knocked out on the floor. Take her upstairs and secure her. I do not care how. I do not want her to be able to move or hurt anyone until we can figure out what the hell is going on with her. If she moves knock her ass out. Do whatever you have to do until I can figure out something," I say.

"These two can help. They have a lot to tell you about the white wolf. They were part of the original pack and have experience with the white wolf," John says.

"John, that wolf tried to kill Cassie. We have to get rid of it fast. As long as Kate is knocked out, the wolf is gone," I say.

John comes closer, looking at Cassie. His heart sinks. The two are close, and I know this cannot be easy for him. John gets into the truck with Cassie. "I am coming with you. I will call Desire when we get to the pack doctor. She needs to be here for her," John says with panic in his voice. He trembles as he checks on Cassie.

"Desire is off on an errand for the pack. She won't be back for a few more days. If you can get in touch with her, then tell her to get back here. Cassie needs her," I say.

"What about the old man and woman? What do you want to do with them for now?" John asks.

I go over to the two waiting for instructions. "I have to get her to the doctor. I will be back. Do not leave. I need your help. It would probably be safer for both of you to wait outside. If you see Kate, run like hell," I say to them. "Yes, Alpha," the old man says.

I get into the truck with John. He is holding Cassie. "She does not look so good, Alpha. She is dying," John says with a trembling voice. He craddles Cassie as tears roll down his face. John is a tough wolf, but Cassie is a soft spot for him.

I look over at Cassie. "No, she does not look good. She cannot die. She has to survive this. When Kate is herself again, it will kill her knowing she did this to Cassie. Cassie cannot die," I say.

"Alpha, what if Kate never returns to herself, then what? What are we going to do when Kate tries to kill all of us?" John asks.

I hold tight to the steering wheel, listening to Cassie fight for her life. "Then we will have to put her down. Baby Belle and the pack have to be protected. I love Kate, but I will not let her destroy us. I love my wife, John, but that is not my wife. I do not know who in the hell that is but that is not my Kate," I say.

"Have you thought about the possibility that baby Belle is like Kate and will be a danger to us? What will we do if she turns on us too?" John asks.

"Yes. It has crossed my mind, but she is my child. I... I could never hurt her. I could not harm baby Belle. We have to replace a way to save them both," I say.

"I know, Alpha. But there is the possibility that she might turn as Kate has on us. It is not something I want to think about either, but we need to prepare for the worst. I never thought sweet little Kate would harm any of us," John says.

John is right. What if I have to put both of them down? I would rather die than have to sacrifice my baby or Kate, but what about the pack and my responsibilities to the pack? I hope the people John and Trip brought to the house can help us with that damn wolf. If I can get rid of the wolf, I can save Kate.

If the old man and old woman are from the original pack, then they will know about Rainwater and Alexander. They should know more about the white wolf than anyone else would know.

I have to decide what I am going to do to protect baby Belle from this later in life and how I will protect the pack. I look over at Cassie. She is barely breathing. There is blood coming from her chest. Do not die, Cassie. We are going to get you help. I need you to hold on, my friend.

I look at John. His heart is broken. I cannot continue down this road. My pack is in pain, and I am the only one who can stop it.