The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 65

Cassie

POV

My eyes roll as I try to open them and focus. I think John is with me. "John," I whisper.

My throat is so dry. My chest hurts. I touch my chest and I feel something all over me. I try to talk but the words only come out in a whisper. "John," I try to call to him again. He looks down to me.

"Shhh. Just stay still. Do not try to move, Cassie. You are hurt. We are taking you to get help. Please stop trying to move," John says to me.

I see Erick driving. I am in the truck. How did I get here? "Where are we going?" I ask in a whisper. My eyes move fast as I try to focus. Everything is blurry, and I am in pain. I feel so much pain. I try to move my arms again. I touch my arms. I feel blood and bone. "Cassie, please stop trying to move. You have to stay still," John says.

Am I trying to move? I do not think so, but John seems to think I am trying to move. "Cassie, stay still," Erick says to me sternly.

"Yes, Alpha," I whisper. I feel a bump in the road. "Ouch!" I scream. Pain rushes through my body. My ears are ringing and my eyes sting. I look up to Erick and then back to John. I see the light from the sun, and it burns.

I reach and touch my chest, and I feel something sticky and wet. What is on me? I bring my hand close to my face and try to focus on what is on my hand. I focus. "Blood, why is there blood all over me? What happened to me," I whisper. "Cassie, stop moving!" John scolds me.

I lay my head in John's lap and close my eyes. My head hurts, and there is a strange pain coming from my chest and my legs. Can I move my legs? I try to move my legs.

"Am I hurt? How did I get hurt?" I ask John.

"Yes, you are hurt. Please, Cassie, stop moving. We are almost to the pack doctor," John says again. He touches my head, and I try to move my head to see him better. He is crying. Why is he crying?

What happened to me? I was in the kitchen. I was upset, and then Erick came into the kitchen to talk to me. I remember deciding to leave the Alpha's house. It is better if I take Austin and leave. Then what happened?

I remember talking to Kate. Kate is upset with me. She thinks I am sleeping with Alpha Erick. She thinks I want to steal her baby. Kate is furious with me.

"John, what happened to me?" I cry out. I reach for his face. He takes my hand. I see blood. There is so much blood on me and on John. Is John hurt too? I do not remember John being in the house. It was Alpha Erick and I in the kitchen. We were talking. “Shhh, Cassie, we are almost to the pack doctor. Please just stay calm," John says. John is crying as he rubs my head.

"Desire, where is Desire? I need to talk to her, John. Please, where is Desire?" I ask John.

John rubs my head so softly. "I will replace her. She is on business for Alpha, but we will bring her back just for you. I promise," John says.

I feel the truck stop. I hear the doors open on the truck. Alpha is shouting for help. John and Alpha begin to move me. The pain is shooting through my body. I think I am dying. The men lift me out and begin taking me into the house. I scream out and cry loudly as they move me into the house. My body is broken. I feel every bone in my body is broken.

"AHHH, stop, please make it stop!" I scream out. I look at John as he carries me. He is sad. He thinks I am dying. I can see it in his face. I cannot die. He will take care of Austin. Who will protect baby Belle?

"Lay her down here," I hear the pack doctor order Alpha and John. I feel myself land on a bed. The bed is hard, and I can now feel every wound in my body. I feel something coming out of my chest. Is that blood?

John has his back to me. I reach for him. "John, please stay with me. I am afraid," I say to him. John turns to me and takes my hand.

"I am right here, Cassie. I am not leaving you, I promise," John says. John holds my hand. I look at my hand in his, and I can see so much blood on my hands. I scream, looking at the blood.

"I need to sedate her, so we can get her ready for surgery," I hear the doctor say.

"Cassie, the doctor is going to sedate you. I will replace Desire while you are in surgery," John says to me.

"John, do not let me die," I say.

I close my eyes and try not to think about the pain I am in right now. I focus on Desire and how much I love her. I feel someone touching me. I feel a warmth coming over my body. Is something on me? What is happening? I try to open my eyes, but my eyes are heavy

now.

"What the hell happened?" I hear the doctor ask.

"I cannot remember what happened," I whisper.

I feel a needle going into my arm. "Cassie, I am starting an IV, then I am going to give you something to calm you," a soft voice says. I look, but I cannot focus. Everything goes dark.

"Cassie, Cassie, honey, wake up," I hear the soft voice say. I try to open my eyes. My eyes are so heavy. I blink rapidly. I open my eyes, but they close as quickly as I open them. I am cold. Am I dead?

"I cannot open my eyes," I whisper in a hoarse voice.

I feel something wet and cold at my lips. "Ice chips, open your mouth, take a few ice chips," the soft voice says.

"Where is she?" I hear someone scream, running toward me.

I can hear talking, but I cannot focus on the conversation. Then I feel a soft hand. I know this hand. "Desire," I whisper.

"I am here, Cassie. I am here, my love," Desire says as she holds my hand. I hear her crying.

"She will be okay, Desire. The pack doctor was able to repair the damage the wolf did to her," John says.

A wolf, yes, the white wolf, attacked me. Kate's wolf attacked me. Kate thinks I am after Erick and her child. I only wanted to get Austin somewhere safe. I want to get Austin away from Kate and her damn wolf. I have to get out of here. I need to protect Austin. "Her blood pressure is going up," I hear someone say.

I wish I could open my eyes and see what is going on with me. I try to take a deep breath, but everything hurts. Slow breathes, Cassie. Slowly breathing so I can calm myself. I need to remain calm. I cannot think about the wolf and Kate right now. I have to get better. Austin's nanny will watch out for him until I can be there for him.

"Desire, is Austin safe?" I whisper in a hoarse voice.

Desire rubs my hand. "Yes, Cassie, he is safe with his nanny at your house. Alpha Erick moved him out of the house so he would be safe. He knew you would worry for him. I need you to remain calm, okay," Desire says as she gently rubs my hand. "Good, what about baby Belle? She is in danger with Kate. You have to get her away from her," I whisper.

"She is safe too. Everyone is safe. We need to focus on you, my love," Desire says to me as she rubs my hand. I can hear her tears.

"Can I leave and go home?" I ask.

"No, you have to stay here for a few days, but I will not leave you, I promise. I will never leave you again," Desire says.

I smile through the pain. "I love you, Desire," I say to her.

"I love you, too. Now, please close your eyes and rest," Desire says.

"Okay, I will rest now," I say. I close my eyes and drift into a deep sleep.

I awake with so much pain rushing through my body. Desire is still wth me. I look at her. She has been crying. Desire touches my hand.

"You need to rest," Desire says.

I look at her and try to smile. My face hurts. "I need to go home. I need to take care of Austin," I say to Desire.

"His nanny is with him and baby Belle," Desire says.

I try to swallow. My throat hurts, everything hurts. "I am in pain," I say.

"Do you remember anything?" Desire asks me.

I close my eyes and think. What do I remember about how I got hurt? "There was a wolf. It was Kate's wolf. She was screaming at the wolf, Alpha Erick and me. She called me a whore and said i was trying to steal her husband and baby," I say. I look at Desire. She is furious. "I will kill that bitch," Desire says.

I scream out as a sudden pain rushes through my body. "I cannot take this pain," I cry. Desire takes my hand.

A nurse comes into the room. I feel something warm rush through my vein. "She is giving you a shot, Cassie. It will help with the pain," Desire says.

"Desire, you cannot go after Kate. Her wolf will kill you. Promise me you will not go after her. I cannot lose you," I whisper.

I hear Alpha Erick's voice talking to the doctor. I try to listen, but the pain meds are making it hard for me to focus. I hear sedative, i hear Kate, what are they talking about.

"What is going on?" I ask Desire.

She shakes her head. "They are sedating Kate to keep the wolf away from her," Desire says.

If Kate is sedated the wolf is gone. She cannot live like that. Alpha Erick has to get rid of the white wolf or he has to get rid of Kate before she kills us all.

"I know what you are thinking, Desire," I say to her. She looks away from me. I know I will not be able to stop her.

"Are you going to kill her?" I ask. She does not look at me. Desire just sits holding my hand crying.

"I cannot lose you, Cassie," Desire says.

Alpha Erick comes into the room to check on me. He touches my hand and sits on the other side of me opposite of Desire. I can see the annomosity between them. If I have to choose between this pack and the woman I love, I will choose her. Alpha Erick knows what Desire is thinking. She wants revenge. He not I will be able to stop her.

"I wanted to check on you before I leave," Alpha Erick says.

"I am in pain," I answer him.

"Your wife tried to kill her; she is not okay. I am not okay with this," Desire says to Alpha Erick.

"I know what happened I was there," Alpha Erick says.

"And you let this happen," Desire says.

"I did not let this happen," Alpha Erick says. The two stares at each other.

"I cannot take this. I need to rest," I say.

"I will leave," Alpha Erick says.

"I will see you soon, Alpha," Desire says to him.

Alpha Erick leaves. Desire kisses me on the forehead. I drift into sleep.