The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 69

Isabella

POV

I am tired of running. I only want to make it back to the pack and my home. This journey has been too much on me mentally. My new vampire form is not what I want. I miss being a wolf. I wish someone would have staked me upon my death. Instead, I am running and hiding from this demon I have become. I want to die and be with my husband. I thought someone would have enough sense to send me on to be with my husband. Instead, I am suffering. This is not what I wanted. The only thing about this form is that I might be able to help Kate.

My future is bleak and undetermined, but I must return to help Kate. I know the white wolf has come for her and Belle. I must get to her and help her before she descends into the darkness, just like her mother did. I could not live with myself if Kate went into the darkness. She nor her child deserves that fate.

Why must the imperials be cursed with this? Damn you, Rainwater, you started this. You left your child to take on your fate. You should have faced this fate and left your children out of this. This is your debt.

Rainwater was such a beautiful soul at one time in her life, and then Alexander came into her life. When she was forced to give up her child, she went to a dark place. An Imperial wolf cannot be separated from their child. It sends them into an emotional overload. The emotions bring the spirit realm to the forefront of their mind, and then the darkness seeps in and claims their soul. Poor Kate, I can already feel her darkness. I hope I am not too late to help her and baby Belle.

I knew the moment baby Belle was born that Kate would protect that child with everything in her. The bond was immediate. Erick loves them both so much. Belle is special. She is too special for her own good. If Erick was smart, he would leave this pack, take his wife and child, and go somewhere to keep them safe.

I have to make it to Erick before they do something to Kate. I can feel her pain. If she falls into the depths of the spiritual realm there will be no way to bring her back. I have to hurry. My old body just cannot make it much further.

I am almost back at the Alpha's house. I slow down and walk. The vampire speed is draining to me. I may be a vampire now, but I am still an old woman. I have lived a long life. I have seen so much being with the imperials. I cannot take much more of this life. After I help Kate, someone will put me out of my misery.

I see a truck coming toward me. It is slowing down as it gets closer to me. I do not recognize it. I am too drained to fight anyone. I cannot die yet. I need to get to Kate and help her first. Kate, my dear Kate I am coming to help you. I am trying to get to you. The truck stops. It is Alpha Erick. Thank goodness. Now, if I can explain to him why I am here without him going ballistic. Alpha gets out of the truck. He starts walking toward me.

"Where have you been? Why are you here?" Alpha Erick asks as he gets closer to me. He looks tired. He was injured recently. I can smell vampire blood in him.

I am so tired that I collapse into his arms. "I am here to help, Kate. I can feel her distress in the spiritual realm. Take me to her," I say.

"Are you okay, Isabella?" Alpha Erick asks me.

I lean into him. "I will be fine. I am an old woman, Alpha. I need to rest. I am here to help here. I only need a moment to collect myself. I need to feed," I say to him.

"Take what you need from me. I have already been bitten once today," Alpha Erick says.

I nuzzle in close to him. I bite into his neck. I do not take much. I hate feeding. I hate being a vampire. I feel my energy returning. I try to stand and walk to the truck, but I am still a little weak. Alpha Erick helps me into his truck. He gets into his truck. He is driving away from his house. "Where are you going? Why are you leaving Kate alone?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "First, I have to know what your intentions are? Are you here to harm Kate or help her?" Alpha Erick asks me.

"I am here to help her. I would never hurt Kate or your child," I answer him.

"We came to help you, but you were gone. My mother said you were mad and going crazy. Why did you run? Why didn't you ask us for help?" Alpha Erick asks me.

"I ran because I was afraid of my new form. I ran away to die. I was going crazy. I am a wolf. I know I am a hybrid, but I did not want to be a vampire. I never wanted that life," I answer him. "Why are you here now?" Alpha Erick asks me.

"I can hear her calling out to me and in distress. She thinks I want to harm her and the baby. Alpha, you know I would never harm Kate or anyone else in the pack. I left so I would not have to worry about the bloodthirst. I thought it was better if I went somewhere else to die. I do not want to need to feed to live. I cannot be like this," I answer him.

"You are the only person I truly trust. You are probably the only person not lying to me in all of this. I do not know how to help Kate. Everyone keeps telling me to put her out of her misery. I am not ready to give up on my wife, no matter what she has done," Alpha Erick says.

"Tell me what is going on with her. I know she is stressed. The white wolf is with her. That is not good, Alpha. We have to get rid of the wolf and fast before she goes all the way to the darkness like her mother. This happened to her mother, too," I say. "She tried to kill Cassie, and she tried to kill me. I am afraid she will hurt baby Belle or herself. What if she kills our child? I could not live with myself if she murdered our baby," Alpha Erick says.

I shake my head. "That is the one person she will not hurt. That baby is her lifeline to our world. Belle can keep her grounded here with us. Removing Belle from her life will only make things worse. She needs baby Belle to remind her who she is. That child can bring her out of this," I say to him.

"I told her I wanted a divorce, and I made her an omega. I was furious. I went after her hard when she left with Belle. Alexander said she was going to kill Belle and that you were going to help her. I have no idea who I can trust. I only want to save them both, but Alexander insists she will harm the baby. I do not think I can trust Alexander," Alpha Erick says.

"Damn, Alexander, he is playing both sides of the fence. He needs Kate to descend into darkness. He needs you to kill her. He needs her power and the power the baby Belle will inherit," I say.

Erick stops the truck. He grabs the steering wheel tightly and then hits the dash hard. "I am tired, Isabelle. I cannot take any more of this. I want my wife and my child. I want all of this to stop. I need all of this to stop. Tell me how to make it stop. I will do anything to save them both, please help us," Alpha Erick screams.

Alpha Erick loves her more than I have ever seen a man love a woman. I cannot imagine the pain he is in right now. I reach over to him and gently touch his arm. "We have to kill the white wolf, destroy the spiritual realm, and then Kate will be free. Not just Kate, but baby Belle too. This link is strong in her family. It needs to be broken. I will help you," I say.

"This is the craziest shit I have ever heard or seen in my life. Imperial wolves, spiritual reals, the white wolf. I saw a man transform into something demonic in my kitchen and then watched his wife kill him and a spiritual wolf," Alpha Erick says.

"Crazy, yes, but we must embrace the darkness and break its hold on Kate and her lineage, or else, baby Belle will see the same fate someday. Killing Kate will only put the spiritual realm on Belle. The link has to be broken. We have to break the link for your child's sake," I say.

"Why? I do not understand why all of this happened?" Alpha Erick asks.

"Easy answer. Rainwater and Alexander created something that everyone wants, and now it is time to pay the piper. Kate is an extraordinary hybrid from exceptional breeding. This union was not out of love, and it was out of vengeance and a thirst for power. Rainwater dabbled in the dark arts and what she did to get those hybrids and give birth to these unique creatures is a twisted game that we are all a part of, even if we are unaware of it. As I said, it is time to pay the piper. Win or lose; we have to save baby Belle from the same fate," I say.

Alpha Erick looks at me in shock. It is just too much for him to take in and understand right now. "How can we get rid of Alexander?" Alpha Erick says.

I laugh. "Oh, Alpha, I think we can think of something. He has to go. His days of manipulating everyone are numbered. I am sure there is someone that would like to put his head on a stick. I am just too old to do it and you need to remain neutral," I say.

Alpha smiles at me. "I like the way you think, Isabella. I know just the badass vampire to take Alexander out. She is itching to kill him for all of this. She wants to kill Kate too, but if we can get her to take out Alexander and protect Kate, then it would be a win," Alpha Erick says.

"Are we going to check on Cassie and Belle?" I ask him.

"Yes, I need to bring my daughter home. I need your help explaining all of this to Desire. She needs to know that we can help Kate and that we do not have to kill her," Alpha Erick says.

"I agree, we need to bring baby Belle home. It would help Kate, but first, we need to get rid of Alexander. If your vampire friend can do it for us, then I am happy to explain the situation to her. I am here to help Kate," I ask.

Alpha Erick laughs. "Desire is ready to kill him. She is pissed off and wants blood. She is Cassie's girlfriend. She is mad about all of this. I cannot blame her. I would be too. I just do not want her to harm Kate in the process," Alpha Erick says.

"Good, then let's go get her and then pay Alexander a little visit," I say.