The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 74

Cassie POV

The love of my life is dead. Oh Desire, I cannot believe I will have to live without you because of that damn white wolf and Kate. How could Erick do this to me? He knew you were upset about Kate and what happened. What did he think would happen? Erick should not have killed you. He should have just let us leave and move on with our lives. Why does everything have to be about her and her life? Am I not important? Is Austin not important? I have to get away from here and take Austin. We need to get as far away from here as possible.

If I try to leave, will he kill me too? I do not feel safe here anymore, not with her here and her white wolf. I know Austin is not secure. I cannot concern myself with Kate or Belle. Austin needs someone to care for him and his safety. If Kate decides he is a threat, she will kill him.

I get out of the bed and try to dress myself. I am still in so much pain. I should have taken the vampire blood from Desire, but I do not want to heal that way. I need to do this on my own, but now looking back, I should have. At least I would be able to leave now. I struggle getting dressed. Austin's nanny comes into my room to help me. "Liz, I need help," I say to her.

She comes to me and helps me dress. "I am sorry, this is not your responsibility," I say to her.

"No, it is fine. I will always help you," Liz says to me.

Liz is so kind. I am lucky to have her help. Austin loves her, and that means more to me than anything. Just to have one person in this world other than me that cares for him. I thought Alpha Erick cared for him too, but I know I am wrong about that now. "Will you go with us, Liz?" I ask her.

Liz helps me into the kitchen, and I can eat breakfast with Austin. She places a plate in front of me and then in front of Austin. She goes back to the stove and makes her a plate. She sits down at the table with us. She has never sat down with us before to eat. "Cassie, I made the decision last night that I cannot be here anymore. I do not mean with you and Austin; I mean here in this pack. I want to leave, and I want to leave NOW! So, if you and Austin are serious about leaving, then I will go with you," Liz says. "We cannot say anything about where we are going. We just have to leave," I say.

"I know, and I am ready for that. Alpha Erick is preoccupied with Kate. It will be easy for us to leave. We can pack the bare essentials. If anyone stops us, we will say we are taking Austin away for a few days," Liz says.

I begin to eat. The pain in my body is still so great. It rushes through me with every movement. "I want to heal so I can take care of him," I cry out.

"Vampire blood would heal you," Liz says.

"Know any vampires?" I ask Liz. She smiles.

"No, but I do know a few hybrids, and they would be happy to help you, Cassie," Liz answers me.

I shake my head. "I want help. I need to heal for Austin. I am not trying to be selfish. I just need to heal. I am in so much pain," I cry.

"I know, and that is why I am going to help you. After breakfast, I will get Austin settled, and I will get what you need," Liz says.

"Thank you. I want to have a memorial for Desire before we leave. Alpha Erick burned her body. He burned her, the love of my life, and he burned her like garbage. I just want to do something to remember her, so she knows I love her," I say. "I will take care of that too if you want me to handle it for you, Cassie," Liz says.

I nod and smile. "Thank you. You are the only person I have in this world except for Austin," I say.

Liz takes Austin out on the porch. He loves to sit on the porch in the morning. I follow and sit with him. Liz cleans up the kitchen while I stay with Austin.

It is odd not to have Desire with me. I thought being with a vampire that I would die long before her. I should not have to live without her. All because of Kate and her damn wolf. I want to scream and cry. I want to stomp her ass, but I know deep down the best thing for me to do is just leave with Austin and never come back here.

Liz comes outside onto the porch with Austin and me. "I am going to go get you some vampire blood. It will not take long. I will hurry. I am going to stop by my house and pick up a few things while I am out," Liz says.

I look at Austin. He beams and kisses at Liz. She goes to him and kisses him. "I love you, sweet boy," Liz says to him.

"If the Alpha comes, tell him I went to my house. I do not want him to know what I am getting for you," Liz says.

"I do not plan to tell him anything," I say to her.

Liz goes to our truck and leaves. Austin waves at her as she leaves. He immediately looks sad when we can no longer see the truck.

"She will be right back," I say to Austin. Hearing this makes him happy.

Austin and I wait for Liz to come back. I know he probably wonders where Desire is at today and why she has not come home to us. The rain begins to fall as we sit waiting. We both watch the rain coming down. Desire loved the rain. It is only fitting that it rains on a day that I want to remember her.

It isn't long before we see Liz coming back. Austin starts making noise and hollering for Liz as her truck gets closer. "Nanny," he shouts.

Liz pulls into the driveway, and Austin is going crazy for her. She gets out of the truck and goes to Austin first. She leans down to kiss him.

"My sweet boy, I told you I would be right back," Liz says.

I look in the truck and see a few boxes. "What is all of that?" I ask her.

She looks over at the truck and back to me with a smile on her face. "It is a few things we will need and a few things I cannot be without, my dear," Liz says.

Liz reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small vial. "Gulp it down, and you will be yourself in no time, Cassie," Liz says.

"How did you get this?" I ask her.

"I have a friend. A woman has her secrets, you know," Liz says.

"It seems like everyone has secrets around here," I say to her.

"I am going to take Austin in the house. I will make lunch soon, and then we will say goodbye to Desire. Tonight, we get the hell out of here," Liz says as she takes Austin into the house.

I look at the tiny vial in my hand. It does not really look like blood, and it just looks gross. Right now, I would do anything to be strong enough to get the hell out of here. I would drink Kate's blood to get out of here if I had to do it.

I open the tiny vial and hold it in my hand for a moment. I hear Austin laughing with his nanny, and that gives me the courage to drink what is in the vial. I gulp it down fast.

As the disgusting liquid makes its way down my throat, I feel a sudden wave of strength come over me. My body becomes heated. I feel strange and then normal. My skin begins to crawl, and I can feel my bones mending back together. It is painful but worth it. I think of Austin as my body repairs itself. I want to scream as I heal, but I cannot frighten Austin.

I watch my body slowly return to normal. I can breathe without hurting. I start removing the bandages from my body. I am healed. I am me again. The claw marks from the wolf are gone. I try to stand, and nothing hurts.

I walk into the house with Austin and Liz. Liz looks at me and smiles. "You look good, Cassie," Liz says.

"I will look even better when we are far away from here and this pack safe," I say to her.

"I thought we could build a fire at sunset for Desire if the rain stops," Liz says.

I look out the kitchen window. "I think that Desire would love that. I have some pictures of her and some candles we can light on the porch if it is still raining. I only want to do something for her, so she knows we are not going to forget her and everything she did for Austin and for me," I say.

Liz moves closer to me. She hugs me. "Oh, my dear girl, one thing I know in my heart is that Desire loved you and Austin. She knows you will not forget her," Liz says to me.

I lay my head on Liz and cry. "I know, but it is so hard to be without her. I only want to do something, and then I can go from here in peace," I say.

The remainder of the day, I keep myself occupied with packing a few things. Not too much, just enough for us to get started somewhere else, far away from here. There is another pack to the north, and we could go there. I know they would accept us.

Leaving with Austin is the hard part. Taking the Alpha's brother will be a death sentence if someone turned us over to Erick. I have to leave with him, and he is not safe. If we go to the north, I think Archie's pack will be sympathetic to me. His pack does not mix with imperials. He will understand why I am leaving.

I have to worry about taking care of Austin and Liz now without the Alpha's help. I am afraid if I just tell him I am leaving, he will stop me. Archie's pack is the best for us. That is where we will go. I can work and take care of us now that I am healed.

Sunset comes, and it is still raining. I know it is raining for you, Desire. Your love for the rain is one thing I will never forget. I will always think of you and I kissing in the rain, running in the rain, just being so in love. I take the photos of Desire and set the images on the porch. Austin, Liz, and I light candles and think of you. Austin does not understand what is going on, but he is quiet and lets us remember Desire.

When the sunsets, it is time to make our move. I load the truck up with the things I packed for us. Liz and I help Austin into the truck. I let Liz drive, and I sit beside Austin.

"Goodbye, Desire," I say as we drive away from the house.

"Everything will be okay, Cassie," Liz says to me.

"I know, it just hurts to leave, but I know it is for the best. I have to look out for Austin above everything else," I say.