The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 82

Erick

POV

Kate falls to the floor. I scream out to her. "Kate! Kate! Kate!"

Isabella takes baby Belle from me and places her in the playpen. She touches Kate. "It is okay, and you are okay, Kate," Isabella says to her.

Kate's eyes are fighting to open. She is struggling. "Kate!" I call out to her again.

Meaghan rushes to the babies to make sure they are okay, then comes to help us with Kate. Meaghan goes to the floor with Kate.

"She is breathing," Meaghan says. Meaghan touches Kate's forehead.

"She is so hot! We need to move her, now," Meaghan says.

I scoop Kate up from the floor and carry her upstairs. I lay her on the bed. She is so hot. "Call the pack doctor, Meaghan," I say to her as she comes into the bedroom.

"NO, that is not what she needs," Isabella says. She reaches out to stop Meaghan.

"She needs a doctor, Isabella," I say.

"No, she does not need a doctor; she needs to rest. She has seen the white wolf, and it is getting close for her to have the baby. There is nothing the doctor can do for her. She only needs rest and all of us supporting her," Isabella says.

I trust Isabella and what she thinks Kate needs. She would not lead me in the wrong direction. I nod to let her know I agree with her. I sit down on the side of the bed with Kate. I take her hand and watch her sleep.

"Meaghan, can you check on baby Belle for me. I need to know she is okay," I say to Meaghan.

"Yes, Alpha, I will take care of baby Belle. Do not worry," Meaghan says.

Meaghan leaves the bedroom and goes down the stairs to check on baby Belle. I do not need her shifting and running around as a wolf and having to keep an eye on Kate. I am not sure how I will do all of this. I have Isabella and Meaghan, but Kate will have to be watched twenty-four hours a day. We have to know the minute the wolf comes back.

"Alpha Erick, stop worrying. I will help you, and so will Meaghan. I can see the worry all over your face," Isabella says. She can feel it, not just see it.

"I need her to be okay," I say.

"She will be okay. I will make sure of it," Isabella says.

Isabella is watching the room. "Is he here?" I ask her.

"No, I can stay with her so you can take care of baby Belle," Isabella says.

I get up to leave Kate. "If anything happens, come get me immediately," I say to Isabella.

I go down to check on baby Belle. Meaghan looks nervous, but she is pushing through and tending to the babies. John comes into the house.

"Is the white wolf back?" John asks, seeing us all stressed out.

I do not think he is serious, but his face changes when he realizes that the white wolf is back.

"I think he is back, but we are not sure. Kate saw him, and she passed out. She is upstairs resting. Isabella is with her," I say.

"I found Cassie and Austin," John says.

The news of Cassie and Austin being found is a light in the darkness. "Good, where is Austin?" I ask John.

"They are with a pack in the north. Trip is with them. He is not coming back. I am sorry, Meaghan," John says.

Meaghan begins to cry. She picks up her son and holds him as she cries. John goes to her to comfort her. "I am sorry, Meaghan. I really am sorry. You do not deserve this. You are too good for him," John says again. "Trip is an idiot if he does not come back for his wife and child," I say.

"I talked to Cassie. She is willing to bring Austin to see you, but she wants to be able to leave with him and stay in Archie's pack. She is adamant about staying there," John says.

"Tell her whatever she wants to hear. I want Austin back," I say.

"You know she loves him, and she is good to him," John says.

"I am aware, but just like with Trip, this cannot be tolerated," I say.

"Understood, I will get her back here as soon as possible," John says.

"Get Austin back here, and I am not concerned about Cassie right now. I have to make sure Kate, Meaghan, and the babies are cared for and have everything they need. With Trip abandoning her, she is my responsibility," I say. "Thank you, Alpha Erick," Meaghan says.

John looks troubled. There is something else he is hiding. I walk back to my office and motion for John to follow me.

"What else is going on with you?" I ask him as I shut the door for privacy.

"It is Macon. Macon and Angie have been in contact with Trip. I think they have been for a while. I did not want to say anything in front of Meaghan. She loves this pack, and if her husband betrayed this pack, it would devastate her," John says. "Understood, we will take care of Meaghan and Levi. Trip can go to hell," I say.

"I agree. I will help look after her and Levi," John says.

"Have you found you another second in command?" I ask.

"Well, maybe, I was thinking of using Raven, but I am not sure if he wants it or not. I will bring him in to meet with you," John says.

"No need. If you trust him, then I trust him," I say to John.

"Okay, then, I will talk to him. Anything else, Alpha?" John asks me.

"No, I think that is it. Just be on the lookout for Macon. Let me know when Austin is coming back," I say.

"Yes, Alpha," John says.

I sit down in my office chair. John goes to check on Meaghan and Levi before he leaves. I feel sorry for her. I cannot believe Trip is going to let his ego get in the way of being with her. All he had to do is locate Austin and bring him back. Instead, he chooses to be an ass and stay with the other pack. I want to know why he has been communicating with Macon and Angie. I get that Angie was in the Omega house with them for a long time. Maybe he wants to understand why she left the pack. Hell, I want to understand why she chooses that life.

Meaghan burst into my office. "Kate is awake, and she has gotten bigger," Meaghan says.

I go upstairs to see Kate. I rush to her side. She rolls to me. "How do you feel?" I ask her. "I feel strange," she says.

I touch her baby bump. It is no longer just a bump. "I think you are getting close," I say to her.

She touches her stomach. "I think you are right. I lied to you, Erick. I saw the white wolf, but it was different. I do not know how to explain it, but I am not afraid of him anymore. I do not feel his pull anymore," Kate says.

"I know you saw him. You have to tell me. I have to be prepared so I can help you, Kate. Do not keep me in the dark, my love," I say to her.

"I know, Erick. I am not afraid. The white wolf seems different. I cannot explain any of this," Kate says.

She is exhausted. Her body is growing to accommodate the baby that is growing so quickly inside her. She sits up in the bed and tries to get up.

"You should rest, Kate. Stay in the bed, please, my love," I say to her.

"No, I need to be with my family. I can lay around downstairs. I can watch my daughter. I do not want to be up here alone," she says.

Isabella and I help her back to the front room of the house. We get her comfortable. "Whatever you need, we are all here to help you," I say to her. She looks around for the white wolf. "I think he is gone," Kate says.

I look to Isabella. "He is gone," Isabella says.

"I have some good news," I say to her.

"What?" she smiles.

"Austin is coming home soon," I say to her.

Kate lights up. "Good, I miss him. He should be with us," she says.

"I think so, too," I say.

"Cassie too. She should be here with us, too. I have to fix what is broken between us," Kate says.

"One thing at a time," I say to her, touching her stomach. This is unbelievable.

I watch her baby bump shift, and the baby kicks as I touch her. I smile at her. Being with her during this pregnancy means so much to me.

"I am not doing this again, Alpha," Kate says.

"Understood," I say.

Pregnancy is too hard on Kate being a hybrid. I will not put her through this again. I would love to have a house full of children, but it is not worth the risk of her life. Kate is my life. Her and these babies. "What is wrong with Meaghan?" Kate asks me.

I look into the kitchen at Meaghan. She is upset and trying to push through her own problems.

"She is upset. Trip is not coming back. He has abandoned her," I tell Kate.

"We have to help her, Alpha," Kate says, looking into my eyes so sympathetic for Meaghan.

"I already told her she has a home here," I say. I touch Kate's chin and lean in to kiss her.

"Good, she is too good to me to be left out in the cold. She and Levi will always have a home with us," Kate says.

Even as Kate faces so much, she is concerned for her wolf maiden. This compassion is why I love Kate so much. No matter what has happened, she truly loves others. This is why I am fighting so hard for her to defeat the white wolf. She deserves so much happiness in her life. I hope I can give her the love and life she deserves to have.

"I have some work to do, then I will be back to check on you," I say to her. I kiss Kate softly.

"Okay, I love you, Alpha," Kate says.

She lays back on the couch and tries to get comfortable again. Baby Belle leaps from her playpen and goes to her mother. She snuggles down on Kate's baby bump and falls asleep. Baby Belle seems to know a baby is coming.