The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 83

Cassie POV

I drive all night to take Austin to see Erick and Kate. I am not happy about this, but John made it clear if I want to keep Austin, I had better bring Austin to see Erick. He assured me that Kate is doing good and not a threat to Austin or myself. John also told me Erick would not give me any problems about leaving with Austin after the visit. I am not sure if I can trust him. I know I cannot trust Kate or her damn white wolf. I only want to do what is best for Austin. I know he misses Erick. Erick should see him. He needs to be a part of his life, but he has to keep Kate under control.

I pull into the Alpha's house and wait a moment before I help Austin out of the truck. I left Liz with Archie. I did not want her to be in any kind of trouble, just in case, there is trouble. I have a feeling this is not going to go smoothly. Besides, Liz only did all of this to help Austin, and she did not want Austin to be harmed by the white wolf or Kate. I feel like only Liz and I are looking out for Austin. Surely Erick knows that is why I ran.

I finally get out of the truck. I help Austin out, and we make our way to the front door. John and Raven come out to meet me. I see John choose himself a tough man for his new second in command. Raven is a real badass, but he takes orders. I am sure Erick loves that. Someone that follows him blindly with no question. If he wants wolves that will kiss his a*s then Raven is definitely the perfect wolf for the job.

"Hello, Austin," John says to Austin.

He does not speak to me. Not that I expected him to speak. John is all about Erick and the pack. I am an outsider now. I am the woman that left with the Alpha's brother in the middle of the night without warning. I am the misfit.

John and Raven take over and help Austin into the house. I wait outside since I was not invited into the house. I take a seat on the porch and wait while Austin visits with Erick. Hopefully, Erick will not give me any problems and we can be on our way very soon. "Cassie," Erick says. I turn to see him coming out of the house to talk to me.

"Erick," I say to him. I do not even want to look at him after he killed the woman I love, but I know I have to deal with him and get through this.

Erick looks me over. He is chomping at the bits to rip me a new asshole, but he backs down for the moment. He just smiles at me and then backs up to a column on the porch.

"Thanks for bringing him to see me, Cassie. Kate is excited to see him, too," Erick says.

"She better not lay a f*****g hand on him. Her or her wolf," I say.

"Kate is way too pregnant to try to hurt anyone," Erick says.

"Wait, what?" I ask. John did not mention the Kate was pregnant. I guess it is not any of my business any more.

"Yes, she is very pregnant. Any day now we will have another baby," Erick says.

I sit on the porch, thinking about how delicate Kate was during her pregnancy. I hope she is out of this, and maybe she will get out of this and defeat the wolf. I still cannot forgive her, but I do not want any harm to come to her babies. She tried to kill me, and she accused me of fucking her husband. On top of everything, the two of them killed my wife, Desire. F**K BOTH OF THEM!

"Must be nice to have the woman you love with you every day. I would love to wake up next to Desire, but as you know that was taken from me," I snap at him. I almost felt sorry for her, but then I think of Desire, and I cannot feel sorry for her or Erick. "The woman you loved tried to kill my wife, but I guess you forgot that, Cassie," Erick growls.

I stand up to Erick. "The woman you loved tried to kill me! Did you forget that! She stole your baby! You should have locked her up and you should have thrown away the key!" I scream at him.

"So you think that when she left with baby Belle, she should have been locked up?" Erick asks.

"Yes, she left with the Alpha's child. It would help if you had punished her, and then none of this would have happened. Desire would still be alive if you would have left her in that cell to rot," I say.

"I see Cassie, and I understand how you feel. As a matter a fact, I think you are right. If someone messes with the Alpha then they should be punished," Erick says.

"Good," I say. I sit back down to wait on Austin.

"Raven," Erick calls into the house.

"Do you want me to wait somewhere else for Austin? It is a problem for me to be here?" I ask him.

"No, not at all, Cassie. Stay right here," Erick says.

"Yes, sir," I say to him.

Raven comes out onto the porch. "Yes, Alpha," Raven says.

Erick looks at me. "Lock her ass up for kidnapping," Erick says.

"You bastard, I was loyal to you," I scream at him.

Erick gets right in my face. I can feel his breath on me as his smile turns to anger.

"You were loyal until you weren't. I do not need you or your disloyalties, Cassie," Erick growls at me.

Raven grabs me and drags me across the yard. I continue screaming and cussing at Erick. I turn my attention to the idiot taking me to jail. "Let me go, Raven!" I scream at him.

Kate comes out of on the porch to see what is going on with me. She is talking to Erick as Raven drags me to his car. He puts me inside his car. I sit still and stop fighting him. There is no use, and Raven is stronger than me.

I should have never come back here. Austin and I were safe and under Archie's protection. No, I tried to be nice. Why the f**k did I agree to come back here?

Raven drives me to the pack jail. It has not been long since I was visiting Kate here after she took off with Baby Belle. Me and my big fucking mouth. I should have at least tried to be calm and respectful to Erick. Nope, I had to mouth off how I felt about Kate and look where it landed me? In jail, the same place I bitched Kate should have been left.

Raven walks me into the jail and takes me into the same cell Kate was in when she was here. I go into the cell peacefully. I sit down on the cot in the corner. I wait for Raven to lock up and leave. Then I cry out and scream. I have no idea if they are caring for Austin or if he is okay.

Erick does not even know how to care for Austin. His nanny is with Archie and Trip. She will not come back here no matter what Erick promises her. She is afraid of the white wolf. Now, I am more afraid for Austin than anything. Who will protect him? Erick will always put Kate first, where does that leave Austin? UNPROTECTED!

I sit staring into space for hours until the door opens. I look up, expecting Erick to be here to continue his attack on me, but it is Kate and Isabella. Just f*****g great! I do not want to deal with her or Isabella.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" I ask her.

She slides some food through the cell door. "I brought you something to eat and drink," Kate says to me.

"Is it poison? Isn't that what you accused me of, poisoning your food? Right after you accused me of f*****g your husband. Why are you trying to be nice, Kate?" I ask her.

"I was not myself," Kate says.

I get up and move to the cell door. I pick up the tray of food and place it on my cot. I go back to the cell door, so I can look Kate in the eye when I say what I need to say.

"I loved you, Kate. You were my best friend, but you turned on me and tried to kill me. I was there for you when no one was there for you," I say to her.

"I know that is why you left, but I also remember what you told me, and it is what I am trying to live by these days," Kate says.

"Oh yeah, what is that?" I ask her.

"Trust the pack. You said I needed to trust the pack. You do not trust the pack, do you? You left without talking to your Alpha. That is the same thing you said I did wrong," Kate says.

"Who will protect Austin when the white wolf comes back? You? Erick? No one will protect him! No one cared about him like I do!" I scream at her.

"You will, Cassie. Erick will not leave you here. I cannot interfere, but I told him how I feel about all of this. He will calm down and allow you to stay with Austin, but you have to take your own medicine. You have to trust the pack, too," Kate says to me. I am so angry with her, and I am more angry that she is right about the way I left. I should have gone to Erick, but I had to protect Austin. I sit down on my cot.

"I love Austin like he is my own child. I do not want him in any kind of danger. I was only trying to protect him," I say.

"As a mother, I know how that feels. You feel you are the only one that can protect your child. You also told me to trust my Alpha. It is time for you to do the same. I will tell Erick you are ready to talk to him so the two of you can work this out," Kate says. "Thank you," I say.

"Meaghan is helping with him. I promise you he is fine right now. He is smiling and happy," Kate says.

"Thank you for taking care of him," I say.

Kate and Isabella leave me alone in my cell. I throw the food tray on the floor. I am not hungry. I am pissed off at Erick and myself. Kate is right, but so was I. I could not let anything happen to Austin. Erick did agree to let me leave with Austin, but not the way I left. I do not trust this pack anymore. I do not think I can trust Erick and Kate after everything that has happened.

I lie back on my cot and wait. I wonder if she can convince him to come to talk to me tonight, or will he be too angry? If it were me, I would be too angry. I only worry about Austin being there with Kate and possibly the white wolf.

Hours pass and I am still here. It is dark, and Erick still has not come to talk to me. I close my eyes and try to sleep. I hear the door open. I look up, and it is Raven.

"I am here to collect you," Raven says. The tall dark wolf with his I follow orders to the T demeanor.

I get up from the cot. "Where are you taking me?" I ask.

"Alpha said to come to get you. That is all I know. I do not ask questions. I do as I am told," Raven says.

I go with Raven. I do not put up any fuss or ask any questions on the way back to Erick's house. Was this all a show? Did Erick just want to show me he can do what he wants with me, that I am at his mercy? When did Erick become this person? We arrive at the house. I get out of Raven's car and go onto the porch. I wait a moment and then go inside. Erick is waiting for me, but he does not look as angry as before. Kate must have talked to him about the way she felt when she ran. "Austin is asleep. You can sleep in his room with him, but do not try to run. Raven will be watching the house all night," Erick says to me.

I walk toward Austin's room. I stop. Something inside me tells me I should speak my peace.

"I did not run to hurt you or undermine you, Erick. You knew I was leaving. I left to protect him," I say.

"I know, but you also have been the number one person drilling the pack trust into my head. You are the one that said we should trust the pack and that I should not allow this kind of rebellion. So should I let you get away with it?" Erick asks me. "No, I should be punished by the Alpha, just do not punish Austin for my mistake," I say to Erick.

I go back to Austin's room. I lay in the cot next to his bed. Austin opens his eyes and sees me next to him. He smiles and then goes back to sleep. Oh, my sweet boy, I will protect you with my life. You may be the Alpha's brother, but you will always be mine. I love you, Austin, and I will make damn sure someone is looking out for you.