The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 85

Kate POV

Isabella takes off at vampire speed to see what is happening at my house. I am terrified as I sit with Meaghan and the babies. The white wolf is here. I can feel her, not him, but the female counterpart of the wolf. Is she circling the babies to protect them? Yet, the male white wolf is toying with me and putting images in my mind. Meaghan looks scared. She holds Levi close to her. "We will be okay, I promise," I say to her.

I reach out and take her hand. For a moment, I believe my own words. Then another loud noise coming from the direction of my house. I cling to baby Belle. Meaghan and I hold each other and our children. "Should we run?" Meaghan asks me.

"I think we are better off here, waiting. I am scared too," I say to her.

Meaghan and I huddle together with our babies for hours until Raven comes for us. Raven comes into the house, and he looks defeated. His clothes are torn and he is dirty. He pulls himself together to help us. "Raven, what is happening?" I ask him.

Raven looks at Meaghan and me, his eyes want to tell us, but he must be under orders not to say anything. He looks to the ground as he helps baby Belle and me up, then he helps Meaghan and Levi. "Raven, I asked you what is going on at my home?" I ask him.

"Luna, I was sent to retrieve you by Alpha Erick, not report anything to you. I am sorry, but Erick wishes to tell you both what happened himself. I cannot break his trust," Raven says.

I can see it all over him. There was an attack. I can see he needs to talk about it, but being a wolf warrior, he will hold it in until he is all alone. I gently touch Raven's colossal arm. "Raven, if you ever need someone who is not a warrior to talk to, please come to me. I will never tell anyone," I say to him.

"Thank you, Luna. Please allow me to carry out my orders," Raven says.

"Help Meaghan and Levi; I think I can manage," I say to him.

"Yes, Luna," Raven says.

Raven, Meaghan, and I go out of Isabella's cabin. Baby Belle and I get into the truck. I let Meaghan ride with Raven. I need a moment to prepare myself without the two of them watching me.

I drive to the house slowly. I take deep breathes and watch for the white wolf. I am scared of what is going on about my home, and I am afraid the white wolf will sense my frustrations and appear when I am not ready. I want to scream or cry or something.

As I pull into my home, there is a lot of smoke and fire. My house is still intact, but something definitely happened here. Isabella is standing outside waiting for me. She runs to the truck.

"Come with me," Isabella says frantically.

I grab baby Belle and follow her into the house. My house looks like a demolition crew ran through the middle of it. I am so confused as I walk up the stairs to my bedroom. Erick is lying in the bed. He is hurt.

"He is okay. At least he will be. He was hit pretty hard when he went outside," Isabella says.

"I can heal him, or you can heal him," I say to her.

"I cannot. I am running on fumes as it is, trying not to feed, but you can, Kate. You can heal him," Isabella says.

I hand baby Belle over to Isabella. "Take her out of her while I help my husband," I say to Isabella.

I sit down beside Erick on the bed. I bite into my wrist until blood begins to come out. I place my wrist over his mouth. He refuses to drink.

"Do not make me manhandle you, Erick! Take it!" I say to him sternly.

Erick opens his eyes. "I do not want to heal that way," Erick says.

"I am going to have this baby any day, and I saw the white wolf; I need you one hundred percent. So swallow that ego for five minutes and drink the damn vampire blood," I say to him, leaning into him, so he knows I mean business.

Erick moves a little, groaning. He thinks I am weak because I am pregnant. I can tap into my vampire strength, hold his a*s down and make him drink the damn blood. "Erick, I am not playing with you, do this for me, please," I beg him. Erick reaches for my wrist. He takes it and begins to drink. Good boy. I am way too pregnant to have to fight with him. Erick starts to groan as he heals. I know it is painful, but we need you, Alpha. Come back to me, now. "Thank you, Kate," Erick says. He tries to sit up but is still very sore.

"Stay still. It takes a moment to fully recover," I say.

"Meaghan is going to need you. She is going to be upset about what happened," Erick says.

No sooner than the words come from his mouth, I hear Meaghan scream. The pain in the shrill she lets out aches me to my soul. I look at Erick and begin to cry.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Trip and your wonderful vampire brother came for Belle," Erick says.

"Tell me Macon is dead. Please tell me he is dead," I beg Erick.

"Yes, he is dead, and so is Trip. Cassie helped us. I was shocked, but she did. She fought alongside Isabella and Raven. John is hurt, but not that bad. He will be fine. Do not try to give him vampire blood. He will freak out," Erick says. "I will check in on him. Raven is with Meaghan, but I still should check on her," I say.

I get up to leave the bedroom to check on the other wolves in the house. Erick grabs my hand. He holds my hand tightly, not wanting to let me go.

"I cannot lose you or baby Belle," Erick says.

I sit back down on the bed. I caress his hand. "With Macon out of the picture, we should be safe," I say.

"Almost safe. We have one more obstacle to face, Kate," Erick says.

I know he is talking about the wolf. I know he is worried for my safety. I have so many people here helping me to fight and stay strong.

"Erick, I saw her protecting the babies right before the attack. I am not worried about her. It is her male counterpart that is toying with me again, but I am fighting. He puts these images in my head of Cassie. The images are hard to fight," I say.

I let go of Erick's hand. I go to leave the bedroom. "I am letting her leave with Austin. She can take care of him. Austin wants to be with her, and Archie will welcome Austin into his pack," Erick says.

"I think that is for the best. I only want what is best for him. We will still see him, and I do not want to hold him or Cassie here as a prisoner. They both want to be in Archie's pack. I think you are doing the right thing, Alpha," I say.

I go down the stairs leaving Erick to rest for a while. He should be back one hundred percent soon, but he needs to heal. Meaghan is in her room with Levi crying. Raven is with her trying to comfort her. Isabella and Cassie are talking. There are several wolves in the house, keeping watch.

"Where is John?" I ask Cassie.

"I took him to the pack doctor and came back," Cassie says.

"I guess you will be leaving soon," I say to her.

"Is he letting me leave?" Cassie asks. She waits, anticipating a yes from me. I only smile, letting her know she can go.

I walk through the house. How in the hell will I put all of this back together? The wolves keeping watch, see me going through the house.

"We can start cleaning, Luna," One of the wolves volunteers.

"No, you all have been through enough today; it can wait a little while," I say. I notice that they are all edgy and need some direction.

"You know what, it would help me if you helped move some of these; just do what you can," I say. The wolves looked relieved. They went to work putting my home back together.

Raven comes through the house and goes outside. I wonder what is up with him. I follow him out of the house. I am curious.

"Raven," I call to him.

Raven stops when I call his name. "Yes, Luna," he answers me.

"You are not okay," I say to him.

"No, I am not, but I will be okay. I knew Trip. He was a friend. To see him go after my pack with no regard for his beautiful wife and son. He did not know they were not here, and he could have killed them. What kind of wolf does that to their mate?" Raven says. "I see. You were worried about Meaghan and Levi?" I ask him.

"Yes, I was, and I should not be. She is a married woman," Raven says.

"Not anymore," I say as I look over at Trip's dead body.

"If you are feeling some kind of way, take my advice and do not try to bury it," I say.

"Thank you, Luna," Raven says.

I go back inside my home. The wolves are working quickly to clear the destruction in the house. My brother is head. My father is dead. I only have my pack and my Alpha. Somehow this gives me a strange peace. I do not have to look over my shoulder waiting on Macon any longer. Alexander cannot toy with me. The only one left to make my life hell is the white wolf. I have to defeat him.

I let Erick rest for hours. I do not disturb him. I supervise the wolves as they work on the house. It is strange after a battle that they replace comfort putting my home back together.

Cassie comes to me and sits with me. "I am leaving," she says.

"I know," I say.

"I do not feel at home here. I am sorry that I do not feel like I belong here anymore. I loved this pack," Cassie says.

"I understand, Cassie," I say to her. I feel like the animosity between us is gone.

"I can bring Austin back as much as Erick and you want. I will not keep him away. I will let you guys know if we leave Archie's pack, but I really feel like I have found a home there with Archie the pack," Cassie says. "I am happy for you," I say to her.

Cassie goes through the house saying her goodbyes. John comes back from the pack doctor just in time to help her and Austin load up and leave. I know this for the best.

Erick comes down completely healed. He goes out and speaks with Cassie, and He tells Austin goodbye. I know Austin leaving is breaking his heart, but we both know it is the best thing for Austin and Cassie. "You look good, Alpha," I say to him.

"I feel good, Luna," Erick says.

Raven comes through the house to check in with Erick. "You can go, Raven," Erick says to him.

"I would like to check on Meaghan if that is okay?" Raven asks Erick.

"Be my guest," he says. Raven smiles as he goes to check on Meaghan.

"I think those two are..., " I begin to say. Erick looks down to see why I stopped talking.

I lean forward in my chair as far as I can, with my giant baby bump keeping me from going too far. I move again as a sharp pain shoots through my back. "AHHH!" I scream out.

Isabella comes to my side. "She is in labor," Isabella says.