Erick POV
I put Karen into my father’s truck. I close the door and go around to get into the truck. I do not look in the direction of my mother. I don’t want ever to see her face again. I am done with her and her evil manipulation. She has done nothing but makes everyone around her miserable for as long as I can remember. Today it stops. My father may have allowed her to manipulate him continually, but not me. She will not ruin my life. Her reign of terror over this pack is over today.
I get into the truck. Karen is still sobbing. “Thank you,” she says to me. “I am still pissed at you, but your son does not deserve to grow up without a mother. Don’t make me regret allowing you to live,” I say.
“I won’t. I could not lie to your father. He told me that Kate was bad news. She is not one of us, Erick. You have to protect the pack,” Karen says.
“I know what I have to do for this pack. You let me worry about the pack, and you worry about your son's future,” I say.
“What will happen to Austin and me?” Karen asks.
“I will take care of all of Austin's needs. I know about him and his disabilities. I will not turn my back on him. He is my brother,” I say.
“He has full-time care. I stay with him during the day, but the pack requires me to be at the omega house at night,” Karen says.
“Not anymore. I will take you to Austin. You can stay with him but never cross Kate or me again. If you ever put Kate in danger again, I will kill you,” I say to her.
We pull into the omega house. Angie comes out to see what is happening. She comes up to my window. “I heard about Alpha. Is Kate okay?” Angie asks.
“Yes, Kate is fine,” I answer her.
I wait for Karen to get out of the truck before I say anymore. “Listen, my mother will be moving into the omega house,” I say.
“What the hell! I cannot live with her,” Angie says.
“No, No, No. Listen to me, Angie. You, Trip, John and Cassie will be moving into my house. Karen is going to be with her son. I will explain everything when I get back,” I say to her.
“You want a bunch of misfits in your house,” Angie says.
“You are no longer misfits. I will absolve you of your crimes, all of you, even Karen, after what she did to Kate,” I say.
“What did Karen do?” Angie says.
“You don’t know?” I ask her.
“No, what the hell did she do?” Angie asks.
“She told the Alpha and his wolves that I took Kate,” I answer.
Angie is furious. She runs into the house in complete wolf form by the time she reaches the door. I can hear screams as I get out of the truck. Shit, she is going to kill her. I run into the house to save Karen from Angie.
“STOP!” I scream as I make my way to the bedroom. Angie is growling, ready to pounce but stops when I say stop.
“She is leaving here to be with her son. He is sick and needs her. That is the only reason she is still alive,” I say calmly to Angie.
Angie bites Karen in the thigh and takes off. Karen is wounded but nothing fatal. Karen falls to the fall screaming in pain. “I know I deserve this,” Karen says. The others run after Angie. They don’t check on Karen.
I reach out to help Karen to her feet. “No one in this pack will ever trust you again. You are no longer a member of this pack,” I say to her.
“What about my son?” Karen asks.
“Your son will always be a member of this pack, but not you. Like I told you, I will ensure he has everything he needs,” I say.
“Erick, we did love each other very much. I still love your father and always will,” Karen says.
“I do not care, Karen. My only concern with you is for my brother, or you would be dead,” I say to her.
“I know. I cannot blame you for that. Thank you for caring for Austin,” Karen says.
“Finish packing; we need to get you out of here before Angie comes back and finishes you off,” I say.
“Yes, sir,” Karen says.
She packs a bag quickly. She does not bring much with her. She walks quickly to the truck, gets inside, ready to leave, and puts this all behind her. She betrayed her pack. I understand why she did it. She loved my father and could not lie to him, but Kate did not do anything to deserve to die.
I get into the truck to leave with Karen. The four misfits are standing on the hill in their wolf form. They will be a great asset to me as we change how we do things in the pack: no more slaves, No more reign of terror by a crazy Luna, No more fear. I want to burn that damn casino to the ground first thing in the morning. I don’t want Kate to have to see it again. That casino ruined her childhood.
I drive Karen to the small cottage my father had built for their son. There is a small light in the window. “Nanny is with him at night for me. Your father paid her. I will let her know she doesn’t have to come anymore,” Karen says.
“Karen, I know how sick he is; keep Nanny to help you. I will pay her,” I say to her.
“Thank you, Erick. I am sorry I betrayed you and Kate, but your father knew things about her and her pack. He said she was dangerous,” Karen says.
“There is nothing dangerous about Kate. She is a gentle soul,” I say to her.
“How do you know?” Karen asks.
“I just know,” I answer her.
“You know nothing about her, Erick,” Karen says. She grabs her bag and gets out of the truck. “Before you do anything stupid, you need to find out where she came from,” Karen says.
Karen walks into the house to be with her son. I do not want to see her again. I will ensure Austin is cared for, but I am done with Karen.