Chapter 1

Erick’s POV:

“How is she?” Raven asks me.

I am not sure why he is here and what is so urgent that it could not wait until Kate is feeling better. He knows she just had our third child but insisted he must see me right away and that it could not wait until tomorrow. Raven would never bother me like this unless it was urgent. He would have gone to John or just waited until later. This must be very important.

I close the door to the downstairs bedroom. Kate has not been able to make it up the stairs for months now. This pregnancy has been a nightmare for her. Luckily, I had Meaghan helping her. I do not know how I would have made it the last few months without her helping us with everything. Meaghan has been a lifesaver in more ways than one. She helps with the children, the house, and Kate.

"She is fine, and the baby is perfect. They are both resting," I answer, waiting to see if he will spill whatever is so important quickly and leave.

I can hear the baby’s little cries as I walk with Raven to see what is so important that he needed to talk to me right away. We go into my office. Meaghan, who is now pregnant herself, goes in to help Kate. Maybe Kate and I can give her some time off now that the baby is here. Finding someone to replace her will be hard. There is no one that can be as good to us as Meaghan has been over the last few months.

"Good to hear. I hope Meaghan does well. She is nervous," Raven says. I can tell he is the one who is nervous, not her. This is her second child but his first. I remember how nervous I was. Hell, I was worried about the third one.

I laugh. "Is Meaghan nervous, or are you nervous?" I ask.

Raven smiles. "Yeah, I guess I am the nervous one. I am worried about being a father. I want to be a good father and a good husband to Meaghan. I worry about her and the baby constantly. Levi is such a good child. I worry about him too. I do not want him to feel left out or think we love him any less," Raven says.

"You will be fine. She will be fine. I have done this three times now, and I promise you everything will be fine. Levi will be fine too. He is a good child. I think he will be happy to have a baby brother or sister," I say to him, trying to ease his nerves.

"What did you name her?" Raven asks.

"Claudia. Kate said she looked like a Claudia. I agree. The name fits her perfectly," I answer.

Raven looks around nervously.

"Why don't you tell me what is going on?" I ask him. I have never seen Raven this nervous about anything and I know this has nothing to do with his impending fatherhood.

"Well, this really is not the right time, but it is actually Kate that I need to talk to about what is going on, not you, Alpha," Raven says.

I shake my head and take a seat at my desk. "You are right; this is not a good time. She just had a baby. She is exhausted and needs to rest. She does not want to be disturbed, and I do not want to disturb her unless it is necessary," I say.

Raven shifts around. I have a feeling this cannot wait for her to recover. He would never come in here and ask to speak with her if it was not of great importance. Something serious is going on and he is about to drop it on Kate.

"Tell me what it is, and then we will decide if we need to intrude on her," I say.

Raven looks at me. Every bit of color drains from his face. "I should tell you together, but you are my Alpha, so here it is. The Imperial wolves that are here want their own Alpha to look out for their best interest. They feel like they are being overlooked and not being taken care of by you," Raven says.

"That is fine. The Imperial wolves can have their own Alpha. Hell, they can move away if that is what they want. What does this have to do with Kate?" I ask.

I look at Raven. His look says it all. I know what this has to do with Kate. She is their heir. She is the highest-ranking Imperial here. "They chose her to be their Alpha, didn't they?" I ask.

"Yes, actually it’s not a bad idea. She controls the Imperials, and you control our pack. When Belle becomes Alpha, she will control both," Raven says. He is right about that. It would be perfect for Belle, but I am not sure this is something Kate wants for herself or for Belle.

"Two Alphas for one pack on the same wolf lands. The Imperials will take direction from her. They have done nothing but give me hell and use up our resources since they have been here. No offense to your family, but you know it is true. You are the only Imperial that listens to me or has served the pack in any capacity. Well, you and Isabella," I say.

Raven stands to leave.

"Wait, don't you want to tell Kate?" I ask him.

Raven shakes his head. "I can, and I wanted to tell you together, but if you think it should come from you, then I have no problem letting you tell her. She may want to discuss this without me around anyway. What if she does not want this?” Raven asks.

I lean back in my chair. I look at Raven. He is a warrior. He could run the Imperial pack. I would hate to lose him on my end, but if Kate did not want it, maybe she could appoint him. It would be best if he were with me when I told her. Plus, it should come from an Imperial wolf anyway.

"I think you should tell her with me. They came to you, not me. The Imperials trusted you to deliver the message. So, I think you should deliver it," I say.

"They were coming, but I told Liam that Kate was in labor, and they backed down. They respect her and do not want to intrude on her today," Raven says.

"They respect, or are they afraid of her?" I ask. The Imperials know Kate has special powers that they do not have. Even our children are exceptional, but Kate…she is extraordinary. They want the power she has and her authority.

"Hell, I am afraid of her temper," Raven says, laughing.

"Yeah, me too," I say. Kate does have a temper and is not to be messed with, that is for sure. She is kind and loving, but she will set a wolf straight in a second.

I get up from my chair. I go out of the office and walk to the downstairs bedroom. I peek inside the door. Claudia is sleeping beside Kate. She is awake and glowing. I smile at her, and she smiles back. I go into the room to see if she will see Raven.

I lean down and kiss my sweet Luna. "Are you feeling okay?" I ask her.

"Yes, I feel fine. What did Raven want that was so important you had to leave me?" Kate asks.

I look back at the door. "He needs to speak with you. He has a message from the Imperials, and it is very urgent. You can say no, but I think you should see him," I say.

I can tell Kate is not pleased. She wants to rest and spend time with Claudia, but she always puts the pack's needs above her own. She nods her head in agreement to see him.

"Send him in. This message better be important," she responds.

I open the door and motion for Raven to come into the bedroom. He walks over to Kate. He admires Claudia for a moment. He is nervous. I am not sure why, but he is shaking.

"I am sorry to intrude, I really am, Kate," Raven says.

"It is fine. What do the Imperials need from me?" Kate asks.

Raven looks over his shoulder to me, almost begging for backup. No sir, this is on you. Have at it. I am anxious to see her response myself.

"Raven, I do not bite. What is it?" Kate says, jokingly trying to hurry him up so she can return to spending time with Claudia.

"The Imperials want their own Alpha. They feel left out by Alpha Erick. They feel they need someone to look out for them and their best interests, Kate," Raven says.

Kate breathes a sigh of relief. "I think that is a wonderful idea. Any candidates for the position?" she asks.

"They already voted and chose an Alpha. I was asked to come here and deliver the news to you," Raven says slowly.

"That is wonderful. Who is it?" Kate asks.

Raven kneels before Kate. "It is you, Kate. You are the Alpha of the Imperials now," Raven says.

Kate does not say anything. She looks over at me to see my response. I step forward and put my hand on Raven's shoulder. He is pledging his service to her. His mother was an Imperial, but I did not see that coming. This pledge is why he was so nervous. He did not want to abandon his post with my pack, but his heart is with the Imperial wolves. I understand and do not blame him.

"I will stand by whatever decision you make, Kate. If this is what you want, then I support you. We can work together and get this pack back on track and working together instead of with so much division between the two," I say to her.

Kate looks down at Claudia. She holds her tightly. I do not see any fear in her eyes, only a moment of thankfulness, and maybe pride from being chosen. I have no idea what she will do. For the first time in a long time, I cannot read her. I can always tell what she is thinking and her mood, but she is in deep thought right now. I wait, almost as anxious as Raven. Kate reaches out and touches my hand that’s resting on Raven’s shoulder. She will accept. I can see it now. Her mind is working overtime and going through the emotions of family and pack. I remember that feeling when I became Alpha.

"I will serve under you, Kate. If you accept," Raven says.

Kate looks at me, and she smiles. "I accept. For our children's future, I accept this honor as the Imperial Alpha," Kate says.

Raven stands up. He kisses Kate's hand. "I will inform the council. I pledge myself to you and the Imperials on behalf of my mother who bravely served before me," Raven says.

Raven walks past me. I touch his shoulder as he walks out the door. He looks back at me. "I am sorry, Alpha. I have to do what my heart tells me. I will serve Kate from now on. Thank you for everything you have done for Meaghan and me," Raven says.

I shake my head and pat him on the back. "I understand. I can think of no better person to look out for my wife and her best interests than you," I say.

Raven leaves the bedroom to deliver the message to the Imperial wolves. I sit down on the side of the bed with Kate and Claudia.

"Are you okay with this?" Kate asks me.

"Yes, Mrs. Alpha. I am perfectly okay with this. You have been Alpha of the Imperial wolves five seconds and you’ve already stolen one of my best men," I jokingly say to her.

Kate smiles at me. I can tell there is something else bothering her, but right now, I will not push to see what it is. It could be fear. I had so much anxiety when I became Alpha, but I know Kate can do this. She is strong-willed and brave. She can lead a pack.

"I love you, Erick," Kate says softly.

"I love you too, but if you try to steal John, I am going to be furious with you," I say.

"No worries. I promise not to steal John from you. I will need an office," Kate says.

I look around the downstairs bedroom. "Well, I guess I can convert this into an office," I say.

"Thank you for being so supportive of me," Kate says.

I touch her hand, pull it to my lips, and kiss it softly. "Always, my love, always," I say.