Chapter 10

Alpha Erick’s POV:

I know Kate is up to something. I can always read her, well, most of the time. Since the murders, she has been a little distant lately, but I can see she is going to do something that might be or definitely will be dangerous for her. She is going to connect to the realm and try to talk with the council members.

I do not blame Kate for wanting to protect her wolves. She is the Alpha, and she needs to put all of this to bed and quickly. I can either offer to help and be there with her or let her go it alone. If I let her go it alone, then I am just as much to blame if my children lose their mother to the realm or something worse. I cannot lose my wife, and my children cannot lose their mother.

I go to her office and watch her sitting at her desk thinking. She is troubled, and I want to help her. I want to be with her as her husband and as a fellow Alpha. She needs me.

"You know I am here for you. You can talk to me, Kate," I say to her.

She nods her head. "I know that my love," she says almost systematically.

"I can help you. I know what you are thinking about doing," I say.

Her eyes widen, and she looks at me, not through me. Here lately, it is like she does not look at me; she is always thinking and trying to help her wolves and her family. Now, she looks at me and is listening to me. She needs me to be understanding. I do not always understand how she feels, but I want to understand and help her through this situation.

"I know you think it is a bad idea, but I think it is the only way to stop this," Kate says.

I think it is a bad idea, but either way, she will connect to the realm and the council members with me or without me. She will do what she thinks is best no matter how dangerous it is. I have made up my mind to help her and her wolves. I will not try to stop her.

"I think that you have to do what is best for your pack, just like I have to do what is best for mine, but we also have to think about our family. The pack does not always come first, Kate. Sometimes family should come first," I say to her.

She thinks for a moment. I take a seat and wait for her response. "I trust you, Erick as my husband and the father of my children. You have always been a light in my darkness. I think if you are with me, I will have no problem pulling myself back. Raven offered to connect to the realm. I cannot let him risk it. I am stronger than him," Kate says.

She is right. She is stronger. She can do this. I am going to help her find out what happened to the council members and Liam. I know all of this was a setup, right down to making her Alpha. I think she knows it too. She needs to figure all of this out to prove herself. What kind of husband am I if I do not help her figure it out? I do not want to hinder her or be an obstacle.

"So, what do we need to do? Do we need Raven?" I ask her.

Kate nods her head and gets up from behind her desk. "Imperials are nature-driven. We need to be in nature, and I need you to be close to me, watching me. If something goes wrong, just know that I love you," Kate says.

"I will not let anything go wrong. I will help you out of the realm. I pulled you away from the white wolf. I know I can pull you back from the realm," I say.

Kate sits down in my lap and curls up. Her head is just under my neck. She needs me. I hold her tight as she rests on me. I almost think she is asleep, but then she kisses my chin.

"I love you, Alpha," she says. Her words are sweet and soft, like her kiss. She is worried.

I smile and kiss her lips. "I love you too," I say to her.

She gets up and takes my hand. We walk to the bedroom to check in on our children. We go room to room and see all are asleep except Belle. Belle is watching her. As I close the door, Belle screams out.

"Wait for me," Belle says. I hear her rustling around in her bed. She knows she is needed, just like she knew to save the baby. She wants to protect her mother.

I open the door. "Take me with you," Belle says. Her eyes are wide and insistent.

Kate and I look at each other and then at Belle. "Why?" Kate asks Belle.

"I am stronger, and you need my help," Belle says.

Belle climbs out of her bed and walks to the door. She takes my hand and waits. The three of us walk through the house. When we get to the front door, Raven is waiting for us. He looks down at Belle and smiles.

"She can do it," Raven says. Belle is stronger than Raven and Kate; they both know it. They need her to navigate the realm safely.

Kate shakes her head. "I know, but it scares me," Kate says.

I would be lying to Kate and myself if I said I was not terrified. What if I lost them both? I have a feeling that we cannot tell Belle no on this and that if we return her to her bed, she will connect without us. She knows what is going on with the realm. It is better if she is with her mother when she connects to the realm.

The four of us walk out of the house and into the woods. It is a slow walk. I watch the moon. Belle and Raven hum as we make the walk. Kate is not as distant as before, but I know her mind is working. The realm that wants her and tries so hard to pull her into darkness is about to see her and her extraordinary child, our very unique child. This is a terrifying moment for both of us.

We walk down to the water. Raven and Kate light candles. Belle holds my hand. She looks up at me, her eyes shining bright under the moon. My hybrid daughter, the one that will be Alpha, the unique child, is trying to comfort me before she and her mother step into the realm to speak with the council members.

Raven, Kate, and Belle hold hands and hum. I sit back and watch as the three of them begin their journey into the realm. All I can do is sit here helpless and watch. It only takes a few moments before I know they are there. The three are speaking to someone. Belle is doing most of the talking. She speaks as a woman and not a child. Her words are clear and articulate as she gets the information they need from the council members.

Raven breaks away from the two. He gets up and leaves the two. "They sent me back," Raven says.

"Why?" I ask.

"The council wants to speak with them, but not me. Belle is the one they trust," Raven says.