Chapter 14

Alpha Erick’s POV:

John and I make our rounds looking for Raven and Belle. The team John brought with him is checking all the woods and cabins on the outskirts of the territory while we search the inner places. We check Raven's house and drive through the Imperial camp but see nothing. A truck passes us on the road as we go toward the pack jail.

"Was that Ralph?" I ask John. I know it looked like Ralph and someone was with him. Two someones are with him. Why in the hell would he be out here when he is supposed to be watching my house with the other team of wolves?

John looks behind us. "I think so. Why would he be out here instead of at the house, and why is coming from this direction?" John asks me.

"I do not know, but we need to find out fast. Pull into the pack jail. We need to check in on our visitor and see if Ralph was here and who was with him," I say. There better be a reasonable explanation for this, and I have to wonder if Kate is involved. Something tells me she is involved.

We pull into the pack jail to see if something is going on at the jail. Three of my wolves are standing outside, and they have obviously been drinking. The three wolves look shocked to see John and me. They were not expecting a visit from me.

"Alpha Erick," one of the wolves hollers at me very nervously. He looks at the other wolves with him. The way he is acting, I know something is up, and it is not good.

I get out of the truck with John. Tone and Bryan walk up to us. They both look like they have seen a ghost. They were not expecting me, and from the look of them, they had hoped not to see me tonight. Something is going on here.

"What the hell is going on here? I ask them, growling and waiting impatiently for a response.

The two wolves look at each other and then at the ground. "Kate was here with Ralph," Tone says almost in a whisper like he is hoping I do not hear him.

"And you let her leave? Don't you know that things are going on tonight? Belle is missing, you idiots! You did not find it odd that Kate showed up here?" John questions the two men. One wolf stays in the background. I think it is Jeremy, but I cannot see him. Is he afraid or ashamed?

"We could not stop her. She is an Alpha too and your wife. What were we supposed to do? She gave us an order and left," Tone says.

"Call me for starters, and then hold her here until I got here," I growl at Tone.

Tone steps behind Bryan. I hope he is scared right now. I am pissed off. Kate could be in danger. I do not need to be looking for her and Belle tonight. Hell, if I am honest, she can probably find Belle quicker than I can, but that is not the point. I need her to be safe and let me handle this. I was stupid to think she would let me handle it without her.

Jeremy steps out from the shadows. It is definitely Jeremy, and I can see him really well now. "She took the vampire with her. She did not give us a choice. She ordered us to remain quiet or else," Jeremy says.

"WHAT! You are my wolves, and you take orders from me! " I growl loudly at the three of them.

"She was very persistent, Alpha. Ralph and Kate took him. I did hear them say something about going to the Imperial camp. I am sorry. We did not know what to do. We planned to call you," Tone says.

I step closer to Tone. I growl louder at him. "You are a disgrace to your pack!" Tone cowers beneath me and then falls to the ground.

What is she up to now? I know she wants to get Belle back, but I cannot have her risk her life. I guess I cannot tell her not to risk her life for our child. That would be selfish of me. Kate is going to be a warrior and a stubborn warrior at that. She wants Belle back, and she gets impatient when things do not move quickly enough for her liking.

"Come with us, now. You are going to help us find Kate and Belle," I growl at the three wolves guarding the jail. Tone, Jeremy, and Bryan get into the back of the truck. I let John drive as we go to the Imperial camp. I want my eyes to watch and to look for my daughter and my wife. I do not need to focus on driving, only finding Kate and Belle.

The three wolves ride quietly in the back of the truck. They all look terrified. Good, I hope they are scared out of their mind. I am good to my wolves, but this is not something I can forgive easily. All I ask for is a commitment to the pack and my leadership. They should have called me the second she showed up at the pack jail, not bend to her.

"Alpha Erick, you know they probably did not know what to do, and Kate can be scary," John says.

I look at John. "Would you take an order from Kate over my orders?" I ask him.

John holds on tight to the steering wheel. "I would hope not, but I was not there. She can be very convincing, you know. Not to mention somewhat terrifying. Your wife is a badass at times. Let me correct myself; she is a terrifying badass. You have seen her mad," John says.

This makes me laugh. Kate can be a little intimidating sometimes. "I get it. I only hope that she is not doing something stupid," I say.

John sighs. "Alpha Erick, she is going to do what is necessary to get that baby back, and you know it. No matter what it takes or costs. She loves Belle and wants her home," John says.

John is right. Kate will sacrifice herself to save Belle. That is not what I want, but I have to prepare myself for the worst-case scenario. I do not want to lose either of them. I cannot lose Kate or Belle.

John drives through the Imperial camp slowly. We are both watching and looking for any sign of Kate, Ralph, and the vampire. They could not have gotten far.

"Look, over there," Tone says. John and I both look in the direction Tone is pointing. All three of the wolves are standing in the bed of the truck. John stops the truck, and we all get out for a closer look.

"That is Isabella's old house," I say as we start walking toward the cabin. The cabin has lights burning inside, which is odd. No one will go in that cabin, not since Isabella died the first time in it.

I can see Ralph and Kate walking toward the house. Where is the vampire? I begin to hear whispering. "Stop, quiet for a second. I hear something," I say.

I cannot make out the words, but I know who it is. It is Belle. What is she saying? "We take it slow," I say as I start moving toward the house. We are behind Kate and Ralph.

Kate opens the door and goes inside. Ralph tries to go inside, but something is preventing him from going into the house. Ralph is blocked. Maybe it is only Imperials that can go inside. I am not sure, but something is keeping him out.

"I want to help," someone hisses at me. I turn to my left to see the vampire coming toward me fast.