Chapter 2

Kate’s POV:

Three weeks after Claudia is born, I have a meeting with the council members of the Imperial wolves. Liam is part of the council. He is a small wolf and a bit of a cocky bastard at times. I am not sure why they choose him to lead the council, but he is easy enough to work with most of the time.

I go into my office to wait for the council members. Erick has made himself scarce to not intrude on us and let me work with them. I do not think he wants to be here. He thinks Liam is a prick. He is sometimes, but he has never liked Erick, and I know the feeling is mutual.

Erick did a fantastic job converting the downstairs bedroom into an office for me. I suggested we just have our offices together, but he felt that was a bad idea, and in all honesty, he is right. He has helped me so much the last few weeks. I have no idea how to be an Alpha, but if my husband and the Imperial wolves think I am the right person for the job, it is my duty to try my best. Besides, I have the best Alpha in the world teaching me along the way.

"Alpha Kate," Liam addresses me as he comes into my newly converted office.

I lay Claudia down in a bassinet next to my desk as the council members file into the room quietly. Liam comes over to look at her and then takes a seat next to me. He is a little smug and looks like he thinks he is about to run this show.

"She is beautiful," Liam says as he looks over at me.

"Yes, and an excellent sleeper. Vivian will come in to get her in a moment. She is my new housekeeper. Meaghan is due any day now, so she is not here. I am getting by with all my new responsibilities, but I will need more help," I say.

"Raven is helping you, I assume?" Liam asks.

"Yes, and he is a lot of help, but I will be appointing a woman as my second-in-command with Raven," I say.

"A she-wolf as your second-in-command? That is a little unorthodox, don't you think, Alpha Kate?" Liam asks.

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" I ask him, squinting my eyes at him and speaking in a way that tells him to think before he answers.

"No, Alpha Kate, I am fine with that. I may have a candidate for you. That is, if you want my input," Liam says.

I reach over and touch his shoulder. I smile sarcastically. "I already have someone in mind, but thanks for offering to help me. You know, the helpless female Alpha," I say.

Raven comes into the room behind the council. I am so thankful to see him. "Alpha Kate, do you need me in here, or do you have something else you need me to do?" he asks.

"Yes, I do. Take Liam's seat; he is moving," I say, pointing at the seat beside me that is occupied by Liam. I do not want Liam up here next to me. I have a feeling he wants to be right next to me to try to make me look incompetent. He seems to forget I am a Luna and that I know how things work. This is why Erick thinks having a wolf council is ridiculous. They just get in the damn way of everything.

Liam gets up from his seat. He will not push me around. I hope he did not think he would appoint me and then push me around. I may be of Imperial blood, but I am not sure I can trust any council members, especially him. I feel like there is another motive among the council members. Maybe they need to be replaced. I have this feeling deep inside that these wolves have another reason behind appointing me, and I will have Raven find out what it is.

Raven sits down next to me. Claudia begins to cry. Raven picks her up and hands her to me gently. "It is okay, Claudia," Raven says, trying to calm her. He will make a great father to his new baby. Meaghan is so lucky to have Raven.

"If you need to handle your baby, I can start the meeting," Liam barks at me.

I look over at him. "I do not think you have been addressed, Liam. Wait your turn to speak," I snap at him as I rock Claudia. I will rock my baby, feed my baby, and do whatever I need to do. He and the council can wait one damn minute.

Vivian comes in and takes Claudia. I look over all the council members. "I have children, small children, but I can still lead this pack. If you did not want me to lead, then you should not have chosen me. Do not disrespect me because I am a woman," I say.

The council begins to talk among themselves. Finally, a young council member stands up. "Alpha Kate, we did not mean any disrespect. Please let us have the meeting. Most of us have children," he says.

"If you respect women so much, then why are there no women on your council?" I ask.

Liam hops to his feet quickly. "Your team. Who have you chosen, Alpha Kate?" he asks. He is changing the subject.

The smug look on his face is enough to piss me off. Why did he choose me? He is up to something, and I want to know what it is.

I look over at Raven. "Raven, of course, and when she is recovered, Meaghan will be a big part of my team, and Rochelle. I also want more women on the council. All I see are men. How do you expect to represent the pack without women on your little committee? I think you should take a good look at this council and incorporate the identity of the pack, not just the men and their needs," I say Now the council is talking loudly to each other. I lean back in my chair. Raven leans in to whisper to me. "Well, that was a fast way to piss everyone off," he says, smiling.

I smile at him. "I know. I got to keep them on their toes," I respond.

Liam approaches me. "Kate, do you think women can serve you and this pack? Women have responsibilities to their homes and children. How will they serve?" he asks.

I stand up from behind my desk. I walk around to face him. I have a good four inches on his little self. "It is Alpha Kate, and yes, little Liam, I think women are perfect for serving this pack and my intentions," I say, talking down to him.

Liam backs away and turns to leave. "I think we are done for the day," he says.

I look at the other council members. They do not budge. "I did not dismiss you, Liam," I growl at him.

Liam stops and tucks his tail between his legs and returns to his seat, eyeballing me the entire time. He is pissed off, and I love it. He thought he would talk down to me and run this meeting. Little Liam has another thing coming if he thinks Alpha Kate is a pushover or a pawn for him.

"Council members, I realize that you each have some grievances, but as the Luna of Erick's pack, I also know the things each of you have done to hinder a unity between the packs. That stops today. I will appoint a few she-wolves to represent the council, and I will have Rochelle and Meaghan here, if possible, for a meeting this Friday. Now, the fighting and belittling will stop today. We need to work together. If you have any problems, come to Raven or me. You are dismissed," I say sternly.

Liam is the first out the door. Raven waits until everyone leaves before addressing me. "Have you talked to Meaghan about this position?" he asks me.

"No, but I want her on board with me, Raven. How do you feel about that?" I ask him.

"I think she is perfect for anything you need. Meaghan is smart and strong-willed, just like you. I think the two of you could make a lot of difference in the pack. This is not the way the Imperial wolves were when my mother was on the council," Raven says. Raven is so much like Erick. He supports Meaghan and dotes on her.

"I would not ask her if I did not think she was the right person, you know that, right?" I ask him.

"I know. I worry about her with the baby coming so soon," Raven says.

I touch Raven on the shoulder. "I will always want her to put her family first, then the pack. I will look out for her just as she has looked out for me," I say.

"She will always put her pack first. You know that, Alpha Kate. That is what we do, pack first. I do not want her to feel like she has to choose between family and pack," Raven says.

"I will never put that kind of choice on her, I promise," I say.

"Thank you, and I know you would not do that to her. We only want to get the Imperial wolf pack back to what it once was before Alexander and the vampires. Before all hell broke loose and destroyed us," Raven says.

Raven begins to walk out the door. "You know, Raven, men serve all the time. No one worries about their family. Women can serve the pack just like the men. I know my father has a lot to do with everything that went wrong with the Imperials and my brother, but I will not destroy this pack. I want us to work together in unity, both men and women. I am Erick's wife and the Luna to his pack, but I am the Alpha of the Imperials, and I want to see this pack prosper," I say.

Raven shakes his head. "I know, and I am happy to see you push that. I think you are exactly what we need, and that is why I chose to serve you and step down from Alpha Erick," he says.

Raven starts out the door. "Wait, shut the door. I have something to ask you. I was going to wait, but I have something I want you to do for me," I say.

Raven closes the door and comes back to my desk. "Yes, Alpha Kate. What is it?" Raven asks.

I put my hands on my hips and huff. I am about to ask him to do something that might upset him. "I think Liam has an alternative motive for voting for me to be Alpha," I say.

"I think you are right. Liam is the one that was pushing this the hardest. He wanted you and did not want to even think about someone else having this authority," Raven says.

"I mean, Raven. Why me? Why not you?" I ask.

Raven looks stunned that I would suggest him. "I do not want it, for one," Raven says. He is telling the truth. I can tell he does not want this job.

"It is just damn bizarre. I want to know why, and I would be grateful if you could find out everything about Liam and the council that you can. I want to know what they do, where they go, who they see. I want to know if they have friends outside of the pack, you know, like vampire friends," I say.

Raven smiles a devious little smile. "I will find out everything, Alpha Kate. I will keep a close eye on Liam and his family," Raven says.

"Not just Liam, all of them. If you have any suggestions for she-wolves to serve on the council, I want your input, please," I say.

"There is one she-wolf. She is a warrior. I want her for me, for the security team. Andrea, and her sister is brilliant. She went to law school and then came back when their mother got sick. Jacklyn, she would be great for the council," Raven says.

"Noted. I will go out and meet with her today," I say.

Raven waves his hands. "No, Alpha Kate. She should come to you. You are the Alpha. I will send her to you," Raven says.

He is right. I should have her come to me. "Have them both come to meet me. I will discuss both positions with them, Raven," I say.

"Great! I will go check on Meaghan, and then I will send them over," Raven says.

"Thanks, Raven. I am thankful for you," I say.

Raven leaves.