Chapter 8

Alpha Erick’s POV:

We drive back to the house in almost silence. Raven hums ever so often. I do not think I have ever heard him hum before. It reminds me of something, but I cannot place it. Someone hummed all the time, and it made me think of that. It probably is not essential to this situation, and he is probably doing it to calm himself down. If humming calmed me down, I definitely would be humming. This is not a calm situation, and there will be more problems, more deaths, and more shit I have to worry about with Kate and Belle.

Belle took all of Kate's traits and amplified them. Belle and Chan Lowell are all wolf. I hope they stay that way for their sake. Belle will have a lot to deal with in her life, much like her mother has had to deal with the Imperials and the legacy she seems to have inherited. I wish I could take all of this away from them and relieve her from this burden. Both of them deserve better than this.

Raven gets out of the truck and goes into the house to check on Meaghan and his new baby girl. Why did this happen when he should be enjoying his child? Kate stays behind. She is perplexed. I am sure she is trying to figure out what we saw at the house and what the vampire said to her.

"I am not going to do anything to put myself or our children at risk," Kate says meekly.

I touch the side of her hair and brush her hair through my finger. "I know you will not endanger your children. It is yourself that I am worried about and Belle. I worry about her and how this is affecting her," I say.

Tears roll down Kate's face. "I wish she were a wolf. I do not want her to carry this burden. What if we have more children like her and they have to carry this burden. I do not want that for them," Kate says.

I pull Kate into my arms. "No, we do not need to think like that. She will struggle as she comes into her abilities, but she will conquer all of this. If we have another child that is like you, then we will deal with it. I love you and everything about you," I say.

Kate laughs. "Yes, she will. She saved a life and seemed happy with everything she could do to save a life. She is special, but I worry for her and her abilities," Kate says.

Kate jumps out of the truck. She is done talking about the children and does not want to revisit the do not do anything stupid conversation with me. I have to trust her to keep her head up. I think she can do it. At least, I hope she can do it. I cannot live without her. I need her to remain level-headed throughout this situation. Maybe if she knows I trust her to make the right choice, then she will make the right choice.

I get out of the truck and go inside the house. It is more quiet than usual. Other than a tiny baby cry from one room or another. Raven is with Meaghan and his newborn. Kate is upstairs with the three children. I can hear her laughing and talking to them. This Kate is my favorite. I love when she is happy just being a mother, not an Alpha or wife, just ordinary Kate. The Kate that loves to read stories and play with her children.

I go up the stairs to check in on her and the children after a few minutes. I wanted to give her a few moments with them alone. I sit with them and watch her. She is not thinking about Imperials, only our children. This is her best self.

"I need to go make a plan with Raven. We need to get this over with quickly. I want things back to normal," Kate finally says after about thirty minutes.

I nod my head and take over with the children. "Let me know when you need me," I say.

She goes down and collects Raven. I can hear the two of them going into her office. I hope whatever plan the two of them come up with is safe, but I know it will not be. It will be risky and hazardous.

"Liam," Belle says. She looks around and then closes her eyes. I wonder what it is she sees. She can see things that even Kate cannot see. I can only imagine what she will be able to do in the years to come. Belle is the future of the Imperials, and they know it.

"What, Belle? What do you see? Come tell me, please," I ask her. She walks over to me and sits down beside me. She closes her eyes and then opens them.

"Liam. I can see Liam, and he is very, very mad," Belle says. She smiles up at me and then jumps down. I have to talk to Kate now. It cannot wait.

I run down the stairs. I send Vivian up to tend to the children and then go to Kate's office. I open the door and go inside. She and Raven are talking about Liam.

"Belle was seeing him and said he is mad," I say to the two of them.

"I am sure he is mad as hell. I would be too if I were pulled into the realm," Kate says. I walk over and sit down beside them.

"Explain to me how he is trapped. I do not understand all of this," I say to Kate.

The two of them look at each other like they are trying to decide if I am worthy of this information. "Kate!" I raise my voice.

Kate clears her throat and leans forward. "Someone put him there, the question is, and the problem Raven and I are having with this situation is who put him there? Whoever killed him knew he was a hybrid and knew how to trap him," Kate pauses, not finishing her thought.

"So, it is an Imperial wolf, right?" I ask. I do not really want a response; I already know the answer. I love my wife, but the Imperials cause too many problems for me, my pack, and my family.

"Yes, and I think I know who it is, but I cannot go after them right now. I will have to wait this out just a little bit," Kate says.

Raven stands to his feet. "Wait, why are we waiting?" Raven snaps at Kate. He immediately corrects himself. "Sorry, Alpha Kate, emotions are high for me today."

She reaches over and touches his shoulder softly. "I know, and that is why we need to wait a few days. I have an idea, but I need a few days, okay," Kate says softly.

"What about the vampire?" I ask Kate.

Kate shakes her head. "Ya know, I do not think he is dangerous, but keep him locked up. I will need his help when I get ready to eject Liam from the realm," Kate says.

I'm not too fond of any of this, but if she can get rid of him without causing too many problems for the pack and our family, then I will help her any way I can. So, I guess all there is left to do now is waiting. Just a few days until this is over, and we can be back to normal, maybe.

"There is one more thing," Kate says.

Kate is fidgety as she begins to tell me. "Raven, can you give Kate and me a moment alone," I say to him.

Raven leaves the office, which seems to put Kate at ease. She sits down closer to me. She leans over on me like she does when she needs me to comfort her. "Tell me what it is," I say to her softly.

"The vampire asked me about the white wolf. He said he could see her all around me, and that scares the hell out of me. I wonder if she is talking to Belle. I wonder what she wants," Kate says.

I take a deep breath and keep stroking her hair, trying to comfort her. "We will deal with it," I say.

"I know. The vampire also told me he could get rid of the wolf. I believe him. He knows my mother and me. He knows about Belle. I cannot figure out how he fits into all of this, Erick," Kate says.

"Do you want me to talk to him?" I ask her.

She leans up and looks me in the eyes. She kisses me softly. "No, we have too much to deal with first, then we will deal with the vampire," Kate says. She lays her head back on my chest.