The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 19

Kate POV

I scrub the house as I wait for Erick. I do not know what has gotten into me. I am so emotionally drained and feel overwhelmed. This feeling is not like me at all. I feel strange. I am not myself.

Angie and I work hard cleaning and moving things around in the house. "What about the bedroom?" Angie asks. "What do you mean?" I ask her.

"I mean, Erick will want to move into the bigger bedroom upstairs, don't you think?" Angie suggests.

"Let us go look at it and see what we need to do," I answer her.

Angie and I make our way up the stairs to the master bedroom. The top half of the log cabin is for Alpha and Luna only. No one else stays up there. I open the door to the top of the stairs. The bedroom is a vast open space with another entry leading to the master bathroom.

The bedroom, like the rest of the house, is a disaster. I want to scream! How can people live like this? Angie puts her arm around me. "I will help you get this house perfect for Erick and yourself," Angie says.

"Thank you; I have lived in filth. But why in the hell would someone with such a nice home just destroy it for no damn reason," I say.

"We will fix everything. You know she was angry when she left, and she has never been a spotless person anyway. You have cleaned this house before. You know how it was," Angie says.

"I know. That is probably why Erick never stayed here," I say.

"No, he never stayed here because his mother is a bitch," Angie says.

I cannot help but laugh. Angie is right. We can fix all of this. "There is no way to do this tonight or tomorrow. I need wolves just to take everything out, and we will start new," I say.

"Why don't we concentrate on the kitchen and the living room. Erick's room is spotless; you two can sleep in there for now. I will help you with the house until it is perfect," Angie says. "Thank you," I say.

"I think they are back. I heard the front door open," Angie says.

Angie and I run down the stairs to the living room to see what was so important. Cassie is in the living room going through the liquor cabinet. "What was so important?" I ask Cassie.

"I need a drink," Cassie says.

She takes a bottle of whiskey out of the liquor cabinet and walks to the kitchen. She sets the bottle on the table and grabs three glasses out of the cabinet. She pulls the ice bin out of the icebox and places it on the table. "Sit down and have a drink with me," Cassie

says.

Angie and I sit down at the table with her. "Are you okay?" Angie asks Cassie. "I will be in a few minutes," Cassie answers. Cassie puts ice in all three glasses and then pours whiskey in each glass.

"Cassie, what is wrong? Are Erick and Andrew okay?" I ask.

"Erick and Andrew are fine. They will both be back soon to talk to you," Cassie says.

"What about Gypsy? Did anyone look for her?" I ask.

"Gypsy will be with them when they come back," Cassie says.

I have not known Cassie long, but I know there is something off with her. She is not telling me something, but she is so upset that I will not push it. Angie and I have a drink with Cassie and let her marinate in whatever is bothering her. Cassie pours drinks continuously until I hear Erick coming in the front door with Andrew.

Erick comes into the kitchen to find the three of us a little tipsy. "I need to talk to you," Erick says to me as he helps me up from the table. I follow him clumsily to the bedroom.

"I need to tell you something, and I need you to remain extremely calm," Erick says.

"Okay, what is going on? Cassie is in there losing her mind, and now you are telling me I need to remain calm, which is making me not very calm," I say.

"The reason Andrew came to get me tonight was that someone had hurt Gypsy," Erick says.

"Oh my goodness, is she okay?" I ask.

"No, Kate, she is not okay," Erick says to me calmly.

"She is dead, isn't she?" I ask Erick.

Erick looks at me and does not answer me. "Say it, Erick. Say it; I need to hear it!" I begin to scream.

Erick pulls me into his arms. That familiar place, the arms of the man I trust to protect me, and he holds me as I cry. "She knew about my mother, and she was going to tell me. Is that why she died?" I ask.

"I do not know, but I will find out who hurt her," Erick says.

"What about Wan?" I ask Erick.

"I am sending Andrew and Cassie to bring Wan back here tonight; we need to make sure he is safe too," Erick says.

"I do not understand why all of this is happening," I say.

Erick strokes my hair and kisses my forehead. "I do not know either, but I will find out everything. Whoever did this will pay for it, I promise you," Erick says.

"You don't even know what or who you are protecting me from," I say.

"I know, but I will protect you. I will not let anything happen to you," Erick says.

Cassie comes into the bedroom. "Hey, Andrew and I are leaving to get Wan," Cassie says.

I look at Cassie. "Why did you lie to me?" I ask her.

"I did not lie. I just did not tell you what was happening. I am sorry, but Erick is Alpha, and I have to follow his orders," Cassie says.

"You told her to lie to me?" I ask Erick.

"I told her not to tell you what was happening that I should be the one to tell you that is all. I would never lie to you, and I will never tell anyone to lie to you," Erick says.

"Erick, I am sorry. I am so upset it is hard for me to think. I know you would never lie to me, and I know Cassie would never hurt me either," I say.

"I think something is going on with you. You are on edge tonight. Are you okay?" Erick asks me.

"I have no idea what is going on with me, but I do not feel like myself," I answer him.

"Why don't you lay down. Angie and I will work on the house, and then I will join you in bed," Erick says to me.

"Fuck the house; it will be there tomorrow. Let's go to bed. I need to sleep," I say.

"I will tell Angie to wake me when Wan arrives," Erick says.

Erick goes out of the bedroom to let Angie know we are going to lie down until Andrew and Cassie come back with Wan. I need rest. I am exhausted. I crawl into the bed and lay on top of the covers. I close my eyes, and immediately I see the wolves. MOTHER!