The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 22

Kate POV

I awake early in the morning. Wan is taking care of his mother, and I prepare to leave to meet him before Erick wakes for the day. I look in on him after I cook breakfast for Angie and Cassie. He is sleeping soundly. "You should not leave without him. You know he wants to go with you," Angie says.

I set the plates on the table. "I know, but I think this is something I need to do alone," I say.

"It may be something you think you need to do alone, but Erick loves you, and you should not just leave. He would understand if you told him how you feel," Cassie says.

"I think I should just leave and come back when I figure everything out," I say.

"No, you don't, or you would have left. Instead, you cooked breakfast and keep looking in on him. You want him to wake up and catch you. I am not stupid," Angie says. "You know nothing about me," I retort.

"I know more about you than you know about you. Stop acting like this. You have been acting crazy since yesterday. Is it the wolves talking to you making you act nuts?" Angie asks me.

"I am not acting crazy. I don't feel like myself that is true, but it is something else," I say.

Erick comes into the kitchen. "What is going on?" Erick asks.

"Sorry, we did not mean to wake you," I say to him. I go to him, throwing my arms around him.

"Your future Luna is about to run off with Wan without telling you," Angie says.

"Seriously, Angie," I say.

"What? I told you I would go with you?" Erick says to me. He looks furious. "I know you have a lot to do here. You are the Alpha now. You should not be accompanying me to see my brother," I say.

"You are my future wife, and there is no way in hell I am letting you leave without me," Erick says.

"Letting me? What do you mean by letting me leave? I will go and do as I please, Erick," I scream at him.

"I did not mean it that way," Erick says.

"Then how did you mean it?" I ask. I do not give him time to answer. I leave the kitchen and run out the front door. My heart is racing. The wolves are screaming in my head. I need a car or truck or something to drive myself to the cabin to meet Wan. Erick comes out behind me. "Please stop!" Erick says.

"I need something to drive," I demand.

"I will take you to the cabin to meet Wan. I do not have to go with you to see Macon. Please allow me to drive you to meet up with Wan," Erick begs.

"Okay, that is fine," I say.

Erick goes into the house to get the keys. They all are right; I am not myself anymore. Something is going on with me, and I want it to stop. Angie and Cassie stand on the porch watching me. Do you think I am going to start walking to the cabin? Erick comes out and speaks with the two of them. I wonder what he is saying. He comes off the porch to me. "Let's go," Erick says.

"What did you say to them?" I ask.

"I told them I was taking you to the cabin and I would be back. I gave Cassie and Angie instructions for things I needed to be done," Erick says.

I get into the truck with Erick. We ride silent. I look over at him occasionally. I have hurt him. I did not mean to hurt him. I am so messed up right now, and I have no idea what is going on with me. "What all did Wan tell you about Macon?" Erick asks.

"Not much, only that he needed to see me and that he was looking for me," I say.

"Why?" I ask.

"I am only curious," Erick says.

"You seem more than curious, Erick," I say.

"Kate, there is something wrong with you. I mean very wrong. I am concerned for you and how all of this is affecting you. Is that okay with you? I want to know you are okay. I love you," Erick says. "Why? Why do you love me? You do not know me!" I scream.

Erick stops the truck. "That is it! I have had enough of this. I love you! I cannot tell you enough or scream it at you enough! I do not know what is going on with you BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS MACON IS NOT THE ANSWER!" Erick screams so loudly the windows on the truck tattle. I stop to listen for the wolves, but there is nothing. I feel a sudden calm. "Erick, they stopped!" I say.

"Kate, we need to drive straight to Lester and talk to him. Don't you find all of this odd that this brother wants to see you all of a sudden? All of this is odd, and you are acting like someone else. Think about everything. Wan could have told you all of this from the beginning, but he acted like he knew nothing. Something is off," Erick says.

I sit back in the seat of the truck. Everything he is saying is true. Why didn't Wan help me from the beginning? Why was Gypsy killed? Why is all of this happening? What in the hell is going on with me?

"Okay, so what do you want to do, Erick?" I ask.

"Kate, I think that Wan is the wrong person to help you. I think we should talk to Lester. BUT why not let me get in contact with Lester and have Lester come to us? That way, I can protect you. Please, Kate, listen to me," Erick says.

"Is Macon really that bad of a wolf?" I ask.

"Kate, you have no idea what you are walking into with Macon. Please let me contact Lester, and let's go from there," Erick says.

"So you and your family know these wolves, Lester and Macon. How much did your family know about me?" I ask.

"Kate, I do not know. I know it was enough to scare my mother," Erick says.

"Why don't you ask her?" I ask him.

"No way in hell. I am not involving her in anything that has to do with you," Erick says.

"Okay, then let's go back home. Make the call to Lester and find out what the hell is going on with me," I say.

Erick smiles at me. "Thank you," he says.

"For what?" I ask him.

"For listening to your husband," he says, laughing.

"You are not my husband yet," I say to him.

"Oh yeah, that is right. You are supposed to marry me today," Erick says.

"Okay, fine. Let's get married right now," I say to him.

"Are you serious?" Erick asks.

"Yes, why the hell not?" I ask him.

"Okay. Let's do it!" Erick says.