The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 53

Kate POV

I hear a loud ruckus coming from outside. I wait to see what happens. Erick seems to be trying to defuse the situation. It must be my father and one of his sidekicks coming to talk to me about my predicament. I wish I could make it one day without some sort of situation involving myself. How will I raise a baby with some sort of issue always going on in my home? Hopefully, my father has the answer. He is the last person I want help from, but I will take help where I can get it right now. The argument seems to move into Erick's office. I should go and listen see what is going on down there. I go down the stairs and through the kitchen. Cassie and the nanny are cooking. I avoid eye contact, so I do not have to explain myself or what I am doing. It seems I have to do that a lot lately, and I am not in the mood to do that right now. Right now, I am only interested in what is going on in Erick's office, not explaining myself to anyone. I am the Luna, and I should not have to answer to anyone.

I stand outside of Erick's office, listening. I hear a woman talking. It is Desire. I hang on to her every word. I do not think I have ever heard anyone call Erick stupid before, and she sounds angry. Where is my father? If she can help me, then I will help her no matter what the cost. I need to make sure my baby is safe. This child is my greatest concern, not anything else. Erick should listen to her.

Desire comes out of the office. I am waiting for her. "I heard everything you said. If you can help me, then my husband will help you find my father. Will you help me?" I ask her.

Desire agrees to help me after complaining about the smell of wolves in the house. I know. I think sometimes I tap into my vampire side because I can smell the wolves too. It can be quite pungent to the senses.

Desire and I go up the stairs to the master bedroom to talk. I am moving and feeling better. Desire is a beautiful woman and seems to care a lot for Alexander and his well-being. I want to help her, no matter how I feel about Alexander. He did risk everything to come to help me. My relationship with my father is not an easy subject for me. I would love to trust him and think he has my best interest at heart, but something tells me he is still looking for something that will benefit him at the end of all of this. This baby is a weapon. "Tell me everything," I say to Desire. She sits down in the chair next to my bed.

"Alexander seems to think you need to open yourself up to your vampire side and take your hybrid form," Desire says.

"I do not understand. I thought I had to die to do that," I ask her.

"Not exactly. You are already a vampire; you just need to let it in and have some purpose," Desire says.

"I do not understand. What will happen if I do that?" I ask her.

"Then you will become the real Imperial Wolf. You will be a strong vampire and wolf. You will have a power like your baby. It would give you a better understanding of your child, also," Desire says to me.

"If I do not take on my true hybrid form, then what will happen?" I ask her.

"You will most likely die in childbirth and then take your vampire form, anyway. It would be better for you to have your hybrid form. You could still remain a wolf, but your vampire form would be active, giving you more strength and powers. Your child will be born a hybrid with both forms at birth, unlike you and your brother that was born inactive hybrids," Desire says.

"Why were we not born active hybrids?" I ask her.

"Your mother was a wolf, your father a vampire, that is different. Your baby is born to a hybrid, not just any hybrid, the imperial hybrid. You have to take the form to protect your baby," Desire says.

"Will it keep the wolves away from my mind? Will it keep Rainwater from trying to take my body and mind over to steal my baby?" I ask her.

"Yes, it would block them out from your mind and give you more power. It would protect you and your baby, plus you would have a legion of vampires at your disposal to protect you and your child," Desire says.

Erick comes up the stairs and comes into the master bedroom. "Oh, look, the stupid husband. Do you come to talk her out of it?" Desire says.

Erick growls at her. She is really pissing him off. I have never seen anyone get under Erick's skin like she does. "Come in, Erick. Sit down with me. We need to listen to her, and she can help me. For once, someone can help me," I say to him.

"How do we know that Alexander was really taken or that she is not helping Macon?" Erick says.

"Why in the hell would we help you storm the compound if we were on Macon's side? Furthermore, it would be best if you found out why Shawn did not stab him with a stake and let him take his vampire form instead of interrogating me," Desire says. She is furious, and Erick is on edge. The two of them together in the room make the air thick and me uncomfortable.

"None of this animosity between the two of you is helping the baby or me or Alexander, for that matter. We need to calm the hell down and focus on one thing at a time," I say.

"Are you going to help me get Alexander back?" Desire asks.

"Yes, he will. He will be happy to help you bring my father back here to help the baby and me," I answer for Erick.

Erick looks at me, pissed off, but shakes his head in agreement to help her. "I will be downstairs breathing through my mouth. You two talk and let me know what we are going to do about Alexander," Desire says. Desire leaves Erick and me to talk. "You are going to help her for the baby's sake," I say sternly to Erick.

Erick stands in front of me, angry. "I love you, Kate, and I will always put you and our child first, but do not ever talk to me that way again in front of anyone. I am your Alpha, not just your husband and the father of your child. Do not make me look weak again," he says to me.

"You are my Alpha, but you are also my husband and, as you said, the father of our child. As your wife, I get a say in what happens to me and our child. You will help her, and you will ensure the safety of our child," I say to him.

"Have I ever disrespected you? No! Do I take what you say into consideration? Yes! So could you not make me look weak? All you had to do is ask me, and I would have agreed to help. Please do not do it again. I love you, but you can not treat me this way, not ever," Erick says.

"I will keep that in mind, Alpha," I say to him.

"I am going to send out some wolves to see what we can find out about Alexander and Macon. I guess we will be having vampire guests, and I need to let the pack now. See, there is a lot more to this than just helping Alexander. Our pack has to be protected," Erick

says.

"I did not think about that," I say.

"As Luna, you have to think about the pack above yourself. I need to go talk to Shawn or send someone to bring him here. We need answers from him. Desire is right about one thing. Shawn knew what would happen to Macon, and I want to know why he spared his life," Erick says.

"Do you think we can trust Shawn?" I ask.

"I do not trust anyone except you right now. We have to depend on each other and look out for one another. For now, keep the entire turning into a hybrid business under wraps. If that is what you want, we will do it, but keep it quiet now, okay. I do not want the pack freaking out. We will tell them if you decide to do it, but keep your mouth shut until then. Do not tell anyone, not even Cassie," Erick says.

Erick kisses me softly. "I love you, Kate. We will get through this together," Erick says to me. He leaves the room, leaving me to ponder taking on my hybrid form.