The Imperial Wolf Series Books 1-3
Chapter 18

Erick

POV

I stand before my pack, now their Alpha with Kate by my side. I will ask her to marry me very soon, but there is one thing I have to do first for her. I have to help her find out more about her past. I am not sure if I can wait. I want her to have a permanent place in my life. I want her to be more than just my mate. I want her to be my forever, the mother of my children, and the Luna to this pack. She is my soulmate. I can feel it when I am near her.

I look down at Kate standing beside me. She seems both happy and sad at the same time. I wonder what is going through her mind right now. I know she has never had anything like this before. I only want her to be happy. "Are you okay?" I ask her.

"I have never been happier," she answers.

I wonder if she is truly happy at this moment. I have to wonder what exactly Gypsy has to tell her about her mother and her family. It seems unreal that someone would just volunteer the information. I trust Gypsy, and she has no reason to lie to either of us. She has no other motives that I could think of right now. Her husband was an imperial, and so is her son.

I take Kate by the hand as we walk back to the house. The pack following us. I never wanted to be Alpha or is responsibility, but if I can make this pack better, I am up for the challenge. I know with Kate by my side, I can accomplish everything.

I open the door to the house for Kate. She walks into the house in front of me. I turn to thank everyone for coming out as Kate goes into the house. I keep my words short and sweet. Kate and I have some business to attend to before the night is over.

I come into the house after speaking with the pack. The house is a disaster. Cassie and Angie are working diligently to clean the house. Kate is working in the kitchen, trying to put the house together.

I stand in the doorway, watching Kate for a moment. "You do not have to clean the house; you have people to do that for you," I say.

"You may have chosen me as your mate, but technically I am still your slave," Kate says.

"That hurt; you know I do not think of you that way," I say.

"You may not, but how will your pack feel about you choosing a slave as your mate," Kate says.

I pull her away from the kitchen and into the small room that is mine. Tears are rolling down her face, and she is sobbing. "What brought all of this on, I do not understand?" I ask her.

"I am sorry, but I am nobody. I am the daughter of a drunk and a slave to the new Alpha," Kate says.

I pull her into my arms and hold her tightly. "The only reason you are my slave was to save you from my father and the debt your father owed. I love you, Kate. I release you as my slave. You are no longer my slave. I want you to be my wife," I say. "What?" Kate asks.

"Be my wife, marry me. Marry me right now. Marry me tomorrow. Just say you will marry me," I say to h

"Why? Why do you want to marry me?" Kate asks.

I lean down and kiss her lips. "Because I love you," I say to her.

"I am not marrying you tonight, but I will tomorrow," Kate says.

"Good, I am a little tired tonight anyway," I say to her, laughing. I hold Kate in my arms. I can feel her body relaxing and calming down.

"Have you seen Gypsy?" Kate asks me.

"No, I will find her for you if you promise to be happy for the rest of the night. No more crying or getting upset," I say to her.

"No promises, but I will try," Kate says.

Cassie rushes into my bedroom. "I was looking for you two. Andrew wants to see you now; it is urgent," Cassie says.

"Give us one second," I say to Cassie.

I pull Kate close to me and hold her. She is no longer crying or upset. I want her to stay this way. I hate seeing her upset.

"I am sorry, but as Alpha, I will always be a busy wolf," I say to her.

"I know. I will find Gypsy if you are too busy," Kate says.

"No, I told you I would, and I will. You will always be my number one priority. I will take Cassie with me to locate Gypsy," I say to her.

I instruct Angie to stay with Kate and help her clean the house. Kate is not going to be happy until she gets the house in order. I should just bend to letting her do it. It is her home now. I want her to have it the way she wants it. Maybe getting the house in order will keep her calm. She seems so on edge right now.

Andrew meets me at the door. "We have a problem," Andrew says. "Cassie! You are with me," I yell to her. Cassie drops what she is doing and follows Andrew and me.

Cassie was a great warrior before my mother got pissed off and sentenced her to a life of service. All that changes now, Cassie will once again be a warrior.

"What is going on?" I ask Andrew.

"Not here, follow me to the creek," Andrew says.

"Is it my mother?" I ask.

"No, I wouldn't have bothered you if it were you were mother," Andrew says.

Andrew sprints to the creek, with Cassie and I following him. As we cross the ridge leading down to the creek, I see her. It is Gypsy lying at the creek's edge. Kate is going to lose her mind. "Oh shit!" Cassie exclaims.

Cassie, Andrew, and I look over Gypsy's body. "What the hell happened?" I ask Andrew.

"One of my men found her after everyone left. I came straight down to confirm it was her and that she was dead before I came to you, sir. It looks like teeth marks from a wolf," Andrew says.

Andrew carefully rolls Gypsy's body over so I can see her back. It looks like a furious wolf has mauled her. "Why would anyone hurt her?" Cassie asks.

"Because she knew about Kate and her mother," I answer.

"This is not good. Someone in the pack knows what happened to Kate's mother, and they do not want her to find out," Andrew says.

"Cassie, go back and stay with Kate. Please don't lie to her, but try not to tell her what has happened. I want to be the one to tell her. Andrew and I will look around to see if we can figure out what happened here, and then we will bring Gypsy back to the house," I say to Cassie.