Chapter 9

Erick POV

I take Kate from the Omega house to keep her safe. I have no idea where we will go for the night, but I feel like I need to get her away from here for a few days to sort some things out. There are cabins two hours away that would be a good place for us to hide. The cabins are close to one of the Imperial Wolf Packs locations. I know a few stay there, and a few are a bit further south. We can try the first location tomorrow to see if we can find out anything about her family. Someone has to know something about her and her situation.

Kate sits in the truck silently as we ride toward the cabins. I know this is confusing for her. She was taken from her home and brought here only to be beaten by my crazy mother. She had two days that she felt at home, and then it was taken away all over things she has no control over. I want to help her sort this out, but I am unsure how.

We pull into a long gravel drive. “Where are we going?” Kate asks softly. I turn to look at her. Her face is full of fear. She seems confused and sad. “There are cabins down this road. We can stay there while we figure out your past,” I say to her.

“Do you know these people? Can we trust them?” Kate asks me.

“I know them all very well. They are a rowdy bunch, but you will be safe here; I can assure you of that,” I say to her.

“Okay, if you think I will be safe, then I will put my trust in you,” Kate says.

I drive up to the first cabin and park the truck. “I will go in and get us a key to a cabin. I will be right back. Lock the door and do not open it for anyone,” I say to her.

“I thought you trusted these people?” Kate asks.

“I do, but just to be safe, please do as I ask,” I say to her.

“You got it, sir,” Kate says to me.

I get out of the truck and wait to hear the doors lock on my truck. After Kate locks the door, I go into the first cabin. A young wolf comes out to greet me. “Erick, what are you doing here?” he asks me. I have no idea who he is and do not remember ever meeting him. “I am sorry I can’t place you. Do we know each other?” I ask him. “Yes, my name is Wan. My mother is Gypsy,” Wan says. Damn, how about that!

“Yeah, of course, you were so young the last time I saw you and your mother. Listen, I need a cabin for a few days. I do not need anyone knowing I am here,” I say to Wan.

“Of course, I can give you a cabin in the back,” Wan says. Wan gets a key down off of the wall. “Is your mother around?” I ask him. “Yeah, do you need her?” Wan asks. “Yes, can you tell her to come to the cabin to talk to me as soon as possible? It is very important,” I say to Wan. “Sure, she is cooking. I will have her bring up food for you,” Wan says. “Tell her to bring enough for two,” I tell him. “Sure thing. Just follow the road to the back. This is the last cabin on the right,” Wan says.

I take the key from Wan and go out the door. As I go out, I look up to see the moon. It is full and beautiful tonight. Maybe I can take Kate for a run. I walk to the truck. The door is open, and Kate is gone. “Damn!” I scream. “I am right here,” Kate says. I turn to see her standing in the moonlight. “What are you doing?” I ask her. “I am listening to the sounds of nature. It is like everything is trying to talk to me at once. It is crazy. Can all wolves do this?” Kate asks. “No, we cannot,” I answer. Kate comes back to the truck and gets inside the truck. “Thanks for doing what I asked you to do,” I say to her. “I am sorry. The noise was unreal. It was so loud I had to follow it,” Kate says. “I can only imagine,” I say to her.

We drive back to the back of the cabins, following the dirt road until we get to the last cabin on the right. I pull in and park the truck. “Do you think Alpha will be looking for me?” Kate asks. “I do not know. As far as he is concerned, you are now my problem,” I say to her. “Am I a problem?” Kate asks. “No, you are not a problem,” I tell her.

Kate gets out of the truck and follows me into the cabin. “There is only one bed,” Kate says. “I will sleep on the floor,” I tell her. “Don’t be silly; just keep your hands and paws to yourself, and we can sleep in the same bed,” Kate says to me. “I promise to be a gentleman,” I say to her. No way in hell I would do any harm to her. “Why don’t you take a shower and change clothes? Gypsy is bringing us food. I will start a fire,” I say to her. “Okay,” Kate says. She grabs her bag and goes into the bathroom to shower and change.

I grab some wood off the porch to start a fire. It is getting cold fast. I can feel the brutal chill from a breeze as I see lights coming up the dirt road as I gather the wood for a fire. I hope it is Gypsy coming with a meal for Kate. I take the wood inside and put it in the red brick fireplace. I try to start a fire without much luck. I cannot remember the last time I started a fire. There is usually a servant to do this for me. I have lived my life privileged. I hear tiny footsteps behind me. I turn to see Kate in only a towel. Her beauty is breathtaking.

“Allow me,” Kate says softly. She leans down into the fireplace and starts a roaring fire on the first try. “Thanks,” I say to her as I try not to look at her exposed body. “No problem, I have a little experience starting a fire,” Kate says. She disappears back into the bathroom to dress. I stand in front of the fire, stunned by her beauty. She has ignited a fire in me.