The Weeping Wolf

Luna Kate POV:

"It is settled. I am taking our daughter to see the Weeping Wolf. If something happens and I do not come back—”

Erick puts his hand over my mouth before I can finish my sentence. He kisses my lips.

"You come back to me, Kate. I need you in my life. And you are not leaving me to raise all these kids by myself," Alpha Erick says.

"Maybe I will give you ten more when I come back," I say. Alpha Erick smiles at me, and I feel a moment of joy in my heart, a moment where I am not thinking about protecting my children from vampires or hybrids.

"Making ten more sounds like fun," Alpha Erick says. I kiss his lips, and we laugh. I love this wolf and everything he has done for me. He has been my savior.

"Everything will be okay, my love," Alpha Erick says as I curl my body around him.

Alpha Erick is my constant in this crazy world we live in, and he is always there for me no matter what comes my way. Now I need him to look out for Belle, the children, and me as I make this journey to help our oldest daughter and myself.

Luna Kate POV:

The decision has been made for me in some ways, but I know it is necessary. I have to go to the Weeping Wolf. I have to get the answers I crave. I need to know everything about the powers growing inside Belle and the darkness inside myself. The spiritual realm told me as much, but there are still things I need to know about my child, my mother, and myself. Too many things no longer make sense in my life.

I know Belle is unique. It seems like at every turn, we learn more about her gifts. Her gifts are far superior to mine. Jason has told me so much about Belle and the things my mother did to create hybrids like Belle and myself. I am not worried about myself or my gifts. I am still learning to control the dark energies my mother forced into me, but I can handle it. I am more concerned about my daughter and this new information that she can shift from a wolf to a vampire and at such a young age.

Watching Belle shift as a baby was enough to frighten any new wolf mother, but now to find out her hybrid status is not dormant at all, and when she is ready, she can shift into a vampire is terrifying. I am scared for her and her future. Belle can heal wolves, and do things that no wolf, no hybrid can do, not even me.

Belle's power seems to come from a place much different from mine, which frightens me, but maybe after I learn more about her powers with the help of Jason and the Weeping Wolf, then I will know more about how to protect her and her future. I have to protect her.

"Mommy," Belle calls to me. I turn to see her standing in the doorway of our home. She looks adorable, smiling at me and ready for her journey. The wind catches her long dark hair that perfectly complements her olive skin tone. She looks so much like her father. Her eyes sparkle as she listens to my thoughts.

"You are a beautiful little girl," I say to her. She laughs.

"Daddy is awake, Mommy, and he is trying to get out of bed without help," Belle says.

I take her hand and follow her into the house. She keeps looking up at me and smiling. "Everything will be perfect, Mommy," Belle says.

"I know, but Mommy still is worried. Is that okay?" I ask her. She smiles up at me, letting me know that it is okay for me to worry.

We go into the bedroom where Alpha Erick is supposed to be resting. He is sitting on the side of the bed. "Why are you up?" I ask him.

He looks back at Belle and me. She runs to him. "You told on me," Alpha Erick says to Belle.

"Well, you are supposed to rest, Daddy," Belle says.

"I have our children to look after and this pack to care for, and I want to see my girls before they leave me on their very important journey," Alpha Erick says with sadness in his voice. I know he worries for us. I worry for us enough that he does not need to worry.

"We will not be gone forever, just a few days. I hope not longer. Erick, you have my wolf maidens to help with the children and plenty of staff to help run the pack," I remind him. I know he will try to do most of it himself. He is stubborn. Belle is just like him—stubborn as a mule.

Belle holds onto Alpha Erick. "You will be better soon, but you need to rest, Daddy," Belle says. She loves him. Sometimes I think she loves him more than she will ever love me. Belle and I are a lot alike because of our powers, but we are very different. She has Alpha Erick's bold personality and his love for this pack. She will make a fantastic Alpha someday.

"I want you to take Jason and Argon with you on this trip," Alpha Erick says. Jason, I can see taking. Jason is my half-brother and is knowledgeable of the Weeping Wolf, but Argon…why? I do not want to question Alpha Erick in front of Belle, but I am sure he can see the question all over my face. I just do not understand it.

"Erick, I think Jason should go with us. He would be a lot of help, and he knows more about the Weeping Wolf than I do. Plus, maybe he can tell me more about his father and the type of hybrid he was. It might help with Belle," I say.

Alpha Erick looks at me in a way that I know means business. "Argon is a warrior, and I want him to look after the two of you. It would help me to know you are taken care of when I am not with you. Please, do this for me, Kate without making a fuss," Alpha Erick says. He kisses my hand to butter me up. I try not to go against him in front of the children or other pack members, but he always knows how I feel and where I stand. Then there are times like this when I know he will not cave, and I should just let him have his way.

I sit down beside him on the bed. "I do not trust him. He is an imperial wolf, and I cannot wrap my head around trusting them anymore. I will take him, but I want you to know how I feel about the situation. I cannot trust him," I say.

Alpha Erick puts his arm around me. Belle is still holding onto him. "You are an imperial wolf, and I trust you," Alpha Erick says.

I look over at him and kiss his lips. "Yes, but I am your wife and the mother of your children," I say. I know what he means. Not all imperials are bad, but they are few and far between to find a good one. Sometimes I think I am border line bad.

"Please take him without a fuss. I want to have the peace of mind knowing that you are okay," Alpha Erick says. I take a deep breath, then lay my head on his shoulder, look down at Belle, and smile. I hope she chimes in with her thoughts about all of this, but she does not say or think anything. There is no way she will speak out against her father. She is loyal to him over everyone else, even me.

"Fine, I will do as my Alpha asks, but it does not mean I like it one bit," I say to Alpha Erick as sarcastically as I possibly can.

Alpha Erick kisses my lips. "Not your Alpha, your husband. I am only looking out for you and Belle. I wish I could go with you, but we both know that this is a journey for Belle and you. Even if I could leave the pack right now, it is not meant for me to go with you. It is not for our other children or me. This is your journey to take with our very unique daughter and learn about her gifts," Alpha Erick says.

I look down at Belle. "What if they all show gifts later? What will we do then?" I ask him.

Belle hugs her father and leaves the room almost on queue. Alpha Erick waits until she leaves the room to answer me. "If all our children are like Belle, we will deal with it. I know it is not something you want for her or any of our children. Go to the Weeping Wolf and find out everything you can to help her and possibly our other children. Be careful and come home to me. Try not to give Argon too much trouble. Let him help you. He is a good wolf from what I have seen, but if you really feel you cannot trust him, well, then keep both eyes on him," Alpha Erick says.

"Fine, but I will not promise to be nice to him," I say. Alpha Erick kisses my forehead.

"I love you," he says.

"I love you too," I respond. All I want is to find the Weeping Wolf, get the information I need and get back home to my husband and children. I know I must do this for Belle, but that does not make leaving my children or Alpha Erick any easier.