The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 103: Chapter 103

Derek POV:
The pack meeting hall was buzzing.
Packmates filled the room, their scent thick in the air. It wasn't the usual pack gathering.
This one felt different, tense. All the elders, their faces etched with worry and years of loyalty to the pack, watched me with sharp eyes as I explained Rowan’s plans for our future.
“Alpha Rowan is dedicated to rebuilding trust,” I said, my voice loud and clear.
It felt good to be Beta, to stand tall before the pack. But inside, my stomach churned with nerves.
They were used to Marcus’s iron fist, his way or the highway. Sharing power? That was a whole new thing, a scary thing.
“He wants to make a council of elders. This way, everyone gets a say in pack decisions.”
A low growl rippled through the hall, a wave of uneasiness washing over the crowd.
Marcus had ruled for so long, his word law.
This idea of sharing leadership, of actually listening to others… it made them nervous.
“And what about that filthy omega?” Elder Greyfang snarled, his voice like gravel. He was ancient, his silver fur almost yellow with age.
His amber eyes burned into me. “Is she going to be our Luna now? A stain on the Magnus bloodline?”
I felt my own wolf growl, a protective instinct surging through me.
My claws itched to extend, to defend Catrina. But I held myself back.
I had to be the calm one, the strong one. I had to be Rowan’s voice.
“Catrina is the Alpha’s mate,” I stated, keeping my voice even. “Her family doesn’t matter. She carries the future of our pack.”
The words hung in the air, met with more grumbling and growls. They didn’t like her. They didn't trust her. And they weren’t afraid to show it.
Later that night, I sat alone in my office, exhaustion weighing me down.
It was exciting to be Beta, to use my skills and knowledge to help Rowan lead the pack.
But it was also draining. It felt like a constant uphill battle against the pack’s doubts, their resentment towards Rowan.
He seemed to fit so easily into this new world, this new pack he had to lead.
Me? I felt like I was stumbling in the shadows.
“He’s the Alpha,” a voice whispered in my head. My father’s voice. “He’s the chosen one. You’re just the backup.”
I slammed my fist on the desk, frustration boiling over.
Why wasn’t I good enough? I worked hard. I was loyal. But it never felt like enough.
I needed to find my own path, my own purpose. Something that wasn’t about Rowan, or Catrina. Something that was mine.
But… as I looked out the window, at the moonlit forest, I knew Rowan was probably out there with Catrina. And I felt a stab of envy, sharp and painful.
The next morning, I went to see Rowan. He was in his office, hunched over maps of the pack territory.
“Derek,” he said, looking up.
He looked tired, worn down.
But his eyes held a new kind of strength, the strength of an Alpha.
“We need to talk about the pack,” I said, taking a seat.
“They’re pushing back against your changes, Rowan. They’re not happy about Catrina.”
He sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. “I know. It’ll take time.”
“We might not have time,” I warned him.
“The pack is restless. They’re talking. They’re going to challenge you.”
His jaw tightened. “No one disrespects Catrina. She’s my mate. That makes her Luna. That’s the law.”
“The pack doesn’t care about the law,” I argued.
“They think she’s weak, a danger to the pack. Some of them even blame her for what happened to Marcus.”
“That’s insane!” Rowan growled, his wolf flashing in his eyes. “My father made his choices. No one forced him to give in to the Larva.”
“I know that,” I said, keeping my voice calm.
“But they don’t. You have to prove yourself to them, Rowan. Show them you’re strong, that you’re in control. Not some omega.”
"They're even saying…" I hesitated, measuring his reaction.
"They're saying the only Luna they'd ever accept is Isabelle. They say she's your rightful wife, bound by the old ways."
Rowan scoffed. "That's absurd. Alphas have had multiple mates for generations. It’s tradition.”
“I know,” I said, my voice low.
“But the elders… they might not like those old ways anymore. They might not accept it, Alpha.”
His eyes flashed with anger. He didn’t want to hear it, but I had to keep pushing. The pack’s future was at stake.
I took a deep breath. “You have to show them who’s boss, Rowan. You have to use your Alpha power. Don’t be afraid to put them in their place. And…”
This was the hard part. The part that made me feel like a traitor.
“You need to distance yourself from Catrina. At least for now. Show the pack that you’re calling the shots, that she’s not influencing your decisions.”
His wolf snarled, his eyes narrowed. “That’s not fair to Catrina! She hasn’t done anything wrong!”
“I know,” I said, meeting his gaze. “But this isn’t about what’s fair. It’s about what’s best for the pack. It’s about survival.”
We stared at each other, the tension thick between us. Finally, Rowan’s shoulders slumped, the fight going out of him.
“I’ll think about it,” he said, his voice weary.
I left his office feeling like I’d just run a marathon. Relief washed over me.
I had finally said what needed to be said. But I felt guilty, too.
I’d pushed my brother to do something that would hurt him, hurt Catrina.
And yet… deep down, I feel a little satisfaction.
I was still in Rowan’s shadow. I was starting to find my own light.
The pack needed a strong Beta. Someone to stand beside the Alpha, to guide him, to challenge him when he needed it.
That’s who I would be.
For the pack. For Rowan. And… maybe, just maybe, for myself.