The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 114: Chapter 114

Henri POV:
“He’s a natural, isn’t he?”
I smiled, watching Lucas crawl across the garden.
The sun was shining, and the little guy was a blur of energy, his laughter echoing through the air.
He was everything I’d ever wanted for Catrina – a loving mate, a healthy pup, a place to call home.
“He’s definitely got your stubborn streak,” Rowan chuckled, his gaze soft as he watched Lucas trying to chase a butterfly.
It had been a few days since Rowan welcomed us back into the pack.
After all those years on the run, branded as traitors, it felt surreal to be accepted again.
To be seen as part of the Magnus pack, not a stain on their name. It was like a dream, fragile and precious.
But even with the joy of being with my daughter again, of seeing her happy with Rowan, a knot of worry twisted in my gut.
The shadow of Marcus, of his cruelty, still hung over us. I saw it in Rowan’s haunted eyes, heard it in the whispers of the pack elders.
Rowan is a good Alpha, kind and compassionate.
But Marcus’s ghost still lingers. It’s whispering doubts in his ear, poisoning his thoughts.
I knew those whispers. They’d haunted me for years, driven us away from the pack, torn our family apart.
“The pack elders… they don’t like Catrina, do they?” I asked, my voice careful.
Even the thought of those stubborn old wolves questioning my daughter’s worth made my wolf snarl with protectiveness.
Rowan sighed, running a hand through his hair.
He looked tired, worn down by the weight of being Alpha.
“They’re… resistant to change,” he admitted, frustration lacing his voice.
“They’re used to Marcus’s way. His… strict rules.”
Rules. That word left a bitter taste in my mouth.
It was Marcus’s “rules” that had driven us away, branded us as traitors for daring to challenge him.
“They think Catrina is a weakness, don’t they?” I asked, my wolf growling.
He wanted to protect his pup, my Catrina, from those who couldn't see her strength.
Rowan’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with a protectiveness that mirrored my own.
“I won’t let anyone disrespect her,” he growled, his voice low and powerful.
“She’s my mate, whether they like it or not.”
“Words are easy, Rowan,” I said, my voice firm.
“But actions speak louder. What are you going to do to protect her? To protect Lucas?”
He hesitated, glancing towards Catrina, who was walking towards us with Lucas, the baby’s laughter ringing in the air.
“I’m… working on it,” he said, his voice strained.
I could see the plea in his eyes, asking for understanding, for time. “It’s not easy, Henri. The pack is still healing, still haunted by Marcus. I’m trying to rebuild trust, to show them that Catrina is a strength, not a threat.”
“Trying isn’t enough, Rowan,” I said sharply. “Marcus tried, too. He tried to turn you into him, to crush the good in you.”
Rowan flinched. I knew he was still haunted by having to kill Marcus “I’m not my father, Henri,” he said, his voice low and intense.
“I won’t make his mistakes. Fear and prejudice won’t rule my pack.”
“But you’re letting them stay here, in the Mondragon mansion,” I pressed, urgency in my voice.
“You’re letting Catrina and Lucas live under another Alpha’s protection. What kind of message does that send?”
“It’s temporary,” Rowan insisted, his eyes pleading with me.
“Isabelle understands. It’s safer here, for now. Until things settle down at the Magnus packhouse.”
“Safer?” I scoffed.
“You think hiding away makes you look strong? Makes your pack respect you? You’re the Alpha, Rowan! Act like it!”
“I am acting like an Alpha,” Rowan growled, his wolf flashing for a moment.
His eyes blazed with a fire that was both fierce and heartbreaking. “I’m protecting my mate, my pup. Their safety comes first.”
“And what about the safety of your pack, Rowan?” I asked, my voice trembling. Fear, deeper than any I’d ever felt for myself, gripped me.
“What about the future of the Magnus pack? The legacy you’re supposed to lead?”
He closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping. I knew I was being hard on him.
But I’d seen what happened when fear and prejudice were allowed to grow.
“I’m doing my best, Henri,” he said, his voice tired. “It’s not easy balancing everything.”
“Being Alpha isn’t about easy, Rowan,” I said, my voice softening.
I understood the pressure he was under. “It’s about making the hard choices, even when it hurts. It’s about putting the pack first. It’s about being strong and compassionate, even when everything’s falling apart around you.”
He looked at me, and I saw a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.
“I know, Henri,” he said, his voice steadier now.
“I’m learning. I’m growing. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. I won’t let my father’s mistakes define me. I’ll build a better pack. A stronger pack. A pack where everyone belongs, no matter what.”
He glanced at Catrina, who was coming towards us with Lucas, the little one babbling happily.
“And I’ll protect her, Henri,” he said fiercely. “I’ll protect my mate, my Luna, my pup. With my life.”
“Catrina,” I said as she reached us, my voice softer now. “How are you holding up, sweetheart? This pack… it’s a lot different than the life you’re used to.”
She smiled, but I could see the weariness in her eyes, the worry she tried to hide.
“I’m okay, Dad. It’s… an adjustment. But Rowan is doing his best. And the pack… I think they’ll come around. Eventually.”
“Don’t let them push you around, Catrina,” I warned, my wolf bristling protectively. “You’re strong. You deserve respect.”
She squeezed my hand, her touch reassuring. “I know, Dad. I’m not afraid to stand up for myself. Or for what’s right.”
She looked at Rowan, her eyes full of love and trust. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”
I nodded, a sense of pride and hope warming me. He was young, my Alpha, still scarred by the past. But he had a good heart.
And he had Catrina by her side, her love and strength guiding him.
Maybe… just maybe… he can break the cycle, can heal the pack and lead them into a better future.
I watched them walk away, hand in hand, Lucas’s laughter echoing in the air.
A glimmer of hope flickered in my chest.
Maybe, just maybe, love would win this time…