The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 117: Chapter 117

Catrina POV:
My lungs burned. Every breath felt like a gasp, air catching in my throat.
My heart hammered against my ribs. It felt like I was drowning, the panic rising inside me like a tidal wave.
He doesn’t love me.
He doesn’t want me.
I’m just a problem, a distraction.
Isabelle’s words echoed in my head, sharp and cruel, chipping away at what little confidence I had left.
I had clung to Rowan’s love like a lifeline, but now the rope had snapped, and I was in a sea of doubt and despair.
I curled up on the bed, the soft sheets a cold comfort.
Lucas was sleeping peacefully in his crib, unaware.
“He’d be better off without me. Without my weakness. Without my… omega-ness.”
That awful thought, that idea that omegas were weak and unworthy, twisted my gut.
It was the lie I’d been fed my whole life, the lie that society whispered in every corner.
A soft knock on the door made me jump.
“Catrina? Are you okay?”
Rowan’s voice, low and worried, made fresh tears spring to my eyes.
I wanted to scream at him, to unleash all the anger and hurt boiling inside me.
But the words wouldn't come out. I was too broken, too afraid.
“Go away, Rowan,” I whispered, my voice thick with tears. “Just… leave me alone.”
Silence. A heavy, thick silence that stretched on forever.
“Catrina, please,” Rowan pleaded, his voice a low rumble, full of regret. “Let me in. We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Rowan,” I said, my voice cold and flat.
I had to build a wall around myself, to protect what little pride I had left.
“Isabelle was right. I am a burden. A distraction. A problem.”
I could picture him standing there, his shoulders slumped, his eyes shadowed with guilt.
He’d confirmed everything Isabelle had said, every horrible thought that had been in my mind.
“Catrina, that’s not…” he started to say, but I cut him off.
“Just go, Rowan,” I choked out. “Please… just go.”
Another long silence. Then, the sound of his footsteps retreating, a finality that echoed the emptiness inside me.
He’s gone. He’s really gone.
I broke down then, tears streaming down my face.
I cried until my throat ached, until exhaustion finally pulled me under, offering a small escape from the pain.
“You’ll be fine, sweetheart,”
Mom said, her voice soothing as she helped me fasten Lucas’s carrier.
“It’s just a regular checkup. Nothing to worry about.”
I tried to smile, but it felt fake. The morning light streamed through the window, but the shadows of the previous night still lingered.
Lucas, thankfully, was in a good mood.
If only I could feel that carefree..
My wolf whined, her anxiety a constant hum beneath the surface of my pretend-calm.
The thought of going into the city, of facing the world outside the mansion walls, filled me with dread.
It wasn’t just the usual worries of a new mom.
It was the knowledge that a powerful sorcerer was out there, watching me, waiting to strike.
“I know,” I said, my voice shaky.
“It’s just… been a while since I’ve been in the city. And with all the… threats… it’s hard not to be scared.”
Mom squeezed my hand.
“The city is safe, Catrina. Rowan wouldn’t let anything happen to you. And besides… you’ll have someone watching over you.”
She winked. “A certain grumpy Alpha has a few of his best warriors keeping an eye on you. You just won’t see them.”
I managed a weak smile.
My parents’ love, their fierce protectiveness, was the only thing holding me together right now.
But the doubts were stubborn, clinging to me like burrs.
Rowan’s words kept echoing in my head, drowning out the memory of his love.
Maybe Isabelle is right. Maybe I am holding him back. Maybe he’d be better off without me.
The thought twisted my stomach, a bitter truth I couldn’t ignore.
Carson was waiting in the driveway.
He helped me get Lucas settled in the back seat, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a flicker of concern.
“Everything okay, Catrina?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.
“I’m fine, Carson,” I lied, forcing another smile. “Just a little… anxious. That’s all.”
He nodded. “Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re safe with me.”
For a moment, our eyes met.
It was like a silent understanding passed between us, a shared knowledge of the weight we all carried—the unspoken tensions, the fragile alliances, the impossible expectations.
He got into the driver’s seat, and the SUV roared to life.
The drive to the city was a blur.
I tried to focus on Lucas, his happy babbles, the way he was fascinated by the sunlight.
But my mind kept circling back to Rowan’s words, to Isabelle’s accusations.
“He doesn’t love you. He doesn’t want you. You’re just a burden.”
The words were sharp knives, piercing my heart.
“No. Don’t listen.”
Vivian’s voice, soft but firm, whispered in my mind. It was like a small light in the darkness.
“You are strong, Catrina. You are worthy of love. You have power. Don’t let them take it from you.”
I held onto her words like a lifeline. It wasn’t easy.
The doubts, the fears… they were always there, lurking, waiting for me to fall apart.
The doctor’s appointment was quick and easy.
Lucas was healthy and developing perfectly.
Relief washed over me, a brief break from the worry that had been gnawing at me.
Carson waited patiently in the lobby, a silent, watchful presence. It was comforting, knowing he was there.
Afterwards, Carson dropped me off at the mall.
I needed a few things for Lucas, and I wanted to walk around, to get some fresh air, to pretend, just for a little while, that I was a normal new mom enjoying a day out.
The mall was crowded, full of human voices and the smell of perfume and food.
I navigated the throngs of shoppers, my senses on high alert, my wolf restless.
I found the baby store and stocked up on diapers, wipes, and a new teething toy. As I was paying, I heard someone call my name.
“Catrina? Is that you?”
I turned, my heart jumping into my throat.
It was Sheila, a girl from my high school, walking with a friend. They both looked surprised to see me.
“Oh my gosh, it is you!” Sheila exclaimed, her eyes widening when she saw Lucas. “Is that… your baby?”
“He is,” I said, forcing a smile. My wolf bristled. Why were they here?
“They’re not safe.”
I scanned the crowd, looking for any sign of Rowan’s warriors, the protectors my mom had promised would be nearby. But I didn’t see anyone I recognized.
“He’s adorable!” Sheila’s friend cooed, reaching out to touch Lucas’s cheek.
I pulled him closer, my wolf growling low.
The girl pulled her hand back, her face turning red.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “He’s just so cute!”
“It’s okay,” I said, forcing another smile.
“He’s a little… protective of his mama.”
That’s putting it mildly. Lucas didn’t like these girls. They were too curious, their gazes a little too hungry.
“So, what have you been up to, Catrina?” Sheila asked. “We haven’t seen you since graduation. You just vanished.”
“I… moved away,” I said vaguely, wanting to end the conversation.
My wolf was getting more and more agitated.
“Moved away?” Sheila’s friend echoed, raising an eyebrow.
She looked at Lucas with a knowing smirk. “Is that why you… disappeared? A little… complication?”
My cheeks burned. “It’s… a long story,” I mumbled, looking down at Lucas.
“We have time,” Sheila said, her smile a little too sharp.
“Come on, Catrina. Tell us all about it. Who’s the lucky… father?”
Before I could answer, Sheila’s friend gasped and pointed behind me.
“Oh. My. God.” Her voice was full of awe and… something else I couldn't name. “Talk about the devil…”
My heart lurched. Dread coiled in my gut.
Who is it? What’s happening?
I slowly turned, already knowing who I would see. Standing a few feet away was a girl I hadn’t seen in almost a year.
She looked perfect—blonde hair, flawless makeup, expensive clothes. She was looking at me with a mix of surprise and pity.
It was Emma, Rowan’s ex-girlfriend.
Oh no.
“Catrina,” Emma said softly, her voice full of sympathy. “I had no idea. You…I will see you here without…”
She didn’t need to finish the sentence. The truth hung in the air between us, heavy and suffocating.
“Yeah,” the other girl said loudly, drawing stares from other shoppers.
“Her baby daddy is Rowan Magnus. You know, Emma’s ex-boyfriend.”
She turned to her friend, a malicious glint in her eye. “Remember how he snuck into Sarah’s dorm room last semester at college? Wonder if he’s still doing that… slinking around, looking for… easy prey even if he had a baby.. With her?”
The words hit me like a physical blow. My knees went weak, and I felt dizzy.
No… It can’t be true. He promised me…
My wolf whimpered, a broken sob in my mind. He promised he loved me. He promised he’d choose me.
But maybe those promises were just lies. I’d been a fool to believe him.
Tears stung my eyes, and I clutched Lucas closer, his warmth the only thing keeping me grounded in a world that suddenly felt cold and dangerous.
What am I going to do?