The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 126: Chapter 126

Rowan POV:
“I know where he is, Rowan.”
Catrina’s voice, usually so soft, was sharp now, filled with a power that sent shivers down my spine.
She stood in our bedroom, her back straight, her eyes blazing with an intensity I’d never seen before.
The past week had been a blur of searching, of dead ends, of hope fading. Catrina had been so quiet, so withdrawn. The grief and fear weighed on us both, crushing the joy we used to have.
But now, as I looked at her, there was a new energy around her, a power that crackled in the air. It was scary, but also exciting. Like she was about to unleash something wild.
“Where, Catrina?” I asked, my voice hoarse. My wolf was already restless, wanting to run, to fight, to get Lucas back.
“I know who took him,” she continued, her voice strong, her gaze holding mine.
It was like she was the Alpha now, commanding, powerful.
“It wasn’t just Emma. She was just a pawn, a distraction.”
“Tell me, Catrina,” I urged, stepping closer. My wolf strained at his leash, wanting to touch her, to smell her, to make sure she was real, that this power wasn’t some trick of the darkness.
“I had a vision,” she said, her voice low, vibrating with a strange energy. “After I fainted today… it was like I was… somewhere else. A place… between worlds.”
“The spirit realm,” my wolf growled, a mix of awe and fear in his voice. “She walked in the spirit world.”
“I saw him, Rowan,” Catrina said, her eyes blazing.
“I saw Lucas. He’s alive. He’s safe… for now. But he’s not with Emma anymore. She gave him to… someone else.”
“Who, Catrina? Who has him?” I growled, my wolf already picturing the enemy, ready to tear him apart.
“It was… a shadow. A man, but… not a man. He radiated power, ancient magic. It felt familiar… but also terrifying. He spoke to me, Rowan. He said… he said Lucas was special. That he needed him. That I… would come to him.”
Fear, cold and sharp, stabbed at my gut. I knew who it was.
Damien.
The sorcerer who haunted my thoughts, the one who was playing games with our lives, using our pup as a pawn.
“It was Damien,” I said, the name bitter on my tongue.
Catrina nodded, her face grim.
“He’s holding Lucas captive, Rowan. He’s using him… to lure me to him.”
Rage exploded inside me.
How dare he? How dare he take my pup, threaten my mate, use my family like this?
“I’ll kill him,” I snarled, my wolf desperate to shift, to run, to hunt this Damien down and tear him to shreds.
“We’ll get Lucas back, Catrina. I promise.”
“No, Rowan,” she said, her voice surprisingly strong.
She met my gaze with a determination that both amazed and frustrated me.
“This is different. This is my fight. This is about my power, the legacy that runs in my blood. The power Vivian talked about.”
She stepped closer, her scent filling my senses—lavender, vanilla, and something wild, something magical. It reminded me of the bond between us, the love that defied all the rules.
“I have to do this alone, Rowan,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “Trust me.”
Trust her? Let her face this danger alone? Never.
My wolf roared, his protective instincts overwhelming.
“I can’t let you do this, Catrina,” I said, my voice rough.
I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs stroking her cheeks, trying to memorize the feel of her skin, the warmth of her breath.
“It’s too dangerous. Damien is powerful. He’s cunning. He’ll…”
“He needs me, Rowan,” she interrupted, her voice calm and steady, a strength I’d never heard from her before.
“He needs my power. He won’t hurt Lucas… not yet. Not until he gets what he wants. And I… I won’t let him take it. I won’t let him use it to hurt our pack, our world.”
Her eyes, usually so soft, were now burning with a fierce determination.
It was a fire that even my wolf had to respect. She was a true Luna, ready to fight for her pack.
She’s stronger than we thought, my wolf growled, impressed despite his worry.
“How do you know all this, Catrina?” I asked, my voice softer now, the anger fading, replaced by fear.
“How can you be so sure?”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her scent filled the air – lavender, vanilla, and a hint of wild magic.
“Vivian showed me,” she whispered.
Her voice was a low hum, vibrating with power.
“She came to me in the spirit realm, Rowan. She’s… guiding me. Teaching me.”
“My mother?” My wolf whined, a mix of disbelief and longing in his voice. “I Never saw her again, but her memory had always haunted me.”
“She’s helping me understand my powers,” Catrina said, opening her eyes.
They were flecked with gold now, a glimmer of ancient magic. “She’s teaching me how to control them, how to use them. How to protect us all.”
“But… the spirit realm is dangerous, Catrina,” I protested, worried.
“It’s unpredictable. You shouldn’t be going there alone.”
“I’m not alone, Rowan,” she said, her voice firm.
“Vivian is with me. She’s protecting me. Guiding me. She’s teaching me how to be strong.”
She placed her hand on my chest, and a jolt of energy ran through me.
It was our mate bond, a spark of warmth and connection that chased away the fear for a moment.
“Trust me, Rowan,” she whispered, her voice both a plea and a command.
“I have to do this. For Lucas. For our pack. For us.”
I looked into her eyes, saw the strength and love shining there. And I knew, deep down, that I had to let her go.
I had to trust her. She had to do this.
“Be careful, Catrina,” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. I touched her cheek, my thumb tracing her jawline, trying to memorize the feel of her skin.
She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine.
It was a quick kiss, but it tasted of hope, of desperation, of the love that bound us together.
“I will, Rowan,” she promised. “I’ll bring Lucas home. And then… we’ll face everything together. Stronger than ever before.”