The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 169: Chapter 169

Rowan POV:
“Come on, Rowan, loosen up! It’s college! Time to party!”
Chad, my roommate, slapped me on the back. His beer-soaked breath washed over me, making my stomach churn.
The music pounded, vibrating through the floor, through my very bones. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, cheap beer, and a desperate kind of energy that made my wolf restless.
“I’m good, man,” I muttered, taking a swig of my beer.
The bitter taste did nothing to quench the thirst that burned in my throat, a thirst that went deeper than any physical craving.
It was a yearning for a scent, a touch, a presence that was missing, a ghost of a memory, a shadow of a love I’d tried to bury.
She’s out there, Rowan. My wolf growled. It was a constant reminder of the bond I’d tried to break, the destiny I’d tried to outrun. And you can’t escape her. Not forever.
The weeks since I’d left my small town had been a blur.
New faces, new experiences, forced smiles, and empty conversations.
I was trying to forget, to drown out the whispers of what I’d lost, the sacrifice I’d made, the love I’d given up.
College. Freedom. Anonymity. A fresh start.
That’s what I kept telling myself. But it was a lie. I was running away, not toward a brighter future.
The party was in full swing, the frat house packed with bodies, the music a throbbing pulse that matched the frantic beat of my heart.
Girls, their eyes bright with alcohol and something desperate, flocked around me. Their laughter and touch meant nothing. It was all a pale imitation of the warmth, the connection, I craved.
She’s not here, Rowan. My wolf’s voice was a mournful howl. She’s gone. You let her go. It was a reminder of the choice I’d made, the price I’d paid, to give Catrina a chance at a normal life, a life free from me, from the darkness of our world.
But even as I told myself that, even as I tried to convince myself it was the right choice, her memory haunted me.
Catrina. Her amber eyes. Her lavender scent.
The way she’d looked at me at the prom, a mix of confusion and longing.
You made a mistake, Rowan. You broke your own heart. And you broke hers.
The guilt was a heavy weight, a knot of pain that wouldn’t go away.
“Dude, you’re spacing out again. What’s up?” Chad, my roommate, slapped me on the back. His beer breath washed over me, and I flinched.
“I’m fine,” I muttered, forcing a smile. I was tired of pretending, of playing the role of the carefree Alpha. It felt like a lie. “Just tired. Long day.”
“Tired? It’s Saturday night! Party time! Look at all these girls, just waiting for you.” He gestured to a group of girls giggling by the keg, their eyes fixed on me.
Disgust and sadness washed over me. They weren’t her. They would never be her.
They’re not her, Rowan. They’ll never be her. My wolf growled, his voice full of disappointment. Only Catrina could fill the emptiness inside me.
“I’m going to get some air, Chad,” I said, pushing past him. I needed to escape the noise, the lights, the smell of desperation, the feeling of being trapped.
“I’ll be back later.”
The cool night air hit me like a slap. I leaned against a tree, the rough bark digging into my back, the silence a welcome relief.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to find some peace in the storm that raged inside me.
What are we doing here, Rowan? Running, hiding, pretending… it’s not working. My wolf’s voice was a mournful howl. She’s still there, in your heart. You can’t escape her.
I know. I sighed, the admission a whisper of despair. I couldn't deny the truth.
And then, I smelled it. Faint, but unmistakable. A whisper on the wind. A memory that made my heart skip a beat.
Lavender and vanilla.
Catrina.
She’s here, Rowan. My wolf snarled, his voice possessive, his amber eyes blazing. And she’s in danger.
My eyes flew open. I scanned the shadowy woods, my wolf’s senses on high alert.
Find her, Rowan. We have to protect her.
I followed her scent, my heart pounding, my wolf pacing restlessly, his claws extended. I had to find her, to shield her, to claim what was rightfully mine, what I’d foolishly given up.
The scent led me back to the party, to the noise and chaos I'd just escaped.
No. She shouldn’t be here. It’s not safe. My wolf growled, fear lacing his voice.
I burst back into the frat house, my eyes searching the crowd.
And then I saw her. Catrina.
She was standing by the keg, surrounded by a group of guys.
Their laughter was loud, their eyes hungry, their hands reaching out to touch her. My wolf snarled, a deep growl of warning.
They’re going to touch her! They’re going to… My wolf roared, his claws digging into my skin, rage burning inside me. The need to protect her, to defend her, to claim her, was overwhelming.
I pushed through the crowd, my gaze fixed on her. Catrina’s eyes were wide with fear, her scent tinged with panic. She needed me.
She needs you, Rowan. She needs her Alpha.
I reached her, my wolf’s scent – pine and woodsmoke and raw power – filling the air. It was a challenge, a promise of protection.
I knew, with a certainty that defied logic, that I wasn’t running anymore.
I was home. I’d found her.