The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 181: Chapter 181

Catrina POV:
“Catrina, is everything alright? You seem… down.”
Kael’s voice, soft and concerned, startled me.
I looked up from the cappuccino machine. My hands fumbled with the milk frother.
I felt a pang of guilt. I was living a lie, pretending to be something I wasn't.
“I’m fine, Kael,” I said, forcing a smile. I couldn’t meet his gaze.
His ruby eyes were intense, and they made me uneasy. There was a familiarity there, a connection that whispered of a past I couldn't remember.
It had been a few weeks since I’d started working at the coffee shop.
It was a cozy place, a nice escape from the chaos of college life.
But I couldn’t escape the memories that haunted me, the scent of Rowan that lingered in my senses, the ache in my heart.
I was trying to move on, to focus on my classes, to build a new life that didn’t revolve around him.
But it was hard. The dreams wouldn’t stop.
Vivid, tempting glimpses of another life.
A life with Rowan, filled with love, laughter, and family. It felt so real.
“It was just a dream, Catrina.” I told myself over and over. “A cruel trick. A reminder of what you’ve lost.”
Sunlight streamed through the nursery window.
I watched an older version of Rowan play with our pups, a boy and a girl.
Their laughter filled the house, and my heart swelled with love.
Rowan was a good father, patient and kind. His amber eyes, usually so intense, were soft with love as he lifted our daughter into the air.
Her giggles chased away the shadows of the past.
We were happy, Catrina. Truly happy. My wolf purred, her voice a low rumble of contentment.
We had everything we ever wanted.
But it was a lie. A cruel illusion.
I blinked, the dream fading, replaced by the harsh lights of the coffee shop.
The smell of burnt coffee and the clatter of dishes brought me back to the human world, a world that felt cold and empty compared to the warmth of the dream.
“Catrina?” Kael’s voice was soft, concerned.
“Are you sure you’re alright? You look… distracted. Sad.”
He came around the counter, his ruby eyes making my wolf bristle.
Don’t trust him, Catrina. He’s… different.
“I’m fine, Kael,” I lied, forcing a smile.
I couldn't tell him about the dreams, about Rowan, about the wolf that stirred inside me, restless and confused.
He wouldn't understand.
“Just… tired, I guess.”
“It’s okay to not be okay, you know,” he said gently.
He stepped closer, and his scent – cinnamon and something musky, something wild – made my wolf uneasy.
“Everyone needs someone to lean on sometimes. Even strong girls like you.”
He pulled me into a hug. I stiffened, surprised by his boldness.
But then tears welled up in my eyes. The loneliness, the confusion, the ache in my heart… It was overwhelming.
I leaned into his embrace, burying my face in his shoulder. His scent, though strange, was a comfort.
“What are you doing, Catrina?” My wolf snarled, her claws digging into my palms. “He’s an stranger”
But I needed comfort. I needed… someone.
“There, there,” Kael murmured. “Let it all out. I’m here for you.”
I pulled away after a moment, wiping my eyes, embarrassed.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, my cheeks burning. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“Don’t apologize, Catrina,” he said, his smile kind.
Even his ruby eyes seemed to hold a warmth that surprised me.
“We all need a shoulder to cry on sometimes.”
He stepped back, giving me space.
“Do you… want to talk about it?” he asked. “What’s making you so sad?”
I shook my head, turning away. I couldn't tell him the truth.
“It’s… nothing, really,” I lied, my voice shaky. “Just… boy trouble.”
“Ah, boy trouble.” Kael chuckled.
“Don’t worry, Catrina. You’re a beautiful girl. You’ll find someone who appreciates you.”
“He doesn’t understand.” My wolf growled.
“There’s only one who deserves our love. And he’s thrown us away.”
The bell above the door jingled, and I looked up. My heart skipped a beat.
It was Brock?
He stood in the doorway, his shoulders slumped, his blue eyes bloodshot.
He smelled of beer and sweat and desperation, and it made my wolf snarl.
He’s still after you, Catrina. He won’t give up easily.
“What can I get for you?” Kael sounded surprised.
Brock’s eyes met mine, his expression a mix of hurt and anger. And maybe… a flicker of hope?
I wanted to run, to escape the awkwardness, the memories.
“Just… coffee, I guess,” he mumbled, his gaze lingering on me a little too long.
It made me uncomfortable.
“Coming right up,” Kael said, his eyes watching us.
He could sense the tension between us, the unspoken emotions.
I busied myself wiping down the counter, avoiding Brock’s gaze.
His presence, the memory of his touch, the scent of his desperation… It was suffocating.
I wanted to escape this human world, the life I no longer belonged to, the normalcy I craved, but couldn’t seem to find.
“He’s watching you, Catrina. Be careful.” My wolf growled.
I knew she wasn’t talking about Brock.
I could feel Rowan’s gaze on me, even though he wasn’t there.
It was a phantom sensation, a weight on my back, a warmth that spread through my limbs.
It was a reminder of the bond he’d tried to break, the love he’d tried to erase.
“He’s fighting it, Catrina.” My wolf whispered. “But he can’t resist the bond forever.”