The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 194: Chapter 194

Rowan POV:
“She’s here, Rowan. I can smell her.”
Derek’s voice, a low growl, was barely audible above the howling wind.
We stood at the edge of the Bloodmoon territory, the air thick with the scent of wild musk, of untamed wolves.
It was a dark, dangerous place, and my wolf bristled, his hackles rising, sensing the challenge to his authority.
“They brought her to their den. I can smell her fear… and her anger.”
“Lead the way, Derek,” I said, my voice a low rumble.
My own wolf paced restlessly beside me, his claws digging into the soft earth.
His senses were on high alert, every instinct screaming at him to find Catrina, to protect her.
We’d followed Catrina’s scent for hours, the trail leading us deeper and deeper into Bloodmoon territory.
It was a wild, untamed wilderness, a haven for rogue wolves, a place where the laws of our world didn't apply.
My pack followed close behind. Their eyes gleamed in the moonlight, their wolves sensing my distress, their own need for vengeance.
We would get her back. We would protect our own.
“We’ll find her, Rowan. We’ll tear this place apart until we do.” My wolf growled, his voice a roar in my head.
We came to a clearing. A cluster of run-down cabins stood huddled together. It was a pathetic excuse for a packhouse.
The smell of unwashed bodies and stale food filled the air, a stark contrast to the order and discipline of our pack.
It was a reminder of the rogues who lived outside the rules, the wolves who were… different.
And there, in the center of the clearing, surrounded by a pack of Bloodmoon wolves, stood Catrina.
She looked vulnerable, but her amber eyes blazed with defiance.
She was unarmed, surrounded by enemies, but she stood tall, her chin lifted, her lavender and vanilla scent laced with a spark of… anger? Pride?
It was a spark that ignited a fierce protectiveness in my wolf, a primal urge to shield her, to fight for her.
“Let her go!” I roared, my voice a thunderclap that shattered the silence.
My Alpha command echoed through the clearing, a challenge to their authority, a declaration of war.
The Bloodmoon wolves turned, their red eyes fixed on me, their snarls a chorus of defiance.
They were ready to fight.
“They’re not going to give her up easily, Rowan. We’ll have to fight for her.” My wolf growled, his claws extending, his fangs bared.
“She’s ours, Alpha,” the lead Bloodmoon wolf snarled.
His amber eyes, full of challenge, met mine. He was a rival, a threat.
“We claimed her. She belongs to our pack now.”
“She’s not yours to claim,” I retorted, my voice cold and hard.
I let my Alpha presence radiate, a force that made them hesitate. Even their wolves recognized the power, the authority, of a true Alpha.
“She’s my mate. My Luna. And I’m here to take her back.”
“You think you can just waltz into our territory and take what you want, Magnus?” the Bloodmoon Alpha sneered.
His red eyes gleamed with a malicious amusement that made me furious.
“You think you can defy the Bloodmoon pack? Break our laws?”
“Your laws mean nothing to me,” I growled, my patience gone.
I needed to get to Catrina, to shield her from their hungry gazes. It was a primal urge, overwhelming all reason.
“She’s my mate. And I’m taking her back. Whether you like it or not.”
“You want her, Magnus? Then come and take her.”
The Bloodmoon Alpha laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. It was a challenge I couldn’t ignore.
And then the fight started.
The Bloodmoon wolves attacked, a wave of snarls and growls, their red eyes blazing, their claws extended.
The ground trembled, the trees swayed, the air crackled with primal energy.
My pack met their attack head-on.
It was a blur of silver and black fur, of teeth and claws, of wolves fighting for dominance, for territory, for love.
I didn't hesitate. My wolf took over, his instincts guiding me, his strength amplified by the mate bond.
I tore through the Bloodmoon ranks, my claws ripping, my fangs tearing, my only goal to reach Catrina.
“She’s ours, Rowan. Fight for her. Kill them all.” My wolf’s voice was a roar of fury and possessiveness.
I fought my way to Catrina's side, my heart pounding with a mixture of relief and fear. She was surrounded, her eyes blazing with a defiant fire.
"Catrina, run!" I shouted, my voice a command over the din of the battle. "Get out of here! Go back to the packhouse!"
But she didn't move. She stood her ground, her small frame tense, her hands clenched into fists.
"No!" she shouted back, her voice surprisingly strong. "I'm not leaving you!"
"Catrina, it's too dangerous!" I yelled, my wolf snarling, wanting to scoop her up and carry her to safety.
But I couldn't. Not while the Bloodmoons were attacking, not while my pack needed me to lead them.
"Go! I can handle myself!" she insisted.
Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flash of something wild, something powerful, in their depths.
It was a glimpse of the wolf within her, the omega who refused to be a victim, who was ready to fight for her own survival.
"Derek! Get Catrina out of here!" I roared, my command cutting through the chaos.
Derek, his emerald eyes blazing with a mix of concern and determination, nodded curtly.
He grabbed Catrina's arm, but she pulled back, her chin lifted defiantly.
"I said I can handle myself!" she repeated, her gaze unwavering. "I'm not leaving!"
"Please," Derek said, his voice firm but gentle. "Let me help you. This is no place for an omega."
"I'm not helpless, Derek!" she snapped back, her eyes flashing. "I can fight, too! I'm not afraid of them!"
I could see the surprise in Derek’s eyes, the grudging respect.
He’d never seen this side of Catrina, the fierceness, the fire. I felt a surge of pride, a bittersweet ache in my heart.
"She's right, Derek," I said, my voice a low growl.
"She's stronger than you think. But get her out of the main fight. Find a safe spot, and protect her. With your life."
Derek nodded, his grip on her arm softening, but his gaze, intense and watchful, never leaving her.
He led her away from the center of the battle, towards the edge of the clearing, where the trees offered a bit of cover.
I watched them go, my wolf snarling, torn between the need to protect my mate and the responsibility to lead my pack.
I had to trust Derek, my brother, my son-to-become Beta. He would keep her safe.
“She’s strong, Rowan. She can handle herself.” My wolf’s voice was a rumble of pride, a grudging admiration for the she-wolf who was defying the odds, the expectations, the very nature of her omega being.
And as I turned back to the battle, the scent of blood and fury thick in the air, the roar of my pack echoing through the night.
I knew, with a certainty that burned hotter than the fire in my wolf’s heart, that I would not rest until the Bloodmoon pack was defeated, until Catrina was safe in my arms, until the darkness that threatened to consume our world was vanquished.