The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 198: Chapter 198

Catrina POV:
The air crackled around me. It was a raw energy, pulsing, making me dizzy.
The smell of pine and woodsmoke, of blood and fear and magic, filled my senses.
But beneath it all, there was another scent. A familiar warmth that drew me in, that made my wolf purr.
It was a longing I hadn’t felt in… what felt like forever.
And then, the memories came flooding back.
It started with flashes, quick images, feelings.
The warmth of Rowan’s hand in mine.
The scent of pine and leather clinging to his skin.
The taste of his lips, a mix of mint and woodsmoke, a taste that made my heart race even now.
Then, the memories became clearer, sharper, like pieces of a shattered mirror reflecting a life I’d forgotten.
The prom night. I saw myself standing in the forest, the moonlight filtering through the trees, my heart pounding as Rowan, his amber eyes burning with a desire that mirrored my own, leaned in for our first kiss.
"Catrina," he'd whispered, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "You’re mine. You’re my mate."
And I remembered the joy, the fear, the overwhelming need to be near him, to be claimed by him, to be his… forever.
But then, just as quickly, the memory shifted.
I saw his rejection, the pain in his eyes, the way he’d pushed me away, the words that had shattered my world.
“I can't, Catrina. I'm sorry. It was a mistake.”
And the loneliness, the heartache, the feeling of being unworthy, of being broken, washed over me again, a wave of pain that made me want to curl up and disappear.
I remembered the fear, the confusion, as I realized I was pregnant.
I remembered the terror of facing my parents and how I ran away from the shame.
But then, another memory, a brighter one.
Rowan, holding Lucas for the first time, his amber eyes shining with wonder and a love so fierce it took my breath away.
“He’s perfect, Catrina. He’s ours.”
And I saw us, in the nursery at the Mondragon mansion, a small family, trying to find our way, to build a life together.
I saw the doubts, the insecurities, the whispers of prejudice that followed us, the constant fear that our love wouldn't be enough to overcome the darkness that surrounded us.
I remembered the terror of the kidnapping, the chilling scent of Damien’s magic, the feeling of being trapped, helpless, my life, my son’s life, hanging by a thread.
I remembered the rage, the despair, the desperate hope that Rowan would find me, that he would save us.
I saw the Mondragon mansion, cold and imposing, a reminder of the arranged marriage that threatened our happiness, the powerful Alpha female who was Rowan’s…Wife.
I felt the loneliness again, the isolation, the yearning for a connection that was forbidden, a love that was constantly tested.
And then… the spirit realm. The swirling mists, the impossible colors, the feeling of being both whole and shattered, my own soul merging with another, with Lyra, the ancient warrior princess, her memories, her emotions, her power, flowing into me, making me stronger, fiercer, wilder.
I saw the battle against Damien, the clash of magic and primal fury, the desperate fight to save my son, to protect my mate.
I felt the power of Lyra’s wolf coursing through me, her silver fur gleaming, her amber eyes blazing with righteous anger.
”You're mine, Catrina! You'll be mine!” Damien’s voice, a roar of rage and possessiveness, echoed in my mind.
”No, Damien!” Lyra’s voice, a symphony of strength and defiance.
And I remembered the final confrontation, the desperate struggle, the sacrifice I’d made to defeat him, to save Rowan, to protect our son, to break free from his control.
I remembered the pain, the exhaustion, the feeling of my soul fading, slipping away…
But… I’m alive? How?
The memories swirled, a chaotic storm, leaving me breathless, disoriented.
I looked at Damien, his face twisted with rage and a fear that surprised me.
He was afraid of me, of the power that pulsed within me.
And then I looked at Rowan.
He was on his knees, struggling to get up, his amber eyes full of shock and confusion.
“Catrina? You… you remember?” he asked, his voice rough with hope.
“Some of it.” My voice was a low growl, the sound still unfamiliar, a mix of my own voice and Lyra’s.
The memories were jumbled, but the important ones – the ones that tied me to him, to Lucas, to this tangled web of destiny – those were clear.
“But we don’t have time for that now.”
“Oh, how touching.” Damien’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“A little reunion in the middle of a battle. How… sweet.”
“This isn't over, Damien,” I growled, my eyes locking with his.
My wolf, a mix of silver and white, paced restlessly beside me, her power thrumming through my veins.
“Of course not, my dear Catrina.” He chuckled, a cold, cruel sound. “The game has just begun.”
He lunged towards Rowan, and my wolf snarled, a fierce protectiveness surging through me.
I couldn’t let him hurt Rowan, not again.
My body shifted, the transformation swift and powerful.
My bones cracked, muscles lengthened, fur sprouted.
I was a wolf now, a powerful blend of silver and white, my eyes blazing with a mix of Catrina’s and Lyra’s amber, a reflection of the two souls now intertwined, a force that even Damien seemed to fear.
I slammed into him, knocking him off his feet.
We tumbled to the ground, a tangle of fur and claws and magic, the air crackling with energy, the scent of ozone thick and sharp.
“You should know better than to underestimate me, Damien,” I snarled, my voice a deep growl, echoing with the strength of Lyra, the fury of a she-wolf protecting her mate.
He scrambled back, his crimson eyes wide with surprise, his magic flickering.
“You… you’re different,” he hissed, his voice laced with a fear that sent a thrill of triumph through me.
“Stronger. Wilder. What have you done?”
“I’ve embraced my destiny, Damien,”
I growled, circling him, my silver-white fur gleaming in the moonlight.
“And now… I’m coming for you.”