The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 209: Chapter 209

Isabelle POV:
"Catrina…"
Rowan’s voice was a weak, pained whisper. I rushed to his side, fear gripping my heart.
He was lying on the ground of the Bloodmoon territory, his chest heaving.
A deep gash ran across his side, a nasty wound from Damien’s magic.
“He’s badly hurt.” My wolf growled, her voice full of worry.
I knelt beside him, my eyes searching his face. His own amber eyes, usually so bright and full of life, were clouded with pain.
It was the longing for the mate he’d lost, the bond that defied all reason.
“Catrina… Need… save her…” he gasped, his voice raspy, his hand reaching for me.
He was pleading for help, for understanding, for a connection that I couldn’t give him. His heart belonged to another.
Carson knelt beside us, his blue eyes wide with alarm.
“Alpha, we have to get him out of here,” he urged. “He needs a healer. Now. Your safety is important to the pack.”
“He’s right, Rowan.” I tried to sound strong, in control, but the fear was there, a tremor in my voice.
“You’re in no condition to fight. You need a healer.”
“But… Catrina…” He struggled to sit up, his body trembling with pain and desperation. He was driven by a love that I couldn’t understand, a bond that even Damien’s magic couldn’t erase.
“She’s… in danger, Isabelle. We… have to help her.”
Each word was a struggle, a gasp for air.
“I understand you want to help the girl, Rowan,” I said, forcing my voice to stay cold, trying to hide my own worry.
“But she seemed to be handling that sorcerer just fine. She didn’t look like she needed help.”
“You… don’t understand, Isabelle.” Each word was a struggle, a desperate plea.
“She’s… not like others. She’s…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. His strength gave out, his eyes losing focus, his body slumping back against Carson.
His scent, pine and blood and a fading trace of lavender, filled the air.
“Don’t bother trying to explain, Rowan,” I said, my voice softening.
I saw the pain in his eyes, the love that burned for Catrina.
“We’ll help you. We’ll find her. Together.”
Carson gently helped Rowan to his feet. He was still unconscious, his body limp, his head lolling against Carson’s shoulder.
Carson’s eyes met mine, a silent plea. He was asking for confirmation, reminding me of his loyalty, his devotion to me, to the pack.
“Go, Carson,” I said, my voice firm, commanding. “Get Rowan to safety. We’ll handle things here.”
Carson nodded, but just as he started to lead Rowan away, Rowan stirred.
“No…” he mumbled, his voice weak and raspy.
“I need… to see her… see her…” His voice trailed off, but his eyes fluttered open, searching the clearing. “Catrina…”
“Rowan, you’re hurt! You need a healer!” I said, but he shook his head, his body trembling with a mix of pain and determination.
“No… need to see… see her win… see her… safe…” He was struggling to stay conscious, his words broken, but his meaning was clear.
He wouldn't leave until he knew Catrina was safe.
Carson looked at me, unsure what to do. He was caught between following my orders and respecting Rowan’s wishes, even though Rowan was delirious.
“He’ll be alright, Carson,” I said, my voice softer now.
I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Rowan, for the pain and desperation in his eyes.
He was driven by a love so strong that it defied even his own injuries, his own weakness.
“Let’s move him to the edge of the clearing, where he can see. Rowan’s strong. He’ll pull through. But he needs to see Catrina is safe.”
I nodded, unable to speak. My own feelings for Derek, the guilt, the desire, the knowledge that my heart was betraying my duty to Rowan, to the alliance… It was a heavy burden.
Seeing Rowan like this, so vulnerable, so desperate… it made my own wolf whimper with a mix of sadness and a longing I couldn’t explain.
“He’s a fool, Isabelle.” My wolf growled, her voice a mix of anger and a grudging admiration. “A reckless fool. But he’s got a good heart. And he loves her with every fiber of his being.”
We followed Derek’s scent, a trail of pine and urgency, deeper into the Bloodmoon territory.
The forest was a maze of shadows, the air thick with the scent of blood and magic. My wolf growled, her senses on high alert.
The clearing was a scene of carnage. Bodies – both Bloodmoon and Magnus – lay scattered on the ground, their fur matted with blood, their eyes lifeless.
It was a brutal reminder of the fight, the power that had been unleashed.
And in the center of it all, surrounded by a circle of fallen wolves, stood Derek.
His fur was stained with blood, his eyes wide with fear, his scent a mix of pine and a lingering trace of lavender and vanilla.
“Derek?” I called out, my voice sharp, my Alpha command cutting through the silence.
My wolf moved towards him, her amber eyes questioning, demanding answers. “What happened here? Where’s her?”
He turned, his golden eyes meeting mine, a flicker of desperate hope in them.
“Alpha Isabelle,” he said, his voice hoarse, his body trembling. “It’s… it’s bad. Real bad.”
“Report,” I commanded, forcing my voice to stay steady.
Fear clawed at me, but I had to stay strong, in control. “Tell me what happened. Where’s Catrina?”
“I… I tried… to get her away, Alpha.” He stammered, his voice breaking. “Rowan… he told me… to protect her. But…”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. He looked devastated, the guilt of his failure heavy on his shoulders.
“Damien… he… he was too strong,” he whispered.
“He… controlled… the Bloodmoons. They… just… collapsed. Like puppets… with their strings cut.”
“And Catrina?” My voice was sharp, urgent. The fear I’d been holding back threatened to spill over. “Where’s Catrina, Derek?”
“She… she fought him, Alpha,” he said, his voice a mix of awe and terror.
His gaze was fixed on the spot where Catrina had vanished, the faint scent of lavender and vanilla a bittersweet reminder.
“She… she was incredible… like… a warrior. Her wolf… it was… silver. And her eyes… so much power… ”
He shook his head, the memory of Catrina’s transformation both terrifying and… mesmerizing.
“But… Damien… he… he was too strong, Alpha. He… he took her. He vanished… and I… I couldn’t… stop him…”
“She’s… she’s gone…”
His words were a punch to the gut. It was the confirmation I’d been dreading.
The she-wolf who’d captured Rowan's heart, the omega who defied destiny, the mate who was forbidden… she was gone.
And then Rowan, weakened by Damien’s magic, his spirit broken, his amber eyes filled with the same grief that was consuming me… he passed out.
His last whispered words echoed in the silence, a heartbreaking confirmation of his loss.
“Catrina… gone…”