The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 262: Chapter 262
You are reading The Alpha's forbidden omega mate, Chapter 262: Chapter 262. Read more chapters of The Alpha's forbidden omega mate.
Catrina POV:
While we talked, Derek walked in.
His presence, the scent of pine and leather and a strength that had blossomed in the wake of his losses, brought a sense of calm, a reminder of the hope that still remained.
He was taller now, his shoulders broader, his golden eyes filled with a quiet determination, his gaze warm as it landed on Isabelle, a love that was both fierce and tender, a bond that had defied the rules.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
His touch was a silent promise, a reassurance, a love that had bloomed in the ashes of grief.
He glanced at me, his golden eyes warm, welcoming.
“Hey, Catrina. Glad you could make it. You staying for dinner? The chef is making her famous lasagna.”
I hesitated, the familiar warmth of the Magnus pack, the sense of belonging, a bittersweet reminder of the life I’d almost had with Rowan, the future that had been stolen from us.
“I… I might have to head back to my… my cabin soon,” I said, my voice a little too eager, a little too quick.
I couldn’t stay here. Not for long. The memories were too painful, the whispers of a love that was lost too overwhelming.
“Nonsense, Catrina,” Isabelle said firmly, her voice full of a gentle authority that made my wolf, a fiercely independent creature, want to bristle, to pull away.
“You’re part of the pack. You’re always welcome here. Stay as long as you like. It’s good to have… family… around.”
Her words, a reminder of the bond we shared, the love that had survived, were meant to comfort, but they only intensified the ache in my heart, the emptiness that Rowan’s absence had left behind.
“Thanks, Isabelle. But… I… I’ve always thought… I fit more… as a rogue,” I said lightly, forcing a laugh, a mask to hide my pain.
I couldn’t bear the weight of their pity, their concern, their unspoken questions about the she-wolf who’d buried her mate.
The memories of that night, of Rowan’s fading scent, of the coldness that had crept into his eyes, of the emptiness that had replaced the love we’d shared…
I’d buried him myself, beside his father, on a hill overlooking the old Magnus Hotel, the ruins a stark reminder of the darkness we’d faced, the price we’d paid.
And as I’d stood there, the cold wind whipping at my face, tears freezing on my cheeks, I’d felt so… alone.
So… empty.
“We could have saved him, Catrina,” my wolf whimpered, her voice a mournful echo in my mind, a constant reminder of my failure.
“We could have… fought harder. We could have… done… something.”
But there had been nothing we could do.
Damien’s magic had been too strong, his hold on Rowan’s soul too deep.
And as his life force had faded, as his amber eyes had lost their light, as his scent, that comforting blend of pine and leather, had vanished like smoke in the wind, I’d known… I’d known that a part of me had died with him.
He’s gone, Catrina.
He’s gone.
The voice of despair was a constant whisper, a shadow that followed me, a reminder of the love I’d lost, the future we’d been denied, the father my pup would never know.
But as I stood there in the elegant lobby of the new Magnus Hotel, surrounded by the warmth and light, the scents of pine and coffee, the familiar murmur of pack life, a flicker of hope, a memory, a whisper of a promise, sparked within me.
It was a memory of Rowan’s voice, a secret he’d shared, a truth he’d revealed, a love he’d sacrificed.
“I made a deal with King Korvash, Catrina,” he’d whispered, his amber eyes filled with a pain I hadn’t understood then, a knowledge that had been hidden from me.
“He… he gave me a chance… to go back… to change things… to… to save you. But… but it came at a price.” He hesitated. “I had to… I had to… erase your memories, Catrina. I had to… break our bond. I had to… let you go.”
His words, a confession of love so profound, so selfless, so… heartbreaking, had shattered me.
“But… but why, Rowan?” I’d cried, my voice filled with anguish.
“Why would you… why would you… sacrifice… everything… for… for me?”
He’d looked at me then, his gaze filled with a love so pure, so intense, so… real, that it made my wolf howl in protest, in longing, in a recognition of a bond that defied everything.
“Because… because I love you, Catrina,” he’d said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“And because… you deserve a life… free from this darkness. Free from… me. Free from… the curse of being a… Magnus.”
“But… I don’t want a life without you, Rowan,” I’d sobbed, my heart breaking, my wolf whimpering, the knowledge that he was planning to erase me, to rewrite our destiny, a pain that eclipsed even the fear of Damien’s magic.
He’d pulled me close, his arms around me, his scent a comforting presence, his words a balm on my wounded soul.
“It’s the only way, Catrina,” he’d murmured, his voice thick with grief.
“It’s… the greatest act of love I can offer you. To give you back… your freedom. Even if it means… losing you.”
He’d kissed me then, a long, lingering kiss, filled with a sadness that made my heart ache.
And then, the world had exploded in a blinding flash of white light.
And now…
"I’ve… I’ve always thought… I fit more… as a rogue,” I said lightly, forcing a laugh, trying to escape the memories, the pain.
But as I looked at Derek and Isabelle, at their love, at the life growing within her, at the hope that they represented…
A new truth, a realization, a possibility I’d never considered, dawned on me.
I’d been given a second chance.
A chance to save him.
“I have to… I have to go,” I said abruptly, my voice a little too sharp, a little too urgent.
I couldn’t explain. Not now.
Not with them.
“Catrina, but… dinner…” Derek started to protest, his brow furrowed with concern.
But I was already moving towards the door, my wolf pacing restlessly beside me, her silver fur bristling with a newfound energy, a determination, a hope that made her howl with a joy I hadn’t felt since…
“I’m sorry, Derek. I… I just remembered… I have to… I have to do something. It’s… it’s important. I’ll… I’ll see you both… soon.”
And as I rushed out of the hotel, into the crisp night air, the stars a million diamonds scattered across the velvet sky, I knew, that I had a mission.
A destiny.
A love to reclaim.
I had to find King Korvash.
While we talked, Derek walked in.
His presence, the scent of pine and leather and a strength that had blossomed in the wake of his losses, brought a sense of calm, a reminder of the hope that still remained.
He was taller now, his shoulders broader, his golden eyes filled with a quiet determination, his gaze warm as it landed on Isabelle, a love that was both fierce and tender, a bond that had defied the rules.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
His touch was a silent promise, a reassurance, a love that had bloomed in the ashes of grief.
He glanced at me, his golden eyes warm, welcoming.
“Hey, Catrina. Glad you could make it. You staying for dinner? The chef is making her famous lasagna.”
I hesitated, the familiar warmth of the Magnus pack, the sense of belonging, a bittersweet reminder of the life I’d almost had with Rowan, the future that had been stolen from us.
“I… I might have to head back to my… my cabin soon,” I said, my voice a little too eager, a little too quick.
I couldn’t stay here. Not for long. The memories were too painful, the whispers of a love that was lost too overwhelming.
“Nonsense, Catrina,” Isabelle said firmly, her voice full of a gentle authority that made my wolf, a fiercely independent creature, want to bristle, to pull away.
“You’re part of the pack. You’re always welcome here. Stay as long as you like. It’s good to have… family… around.”
Her words, a reminder of the bond we shared, the love that had survived, were meant to comfort, but they only intensified the ache in my heart, the emptiness that Rowan’s absence had left behind.
“Thanks, Isabelle. But… I… I’ve always thought… I fit more… as a rogue,” I said lightly, forcing a laugh, a mask to hide my pain.
I couldn’t bear the weight of their pity, their concern, their unspoken questions about the she-wolf who’d buried her mate.
The memories of that night, of Rowan’s fading scent, of the coldness that had crept into his eyes, of the emptiness that had replaced the love we’d shared…
I’d buried him myself, beside his father, on a hill overlooking the old Magnus Hotel, the ruins a stark reminder of the darkness we’d faced, the price we’d paid.
And as I’d stood there, the cold wind whipping at my face, tears freezing on my cheeks, I’d felt so… alone.
So… empty.
“We could have saved him, Catrina,” my wolf whimpered, her voice a mournful echo in my mind, a constant reminder of my failure.
“We could have… fought harder. We could have… done… something.”
But there had been nothing we could do.
Damien’s magic had been too strong, his hold on Rowan’s soul too deep.
And as his life force had faded, as his amber eyes had lost their light, as his scent, that comforting blend of pine and leather, had vanished like smoke in the wind, I’d known… I’d known that a part of me had died with him.
He’s gone, Catrina.
He’s gone.
The voice of despair was a constant whisper, a shadow that followed me, a reminder of the love I’d lost, the future we’d been denied, the father my pup would never know.
But as I stood there in the elegant lobby of the new Magnus Hotel, surrounded by the warmth and light, the scents of pine and coffee, the familiar murmur of pack life, a flicker of hope, a memory, a whisper of a promise, sparked within me.
It was a memory of Rowan’s voice, a secret he’d shared, a truth he’d revealed, a love he’d sacrificed.
“I made a deal with King Korvash, Catrina,” he’d whispered, his amber eyes filled with a pain I hadn’t understood then, a knowledge that had been hidden from me.
“He… he gave me a chance… to go back… to change things… to… to save you. But… but it came at a price.” He hesitated. “I had to… I had to… erase your memories, Catrina. I had to… break our bond. I had to… let you go.”
His words, a confession of love so profound, so selfless, so… heartbreaking, had shattered me.
“But… but why, Rowan?” I’d cried, my voice filled with anguish.
“Why would you… why would you… sacrifice… everything… for… for me?”
He’d looked at me then, his gaze filled with a love so pure, so intense, so… real, that it made my wolf howl in protest, in longing, in a recognition of a bond that defied everything.
“Because… because I love you, Catrina,” he’d said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“And because… you deserve a life… free from this darkness. Free from… me. Free from… the curse of being a… Magnus.”
“But… I don’t want a life without you, Rowan,” I’d sobbed, my heart breaking, my wolf whimpering, the knowledge that he was planning to erase me, to rewrite our destiny, a pain that eclipsed even the fear of Damien’s magic.
He’d pulled me close, his arms around me, his scent a comforting presence, his words a balm on my wounded soul.
“It’s the only way, Catrina,” he’d murmured, his voice thick with grief.
“It’s… the greatest act of love I can offer you. To give you back… your freedom. Even if it means… losing you.”
He’d kissed me then, a long, lingering kiss, filled with a sadness that made my heart ache.
And then, the world had exploded in a blinding flash of white light.
And now…
"I’ve… I’ve always thought… I fit more… as a rogue,” I said lightly, forcing a laugh, trying to escape the memories, the pain.
But as I looked at Derek and Isabelle, at their love, at the life growing within her, at the hope that they represented…
A new truth, a realization, a possibility I’d never considered, dawned on me.
I’d been given a second chance.
A chance to save him.
“I have to… I have to go,” I said abruptly, my voice a little too sharp, a little too urgent.
I couldn’t explain. Not now.
Not with them.
“Catrina, but… dinner…” Derek started to protest, his brow furrowed with concern.
But I was already moving towards the door, my wolf pacing restlessly beside me, her silver fur bristling with a newfound energy, a determination, a hope that made her howl with a joy I hadn’t felt since…
“I’m sorry, Derek. I… I just remembered… I have to… I have to do something. It’s… it’s important. I’ll… I’ll see you both… soon.”
And as I rushed out of the hotel, into the crisp night air, the stars a million diamonds scattered across the velvet sky, I knew, that I had a mission.
A destiny.
A love to reclaim.
I had to find King Korvash.
End of The Alpha's forbidden omega mate Chapter 262. Continue reading Chapter 263 or return to The Alpha's forbidden omega mate book page.