The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 271: Chapter 271
You are reading The Alpha's forbidden omega mate, Chapter 271: Chapter 271. Read more chapters of The Alpha's forbidden omega mate.
Isabelle POV:
"You're pushing yourself too hard, Isabelle."
Jarrett's voice, a calm, steady presence in the midst of the storm raging around me, made me pause, my hand instinctively going to my swollen belly, a protective gesture, a reminder of the life growing within me, a future I was determined to protect.
I sat at the head of the long oak table in the Magnus pack meeting room, surrounded by a sea of faces – Mondragon and Magnus wolves.
It had been a grueling two years, navigating the complexities of leading two packs, balancing their traditions, their rivalries, their fears.
While also dealing with the physical and emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy in the last months, the constant worry for Derek, the guilt that gnawed at me, a shadow of Rowan’s sacrifice, his love, his loss.
"We can handle this, Jarrett," I said firmly.
"The rogue attacks on the eastern border, the trade negotiations with the Silverwood pack, the upcoming Alpha Summit… it's all under control."
But even as the words left my lips, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, a reminder of the sleepless nights, the constant worry, the pressure of leading two packs, of carrying a pup, of loving a wolf who wasn't my destined mate, a love that was both my strength and my weakness.
“You’re not sleeping, Isabelle,” Jarrett said softly, his gaze meeting mine, his amber eyes filled with concern.
“You’re pushing yourself too hard. You need to rest. For the pup. For… for yourself.”
“I’ll rest when I can, Jarrett,” I said, my voice a clipped command, pushing down the guilt, the worry, the exhaustion.
"Right now, I have a pack to lead. Two packs, actually. And I won't let them down. Not after… everything we’ve been through.”
The memory of the battle against Damien, the spirit realm’s chilling embrace, Rowan’s sacrifice, Carson’s betrayal, Derek’s grief… it was a heavy burden, a constant reminder of the price we’d paid, the darkness we’d faced, the love we’d lost, and the future we were fighting for.
“The elders are restless, Isabelle,” Jarrett continued, his voice a low rumble, his gaze flickering towards the other wolves in the room.
“They’re questioning your leadership. Your… your relationship with Derek. They…”
He hesitated, his words trailing off, unable to voice the unspoken accusation that hung heavy in the air, the whispers that followed me, the doubts that plagued me.
“They still blame you, Isabelle. For… for Rowan’s death,” my wolf whimpered, her voice a mournful echo in my heart.
“They think… That you… you’re the reason… he’s…”
He’s not coming back, Isabelle.
“The summit is just days away, Alpha,” Jarrett’s voice, a gentle reminder of my duty, my responsibility, brought me back to the present, to the task at hand.
“We need to be prepared. We need to present a united front. We can’t let Alaric… see our… weakness.”
He was right. The Alpha Summit was crucial.
A chance to forge new alliances, to strengthen our defenses, to protect our packs from the growing threat of rogue attacks, of Alaric’s ambition, of the darkness that still lingered in the shadows of our world.
But how could I lead when my own heart was so divided? When the weight of my choices, my love for Derek, my guilt over Rowan, my fear for the future, threatened to crush me?
“I’ll be ready, Jarrett,” I said, my voice firm, the Alpha mask firmly in place.
“I won’t let them down. I won’t let… anyone down.”
But even as I spoke the words, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, a reminder of the life growing within me.
“You’re not alone, Isabelle,” Derek’s voice, a low rumble, filled with a love that made my heart ache, was a welcome anchor in the storm raging within me.
He stepped forward, his hand resting on my back, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me, chasing away the chill, the fear, the doubt.
“We’ll face this… together.”
I looked at him, at the Alpha he had become, the weight of leadership he now carried, his golden eyes filled with a quiet strength, a love that defied the rules, a bond that had been forged in the fires of loss and grief. And I knew, with a certainty that settled deep in my soul, that we would.
Together.
The meeting dragged on, the elders’ voices a droning hum, their concerns and complaints a litany of doubts and fears that mirrored my own.
But I held firm, my Alpha mask in place, my gaze steady, my voice calm, projecting an image of strength and control I didn’t fully feel.
Derek sat beside me, a silent presence, his warmth a comfort, his love a shield.
But even as I clung to his strength, a flicker of unease, a whisper of a fear I couldn't quite shake, lingered at the edge of my awareness.
It was something in his scent, a subtle shift, a darkness I’d sensed before, a darkness I’d hoped he’d overcome.
What is it, Derek? My wolf whimpered, her instincts on high alert. What’s wrong?
I dismissed the elders, their scents a mix of frustration and grudging respect as they filed out of the meeting room, their whispers fading behind them.
"You were amazing, Isabelle," Derek said, his voice a low rumble, his golden eyes shining with admiration, love.
He squeezed my hand, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through me, a spark of the forbidden desire we both tried to control.
“They respect you, Isabelle. They see your strength. Your wisdom. Your leadership.”
“It’s not about them, Derek,” I sighed, leaning back in the Alpha’s chair, suddenly exhausted, the weight of my responsibilities, my choices, my love, too much to bear.
"They are always judging me. “
“It’s about… us. About… our pup. About… the future.”
“We’ll figure it out, Isabelle,” he said, his voice a quiet reassurance, his gaze meeting mine, his love a beacon in the darkness.
“Together. Just like… always.”
But even as he spoke the words, a chill ran down my spine.
There was something in his eyes, a darkness, a flicker of something… wild, untamed, that made my wolf growl, her fur bristling.
“He’s… different, Isabelle.”
“What do you mean, different?” I asked, my voice sharp, trying to hide my concern, the fear that was growing inside me, a premonition of something… wrong.
“I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head, his golden eyes clouded with confusion.
“It’s just… a feeling. Like… like something’s… changed. Like… he’s not… himself.”
“He’s still grieving, Derek,” I said softly, trying to reassure him, to reassure myself.
“It takes time. He lost his father. His brother. It’s… it’s a lot to process.”
“I know,” he said, his voice a low rumble.
“But it’s… it’s more than that, Isabelle. It’s like… like there’s something… inside him. Something… dark. Something… dangerous.”
He turned away, his gaze fixed on the window, the moon a silver sliver in the night sky.
His scent, still pine and leather, now held a metallic tang, a sharpness, a coldness that made my wolf uneasy.
“He’s… he’s not the same, Isabelle.”
And as night fell, as the shadows lengthened in the Magnus packhouse, as the whispers of the elders echoed in the silent hallways, Derek’s unease intensified, his scent growing colder, sharper, laced with a darkness that made my wolf whimper, her instincts screaming a warning.
He paced the length of our bedroom, his movements restless, agitated, his golden eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows, as if searching for an enemy he couldn’t see, a threat he couldn’t name.
“What is it, Derek?” I asked, my voice soft, trying to soothe him, to understand the fear that radiated from him, the darkness that clung to him like a shroud.
“What’s… what’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer. He just kept pacing, his wolf a restless shadow beside him, his scent growing stronger, wilder, laced with a primal energy that both excited and terrified me.
“He’s changing, Isabelle,” my wolf whispered, her voice a mix of fear and a forbidden desire, a longing for the Alpha power he was embracing, the darkness he was becoming.
“He’s… becoming… something… more.”
“Derek, please,” I pleaded, my hand reaching out to him, wanting to touch him, to comfort him, to bring him back from the edge of whatever precipice he was teetering on.
“Talk to me. Tell me… what’s happening.”
He stopped pacing, his golden eyes meeting mine, but they were different now, colder, harder, filled with a wildness, a hunger, that made my heart pound.
“Don’t you… see, Isabelle?” he asked, his voice a low growl, a distortion of the warmth, the gentleness, I’d come to love.
“It’s… it’s happening… again.”
“What’s happening, Derek?” I asked, my voice trembling, my wolf cowering, sensing the change in him, the darkness that was rising, consuming him.
“What do you… mean?”
“The larva,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, his gaze fixed on me, his eyes burning with a fire that wasn't love, a darkness I recognized, a darkness I’d seen before, in Rowan’s eyes, in Marcus’s eyes, a legacy of pain, of loss, of a power that could destroy us all.
“The larva… it’s… it’s back.”
He lunged at me, his movements swift, predatory, his scent a mix of pine and a metallic tang, a coldness that made my blood run cold.
His golden eyes, no longer filled with love, but with a hunger, a rage, a darkness that mirrored Damien’s, held me captive.
“Derek, no!” I screamed, my hand instinctively going to my belly, protecting my pup, the life growing within me, the future I was determined to save, even if it meant sacrificing… everything.
“Don’t… don’t…”
But my words were lost in his growl, a primal sound of rage and hunger, as he pinned me against the wall, his claws extended, his fangs bared, his scent, a chilling reminder of the darkness he’d become, the love he’d betrayed, the monster he was now.
He’s not Derek anymore, Isabelle, my wolf whimpered, her voice filled with terror. He’s… he’s… something else.
“You’re… you’re mine, Isabelle,” he growled, his voice a distorted echo of the love he’d once whispered, his hot breath on my cheek a violation, a reminder of the nightmare that was unfolding, a destiny I couldn't escape.
“You… and the pup… you’re… both… mine.”
And as his lips, cold and demanding, pressed against mine, a cruel mockery of the love we’d shared, the future we’d dreamed of.
“The larva… it’s back.”
"You're pushing yourself too hard, Isabelle."
Jarrett's voice, a calm, steady presence in the midst of the storm raging around me, made me pause, my hand instinctively going to my swollen belly, a protective gesture, a reminder of the life growing within me, a future I was determined to protect.
I sat at the head of the long oak table in the Magnus pack meeting room, surrounded by a sea of faces – Mondragon and Magnus wolves.
It had been a grueling two years, navigating the complexities of leading two packs, balancing their traditions, their rivalries, their fears.
While also dealing with the physical and emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy in the last months, the constant worry for Derek, the guilt that gnawed at me, a shadow of Rowan’s sacrifice, his love, his loss.
"We can handle this, Jarrett," I said firmly.
"The rogue attacks on the eastern border, the trade negotiations with the Silverwood pack, the upcoming Alpha Summit… it's all under control."
But even as the words left my lips, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, a reminder of the sleepless nights, the constant worry, the pressure of leading two packs, of carrying a pup, of loving a wolf who wasn't my destined mate, a love that was both my strength and my weakness.
“You’re not sleeping, Isabelle,” Jarrett said softly, his gaze meeting mine, his amber eyes filled with concern.
“You’re pushing yourself too hard. You need to rest. For the pup. For… for yourself.”
“I’ll rest when I can, Jarrett,” I said, my voice a clipped command, pushing down the guilt, the worry, the exhaustion.
"Right now, I have a pack to lead. Two packs, actually. And I won't let them down. Not after… everything we’ve been through.”
The memory of the battle against Damien, the spirit realm’s chilling embrace, Rowan’s sacrifice, Carson’s betrayal, Derek’s grief… it was a heavy burden, a constant reminder of the price we’d paid, the darkness we’d faced, the love we’d lost, and the future we were fighting for.
“The elders are restless, Isabelle,” Jarrett continued, his voice a low rumble, his gaze flickering towards the other wolves in the room.
“They’re questioning your leadership. Your… your relationship with Derek. They…”
He hesitated, his words trailing off, unable to voice the unspoken accusation that hung heavy in the air, the whispers that followed me, the doubts that plagued me.
“They still blame you, Isabelle. For… for Rowan’s death,” my wolf whimpered, her voice a mournful echo in my heart.
“They think… That you… you’re the reason… he’s…”
He’s not coming back, Isabelle.
“The summit is just days away, Alpha,” Jarrett’s voice, a gentle reminder of my duty, my responsibility, brought me back to the present, to the task at hand.
“We need to be prepared. We need to present a united front. We can’t let Alaric… see our… weakness.”
He was right. The Alpha Summit was crucial.
A chance to forge new alliances, to strengthen our defenses, to protect our packs from the growing threat of rogue attacks, of Alaric’s ambition, of the darkness that still lingered in the shadows of our world.
But how could I lead when my own heart was so divided? When the weight of my choices, my love for Derek, my guilt over Rowan, my fear for the future, threatened to crush me?
“I’ll be ready, Jarrett,” I said, my voice firm, the Alpha mask firmly in place.
“I won’t let them down. I won’t let… anyone down.”
But even as I spoke the words, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me, a reminder of the life growing within me.
“You’re not alone, Isabelle,” Derek’s voice, a low rumble, filled with a love that made my heart ache, was a welcome anchor in the storm raging within me.
He stepped forward, his hand resting on my back, his touch sending a wave of warmth through me, chasing away the chill, the fear, the doubt.
“We’ll face this… together.”
I looked at him, at the Alpha he had become, the weight of leadership he now carried, his golden eyes filled with a quiet strength, a love that defied the rules, a bond that had been forged in the fires of loss and grief. And I knew, with a certainty that settled deep in my soul, that we would.
Together.
The meeting dragged on, the elders’ voices a droning hum, their concerns and complaints a litany of doubts and fears that mirrored my own.
But I held firm, my Alpha mask in place, my gaze steady, my voice calm, projecting an image of strength and control I didn’t fully feel.
Derek sat beside me, a silent presence, his warmth a comfort, his love a shield.
But even as I clung to his strength, a flicker of unease, a whisper of a fear I couldn't quite shake, lingered at the edge of my awareness.
It was something in his scent, a subtle shift, a darkness I’d sensed before, a darkness I’d hoped he’d overcome.
What is it, Derek? My wolf whimpered, her instincts on high alert. What’s wrong?
I dismissed the elders, their scents a mix of frustration and grudging respect as they filed out of the meeting room, their whispers fading behind them.
"You were amazing, Isabelle," Derek said, his voice a low rumble, his golden eyes shining with admiration, love.
He squeezed my hand, his touch sending a jolt of warmth through me, a spark of the forbidden desire we both tried to control.
“They respect you, Isabelle. They see your strength. Your wisdom. Your leadership.”
“It’s not about them, Derek,” I sighed, leaning back in the Alpha’s chair, suddenly exhausted, the weight of my responsibilities, my choices, my love, too much to bear.
"They are always judging me. “
“It’s about… us. About… our pup. About… the future.”
“We’ll figure it out, Isabelle,” he said, his voice a quiet reassurance, his gaze meeting mine, his love a beacon in the darkness.
“Together. Just like… always.”
But even as he spoke the words, a chill ran down my spine.
There was something in his eyes, a darkness, a flicker of something… wild, untamed, that made my wolf growl, her fur bristling.
“He’s… different, Isabelle.”
“What do you mean, different?” I asked, my voice sharp, trying to hide my concern, the fear that was growing inside me, a premonition of something… wrong.
“I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head, his golden eyes clouded with confusion.
“It’s just… a feeling. Like… like something’s… changed. Like… he’s not… himself.”
“He’s still grieving, Derek,” I said softly, trying to reassure him, to reassure myself.
“It takes time. He lost his father. His brother. It’s… it’s a lot to process.”
“I know,” he said, his voice a low rumble.
“But it’s… it’s more than that, Isabelle. It’s like… like there’s something… inside him. Something… dark. Something… dangerous.”
He turned away, his gaze fixed on the window, the moon a silver sliver in the night sky.
His scent, still pine and leather, now held a metallic tang, a sharpness, a coldness that made my wolf uneasy.
“He’s… he’s not the same, Isabelle.”
And as night fell, as the shadows lengthened in the Magnus packhouse, as the whispers of the elders echoed in the silent hallways, Derek’s unease intensified, his scent growing colder, sharper, laced with a darkness that made my wolf whimper, her instincts screaming a warning.
He paced the length of our bedroom, his movements restless, agitated, his golden eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows, as if searching for an enemy he couldn’t see, a threat he couldn’t name.
“What is it, Derek?” I asked, my voice soft, trying to soothe him, to understand the fear that radiated from him, the darkness that clung to him like a shroud.
“What’s… what’s wrong?”
He didn’t answer. He just kept pacing, his wolf a restless shadow beside him, his scent growing stronger, wilder, laced with a primal energy that both excited and terrified me.
“He’s changing, Isabelle,” my wolf whispered, her voice a mix of fear and a forbidden desire, a longing for the Alpha power he was embracing, the darkness he was becoming.
“He’s… becoming… something… more.”
“Derek, please,” I pleaded, my hand reaching out to him, wanting to touch him, to comfort him, to bring him back from the edge of whatever precipice he was teetering on.
“Talk to me. Tell me… what’s happening.”
He stopped pacing, his golden eyes meeting mine, but they were different now, colder, harder, filled with a wildness, a hunger, that made my heart pound.
“Don’t you… see, Isabelle?” he asked, his voice a low growl, a distortion of the warmth, the gentleness, I’d come to love.
“It’s… it’s happening… again.”
“What’s happening, Derek?” I asked, my voice trembling, my wolf cowering, sensing the change in him, the darkness that was rising, consuming him.
“What do you… mean?”
“The larva,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, his gaze fixed on me, his eyes burning with a fire that wasn't love, a darkness I recognized, a darkness I’d seen before, in Rowan’s eyes, in Marcus’s eyes, a legacy of pain, of loss, of a power that could destroy us all.
“The larva… it’s… it’s back.”
He lunged at me, his movements swift, predatory, his scent a mix of pine and a metallic tang, a coldness that made my blood run cold.
His golden eyes, no longer filled with love, but with a hunger, a rage, a darkness that mirrored Damien’s, held me captive.
“Derek, no!” I screamed, my hand instinctively going to my belly, protecting my pup, the life growing within me, the future I was determined to save, even if it meant sacrificing… everything.
“Don’t… don’t…”
But my words were lost in his growl, a primal sound of rage and hunger, as he pinned me against the wall, his claws extended, his fangs bared, his scent, a chilling reminder of the darkness he’d become, the love he’d betrayed, the monster he was now.
He’s not Derek anymore, Isabelle, my wolf whimpered, her voice filled with terror. He’s… he’s… something else.
“You’re… you’re mine, Isabelle,” he growled, his voice a distorted echo of the love he’d once whispered, his hot breath on my cheek a violation, a reminder of the nightmare that was unfolding, a destiny I couldn't escape.
“You… and the pup… you’re… both… mine.”
And as his lips, cold and demanding, pressed against mine, a cruel mockery of the love we’d shared, the future we’d dreamed of.
“The larva… it’s back.”
End of The Alpha's forbidden omega mate Chapter 271. Continue reading Chapter 272 or return to The Alpha's forbidden omega mate book page.