The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 275: Chapter 275

Catrina POV:
The air crackled with an ancient power, a primal energy that made my wolf whimper, her silver fur bristling, her senses on high alert.
I stood at the edge of the clearing, the towering peaks of the Drakhor mountains.
Emma stood beside me, her hand gripping mine, her human scent a comforting presence in this strange, unsettling place, her blue eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear, a reflection of my own emotions.
“Are you ready for this, Catrina?” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the wind that howled through the mountain passes, a mournful sound that echoed the whispers of the spirits, the secrets of the ancient ones.
“I don’t know, Emma,” I admitted, my voice a tremor of uncertainty, my gaze fixed on the towering peaks, the Drakhor Clan’s stronghold, a place of power and mystery, a sanctuary for werewolves who walked between worlds.
“But I have to try. I have to talk to King Korvash. He's the only one who can bring Rowan back.”
The memory of his fading scent, the warmth leaving his body, the emptiness in his amber eyes, fueled my determination, a desperate hope that even death couldn't extinguish.
“I know, Cat,” Emma said softly, squeezing my hand, her touch a warm reassurance.
“I know you have to do this. For Rowan. For all of us.”
Her words, a reminder of the love we shared, sparked a flicker of courage in my heart, a strength that echoed Lyra’s warrior spirit, a power that Damien’s darkness hadn’t been able to destroy.
“Let’s go,” I said, my voice firmer now, my gaze steady, my wolf pacing restlessly beside me, her silver fur gleaming, her amber eyes blazing with a newfound determination.
“Let’s do this.”
We walked towards the mountains, the air growing colder, the scent of pine and snow and ancient magic intensifying, warning us, urging us forward.
As we approached the Drakhor Clan’s stronghold, the gates, massive and imposing, carved with ancient runes that pulsed with a faint, green light, swung open, as if welcoming us, inviting us in.
Two Drakhor warriors, their silver fur gleaming, their amber eyes sharp and alert, stood guard, their scents a mix of pine and a primal energy that made my wolf bristle, a reminder of the power they possessed, the ancient magic they wielded.
“Catrina Blanc,” one of the warriors said, his voice a low rumble, his gaze piercing, as if seeing into my very soul.
“You have been expected. The Alpha King awaits.”
They stepped aside, and the path to King Korvash, to the power I sought, to the love I was fighting to reclaim, opened up before me.
It was a path that led towards a destiny I wasn’t sure I was ready for, a truth I wasn’t sure I could face.
But as I took that first step, my hand still clasped in Emma’s, her human warmth a grounding presence, a reminder of the world I was fighting for, I knew, with a certainty that settled deep in my soul, that I had to try.
The Drakhor stronghold was a labyrinth of stone corridors and hidden chambers, the air thick with the scent of incense and herbs, of ancient magic and whispered secrets.
The walls were covered in intricate carvings, depicting scenes of battles and rituals, of wolves and spirits, of a world that existed beyond the veil, a world I was now a part of.
The Drakhor warriors led us through the winding corridors, their silent presence a constant reminder of the power they possessed, the ancient laws they upheld, the destiny they were bound to.
We finally reached a massive oak door, its surface carved with runes that pulsed with a green light, a symbol of the Alpha King’s power, the gateway to his inner sanctum.
One of the warriors pushed the door open, and we stepped inside.
The room was circular, its high ceiling lost in shadows, the air thick with the scent of pine and power.
A fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow that did little to dispel the chilling presence of the Alpha King, who sat on a throne of carved obsidian, his silver fur gleaming in the firelight, his icy blue eyes piercing, a reflection of the ancient wisdom he possessed, the power he wielded, the destiny he controlled.
“Catrina Blanc,” his voice, a deep rumble that echoed through the chamber, made my wolf whimper, a primal instinct to submit, to obey.
“You have come far. You have faced your fears. You have proven yourself worthy.”
He paused, his gaze lingering on me, his words a judgment, an assessment, a recognition of the power he sensed within me, the love that fueled my determination.
“You seek to undo what has been done,” he continued, his voice a low growl, “to rewrite destiny. To reclaim what you have lost.”
“Yes, Alpha King,” I said, my voice a tremor of uncertainty, but my gaze steady, meeting his icy blue eyes, a defiance that came from the heart of my love, the depth of my grief, the strength of my wolf.
“I seek to bring Rowan back.”
He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that did little to ease my unease.
“You speak of a power beyond your comprehension, Catrina Blanc. A power that defies the very laws of nature. A power that even I wield with caution.”
“But you have that power, Alpha King,” I said, my voice gaining strength, a desperate hope fueling my words.
“Rowan, he made a deal with you. He said you gave him a chance to change things. To save me. But it came at a price. He had to sacrifice our memories. Our love. Our future.”
My voice cracked, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They streamed down my cheeks, a silent testament to a grief that had been my constant companion, a pain that time hadn't healed.
“But I don’t want that life, Alpha King,” I pleaded, my voice breaking.
“I don’t want a life without him. I I want my mate. My Alpha. My love. I want Rowan back.”
He studied me for a moment, his gaze intense, his icy blue eyes piercing, as if seeing into my very soul, weighing my worth, assessing my love.
And then, he sighed, a long, drawn-out sound that echoed the whispers of the wind through the ancient mountains, the secrets of the spirit realm, the weight of his decision.
“You speak of a love that is rare, Catrina Blanc. A love that transcends lifetimes. A love that even Damien’s darkness could not extinguish.”
He paused, his gaze meeting mine, his words a warning, a truth I couldn’t ignore.
“But undoing the ritual is not without its consequences. The magic is ancient. Powerful. And unpredictable.”
“I'll do anything, Alpha King,” I said, my voice hoarse, the desperation I felt betraying my carefully constructed mask of indifference.
“I’ll pay any price. I have to bring him back.”
“The price, Catrina Blanc,” he said, his voice a low growl, “it may be higher than you imagine. The magic it demands balance. An exchange. A life for a life.”
His words, a chilling prophecy, made my blood run cold.
“What are you talking about, Alpha King?” I whispered, my voice a tremor of fear, my wolf whimpering, her claws digging into the stone floor, desperate to escape, to protect.
“What do you mean a life for a life?”
He looked at me then, his icy blue eyes holding mine, and the truth, a devastating realization, a destiny I hadn’t anticipated, hit me like a physical blow.
“Rowan he made a deal with me, Catrina,” he said, his voice a low rumble, a reminder of the sacrifice my mate had made, the love he'd been willing to give up.
“He offered his own life to save yours. To rewrite your destiny. To give you a second chance.”
He paused, his gaze intense, his words a chilling explanation, a truth I couldn’t deny.
“And now if I am to undo that ritual, if I am to bring him back, the balance must be restored. A life for a life. His life was given to save yours. And now yours must be given to save his.”
He’s asking me to take Rowan's place. My wolf howled, a primal scream of denial, a fierce protectiveness that battled with my love for him, my desperate need to have him back.
I can’t do that, Catrina. I can't let you die.
“I understand, Alpha King,” I said, my voice a shaky whisper, but my gaze steady, meeting his, a newfound resolve hardening my heart, a love that defied even death itself.
“I accept the price. Bring him back. Take my life. Save Rowan.”