The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Rowan POV:
"Members of the Magnus and Mondragon packs, hear me!"
Boomed my father's voice. He was the Alpha of our pack, and he was talking to a big crowd from both our pack and Isabelle's pack.
I was standing next to Isabelle, who was now officially my wife, but I felt all cooped up because of all the fancy traditions.
"As alpha of our noble lineage, it is my honor to preside over this ceremonial transfer of power to my heir - Rowan."
Everyone started whispering a little. I held my head high, trying not to feel nervous. This was the moment I'd been training for my whole life.
"Rowan Magnus, step forward and receive your official charge," my father instructed.
I stepped away from Isabelle and walked confidently to the front, stopping next to my father.
"Do you vow to uphold the honored traditions and duties of an alpha leader?" he prompted, following the ancient script to the letter. "To protect and guide our ancestral pack at all costs?"
"I do so vow," I looked straight into his eyes and said my answer in a loud, clear voice.
We didn't say anything else for a moment, it felt really long. Then, he sighed loudly and nodded once, looking serious.
"Alright then," he said, standing up in his full weight. He turned to talk to everyone again.
"I, Marcus Magnus, hereby forfeit my title and status to my heir and blood successor," he announced in a booming voice.
"That he may lead the unified Magnus-Mondragon pack as its new ruling alpha."
He looked at me with that same disappointed look he always had. "Alpha Rowan, may you reign long and soon sire many healthy pups...with our new luna and equal Alpha."
The last part was practically spat out, and even smirked at Isabelle. A few wolves in the crowd chuckled and whispered a little.
I got mad because of the rude comment. But before I could say anything, Isabelle stepped forward with a calm smile on her face.
"Thank you very much, respected former alpha," she said in a sweet voice, bowing way down in a sarcastic way.
"We truly... appreciate your faith in our ability to have lots of pups."
Isabelle came closer and put her hand in mine like she was claiming me. I let her do it, even though it felt awkward, because I didn't want to cause a scene.
"Well, here we are, the start of something new," Isabelle whispered like she knew I was upset.
She fluttered her eyelashes at me playfully. "So, new alpha, how about we celebrate in the proper way?"
Before I could get even more tense because of what Isabelle said, some people in the crowd started clapping.
"Hooray for Alpha Rowan and Luna Isabelle!" a man in a fancy outfit yelled really loud.
"May your first litter be big and strong!"
Everyone cheered after that. My shoulders got tight, and my wolf inside me felt disgusted.
But Isabelle seemed happy and waved at everyone like a queen.
"We'll see what happens in the future," she said in a low voice, almost like a purr.
Then she looked at me directly with her eyes half closed, in a way that could almost seem flirty... if I didn't know her better.
I flinched away from Isabelle's touch like it was hot, feeling totally disgusted by what she meant.
But she just laughed in a creepy way, not even caring that I clearly didn't like it.
Before I could think of something to say back, Father pushed through the crowd and stopped near us.
"Don't get too happy being the new alpha just yet, son," he said to me with a sneer. "Being alpha is more than just fancy titles and acting like a bossy dog."
He looked at Isabelle for a second, then turned back to me. "You're gonna need a lot of help from the elders to make sure you don't mess everything up because you're dumb or too emotional."
My hands turned into fists because I really wanted to punch something.
Father, like always, was talking down to me. It felt like everything I ever did wasn't good enough for him, like he'd been disappointed in me forever.
"With all due respect, Father,"I forced myself to say calmly, even though I was grinding my teeth together.
"I think I've shown I can be a good alpha, so maybe I can make some decisions on my own now?"
He scoffed, like he didn't believe me a bit. "Really? You think acting all lovey-dovey with that troublemaker omega girl is how you lead a pack?"
That did it. I couldn't take it anymore. In two big steps, I was right in front of the former alpha, my father, my face inches from his.
"She is my true mate, my lady, and you will show her respect! I mean it this time...Father."
My voice shook a little because I was so mad, but I tried to sound tough. Father seemed surprised for a second, then he looked even angrier.
"Such crazy love for a low-ranking omega girl," he growled in a disgusted voice. "No wonder my daughter-in-law got rid of her."
My blood ran cold. "What?" I croaked, my voice barely a whisper.
All the air whooshed out of me.
Father looked happy about how shocked I was.
"Yeah, Isabelle did the right thing by kicking your stray omega out of our pack forever," he said, enjoying my confusion.
"No more worries about her or that... thing she was carrying."
His words hit me like a punch. I couldn't understand what he was saying.
"Where's Catrina?" I roared, my fists clenched so hard they were turning white.
Isabelle just raised one eyebrow at me, like she wasn't worried at all. But my dad, he looked super disgusted.
"Calm down, son," he sneered. "That low-life omega and her pup are gone for good, and that's a good thing."
Rage burned inside me at his awful words about Catrina and our baby. I couldn't see straight, and I took a step closer to him without even meaning to.
"Don't you dare talk about Catrina like that!" I growled, my voice low and scary. "She's gonna be my mate again, like it or not!"
My dad's eyes got really mad at my rude words. Before we could yell some more, Derek jumped between us.
"Okay, okay, everyone calm down!" Derek said in a soothing voice, holding his hands up like a peace sign. "We're a pack, remember? No fighting on a super important day like this!"
I wasn't really listening. My wolf was freaking out inside me, all I could think about was finding Catrina.
"Derek, move!" I snarled at him, showing my teeth like a mad dog. "I gotta find Catrina before something bad happens!"
Derek looked scared for a second when he saw my wild eyes. But then he took a deep breath and tried to sound calm.
"I can't let you do that, Rowan," he said evenly. "Not until you chill out a little. Alphas aren't supposed to act crazy."
The way he talked down to me, like I was a little kid, made me super mad. I couldn't hold myself back any longer. I roared like a beast.
"Don't forget who you're talking to, Derek!" I yelled, grabbing his shirt and shoving him against a wall.
"I'm the alpha now, and you gotta do what I say!"
Derek grunted when I shoved him, but he didn't shove back. He just stared at me with wild eyes, not scared at all.
"Rowan," he said sadly, shaking his head. "I don't think you're really the leader just yet."
His words made me even madder. How could my own brother say that after Dad officially stepped down?
"Watch it, Derek!" I yelled right in his face, my wolf almost taking over. "You can't disobey the alpha!"
Derek just shook his head again, looking kind of sorry for me? I finally understood what was going on when I heard Dad's voice, sharp as a knife.
"Listen to your brother, you jerk," Dad sneered.
"No son of mine could be Alpha after that crazy outburst."
I turned around to face him, still holding onto Derek's shirt. Dad's voice was cold and final, and it made me feel scared, deep down.
"You and that omega whore of yours have had your fun pretending to be in charge," Dad went on in that same mean, emotionless voice.
"But it's time for me to take back control before you two embarrass our family forever."
Looking super pleased with himself and not sorry one bit, Dad snapped his fingers. A bunch of big guards from the crowd walked over to us, separating from the people watching in shock.
"Take this punk to the jail cells until I decide how to punish them," Dad ordered, waving his hand dismissively.
"Maybe some time locked up will teach him some manners."
I was shocked and upset. This was my big day, the day I became alpha! I wouldn't let them treat me like a troublemaker who didn't belong.
With a growl of defiance, I shoved Derek away hard and faced the guards approaching me.
My wolf wanted to take over completely.
Years of anger at my dad's mean way of ruling bubbled up inside me.
No more, I thought fiercely. No more following his every order, no more being afraid of him.
I was the Alpha now, and I was finally going to stand up to him!
The guards saw how angry I looked and how I wasn't backing down. They stopped walking towards me so quickly and looked unsure of what to do next.
"ENOUGH!!"
Even though things were getting crazy, Isabelle stood tall and straight.
She was super mad and glared at both my dad and me.
"What's going on here?!" she hissed, somehow looking like a queen even though everything was chaotic.
"Are you guys really fighting like commoners in the street?!"
She turned to my dad first and gave him a look that could melt metal.
"Alpha Marcus," she said in a quiet voice that sounded dangerous.
"Are you trying to take away my husband's power like he's a regular criminal? Is that how much respect you give to our marriage after my pack and I agreed to your strange rules?"
My dad wasn't scared of her. He looked at her right back and puffed out his chest.
"When your husband acts crazy and doesn't follow the old ways, he loses his power until he learns to behave!" he yelled back in a brave voice.
Isabelle's eyes got really small and her jaw clenched. She was trying really hard not to lose her temper, which everyone knew was legendary.
"So you're trying to take away my leadership because we don't agree on something small?" she asked slowly, gritting her teeth between each word.
She shook her head slightly and looked at my dad in a new way.
"I have to say, I'm not very impressed by how little you trust your own son."
There was a quiet stand-off between Isabelle and my dad, like they were in a staring contest.
Finally, my dad looked away first, his lip curling up in a grumpy way. He waved his hand dismissively at the guards, telling them to go back to where they came from.
"Fine," he grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"Deal with my disobedient son however you want, Mondragon. But just remember, don't let his bad attitude spread to the rest of the pack."