The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Rowan POV:
I tore through the bushes, branches scratching my face as I ran like crazy on all fours. My wolf muscles ached something fierce, and I could barely breathe.
"Get a grip, Rowan," I growled internally.
"Catrina needs you. You can't give up now!"
But I had to keep going, I couldn't slow down at all. Not until I was far, far away from that awful place.
"Just a little further," I willed myself, pushing past the burn in my lungs.
"Just a little further, and I'll be free."
A stick ripped into my back leg, making me yelp in pain. I cursed under my breath, annoyed at myself for being so clumsy.
There you go, Rowan, tripping all over yourself like a newborn pup. Real impressive, that.
"Shut up," I growled internally, snapping at the self-deprecating voice in my head.
This wasn't the time for doubt. If Father's pack found me stumbling like a tiny pup, I might as well be back in their prison.
That thought scared me even more, and I ran harder, the dark trees becoming a blur as I pushed myself to escape.
Finally, a sharp pain in my side forced me to stop. I skidded to a halt, panting like crazy.
My chest felt tight, and I crouched low on the ground, tail tucked between my legs. My whole body shook from running so hard for so long.
A thin line of blood dripped from a cut on my paw where a sharp rock had gotten me.
Lifting my head, I squinted through the dark woods. Somehow, I'd managed to escape that awful pack.
A wave of sadness hit me as I realized how bad things were. No friends, no supplies, not even a clue where I was or how to get back to Catrina.
All I had were ripped clothes and a burning need to get back to my mate, my one true love.
Were Dad's guards looking for me? Did he really kick me out forever? Both options made me shiver.
Even though I wanted to keep running, to get as far away as possible, my tired body wouldn't let me.
With a frustrated sigh, I slumped down on my haunches.
Taking a break wouldn't hurt. I needed all my strength if I was ever going to find my way to the Mondragon lands and Catrina.
Thinking about Catrina, my strong and beautiful mate, made my heart ache. I really hoped she was okay, that Alpha Isabelle wasn't being mean to her while I was stuck out here alone.
I let out a low whimper and curled up to rest my sore paws. My mind wandered back to when things were easier before everything went wrong...
I shifted restlessly on the soft, comfy furs in my sleeping area, not wanting to wake up just yet. Sunlight peeked through the curtains, like a gentle invitation to start the day.
But I snuggled deeper under the covers, wanting to hold onto sleep for a little longer. I could already hear the pack waking up around me, but that didn't apply to me.
As the only heir and future leader, the son of Alpha Marcus, I got some special treatment.
The sound of the fancy tent door opening made me perk up a bit. A familiar scent filled the air, comforting and warm - it was Dad, Alpha Marcus, coming inside.
"Still sleeping in, champ?" Dad rumbled in a playful voice.
He smiled warmly and sat down next to me on his haunches.
I opened one eye slowly and pretended to be grumpy as he nudged my cheek with his nose.
Even though I acted annoyed, I couldn't help but cuddle closer to his big, warm body.
"Hey, let the pup sleep," another deep voice said in a joking way.
"He's the future leader, gotta save his energy for ruling the pack."
Uncle Jarret walked into the room too, his muscles showing under his shiny black fur.
had a big grin on his face and smelled like he'd had a fun night out.
"Unlike some of us lazy bums who have work to do!" Dad said back, but he didn't sound mad.
He flicked his ear at Uncle Jarret playfully.
Chuckling, Uncle Jarret sat down next to us.
"If I had the prettiest girls in the pack keeping me company, I'd sleep in all day too, little prince."
He winked at me in a way that made me groan and roll my eyes. Even as a kid, I kind of understood the not-so-nice things he was hinting at.
"Leave him alone, Jarret," Dad said gently.
"He'll have his own harem of she-wolves soon."
Something weird tickled in the back of my mind then, like a feeling that what Dad said wasn't exactly true. But the feeling went away fast, and I felt happy and safe with my family around me.
That peaceful time in my comfy sleeping spot didn't last...
Soon, I was alone a lot, with nobody to play with or teach me things.
The only times Uncle Jarret or Dad came to see me, they'd yell at me for acting out or not taking things seriously.
I never really understood what they meant by "the cause."
Over time, I got bitter. I hated being alone and felt like they expected too much from me. I started acting worse and worse, hurting myself in the process.
Blinking back at the dark forest, I realized it had been years since those lazy, spoiled days. So much had happened, so much was gone...
A sad whimper escaped me as grief hit me again. I wasted so many years, listening to the wrong people back then.
Because of my bad choices, I lost everything. No more family pack, no Catrina, my mate, and no pup on the way...
Despair filled me up like a black ocean, threatening to swallow me whole. My wolf howled long and sad, a cry of pain and loss to the moon that didn't even care.
"Hey, you okay there, buddy?"