The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Rowan POV:
My eyes slowly fluttered open. The bright light hurt for a second, then it got better.
As the fuzzy shapes around me came into focus, my heart jumped. There was Catrina, right next to me, her face worried sick.
"Catrina..." I croaked, reaching out to grab her hand.
Her fingers locked with mine in a tight squeeze.
"You're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief.
"How are you feeling?"
"A little sore," I mumbled, "but way better now that you're here."
I looked at her face, memorizing every detail. I thought I might never see her again.
Tears welled up in Catrina's eyes. "I was so worried about you! Where have you been all this time?"
I let out a tired sigh.
"On the run. After my father called me a traitor and sent people after me, I had to hide. I just wanted to find a way back to you."
"Oh, Rowan..." she whispered, leaning down to hug me gently.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. I missed you so much."
I held her close, enjoying her smell. It made me feel better. "All I could think about was getting back to you and our pup."
Catrina pulled back a little and touched my cheek. "Is it really over now? Will Marcus leave us alone?"
I wanted to say yes, but I didn't know.
"I don't know for sure," I admitted. "But I do know that no matter what, I won't let anyone separate us again. You and our little one are my whole world."
Catrina smiled, then rested her forehead against mine.
Suddenly, Isabelle coughed from across the room. I looked at her, her face hard to read.
"I hate to interrupt your sweet reunion," she said, but it didn't sound nice. "We have things to talk about, Rowan."
I tensed, pulling Catrina closer. Isabelle had helped me, but I still didn't trust her completely.
"Actually, Isabelle," I said, looking between her and Catrina. "I don't want any more secrets from her. Whatever you need to say, I want Catrina to hear it, too."
Isabelle raised one eyebrow but didn’t disagree with me.
Finally, she spoke, her voice clear and cold.
“The Alpha’s true mate,” she explained, “becomes the Luna, and shares the leader’s power and duties. But in this, well, unusual situation,” she said slowly, “that role would be more temporary.”
I snorted, a laugh without humor. “Me, as your Luna? That’s scary to think about.”
To my surprise, Isabelle laughed for real. It was a rich, full sound that I wouldn’t normally expect from her. The laugh seemed to relax her face for a moment, making her look almost friendly.
“Scary, isn’t it?” she chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye.
“Maybe we should make up a new word – ‘Luno’ for a male Luna?”
The craziness of it all hit me, and even though things were serious, I couldn’t help but laugh a little.
It felt good to laugh, even at something silly.
“Luna Rowan, at your service,” I said, bowing my head playfully.
Isabelle’s smile turned serious.
“Don’t get too used to the title,” she warned.
“I’m just trying to help you get back in charge of the Magnus pack after what your awful father did to them.”
The happy mood disappeared instantly.
Thinking about My father, Marcus, his betrayal and meanness, filled me with anger.
Catrina must have noticed my mood change because she leaned in and put her hand on mine, silently comforting me.
“So,” I said, trying to sound calm, “how exactly will you help me take back control?”
Isabelle looked at me and Catrina.
“First,” she said, “we need to prove you’re the rightful heir. There are still good people in the Magnus pack who remember how bad things were when your father was in charge. They’ll help us change everyone’s minds.”
“How do we find them?” I asked, feeling a little hopeful.
“We have our ways,” Isabelle said mysteriously. “There are rumors that some Magnus pack members are unhappy. We just need to listen carefully.”
"What about my father?" I blurted out, furious. "What happens to him?"
Isabelle's eyes narrowed for a second. "Justice will be served, Rowan. But right now, we need to weaken his control over the pack. Once enough people doubt him, we can make our move."
I nodded slowly, trying to understand everything.
It was a risky plan, for sure, but my only chance to get back what's rightfully mine and show everyone what a monster Marcus really is.
"So what do we do next?" I asked, needing a plan.
"How exactly will you help me take charge?"
Isabelle looked determined.
"We'll get support from my allies in the Mondragon pack, and find new ones within the Magnus pack itself. We might be outnumbered now, but I have ways to shift the power back in our favor."
Her confidence calmed me down some, but a tiny voice in my head still worried. Isabelle was strong, but my father was cruel and wouldn't stop easily.
Isabelle seemed to sense my fear. She leaned forward, looking me straight in the eye.
"Trust me, Rowan. This is what I'm good at - fighting for what's mine. Now, it's yours too. Together, we'll take back control and make the Magnus pack a great place again. A place where everyone will be treated with love and respect like they deserve."
Her words eased my worries, at least for a little while.
I looked at Catrina, saw a spark of hope in her eyes, and knew I had to trust Isabelle to keep her promises.
I pulled Catrina close again and kissed her softly on the forehead.
No matter how tough things got, I knew I had to fight for my family. They meant everything to me.
"We're going to get through this," I whispered in her ear. "All of us, together."