The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 56: Chapter 56

FLASHBACK:
Several years earlier, in the heart of the Magnus pack territory, Henri and Maggie were young and happy. They had just been mated and married.
They were excited about their future together.
"Can you believe it, Mags?" Henri grinned, nuzzling Maggie's neck.
"We're finally mates! No more sneaking around, no more hiding our love."
Maggie giggled, running her fingers through Henri's thick, dark hair.
"I know, it's like a dream come true. No more worrying about what the pack elders will say."
Their happiness was interrupted by the loud voice of Marcus Magnus, the Alpha of the Magnus pack.
"Henri! Maggie! There you are," he called, walking towards them with a big smile. "I've been looking all over for you two."
Henri and Maggie exchanged a quick, nervous glance before turning to face their Alpha.
"Alpha Marcus," Henri said respectfully. "What can we do for you?"
Marcus clapped a heavy hand on Henri's shoulder. "I have a special task for my two most promising young wolves. One that will secure your place in the pack for years to come."
Maggie frowned a little. "A task, Alpha? What exactly do you want us to do?"
Marcus' eyes shone with ambition. "I'm starting a new breeding program. It will make our pack the strongest in the area. And I want you two to be the first to join."
Henri and Maggie exchanged another uneasy look.
"Breeding program?" Henri asked carefully. "What does that mean, exactly?"
Marcus waved a hand. "Nothing too complicated. You two are already mated, so Maggie here will have the pups. The strongest ones will join the pack and carry on our legacy."
Maggie felt uneasy. "But Alpha, shouldn't we have a say in when we start a family? Isn't that a personal decision?"
Marcus' expression darkened. "This isn't up for discussion. As your Alpha, I'm ordering you to take part in this program. It's for the good of the pack."
Henri pulled Maggie closer, a protective growl in his chest.
"With all due respect, Alpha, this doesn't feel right. Forcing mates to breed on command goes against our traditions."
Marcus' eyes narrowed. "Traditions? The old ways are holding us back. It's time for a new era where the Magnus pack is supreme. We need to make tough decisions, whether you like it or not."
Henri's muscles tensed, and his grip on Maggie tightened. She placed a calming hand on his arm, sensing a fight brewing.
"Alpha Marcus, please. Surely there's another way we can help the pack without... this breeding program," she pleaded. "We're still so young, there's so much more we could do."
Marcus' expression hardened. "My mind is made up. You will mate and breed, or face the consequences. The pack needs strong, pure-blooded pups to carry on the legacy. Anything less is unacceptable."
Henri's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with defiance. "We won't do it, Alpha. This is wrong, and we won't be a part of it."
Years later Maggie found herself scrambled through the tangled forest, clutching her newborn daughter, Catrina, close.
Catrina was born weak, an omega, a type of wolf meant for nurturing and serving their pack.
This made her dangerous in Marcus' eyes.
The echoes of Henri and Marcus' brutal fight still buzzed in her ears.
She had to escape, protect Catrina at all costs. Marcus wouldn't stop until he took Catrina, twisting her into his twisted vision for the pack.
"Hang on, my little one," Maggie whispered, her voice shaky. "Mommy's got you. We'll be okay, I promise."
Maggie spotted a cave opening, partly hidden by vines. Without hesitation, she ducked inside, scanning for danger.
She carefully laid Catrina down, wrapping her in extra blankets. The baby whimpered, sensing her mother's fear.
"Shh, shh," Maggie cooed, stroking Catrina's cheek. "It's okay, my love. You're safe now."
Maggie’s lungs burned as she ran, the forest floor a mess of mud and leaves. She could hear Marcus' heavy footsteps.
"You can't hide from me, Maggie!" the Alpha roared, his voice mean. "Give me the pup, or you'll die!"
Maggie pushed harder, her legs screaming in pain. She had to keep going, get as far away from Catrina as possible.
Suddenly, she tripped on a root, tumbling to the ground. Pain shot through her as she hit the hard earth.
Before she could even move, a shadow loomed over her. Maggie's heart froze. Marcus stood before her, his wolf features twisted in a menacing snarl.
"End of the line, omega," he growled, his fangs bared.
Maggie scrambled back, her hands clawing at the dirt. But Marcus was faster, stronger. There was nowhere to run.
"Please," Maggie begged, her voice trembling. "Don't hurt my baby. Take me instead, just leave Catrina be!"
Marcus laughed cruelly. "Oh, I'll take you, Maggie. But the pup is coming with me, whether you like it or not."
Maggie's eyes widened in horror as Marcus lunged. But before he could strike, Henri slammed into him, knocking him off balance.
"Get away from my mate, you monster!" Henri roared, his wolf form towering over Maggie.
Marcus snarled, shaking off the impact. "I should have known you'd come crawling back."
Henri bared his teeth, hackles raised. "I'm not the traitor, Marcus. You are trying to break apart my family!"
The two wolves circled each other, their growls rumbling like thunder.
Maggie watched in horror, praying Henri could hold his own against the powerful Magnus Alpha.
Marcus lunged, his jaws snapping dangerously close to Henri's throat. They tumbled across the forest floor, fighting for the upper hand.
Maggie wanted to help, but she couldn't leave Catrina. All she could do was watch, her heart pounding.
The battle raged on, neither of them backing down. But slowly, Marcus' strength began to wear Henri down.
Marcus pinned Henri to the ground, his massive paws crushing the younger one's chest. Henri whimpered, his strength fading.
"Pathetic," Marcus spat, dripping with contempt.
"Did you really think you could challenge me, boy? I am the Alpha, the true ruler. No one will stand in my way."
Maggie watched in horror as Marcus prepared to deliver the killing blow. She wanted to scream, throw herself between them, but she knew it was futile.
Just as Marcus was about to strike, a desperate howl echoed through the forest. Maggie recognized the voice - Catrina, calling for her parents.
Marcus hesitated, his eyes narrowing.
"The pup," he growled, his attention momentarily diverted.
Seizing the opportunity, Henri gathered his last ounce of strength and raked his claws across Marcus' face. The Alpha howled in pain and fury.
"Maggie, run!" Henri shouted. "Get Catrina and go, now!"
Maggie didn't hesitate. She sprinted back to the cave, focused on protecting her daughter.
The sound of Marcus' enraged roars spurred her onward. She had to get to Catrina, keep her safe from that monster.
"Nowhere left to run, omega," the Alpha growled, his face twisted in a vicious snarl. "Hand over the pup, and I might just let you live."
Maggie clutched Catrina tighter, shielding the helpless infant.
"Never," she spat, her voice laced with fear. "You'll have to kill me first."
Marcus laughed cruelly. "So be it."
Time seemed to slow as Maggie watched Marcus stalk towards her, his deadly jaws parted in a menacing grin. Catrina whimpered in her arms, sensing the danger.
Maggie's mind raced, searching desperately for a way out.
But there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Marcus had them cornered.
In one swift motion, he lunged forward, his jaws snapping mere inches from Maggie and Catrina. Maggie squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact, when suddenly...
A loud roar shook the earth, causing Marcus to falter. Maggie's eyes flew open, and she gasped.
There, standing between them and the towering Alpha, was Henri, his massive wolf form bristling with raw power and fury. His eyes blazed with righteous anger.
"You will not touch them, Marcus!" Henri bellowed, his voice thundering through the cave. "Over my dead body will you lay a single paw on my mate and daughter!"
Marcus recoiled, momentarily caught off guard. But his shock quickly gave way to a grin.
"So, the traitor returns," he growled, his muscles coiling. "I should have known you'd come crawling back to try and save your omega and her abomination of a pup."
Henri let out a guttural snarl, his hackles raised. "Abomination? You heartless bastard! And I'll die before I let you hurt them."
With a desperate surge of adrenaline, Henri summoned his last reserves of strength and refused to give in to Marcus' assault.
Gritting his teeth, Henri dug his claws into the earth and heaved upwards, straining every muscle in his body.
Though Marcus bore down on him with all his considerable might, Henri refused to be cowed.
"I...won't...let you...win!" Henri growled, his voice a guttural rumble.
With a mighty heave, Henri managed to push Marcus' paws off his chest, creating a moment of separation between them. Seizing the opportunity, Henri lashed out, his sharp fangs sinking into Marcus' exposed flank.
The Magnus Alpha howled in pain and fury, his concentration broken. Henri used the distraction to scramble to his feet, positioning himself firmly between Marcus and the cave where Maggie and Catrina hid.
Hackles raised and lips pulled back in a fierce snarl, Henri prepared to make his final stand.
Though he was battered and exhausted, every fiber of his being was focused on protecting his family, no matter the cost.
"You'll have to kill me first, Marcus," Henri growled, his eyes burning with determination. "I won't let you touch my mate and daughter!"