The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 65: Chapter 65

Derek’s POV:
My head was spinning as I left the Mondragon pack’s land. Seeing Catrina safe and cared for by them was a huge relief.
It helped quiet the guilt I felt for how her mate acted towards her before, how blind my brother had been.
Seeing her happy there gave me a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.
But right now, a new problem was weighing me down. I felt stuck between my Father, Marcus, who was the Alpha, and my brother, Rowan.
Things had been bad between them for a while, but now it felt like a huge crack was splitting them apart, and I was right in the middle.
Whose side am I on? The question kept popping up in my head.
It was a question I didn’t want to answer.
I needed advice, so I went to find my uncle Jarrett.
He was always the calm one, the one who could make sense of things, even in our crazy family.
“Uncle Jarrett,” I said, finding him in the - now unattended - hotel lobby.
“I…I need to talk to you.”
He turned to me, his face full of worry.
“What’s wrong, Derek? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I took a deep breath. “It’s…about Rowan and Father. I don’t know what to do.”
I paused, chewing on my lip. It wasn't just about them, though.
“It’s… me, too. I’ve been messing up.”
He put a hand on my shoulder and led me to a quieter corner.
Once we were alone, he said, “Tell me what’s going on, son. Let it out.”
I looked at him, hoping for some guidance.
“Things are tense in the pack. People are angry at Father for how he’s been treating Rowan. And I… I just feel lost. I don’t even know who I am anymore. I haven’t been a good wolf.”
Jarrett nodded, like he understood.
“This is tough, Derek. You love your Father, but you’re close to your brother, too.”
He squeezed my shoulder gently. “You said you’re struggling. Tell me about it.”
I sighed. “It’s been hard, Uncle Jarrett. After I left the pack, I was lost. I chased after fun things, but nothing felt good enough.” I felt ashamed.
“I let Father and the pack down. Seeing Rowan now, trying to fix things… It made me want to be better. But what if I can’t? What if I’m not strong enough to be the wolf I’m supposed to be?”
He smiled kindly. “Strength comes in different ways, Derek. You’re here, asking for help. That takes guts. You’re on the right path, even if it doesn't feel like it now.”
I wanted to believe him, but I was scared. “But this is bigger than us, Uncle Jarrett. The whole pack’s future could be messed up because of this.”
His eyes were sad. “I wish I had the answers, Derek. But no matter what you choose, it’s going to be hard.”
I nodded slowly. “So, I shouldn’t just do what Father says? Even though he’s the Alpha?”
He gave me a small smile. “Sometimes, the right thing isn’t what people expect. You have to be true to yourself, Derek. Don’t let fear stop you from doing what you think is right.”
I let out a shaky breath. The thought of making this decision was terrifying.
“But what if I can’t live with the consequences? What if I lose them both?”
“Then you find a way to keep going,” he said seriously.
“Even if it means being alone for a bit. What matters most is that you stay true to yourself, to what you believe in. That’s real strength, Derek. Not blindly following someone else.”
His words hit me hard. He was right. I couldn't just do what other people wanted.
I had to make my own choices.
“Thank you, Uncle Jarrett,” I said, feeling a bit braver.
“I… I think I know what I need to do now. For Rowan… and for me.”
He smiled. “I believe in you, Derek. You have a good heart. Trust it.”
I nodded, standing up a little taller. The future was still unclear, but I didn’t feel so scared anymore.
It was time to stop running and face what was coming.
As I went back to the hotel office, Uncle Jarrett’s words stuck with me: Be true to yourself…Don’t let fear stop you.
It was easy to say, but really hard to do. My Father raised me, took care of me, made me part of the pack.
He promised my late father to take care of me like I was his own, and he did. How could I go against him?
But then I thought about Rowan. My brother.
He’d always been there for me, even when I wasn’t there for him. He deserved better than how Father was treating him.
And what about me? Jarrett was right. I needed to be better. Even if it meant standing up to Father.
The thought sent chills down my spine. I remembered the scary look in Father’s eyes when the Kezrach took over.
What if he wouldn’t listen? What if he totally lost it?
No. I couldn’t think like that. He was still my Father. Maybe if I talked to him, he would understand.
I had to try. For the pack, for Rowan, for my dad… and for myself.
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the hotel lobby. I would tell Dad the truth, just like Uncle Jarrett said.
I would lay it all out on the table, every fear, every doubt, every hope I held for the future of our pack.
And I would pray, with every fiber of my being, that the father I knew, the father I loved, was still in there, waiting to be found.