The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Catrina POV:
A new wave of determination washed over me, thanks to Isabelle's support.
"I'm ready to do whatever it takes," I declared, my voice firm. "How can I help?"
I saw a hint of pride in Isabelle's eyes. "Good. We need to figure out this Kezrach Larva. How to stop it, how to protect the pack... how to protect you."
As she laid out her plan, I listened, my mind racing.
There was so much I didn't understand, but one thing was clear: I had to be strong, for Rowan and our pup.
He was out there risking everything for us. I had to make sure there was something to come back to—a pack, a future, a family.
“Okay,” I said, meeting her gaze. "Just tell me what to do."
Isabelle gave a small, approving nod. "Let's get to work."
For hours, we stay in the library, surrounded by dusty old books and scrolls. The musty air made me sneeze, but I couldn't lose focus.
“Look at this,” Isabelle said suddenly, holding up a brittle scroll. “It mentions the Kezrach Larva."
I leaned closer, my heart pounding. “What does it say?”
"It’s in some ancient language, but I can make it out,” she said, tracing the faded symbols with her finger. “It talks about a ritual… the Rite of Purity. It’s supposed to cleanse the Larva from a person.”
Hope surged through me. “A ritual? Could it work on Rowan’s dad? Could it keep my pup safe?”
Isabelle’s face was thoughtful. “Maybe. But it needs rare ingredients and a powerful magic user. We can’t do this alone.”
Anxiety twisted in my gut. “Where would we even find those ingredients?”
She sighed, thinking hard. “It mentions a herb called Luna’s Breath that only grows on the highest mountains. And… a gem called the Heart of the Moon, hidden in the Drakhor lands.”
A wave of despair washed over me. “That’s impossible! There’s no way we can get those in time!”
Isabelle placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We have to try, Catrina. We can't give up. Not when Rowan is out there risking his life for us."
Her words were like a lifeline, pulling me back from the brink of despair.
I nodded, “You’re right. We have to do everything we can.”
We kept reading, trying to learn everything we could about the Kezrach. The more we learned, the scarier it became.
It feeds on negative emotions… getting stronger with every act of hate and despair. The thought made my skin crawl. It’s like a parasite, infecting your soul and twisting you into something… monstrous.
As the hours passed, our conversation turned to Rowan.
Isabelle let out a sigh, leaning back in her chair.
“I have to admit, when I first met Rowan, I didn’t think much of him,” she confessed. “He was just a cocky teen, all flash and annoying. I thought he was only interested in girls and causing trouble.”
She shook her head, a small smile touching her lips. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but I judged him harshly. I didn’t like the idea of being married to someone younger than me.”
I couldn't help but smile, a flicker of amusement warming my chest. “And yet, here you are, helping him like he’s your own brother.”
A small smile played on Isabelle's lips. “He proved me wrong, Catrina. He showed strength and wisdom beyond his years. When his father got sick, Rowan became Alpha without a second thought."
I nodded, hanging on to her every word. The pride in her voice was unmistakable.
“He helped the pack through those dark times with such strength. And then…" Isabelle's voice trailed off, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “When he met you, Catrina, it was like something shifted inside him.”
My cheeks flushed, and I ducked my head. “What do you mean?”
“He became completely focused on protecting you, his omega,” Isabelle stated simply, her voice serious.
“He went against tradition, against everything he’d been taught, just to keep you safe.” She met my gaze, her expression intense.
“That’s when I knew he was the true Alpha our pack needed.”
My throat tightened, overwhelmed by Rowan’s love and sacrifice. He risked everything for me…
“And for our future,” Isabelle added firmly. “Because of Rowan, the Magnus pack has a chance to break free from this curse. A chance at a future free from the darkness.”
A wave of warmth washed over me, mingled with a sharp pang of longing. I miss him so much.
“He never hesitated, not for a second,” Isabelle continued. “You changed something in him, Catrina. Strengthened his resolve. Even challenged his wolf.”
I swallowed hard, my hand instinctively resting on my belly. “I… I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. There’s already so much at stake, and…”
“Peace, Catrina,” Isabelle said softly, laying a comforting hand on my arm.
“You are his mate, his destined. It’s in your nature to challenge him, to change him. And it’s in his nature to rise to the occasion, to become a better Alpha for you, for your pup.”
Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “It’s the way it has to work”
I managed a watery smile, my eyes dropping to my belly. “I just want him to come back safe.”
“He’s strong, Catrina,” Isabelle said with confidence.
“Stronger than anyone realizes. And he has you to fight for, doesn't he?”
I lifted my head, a newfound fire in my chest. “Yes. Yes, he does.”
"Then we fight for him too," Isabelle declared, her voice full with determination.
"We owe it to Rowan to give this everything we've got."
Tears welled up in my eyes. “I just want to see him again. To know he’s safe.”
“We will,” Isabelle said. “And when we do, we’ll be ready to help him win this fight.”
By sunrise, we had a plan. It was risky, a long shot, but it was our only hope.
One group would search the mountains for Luna’s Breath, while another would go to the Drakhor lands to find the Heart of the Moon.
Isabelle and I would stay behind, doing everything we could to support them.
It was a huge responsibility, but we were driven by our love for Rowan and our desire to save our pack.
As I stood by the window, watching the sun rise, a tiny flicker of hope sparked in my chest. It was fragile, but it was enough to keep me going.
“We can do this,” I whispered to myself. “For Rowan, for our pup, for the pack.”
Isabelle joined me, her face set with determination. “We’ll find a way, Catrina. We’ll stop the Larva, no matter what.”
I nodded, her words giving me strength.
We would face whatever came our way. For our loved ones, we would fight until our last breath.