The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Catrina POV:
Frustration gnawed at me as I studied the ancient texts in the dimly lit library.
One of the neighboring packs allowed us to borrow some of their books after a negotiation made by Carson.
My eyes ached from straining to decipher the faded writing.
Beside me, Isabelle was buried in her own research, her brow creased with concentration.
“Find anything?” I asked, my voice hoarse from hours of reading.
She shook her head, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Nothing solid yet. This Kezrach Larva is a sneaky, stubborn curse.”
I rubbed my temples, the weight of this responsibility a crushing burden. “There has to be something… some clue that can help us find a cure. Rowan’s father… he doesn’t have much time.”
Isabelle reached over, squeezing my hand gently. “We’ll figure it out, Catrina. Don’t lose hope.”
I nodded, grateful for her unwavering strength.
Since Rowan had vanished, Isabelle and I had put aside our differences and become a team.
We were united in our mission to uncover the truth about this ancient curse.
“I can’t help but wonder,” I murmured, a chill running down my spine,
“what Rowan is going through to find these answers.”
Isabelle’s face darkened. “Whatever it is, I hope he knows we’re here, ready to stand by him and his family.”
I smiled sadly, my heart aching for my mate. “Me too. I just wish I could see him, make sure he’s okay.”
Isabelle squeezed my hand again. “I know, Catrina. But we have to trust him. He’s doing what needs to be done. All we can do now is keep searching.”
I sighed and nodded, focusing back on the ancient texts. As I scanned the pages, a sudden realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.
“Isabelle,” I breathed, my heart pounding in my chest. “I think I found something.”
She leaned closer, her eyes widening as I read aloud:
“The Kezrach Larva… a curse passed down through generations of the Magnus pack. Its roots are tangled deep within their bloodline. A spiritual illness, born of dark magic and uncontrolled hatred, growing in the hearts of those who want power and control over others.”
Isabelle gasped. “Control? You don’t think…”
I nodded grimly. “I do. This curse… it’s not just a sickness. It’s a reflection of the Magnus pack’s dark history, their cruelty towards omegas.”
Isabelle’s eyes widened in horror. “So… to break the curse, they have to face their own past sins?”
I swallowed hard, my heart racing. “Exactly. And Rowan… he has to be the one to do it. He has to face the darkness within his own pack.”
Isabelle’s hand trembled as she reached for the book, her eyes scanning the pages.
“Then we have to help him,” she said, her voice firm.
“He shouldn’t have to do this alone.”
A sudden confidence raised in me.
“You’re right. We have to reach him somehow. Let him know he’s not alone in this.”
Isabelle’s eyes met mine, her expression serious. “Then that’s what we’ll do. For Rowan, for his pack… for all of us.”
Gratitude washed over me. I squeezed Isabelle’s hand. “Thank you, Isabelle. I couldn’t do this without you.”
She smiled, her eyes full of warmth.
The icy Alpha I’d first met was gone. In her place was a strong, supportive woman, a true leader.
“We’re in this together, Catrina,” she said softly.
“We’ll face this together.”
I took a deep breath, feeling a new sense of purpose.
Rowan was out there, risking everything to save his pack, and we were going to do everything we could to help him.
“Okay, then,” I said, my voice steady. “Let’s get to work.”
We spent hours poring over the books, trying to understand the Kezrach. The more we learned, the more disturbed I became.
This curse wasn’t just a physical sickness.
It was a reflection of the Magnus pack’s own prejudice and cruelty, a spiritual sickness that had been growing for generations.
And at the center of it all was Marcus, the Alpha, and his hunger for power.
“It all makes sense now,” Isabelle murmured, frowning.
“Marcus is obsessed with ‘purity’ and ‘strength,’ but it was never about what was good for the pack. It was about him, about controlling everyone.”
I nodded, feeling both angry and sad. “And the omegas… they were the ones he hated the most. The Kezrach Larva… it was his way of keeping them under his thumb, of keeping his power.”
Isabelle’s eyes narrowed. “And Rowan, being the next Alpha… he was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps. No wonder he’s so torn. His heart wants one thing, but his duty tells him another.”
I felt the weight of it all pressing down on me. “So, Rowan has to be the one to break the curse. He has to face the darkness within his own pack.”
Isabelle squeezed my hand. “And we’ll be there for him, every step of the way. We’ll help him succeed, no matter what.”
I nodded, my resolve hardening. “Thank you, Isabelle. I couldn’t do this without you.”
She smiled. “That’s what pack is for, Catrina. We have each other’s backs.”
We sat in silence for a while, both lost in thought. What we’d discovered was terrifying, and it felt like the whole world was at stake.
But I knew, deep down, that Rowan was the key. He had to be the one to fight the darkness, to break the curse that had hurt his pack for so long. And we would be there to help him, no matter what.
Suddenly, an idea hit me, and my heart filled with hope.
“Isabelle,” I said urgently. “What if we can reach Rowan? Tell him what we found out?”
Her eyes widened. “You mean… give him the information he needs to break the curse?”
I nodded eagerly. “Exactly! If we can get a message to him, tell him what we know, maybe he can use it to finish his mission for the Drakhor.”
Isabelle’s brow furrowed. “It’s risky, Catrina. We don’t know what dangers he’s facing, or how the Drakhor would react if we interfere.”
I felt a flicker of doubt, but I quickly pushed it down. “I have to try, Isabelle. Rowan needs to know he’s not alone. That we’re here for him.”
She looked at me for a long moment, her face unreadable. Then a small smile spread across her lips.
“Okay, Catrina. Let’s do it.”
Relief and gratitude flooded through me. I squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Isabelle. I know this is a big ask, but—”
She stopped me with a raised hand. “Don’t mention it. Rowan is part of my pack now, and I don’t abandon my own. Especially when they need me most.”
I nodded, feeling a newfound respect for her. She’d come a long way from the cold woman I’d met before.
“Okay, then,” I said, my voice full of purpose. “Let’s figure out how to get a message to Rowan.”
We spent the next few hours searching through old books and maps, looking for clues. It was a huge task, but we never gave up.
Finally, as the sun began to set, Isabelle shouted.
“I found it, Catrina!” Her eyes were shining with excitement.
My heart pounded with hope. “What is it?”
She grinned. “We can use the Drakhor’s own communication system to send Rowan a message! They have ways of talking that go beyond the physical world, ways the Magnus pack can’t intercept.”
Excitement surged through me. “That’s brilliant! How do we do it?”
She quickly explained what we needed to do, describing a special ritual and what we needed for it.
I listened carefully, my mind racing.
“So, we just need to get the stuff and do the ritual?” I asked, my voice full of anticipation.
She nodded. “Exactly. And we need to do it fast. Time is running out.”
I was ready. “Let’s get started then! I’m ready when you are.”
Isabelle smiled proudly. “I knew I could count on you, Catrina. Let’s do this.”
We started working right away, getting everything we needed and setting up a special place for the ritual.
The air felt electric with tension and excitement, and hope started to bloom in my chest.
As we began the ritual, I felt energy flowing through me, like the whole room was buzzing.
Isabelle’s voice filled the room, her words powerful and strange.
And then, just as she finished speaking, a bright light flashed, blinding me for a second.
“Rowan,” I whispered, my heart racing. “Can you hear me?”
But after hours of trying, I didn't get any response.
Discouraged, I stared at the flickering candles.
Isabelle and I had put all our hope into that ritual, desperate to reach Rowan and tell him what we'd learned.
But it didn't work. The ancient ceremony failed, and we had no way to contact Rowan.
Isabelle sighed in frustration.
“I was so sure it would work,” she murmured, her forehead creased with worry.
I nodded, blinking back tears. “I know. I was sure we’d be able to reach him, let him know he’s not alone.”
Isabelle put a comforting hand on my shoulder, her eyes full of sympathy. “We’ll figure something else out, Catrina. I promise.”