The Alpha's forbidden omega mate - Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Isabelle's POV
My wolf was restless, pacing inside me like a caged animal. It mirrored my own unease.
The weight of what we knew, of the danger facing our packs, felt heavier than a mountain on my shoulders.
Rowan, Jarrett, Derek, and me – we were the only ones who could stop Marcus and the Kezrach Larva.
But can we? The thought, unwelcome and scary, crept into my mind.
Marcus, consumed by the Larva, had become a monster.
And knowing he was behind Brock's craziness made it even worse.
He wasn't just power-hungry anymore, he was willing to hurt his own son, even his own grandson, to stay in control.
The smell of home, of pine and woodsmoke, hit me as I reached the Mondragon Packhouse.
It should've been comforting, but the unease in my gut wouldn't go away.
Carson, my Beta, stood at the entrance, his face etched with worry.
I didn't need my wolf senses to tell me something was wrong. Carson as my right hand, loyal to the pack and to me. His worry was my worry.
"Alpha Isabelle," he said, his voice tight. "We need to talk. It's important."
Please, Goddess, don't let anything happen to Catrina, I prayed silently, my wolf snarling, ready to fight.
But I couldn't panic. Not now. I needed to be strong, for my pack, for Rowan.
“What is it, Carson?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, hiding my fear behind my Alpha mask.
"It's about Catrina and Rowan," he said, his gaze serious and heavy. "And the threat against them. I think I know who's doing this."
He knows. He knows about Marcus, I thought, a mix of relief and fear swirling inside me. Finally, someone else understood the danger.
"Who, Carson?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He took a deep breath. "It's Alpha Marcus, Isabelle. He's the one pulling the strings, using the Kezrach Larva to control everyone."
The truth hung in the air between us, heavy and suffocating. A tiny part of me, the part that craved power, that had once been jealous of Catrina, felt a flicker of satisfaction.
I was right! I knew it! But that feeling was quickly squashed by the horror of what Marcus had become.
He wasn't the same Alpha anymore. The Larva had twisted him, made him a monster who would hurt anyone in his way to stay in power.
"Why?" I whispered, the question tearing its way out of me. "Why would he do this?"
Carson's gaze was full of sadness. “He wants control, Alpha. He's scared of losing it. The Larva makes him strong, but it also makes him paranoid, and makes him see enemies everywhere.”
Anger surged through me, hot and fierce. My wolf snarled, wanting to rip Marcus apart, to protect our pack from this threat. But I had to stay calm. I’m the Alpha.
“He’s putting the whole pack in danger!” I growled, barely holding back my fury. “His own pack! How can he be so selfish?”
“We need to warn Rowan,” I said, my voice sharp and decisive.
"And Jarrett and Derek… We have to get them away from Marcus before he…” I couldn't even say it. The thought of those two, trapped by Marcus's influence, was too horrible.
Carson nodded grimly. “I’ll get our best fighters ready, Alpha. We’ll be ready to leave when you say the word.”
“Do it,” I ordered, my voice leaving no room for argument. “And Carson… be careful. Marcus is dangerous. We don’t know what he’s capable of anymore.”
As Carson left to gather the pack, I went to my office. Each step felt heavy, like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. My eyes fell on a photo on my desk - Rowan and me, on our wedding day. It felt like a lifetime ago, when things were simpler.
Back then, I'd hoped we could be more than just allies. I'd hoped Rowan and I could really fall in love. But the Larva, the secrets, the danger… it all got in the way. And then Catrina came into the picture…
I pushed away the jealousy that tried to rise up. This wasn't about me. Lives were at stake. The future of our packs was in danger.
This is what being Luna means, I told myself. Protecting your pack, even when it hurts.
My phone rang, startling me. The number was strange.
"Alpha Isabelle speaking,” I answered, trying to sound calm.
“Alpha Isabelle! Thank goodness!” A woman’s voice, panicked and scared, filled my ear. It was Zara, a kind omega from the Magnus pack.
"Zara? What’s wrong?"
“Alpha Marcus… he’s gone crazy!” Zara cried, her voice shaking. “He’s locked up Derek and Jarrett! He’s using the Larva to control everyone, and he’s… he’s talking about punishing Catrina, about protecting the pack from her!”
My heart stopped. Everything we feared was happening.
“Where are you, Zara?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady even though I felt like I was falling apart.
“I’m at the Magnus hotel,” she whispered, her voice thin and scared. “Please, Alpha Isabelle… you have to come quickly. Please hurry!”
The line went dead. I stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest.
Marcus has lost it completely. He wasn't the Alpha we knew anymore. The Larva had turned him into something dangerous, someone who couldn't tell friend from foe.
"Carson!" I yelled, running out of my office. "Get the team ready! We're going to the Magnus pack! Now!"
He appeared, his face pale but ready. “What’s going on, Alpha?”
“Marcus has locked up Jarrett and Derek," I said, my voice sharp and urgent. "He's out of control. We have to stop him before it’s too late.”
We raced outside to the pack cars, my heart pounding like a drum. This was it. The fight we'd been dreading…