Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 113

(Audrey’s POV)

I stood my ground against Florian, “This conversation is going nowhere,” I said finally, turning away from him. “I need to find Sarah.”

“Your loss, little wolf,” he called after me, his voice carrying an infuriating hint of laughter.

I didn’t dignify that with a response. The Silver Moon Club was crowded tonight, with high-ranking wolves from various packs mingling in the elegant spaces.

As I made my way through the main lounge, a young Beta wolf intercepted me. He was expensively dressed, with a designer watch that caught the light as he extended his hand in greeting.

“Audrey Winter, isn’t it?” His smile was practiced, showing just the right amount of teeth without appearing threatening. “I’ve heard about you. The rare female Alpha without pack affiliation.”

Great. Another wolf who saw me as some exotic curiosity.

“And you are?” I asked, not bothering to hide my disinterest.

“Mason Silver, of the Silver Ridge Pack,” he announced proudly, as if I should be impressed. “Our territory borders the Northern Ranges. We control three silver mines and have exclusive trading rights with the Canadian packs.”

I nodded politely while scanning the room for Sarah. Where was she?

Mason leaned closer, his expensive cologne almost overwhelming my sensitive wolf nose. “Our pack is quite wealthy, you know. I personally oversee our investment portfolio in rare herbs trading. Last quarter alone, we increased our holdings by thirty percent.”

“Fascinating,” I murmured, not even attempting to sound sincere.

“A wolf like you deserves the finer things,” he continued, oblivious to my disinterest. “Someone to provide for you, protect you. A Beta from a wealthy pack could offer you so much more security than living alone on the fringes of Moonstone territory.”

I couldn’t believe this wolf was actually attempting to court me right now. Did he not smell Arthur’s fading mate mark? Or did he simply not care?

“My partnership arrangements are my own business,” I replied coolly. “And I’m quite capable of providing for myself.”

Mason looked genuinely confused. “But why would you want to? Our pack mansion has twenty-seven rooms, an indoor swimming pool, and a private hunting ground stocked with premium deer. As my partner, you’d have access to all of it.”

Before I could formulate a response that wouldn’t involve telling him exactly where he could put his twenty-seven rooms, I spotted Sarah emerging from one of the private meeting areas. Her face was flushed, and even from a distance, I could sense her agitation.

“Excuse me,” I said to Mason, not waiting for his response as I quickly moved toward Sarah.

She saw me approaching and immediately headed in my direction, her wolf eyes bright with unshed tears.

“It’s over,” she announced as soon as I reached her, her voice shaking slightly. “For good this time.”

I put my arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“Not really,” she admitted. “But I will be. Lucas finally understood that I won’t be his dirty little secret while he forms a mate bond with that northern pack she-wolf.”

Her pain was evident, despite her attempt at bravado. “I deserve better than being someone’s backup plan.”

“You absolutely do,” I agreed, steering her toward the exit. “Let’s get out of here.”

Sarah nodded gratefully, allowing me to guide her through the club. As we passed Mason, he called out something about calling him sometime, but I ignored him completely.

Outside, the cool night air seemed to clear some of the tension from Sarah’s shoulders.

“Do you want to talk about what happened with Lucas?” I asked gently as we walked toward my car.

Sarah shook her head. “Not tonight. I just want to go somewhere I can forget about entitled Alphas and their ridiculous expectations.”

“My place it is, then,” I said with a smile. “I have ice cream in the freezer and that terrible werewolf romance movie you love.”

“The one where the rogue wolf kidnaps his mate and she falls in love with him anyway?” Sarah asked, a small smile appearing despite her sadness.

“That’s the one,” I confirmed. “Completely unrealistic and perfectly distracting.”

My phone rang just as we reached my car. The display showed Nathan Snowfang’s name, and I hesitated before answering.

“Audrey,” Nathan’s voice came through, warm and concerned. “Are you alright? You were with Florian Stormhowl earlier, weren’t you?”

I nearly dropped my phone in shock. “How did you know that?”

Sarah raised her eyebrows at me, mouthing “Florian Stormhowl?” with wide eyes.

“Your scent,” Nathan explained. “When Arthur and I encountered him at the club. I recognized your perfume immediately.”

I was stunned. Arthur hadn’t recognized me, even though we’d been mated for years. Yet Nathan identified my scent instantly, even when I was covered by Florian’s jacket.

“I’m fine,” I assured him, sliding into the driver’s seat while Sarah got in on the passenger side. “Just helping a friend through a rough night.”

“I was concerned,” Nathan said, his voice softening. “Florian isn’t someone to be taken lightly.”

“I gathered that much,” I replied dryly. “But I’m curious-how did you recognize me when Arthur couldn’t?”

There was a pause on the line before Nathan answered. “Arthur is too confident in his hold over you to imagine you’d be with anyone else. His arrogance blinds him to possibilities he finds… uncomfortable.”

“Ms. Winter?” a tense voice asked. “This is Nurse Collins from the VIP wing. There’s been an incident in your aunt’s room. A physical altercation. Security has been called, but she’s been asking for you.”

My heart sank. Aunt Juliette. I hadn’t visited her in weeks, guilt gnawing at me for my neglect.

“I’ll be right there,” I promised, already grabbing my keys.

The medical center was buzzing with activity when I arrived. Two security wolves stood outside Juliette’s room, their postures tense and alert.

“I’m Audrey Winter,” I informed them, straightening my spine. “Juliette Mitchell’s niece.”

They exchanged glances before nodding and stepping aside to let me enter. The sharp scent of blood hit me immediately-not just any blood, but my aunt’s. My wolf surged forward in protective rage.

Aunt Juliette lay in her bed, her face badly beaten, one eye swollen shut. Her wolf presence was weak and flickering, a sign of severe trauma. Sitting in a chair beside her, looking completely unrepentant, was Howard Mitchell-my uncle by mate bonding, and one of the most vicious low-ranking wolves I’d ever known.

“Well, well,” he sneered when he saw me. “If it isn’t the Alpha bitch herself. Come to see what you’ve caused?”

I moved to Juliette’s side, carefully taking her hand. “What I’ve caused?” My voice was deadly quiet. “You’re the one who put her here.”

“She was talking about severing our mate bond,” Howard spat. “Said you’d encouraged her, filled her head with nonsense about independence and freedom.” He stood up, his unimpressive height still towering over my aunt’s bed. “You think you’re so special with your Alpha bloodline, but you’re nothing but trouble.”

“Get out,” I said, my wolf eyes flashing green with fury. “Before I call security back in.”

Howard laughed, a harsh, cruel sound. “Don’t act so high and mighty. Your precious mate bond is falling apart too, from what I hear. Soon you’ll be just another unmated she-wolf, with no pack to protect you. Maybe I’ll make you support me in my old age, since you’ve convinced my mate she doesn’t have to.”

That’s when I noticed his hand-specifically, his right hand, which was crudely bandaged. The smallest finger was missing entirely, the wound recent but starting to heal.

Howard noticed my stare and held up his injured hand. “Like what you see? A gift from your new friends at the Snowfang Pack. That bastard cut off my finger when I tried to collect what Juliette owed me.”

A chill ran through me. Nathan wouldn’t do something so extreme… would he?

“Get away from my aunt,” I demanded, stepping between them. “Now.”

Howard’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Or what? You’ll call your precious Arthur? I hear he’s busy dealing with his own family scandal. Not much time to protect his soon-to-be-ex mate.”

I reached for my phone, my heart pounding. “Actually,” I lied, pretending to answer a call, “Arthur’s on his way right now. With Nathan Snowfang.” I paused for effect. “Yes, they’re both coming. They should be here in five minutes.”