Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 114

(Audrey’s POV)

My heart was racing as I held the phone to my ear. Howard Mitchell’s eyes narrowed, fixed on me with suspicion and growing fear.

“Yes, Arthur, please hurry,” I spoke into the silent phone, pretending to talk to my mate while actually calling Sarah. “Howard Mitchell is here threatening Aunt Juliette.”

Howard’s face paled at the mention of Arthur’s name. The Alpha King of the Moonstone Pack had that effect on weaker wolves.

“You’re bluffing,” he growled, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his fear.

I doubled down. “And Nathan Snowfang is with you? Perfect. Tell him I need him to check on Howard’s injured hand.”

That did it. Howard’s eyes widened in panic. He glanced at his crudely bandaged hand where his little finger had been severed, then back at me.

“This isn’t over,” he snarled, backing toward the door. “You think you’re protected by your fancy Alpha mates and friends, but soon you’ll have nothing. No pack, no protection.”

He jabbed a finger at me, his wolf eyes glowing with malice. “I’ll be waiting, Audrey. And when you’re alone, I’ll make you pay for turning my mate against me.”

With that final threat hanging in the air, Howard stormed out of the room, shouldering past the security wolves without a backward glance.

I waited until I was certain he had gone before turning my attention back to the phone.

“Sarah? Sorry about that,” I said, my voice finally authentic. “Howard’s gone now. I’ll call you back later and fill you in.”

I ended the call and turned to Timothy, my cousin, who had been standing silently in the corner throughout the confrontation. He was tall but unnaturally thin for a wolf his age, his shoulders perpetually hunched as if trying to make himself smaller.

“How could you just stand there while he hurt her?” I demanded, unable to keep the accusation from my voice.

Timothy shrugged, his eyes downcast. “What was I supposed to do? His wolf is stronger than mine. Always has been.”

My wolf bristled beneath my skin, angry and protective. Timothy was Howard’s biological son but had inherited none of his father’s aggression-only his cowardice.

“You could have called for help. Done something-anything!” My voice rose with frustration.

Aunt Juliette stirred in her bed, her bruised face contorting with pain. “Timothy, leave us,” she whispered. “I need to speak with Audrey alone.”

Timothy looked relieved to be dismissed. He slipped out of the room without meeting my gaze, the door clicking shut behind him.

I approached my aunt’s bedside, carefully taking her hand. Up close, her injuries looked even worse. Silver lines traced beneath her skin around the bruises-evidence that Howard had used silver to ensure the wounds would heal slowly, if at all.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I should have visited sooner. Should have been here for you.”

Juliette shook her head slightly, wincing at the movement. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” she assured me. “The pack therapist was nearby when… when it happened. Security came quickly.”

She squeezed my hand with surprising strength. “Howard was furious when I told him I wanted to break our mate bond.”

Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her bruised cheeks. “I’ve been gathering courage for months, ever since you encouraged me to consider my own happiness. When I finally told him, he…”

Her voice broke, and she gestured vaguely to her battered face. The implication was clear.

“I’m going to fix this,” I promised, “We’ll find you somewhere safe to stay while the severance process is completed.”

“But where?” Juliette asked, her voice small and frightened. “Howard knows all our friends, all my usual places.”

“Let me worry about that,” I said firmly. “Your safety is what matters most. I’ll figure something out.”

I stood to leave, needing to make arrangements immediately, but Juliette’s hand shot out to grab my wrist.

“Wait,” she said, her expression suddenly hesitant, conflicted. “There’s something else. Something I need to give you.”

I paused, curious at her sudden intensity. “What is it?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, her eyes filled with fresh tears, and she seemed to be struggling with some internal battle.

“Aunt Juliette?” I prompted gently.

After a long moment, she reached beneath her mattress with trembling hands and pulled out a small cloth pouch. Her fingers worked at the drawstring with urgent purpose.

“I’ve kept this for so long,” she whispered, more to herself than to me. “Too long, perhaps.”

From the pouch, she withdrew a pendant-a wolf crafted in fine gold, hanging from a faded red cord. Despite its age, the craftsmanship was exquisite, each detail of the wolf rendered with loving precision.

Something about it called to me, stirring a strange recognition deep in my wolf. I’d never seen this pendant before, yet it felt impossibly familiar.

The direct question caught me off guard. This was a side of Arthur I hadn’t seen in a long time-the straightforward Alpha who took action rather than the suspicious mate who questioned my every move.

“Can you assign two of your warriors to guard her room?” I asked, seizing the unexpected opportunity. “I don’t think Howard will return tonight, but I don’t want to take that chance.”

“Consider it done,” Arthur replied without hesitation. “I’ll send Daniel with instructions right away.”

Relief washed over me. “Thank you.”

“Audrey,” Arthur’s voice softened slightly. “About those rumors online-about you and Nathan Snowfang…”

My body tensed automatically, preparing for another accusation.

“I know you weren’t responsible for what happened,” he continued, surprising me again. “Someone orchestrated this whole situation. The video leak, the timing-it was too perfect.”

I blinked in confusion. “You… believe me?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “I owe you an apology for my reaction at the Pack Council Office.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. Arthur Moonstone, apologizing? It was so unexpected that I almost didn’t recognize the moment for what it was.

“Well,” I finally said, my voice dry, “it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve misunderstood me.”

He let that pass without comment. “There’s something else I need to discuss with you. About Katherine.”

My wolf’s ears perked up at the mention of his stepmother. The video exposing Richard and Victoria’s affair must have shaken the foundations of the Moonstone Pack more than I realized if Arthur was reaching out to me about family matters.

“Can you come to the pack office tomorrow morning?” he asked.

I hesitated only briefly. Whatever was happening with Katherine, it might affect me too-especially while Arthur’s mate mark remained on my skin.

“I’ll be there,” I agreed, my wolf sensing the gravity of the situation. “Ten o’clock?”

“Perfect,” Arthur replied. “And Audrey… thank you.”