Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 121

(Audrey’s POV)

I stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep with Arthur Moonstone sprawled on my couch. The soft buzz of my phone pulled my attention away from my troubled thoughts.

“Still awake?” Sarah’s voice came through, hushed but playful.

“How did you know?” I whispered, moving further into the kitchen.

“Birthday jitters? Or is it because your ex-mate won’t leave you alone?” There was a knowing tone in her voice that made me sigh.

“He’s passed out on my couch,” I admitted reluctantly. “Showed up drunk and practically collapsed.”

Sarah’s laugh was soft but tinged with concern. “Want me to come over and help you kick him out?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll handle it in the morning.” I glanced back at Arthur’s sleeping form. “He’s just… complicated.”

“Complicated is putting it mildly,” Sarah replied. “Don’t let him worm his way back in, Audrey. You’ve worked too hard for your freedom.”

After we hung up, I tiptoed back to check on Arthur, only to find his eyes open, watching me with an unreadable expression.

“You’re awake,” I said flatly.

He sat up slowly, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “How long was I out?”

“A couple of hours.” I crossed my arms defensively. “You need to leave.”

Arthur stood, his movements careful as he steadied himself. The effects of the wolfsbane whiskey were clearly still lingering.

“Audrey, we need to talk.”

I shook my head firmly. “No, we don’t. What we need is distance. I’m trying to avoid trouble with the Moonstone Pack, with the Shadowcrest Pack-with all of it.”

“This is about the mate bond severance,” he said, his voice low.

“Of course it is,” I snapped, frustrated by his persistent obtuseness. “The sooner we complete it, the better for both of us.”

Arthur’s wolf eyes studied me intently. “Why are you selling the territory house so suddenly? Are you in need of resources?”

The question caught me off guard. Even while intoxicated, his mind was fixated on practical matters.

“That’s none of your business anymore,” I replied, trying to keep my voice level. “The best thing you can do for me right now is to leave me alone. Less entanglement means fewer problems for me with pack politics.”

Arthur moved closer, his Alpha presence subtle but unmistakable. “Is that what I am to you now? Just a problem?”

“Don’t,” I warned, taking a step back. “Don’t try to make me feel guilty for wanting my freedom.”

He stopped, his expression shifting. “I’ve handled everything wrong, haven’t I?” The vulnerability in his voice was unexpected. “The pack, Victoria… us.”

I remained silent, unsure how to respond to this rare moment of self-awareness.

“I kept appeasing Victoria, and it ruined what we had,” he continued, his gaze fixed on some point beyond me. “Now, the pack mansion feels… empty. I don’t look forward to returning to it anymore. Not when you’re not there.”

His words stirred something unwanted within me-a flicker of the connection we once shared. For a moment, memories flooded back-quiet evenings in the pack library, rare moments of laughter, the way his arms had once felt like safety rather than a cage.

But those memories were tainted now. What I had believed was affection had been, at best, a sense of possessive duty on his part.

“Don’t do this,” I said, my voice barely audible. “Don’t act like you miss me when you chose Victoria over me at every turn.”

Her smile faltered when she saw my expression. “What’s wrong? Did Arthur do something stupid again?”

I wordlessly handed her my phone with the banking app still open. Her eyes widened comically as she took in the balance.

“Holy moonstone!” she exclaimed. “That’s enough to buy half the territory! What did you do, threaten to expose all his pack secrets?”

“He just… transferred it,” I said, still bewildered. “After I specifically told him I wanted to be independent.”

Sarah’s lips curled into a mischievous grin. “Well, well, well. Looks like Daddy Gold is trying to stay in your good graces.”

“Daddy Gold?” I repeated, incredulous.

“That’s what the she-wolves at the Silver Moon Club call him,” Sarah explained with a shrug. “Rich, powerful Alpha who provides for his favorites. Though usually not quite this generously.”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I’m going to send it back.”

“Or,” Sarah countered, setting out our lunch with practiced efficiency, “you could use it to fund our practice, get it established quickly, and then pay him back once we’re successful. Consider it an interest-free loan.”

The suggestion was pragmatic but left a bad taste in my mouth. “Using his money feels like staying tethered to him, even if it’s temporary.”

“Just think about it,” Sarah advised, pushing a container of food toward me. “Now eat. Birthday girls need their strength, especially when they’re juggling territorial Alpha wolves and starting new businesses.”

As we ate, Sarah chattered about potential locations for our practice, but my mind kept returning to Arthur’s gesture. Was it manipulation, generosity, or something in between? The mate bond between us might be fading, but the complications it created seemed to multiply by the day.

Sarah noticed my distraction and picked up my phone again, whistling at the balance. “Seriously, even if you don’t want to use it for the practice, this could set you up for life. Daddy Gold indeed.”