Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 123

(Audrey’s POV)

Emma Shadowcrest stood in the center of the ballroom, her birthday dress sparkling under the chandelier lights, her finger pointing directly at me like I was some unwelcome stray wolf.

“What is she doing here?” she demanded loudly, drawing every eye in the room toward me. “She wasn’t invited to my birthday celebration!”

I felt a flash of embarrassment as wolves from various packs turned to stare, their curious gazes making my wolf bristle beneath my skin.

Before I could respond, Florian stepped slightly forward, his lazy smile firmly in place despite the tension crackling through the air.

“Emma,” he said smoothly, his golden wolf eyes gleaming with amusement, “I invited Audrey as my companion. You know how persistent I can be when I want something.”

Emma’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, her gaze darting between us. “Since when did you two become so close? Last I checked, she was still marked to Arthur.”

Her voice carried deliberately, ensuring everyone nearby could hear the implied scandal. My wolf growled softly inside me at her transparent attempt to embarrass me.

“And last I checked,” Florian countered, his tone light but with an undercurrent of steel, “you were still just a pup throwing tantrums when you didn’t get your way.”

Emma opened her mouth to retort, her face flushing with anger, when a gentle hand settled on her shoulder. The elegant woman I’d noticed earlier-Emma’s mother, I presumed-stepped forward with a graceful smile.

“Florian, dear, you and Emma never change,” she said with warm familiarity. “Always bickering like siblings since you were pups.”

She turned toward me, her eyes reflecting the same golden hue as Florian’s, though softer. “And this must be the she-wolf who’s caught your interest.”

“Mother!” Emma protested, her voice rising. “He’s just trying to irritate me because I’m pursuing Arthur.”

At the mention of Arthur’s name, my gaze automatically found him across the room. He stood stiffly beside Mr. Shadowcrest, his face a mask of controlled indifference, though his eyes never left me.

I realized with sudden clarity that he was here solely because of Emma-attending her birthday celebration as some sort of potential mate candidate. Surprisingly, I felt nothing but calm acceptance at this realization. My wolf remained steady within me, no longer agitated by his attention to another she-wolf.

Mrs. Shadowcrest turned her curious gaze fully toward me. “And who might you be, dear? I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

Her eyes studied me with undisguised interest, taking in my appearance with the practiced assessment of a high-ranking she-wolf evaluating a potential threat.

“This is Audrey Winter,” Florian introduced me before I could speak. “A friend who was kind enough to accompany me tonight. You know how my parents are always howling about finding a mate. I thought I’d give them something to gossip about.”

He winked at Mrs. Shadowcrest with easy familiarity. “What do you think? Would she meet with their approval?”

I barely managed to hide my surprise at his playful tone. This was a side of Florian I hadn’t seen before-charming, almost boyish in his teasing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Arthur’s posture stiffen, his Alpha presence intensifying subtly as Florian spoke about me as a potential mate.

Mr. Shadowcrest joined us, his powerful frame betraying his Alpha status despite his aging appearance. “Still trying to appease your parents while avoiding an actual mate bond, Florian? Some things never change.”

He clapped Florian on the shoulder with what appeared to be genuine affection. “Though I can’t blame you for holding out. A wolf only marks once in their lifetime, after all.”

Mrs. Shadowcrest’s expression softened with something like sadness. “Florian, dear, it’s been five years since Serena disappeared. At some point, you have to accept that she might not-“

“Don’t,” Florian interrupted, his normally lazy demeanor hardening instantly. “I won’t give up until I know what happened to her.”

The sudden intensity in his voice silenced everyone for a moment. I felt a strange tug of sympathy for this Alpha wolf I barely knew, sensing the genuine pain behind his carefully constructed facade.

“The Moon Goddess would want you to find happiness,” Mrs. Shadowcrest continued gently. “Serena wouldn’t want you to spend your life searching for a ghost.”

“She’s not a ghost,” Florian insisted, his golden eyes flashing. “She’s out there somewhere, and I will find her.”

I noticed Emma’s expression darken at the mention of this Serena person, though she quickly masked it with a bright smile. “Let’s not dwell on sad things. It’s my birthday celebration, after all!”

She tucked her arm through Arthur’s possessively, pulling him closer to our group. “Arthur was just telling me about the potential alliance between our packs. Weren’t you, Arthur?”

Arthur’s gaze flickered between Emma and me, his expression unreadable. “We were discussing territorial matters, yes.”

“Well,” Mrs. Shadowcrest said brightly, attempting to dispel the tension, “we should get back to celebrating. Emma has been looking forward to this night for months.”

Florian’s smile returned, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yes, we should celebrate. Today is a special day-not just for Emma, but for Serena too. They came into this world together, after all.”

The statement hung heavily in the air. The Shadowcrest parents exchanged a pained look, Mrs. Shadowcrest discretely wiping at the corner of her eye. Emma’s face showed genuine grief for a moment before she composed herself.

“What game are you playing with Stormhowl?” he demanded, his eyes glittering with anger.

I lifted my chin defiantly. “I don’t answer to you anymore, Arthur.”

“You’re still my marked mate,” he growled, his wolf close to the surface. “What exactly is your relationship with him?”

Anger flared inside me, hot and sudden. “You lost the right to question my personal life the day you chose Victoria over me and our unborn pups,” I said coldly.

Something flickered across his face-pain, perhaps, or regret-before his expression hardened again. “You didn’t even react,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “You saw me with Emma and you didn’t even care.”

I frowned in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t even care that I’m here with another she-wolf?” he asked incredulously. “The Audrey I knew would have been jealous, would have shown some reaction.”

I stared at him, momentarily speechless. Was that what this was about? His wounded pride?

“You used to watch me from across rooms,” he continued, his voice softening unexpectedly. “Your eyes would follow me everywhere. Now you look right through me like I’m nothing to you.”

The admission caught me off guard. I hadn’t realized he’d noticed my longing gazes during those years when I loved him silently, hopelessly.

“I spent three years watching you choose Victoria over me again and again,” I finally replied, my voice steady despite the old hurt surfacing. “I cried until I had no tears left. And then one day, I simply stopped caring.”

I met his gaze directly. “I’m relieved you never chose me. It allowed me to finally see clearly and move on.”

“I wasn’t choosing Emma,” he insisted, his hands moving to grip my shoulders. “It’s pack politics, nothing more.”

“I don’t need your explanations,” I said firmly. “Who you choose to spend time with is no longer my concern.”

His eyes searched my face, disbelief clear in their depths. “I don’t believe you feel nothing,” he said, his Alpha presence softening as he leaned closer. “Not after everything we’ve shared.”