Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 125

(Audrey’s POV)

“So where did you grow up?” Florian asked, leaning against my doorframe with that lazy posture of his. “Before the Moonstone Pack took you in.”

I sighed, unsure why he seemed so interested in my background all of a sudden. His golden wolf eyes studied my face intently, as if searching for something specific.

“Neutral territory between the major pack lands,” I replied, shrugging. “Far from both Moonstone territory and the northern packs.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed his face. “You’re certain? No connections to the north?”

“None whatsoever,” I confirmed. “My parents kept to themselves, ran their healing practice in isolation. Is there a reason you’re asking?”

Florian continued staring at me, his gaze unsettlingly focused. His wolf presence, usually so carefully controlled, rippled with something I couldn’t quite identify. It wasn’t aggression-more like desperate hope.

“You’re looking for her in me, aren’t you?” I said softly, the realization dawning. “Your missing intended mate.”

His jaw tightened slightly. “You share a birthday with her. Certain… similarities.”

“I’m not a replacement,” I said firmly. “I can’t be whoever you’re searching for.”

The intensity in his eyes faded, that familiar lazy smile returning to his face. “Merely a coincidence, Winter’s Grace. My intended mate likely doesn’t even remember her birthday after all these years.”

He straightened, his tall frame filling my doorway. “Happy birthday, by the way,” he added almost as an afterthought before turning to leave.

I watched him disappear down the hallway, my wolf bristling with unease. There was something both tragic and disturbing about his unwavering devotion to a she-wolf missing for years, presumed dead by everyone except him.

Closing the door, I leaned against it with a sigh. My birthday had been eventful, to say the least. First Arthur, then the confrontation at Emma’s celebration, and now Florian’s strange questions.

When I opened my eyes, I noticed a large box sitting on my doorstep that I hadn’t seen before. A cake box, elegant and tied with a silver ribbon.

“Don’t tell me Nathan beat me to it again,” Sarah’s voice called from the stairwell. She appeared moments later, carrying a similar box with mock outrage on her face.

I laughed, lifting the box from my doorstep. “Looks like he did.”

“That wolf is too perfect,” Sarah grumbled good-naturedly, following me inside. She set her box beside the one already on my counter. “Mine’s chocolate with wolfberry filling.”

I checked the card attached to the mystery cake. The message matched the text Nathan had sent me earlier: “Happy moon-turning, Winter’s Grace. May your wolf run free and your path be clear.”

“Definitely from Nathan,” I confirmed, sending him a quick thank-you text.

After a comfortable shower, I dressed in soft loungewear, my fingers instinctively reaching for the wolf pendant my aunt had given me. I hadn’t worn it to Emma’s celebration-it wouldn’t have matched Florian’s elegant dress. Now, I clasped it around my neck, the golden pendant shimmering against my skin.

There was something oddly comforting about it, despite its mysterious origins. My wolf seemed to recognize it somehow, even if my human consciousness couldn’t place it.

“Traditional birthday feast is served!” Sarah announced from the kitchen. She had arranged raw venison with rare healing herbs on two plates. “You have to make a wish before midnight. The Moon Goddess listens most closely at the turning of your birth hour.”

I smiled at her enthusiasm. “I thought wishes were for blowing out candles.”

“That’s human tradition,” she scoffed. “Wolf tradition requires raw meat under moonlight. Now close your eyes and wish!”

I complied, silently wishing for the success of our healing practice and the health and well-being of those I cared about. Simple wishes, but heartfelt.

When I opened my eyes, Sarah was watching me expectantly. “Well? What did you wish for?”

“If I tell you, it won’t come true,” I teased, picking up my fork.

My first bite of venison nearly broke my teeth. The meat was impossibly tough, nothing like the tender cuts wolves typically enjoyed.

Sarah grimaced as she tried her own portion. “I should have known better than to trust that Beta butcher,” she grumbled, poking at the meat with her fork. “He swore it was fresh-killed today.”

“I think the deer might have been made of stone,” I replied, giving up on the meat and reaching for the cake instead.

Just as I was about to take my first bite of Nathan’s cake, my phone rang. Arthur’s name flashed on the screen.

Sarah watched me curiously. “You okay?”

“Better than okay,” I admitted, picking up my fork again. “Let’s have cake.”

Over the next few days, life settled into a new routine. Sarah and I visited potential office spaces for our healing practice, planning to start online before expanding to a physical location. Finding the right territory was crucial-we needed somewhere accessible to wolves from multiple packs.

After viewing a promising space near the border of neutral territory, my phone rang with a call from Robert Gray, my pack legal advisor.

“Ms. Winter,” his professional voice greeted me. “I’ve returned to the territory and reviewed your cases.”

“Thank you for getting back to me so quickly,” I replied, stepping away from Sarah to take the call.

“I’ve studied the silver-poisoning medical reports for your aunt,” he explained. “They provide solid evidence for immediate mate bond severance without the usual waiting period.”

Relief washed over me. “That’s excellent news.”

“I suggest we meet at the Wolf Medical Center,” he continued. “Howard Mitchell is still there, and we can serve him the severance papers directly.”

I agreed, and we arranged to meet within the hour.

When I arrived at the Wolf Medical Center, I found Howard Mitchell lounging outside the VIP ward where my aunt was recovering. His eyes narrowed when he spotted me.

“Well, if it isn’t my dear niece,” he said with false politeness. “Come to check on your aunt? These Alpha guards won’t let me near her. Your doing, I presume?”

The two Beta wolves Arthur had sent stood stoically by the door, their expressions neutral but their posture clearly protective.

“She needs rest,” I replied firmly. “Not more stress from her abusive mate.”

Howard snorted. “Abusive? I was disciplining her. Pack law allows-“