Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 147

(Audrey’s POV)

The moment Florian Stormhowl strode into my healing practice, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Emma Shadowcrest’s expression transformed before my eyes – her sharp, mean demeanor instantly softened, though I could still see the sulkiness lingering beneath her carefully composed features.

“You’re taking her side!” Emma muttered, her voice a mixture of surprise and indignation.

Mrs. Shadowcrest’s posture also changed. Her previously aggressive stance relaxed slightly as she regarded Florian with a measured gaze.

“Why?” she asked simply, her tone cautious rather than confrontational.

Florian’s lazy smile spread across his face as he leaned casually against the doorframe, his golden eyes gleaming with that characteristic mischief I’d come to recognize.

“My pack elder has been requesting some custom healing herbs formulations,” he explained, his tone casual as if we were discussing the weather. “I was planning to bring Audrey to meet her this weekend to discuss her preferences.”

He glanced at Emma, raising an eyebrow. “But if she’s injured or otherwise incapacitated by your… attentions, that would put me in an awkward position, wouldn’t it?”

Emma’s eyes widened with shock. “You’re taking her to meet your pack elder?”

The disbelief in her voice was almost comical. Everyone in the northern territories knew that Florian’s pack elder was notoriously selective about who she associated with, valuing reputation and tradition above all else.

“How could your elder possibly accept someone like her?” Emma continued, her voice rising. “A bond-severed, packless runt!”

The derogatory term made my wolf bristle within me, but I forced myself to remain outwardly calm. Getting into another argument wouldn’t help our situation.

Florian’s response surprised me. His usually lazy demeanor vanished as he retorted sharply, “My pack elder is more tolerant than most. She values skill over status.”

His golden wolf eyes flashed briefly. “And I think she’ll find Audrey quite agreeable. Unlike some wolves who rely solely on their pack name rather than personal merit.”

The barb was unmistakable, and Emma flinched visibly.

Mrs. Shadowcrest quickly intervened, her practiced social skills coming to the fore. “I see. Well, for your sake, Florian, we’ll drop this matter for now.”

She placed a restraining hand on Emma’s shoulder, squeezing slightly in warning. “Come, Emma. We have other appointments to attend to.”

Florian merely nodded, his expression sliding back into indifference. “I’d appreciate that. Tell your father I said hello.”

His golden wolf eyes gleamed lazily as he essentially dismissed them from my office. The power dynamic had shifted so completely that both Shadowcrest women left without another word, though Emma shot me a venomous glare over her shoulder as they departed.

Once they were gone, I turned to Florian with genuine curiosity.

“Thank you for that,” I said cautiously. “But why are you really here?”

Florian casually pulled up a chair and sat down, stretching his long legs out before him. “Can’t a wolf just do a good deed without ulterior motives?”

I gave him a skeptical look that made him chuckle.

“Alright, I suppose I do owe you three meals from our previous agreement,” he admitted, leaning forward. “Consider this support for your healing practice as one of them.”

“You expect me to believe you came here out of the goodness of your heart?” I asked, unable to keep the doubt from my voice.

My wolf sensed that Florian never acted without personal gain. That was just how Alpha wolves from ancient bloodlines operated. Everything was a transaction, a move in some larger strategy.

“Not entirely,” he conceded with a small smile. “I’m here to propose a business arrangement.”

He crossed his arms, his golden eyes watching me carefully. “If you create a healing herbs formulation for my pack elder and agree to a future favor, I’ll pay you generously for the custom work.”

I narrowed my emerald eyes with suspicion. “That sounds rather one-sided. What kind of favor?”

I shook my head slightly. “He’s too sharp to be manipulated, Sarah. This is just a business transaction, nothing more.”

Sarah looked unconvinced but didn’t press the issue further.

The rest of the workday passed quickly as Sarah and I finalized the arrangements for our official opening. Florian remained in our reception area, occasionally scrolling through his phone or stepping outside for brief periods.

When we finally finished, I found him still waiting, his golden wolf eyes reflecting boredom as he slouched in the chair.

“You’re incredibly slow,” he complained, getting to his feet with an exaggerated stretch. “I could have tracked and hunted an entire deer herd in the time it took you to finish your paperwork.”

His comment undermined my earlier impression of his patience, making me wonder if his easy-going demeanor was just another facade.

In the car, as we drove through the territory borders, I decided to bring up something that had been on my mind.

“Marcus Blackclaw owes me a favor,” I said carefully, glancing at Florian. “Could you inquire about the status of the task I gave him? Regarding Emma?”

Florian turned to look at me, his golden eyes suddenly sharp with interest. “Are you afraid of the consequences, Luna Winter? Retaliating against Emma Shadowcrest isn’t without risk.”

I stiffened, realizing he knew about my actions. “You’re taking her side now? After what you just did?”

Before he could reply, my car’s communication system lit up with an incoming call. Mrs. Shadowcrest’s name flashed on the screen, and her voice filled the car, cutting through any response Florian might have given.

“Audrey Winter!” she shouted, her fury vibrating through the speakers. “How dare you orchestrate an attack on my daughter! Is this how you practice healing? By causing injuries to others?”

Her voice rose higher with each word. “I never expected you to be so vicious! You will regret this!”