Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 16

(Audrey’s POV)

The call from Lucas buzzed in my mind all the way to the Silver Moon Club. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel, frustrated and tired. Why did it always have to be me? Why did Arthur’s messes always land at my feet?

The Silver Moon Club’s neon sign flickered weakly in the dark night. It was quiet when I arrived, most of the patrons having already left. Only the faint music and occasional chatter from the staff filled the air.

As I stepped inside, the sharp smell of alcohol hit me hard. It churned my stomach, my wolf’s heightened senses no help to the nausea that had started creeping in lately.

Lucas was easy to spot, standing by a corner booth with his arms crossed. He gave me a quick wave, his expression tired.

“Audrey, thank the moon you’re here,” he said, his tone exasperated as I approached.

I glanced past him and froze. There, sprawled across the booth as though it was his personal throne, was Arthur. His tie hung loose, his dark hair messy, and his cheeks were faintly flushed.

Next to him sat Nathan Snowfang, surprisingly disheveled. His usual calm, collected demeanor seemed to have evaporated. His steel-blue eyes looked dulled as he leaned back in the booth, clearly struggling with the effects of the evening.

I turned back to Lucas, my brows furrowed. “What happened here? And why is Nathan involved?”

Lucas rolled his eyes, gesturing toward the scene. “Your mate-and yes, I’m still calling him that because you haven’t signed anything official yet-decided to drink half the bar’s stock tonight. Nathan just… joined in. Maybe they were bonding. I don’t know. All I know is they’re both in no shape to walk, let alone drive.”

I sighed, running a hand over my face. This was the last thing I needed. I glanced at Nathan. “Nathan, are you alright?”

He blinked as though surprised I’d addressed him directly. For a moment, he just stared at me, his brows furrowing slightly, before nodding. “I’ll be fine. Apologies for… the scene.”

His voice was rough, strained, but still held its usual calm edge. I didn’t reply immediately, just reached into my bag and pulled out a small vial. “Here. It’s a hangover remedy. It’ll help.”

Nathan looked at the vial for a moment before taking it with a faint, almost grateful tilt of his lips. “Thank you, Audrey.”

“It’s nothing,” I said softly, shifting my focus back to the bigger problem: Arthur.

There was a moment of awkward silence before Lucas broke it with a loud, dramatic sigh. “Well, as much as I’m enjoying everyone’s concern for Nathan, we still have Sleeping Beauty over here to deal with.” He motioned toward Arthur, who remained blissfully unaware, draped across the booth like he hadn’t a care in the world.

I hesitated before leaning down and gently shaking Arthur’s shoulder. “Arthur,” I called softly. “Wake up.”

For a moment, there was no reaction. Then, slowly, his eyelids fluttered open. His dark eyes, hazy and unfocused, found mine. His lips curved into a soft, boyish smile that caught me off guard.

“Little wolf,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep and alcohol.

I blinked, the words taking a moment to register. Little wolf?

Behind me, Lucas let out a snort. “Well, that’s a new one. Didn’t know the almighty Alpha King was into pet names.”

“Lucas,” I warned sharply, not in the mood for his commentary.

Arthur’s hand moved suddenly, surprising me. His fingers wrapped around mine, his grip surprisingly firm for someone so drunk. “Little wolf,” he repeated, his tone softer, almost tender.

My heart twisted at the sound of it. For a brief moment, the sincerity in his voice made me forget. Forget the pain. Forget the betrayal. Forget the countless times he had chosen Victoria over me.

“Arthur,” I said gently, trying to free my hand, but he held on tighter.

“Stay,” he murmured, his eyes fluttering closed again. “Please stay.”

Lucas chuckled, crossing his arms. “Looks like you’re stuck now, Audrey. Guess you’ll be giving our Alpha a ride home after all.”

Nathan, who had been silent the entire time, finally stood slowly. He swayed slightly but steadied himself with a hand on the booth. “Thank you, Audrey,” he said again, his voice quieter this time. “I’ll excuse myself now.”

I nodded. “Of course. Take care, Nathan.”

He gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod before walking off, his shoulders tense.

Once he was out of sight, Lucas clapped his hands together, clearly ready to move things along. “Alright, let’s get Romeo here into your car, shall we?”

I sighed, feeling the beginnings of a headache as I nodded in agreement.

—

The ride back to the pack house was, for lack of a better word, uncomfortable. The smell of alcohol clung to every part of Arthur, thick and suffocating. Even with the windows down, my heightened senses were screaming.

He remained mostly silent, now slumped against the passenger seat. His hand, however, never left mine. I’d stopped trying to pull away, too tired to argue with him-or myself, for that matter.

Occasionally, he would mumble something under his breath, broken words and fragments of sentences I couldn’t piece together. Once, I thought I heard him say my name, followed by a soft “don’t leave me.”

Halfway through, I stopped and stared at the bubbling pot.

What was the point? Why was I still doing this? Our bond was practically broken. Severing it was the only logical next step. And yet here I was, making soup like it would somehow fix things.

I forced myself to finish, convincing myself it was just one last act of kindness. A final gesture before everything fell apart for good.

—

Returning to his quarters, I found Arthur awake. He was sitting up now, his hair sticking up in every direction and his shirt wrinkled.

He looked at me as I stepped inside, his gaze surprisingly clear.

I set the bowl on the bedside table. “Here,” I said quietly. “It’ll help.”

He didn’t look at the soup. He only looked at me.

“Audrey,” he began, his tone soft, almost hesitant.

I stepped back, keeping my expression neutral. “It’s just soup, Arthur. Nothing more.”

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Don’t go.”

I froze, my hand hovering over the door handle.

“Please,” he said again, his voice raw, vulnerable in a way that I hadn’t heard before. “Don’t sever our mate bond.”

The words sent a pain through my chest, deeper than I could’ve ever anticipated.

I turned slowly, meeting his gaze. His eyes were dark, filled with something I couldn’t quite name.

“Please,” he repeated, his voice breaking slightly at the end.