Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 172

(Audrey’s POV)

My heart tightened inexplicably as I stood with Florian in Serena’s preserved quarters. The room felt both sacred and somber – a shrine to his lost intended mate. Acting purely on instinct, I almost reached out to touch his arm in comfort but stopped myself midway.

“Florian,” I said softly, “Serena won’t blame you.”

His golden eyes snapped to mine, suddenly sharp with challenge. “How would you know what she thinks?”

I wasn’t offended by his tone. His pain was evident, raw and unguarded in a way I rarely saw from him.

“I’ve had similar experiences,” I replied honestly. “We both once lived well before suddenly losing our parents and having to survive on our own.”

The harsh lines of his face softened slightly as I continued.

“If I were Serena, I wouldn’t blame you either,” I added with a small smile. “Wolves who have endured hardship understand empathy better than most.”

Florian’s gaze lingered on me, something vulnerable flickering behind his usual mask of indifference.

“Has life been difficult for you these years?” he asked suddenly.

The question caught me off guard. It wasn’t like Florian to show genuine interest in others’ struggles.

“It was hard when I was younger,” I admitted, memories of lonely nights and empty stomachs flashing through my mind. “But I’ve grown accustomed to it.”

I glanced around the carefully preserved room, thinking of my own journey. “Especially after living relatively comfortably under the protection of the Moonstone Pack during my mate bond, flawed as it was.”

A shadow passed over Florian’s face at the mention of Arthur. “Are you happy every day?”

The question was so unexpected that I couldn’t help but laugh. “For most lone wolves, simply surviving takes all their strength. How could anyone be happy every day?”

I turned the question back to him. “What about you? Are you happy?”

His answer came without hesitation, predictable yet heartbreaking in its simplicity. “I haven’t been happy since Serena Shadowcrest disappeared.”

The weight of his words hung between us as we left the preserved quarters and walked back to Elder Shadowcrest’s courtyard. The territory den was sprawling and beautifully maintained, echoing with a history that stretched back generations.

“Grandmother wants you to stay here,” Florian mentioned as we approached the courtyard. “Though you could choose a luxury territory hotel if you’d prefer.”

“I’ll stay here,” I decided easily. “I enjoy your grandmother’s company.”

It was true. Despite never having experienced grandmotherly affection before, I felt naturally comfortable around the elderly she-wolf. Her warmth was genuine, not performative like so many pack relationships I’d encountered.

Later that afternoon, Florian’s cell phone rang. After a brief conversation, his expression turned serious.

“I need to go,” he said, already moving toward the door. “Pack business. I’ll return tomorrow.”

Once he had departed, Elder Shadowcrest settled beside me on the ornate sofa, offering me a steaming cup of herb tea. Her eyes twinkled with barely contained curiosity.

“Girl,” she began without preamble, “do you have any feelings for Florian?”

I nearly choked on my tea, startled by her directness. “No! Of course not,” I sputtered, setting my cup down hastily.

Elder Shadowcrest wasn’t convinced. She leaned forward, her keen eyes searching my face. “Is it that you don’t have feelings, or you don’t dare to have them?”

Her question struck uncomfortably close to the truth. I stared at the floor, unsure how to respond. After severing my mate bond with Arthur, I had focused solely on survival and rebuilding my life. The possibility of forming another bond hadn’t even crossed my mind – or if it had, I’d quickly suppressed it.

“After what happened with Arthur…” I began hesitantly.

The elderly she-wolf placed her hand on my shoulder, her touch surprisingly firm and comforting. “Be honest, child. I’ve watched how you interact with my grandson.”

Her eyes softened with unexpected emotion. “I hope Florian will finally do something for himself. He’s waited for Serena for over five years.”

Under her kind but penetrating gaze, I finally admitted, “I haven’t thought about it, and I don’t dare to. Besides, he loves Serena – we’re better as just friends.”

There was no room in Florian’s heart for another she-wolf. That much had always been clear.

“Is it because you’ve severed your previous mate bond?” she asked shrewdly.

“You’re quite old-fashioned,” Elder Shadowcrest chided when I reluctantly confirmed her suspicion. “How an Alpha or his pack treats you isn’t determined by whether it’s your first marking or how beautiful you are, but by their character.”

Her wisdom struck a chord within me. “Only problematic packs need such superficial reassurances,” she continued firmly. “With the Stormhowl pack, you can rest assured they won’t care about such things.”

The conviction in her voice was comforting, even if I wasn’t convinced a relationship with Florian was possible – or wise.

On the twenty-ninth day of the lunar cycle, I visited the Stormhowl residence to deliver the custom healing formulations to Elder Stormhowl. The pack house was magnificent – ancient yet impeccably maintained, emanating power without ostentation.

With Florian absent on pack business, Mia Silverleaf eagerly took charge of showing me around. She invited me for venison lunch and kept Elder Stormhowl entertained with stories of her adventures in the central territories.

After lunch, while Elder Stormhowl retired for her afternoon rest, Mia practically dragged me to her room, closing the door with exaggerated secrecy.

“Tell me more about Alpha Snowfang,” she whispered excitedly, her eyes gleaming. “What’s his favorite food? Does he prefer morning runs or evening hunts?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t your brother specifically tell you to stay away from Nathan?”

Mia waved her hand dismissively. “That’s just public obedience, private defiance. Besides, he’s not here, is he?”

Her carefree attitude was both amusing and concerning. “Mia, why are you so interested in Nathan? You barely know him.”

“I know enough,” she insisted. “He’s kind, gentle, and respectful – nothing like the wolves my father would choose for me.”

Her determination reminded me a bit of myself at her age – headstrong and certain of what I wanted.

“Nathan prefers venison cooked rare,” I found myself saying. “And he usually runs in the early morning, just before dawn.”

Mia’s face lit up as she scribbled notes on her phone, firing question after question about Nathan’s preferences and habits. I answered what I could, amused by her thoroughness.

After exhausting her list of questions, Mia suddenly looked up at me with unexpected seriousness. “Healer Winter, my brother definitely likes you.”

The statement was so abrupt that I could only stare at her in shock.