Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 19

(Audrey’s POV)

The ride to the sacred memorial site was silent. My hands rested on my lap, fingers picking at the seam of my dress as the passing scenery blurred through the window. Arthur drove wordlessly beside me, his usual commanding presence muted. Grace stirred inside me, uneasy, but I ignored her. This visit was important-not for him, not for us, but for me.

The closer we got, the more my emotions churned. I hadn’t visited my parents’ memorial in years. Life had been too hectic. Or maybe I had just been too cowardly. Now, with everything unraveling, the pull to be near them was undeniable.

Arthur slowed as the car approached the forest path leading to the memorial. My throat tightened. This was it.

“We’re here,” he said softly, breaking the silence.

I nodded but didn’t speak. My words were lodged somewhere between my heartbreak and all the unspoken truths weighing on my chest.

As we walked through the wooded path, Arthur carried the traditional markers he’d brought-white moonflowers and golden irises, both symbolic of the Moon Goddess and pack unity. Though I appreciated the gesture, I couldn’t bring myself to thank him.

The sacred site came into view. A smooth memorial stone stood surrounded by wildflowers, the names and wolf shapes of my parents carved into its surface. My breath hitched as the familiar sight overwhelmed me with memories.

I stepped closer, each footfall heavier than the last. The moment I touched the stone, tears sprang to my eyes. They hadn’t dulled with age, the pain was as fresh as the day I lost them.

Arthur stood beside me, his presence quiet but solid. He knelt down, placing the flowers onto the soft earth before the stone. His head bowed, and I could feel the weight of his aura.

He prayed.

Though his words were so low I couldn’t hear them, the earnestness in his body language was undeniable. His hands rested on his knees as he leaned forward, eyes closed. For the first time in years, I saw a side of Arthur that wasn’t cold, distant, or calculated.

When he finally rose, he turned to me, watching as my fingers traced the carved wolf shapes. His gaze lingered, but he said nothing.

I crouched, unable to hold myself up anymore. Emotion surged, raw and unfiltered, and I spoke aloud. Perhaps to my parents, perhaps only to myself. “I wanted more than this,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “I wanted a pack. A family. Safety. But it keeps slipping away.”

Unbidden, my hand moved to my stomach, cradling the life within me. My tears came uncontrollably then, heavy sobs shaking my frame. “I’m bringing pups into a world where they might not feel wanted. Into a life I’m not sure I can hold together.”

Arthur’s arms were around me before I even registered his movement. He pulled me into his chest, holding me tightly as my pain spilled out.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. His words, though simple, carried the weight of regret.

I buried my face in his shoulder, ashamed of my outburst but unable to stop.

His voice softened to a whisper against my hair. “For everything, Audrey. For every time I failed you… and every time I prioritized the wrong thing.”

“Are you happy?” The question tumbled out before I could stop it. “Have you been happy these past three years?”

Arthur hesitated but didn’t let go of me. “Not always,” he admitted. “But there were moments… with you. Those moments made it bearable. Better, even.”

His honesty, while appreciated, didn’t erase the pain. But for the first time, I felt a glimmer of understanding between us-a shared grief, a shared loss.

—

The car ride back to my new house was thick with unspeakable tension. The earlier vulnerability between us had been replaced by a wall of awkwardness.

Arthur occasionally glanced at me, but I kept my gaze fixed out the window. The weight of everything unsaid hung in the air. No amount of open fields or changing landscapes could make the silence less suffocating.

When the car pulled up to the house, I grabbed the door handle, eager to escape the confined space.

“I’ll walk you to the door,” Arthur offered, his tone unreadable.

I didn’t protest. We walked in silence, the gravel crunching beneath our feet.

Arthur shoved past him and stepped fully into the house. “Since I’m here, I might as well join you all.”

His statement shocked everyone, myself included.

—

Nathan emerged from the kitchen, his usual calm demeanor intact despite the tension brewing in the room. He looked between Arthur and me, clearly reading the strained atmosphere, and smiled politely.

“Arthur.” He extended a hand, his voice composed yet friendly. “Welcome. We weren’t expecting you, but you’re always welcome.”

Arthur stepped forward, gripping his hand tightly in what was meant to be a handshake. The pressure between their joined hands was palpable, each of them asserting dominance in subtle, unspoken ways.

“Thanks,” Arthur bit out, his lips curling into a strained smile. “I hear you’ve been helping Audrey get settled.”

“Of course.” Nathan’s tone remained light, almost amused. His gaze flicked to mine briefly before returning to Arthur. “She’s a friend, after all.”

Arthur didn’t release his grip on Nathan’s hand immediately. When he finally did, his warning was clear in the tension of his words. “We appreciate the help.”

The room was silent, all eyes darting between the two Alpha males. Even Lucas, who usually had something to say, seemed too startled to intervene.

I stood in the middle, caught between the weight of past bonds and the possibility of new beginnings.

Arthur’s presence here wasn’t just uncomfortable-it was a warning. For whom, I wasn’t entirely sure.