Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 192

(Audrey’s POV)

“I’ll be right down.” The words tumbled from my lips automatically as Arthur’s news about Aunt Juliette hit me like a physical blow.

My hands trembled as I ended the call. The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thin. Aunt Juliette-the woman who had taken me in when I had nowhere else to go, who had shown me kindness when others turned away-was in critical condition.

Sarah Mitchell glanced at my pale face, concern evident in her eyes. “What’s wrong over there?” she asked, setting down her coffee cup.

I moved on instinct, grabbing essential items and shoving them into my bag. “My aunt Juliette has taken a turn for the worse. I need to rush back to Central Territory.”

A dark suspicion flashed through my mind: was this truly a natural deterioration of her condition, or had Emma Shadowcrest’s schemes reached beyond Northern Territory? The timing felt too convenient-just as I discovered my true identity, the one person who might know about my past was suddenly at death’s door.

Sarah grabbed my frantic hands, stilling them with her firm grip. “Arthur Moonstone is coming to fetch you, right?” she asked, her voice steady and practical. “Stop packing-leave everything to me. I’ll wrap up here this afternoon.”

Her calm efficiency was exactly what I needed in this moment of panic.

“You head back first,” she continued, “and I’ll bring your things when I leave.”

I could only nod, too overwhelmed to form a proper response. The weight of everything-discovering I was Serena Shadowcrest, Elder Shadowcrest’s poisoning, and now Aunt Juliette’s condition-threatened to crush me.

Sarah stuffed a power bank and my fully charged phone into my hands, gently maneuvering me toward the door. “Don’t mention it,” she said, anticipating my thanks. “I’m Winter’s Remedy’s Market Director and a shareholder-I’m doing this for myself too.”

Her attempt at humor brought a weak smile to my face. As I left, my chest tightened with both gratitude and anxiety.

In the lobby, I spotted Arthur Moonstone’s gleaming black luxury SUV pulling into the parking area. His Beta driver—a tall, well-built wolf with a perpetually serious expression-opened the rear door for me.

I slipped inside, immediately noticing Arthur leaning back against the leather seat, eyes closed. His perfect features were set in an expression of forced calm, like a predator gathering strength before a hunt.

The silence in the vehicle was oppressive. I stared out the window at the passing Northern Territory landscape, my thoughts churning with worry for Aunt Juliette and confusion about my newly discovered identity.

After several minutes of this suffocating quiet, Arthur spoke, his voice low and controlled. “Don’t meddle in anything in Northern Territory.”

The command in his tone sparked immediate resistance in me.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” I replied coldly, keeping my gaze fixed on the frost-covered trees outside. Our mate bond was severed; he had no right to dictate my actions.

Arthur’s brow tightened, the only visible sign of his frustration. “Do you really think a bloodline verification ritual and Florian Stormhowl’s name are enough to get you into the Stormhowl Pack?”

His words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I whipped my head around to stare at him, suspicion flaring hot in my veins. “How do you know?” I demanded. Only a handful of wolves knew what had happened this morning. The Shadowcrest pack would never voluntarily share such information, and Florian certainly wouldn’t have told Arthur.

He met my gaze steadily, his dark eyes giving nothing away. “I know you and he have no future.”

My hands clenched into fists in my lap. “Nor do you and I.”

“Audrey…” His voice softened unexpectedly, taking on an almost pleading quality I’d rarely heard from him. “In the past three years, haven’t we ever had any warm moments?”

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “If you call your half-hearted concern ‘warmth,’ I’d rather not argue.”

The fight had drained from me. When one truly gives up on someone, even the impulse to fight back fades away. I was tired of the endless cycle of hope and disappointment with Arthur Moonstone.

Arthur’s lips curved into a cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Is Florian Stormhowl that great?”

“Yes.” The answer came without hesitation.

My mind filled with memories of Florian-the gentle respect in his golden eyes when he listened to my opinions, the fierce protection he offered without making me feel weak, the way he’d risked his intended mate arrangement to defend me against Mrs. Shadowcrest.

Compared to Arthur’s earlier neglect, when he’d treated me like a packless runt only worthy of attention when convenient, or his later suffocating possessiveness that treated me like a rare treasure to be locked away, Florian had simply allowed me to be… me. A free wolf, always reaching for her own moonlight.

Guilt stabbed my heart like a silver dagger. “Aunt, you’re so frail. Why did you tell me on the phone that you were fine?” Her fingers trembled as she tried to reach for my hand. I quickly grasped hers, alarmed by how cold and lightweight it felt. “A full moon celebration doesn’t need extra worry,” she said with a faint laugh that dissolved into a cough. “What’s done is done I’ve lived my life.”

Tears blurred my vision, distorting the small room into a watercolor painting of blues and whites. “Where’s Uncle Howard? Why isn’t he here?”

A shadow passed over her features. “He hasn’t come in a long time. If not for you and Arthur, I’d have gone to the Moon Goddess already.”

I tightened my grip on her hand, as if I could physically anchor her to this world. “Don’t say that. You still have me.”

She nodded gratefully, then her gaze shifted to where Arthur stood silently behind me.

“I see how much he cares for you,” she murmured, her eyes softening. “Cherish him, child, so you won’t end up alone like me.

I bit my lower lip, unwilling to upset her by contradicting her understanding of my relationship with Arthur. She didn’t need to know about our severed mate bond, not now.

Arthur, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. “No matter what,” he said in a low, solemn voice, “I will always take care of Audrey.”

I bowed my head, unable to meet either of their gazes. Arthur’s promise felt like iron chains rather than comfort.

My aunt seemed to notice my reaction. Her features softened with understanding as she reached with trembling fingers toward my neck.

“Are you wearing that wolf emblem?” she asked.

“Always,” I answered, pulling the necklace from beneath my collar. The small silver pendant gleamed in the soft light.

I hesitated, then looked up, needing answers now more than ever. “Aunt, Uncle said in anger before, I’m indeed not a child of the Winter bloodline, right?”