Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 200

(Audrey’s POV)

I stood frozen in the doorway, my mind refusing to process the words.

Florian might appear scatterbrained, always teasing and casual, but I’d learned that he approached everything with careful planning. For something to make Mia Silverleaf run through the halls in panic…

I whipped around to look at Sarah Mitchell, who had followed me out of my office at Winter’s Remedy. Her face was pale, tension etching lines across her forehead. She wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Sarah, what exactly happened? You know, right?” I demanded, every frantic heartbeat pounding in my ears.

She bit her lip, clearly torn between telling me the truth and trying to protect me. Her eyes were full of guilt and fear.

“It’s nothing,” she mumbled, staring at the floor. “Just a misunderstanding.”

I didn’t believe her for a second. The way her fingers twisted together betrayed her anxiety.

I reached for her arm, my voice trembling. “Please tell me, I’m begging you.”

Her continued silence felt like a physical blow. She was terrified I wouldn’t be able to accept whatever news she carried. My chest tightened painfully.

When she still hesitated, I yanked out my phone. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll find out myself. No one’s stopping me from going to Northern Territory.”

I pressed redial on my office line, calling Mia. No answer.

My fingers trembled as I scrolled to Beta Thornwood’s contact. Still nothing.

Anxiety coiled tighter in my chest as I slammed my palm against the elevator button. Resolve and dread warred inside me as I waited for the doors to open.

“I’m going to Northern Territory,” I announced, more to myself than to Sarah.

Just then, a familiar scent hit my nostrils before I even saw him. Arthur Moonstone appeared beside me as if summoned by my distress. How did he always know?

“Why the rush?” Arthur asked, his voice gentle. “Where are you headed?”

Instead of pulling away as I normally would, I turned to face him fully, meeting his calm gaze with sharp desperation. “Arthur,” I said, keeping my voice steady with effort, “what happened to Florian?”

He chuckled softly, the sound light and dismissive. “What could possibly have happened? Have you been listening to rumors again?”

His casualness made me pause. Arthur wasn’t a skilled actor-if something serious had happened to his rival, I’d see it in his eyes.

“Give me your phone,” I demanded abruptly.

To my surprise, he handed it over without hesitation, indulging me like a devoted Alpha.

“The code is our mate marking anniversary,” he said softly.

His dark eyes shone with that trademark possession that once made me feel cherished but now felt suffocating. I frowned as I punched in the date-a day I’d tried my best to forget.

I quickly scrolled through his messages and checked the pack forums. Nothing about an accident or crisis involving the Stormhowl Pack. Nothing about Florian.

My pulse slowly returned to normal as I stumbled upon a livestream from the Stormhowl Pack’s healing herbs subsidiary. Today’s big news: a groundbreaking research breakthrough in venison preservation techniques.

And there, standing at the podium in casual hunting clothes, was Florian. He looked completely fine, answering reporters’ questions with that relaxed yet unapproachable air he wore like a second skin.

“Our production methods have improved significantly,” his voice came through the speaker, low and composed, leaving no room for doubt that he was perfectly fine.

Arthur paused beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. “Do you feel better now?” he asked quietly.

I nodded wordlessly, handing his phone back. Relief flooded through me like a cool territory breeze after a hot hunt.

Just then Sarah, breathless from apparently chasing after us, caught up. She cast a glance at Arthur, then at me, looking exasperated.

He bent forward, elbows on his knees, silence folding around us like a heavy blanket. Finally, he exhaled, his voice rough.

“Okay. Day after tomorrow, we go to the Pack Council office.”

I nodded, glancing at my watch. One question still nagged at me.

“No more fake certificates this time?” I asked pointedly.

He met my eyes, his gaze firm and unwavering. “No.”

His dark eyes softened as he reached out across the desk, though he stopped short of actually touching me. “Soon you’ll be free, Luna Winter.”

Those words landed like both a release and a wound. I bent my head and went back to work, sketching new healing herb formulations with a steady hand, though my heart felt anything but steady.

That evening, returning to the old territory den that had once been ours, I used too much force when I lifted a healing herb container from a high shelf. It slipped from my fingers, shattering across the floor.

I stared at the broken pieces, struck by this strange clumsiness that matched the turmoil inside me. The rich scent of mixed herbs filled the air, suddenly overwhelming.

I called for a pack Beta to clear the mess, then darted upstairs clutching my phone. Despite Arthur’s reassurances, something still felt wrong. I was eager to watch the livestream I’d seen earlier, to confirm once more that Florian was truly safe.

To my confusion, I couldn’t find it anywhere. The livestream had vanished without a trace-no replay, no logs, nothing to indicate it had ever existed.

My heartbeat thudded painfully again, and I felt cold all over. I tried calling Mia and even Arthur, but discovered that every signal was dead. My phone showed no service.

A light knock at my door startled me. George Thompson stood there, his familiar weathered face unusually guarded. “Is something wrong with the communication networks?” I asked immediately.

George Thompson averted his eyes, not meeting my suspicious gaze. “Luna Winter, we just got notice that the nearby territory communications den is down and they’re repairing it.”