Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 34

(Audrey’s POV)

Arthur’s face was flushed. His usual sharp features now seemed raw, untamed. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and his breaths came in heavy, uneven bursts that filled the room with a strange heat.

His wolf-gold eyes locked onto mine, wild and full of something primal. It wasn’t the Arthur I knew. This was someone-something-lost in chaos.

“Arthur,” I called out, my voice shaky. “What’s wrong with you? Do you hear me?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he took a step closer, his movements slow but purposeful. Cold dread crept up my spine.

His shirt was half-unbuttoned, exposing the mate mark on his chest. My eyes darted to it involuntarily. That mark. The one that once gave me hope. The one that now felt like a cruel reminder of all the pain between us.

“Stay back,” I warned, my voice firmer now. But my hands trembled, betraying the resolve in my tone.

Arthur didn’t stay back. He stepped closer, his wolf’s gaze fixed like a predator cornering prey. His voice, low and unsteady, broke the silence. “Audrey…”

I froze. There was something raw in his voice. Desperation. Need. It wasn’t the Arthur I knew-the one so effortlessly composed, the Alpha King who could command entire packs with a single look.

This was different. Wrong.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my hand, snapping me from my thoughts. I fumbled with it, hurriedly pressing Sarah’s contact. She picked up after a few rings, her voice loud and slightly slurred.

“Audrey! What’s up?” she chirped, clearly enjoying herself at a bar.

“Sarah, listen to me!” I whispered quickly, my voice trembling. “Something’s wrong with Arthur. He-he’s burning up, and he’s not himself. He’s acting strange-dangerous.”

There was a pause on the other end, and when Sarah spoke again, her tone was deadly serious. “Wait, what are you saying? What’s happening exactly?”

“I think he’s been drugged. It smells like… like a rare wolf aphrodisiac. His scent is different. He’s not acting rationally.” I glanced at Arthur, who had taken another step toward me. His eyes never left mine. “I don’t know how long I can hold him off.”

Sarah sucked in a sharp breath. “Audrey, you need to get out of there. Lock yourself in your room. Now! Do you hear me?”

“I’m trying,” I whispered back desperately. I began inching toward my room, but Arthur’s wolf senses caught on. His gaze flicked toward my movements, and his steps matched mine, holding me in place with an invisible force.

“Audrey,” he growled, his voice harsh and broken. “Don’t go.”

“Sarah, I don’t think I can-”

“Lock the door, now! Don’t let him-”

Before Sarah could finish, my phone screen went black, the battery drained in the worst possible moment. I stared in disbelief at the dark screen, panic rising in my chest like a tidal wave.

“No, no, no…” I muttered under my breath.

Arthur used the distraction. His arm slammed against the doorframe beside me, blocking my retreat. His sudden movement startled me, and I stumbled back against the bedroom wall.

He leaned in close, too close, caging me in with his sheer presence. His other hand pressed firmly against the wall by my head, trapping me completely.

“You’re not leaving,” he murmured, his voice low and guttural.

I could feel the heat radiating off him, the primal energy that rolled off his barely restrained wolf. My breath hitched as his golden eyes burned into mine.

“Arthur,” I said firmly, forcing my voice to steady. “This isn’t you. You’re not in control.”

“I can’t fight it,” he breathed, his tone raw. “It’s… unbearable.” His breath fanned across my face, hot and intoxicating.

I swallowed hard, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. My wolf, Grace, stirred uneasily within me, caught between fear and something deeper-something that scared me even more.

“I’ll get you water,” I said, my voice trembling. “You need to cool off.”

He tilted his head, his gaze predatory. “Water won’t fix this, Audrey.”

“Let me go!” I snapped, trying to duck under his arm.

But he was faster-far faster. His hand closed around my wrist with a grip that wasn’t painful but firm enough to stop me in my tracks.

The first light of morning crept through the windows, pulling me unwillingly from a fitful sleep. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the turmoil of the night before.

As I shifted slightly, something warm brushed against my side. My heart jumped, and I turned my head quickly to find Arthur lying beside me.

He wasn’t touching me, but his presence filled the room like a suffocating fog. His dark eyes were already open, watching me intently.

“Morning,” he murmured, his voice soft but unreadable.

I pulled back instinctively, the memories of the previous night crashing over me. “What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice harsher than intended.

He didn’t flinch at the accusation in my tone. Instead, he sat up slowly, his movements deliberate and calm. “You wouldn’t let me leave.”

His words threw me off. “Excuse me?”

“Your wolf,” he explained, his gaze steady. “She didn’t want me to go. I came to cover you with a blanket, but she kept pulling me back.”

For a moment, I was speechless. The calm way he spoke only made me feel more conflicted.

“I didn’t ask you to stay,” I said finally, my voice quieter now.

“No, you didn’t,” he agreed. But his tone gave nothing away, leaving me unsure of what he was thinking.

His eyes held mine for a long moment before he stood and stretched. “What’s your schedule this morning?”

I blinked at the sudden change of topic, unsure how to respond. “Why does it matter?”

He shrugged casually, but his next words were firm. “We’re going to the pack healer. You clearly haven’t been feeling well.”

“No!” I shook my head. “I’m fine.”