Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 42

(Audrey’s POV)

Victoria sashayed into my office unannounced, wearing a smug expression that made my stomach churn. She had one hand resting protectively on her belly, emphasizing her swollen state as if it awarded her some kind of badge of honor.

“Audrey,” she greeted, her voice honeyed with a false sweetness that grated against my nerves. There was never a pretense of civility between us, so I didn’t bother standing up from my desk. I sat there, arms crossed, watching her with feigned indifference.

“Victoria,” I replied casually, pretending to be more engrossed in my paperwork than her unwelcome presence.

She took a seat across from me without waiting for an invitation, delicately stroking her stomach like an actress on a stage. Her actions screamed theatrics.

“I think it’s time we stopped wasting each other’s time,” she began, lips curling into a predatory smile. “You should sever the mate bond with Arthur immediately. It’s not like he wants you anymore. Holding on is only making you look… desperate.”

I snorted softly, finally lifting my gaze to meet hers. “If you’re so certain of Arthur’s feelings, maybe you should let him handle this conversation. Or are you afraid he might not agree with your little narrative?”

Her eyes darkened, but she didn’t lose her composure. “Arthur and I have a decade-long connection that you can’t possibly compete with,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “He only marked you because he felt obligated. Your role as Luna-” she laughed-a bitter, condescending sound- “is a title with an expiration date. Once the severance is finalized, I will be Luna. His true Luna. The mother of his firstborn.”

Her self-satisfaction made my stomach turn, but I kept my expression blank. “Is that so?” I asked coolly, tapping my pen against the desk. “You seem awfully comfortable proclaiming that without even knowing for sure who the father of your child really is.”

Her face paled for a fraction of a second, but she recovered quickly, her smile returning in full force. “Of course, it’s Arthur’s,” she said firmly. But there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. “And even if you choose to cling onto that mate bond, it won’t change the fact that my child is his legacy. The Moonstone Pack’s first heir.”

I tilted my head, giving her an icy smile. “An illegitimate heir, you mean,” I said, my words cutting through the air like a dagger.

Her composure cracked. Her cheeks flushed with anger, and her nostrils flared. “You’re pathetic, Audrey. A barren Luna without an ounce of power. Your role has been nothing more than symbolic,” she spat.

“Then why are you here begging me to sever the bond?” I asked, voice laced with mock curiosity. “If my position is so meaningless, why not take your case to Arthur instead? Or, is the truth that you’re afraid he might not choose you?”

Victoria slammed her hand down on the desk, rising to her feet in a huff. “The only reason he hesitates is because of that charade of a bond between you,” she hissed. She jabbed a finger in my direction. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? Sitting here, pretending like you’re so above it all.”

“You’re right,” I said, leaning back in my chair with a calm she clearly didn’t expect. “I am above it. This is Arthur’s decision, not mine. And if you’re as irresistible to him as you claim, then perhaps you should let him resolve this instead of embarrassing yourself here in my office.”

Victoria’s face twisted into a snarl. She looked as though she wanted to lunge at me, but she stopped herself, likely remembering the onlookers in the therapy center. Instead, she smoothed a hand over her perfectly styled hair, trying to regain her composure.

“You know what?” she said, a sickly sweet smile spreading across her face. “You might find this interesting. The winter solstice gathering is coming up, and there’s a competition for rare healing herbs research.” She pulled an envelope from her bag and slid it across my desk toward me.

I eyed it suspiciously but didn’t touch it. “And?”

“And,” she said, “there are only two available spots to represent the Moonstone Therapy Center. I’m offering you one of them.”

My brows furrowed in skepticism. “Offering?” I asked, picking up the envelope and flipping it over. “You don’t control the competition. The research has to be submitted directly to the North American Alliance of Werewolf Therapists, not through you.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you accusing me of something, Audrey?” she asked, her voice dangerously low. “Or are you just afraid that my superior skills as a healer might overshadow your submission?”

I almost laughed out loud at her audacity. “If you’re so confident about your abilities, why go through the trouble of involving me?” I asked. “What’s the angle, Victoria?”

She stared at me for a long moment, her lips thinning into a tense line. “Think about it,” she said abruptly, standing from her seat. “But don’t take too long. The deadline’s coming up, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to waste this… opportunity.”

She lingered for a moment, as if expecting me to say something, but when I remained silent, she turned on her heel and marched toward the door.

Just as she reached it, I couldn’t resist calling out, “Oh, and one last thing, Victoria. Next time you accuse someone of being powerless, try to remember that desperation like yours is the ultimate proof of weakness.”

Her shoulders tensed, and for a moment, I thought she might turn around. But she didn’t. She slammed the door shut behind her with more force than necessary, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a slow breath. My wolf, Grace, stirred uneasily inside me. The tension in the room clung to the air like a storm cloud even after Victoria’s retreat.

Later that evening, I visited Sarah in the hospital. She was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning after drinking too much.

Her usual fiery demeanor dampened by her fatigue and the faint scent of alcohol lingering in the room. She looked up as I entered, her brows knitting together in concern when she saw the expression on my face.

“What now?” she asked, pushing herself up in bed.

I recounted the day’s events, leaving out no detail about Victoria’s dramatics or Arthur’s excuses.

“Unbelievable,” Sarah muttered, her fist clenching the hospital sheets. “Those two are going to drive you insane. No wonder you’re not sleeping.”

I gave her a weak smile, sinking into the chair beside her bed. “I hate that he excused her behavior again,” I admitted.

Sarah huffed indignantly. “He’s an idiot if he can’t see through her. And for the record, that pup isn’t his. I know a liar when I see one.”

“I believe him when he says it’s not his,” I said quietly. “But… I don’t know how much longer I can hold onto that belief.”

Sarah reached out, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Audrey, we’ll figure this out. She’s not as untouchable as she thinks she is.”

Her words brought a small measure of comfort, but deep down, I knew the storm was far from over.