Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 56

(Audrey’s POV)

Elder William’s breaths were labored, his chest rising and falling erratically, as if he were fighting the pain even at this fragile moment. I sat beside his hospital bed, clutching his hand between my trembling fingers. It felt cold, a sharp contrast to the warmth he’d always emanated during our interactions.

His eyes opened slowly, meeting mine with dimmed but still recognizable affection. “Audrey,” he rasped, his voice frail yet commanding enough to still my own troubled thoughts.

Tears blurred my vision. “Elder William, please… Please don’t strain yourself. Rest.”

He shook his head weakly, a soft cough escaping his lips. “I must… say this…” His gaze turned more intense despite his condition. “Listen closely, child.”

I nodded, leaning in to ensure I wouldn’t miss a single word. My chest ached as his strained breaths filled the room, each one heavier than the last.

“This pack,” he began slowly, each word carrying the weight of his lifetime, “is your home. You’ve given them your loyalty as Luna. No one… No one, not Victoria, not anyone… will take that from you.”

Hearing his words made my heart clench painfully. His protective nature hadn’t wavered, even now. “Elder William, please don’t push yourself. We’ll handle it. I’ll-”

“No.” His voice, though weak, carried enough authority to silence me. “Victoria… must never… become Luna. She would ruin everything that matters about this pack… and about Arthur.” His voice cracked as he said Arthur’s name, regret evident in his tone.

I clenched his hand tighter, my fingers trembling. “I’ll make sure of it. I promise.” My voice wavered, thick with emotion.

He gave me a faint, approving nod. Then, as if sensing time slipping through his grasp, his gaze softened, and he whispered, “There’s one more thing I must know…”

“What is it?” I asked quickly, desperate to fulfill whatever wish he might have.

“Do you… still carry the bond?” His question came out on shaky breaths, but his meaning was unmistakable. His eyes scanned mine, unwavering in their depth.

For a moment, I hesitated. And then, unable to hold back any longer, I leaned closer to his ear, my voice barely audible. “I’m pregnant, Elder William. With Arthur’s pups.”

At my confession, his tired eyes flickered with what seemed like relief. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled the edges of his lips. It was fleeting but heartbreakingly genuine.

He tried to lift his free hand, but it barely shifted. Still, I held onto it, pressing my forehead against the back of his frail fingers.

“Good,” he murmured, the word slipping from his lips like a breath of peace. “That’s… good.” His faint smile lingered for just a second longer before his body seemed to relax entirely, the tension in his frame fading into stillness.

I froze. My heart stopped as his chest didn’t rise again.

“Elder William?” My voice broke, fear lacing through me. When there was no response, I called again, louder this time. “Elder William!”

Tears spilled freely down my face as realization struck like a thunderclap, shaking me to my core. My wolf whimpered within, overcome with grief. I clutched his hand tightly, unable to let go, as if willing him to hold on one more moment, one more second.

But he didn’t.

I knelt beside him, resting my head against his now-lifeless hand, my body trembling with uncontrollable sobs. I didn’t care who saw me. I didn’t care about pride or strength or anything in that moment. The world felt emptier, colder, without him.

—

Moments passed-or perhaps it was hours. Time became meaningless in the haze of my sorrow. The sound of approaching footsteps barely registered until a familiar voice called my name.

“Audrey!” Arthur’s voice was urgent, panicked.

I lifted my tear-streaked face, my gaze meeting his stricken one as he entered the room. He froze, his eyes darting to Elder William’s unmoving form on the bed.

“What… What happened?” His voice cracked, raw with emotion.

I struggled to find words, my throat constricted by the weight of grief. “He-he’s gone, Arthur. He’s gone.”

Arthur stumbled backward slightly, as though the words physically hit him. He raked his hands through his hair, the tension in his body palpable, before taking hesitant steps forward.

“No… No, I should’ve… I should’ve been here,” he muttered, his voice shaking as he knelt beside me, staring at our beloved Elder’s face.

His trembling hand reached out, brushing lightly against Elder William’s blanket-covered arm. “I wasn’t here… I wasn’t here when he needed me-”

“Arthur,” I cut in, my voice trembling but sharp. “You made your choices about where to be.”

He flinched as though I had struck him, but the truth needed to be said.

The weight of our words lingered heavily in the air as I stood, wiping my tears in an almost robotic motion. “I need to go,” I said quietly, turning for the door, the overwhelming urge to escape pressing down on me.

But he was at my side in seconds, grabbing my arm gently but firmly. “No. Let me take you back to the house,” he insisted, his eyes pleading.

His head snapped toward me, pain evident in his eyes. “Audrey, I-”

“Don’t.” I didn’t let him finish. “Whatever excuses or apologies you have, they’re not for me. You owed it to Elder William.”

He bowed his head, shoulders shaking. “I failed him. I failed both of you.”

The rawness in his voice brought back the heaviness in my chest, though I refused to let it sway me. “And you’ll keep losing more if you don’t open your eyes,” I whispered.

His gaze met mine, and without warning, he blurted out, “Let’s not sever the bond.”

I froze, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “What?”

“Let’s start over,” Arthur said, his voice cracking. “We’ll figure this out. Please, Audrey.”

My head swirled. This couldn’t be happening. “This is because of Elder William, isn’t it?” I demanded. “Did something he said make you think this is what he wanted?”

Arthur hesitated, then nodded. “He wanted us to stay together.”

I scoffed, disbelief washing over me. “Would you have made this decision if he were still alive?” I asked sharply. “Would you?”

He didn’t answer. For the first time, Arthur avoided my gaze entirely, his silence answering more than words could.

“You’re not even asking me,” I said bitterly. “You’re just announcing it. Like my choice doesn’t matter.”

His composure shattered. Tears slipped from his eyes, tracing rivers down his face as he sobbed openly. “I don’t know how to fix this, Audrey. I don’t know what to do without him.”

His vulnerability hit me like a wave, leaving me momentarily speechless. But I stayed firm, the weight of my own pain grounding me.

“Starting over should never be about guilt,” I said softly, though my voice held a cold edge. “Not guilt over losing someone you cared about.”