Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 8

(Audrey’s POV)

I stood awkwardly between Sarah and Lucas outside the Wolf’s Den. The tension between them was impossible to miss, thick enough to suffocate the crisp night air.

“You two… know each other?” I asked hesitantly, my gaze darting between them.

Sarah snorted, the sound sharper than I expected.

“Know each other? Oh, Audrey, we didn’t just know each other. We dated.” She delivered the words with a dramatic flair, shaking her head as if the mere memory was unbearable.

Lucas looked startled. His dark eyes widened, and his jaw tightened slightly. “Sarah, come on. That was years ago.” His voice had a defensive edge, but it didn’t mask the embarrassment coloring his face.

“Yes, years ago,” Sarah repeated, her tone mocking.

She crossed her arms and tilted her head at him. “You know, back when you thought it was okay to try and mark me without my consent.”

My eyebrows shot up at her bluntness. I had no idea Sarah had such history with Lucas, the young Alpha of the Riverwind Pack.

“That was…” Lucas trailed off, searching for the right words. He rubbed the back of his neck in an awkward gesture. “I wasn’t thinking clearly back then. I’ve grown since then!”

Sarah gave him a withering look. “Grown? Please. The only thing that’s grown about you, Lucas, is your ego.” Her words hit like a slap, but Lucas didn’t back down.

“That’s not fair!” he protested, his voice rising slightly.

He leaned forward, his eyes pleading now.

“Sarah, you

know I’ve changed. I’ve been trying-”

“And failing,” Sarah interrupted sharply. She rolled her eyes so hard it looked like it hurt. Turning to me, she added dryly, “Honestly, Audrey, if you ever hear someone use the phrase young Alpha who’s finding his way, run. Just run.”

I bit my lip, unsure if I should laugh or stay silent.

Lucas looked like he wanted to sink into the ground, but he still tried to defend himself.

“I’ve apologized,” Lucas said, his tone growing more desperate.

“How many times do I need to say it?”

“Apologies don’t erase actions,” Sarah snapped. Then she spun toward me, clearly done with the conversation. “Come on, Audrey. I have better company for us waiting inside.”

Before Lucas could say another word, Sarah grabbed my hand and steered me toward the bar entrance.The private dining room Sarah led me into was cozy and dimly lit. A mix of voices and laughter greeted us as we stepped inside, but one voice stood apart from the others.

“Nathan Snowfang.” Sarah paused dramatically, drawing attention to the familiar figure seated at the end of the table.

Nathan’s piercing blue eyes lifted, locking onto mine the moment Sarah said his name. A steady warmth flickered in his gaze, a stark contrast to the undercurrent of tension I’d felt all evening. His features softened, a rare smile forming on his lips.

“Audrey Winter,” he said, standing to greet me with an air of familiarity. “It’s been a long time.”

My response caught in my throat. Seeing him again brought back a rush of memories from our Inter-Pack Academy days, scattered moments of camaraderie and quiet conversations.

“Nathan,” I managed, my voice laced with surprise.’

“It

really has been a while.”

“Six years, if I recall correctly,” he said smoothly. His gaze lingered, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. His presence was grounding, the kind of calm that slices through chaos.

Before I could reply, another voice broke the spell.

“Look who decided to return from hiding in the Northern Territories,” Lucas cut in, sarcasm dripping from his tone as he stepped into the room behind us.

Nathan didn’t flinch. His smile didn’t fade, but I noticed the faint hardening of his expression. His jaw tightened just slightly as he addressed Lucas. “Some of us take responsibility for the larger picture, Lucas.” The words weren’t loud, but they carried weight. Lucas stiffened, clearly rattled by the jab.

“Enough, boys,” Sarah interjected, sliding into her seat with practiced ease. She motioned for me to sit, conveniently next to Nathan.

I hesitated but obeyed, the scent of Snowfang pack lands faintly lingering around Nathan.

Nathan’s attention shifted sharply back to me once the others resumed a dialogue about pack politics.

He poured me a glass of wine. His movements were fluid, considerate, as if this was second nature to him.

“Special blend from the Snowfang vineyards,” he explained, noticing my cautious sip.

The wine tasted exquisite-light but full of intricate notes that instantly reminded me of the Snowfang territory’s renowned exports.

“You’ve kept busy.” Nathan’s comment wasn’t probing, but his tone invited openness.

I nodded. “So have you.”

He chuckled softly, his voice dipping just enough for it to feel like a private exchange. “It wasn’t by choice, believe me.”

The weight of his words hung between us, though he didn’t explain further.

A companionable silence fell, but Nathan eventually broke it with a question I didn’t expect.

“Are you happy, Audrey?” His tone was gentle, but the concern in his eyes was all too real.

The question startled me, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Grace stirred within me, her emotions reflecting my own.

“I…” My words faltered. I lowered my gaze to the wine glass in my hand, turning it slightly. “I can’t say.”

“Snowfang protection charm,” he explained quietly. “It’s a tradition of ours.”

I ran my fingers over the smooth, cold surface. “Thank you,” I whispered, genuinely touched.

Nathan smiled softly. “We should meet again, Audrey.

There’s much we could discuss. Pack politics.

Alliances.”

“Let’s,” I agreed, tucking the charm into my pocket.

The familiar scent of the Moonstone pack house hit me the moment I entered. But amidst the comfort of home, something felt… off.

Grace stiffened inside me, her ears metaphorically perking up.

Victoria’s scent lingered in the air, strong and far too fresh for my liking.

Laughter echoed from the kitchen, light and carefree.

It wasn’t just one voice-l recognized both instantly.

I followed the sounds, each step making my heart tighten further.

In the kitchen, Arthur stood at the stove, expertly flipping something in a pan. Victoria was beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched occasionally.

They moved around each other smoothly, like two parts of the same routine. Their laughter filled the space, warm and unguarded.

Arthur glanced at Victoria and said something low enough that I couldn’t catch the words, but it made her throw her head back and laugh.

It felt like a punch to the gut.

The realization settled heavily: Arthur hadn’t called me.

Not once.

Had he even noticed I was gone?

I stood there for a moment, rooted in place, the scene playing out in front of me like an unwanted film I couldn’t pause.

Grace growled low, her frustration matching my own.

I clutched the Snowfang pendant in my pocket, its cool metal grounding me as the cracks in my marriage grew deeper.