Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 80

(Sarah’s POV)

The food court buzzed around us, wolves and humans alike mingling with the hum of casual conversations. I speared my fork into a slice of cheesecake absentmindedly, my gaze drifting toward Audrey.

She was stirring her herbal tea, her emerald eyes fixed on some distant thought as if she could solve all her problems by looking hard enough into the amber liquid.

I decided to drop the bomb.

“Ever think that maybe Victoria’s more… deeply connected to the Moonstones than we realize?”

Her head tilted up slightly, though she didn’t say anything right away. That small flicker of interest was all the encouragement I needed. I leaned in closer, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“I’m just saying,” I began, letting my words hang dramatically, “what if she’s Arthur’s half-sister? You know, from some secret affair Richard had before Katherine forced her way into his life?”

Audrey snapped out of her trance, blinking at me like I’d suggested the moon turn green. “Arthur and Victoria as half-siblings?” Her tone was both skeptical and reproachful. “That’s an… interesting theory.”

“Think about it.” I pointed my fork her way, emphasizing each word as if I were presenting a grand courtroom argument. “There are enough secrets surrounding the Moonstone family to fill a library. Do you honestly think this is beyond Richard? Katherine hated him from the get-go, right? Maybe he had this scandal brewing even before she walked into the Moonstone pack with Victoria in tow.”

Audrey’s lips pressed into a thin line, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of contemplation. She propped an elbow on the table, resting her chin on her palm. “If that were true, Elder William wouldn’t have opposed her being part of the pack so strongly,” she shot back evenly, her voice laced with reasoning. “If anything, he hated her even more than Katherine. That doesn’t track with her being some illegitimate Moonstone child.”

Touché. But I wasn’t giving up just yet.

“Maybe that’s why Arthur’s all tangled up about her,” I countered, waving my fork between us. “Think about it. If she’s his half-sibling, wouldn’t it explain why he’s so… conflicted?”

Audrey exhaled loudly, her patience wearing thin by the weight of the topic. “I don’t care why Arthur’s attached to her, Sarah. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m severing our mate bond, remember? Whatever ties Victoria thinks she has to the Moonstones won’t affect me once I’m out… completely.”

“And yet, here I am, left to speculate about the future Luna Soap Opera,” I muttered, slumping back dramatically in my chair.

Audrey’s expression softened slightly, but the conviction in her voice was razor-sharp. “Let them have whatever mess they create together. It won’t be my circus. It won’t be my wolves.”

Her certainty was a stone wall, but I still saw the cracks beneath the surface. Part of her was trying very hard to convince herself of every word. Maybe even harder than she needed to convince me.

—

(Audrey’s POV)

The Moon River Restaurant’s warm lighting cast an inviting glow on the polished wood floors and plush seating. The air was spiced with the scent of freshly cooked steaks, rosemary-infused sauces, and buttery rolls. It was luxurious, the kind of place you didn’t frequent unless your wolf status afforded you a fat wallet or a shiny title.

Nathan had reserved us a private corner table set apart by oak partitions, lowering the noise level to a pleasant hum. He was already seated when we arrived, standing gracefully when he spotted us approaching.

“Audrey, Sarah,” he greeted, his tone polite but carrying an air of familiarity-especially when his gaze lingered on me a moment too long. “You’re right on time.”

“Right on time for what?” Sarah quipped, sliding into her seat with her trademark sass. “I expect wine, gossip, and unapologetic bragging about someone’s big competition win.”

Nathan chuckled lightly, his steel-blue eyes glinting with amusement. “The wine will have to wait, but the bragging is entirely up to Audrey.”

“I don’t brag,” I said quickly, feeling a flush creep into my cheeks.

“No, but you should,” Sarah teased, poking my arm playfully. “First place at the therapist nerd fest-and you’re being all humble about it? That’s textbook Audrey for you.”

Nathan chimed in, his voice gentler now. “She’s right, Audrey. Winning wasn’t just an achievement. It was vindication. You proved yourself.”

The sincerity in his words left me momentarily speechless. “Thank you,” I murmured, my tea a convenient place to hide my flustered expression.

The conversation drifted to lighter topics once the waiter arrived with the first round of a delectably aromatic soup. As I savored the warm flavors, Sarah leaned forward, her voice conspiratorially low.

“So… where’s Lucas tonight?”

I almost choked mid-sip. Sarah rarely brought up the moody Alpha she’d been tiptoeing around lately.

“Did you leave the lights on?” Nathan asked, his eyes narrowing slightly in alert.

I shook my head. “No.”

Steeling myself, I opened the door and stepped inside, Nathan staying close behind just in case.

Arthur’s tall frame stood near the window. His presence radiated dominance mixed with sharp edges of anger-or was it jealousy? It took him less than a heartbeat to notice Nathan.

“So,” Arthur began, his voice thick with tension. “Nathan Snowfang’s chauffeuring you home now, is he?”

I crossed my arms, refusing to cower under his judgment. “Maybe. Not that it’s any of your concern.”

“It is my concern,” he snapped, his alpha presence sparking faintly in the air. “You’re still my mate until next month. Or have you forgotten that part while cozying up to another Alpha?”

Nathan stiffened behind me, but I raised a hand to stop him. “What I choose to do with my time or who I choose to trust has nothing to do with you, Arthur. Not anymore.”

For a moment, raw frustration flickered in his eyes. Without another word, he reached into his pocket, withdrew a velvet bag, and extended it toward me.

“Take it,” he demanded, his voice hoarse.

“What is it?” I asked cautiously, refusing to touch it just yet.

“Just take it,” he repeated, his tone softening slightly.

The room hung heavy with the unspoken. One unresolved thread tangled between a fading mate bond and the turmoil it left behind.