Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 86

(Audrey’s POV)

The van jerked to a stop, throwing me against the metal interior. My head throbbed from the lingering effects of the wolfsbane-infused ether. The silver restraints burned against my skin, a constant reminder of my captivity.

“We’re here, princess,” Raspy Voice sneered, yanking open the sliding door.

Harsh sunlight flooded in, momentarily blinding me. As my vision adjusted, I took in my surroundings – an abandoned den nestled in the woods at what smelled like the outer edge of pack territory. The building was dilapidated, with boarded windows and graffiti covering most of the exterior walls.

“Move,” Raspy Voice commanded, grabbing my arm and dragging me from the van.

I stumbled, my legs weak from the sedative and restraints. “This is absurd,” I said through gritted teeth. “I already told you – I’m not paying Howard’s debts.”

“That’s not your decision to make,” he replied, shoving me toward the entrance.

Inside, the abandoned den smelled of stale alcohol, cigarettes, and unwashed wolves. Several rough-looking pack members lounged around, eyeing me with undisguised interest as Raspy Voice pushed me into a chair.

“Got her, Blake,” the van driver announced to Raspy Voice, confirming his name.

Blake nodded, pulling out his phone. “I’ll call the Alpha King now. Let’s see how much his mate is worth to him.”

“For the last time, we’re severing our mate bond next month,” I insisted, struggling against my restraints. “You won’t get anything from Arthur Moonstone through me.”

Blake ignored me, dialing Arthur’s number and putting it on speaker. My heart raced as the phone rang once, twice, three times. Then someone answered.

“Arthur Moonstone’s phone.”

My blood froze. It wasn’t Arthur’s voice – it was Victoria’s.

“I need to speak with Arthur Moonstone,” Blake demanded, his eyes fixed on me.

Victoria’s saccharine voice oozed through the speaker. “He’s not available right now. Who’s calling?”

Blake hesitated, clearly not expecting this complication. “Tell him we have his mate, Audrey Winter.”

There was a pause, then Victoria’s laugh – light, mocking. “His mate? Oh, you mean his soon-to-be ex-mate. They’re dissolving their bond next month.”

Blake’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me. “Where is Moonstone?” Blake pressed.

“He’s out buying my favorite cake,” Victoria replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “Triple chocolate with raspberry filling. He always remembers the little things. I’ve been craving it since my… accident.”

The words stung more than they should have. In three years of our mating, Arthur had never once remembered my favorite cake flavor. Not once.

“I need to speak with him immediately,” Blake insisted.

“I’ll let him know you called,” Victoria said dismissively. “Though I doubt he’ll be concerned about Audrey. Our relationship has… progressed significantly since her departure.”

“Put Audrey on,” she suddenly demanded.

Blake held the phone toward me, and I cleared my throat. “Victoria.”

“Audrey, darling,” her voice dripped with mock concern. “Trouble follows you everywhere, doesn’t it? Should I tell Arthur you’ve been kidnapped or would you prefer I not disturb his day?”

I swallowed my rage. “Take it easy, Victoria. The unmating is proceeding as planned. I’m handling this situation.”

Victoria’s laugh was brittle. “Of course you are. Always so… capable.” She paused. “I’ll tell Arthur you said hello. When he returns with my cake.”

The call ended, and Blake stared at the phone in confusion.

“Seems like your mate has moved on already,” he commented, a cruel smile twisting his lips.

I met his gaze evenly. “I told you we were severing our mate bond. Now will you let me go?”

“Not so fast,” Blake said, dialing another number. “Alpha Grey needs to know about this development.”

He walked away as he spoke into the phone, but I could still hear snippets of his conversation. “She wasn’t lying… being unmated next month… still think we can get resources… Howard insists…”

My head snapped up at the mention of Howard’s name. Before I could process this information, Blake returned.

“Alpha Grey says to proceed,” he announced. “Even if you’re severing your mate bond, the Moonstone Pack will still pay to avoid the embarrassment of having their Alpha’s former mate held by rogues.”

“You’re making a terrible mistake,” I warned, but Blake just laughed.

“We’ll see about that,” he said, nodding to another wolf who grabbed my chair and dragged it deeper into the den.

As we entered a back room, my stomach dropped. There, sitting comfortably with a glass of cheap wolf whiskey, was Howard Mitchell – my uncle.

“Howard?” I gasped, momentarily forgetting my restraints as I tried to stand.

He looked up, his bloodshot eyes widening slightly before he attempted a casual smile. “Audrey! There you are.”

“You knew about this?” I demanded, fury building inside me. “You set me up?”

Howard had the decency to look uncomfortable, but not remorseful. “Now, Audrey, don’t be dramatic. It’s just a little misunderstanding about some debts.”

I jerked my head away from his grasp. “I understand perfectly. But the answer is still no.”

His expression darkened. “You think your mate bond severance protects you? That because Arthur Moonstone is moving on, we wouldn’t dare hurt you?”

“I think you’re making a grave miscalculation,” I replied evenly. “Whether Arthur cares for me or not is irrelevant. I won’t give you a single healing herb or territory right.”

Grey’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Without warning, he stomped down hard on my wrist with his leather boot. Pain shot up my arm, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“Last chance,” he warned, applying more pressure. “Pay, or suffer.”

“Go to hell,” I spat, tasting blood where I’d bitten my lip.

Grey’s face contorted with rage. He lifted his boot from my wrist only to position it beneath my chin. Slowly, deliberately, he pushed upward, forcing my head back at a painful angle.

The humiliating gesture triggered something deep within me – a vague memory of similar treatment long ago, when I was too young and weak to fight back. My wolf stirred, growling with a fury that matched my own.

Just as Grey increased the pressure, threatening to crush my windpipe, the sound of engines roared outside. Not just one vehicle, but several.

Grey froze, his foot still pressing against my throat.

“What the hell is that?” he demanded.

Blake rushed to the window, pulling aside the tattered curtain. His face drained of color. “Cars. Luxury SUVs. A whole fleet of them.”

“What?” Grey released me abruptly, striding to the window.

I gasped for air, my throat burning, but a grim satisfaction filled me as I saw genuine fear cross Grey’s face.

“They have the Moonstone Pack insignia,” Blake reported, his voice trembling. “The lead vehicle… it’s the Alpha King’s personal transport.”

Grey whirled on Blake, his face contorted with fury. “You said she wasn’t his mate anymore! That he’d moved on!”

“That’s what the woman said!” Blake protested.

“Then why is the Alpha King making such a grand entrance for an ex-mate?” Grey snarled, panic evident in his eyes.