Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left novel Chapter 87

(Audrey’s POV)

The sharp pain of Alpha Grey’s boot pressing against my throat was nothing compared to the humiliation burning through me. His steel-gray eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he loomed over me, treating me like something less than dirt.

“You think you’re so special?” Grey spat, increasing the pressure. “Acting like a pack elder when you’re nothing but a soon-to-be discarded mate.”

Blake-the wolf with the raspy voice-cleared his throat nervously. “Uh, Alpha… your foot is still on her face.”

Grey’s eyes widened with realization. He quickly withdrew his foot, looking almost embarrassed by his lapse in composure. Before he could say anything else, the abandoned den’s door was violently wrenched open with such force that it nearly tore from its hinges.

There, silhouetted against the daylight, stood Arthur Moonstone. His face was contorted with cold fury, his eyes glowing with his wolf’s amber light. His Alpha presence filled the room like a physical force, making it difficult to breathe.

I stared at him in shock. Victoria had claimed he was out buying her cake. He couldn’t possibly have gotten here so quickly unless… she’d lied. The realization made my heart flutter traitorously in my chest.

“Alpha Moonstone!” Grey’s demeanor transformed instantly. His dominant posture disappeared, replaced by an almost comical deference. His ears might as well have been flattened against his head like a submissive pup. “What an unexpected pleasure.”

Arthur’s gaze swept the room, assessing the situation with terrifying efficiency before landing on me, still bound in the silver restraints. The muscles in his jaw tightened.

“This is all a misunderstanding,” Grey continued, his voice taking on an obsequious tone that made my stomach turn. “We were just asking your mate to rest for a while.” He gestured toward Howard, who was shrinking back against the wall. “Her uncle is here too, see? Just a family gathering.”

Arthur’s expression didn’t change as he stepped further into the room, bringing with him an almost suffocating Alpha presence. The rogues instinctively backed away.

“A family gathering,” Arthur repeated, his voice dangerously soft. “With silver restraints?”

Grey swallowed hard, desperation making him reckless. He grabbed Howard by the collar and shoved him forward.

“Tell him, Howard! Tell your Alpha this was just about borrowing some healing herbs!”

Howard withered under Arthur’s penetrating gaze, his wolf clearly cowering inside him. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

“He owes me a million in rare healing herbs,” Grey blurted out, sweat beading on his forehead. “That’s all this is about. Just a debt collection.”

A cold, humorless smile spread across Arthur’s face. “So you kidnapped my mate to extort money from me?”

Grey’s eyes widened at Arthur’s blunt assessment. “No! That’s not-”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t come for her?” Arthur’s voice cut through Grey’s protests like a blade. “Did you think you could take what’s mine and I would simply pay you off?”

“We meant no disrespect to the Moonstone Pack,” Grey stammered, backing up a step.

Arthur’s laugh was chilling. “You know who I am. You know what happens to those who challenge my authority in these territories.”

Before Grey could respond, Arthur moved with lightning speed. His claws partially extended, he struck Grey across the face with enough force to send the Alpha crashing to the floor.

Chaos erupted instantly. Grey’s wolves surged forward while Arthur’s pack members, who I hadn’t even noticed entering behind him, met them head-on. The sound of snarls and tearing flesh filled the air as the two packs clashed.

I seized the opportunity to escape, crawling awkwardly toward the back of the den, still bound by the silver restraints. Howard was already ahead of me, scrambling with surprising agility for a wolf his age.

“Howard!” I hissed as he reached the back door. “Untie me!”

He hesitated, looking between me and the exit. Self-preservation warred with familial obligation on his face.

“Please,” I pleaded, the silver burning into my wrists. “I can’t get away like this.”

A calculating look entered his eyes. “If I free you, you have to promise to repay my debt.”

“Are you serious?” I couldn’t believe his audacity. “They kidnapped me because of you!”

“It’s only a million,” he insisted, glancing nervously at the fighting. “That’s nothing to your mate.”

I wanted to scream at his selfishness. “Howard, you betrayed me! You set me up to be kidnapped!”

“You don’t understand how dangerous these wolves are,” he whined, looking over my shoulder at the battle. “Grey will kill me if I don’t pay.”

“And Arthur will do worse if anything happens to me,” I countered. My eyes caught glimpses of silver daggers amid the fighting-a death sentence for any wolf if used properly. Fear clutched at my chest. “Untie me now, and we’ll discuss terms later.”

Blake’s eyes darted toward Grey, who was slowly picking himself up from the floor, blood trickling from the gashes Arthur had left on his face.

“Alpha?” Blake called, uncertain.

Grey hesitated, clearly calculating his options. He was about to speak when the back door burst open and a fresh wave of rogue wolves poured in, reinforcements for Grey’s pack.

Grey’s confidence visibly returned. “Double,” he said, lips curling into a smirk. “Two million, and we want territory rights on the eastern border too.”

The demand hung in the air for precisely one second before Arthur made his move.

With a speed I couldn’t follow, Arthur lunged forward, grabbing Blake’s arm and wrenching it away from my throat. In the same fluid motion, he pulled me behind him, shielding me with his body.

A flash of silver cut through the air. Blake had managed to toss the dagger to Grey, who slashed at us with deadly intent. I braced for the pain, but it never came.

Instead, Arthur grunted softly. Looking up, I saw blood spreading across the back of his shirt where the silver was burning into his skin.

“Arthur!” I screamed, horrified. He had taken the blow meant for me.

Despite his injury, Arthur remained standing, his eyes fixed on Grey with murderous intent. Daniel Hayes appeared at my side, helping me support Arthur as we began backing toward the exit.

“You’re a dead wolf, Grey,” Arthur promised, his voice steady despite the pain he must have been feeling. “Run while you can.”

Our path to the door was suddenly blocked by a tall, bald man with intricate tattoos marking his exposed arms. Behind him stood at least a dozen more wolves, all bearing the same pack markings as Grey’s wolves. His presence was undeniably Alpha-stronger even than Grey’s.

“What is the meaning of this?” the newcomer demanded, his deep voice reverberating through the den. “One of my pack members lies injured, and I find the Alpha King of the Moonstone Pack in my territory?”

Arthur straightened, refusing to show weakness despite the silver burning his flesh. His arm remained protectively in front of me.

“Your wolves kidnapped my mate,” Arthur replied coldly, each word precise and cutting. “Any injury they’ve suffered is their own doing. And you, Marcus Blackclaw, are responsible for this breach of territory law.”