Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left Chapter 164

(Audrey’s POV)

I sat in Florian’s luxury car, the warm air finally bringing feeling back to my frozen limbs after kneeling in the snow at the Shadowcrest territory. Despite my gratitude for his rescue, I couldn’t help but question his motives.

“Why did you come to rescue me today? And why are you so patiently explaining all this to me?”

Florian’s golden eyes flickered with amusement. “These two questions are somewhat pointed,” he remarked, his lips curving into that familiar lazy smile.

He beckoned me closer with one finger, as if about to share a great secret. I hesitated, then leaned in slightly, aware we were already alone in the car except for his silent driver.

“I can’t stand wolves who are too stupid,” he whispered, then leaned back with a smirk.

I glared at him, my wolf bristling beneath my skin. Of course he wouldn’t give me a straight answer. That wasn’t Florian’s style. Still, he had saved me from further humiliation at the Shadowcrests’ hands.

“Thanks for that insight,” I said dryly. “And thank you for helping me at the Shadowcrest residence. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

Florian waved his hand dismissively. “They would have let you go eventually. The Shadowcrests aren’t fools – well, at least the father isn’t.”

“Maybe,” I conceded, rubbing my still-aching knees. The memory of the cold, wet snow seeping through my clothes made me shiver despite the car’s warmth. “But I would have suffered much more.”

His golden eyes studied me with unexpected perception. “The longer you stayed there, the more information would have appeared on the pack forums.”

I hadn’t considered that angle. The videos and posts exposing Emma were already devastating. What more could have been revealed?

“You think Mr. Shadowcrest knew about the forum leaks?” I asked, suddenly curious.

“Emma and her mother might be oblivious, but her father understands perfectly.” Florian’s tone was matter-of-fact. “He’s been in pack politics long enough to recognize when to cut losses.”

Florian’s gaze sharpened suddenly, his golden eyes pinning me in place. “Are you worried about your former mate’s wellbeing? His reputation is quite damaged now.”

The question caught me off guard. My heart gave a traitorous little squeeze at the thought of Arthur facing pack censure for my sake.

“I can’t imagine Arthur Moonstone sacrificing so much for me,” I admitted quietly, my fingers twisting together in my lap. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Florian stretched his long legs as much as the car space allowed, his wolf presence relaxed and confident. “Your ex-mate weighs too many factors and lives too burdened a life to make such sacrifices.”

His assessment aligned perfectly with my own understanding of Arthur. The Alpha King I knew calculated every move, conscious of his responsibilities and position.

“You’re right. He’s always been aware of his responsibilities to the Moonstone Pack,” I said, remembering how duty had always come first for Arthur, especially after his grandfather’s death. “Elder William’s passing only increased that burden.”

“Look at you,” Florian teased, a mocking light in his eyes. “Always bringing the conversation back to your mate. Such a mate-obsessed brain.”

I bristled at his accusation, my wolf surging forward with indignation. “That’s rich coming from you-“

The words died in my throat as Florian’s wolf presence suddenly flared, golden and dangerous. His playful expression vanished, replaced by something dark and threatening. The air in the car grew heavy, charged with Alpha power.

“Coming from me… what?” he asked softly, but there was nothing gentle in his tone. His eyes had turned to molten amber, dangerous and wild.

I swallowed hard, my wolf instinctively retreating from the challenge. I’d clearly touched a nerve, and I had no desire to face an angry Alpha wolf.

“Coming from such an incomparable good wolf,” I said carefully, choosing my words with deliberate precision. “You’ve remained faithful to your intended mate for over five years. That’s truly admirable.”

The tension dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. Florian’s wolfish smile returned, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. The dangerous Alpha vanished, replaced once more by the lazy, sardonic wolf I was familiar with.

“Continue,” he encouraged, clearly enjoying the flattery, his ego appeased by my words.

I rolled my eyes but decided to humor him. “You’re remarkable in your dedication and loyalty. A model Alpha wolf for us all to aspire to.”

He preened slightly at my praise, and I suppressed a smile. For all his Alpha strength and pack status, Florian had predictable vanities.

As we drove through the central territory, I spotted a familiar alley and an idea struck me. I tapped on the partition separating us from the driver.

“Can we stop here for a moment? There’s something I need to pick up.”

Florian raised an eyebrow but gestured for the driver to pull over. I climbed out, my knees protesting painfully as I limped toward a small pottery studio nestled between larger territory establishments.

The elderly pottery artist greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Right on time, Healer Winter. I’ve just finished cooling them.”

She handed me two carefully wrapped packages. I checked them quickly, satisfied with her work, before paying and thanking her profusely. My heart raced with nervous anticipation as I carried the packages back to the car.

Florian eyed the packages with undisguised curiosity as I slid back into the seat. “What’s that?”

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. This was my chance to make amends for the precious item I’d destroyed.

“An apology for breaking your wolf figurine,” I said, handing him the smaller package.

His expression shuttered instantly, the golden eyes that had been so playful now guarded and distant. The air in the car grew cold despite the heating.

“I commissioned a replacement,” I explained as he unwrapped the package, revealing a ceramic wolf similar to the one I’d broken. The artist had captured the rough charm of the original, though nothing could truly replace the sentimental value. “The pottery artist is one of the best in the territory.”

I handed him the second package, embarrassment heating my cheeks. “I tried making one myself, but…”

He unwrapped my attempt – a lopsided, rather pathetic-looking ceramic wolf that bore only a passing resemblance to a canine. I’d spent hours on it, but my healing hands weren’t meant for pottery.

To my surprise, Florian examined both pieces with serious attention, then kept both. “Two as compensation for one broken,” he declared, his tone allowing no argument.

“That wasn’t my intention,” I protested weakly, but secretly felt relieved he seemed pleased rather than angry.

He set the ceramics carefully on the seat between us, then turned to study me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. His golden eyes seemed to search for something in my face.

“You know,” he said after a long moment, “sometimes, in certain moments, you resemble her.”

My breath caught, my wolf suddenly alert. “Who?”

“My intended mate,” he replied, his voice softening uncharacteristically. “Especially when you looked up with those reddened eyes at the Shadowcrest pack gates. For a moment, I almost thought…”

He trailed off, lost in memories. The raw emotion in his eyes made me look away, feeling like I was intruding on something private.

“But it’s just the eyes,” he continued, his tone returning to normal. “She would never look so desperate. She would get angry instead, or act playfully to hide her pain. Sometimes she would complain about my tardiness.”

The wistful note in his voice revealed more about his feelings than perhaps he intended. For all his sarcasm and playfulness, his heart clearly remained with his missing mate.

When we arrived back at our territory building, we parted ways without much conversation. I headed straight to my shower, desperate to wash away the chill that still lingered in my bones despite the car’s warmth.

I had just changed into dry clothes when someone knocked at my door. Opening it revealed Mia Silverleaf, holding a steaming mug of what smelled like healing herbs tea.

“Healer Winter!” she greeted cheerfully, pushing the mug into my hands with such enthusiasm that some of the liquid sloshed over the edge. “This will help with the cold. My brother made it specially!”

“Florian?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice as I accepted the tea. The idea of Florian Stormhowl brewing healing herbs tea seemed completely at odds with his Alpha image.

“He rushed back from the Northern Territory when he heard what happened at the Shadowcrest house,” Mia explained, bouncing on her toes with barely contained energy. Her young face was alight with excitement at sharing this secret. “We were visiting our pack elder when he suddenly announced we had to leave immediately.”

She glanced down the hallway conspiratorially, then leaned closer. “He told me not to tell you he sent the herbs, but that’s silly. True feelings shouldn’t be hidden!”

I sipped the tea, grimacing at the bitter taste but appreciating its immediate warming effect. The herbs spread through me like liquid fire, chasing away the last remnants of cold from my ordeal.

As I listened to Mia chatter about her brother’s uncharacteristic concern, a realization settled over me, bittersweet and clarifying.

“He’s not really caring for me,” I thought, watching the steam rise from my mug. “I just happen to resemble Serena Shadowcrest, and that’s why he’s looking after me…”