Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna Left Chapter 203

(Audrey’s POV)

“Central Territory Transport Hub,” the automated announcement chimed overhead as I stepped off the long-distance transport.

Two years. Two whole years since I’d last set foot on Central Territory soil.

I adjusted my comfortable hunting boots and pulled my single travel pack higher on my shoulder, scanning the bustling terminal. The scents of various wolf packs mingled in the air-some familiar, some new.

“Audrey!”

Before I could pinpoint the voice, I was engulfed in a fierce embrace that nearly knocked me off my feet. Sarah Mitchell’s familiar scent-wild berries and moonflower-wrapped around me as tightly as her arms.

“You’re finally back!” she exclaimed, squeezing me even tighter. “Two whole years! Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?”

“I can’t breathe,” I laughed, returning her hug with equal enthusiasm before gently extricating myself. “It’s good to see you too, Sarah.”

Her eyes swept over me critically. “You look… different. More centered somehow.”

“Two years with Master Elara will do that to you,” I smiled. “She doesn’t tolerate weakness or self-pity.”

Sarah grabbed my travel pack and led me toward the parking area. “Come on. I’ve got your new territory den all ready.” The drive through Central Territory was both familiar and strange. The streets and buildings hadn’t changed much, but I viewed them with different eyes now-the eyes of someone who had died and been reborn, metaphorically speaking.

“So,” Sarah began, glancing at me sidelong as she navigated the busy streets, “you should know what happened after your… accident.”

I turned my attention to her. “Tell me.”

“Arthur went half-mad searching for you. He refused to believe you’d simply vanished.” Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Dragged the entire frozen lake. Sent search parties across three territories.”

A complicated emotion twisted in my chest. “And then?”

“He and Nathan suppressed the news of your disappearance. Only a handful of trusted wolves know the truth. Everyone else still thinks you’re living comfortably as Arthur’s Luna, just… traveling extensively.”

“Convenient,” I murmured.

“And Mia Silverleaf…” Sarah’s voice softened. “After Florian’s incident, she returned to the Stormhowl Pack to fight for power with that illegitimate son. She’s determined to protect what belonged to her, her mother, and Florian.”

I turned to stare out the window, watching Central Territory blur past. The markets, the territory dens, the wolves going about their lives-everything seemed mostly unchanged. Yet everything was different.

“The Moonstone Pack has expanded its hunting grounds,” Sarah continued. “But they’ve stopped their actions against the Shadowcrest family. Arthur forbade Emma Shadowcrest from interfering in pack affairs too.”

“And Northern Territory?” I asked, carefully keeping my voice neutral.

Sarah frowned. “There’s a new pack there. Powerful. Developing rapidly. Even the Northern Alliance hesitates to confront them.”

I absorbed this information silently. In these two years, the Audrey Winter who had driven into that frozen lake was gone. I had essentially died and been reborn.

Sarah, noticing my distraction, chuckled and changed the subject. “One travel pack? Is that all you brought back? What about all those prestigious healing formulation recognition certificates I’ve been hearing about?”

I laughed, grateful for her lightness. “I only brought essentials. My pack Beta is shipping the rest.”

“How did Master Elara even let you leave? She’s notorious for keeping her apprentices tethered to her side for decades.”

“She said she could no longer teach me anything,” I replied, remembering the fierce old she-wolf’s grudging pride. “That I needed to learn on my own now.”

The past two years had been transformative. I’d thrown myself into refining my healing formulation skills, earning recognition from numerous prestigious healing councils. Master Elara’s influence had opened doors throughout the international werewolf community.

“And Winter’s Remedy?” I asked.

“Thriving. Julian Reed and his team handle the general healing formulations, with you overseeing final approval from afar. It’s become quite the popular healing practice among wolves of all packs.”

Finally, we pulled up to a sleek territory den in an upscale neighborhood. Sarah hopped out and proudly gestured toward it. “Your new home! Already scent-marked and secured.”

I stepped inside, impressed by the modern, minimalist design-nothing like my old territory den with Arthur or the rustic charm of Master Elara’s compound. This was fresh. New. Mine.

“Satisfied?” Sarah asked, a hint of anxiety in her voice.

“It’s perfect,” I assured her, collapsing onto the comfortable sofa. “You’re as efficient as ever.”

“And you’re clearly exhausted.” She smiled. “Long journey? Or moon phase adjustment?”

“Both,” I admitted. “Sunstone Territories run on a completely different rhythm.”

Sarah perched on the arm of a nearby chair, her eyes suddenly tentative. “Any news of… Florian Stormhowl?”

I shook my head. “None.”

“You stayed in Sunstone Territories to find him, didn’t you?” Sarah pressed gently.

“Partly to change environment, yes, but also…” I trailed off, remembering endless days of searching, of following leads that went nowhere. “I had connections. Wolf allies. But no one seemed to know anything about him. It was like he never existed in those territories.”

Sarah reached over to squeeze my hand. “Audrey, maybe it’s time to accept that if he were alive, he would have contacted you by now.”

I smiled vaguely, neither confirming nor denying. In my heart, I knew Florian had searched for me for over twenty years after my kidnapping. My own search had barely begun in comparison.

“Anyway,” Sarah said, clearly deciding to change the subject. “What’s your plan now that you’re back? Besides that custom healing formulation I secured for you with that high-ranking she-wolf.”

“High-ranking?” I arched an eyebrow. “Who exactly did you connect me with, Sarah?”

“Alpha Luna Riverwind,” she answered, a hint of pride in her voice.

I nearly choked. “Luna Riverwind? Are you serious? Since when do you have those kinds of pack connections?”

Sarah shrugged, looking pleased with herself. “Her Beta contacted me after admiring your work at the Inter-Pack Healing Council. Said Luna Riverwind wanted a private commission.”

“That’s not just any she-wolf,” I muttered. “That’s a powerful Luna. Someone we can’t afford to offend.”

“Which is why you’ll take the commission,” Sarah said firmly. “Now, tell me the real reason you’ve returned. I doubt it’s just for work.”

I rested my head on my hand, suddenly feeling the weight of the past two years. “I left in a bad state, Sarah. Some issues remain unresolved.”

“Such as?”

“The Shadowcrest family, for one. And separating Winter’s Remedy’s hunting rights from the Moonstone Pack.” I listed them matter-of-factly, though each represented a tangle of emotions I wasn’t ready to unravel.

“What will you do first?”

“One step at a time,” I replied, deliberately vague. “When’s my meeting with Luna Riverwind?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.” Sarah studied me. “Why?”

I stood up, suddenly energized despite my earlier fatigue. “I’m heading to Northern Territory. Now.”

“Now? But you just got here!”

“Elder Shadowcrest,” I explained. “I need to see her.”

Sarah looked like she wanted to argue, but she merely sighed and handed me a set of keys. “Your new territory vehicle is waiting outside. Don’t crash this one into any frozen lakes, please.’

The drive to Northern Territory passed in a blur of anticipation and anxiety. I headed straight for the Wolf Medical Center, parking haphazardly in the first open space I found.

As I hurried toward the entrance, a group of Beta guards passed by, escorting a wolf in a wheeled healing chair. I barely glanced at them, my mind focused solely on Elder Shadowcrest.

Inside, I approached the first pack healer I saw. “Elder Shadowcrest’s room?”

The healer looked up, recognition dawning on her face. “Ms. Winter? It’s been quite some time.”

“Is she awake?” I pressed.

“No, she’s resting now. Alpha Stormhowl visited her this afternoon and stayed until she fell asleep.” The healer checked her equipment. “He just left. Did you run into him outside?”

My heart stopped. Alpha Stormhowl? The title could belong to Florian’s father-or to Florian himself.

I sprinted back outside, just in time to see a black territory vehicle closing its doors near the entrance. “Florian!” I screamed, my voice raw with emotion.