From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164

Grace’s POV

The pulsing lights of “Moonlight” lounge cast alternating shadows across my red designer dress, the fabric hugging every curve with deliberate precision. Around me, three friends clutched champagne flutes, eyes wide with admiration and envy barely concealed beneath their congratulatory smiles.

“God, Grace, you really lucked out. That place is even more luxurious than I imagined,” Rosie leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper despite the thumping bass that ensured privacy.

I took a measured sip of champagne, the coolness sliding down my throat as I calculated my response. Luck had nothing to do with it. Rising from among my father’s many children to secure the position of an Alpha’s mate had been meticulously planned, every smile and conversation carefully designed to position myself perfectly. But friends don’t need to know the mechanics behind the magic trick.

“Sometimes the Moon Goddess smiles on us,” I replied with practiced modesty, adjusting the necklace I’d selected specifically for tonight’s celebration.

Rosie raised her glass, blonde curls bouncing with the movement. “To our Grace, becoming Nathan’s official mate tomorrow! Who would ve thought our

ordinary wolf girl would become Luna?”

I allowed myself a genuine smile at this. Who indeed? Only I had known my potential, had recognized the power waiting to be claimed while others settled

for mediocrity.

“Is it true he lost his temper at that council meeting?” Cara asked, her words slightly slurred from the three cocktails she’d already consumed. “I heard he

nearly shifted right there.”

I waved my hand dismissively. “Every strong Alpha needs a Luna who can calm him. I’ve proven I can handle Nathan’s… intensity.” The unspoken truth hung in my mind: his temper was another lever I could pull, another weakness I could exploit to secure my position and power.

“Speaking of handling things,” Rosie’s eyebrows waggled suggestively, “how is Nathan compared to your ex Jack? We all know you have high standards.”

I nearly laughed. Jack had never truly been an “ex” – he remained very much a present force in my life, a delicious secret that added spice to my calculated rise. My friends didn’t need to know that either.

They certainly didn’t need to know how he could make me come three times in succession, his tongue working magic that Nathan couldn’t begin to

mprehend. Or how Jack understood exactly when to surrender control and when to pin my wrists above my head until I begged. No Alpha’s dominance isplay could compare to Jack’s raw sexual expertise.

–

– each serving different appetites – was the ultimate display Why would I ever give that up? Power was my ultimate aphrodisiac, and having these two men of my power. Nathan could have my public face, but Jack would always have the parts of me that screamed and clawed and surrendered in ways an Alpha’s

mate never could.

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I’ve been making Nathan wait,” I replied with a mysterious smile. “It’s how you keep a man hungry.”

Diana shook her head, concern flashing across her features. “Be careful playing those games. Alphas aren’t used to being denied.”

“The person who controls desire controls power,” I stated simply, my fingers trailing along the stem of my glass. “That’s my rule of the game.”

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down to see two messages arriving almost simultaneously. The first from Nathan: Hey beautiful, hope you’re having fun with the girls. Just finished the meeting. See you tomorrow, my Luna.

The second message made my pupils dilate slightly: Sweetheart, room 1507 is ready. Imagine how exciting our passion will be tonight, knowing another man will

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2:31 pm P LMM

Chapter 1641

mark you tomorrow. Missing you.

Jack

I felt the dangerous thrill of my double life course through my veins, more intoxicating than the champagne. Heat bloomed between my thighs, my body responding to the delicious danger with a rush of wetness that made me press my legs together beneath the table.

The risk and the power of it maintaining perfect control while dancing on the edge of disaster was addictive. My pulse quickened, skin suddenly hypersensitive against the silk of my dress, nipples tightening with anticipation rather than from any chill in the air.

You okay? You seem distracted, Rosie observed, studying my face.

I stood gracefully, smoothing the red fabric over my hips. “Girls, it’s been wonderful, but I need to preserve my energy for tomorrow. It’s my big day, after all.

I must look my best.”

“It’s only ten o’clock!” Cara protested drunkenly. ‘You can’t leave your own bachelorette party now.”

I leaned down to kiss each friend’s check, my eyes glittering with excitement and calculation. “Trust me, I have a better way to end my single life. I’ll see you all tomorrow to witness me becoming Luna.”

I texted Jack first:

thirty minutes. Be ready. Tomorrow I’m someone else’s Luna, so tonight let’s make memories worth remembering.

Then to

don’t worry about work too much. See you tomorrow. Your future Luna needs her beauty sleep.

it the intoxicating rush of abs ag that by this time tomor

thrill of managing two men, of crafting a perfect public image while indulging my ved everything I’d planned. Both the status of Luna and the freedom to maintain

ed, there was no rule

d to write them all.

my car, I smiled at

omorrow’s ceremo

I showed up

sent a thrill

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