From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 179

10:26 am PPPC

From Rejected Mate to Luna

Chapter 179

Julia’s POV

The fluorescent lights of the Star Shadow medical center buzzed overhead as I injected another dose of fever reducer into Mrs. Keller’s IV line. My bands

were steady despite having been awake for nearly seventy–two hours straight. The elderly she–wolf smiled weakly at me, her skin hot to the touch despite

the medication.

“Thank you, Julia,” she whispered. “The others said you were a traitor, but my grandson followed your advice. He’s still healthy.”

I squeezed her hand gently. “Rest now. I’ll check on you again soon.”

The makeshift treatment ward had overtaken our community center’s main hall. Thirty–four beds, all filled with pack members suffering from the werewolf influenza that had swept through Star Shadow like wildfire after Nathan’s insisted–upon Moon Gathering. The irony wasn’t lost on me – the same space

where Nathan had publicly ridiculed my prevention protocols was now lined with the victims of his arrogance.

John approached with fresh supplies. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, matching my own exhaustion.

“You need to rest, Julia,” he murmured. “You’re no good to anyone if you collapse.”

I shook my head, checking the clipboard of patient vital signs. “I’ll rest when the crisis stabilizes. Any word from Nathan?”

Daniel’s expression darkened. “He’s called an emergency pack meeting for sunset. Something about ‘seeking the Moon Goddess’s guidance on our affliction.”

The hair on my arms stood up. Nathan using religious rhetoric was never a good sign.

The meeting hall adjacent to the medical center was packed despite the epidemic. Nathan stood on the raised platform, his expression solemn yet smug as he surveyed the diminished crowd. I noticed many of the masked pack members who had followed my guidelines stood toward the back, physically distancing themselves as I’d recommended.

“Brothers and sisters, Nathan began, his voice carrying that artificial depth he used when trying to sound authoritative, ‘the Moon Goddess has sent us a

trial.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from scoffing audibly.

“This illness that plagues us is no ordinary disease,” he continued. “It is a divine message

ways.”

– a punishment for those who have strayed from our traditional

His gaze found me in the crowd, and the whispers began immediately. My spine stiffened as I felt dozens of eyes turn in my direction.

“Modern medicine has its place,” Nathan said, his voice dripping with false reasonability, “but when it comes at the expense of our sacred traditions, when it encourages disobedience and doubt…” He let the implication hang heavy in the air. “The evidence speaks for itself. Those who defied our ways, who hid behind masks rather than showing their true faces to the moon, they have invited this punishment upon us all.”

Anger surged through me, hot and electric. He was blaming the victims while positioning himself as the spiritual savior. Worse, many in the crowd were nodding along, desperate for any explanation that absolved them of responsibility.

“This is ridiculous,” I said, my voice cutting through the murmurs. “This is a viral infection, not divine punishment. And those who followed preventative measures have remained healthy-

“Silence!” Nathan’s Alpha voice boomed through the hall, making several wolves flinch. ‘You forget your place, Julia White. Your modern ideas have divided

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10:26 am P P P PPP

Chapter 179

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