From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 193

Chapter 193

Chapter 193

Julia’s POV

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I helped Matthew back to his quarters, his substantial weight leaning heavily against my shoulder as we walked. I could feel the strain in his movements, the slight tremor in his muscles suggesting his injury was more severe than he was letting on. Once inside, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the angry red gash running across Matthew’s side.

Dr. Moore had done a professional job with the stitches–precise, clean lines holding together the wounded flesh–but that didn’t diminish the horror of knowing how close the blade had come to vital organs. My fingers hovered over the wound, trembling so badly I had to pull

them back.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Matthew said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the severity of his injury.

I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. “Nathan did this because of me. Because you were protecting my pack.*

Matthew reached out, capturing my trembling hand in his. His grip was firm, steady–everything I wasn’t feeling right now.

“No, Julia. Nathan did this because he’s unstable and dangerous,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This isn’t your fault.

None of this is.”

I shook my head, unable to accept his absolution so easily. “If I hadn’t come here, if I hadn’t involved Spring Valley in Star Shadow’s

problems…”

“Then Emma would still be suffering,” Matthew countered, wincing slightly as he shifted to look at me more directly. “And Nathan would still be a threat to everyone around him. The only difference would be that no one would know.”

A tear escaped despite my best efforts, sliding down my cheek. “But you wouldn’t be hurt.”

Matthew’s thumb brushed across my knuckles. “I’m the Alpha of Spring Valley. Protecting others–including allies from other packs–is literally in my job description.”

I could feel his emotions through our bond–sincerity, concern for me rather than himself, and an underlying current of something warmer, something that made my chest tight with emotion.

“Does it hurt badly?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a small smile. “Only when I breathe.”

“That’s not funny,” I scolded, but I couldn’t help the slight upward tilt of my own lips.

“You know what would help?” he asked, his eyes softening. “A kiss. Just one kiss and I bet it wouldn’t hurt at all.”

11:42 Fri, May 1

Chapter 193

raised an eyebrow, attempting to look unimpressed despite the sudden acceleration of my heartbeat. “Really? That’s your line?

“It’s not a line, it’s science, Matthew said with mock seriousness. “Kissing triggers the release of endorphins–natural painkillers. Plus, oxytocin and dopamine create a sense of wellbeing and pleasure that can override pain signals to the brain.”

Are you seriously giving me a lecture on neurochemistry right now?” I asked, my sadness momentarily forgotten in the face of his

ridiculous attempt at charm.

“I’m just saying,” he continued earnestly, “it’s a medical fact. Kissing has therapeutic benefits. As a nurse, you should appreciate evidence-

based treatments.”

Something shifted inside me, watching him there–wounded but still trying to make me smile, still putting my emotional wellbeing ahead of his physical pain. The guilt remained, but alongside it bloomed a warmth, a tenderness that made my chest ache.

Without thinking further, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his, cutting off whatever additional “scientific evidence” he was about to

present.

Matthew froze for a split second, clearly surprised by my boldness, before responding with equal fervor. His initial shock melted into something hungrier, more primal. His hand came up to cup my cheek, calloused fingers surprisingly gentle against my skin as he drew me closer. His thumb traced the line of my jaw, sending tiny electric pulses through my nerves. The kiss deepened, his lips parting mine with a confidence that made my stomach flutter.

I could taste the faint mint of his breath, feel the slight scratch of stubble against my skin. Heat spread through me like wildfire, starting where our lips met and flowing outward until even my fingertips tingled. It was a pleasant contrast to the cold fear that had gripped me since feeling his pain through our bond–this warmth felt like coming home after being lost in a storm.

His heartbeat quickened beneath my palm, matching the frantic rhythm of my own. When he sighed against my mouth, I caught the faintest hint of his wolf scent–pine and mountain air mingled with something uniquely Matthew. Kaia stirred within me, responding to Hati’s presence, adding another layer of connection between us that transcended the physical.

I shifted to get closer, bracing my hand against the bed–and accidentally pressed against his injured side.

“Ah!” Matthew broke away with a sharp gasp of pain.

“Oh god, I’m sorry!” I pulled back immediately, mortified.

Despite his obvious discomfort, Matthew chuckled. “Worth it. Definitely worth it.” He reached for me again. “Just… come around to the

other side.”

Carefully, I moved to his uninjured side, letting him guide me until I was lying beside him on the narrow bed. His arm wrapped around me, holding me close against his warm chest.

“Better?” he murmured against my hair.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I replied, tilting my face up to look at him.

9/3

11:42 Fri, May 1

From Rejected Mate to Luna

Chapter 194

Matthew’s POV

VPM

My hand slid across Julia’s shoulder, savoring the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips. Every inch of me ached to pull her closer, to lose myself in her completely. The throbbing in my side where Nathan had sliced me open seemed insignificant compared to the hunger I

felt for her.

But when my fingers brushed against the spot on her neck where my mark should be–where I desperately wanted it to be–something more painful than my physical wound cut through the haze of desire.

I stopped.

Not because of the stitches in my side, but because of the sudden images flashing through my mind: Nathan’s bloody confession to killing his own father, Emma’s desperate eyes as she recovered her connection to her wolf, and Julia standing tall and confident at the Star Shadow pack meeting, her voice steady as she directed her people through the crisis.

“What’s wrong?” Julia whispered, her breathing still uneven, fingers lightly trailing across my chest.

I gently took her hand in mine, pressing my forehead against hers and closing my eyes, trying to clear my thoughts. Hati rumbled in my mind, a low warning growl that reminded me of my responsibilities as Alpha and the complicated reality of what was happening between

1. us.

In the moonlight filtering through the window, I studied Julia’s face. The transformation in her was remarkable. She was no longer the wounded girl who had fled to Spring Valley seeking escape. She had become someone who could stand before an entire pack and command their respect. Nathan’s madness–poisoning his own father, preventing Emma’s treatment, and coming after me–all pointed to

his reign crumbling around him.

“Just my side hurting a bit,” I murmured, the lie feeling hollow between us. Our bond made deception nearly impossible; she could sense

my emotional withdrawal as clearly as if I’d spoken it aloud.

Julia seemed to sense something deeper was happening. She gently pulled away from my embrace, sitting up on the narrow bed. The moonlight outlined her silhouette, and I was struck again by how she was no longer the vulnerable woman who needed my protection. Nathan’s actions had thrown Star Shadow into chaos, but Julia–his rejected mate–had shown extraordinary leadership in the midst of it

all.

The reality crystallized in my mind: she was no longer just a temporary leader. Nathan’s increasingly unhinged behavior had many questioning his fitness to lead, and my confrontation with him had further weakened his position.

“What are you thinking about, Matthew?” Her voice was soft but firm, her eyes searching my face. “It’s not just your wound, is it?”

I took a deep breath and sat up, leaning back against the headboard. From the window, I could hear the distant sounds of the forest, a

reminder that our respective territories were waiting for us.

1/3

11:42 Fri, May 1

From Rejected Mate to Luna

Julia’s POV

VPN

I helped Matthew back to his quarters, his substantial weight leaning heavily against my shoulder as we walked. I could feel the strain in his movements, the slight tremor in his muscles suggesting his injury was more severe than he was letting on. Once inside, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the angry red gash running across Matthew’s side.

Dr. Moore had done a professional job with the stitches–precise, clean lines holding together the wounded flesh–but that didn’t diminish the horror of knowing how close the blade had come to vital organs. My fingers hovered over the wound, trembling so badly I had to pull them back.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Matthew said softly, his voice a stark contrast to the severity of his injury.

I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. “Nathan did this because of me. Because you were protecting my pack.”

Matthew reached out, capturing my trembling hand in his. His grip was firm, steady–everything I wasn’t feeling right now.

“No, Julia. Nathan did this because he’s unstable and dangerous,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This isn’t your fault.

None of this is.”

I shook my head, unable to accept his absolution so easily. “If I hadn’t come here, if I hadn’t involved Spring Valley in Star Shadow’s

problems…”

“Then Emma would still be suffering,” Matthew countered, wincing slightly as he shifted to look at me more directly. “And Nathan would still be a threat to everyone around him. The only difference would be that no one would know.”

A tear escaped despite my best efforts, sliding down my cheek. “But you wouldn’t be hurt.”

Matthew’s thumb brushed across my knuckles. “I’m the Alpha of Spring Valley. Protecting others–including allies from other packs–is literally in my job description.”

I could feel his emotions through our bond–sincerity, concern for me rather than himself, and an underlying current of something warmer, something that made my chest tight with emotion.

“Does it hurt badly?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a small smile. “Only when I breathe.”

“That’s not funny,” I scolded, but I couldn’t help the slight upward tilt of my own lips.

“You know what would help?” he asked, his eyes softening. “A kiss. Just one kiss and I bet it wouldn’t hurt at all.”

11:40 Fri, May 1

Chapter 193

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