From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 201

From Rejected Mate to Luna

Chapter 201

Matthew’s POV

1 gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white, pushing my SUV faster along the empty pre–dawn highway. Each mile that

separated me from Star Shadow pack felt like a physical wound tearing through my chest.

You’re making a mistake. We should turn back. Hati, my wolf, growled in my consciousness.

‘We can’t,” I whispered to the empty car, forcing myself to remember the words I’d written to Julia. The note had been brief–explaining

my return to Spring Valley to handle border issues, praising her leadership, stating we shouldn’t let pack matters come between us. The

words had been carefully chosen, logical, responsible.

They felt hollow now.

She needs us. We need her. Hati’s anger vibrated through my bones, making my hands shake on the wheel.

“I’m doing this for her,” I argued, though the justification rang false even to my own ears. She has responsibilities now. I have mine.”

Dawn broke over the mountains as I crossed into Spring Valley territory, the familiar scent of pine and earth offering no comfort. My wolf

continued to howl in protest, the sound echoing through the chambers of my mind.

“The rogues hit three locations along the northern border, James reported, pointing to the marked spots on the map spread across my office table. “They’ve been getting bolder, coming closer to human areas each time.”

I nodded, maintaining the calm demeanor expected of an Alpha. Six hours had passed since my arrival, and I’d immediately thrown myself into crisis management. The reports were concerning–rogue wolves testing boundaries, potentially exposing our kind to humans.

“Double the patrols,” I ordered, my voice steady despite the chaos in my mind. “And set up motion sensors along these ridges.”

James watched me carefully. “You look like hell, Matthew.”

“I’m fine.”

“Did something happen at Star Shadow?‘ James pressed, concern evident in his voice.

I turned away, staring out the window. “Nothing we need to discuss. The borders are our priority now.”

James hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but years of friendship had taught him when to push and when to retreat. ‘Ill organize the patrols,” he said finally, moving toward the door.

1:3

10:20 Tue, May 5

Chapter 201

As the door closed behind James, my composed expression crumbled. I slumped into my chair, allowing the pain I’d been suppressing to

surface briefly. In my mind, Hati continued to rage, demanding we return to Julia.

45

She is OURS, my wolf snarled. How can you abandon her?

I had no answer that would satisfy either of us.

That night, sleep proved impossible. I paced my house like a caged animal, images of Julia flooding my mind–her smile, her strength

during crisis, the way she’d looked at me the last time we’d been together. The memory of her scent lingered, tormenting me.

By midnight, I could no longer bear the confinement. I slipped out into the dark forest, shedding my clothes and allowing my

transformation. The shift came with brutal speed, bone and muscle reconfiguring in seconds, driven by Hati’s eagerness to take control.

As soon as my paws touched the forest floor, I felt Hati surge forward in our shared consciousness, nearly overwhelming me. My massive

black wolf form tore through the underbrush, running as if pursued by demons. But I wasn’t running from anything–I was running toward

something. Toward someone.

Julia.

I realized with shock that Hati had turned us eastward, toward Star Shadow territory. My Alpha will slammed down, trying to regain

control, but Hati fought back with unprecedented strength, fueled by longing and rage.

We cannot leave her. She is our mate. Our MATE!

I struggled for dominance as my wolf’s powerful legs carried us miles through the forest. When we reached the boundary of Spring Valley

territory, I finally mustered enough control to halt our forward momentum, causing us to slide in the dirt.

NO! Hati’s howl was both mental and physical, erupting from our throat in a sound of pure anguish that echoed through the silent forest.

The internal battle raged for minutes that felt like hours, wolf and man locked in a desperate struggle. When I finally reasserted control,

the pain of denial was so intense I collapsed onto my side, panting and whimpering. Under the cold moonlight, my powerful Alpha wolf

form looked broken, a silhouette of solitary suffering.

After long minutes, I forced myself to stand, turning back toward Spring Valley with leaden steps, each one a victory of duty over desire.

Hati retreated to the corners of our shared mind, his silence more painful than his protests had been.

Back in human form, I stood before the bathroom mirror, hardly recognizing the man who stared back. My face was pale, eyes bloodshot

and hollow. The hot shower had done nothing to ease the bone–deep chill that had settled in my body.

1 braced my hands against the sink, head bowed under the weight of my choices.

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