From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Julia’s POV

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The moment Daniel closed the guest room door behind us, something inside me cracked. All the emotions I’d been holding back-the hurt from Eric’s words, the fear of Nathan finding out, the exhaustion of pretending everything was fine-they came rushing out at once.

My hands trembled so badly I could barely unzip my travel bag, fumbling desperately until my fingers closed around the cool glass of the

whiskey bottle I’d packed just in case.

“I knew this would be a disaster,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I unscrewed the cap. The tears I’d been fighting all evening blurred my vision as I poured a generous splash into a water glass, the amber liquid sloshing over the sides. I didn’t care about the guest room’s warm beige walls or the handmade quilt my grandmother had sewn-all I wanted was to numb the ache spreading through my chest.

Daniel moved toward me, his face etched with concern as I raised the glass to my lips with shaking hands. He gently took it from me, his fingers warm against mine. The loss of contact made me feel adrift, like I was losing my anchor in a storm.

“Slow down,” he said, his voice soft as he poured half back into the bottle. “I don’t want you nursing a headache tomorrow.”

A laugh escaped me, bitter and hollow. “Compared to what Eric might tell Nathan tomorrow, a headache would be the least of my problems.” I took the glass back, desperate for something to hold onto, and let the whiskey burn down my throat. The heat spread through me, momentarily drowning out the cold fear that had settled in my stomach.

Daniel’s arm slid around my shoulders as he guided me to sit beside him on the bed. The mattress dipped under our combined weight, and I found myself leaning into his warmth without meaning to. “Want to talk about why Eric reacted so strongly?” he asked.

I couldn’t meet his eyes. Looking at Daniel meant seeing kindness and understanding that I didn’t deserve. Instead, I took another burning sip, larger this time, letting the alcohol cloud the edges of my thoughts. The room felt suffocating, the walls closing in-just like

the invisible barriers that had always surrounded me in this pack.

By my third drink, everything felt softer, hazier. My cheeks burned, and the weight in my chest had transformed into a desperate yearning for connection, for something real to hold onto. Daniel’s hand moved to my back, rubbing gentle circles as I leaned against him.

‘It’ll be okay,” he whispered, his breath warm against my hair.

When he tilted my chin up, his eyes full of concern, something inside me snapped. I didn’t want his pity. I wanted to feel something- anything-other than this hollow ache. When his lips brushed my forehead in comfort, I turned my face up, capturing his mouth with

mine instead.

The kiss was desperate, hungry. I felt Kala surge forward, her presence adding intensity to my need. My hands moved to Daniel’s chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken under my palm. The solid reality of him-warm, present, wanting me despite everything-was intoxicating.

Heat bloomed low in my belly, spreading through my limbs and making my skin hypersensitive. Every brush of his fingers against my arms sent electricity racing through me.

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Chapter 42

“Please,” I breathed against his mouth, my fingers fumbling with his shirt buttons. My coordination was off, the alcohol making my movements clumsy, but I didn’t care. “I need to feel something else. Something good.”

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My body ached for his touch, for the pressure of his hands against my skin. I arched my back slightly, instinctively seeking more contact, needing to feel wanted, claimed.

Daniel’s hands moved to steady me as I pushed him back onto the bed, my body following his down. I straddled him, feeling powerful for

once in my life-choosing instead of being chosen, taking instead of being taken from. I could smell his desire mingling with concern, the

scent intoxicating my wolf senses.

The hardness of him pressed against me through our clothes, and I rolled my hips instinctively, a small gasp escaping my lips at the

friction. My skin felt too tight, too hot, my breasts sensitive even through layers of fabric as they pressed against his chest.

“Make it all go away,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I pressed my body against his. My fingers tangled in his hair, my thighs tightening around his hips. “Just for tonight…” I bent to kiss him again, my hair falling around us like a curtain shutting out the rest of

the world.

I needed his hands on me, needed him to touch every part that ached. I wanted to lose myself in sensation until there was nothing left

but the two of us, until I couldn’t remember my name or the pain that followed me everywhere.

Daniel remained still beneath me, his breathing heavy but his hands carefully placed on the bed beside us. His restraint only made me bolder. I trailed kisses down his throat, tasting salt on his skin, feeling his pulse race under my lips. The alcohol in my system had stripped away my usual hesitation, leaving behind a raw hunger I barely recognized.

“Touch me,” I pleaded against his skin, but he remained frustratingly controlled.

I sat up, my hair wild around my shoulders, and finally managed to undo the buttons of his shirt. I pushed the fabric aside, revealing the tanned expanse of his chest. Without thinking, I bent down and took one of his nipples between my lips, swirling my tongue around the

hardened peak.

Daniel’s body jerked beneath me, a sharp hiss escaping through his clenched teeth. His hands flew to my hips, gripping me tightly for a moment before forcing themselves back to the mattress. I could feel him fighting his instincts, the tension in his body making every

muscle rigid.

“Jules,” he groaned, the sound more animal than human.

I continued my assault on his senses, emboldened by the evidence of his desire. My hands explored the planes of his stomach while my mouth worked against his nipples, alternating between gentle kisses and the scrape of teeth. I wanted to break his control, needed to feel

wanted with the same desperate intensity that consumed me.

Suddenly, Daniel moved. In one fluid motion, he gripped my waist and flipped our positions, pinning me beneath him on the mattress. His body covered mine completely, his weight delicious and overwhelming.

I closed my eyes, heart racing, waiting for his mouth, his hands, for anything to continue this escape from reality.

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