From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Julia’s POV

But nothing came.

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Seconds stretched into an eternity as I lay there, breath caught in my throat. Finally, I opened my eyes to find Daniel hovering above me,

his face a mask of beautiful agony.

His eyes had darkened to deep forest green, pupils dilated with undisguised want. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he stared down at me, his jaw clenched so tight I could see a muscle jumping in his cheek. His hands weren’t touching me at all-they were fisted in the bedsheets on either side of my head, knuckles white with the strain of holding himself back.

“Not like this, Jules,” he said, his voice husky. “Not when you’re hurting. Not when you’ve been drinking.”

Rejection. Again. The familiar sting of it made my chest tighten, but instead of backing away, I felt a surge of desperate determination. I

wouldn’t be denied this too, not when I needed it so badly.

“You don’t have to protect me,” I whispered, sliding my hand down between our bodies. My fingers trailed over his stomach, following the thin line of hair downward until I found what I was looking for. I cupped him through his jeans, feeling his hardness throb against my

palm. “I know you want this too…”

My voice had taken on a pleading edge I barely recognized. I squeezed gently, hearing his sharp intake of breath, feeling victorious when

his hips involuntarily pushed against my hand.

‘We can just forget everything else,” I continued, my words tumbling out faster as I stroked him through the fabric. “Just for tonight.

Please, Daniel. I need-”

Daniel’s hands shot down, gripping my wrists firmly and pulling them away from his body. He held them between us, his breathing

ragged, his control visibly fraying at the edges.

‘Why not?” I asked, unable to keep the hurt from my voice. “Don’t you want me?”

Daniel sat up, still holding my wrists, his thumbs tracing soft patterns on my skin. “More than you know,” he admitted, his eyes darkening. “But I can see how much Eric’s opinion affects you. If he was just some jerk, you wouldn’t be this upset. His words wouldn’t cut so deep.”

The truth of it hit me hard. Despite everything, despite years of taking Nathan’s side, Eric was still my brother. His approval still

mattered, even when I pretended it didn’t.

“I want to earn his respect,” Daniel continued. “I don’t want him thinking I’m just some random wolf who took advantage when his sister was vulnerable.” His eyes held mine, sincere and steady. “I want your family-all of them, including Eric-to see that I cherish you.”

The tenderness in his voice made my throat tight with unshed tears. “How can you defend him after how he treated you?” I asked, my

voice barely above a whisper.

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Chapter 43

Daniel’s smile was gentle, understanding. “Because I see the protection behind his anger, not malice. He’s worried I’ll hurt you, and he doesn’t know me well enough to trust that I won’t.”

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His insight stunned me. I’d been so caught up in Eric’s hostility that I’d missed what might be beneath it. “How can you read him so easily

when I can’t? I’ve known him my whole life.”

“Sometimes it’s harder to see clearly when you’re too close,” Daniel said softly. “He may be harsh, but I watched how he looked at you when you weren’t watching him. There’s concern there, Jules. He’s just terrible at showing it.”

I thought about Eric through the years-annoying, frustrating, sometimes cruel with his words, but there had been moments. Teaching me to ride a bike. Threatening to beat up a boy who made me cry in sixth grade. Small kindnesses buried under years of rivalry and Nathan’s

influence.

Something broke inside me then, a dam I hadn’t known I’d built. Tears spilled down my cheeks, hot and uncontrollable. “How are you so good?” The words tumbled out between sobs. “So good that I feel like I don’t deserve you after everything…”

Daniel’s thumb brushed away a tear. “You deserve everything good in this world, Jules.” His voice was low, fierce with conviction. “I’ve seen what Nathan’s rejection did to you. You’ve been carrying around this belief that you’re somehow unworthy of being loved.”

His words struck so close to my core truth that I couldn’t breathe for a moment. “How did you know?” I whispered, feeling naked, exposed

in a way that had nothing to do with clothing.

“Because I see you,” he said simply. “Not just what you show the world, but all of you. The strength it takes to keep going after what you’ve been through. The kindness you show to others even when you’ve been shown so little yourself.”

My heart felt too full, too raw. Daniel brushed his lips against my forehead, and this time I didn’t try to turn it into something more. I

just let myself be held, comforted.

After a moment, he stood, straightening his rumpled clothes. “I need to go for a run in wolf form,” he said with a rueful smile. “It’s the healthiest way to release… tension. Much better than alcohol for processing emotions.”

Concern cut through my emotional haze. “Do you know the territory boundaries? The patrol teams can be aggressive with unfamiliar

wolves.”

“I’ll be careful,” he promised. “I scented the markers when we arrived. I know where the safe areas are.”

“I could come with you,” I offered, suddenly not wanting to be alone with my thoughts. “Show you my childhood hiding spot. It’s perfectly

safe there,”

His smile turned tender but determined. “If you come with me right now, in this state, I’m afraid we might not make it to the shifting part. The warm look in his eyes sent a shiver through me. “Besides, you need rest. Tomorrow will be easier with a clear head.”

I managed a watery laugh. “Be careful out there. If you get lost, follow the creek northward. It’ll lead you back.”

After Daniel slipped out the door, I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The room still spun slightly from the whiskey, but for the

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first time in hours, I felt something close to peace. Through our mindlink, I sent him a thought before I could overthink it: Thank you for not taking advantage when I was at my weakest.

His response came back instantly, warm and reassuring: I’ll wait until you’re ready, no matter how long it takes.

In the quiet of the guest room, I closed my eyes and let myself believe, just for a moment, that I might actually deserve someone like

him.

Comments

Debbie Loza

I’m getting a really bad feeling. Please don’t let anything tragic happen to Daniel.

5 days ago

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