From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Julia’s POV

I rolled over in the unfamiliar guest bed, my head pounding like a jackhammer was drilling directly into my skull.

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The whiskey had been a mistake-a delicious, burning mistake that had temporarily numbed the pain of Eric’s words, but was now extracting its revenge with interest. Even the soft cotton sheets felt like sandpaper against my hypersensitive skin.

Half-conscious, I remembered snippets from earlier: Daniel’s gentle rejection, his understanding words, the way he’d wiped my tears and promised he wasn’t going anywhere. I vaguely recalled him saying he needed to run, to clear his head in wolf form. Had that been hours ago? Minutes? In my alcohol-fogged brain, time had lost all meaning.

The sudden vibration of my phone on the nightstand sent shards of pain through my temples. The screen lit up the darkened room, harsh glow making me wince. “Daniel” flashed across the display, and I squinted at the time: 3:27 AM.

its

Why would he call instead of using our mindlink? Even in my semi-conscious state, alarm bells started ringing.

“Daniel?” I answered, my voice hoarse from whiskey and sleep.

“Hello, is this Julia?” A female voice, clinical and unfamiliar, responded.

My stomach dropped. “Yes, who is this? Why do you have Daniel’s phone?”

“This is Melissa, I’m a nurse at Community Hospital.” Her voice softened slightly. “Daniel Wright was brought in a few hours ago. He has multiple severe lacerations and is in critical condition.”

The room spun around me as I bolted upright, instantly awake. “What happened? Is he-” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“We’ve contacted his parents a few hours ago, but they’re coming from quite a distance and we’re not sure when they’ll arrive.” The nurse paused. “We need a family member or someone close to sign consent forms for emergency surgery.”

I closed my eyes and reached for Daniel through our mindlink. Danlel, can you hear me? Please answer me.

Where there should have been his warm, reassuring presence, I found only the faintest whisper of connection-like trying to grasp smoke with my bare hands. The weak pulse of his existence was there, but buried under layers of pain and darkness.

“Miss? Are you still there?”

“Yes,” I whispered, my heart hammering. “Why me? Why did you call me?”

“Your number was the first in his favorites.” The nurse’s voice became quieter, more conspiratorial. “Look, I can’t say much over the phone, but the nature of his injuries… they’re consistent with what we sometimes see with rogue attacks. The doctors need to operate

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17:23 Tue, Jan 27

Chapter 45

immediately.”

Rogue attacks. My blood turned to ice. Or Nathan. The thought flashed through my mind before I could stop it.

“I’ll be right there,” I said, already stumbling out of bed. “Tell him-tell him I’m coming.”

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I hung up, my hands shaking so badly I nearly dropped the phone. The room tilted dangerously as I stood, nausea and dizziness hitting

me in waves. I grabbed the first clothes I could find-sweatpants and the oversized sweater I’d worn yesterday-and yanked them on, not

bothering with a bra.

Kaia, I need you. Help me focus.

My wolf stirred within me, pushing through the alcoholic haze. He’s hurt. We need to go to him.

I jammed my feet into sneakers and grabbed my purse, pausing at my parents’ bedroom door. Should I wake them? Tell them what

happened? The thought of trying to explain, of wasting precious minutes while Daniel lay bleeding, made the decision for me.

In the kitchen, I spotted my father’s car keys hanging by the door. I grabbed them without hesitation, choosing his Audi-the fastest car

in the garage. The cold night air hit me like a slap as I rushed outside, the sobering effect momentarily clearing my head.

Inside the car, I tried again. Daniel, please. If you can hear me, just… just hold on.

This time, I felt something-a flicker of recognition, followed by a wave of pain so intense it made me gasp. Then darkness again.

Be careful, Kaia whispered in my mind. This feels like Nathan’s work.

I peeled out of the driveway, tires screeching on the asphalt. The digital dashboard clock read 3:35 AM. The roads were empty, allowing

me to press the accelerator to the floor. Tears blurred my vision as I sped through the night, memories of Daniel’s smile earlier that

evening haunting me.

“This is my fault,” I whispered to the empty car. “I brought him here. I exposed him to Nathan.”

My reflection in the rearview mirror looked ghostly-pale skin, red-rimmed eyes, hair a tangled mess. I hadn’t even washed my face before

leaving. I looked as wrecked on the outside as I felt on the inside.

At a red light, I fumbled with my phone, calling my father. It went to voicemail.

‘Dad, it’s me. Daniel’s hurt. Hospital. I took your car. I’m sorry, I-” My voice cracked, and I hung up, unable to continue.

The gas light blinked on, a tiny orange warning that I ignored. Just get to the hospital. Just get to Daniel. Nothing else mattered.

The Community Hospital emerged from the darkness, its windows glowing like beacons. I spotted several police cars in the parking lot, their presence making my heart race even faster. I barely remembered to put the car in park before I was running toward the entrance, my

hangover forgotten in the rush of adrenaline.

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Chapter 45

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The antiseptic smell hit me as I burst through the automatic doors-bleach and blood and that indefinable scent of sickness that all hospitals share. The reception area was tense, with several security guards positioned strategically around the room. One of them watched me carefully as I approached the desk.

“Daniel Wright,” I gasped to the nurse behind the counter. “He was brought in tonight. Where is he?”

The nurse looked me over, taking in my disheveled appearance. “Are you family?”

“I’m his girlfriend. The nurse who called me-Melissa-said they need consent forms signed for surgery.”

“Third floor, surgical wing,” she replied, pointing toward the elevators. “Room 312, but they might have taken him into OR already. His

parents just arrived-”

I didn’t wait for more information, sprinting toward the elevators. When the doors didn’t immediately open, I veered toward the stairs

instead, taking them two at a time despite my protesting head.

I emerged on the third floor, disoriented and breathless. Following signs for the surgical wing, I rounded a corner at full speed-and

collided with someone.

“I’m sorry, I-” I started to apologize, then froze.

A middle-aged couple stood before me, both impeccably dressed despite the hour. The woman wore a cashmere sweater set and pearl

earrings, her hair perfectly coiffed. The man beside her had Daniel’s green eyes but none of his warmth, his expensive watch glinting

under the fluorescent lights.

“Who are you?” The woman’s voice was cold, her gaze sweeping over my rumpled clothes and tangled hair.

‘Julia White. Daniel’s girlfriend. The hospital called me about the surgery consent forms.”

Something flashed in the woman’s eyes-recognition, followed by fury. Before I could react, her hand connected with my cheek in a

stinging slap that echoed down the hospital corridor.

“You’re the bitch who got our son involved in your pack disputes,” she hissed. “Daniel never had any trouble before he met you!”

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