From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Eric’s POV

:

72

I pushed through our front door, my hands still trembling.

Dad looked up from his desk, a stack of pack security reports spread before him. His reading glasses slid down his nose as his eyes

widened at my appearance.

“Eric? Dear God, what happened? Whose blood is that?” Alarm colored Dad’s voice as he quickly closed the door behind me, the soft click

of the lock engaging.

“You need to sit down for this,” I said, my voice shaking slightly as the adrenaline began to wear off. “It’s bad, Dad. Really bad.”

His expression grew grave as he studied my face, the lines around his eyes deepening. Without a word, he walked to the oak cabinet and pulled out a bottle of aged whiskey, pouring two generous glasses. The amber liquid caught the light as he handed one to me before settling into his worn leather chair.

“Talk to me, son.”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything I’d discovered pressing down on me like a physical burden. “I found my mate,” I started, deciding to begin with the one piece of good news. “Her name is Lisa. She’s from the Blackwood pack. We’ve formed the bond.”

Dad’s expression softened momentarily. “That’s wonderful, Eric. But I’m guessing that’s not why you’re covered in blood.”

I shook my head, taking a large swallow of whiskey. The burn traced a path down my throat, helping steady my nerves. “Lisa helped me see something I should have realized years ago.” My voice cracked with the weight of my guilt. “Julia is Nathan’s mate. His actual mate.

And he rejected her, Dad.”

The glass in my father’s hand nearly shattered as his grip tightened violently. His face transformed from shock to rage in seconds, his eyes flashing gold in the dim light of the study.

“What?” he whispered, his voice dangerously low, vibrating with the wolf just beneath his skin.

I explained how Lisa had helped me see the truth through a series of careful questions. How the pieces had suddenly fallen into place about Julia-her symptoms, her depression, her withdrawal from pack life.

Dad’s face transformed with a fury I’d rarely seen. The glass in his hand creaked under pressure, whiskey sloshing dangerously close to the rim. “That little…” he began, then stopped, taking a deep breath. “I suspected something was wrong, but I respected her privacy. I never imagined… His voice broke. “This explains so much about her pain.”

“There’s more,” I continued, the weight of guilt pressing against my chest. “After I confronted Nathan through our mindlink, he threatened Julia. Then he said something about teaching someone on our territory a lesson about boundaries. I knew he meant Daniel.”

1/3

17:24 Tue, Jan 27

Chapter 51

៣

72

I described finding Daniel in the forest, Nathan standing over him, blood dripping from his muzzle. How I’d gotten Daniel to the hospital, his body broken and barely clinging to life.

Dad stood abruptly, pacing the small confines of his study. His footsteps were heavy, matching the pounding in my head. “Where is

Nathan now?”

“After I got Daniel to the hospital, I tried tracking him. His scent disappeared at the pack border. I think he’s fled, at least temporarily.” 1 leaned forward. “I contacted a few warriors I trust, told them to keep an eye out but stay quiet about it.”

Dad nodded approvingly. “Good. But be careful who you trust. His father is still Alpha, and many are loyal to him above pack law.”

Dad rubbed his face with both hands, suddenly looking older than I’d ever seen him. “Nathan’s actions are a clear violation of pack law. Attacking a marked guest is grounds for severe punishment, even for an Alpha’s son.”

“But will the Alpha enforce it against his own heir?” I asked, voicing what we both feared.

“That’s the question.” Dad sat down heavily. “First priority is protecting Julia. If Nathan threatened to kill her…*

“He meant it, Dad. I’ve known Nathan my whole life, and I’ve never seen him like this. It was… cold. Calculated. Like he’d been thinking

about it for a while.”

We both fell silent, contemplating the implications. The only sound was the ticking of the antique clock on the wall.

“We need to protect Julia,” I finally said. “If Nathan was willing to attack Daniel, he might come after her next.”

“Agreed,” Dad replied. “But we’re walking a delicate line here. The pack politics are… complicated. Nathan’s actions cannot go unpunished, but challenging the Alpha’s son requires careful planning.”

The full weight of my complicity crashed down on me then, and I couldn’t hold back the words any longer.

‘Dad, I’ve been so blind. For years, I helped him control her. I thought she was just being difficult, rebellious. I never imagined…’ Tears burned behind my eyes. “I helped him hurt my own sister.”

Dad reached across the desk, gripping my shoulder. “We both failed her, son. As her father, I should have seen the signs, should have pushed harder when she withdrew. But we can’t change the past. Now we need to focus on keeping her safe and bringing Nathan to

justice.”

“What do we do about Julia? She’s at the hospital now. I reached her through our link, told her to meet us here.” I paused, remembering her voice in my mind, small and frightened. “She doesn’t know the whole story yet.”

Dad’s expression hardened with resolve. “We’ll tell her everything, but carefully. She’s been through enough trauma.”

I nodded, then tensed as I felt the gentle touch of Lisa’s consciousness through our new bond.

2/3

17:24 Tue, Jan 27

Chapter 51

:

“Are you okay?” her voice whispered in my mind. “I can feel your distress.”

“I’m with my father,” I replied silently. “We’re going to protect Julia and Daniel. I’ll tell you everything later.”

“I’m here for you,” she assured me. “For all of you.”

The warmth of her support steadied me, and I returned my focus to my father.

72

“This decision might cost us,” Dad said gravely. “My position as Beta, your future in the pack-we’re challenging the future Alpha. Are you

prepared for those consequences?”

“I am,” I answered without hesitation. “I’ve stood on the wrong side long enough.”

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway made us both look up. Through the window, I could see the headlights cutting through the

darkness.

“She’s here,” Dad said quietly.

Comments

2

Write Comments