From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Julia’s POV

A

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I arrived at the third-floor conference room ten minutes early, hoping to give myself time to settle my nerves before the meeting began.

The medical building was quieter than usual, with the new semester just beginning and most labs and courses not yet in full swing.

I’d spent the morning reading through Professor Andrews’ project materials, determined to focus on something-anything-other than the

hollow space in my chest where Daniel used to be.

The conference room door was propped open, revealing a spacious room with large windows overlooking the snow-covered campus. I hesitated for a moment, scanning the space instinctively-noting the exits, the layout of chairs, the distance to the windows. The habit

had become automatic since Daniel’s attack, a constant vigilance I couldn’t shake.

Professor Andrews stood near the head of the table, organizing a stack of folders. He glanced up as I entered, his face brightening.

“Julia! So glad you could make it. You’re early-that’s perfect.” He gestured me over. “I have your information packet right here.”

“Thank you for including me in this opportunity,” I said, accepting the folder. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”

Professor Andrews smiled. “You were one of my first choices. Your evaluations were outstanding.” He paused, glancing behind me toward the door. “Will Daniel be joining us today? I sent him an invitation as well. He expressed interest in community health initiatives last

semester.”

The mention of his name sent a sharp pain through my chest. I hadn’t anticipated having to explain his absence so soon, or so publicly.

“He’s… actually back to his pack,” I managed, keeping my voice carefully neutral. “He’s doing a clinical rotation there this semester.

Scheduling conflict.”

“Ah, that’s too bad. Their gain, our loss.” Professor Andrews accepted my explanation without further questions, mercifully shifting to discussing the project timeline.

I nodded mechanically as he spoke, relief washing over me. I wasn’t ready to have the “we broke up” conversation, especially not in a professional setting. Every time someone asked about Daniel, it ripped open the wound that had barely begun to scab over.

Finding an empty chair near the corner of the room, I slid into it and opened the folder. The project overview described a partnership with Spring Valley Medical Center to implement preventive health programs in rural communities,

More people began filtering into the room. Two women and a man in Spring Valley Community Hospital scrubs chatted by the doorway. A handful of students I recognized from my nursing classes took seats around the table. I kept my head down, pretending to study the materials while surreptitiously observing the newcomers.

Why couldn’t friends and family understand that their well-intentioned concern only made things worse? I didn’t want to talk about Daniel. I didn’t want sympathetic looks or careful questions about how I was “holding up.” I just wanted to disappear into work and

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Chapter 64

pretend the aching emptiness inside me didn’t exist.

Kaia, my wolf, remained unnervingly quiet. Since returning to campus, she’d retreated so deeply within me that sometimes I had to

concentrate just to feel her presence. Her silence worried me more than my own emotional numbness.

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As the clock hit 2:00 PM, Professor Andrews took her place at the head of the table. “Thank you all for coming. Before we begin, I’d like to

introduce our partner from Spring Valley Medical Center who will be overseeing the clinical aspects of-

The door opened, cutting off her introduction. I glanced up, surprised to see a familiar face.

Matthew walked in, dressed in a simple charcoal gray sweater and dark jeans that somehow looked more professional than casual. His

black hair was cut shorter at the sides with slight length on top that fell naturally in place, and those intense eyes quickly scanned the

room before landing briefly on me.

I hadn’t expected to see him here today. When Professor Andrews mentioned Spring Valley Medical Center’s involvement, I knew Matthew would be part of the project-he was the Chief Administrator, after all. But I assumed he’d only provide high-level guidance, maybe check in occasionally. First meetings like this were usually just introductions and project overviews-nothing that would require an Alpha’s

presence.

“Mr. Collins, perfect timing,” Professor Andrews said warmly.

He nodded, offering a brief smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thank you for having me. I apologize for cutting it close-traffic was

heavier than expected.”

From his slightly rushed entrance and the way he immediately checked his watch, I guessed he’d had to rearrange his schedule to be here. Alpha responsibilities didn’t leave much room for university research projects, yet here he was, right at the start.

I lowered my eyes, avoiding further eye contact. Exhaustion weighed on me, and I found myself completely disinterested in my surroundings-particularly anything involving the opposite sex. I would need to make a real effort to focus if I wanted to maintain my previous academic standards in both classes and this project.

Around me, several female werewolves whispered excitedly about Alpha Matthew-how handsome he was, how powerful he seemed, how

rare it was to see him at university events.

I couldn’t understand why they were speaking rather than using their mindlinks, when they knew perfectly well that any werewolf in the room-especially Matthew himself-could hear every word with our enhanced hearing.

Perhaps they preferred group conversations where multiple people could participate at once, something one-on-one mindlinks couldn’t accommodate. Or more likely, I realized with mild irritation, they actually wanted him to hear their admiration.

After taking his seat, Matthew greeted the room with a polite nod, but then surprised me by making direct eye contact. “Julia, Olivia asked me to pass along her hello.” His voice carried just enough for those nearby to hear, but it felt like a personal aside in the formal setting.

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From Rejected Mate to Luna