From Rejected Mate to Luna (Julia White) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Julia’s POV

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I crushed the valerian root with steady pressure, grinding it into a fine powder ainst the small mortar in my hands. The earthy scent filled my old bedroom, oddly comforting despite the tension knotting my shoulders.

Coming home for the first weekend after starting college wasn’t exactly my idea fun, but I needed money for a professional stethoscope. My nursing

instructor made it clear we’d need our own by Tuesday.

The cheaper models would work fine, but I wanted something high–quality that would last through my career. Mom and Dad had already agreed to help me-

no repayment required. It was the one small kindness that made this trip home bearable.

With one hand carefully gathering the valerian powder into a neat pile, I reached blindly with my other hand for an empty glass jar on my shelf. My fingers

closed around the cool glass, and I pulled it toward me, still focused on not spilling the powdered herbs.

As I prepared to unscrew the lid, something inside the jar caught my eye–something dark and coiled that suddenly moved.

“Oh my God!” A primal scream tore from my throat as I dropped the jar, which shattered on the hardwood floor. A small green snake slithered out from among the broken glass, heading straight for my feet.

Ice flooded my veins. My entire body seized with terror, goosebumps erupting across my skin as every hair on my body seemed to stand straight up. I

couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think–just react.

I scrambled backward so violently I knocked over my chair, my pulse hammering in my ears. With a strangled cry, I leaped onto my desk, knocking over bottles of herbs that clattered to the floor. My hands were shaking uncontrollably as I pulled my knees to my chest.

“Get away!” I gasped, my voice pitched high with panic. My vision tunneled, focusing only on the slithering creature. I could feel my wolf stirring anxiously

within me, responding to my fear.

My breath came in rapid, shallow pants as I watched the snake’s smooth, sinuous movements across my bedroom floor. I pressed myself against the wall, as far from the edge of the desk as possible, certain I was about to witness it rear up to strike.

But something wasn’t right. The snake kept bumping into the desk leg, again and again, not navigating around it as a real snake would. It moved in an oddly mechanical pattern, and when my racing heart slowed enough for rational though to return, I realized it wasn’t a real snake at all–just an incredibly realistic mechanical toy with scales that caught the light just like the real thing.

Eric’s laughter erupted from the hallway as he appeared in my doorway, doubled ver and wheezing with amusement. “You should see your face!” he managed between bursts of laughter. “Priceless!”

Is everything okay? Mom’s voice called from the kitchen, the clatter of pots sugesting she was in the middle of preparing something. I heard a crash!”

Everything’s fine, Mom! I called back, my voice still trembling as I glared at Eri “Just knocked something over!”

“Are you sure?” Her voice was uncertain. Eric, don’t bother your sister while she studying. She just got home.”

I climbed down from my desk on shaky legs, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and anger. The adrenaline crash left me feeling hollow. Very mature, Eric. I’m sure Nathan will be impressed with your leadership qualities

Eric’s laughter subsided as he walked over and picked up his toy snake, pressing hidden button to stop its movement. Come on, it was just a joke. You re

too serious these days

I knelt to carefully pick up the shards of glass, avoiding the scattered valerian rom. Did you need something, or did you just come to demonstrate your

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Chapter 9

incredible maturity?”

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Eric watched me clean up his mess without offering to help. “Nathan mentioned ou made quite a scene at school last week. His tone was lighter than his words, still playing at casual conversation even as he probed.

I sighed, tossing the glass shards into my trash can. “I came home to borrow money for a stethoscope, not to discuss Nathan. He showed up uninvited at my

campus.

Always the innocent one,” Eric smirked, pocketing his mechanical snake. “You know, Nathan says you’ve been challenging pack rules. That doesn’t sound like my compliant little sister.”

“Is this really why you came in here? To interrogate me about Nathan while playing childish pranks?” I asked, brushing valerian dust from my hands.

“Just looking out for my future Alpha, Eric said with a shrug. “And reminding you that college doesn’t change anything. You’re still part of this pack.”

“I just want to be a good nurse, I said quietly. “What’s wrong with that?”

I didn’t add that next month there was a scholarship exam I planned to take. If I would secure additional funding, I wouldn’t need to ask for help again.

Eric’s expression shifted to something more serious. “Even if you become a nurse it won’t make you special here. The pack doesn’t need your services.”

Something flickered in my mind–a memory of Matthew Collins’s speech about medical professionals and their value. How different things seemed to be in his pack.

Eric stepped closer until his face was just inches from mine, his eyes narrowing he leaned down to my level. “Stop annoying Nathan,” he said, his voice

dropping to a threatening whisper. “Remember your place, or you can kiss your precious nursing program goodbye.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Your face is ugly this close up,” I said, though I knew it wasnt true. E Eric was objectively handsome–plenty of girls at school had

crushes on him. He never dated any of them though, always saying he was waiting for his fated mate to appear.

But even the most attractive face becomes tiresome after eighteen years, especially when it belongs to someone as insufferable as my brother.

After he left, I sat quietly at my desk, thinking about his words and Nathan’s apparent complaints. For the first time, I found myself wondering what life

might be like in a different pack–like Spring Valley, where Matthew was Alpha. Would a pack led by a doctor value a nurse? Would they treat me with more

respect?

It was a dangerous thought, but once it took root, I couldn’t shake it. Maybe the was a future where I wouldn’t have to bow to Nathan’s every whim.