From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 157

Matthew's POV

With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair, my hand unconsciously drifting to my chest where a hollow ache had taken up permanent residence.

*Julia... Mate...* Hati's low growl of disapproval rumbled through my consciousness.

"I know," I whispered to the empty office.

I couldn't continue like this—torn between responsibility and desire, between the past and the future I desperately wanted.

A collection of postcards caught my eye—my parents' photographic chronicle of their world tour.

I picked up the most recent one, postmarked from Norway. My father's grinning face beamed back at me from the edge of a stunning fjord, my mother taking the selfie with her arm extended. They looked so carefree, so happy. So unburdened by responsibility.

The memory hit me suddenly—my father's words four years ago when he'd surprised everyone by stepping down as Alpha early: "You're ready, Matt. And when you find your mate, if you ever need me to step back in for a while, I'm just a call away."

At the time, I'd thought it was just his way of easing my anxiety about taking on leadership. But now...

Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed my phone and checked the time difference. It would be afternoon in Norway. I found my father's number and initiated a video call, my heart pounding as I waited for him to answer.

My mother's face appeared first, her expression lighting up. "Matthew! What a lovely surprise! Richard, come quick, it's Matthew!"

She turned the phone, and I saw my father's face appear, wearing a captain's hat at a jaunty angle. The fjord stretched out behind him, the cruise ship's railing visible along the bottom of the frame.

"Son! How's pack business? Everyone behaving themselves?" He grinned, but his eyes narrowed slightly, taking in my disheveled appearance and the dark circles under my eyes.

"Dad, Mom... I need to talk to you about something important." My voice sounded steadier than I felt.

My mother's smile faltered. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Is everyone all right?"

I took a deep breath. "Yes, everyone's fine. It's... I've met someone. Her name is Julia White."

My father's eyebrows shot up. "White? From Star Shadow pack?"

I nodded. "I want her to be my mate, Dad. I feel it. Hati knows it."

"Well, that's wonderful news!" My mother beamed. "When do we get to meet her?"

"That's... complicated." I ran a hand through my hair. "She's acting as Alpha for Star Shadow during their epidemic crisis, and I'm still Alpha here. We're caught between two packs, two responsibilities."

Understanding dawned in my mother's eyes, but my father frowned, his captain's hat sliding slightly as he leaned closer to the camera.

"What exactly are you saying, Matthew?"

I met his gaze directly. "I'm asking you to come back, Dad. To take over as Alpha again, at least temporarily. So I can... so Julia and I can figure things out without abandoning either pack."

My father's face reddened, the playful demeanor vanishing. "You want me to cut short the retirement I've earned after twenty years of service because you've got love troubles? Absolutely not! You accepted the responsibility of Alpha. You can't just—"

"Richard," my mother interrupted, placing a hand on his arm. "Let's hear him out."

I leaned forward. "Dad, I've led the pack faithfully for four years. I've expanded our territory, strengthened our alliances, improved our security. I've never asked you for anything."

"And now you want me to give up sailing the Norwegian fjords to clean up your romantic mess?" He waved his arm dramatically at the stunning scenery behind him.

"Richard!" My mother scolded, but I could see she was fighting a smile at his theatrics.

"I remember what you said when you retired early," I continued, my voice tightening. "You promised that if I ever found my mate, you'd be willing to step back in. Well, I've found her, Dad. And I'm asking you to keep that promise."

My father's expression cycled through several emotions—irritation, surprise, and finally, a reluctant guilt. He removed the captain's hat and ran a hand through his silver-streaked hair.

"I did say that, didn't I?" he grumbled, looking to my mother for support, but finding none. "Damn it, Matthew. I was planning to see the Greek islands next month."

My mother smiled gently. "The Mediterranean has been there for thousands of years, dear. It can wait a little longer."

My father sighed dramatically. "Fine. FINE. But there are conditions."

I felt a weight lifting from my chest. "Name them."

"First, this is temporary. Six months, maximum." He held up a finger. "Second, you will ensure the bloodline continues. That means finding a proper home with this Julia and producing at least one future Alpha candidate as soon as possible."

"Dad!" I protested, feeling my cheeks heat.

"Don't 'Dad' me," he countered, but I could see the twinkle returning to his eyes. "If I'm giving up cruising through the Greek islands to wrangle unruly pack teenagers again, I want grandchildren as compensation."

My mother laughed, swatting his arm. "Stop terrorizing him, Richard."

My father's expression softened slightly. "You really love this girl?"

The question caught me off guard with its simplicity. "Yes," I answered without hesitation. "More than I thought possible after Rachel."

Something in my father's face changed—a recognition, perhaps, of the man I'd become. He nodded once, decisively.

"We'll be back within a week. Try not to let anything catastrophic happen before then."

"Thank you," I said, relief washing through me. "Both of you."

After we ended the call, I walked out onto the deck, gazing in the direction of Star Shadow territory miles away. For the first time in three weeks, I felt the suffocating pressure ease from my chest, though it was quickly replaced by a different kind of tension—anticipation mixed with uncertainty.

In my mind, Hati pranced and leapt with renewed energy. *Julia. Soon.*

I smiled, formulating a simple plan: wait for my parents' return, see Julia at the cross-pack meeting, tell her everything. My stomach tightened at the thought of facing her after leaving the way I did, but Hati's confidence was infectious.

"I hope it's not too late," I whispered to the brightening sky.