From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 162

Matthew's POV

The corridor outside Julia's apartment felt like the longest mile I'd ever walked. My hand still stung from knocking—three times, then silence. I knew she was inside, could sense her presence through the door like a physical thing. My wolf, Hati, paced restlessly in my mind.

*Break it down,* he urged. *She's ours. We can't just stand here like a beaten puppy.*

I ignored him, pressing my back against the wall opposite her door and sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. The crumpled note in my hand—the one she'd refused to read—felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

*This is pathetic,* Hati growled. *We're an Alpha.*

"And that's why we wait," I muttered under my breath. "Because I respect her choice."

Four weeks. I'd left her alone for four weeks, thinking I was doing the right thing by returning to Spring Valley to handle the border threats. I'd convinced myself it was my duty, that I was protecting her by keeping my distance.

What a fool I'd been.

The image of her face when she saw me at the hospital kept flashing through my mind—that split second of joy before fury overtook her features. Then her small fists pounding against my chest, her voice breaking as she screamed, "You LEFT!"

I deserved every blow. I should have stayed. I should have talked to her instead of leaving that pathetic note. I should have...

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, interrupting my mental self-flagellation. I didn't bother looking up until a familiar scent hit my nostrils.

"You've got to be kidding me," Eric White said, stopping in his tracks when he saw me. "You're still out here? She didn't forgive you?"

I looked up at Julia's brother, gesturing weakly toward the firmly closed door. "What do you think?"

Eric approached slowly, studying me with narrowed eyes. The hostility from our previous encounters had faded, replaced by something that looked almost like curiosity.

"To be honest, you kind of deserve it," he said, leaning against the wall next to me. "I can't even imagine what Lisa would do to me if I disappeared for four weeks and left nothing but a note. Actually, I can—it would involve a knife and my vital organs."

I laughed without humor. "Your brilliant cornflower idea backfired spectacularly. I think the sight of those flowers just made her angrier."

"Shit," Eric muttered. "They were her favorite when we were kids." He paused, then added with a smirk, "The fact she didn't stab you with a surgical instrument just proves her medical ethics are top-notch."

"I noticed," I replied, gingerly touching my chest where her fists had left what would surely become bruises, even with my werewolf healing.

We sat in silence for a moment, an unlikely pair—the Alpha of Spring Valley and the Alpha of Star Shadow—sitting on the floor outside Julia's apartment like rejected suitors. Which, I supposed, was exactly what I was.

"So what's the plan?" Eric finally asked. "Got some grand strategy to win her back?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Honestly? I have no idea. I didn't think past getting to her door."

"You're telling me the mighty Alpha of Spring Valley came here with no plan?" Eric shook his head with a laugh. "Look, I've got a spare bedroom at my place. You can crash there tonight, regroup, try again tomorrow with an actual strategy."

I considered his offer for a moment, then shook my head. "Thanks, but I think I'll stay right here."

"Wait." Eric's eyes widened with amusement. "Are you seriously going with the 'sleep outside her door like a sad puppy' approach? That's your big move?"

I gave him a sheepish grin. "It might work. She'll have to come out eventually."

"That's actually not the worst idea," Eric admitted, looking impressed despite himself. "The guilt trip factor alone might be worth it." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You know what? I'm keeping this little tidbit in my back pocket. Next time you piss me off, I'm telling Julia you deliberately chose to sleep in the hallway when you had other options."

"Hey, that's not fair. I'm telling you this as a brother, not so you can use it against me later."

Eric's smile turned mischievous. "Brother or enemy? Depends on the timing, Collins." He winked. "And whether you hurt my sister again."

I met his gaze, all humor fading from my expression. "I won't hurt her again, Eric. I can't promise I'll never make mistakes, but I can promise I'll never walk away. Not like that. Not again." I looked toward Julia's door, my voice dropping lower. "She deserves better than what I did. And I intend to spend however long it takes proving that to her."

"You know that's going to look pretty pathetic, right? An Alpha sleeping in a hallway?"

I shrugged. "I don't care how it looks."

"You don't care about your dignity?" Eric asked, genuine surprise in his voice.

"Not when it comes to her," I answered honestly. "I'd sleep on this floor for a week if it meant she'd talk to me again."

Eric studied me for a long moment, his expression shifting from mockery to something more thoughtful.

"You really care about her, don't you?" he asked quietly.

"More than I thought possible," I admitted, surprised by my own candor with a man who had once been my adversary.

Eric stood up, brushing off his jeans. "Well, I've got to go. My Luna's waiting for me. She's something special—beautiful, smart, and the Moon Goddess blessed me with the perfect mate bond." His expression softened unexpectedly. "Look, I give you crap because she's my sister, but I know what it's like to have that connection with someone. It's worth fighting for, even if it means camping out in hallways looking like an idiot."

I clenched my jaw, recognizing both the teasing and the unexpected encouragement. "Good night, Eric."

He gave me a knowing look before walking away. "Good luck, Collins. From what I know about Julia's temper, you're gonna need it."

When the elevator doors closed behind him, I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes. I took out my phone, silenced it, and placed it in my pocket. Settling in for what might be a long night, I found myself oddly calm.

*We should at least be comfortable,* Hati grumbled.

I shifted slightly, adjusting my position on the hard floor, but made no move to leave.

*This is where we need to be,* I thought back.

Outside Julia's door, I would wait. For however long it took. My dignity meant nothing compared to the chance of making things right with her. The woman who had somehow worked her way past all my defenses and made me feel again after years of numbness.

I would wait.