From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 163

Julia's POV

The cool morning air hit my face as I stepped out of my apartment building. Just yesterday, I'd slammed the door in Matthew's face, refusing to hear his explanation after weeks of silence. He seemed to think flowers and a note would erase his disappearing act. As if a simple "I'm sorry" could heal the wound he'd torn open by leaving. Well, if he thought forgiveness would come that easily, he was sorely mistaken.

I froze mid-step.

There, curled awkwardly on the concrete steps, was Matthew. His tall frame seemed impossibly compact, knees drawn to chest, head resting against the metal railing. His usually immaculate clothes were rumpled, jeans and leather jacket damp with morning dew. A few golden leaves clung to his dark hair, and stubble shadowed his jaw.

*He's here!* Kaia howled joyfully in my mind. *Our mate came back!*

I ignored her, though my heart hammered against my ribs. The scent of him—pine and rain and something uniquely Matthew—filled my nostrils, unwelcome yet achingly familiar.

At my approach, his eyes snapped open, immediately alert. He unfolded himself from the steps with a grace that belied what must have been hours of discomfort. For a split second, I caught the flash of gold in his eyes—Hati, his wolf, responding to my presence.

"Morning," he said, his voice rough with sleep. He winced dramatically as he stretched his shoulders. "You're earlier than I expected."

"What are you doing here?" I clutched my bag tighter, creating a barrier between us.

Matthew ran a hand through his hair, dislodging a small leaf. "Waiting for you. Not the most comfortable night I've had, but..." He shrugged with a half-smile that was probably meant to be charming.

I stepped around him, continuing down the stairs. "Goodbye, Matthew."

"Wait," he called, following me. "I only have permission to enter Star Shadow territory, not to stay anywhere. Protocol between Alphas—I'm respecting your brother's authority by not requesting accommodations."

I didn't slow my pace. "I didn't ask."

Matthew easily kept up, maintaining a careful distance. "Fair enough. But since I'm stuck sleeping on concrete steps until you talk to me, maybe we could speed this up a bit?"

I shot him a glare. "Nobody asked you to sleep on my steps."

"Where else would I go?" he asked, spreading his hands innocently. "Your brother made it very clear—I can enter the territory to see you, but that's it."

"Not my problem."

"I'll be here every morning," he said quietly, his playful demeanor dropping for a moment. "For as long as it takes."

"Enjoy the stairs," I replied coldly, though my pulse quickened.

*He spent the night outside for us,* Kaia whispered.

*He's manipulating us,* I shot back.

As we walked toward the medical center, I was acutely aware of the faces turning toward us.

I tried to close the mindlink channel completely, but Kaia refused to cooperate. Through her, I could sense Matthew's presence like a warm glow behind me—steady, patient, determined.

We reached the medical center, and I quickened my pace toward the entrance. Matthew paused momentarily at the threshold, a subtle acknowledgment that this was my territory. Inside, the reactions were immediate. The wolf shifters among the staff straightened subtly, recognizing an Alpha in their midst.

"Alpha Collins," greeted Nurse Jenkins, her eyes widening. "It's an honor to have you visit our facility."

Matthew nodded politely. "The honor is mine. I've heard excellent things about your care standards."

"Playing the perfect Alpha?" I muttered as we continued down the hallway.

"Just trying not to interfere with your work environment," he replied quietly.

When we reached my office, I stepped inside and firmly closed the door behind me, leaving Matthew in the hallway. Through the door's small window, I could see him standing there, shoulders squared, expression resolute.

*Let him in,* Kaia pleaded.

*No.*

I busied myself with paperwork, determinedly ignoring Matthew's presence outside my door. After several minutes, I glanced up, expecting to see him still waiting. The hallway was empty.

A strange hollowness opened in my chest. Had he given up so easily?

*He's gone,* I told Kaia, ignoring her whimper of disappointment.

I returned to my files, but found it difficult to concentrate. The scent of him lingered in my memory—pine and rain and—

The door opened, and Matthew entered, carrying two paper cups and a brown paper bag that filled the room with the aroma of fresh pastries.

"Coffee, black with one sugar, and a blueberry scone," he said, setting one cup and the bag on my desk. "From that café across the street."

I stared at the offering, torn between hunger and pride. "I didn't give you permission to come in."

"I know." He placed his own coffee on the edge of my desk and dropped into the chair opposite mine, making himself comfortable without invitation. "But you didn't explicitly forbid it either."

"That's not how permission works."

He took a sip of his coffee, watching me over the rim of his cup. "Would it help if I looked more pathetic? I could try the puppy eyes that work for my mom when I was young."

Despite myself, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch. I quickly suppressed it. "Nothing will help."

"I think this coffee might," he said, nodding toward my cup. "Your stomach's been growling since we left your apartment."

I reached for the cup, if only to have something to do with my hands. "This doesn't mean anything."

A hint of a smile crossed his face. "Of course not."

I took a sip, annoyed to find it was perfectly prepared. The scone, when I finally surrendered to hunger and opened the bag, was still warm.

Matthew leaned forward. "I will be here every morning, Julia. And every day after that. I made a terrible mistake leaving the way I did. I won't make the same mistake again by giving up on us."

His voice was soft but determined, and I felt the gentle brush of his mind against mine—a mindlink attempt that I immediately blocked.

*I'll be here, as long as it takes for you to be ready to listen,* his thoughts whispered before I shut him out completely.

Kaia whined contentedly in my mind, responding to something in his tone that my human side was determined to ignore. I kept my gaze fixed on my computer screen, refusing to acknowledge him further.

After a long moment, Matthew sighed softly. He rose from the chair, but instead of leaving, he came around to my side of the desk. Before I could react, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the top of my head.

"I'll wait outside," he whispered, and left my office, closing the door gently behind him.

I sat frozen, the sensation of his lips lingering on my hair.

I took another sip of coffee, trying to ignore how the warmth spreading through my chest had nothing to do with the beverage, and everything to do with the man who had brought it.