From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 171

Julia's POV

I nearly dropped the chart, jumping like a startled pup. Claire, one of the senior nurses, was staring at me with this nosy, suspicious look in her eyes.

"Different how?" I asked, trying to play it cool.

Claire leaned in, then let out a soft gasp as her gaze snagged on the edge of the mark peeking out from my collar. "Oh my God," she whispered, before letting out a squeal. "You got marked!"

Heat flooded my face. "Claire, please—"

Too late. Her little outburst had everyone’s attention. In seconds, I was surrounded by curious faces and excited whispers, the whole staff crowding around like I was some kind of sideshow.

"I knew Spring Valley’s Alpha wouldn’t let you go!" Claire teased, nudging me with her elbow.

Megan, the youngest nurse and still a trainee, reached out like she was touching something holy, her fingers brushing the edge of the mark. "What’s it like? Being mated to an Alpha? I’ve heard the bond is so much stronger than regular matebonds."

I tried to keep my cool, to stay professional, but it was hard with everyone gawking. "I really need to finish these charts—"

"Give her some space, everyone," Dr. Morgan cut in, stepping up to the group. Her voice was kind but firm, the kind of tone that didn’t take arguments. "We still have patients to care for."

As the crowd scattered, Dr. Morgan gave me a respectful nod. "Congratulations, Alpha-mate White."

That title hit me like a slap of cold water. Alpha-mate. That’s who I was now. Not just Julia the nurse, but the mate of an Alpha, a position that carried weight and respect in our world. The reality of it made my head spin, my stomach twisting with the sheer size of what it meant.

The rest of the morning blurred by in a mess of patient rounds and med checks. I tried to focus, but I kept catching people sneaking looks at me. Some were just curious, others gave me this new kind of respect, and a few—ones who’d seen how Nathan treated me back in the day—looked almost shocked at how far I’d come, from rejected mate to Alpha-mate.

Right after dinner, I felt a sudden burst of excitement and anticipation through the bond. I was just finishing up notes on my last patient when the reception area went dead quiet. I didn’t even need to look up to know it was him. I could feel Matthew before I saw him, his presence like a pull on my soul.

He stood in the doorway of the medical center, tall and impossible to ignore, holding a bouquet of wildflowers—Spring Valley’s own, I could tell by the scent. The whole room was whispering now, but Matthew didn’t care. He walked right past the waiting area, his eyes locked on mine, a smile spreading across his face.

When he got to me, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, a clear claim in front of everyone. "Thought I’d surprise you," he said, voice low but carrying in the hush.

"Matthew," I whispered, feeling every damn eye on us. "What are you doing here?"

"Picking up my mate," he answered, handing me the flowers.

"Oh my God," Claire sighed somewhere nearby. "Can you imagine? An Alpha actually coming to pick up his mate from work!"

Dr. Morgan came over, and I nearly choked when she inclined her head to Matthew—a gesture of respect I’d never seen her give anyone. "Alpha Collins, it’s an honor to have you visit our facility."

Just yesterday, I was plain Julia White, nurse and Beta's daughter. Sure, I'd stepped up as interim Alpha during the crisis, but everyone—including me—knew that was temporary. This was different. This was permanent. Now, people who'd known me forever were looking at me different, treating me with a kind of reverence that made my skin crawl.

Ten minutes later, we were in Matthew’s car, heading back to my apartment. I leaned against the seat, letting out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

"You okay?" Matthew asked, reaching over to take my hand.

"Just... processing," I admitted. "Everyone was staring at me today. Dr. Morgan bowed her head to you."

Matthew’s thumb traced little circles on my palm, sending tiny sparks up my arm. "Is it too much? The attention?"

I thought about it for a second. "It’s not that. It’s just weird having my identity flip overnight. For years I was 'that girl Nathan rejected.’ Then I was just Julia the nurse. Now I’m 'Alpha-mate White.’"

"You’re still Julia," Matthew said, his tone firm. "Being my mate adds to who you are; it doesn’t replace it."

I glanced at him, a wave of gratitude hitting me through our bond. "What about your pack? Will they expect me to... I don’t know, quit working? Spend all my time at Spring Valley?"

Matthew's brows furrowed slightly. "But I thought... didn't you say this morning you'd be moving to Spring Valley after we completed the bond? That you were ready?"

I sighed, twisting my hands in my lap. "I know that's what female wolves usually do—move to their mate's pack. And I thought I was prepared for it, but..." I gestured vaguely toward the medical center we'd just left. "I'm still in my own pack today, and already everything feels different. The way people look at me, speak to me, treat me... I just hadn't really thought through what being an Alpha's mate would actually mean in practice."

Matthew reached across, taking my hand gently. His thumb traced my knuckles as he nodded. "It's a big change," he acknowledged. "Bigger than most. Going from being treated one way your whole life to suddenly having this position of respect and influence."

"I'm just suddenly not sure about anything," I admitted. "This morning I was so certain, and now..."

"Hey," he said softly, "it's okay. If you need more time to adjust, we have that. The bond doesn't care about geography. We'll figure it out together, at whatever pace works for us." His eyes held mine, genuine and understanding. "I meant what I said—I'd never ask you to give up the things that matter to you."

"And us? Living stuff?" I felt almost shy asking, even after everything we’d shared.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Well, I have moved some things to your place. Then we decide what feels right." His voice dipped lower, rough with feeling. "I just know I don’t want to spend another night away from you."