From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 173

Julia's POV

Matthew drove slowly through town, pointing out pack facilities hidden within ordinary-looking establishments. Though I had lived here for a time, I didn't know all these places—especially this route leading to Matthew's parents' house, a path I'd never taken before.

"That bookstore houses our archives," he indicated a brick building, "and the fitness club to the right is actually our training center."

I nodded, carefully observing the medical facilities. As a nurse, I couldn't help assessing things professionally.

"The medical center looks modern," I commented, eyeing a clean white building cleverly disguised. "Larger than ours."

Matthew's eyes flashed with pride. "We've invested heavily in medical infrastructure. If you'd like to see inside, I can show you tomorrow."

"I'd love that," I smiled.

*"I used to play in that park as a kid,"* Matthew shared through our mental link, pointing to a green space. This intimate sharing of memories and thoughts was one benefit of our bonding.

An image flashed in my mind: young Matthew running, chasing other wolf cubs, laughter echoing in sunshine. I smiled at the happiness in the memory.

We drove down a private road through thick woods, eventually reaching a spacious log cabin. The architecture was modern yet harmonized with nature, large windows allowing sunlight to flood the space.

As Matthew parked, my nervousness returned. I quickly straightened my hair, checked my collar and lipstick, hoping I looked presentable.

"Relax," Matthew laughed. "No need to be so tense."

"I just want them to like me," I murmured. "It's been a while since you brought someone home..."

"A very long time," he continued softly. "That's why they'll be even more excited. Last time I called my father to come back early, he thought there was an emergency, but I just wanted him to witness the Beta transition ceremony. He didn't even come back—said they didn't need to be there since I was handling things."

"Maybe they won't come back even for you bringing home a mate," I teased. "Unless you're planning to hand the Alpha responsibility back to your father."

Matthew laughed. "Maybe that's the real reason they're here. Would that make you less anxious if it were true?"

"Possibly," I admitted with a smile. "But I still think formally meeting your parents is important. It matters to me."

"I agree," he said, his expression turning more serious. "Some traditions and ceremonies are worth keeping, even in our modern world."

Before I could respond, the cabin door suddenly opened. A couple in their fourties burst out with surprising energy. Charles and Catherine Collins, Matthew's parents. I straightened my spine, preparing for judgment.

"Julia!" Catherine Collins practically ran toward me, pulling me into a warm embrace before I could react. "Finally we meet you! Matthew was right, you're absolutely lovely."

I returned her hug in surprise, inhaling her warm scent of wildflowers and cinnamon. "Thank you, Mrs. Collins. It's wonderful to finally meet you too."

"Oh, call me Catherine, dear." She stepped back, appraising me with obvious approval.

Charles Collins came forward next, giving Matthew a strong hug before turning to me with an outstretched hand. But when I moved to shake it, he pulled me into a fatherly embrace instead.

"So this is the girl who got my son smiling again," he said with a grin, his voice warm and genuine. "Seems he finally brought home someone smarter than himself."

I felt my cheeks warm, but through our bond, I sensed Matthew's pride and slight embarrassment.

The Collins couple was far more modern and open than I'd anticipated, showing none of the formality I'd feared. They welcomed us inside enthusiastically, Catherine linking her arm with mine as if we were old friends.

"We've just prepared dinner," she said, leading us into a bright, spacious kitchen. "Hope you like roast chicken and vegetables."

"Sounds delicious," I answered honestly, beginning to relax. Through our bond, Matthew sent an "I told you so" feeling, and I gave him a gentle kick under the table in response.

Dinner was far more enjoyable than I'd imagined. The Collins couple energetically shared tales of their travels, from Southeast Asian jungles to European castles, each story more entertaining than the last.

"Matthew tells us you're a nurse," Catherine said as she served dessert. "I've always believed medical professionals are a community's most valuable asset."

"Yes, I work at the Star Shadow medical center," I replied.

"Our medical center would welcome you anytime," Charles said enthusiastically. "In fact, our head physician was just complaining last week about the lack of trained nursing staff."

Midway through dinner, Catherine suddenly laughed as if remembering something amusing. "Julia, did you know Matthew mentioned you frequently during his recovery period?"

I raised an eyebrow at Matthew, whose ear tips had turned slightly pink. "Oh? What did he say?"

"He told us how you handled a particularly difficult medical case," Catherine continued. "A young werewolf allergic to sedatives? You successfully stabilized him with some herbal mixture."

I remembered the case but was surprised Matthew had noticed such details. "That was just standard procedure," I said modestly.

"She's being humble," Matthew interjected. "That herbal formulation was her own development. I noticed it while reviewing medical records."

Charles added with a laugh, "Whenever we video called, if you happened to text him, his expression would change instantly. When the connection was poor, he'd even run to the hilltop for better signal."

"Dad!" Matthew protested, genuinely embarrassed now.

Warmth flooded through me. He'd been paying attention to me even before we officially got together. Through our bond, I felt his embarrassment mixed with love.

"I think that's sweet," I smiled, reaching for Matthew's hand.

Dinner continued in this pleasant atmosphere, and I found myself completely immersed in this family's warmth. The Collins couple hadn't just accepted me—they genuinely seemed to like me. The feeling of belonging was beautiful, and I realized all my worries about this visit had been unnecessary.

As dinner wrapped up, I stood to head back to our temporary lodging, but Matthew caught my hand and gently tugged me toward the car instead. I looked at him, puzzled, my brow furrowing.

"Where are we going?" I asked, noticing the sly grin on his face.

"We've gotta beat my dad to the punch," Matthew said mysteriously, opening the car door for me.

I slid into the passenger seat, still confused. "Beat him to what? Matthew, what's going on?"

He chuckled, starting the engine. "I'll explain in a bit. Just trust me."

I narrowed my eyes but settled back as he drove, the road winding through the dark valley. My confusion only grew when I realized we were heading toward a small local airport. The parking lot was nearly empty as he pulled in and cut the engine.

"Matthew, seriously, what are we doing here?" I asked, turning to him.

He didn't answer right away, instead pulling out his phone and typing quickly, his fingers flying over the screen. Only after he finished did he look up at me, his eyes glinting with excitement. "We're going to Paris for our honeymoon, Julia."