From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 178

Julia's POV

The bedside lamp cast a warm glow across our hotel room as Matthew checked his phone, his expression shifting from concern to something like amused exasperation.

"Everything okay?" I asked, pulling the sheets around my bare shoulders.

He handed me his phone, shaking his head. "It's from my dad."

I squinted at the bright screen, reading Charles's message:

*Matthew Collins, I can't believe you left without a proper goodbye. Your mother is devastated (she's not really, but I'll blame her anyway). You better bring Julia back pregnant, or I'll have something to say about it. Love you both.*

Heat crept up my neck. "Oh."

Matthew laughed, taking the phone back. "Sorry about that. Subtle as a sledgehammer, my father."

I bit my lip. "We haven't really talked about... that."

His eyes softened, and he pulled me closer. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

Through our matebond, I felt a complicated swirl of emotions from him – desire, hope, and something deeper. Something that felt like longing.

"It's not that I don't want children," I said carefully. "It's just... we haven't been mated long, and everything's happening so fast."

Matthew's thumb traced circles on my shoulder. "I know. And I'd never pressure you. But..."

"But?"

He sighed. "But I can't pretend I haven't thought about it. A little girl with your eyes. Or a boy with your stubbornness." His smile was gentle, teasing.

I realized with sudden clarity that we'd never used protection since the night we'd marked each other. The implications settled over me like a warm blanket – both comforting and slightly overwhelming.

"You know," I said softly, "we haven't exactly been careful since the marking."

Matthew's pupils dilated slightly, and through our bond, I felt a surge of surprised delight. He rolled suddenly, pinning me beneath him, his eyes searching mine.

"Julia White-Collins," he said, voice husky, "are you saying what I think you're saying?"

I laughed, pushing at his chest. "I'm saying that if your father gets his wish, it won't be because we planned it. But I wouldn't be upset."

His kiss was fierce and possessive, sending fire through my veins. When he pulled back, his grin was wolfish. "Well, in that case, we should probably practice. Just to be thorough."

---

I woke alone the next morning, sunlight streaming through the gauzy curtains. A note sat beside a tray holding fresh croissants, fruit, and steaming coffee.

*Gone to pay respects to the local pack. Rest or shop – your choice. I'll be back by noon. All my love, M.*

My wolf, Kaia, stretched lazily inside me, content in a way I'd never felt before. I poured coffee and carried it to the window, watching Paris awaken below.

Alpha's mate. The words still felt foreign, like clothes that hadn't been broken in yet. In just months, I'd gone from rejected mate, nursing student, to the partner of one of the most respected Alphas in the Northwest. The responsibility of it all hit me suddenly – not just as Matthew's partner, but potentially as a mother.

Would I be any good at it? My own mother had tried, but pack politics had always come first. And what would it mean for my career? I'd worked so hard for my nursing degree.

Through our bond, I felt Matthew's calm confidence, even from across the city. He was meeting with the local Alpha, diplomatic but firm, representing his pack with the dignity I'd come to associate with him. Pride welled up in me, alongside a twinge of nervousness. I would need to learn pack protocols, traditions. There was so much I didn't know.

Matthew returned precisely at noon, his face bright with satisfaction.

"How did it go?" I asked, kissing him lightly.

"Better than expected. The Paris Alpha is progressive, interested in our healthcare initiatives." He took my hands. "And they've invited us to a formal ball tonight."

My stomach dropped. "A ball? Matthew, I don't have anything to wear, and I don't know the first thing about pack etiquette at formal events."

"Hey," he said softly, thumbs tracing my wrists, "you'll be perfect. This isn't a test."

But it felt like one. My first appearance as an Alpha's mate in international werewolf society. "I'm going to embarrass you," I whispered.

Matthew caught my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. "Impossible." Through our bond, he sent waves of calm confidence. "You're my mate. My equal. No one expects you to know everything immediately."

I took a deep breath. "I just... I want to make you proud."

"You already do." He kissed my forehead. "Now, let's find you something stunning to wear."

Three hours later, I stood in our suite, staring at my reflection. The deep green dress we'd found in a boutique near the Seine hugged my curves before flowing gently to the floor.

"I can't decide if I'm more excited to show you off or keep you here all to myself," Matthew said, approaching from behind. His formal suit made him look even more powerful, his shoulders broad, his presence commanding.

My fingers trembled slightly as I fastened a pendant around my neck. "What if I say the wrong thing? Or use the wrong fork?"

Matthew's arms encircled my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder. Through our bond, I felt his love wash over me like a wave. "Then we'll laugh about it later. Julia, these formalities aren't what matters. What matters is us, together."

I turned in his arms, pressing my face against his chest, inhaling his forest scent. "Promise you won't leave my side?"

His arms tightened. "Not for a second."

As we headed for the door, I took one last look at myself – not just a nurse anymore, not just a rejected mate. Something new, something evolving. Matthew's mate, yes, but still Julia. The challenge would be finding the balance between these identities, between expectations and my own desires.

For tonight, though, I would focus on not tripping in these heels.