From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 56

Eric's POV

The warmth of our house faded with each mile as I drove through the snowy streets. My body still hummed with the echo of our connection, the ghost of her touch lingering on my skin. Through our bond, I could feel her contentment mixed with disappointment at my abrupt departure.

My groin ached with the unsatisfied need I'd been forced to abandon, and I shifted uncomfortably in the driver's seat, cursing under my breath. The scent of Lisa—of us together—still clung to my skin, a tantalizing reminder of what I'd left behind.

Frustration coiled in my gut like a snake. Just one more hour. That's all I would have needed to satisfy us both. I caught myself and laughed softly. Who was I kidding? An hour wouldn't have been nearly enough. A day wouldn't be enough. With Lisa, no amount of time could ever satisfy the hunger she awakened in me.

Every touch, every kiss only made me want more of her. Our mating might have been completed in the eyes of the Moon Goddess, but my body hadn't gotten the message that the desperate need should fade. If anything, it grew stronger each time we were together. Instead, here I was, driving to a meeting I didn't want to attend, while my body remained painfully alert and ready.

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles whitened, the plastic creaking under the pressure. Duty. Always fucking duty. The one time I finally had something—someone—for myself, and pack business yanked me away from her bed.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of desire and resentment raging inside me. The rational part of my brain knew this meeting was important—vital, even—but the primal part, the part still burning from Lisa's touch, couldn't have cared less about pack politics in this moment.

*I'm sorry,* I sent through our link, feeling her immediate response—a wave of understanding tinged with longing.

*Don't be,* Lisa replied. *Pack comes first. We both know that.*

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, watching snowflakes dance in my headlights. The stark contrast between the cold outside and the warmth I'd just left behind wasn't lost on me. I'd waited my entire life to find my mate, and now pack business was pulling me away from her bed barely two weeks after our bonding.

*I'll make it up to you tonight,* I promised, feeling her smile through our connection.

*You better,* she teased, before her presence in my mind softened as she gave me space to focus.

Twenty minutes later, I pulled up to Alpha Reynolds' private residence—a sprawling mansion that dominated the northern edge of our territory. The three-story colonial with its imposing columns had been the site of countless childhood memories. Nathan and I had raced our bikes down that circular driveway, climbed those oak trees, sworn blood brotherhood in the treehouse his father had built.

Now I was here to report his betrayal.

My father's car was already parked in the circular drive. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. This wasn't just about Daniel or Julia anymore—this was about the future of our pack.

Alpha Reynolds himself opened the door, his broad frame filling the entryway. His smile seemed forced, his eyes watchful.

"Eric," he greeted me, clasping my shoulder with a grip that was just slightly too tight. "Come in. Your father's already here."

I followed him through the marble foyer into his private study—a room I'd only been in a handful of times, always with Nathan at my side. Heavy leather furniture, bookshelves lined with legal volumes, and hunting trophies created an atmosphere of old-world authority.

My father stood by the window, his posture rigid. He nodded slightly when I entered, a silent confirmation that we were proceeding as planned.

"Can I offer you something to drink?" Alpha Reynolds asked, his tone pleasant but strained.

"No, thank you," my father answered for both of us. "This isn't a social call, Charles."

Alpha Reynolds' smile faded as he settled behind his massive oak desk. "I gathered as much. It's not often my Beta requests an urgent private meeting without explanation." He leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "So what's this about?"

My father and I exchanged glances. We'd agreed he would lead this conversation—he had the authority as Beta, and frankly, I didn't trust myself to remain calm.

"Charles," my father began formally, "as Beta of the Star Shadow pack, I'm officially reporting a serious violation of pack law committed by your son."

Alpha Reynolds' expression hardened. "What are you talking about?"

"Nathan attacked Daniel Wright three days ago. The attack was unprovoked and nearly fatal."

"That's impossible," Alpha Reynolds scoffed. "There must be some misunderstanding."

I couldn't hold back anymore. Heat rushed to my face as my hands curled into fists. "There's no misunderstanding." My voice rose sharply, echoing against the study walls. "I saw it with my own eyes!"

Both men turned to me, my father with warning in his eyes, Alpha Reynolds with disbelief.

"I found Nathan in wolf form, standing over Daniel's body," I continued, my breathing becoming erratic as the bloody images flashed before my eyes. "There was blood everywhere. Daniel's chest was torn open. His ribs were exposed. He couldn't breathe." I took a step forward, my wolf pushing dangerously close to the surface, making my eyes flash. "If I'd been five minutes later, he would have died."

Alpha Reynolds paled slightly but recovered quickly. "Nathan would never—"

"He admitted it," I interrupted, nearly slamming my phone onto his desk as I pulled it out. "And I recorded it."

I pressed play, and Nathan's voice filled the room: *"He was in a non-safe zone. He knows the rules."*

My recorded voice responded: *"Bullshit. He had visitor markings. You know that."*

Nathan again: *"He shouldn't have been running alone in our territory."*

*"You nearly killed him!"*

*"He shouldn't have touched what's mine."*

I stopped the recording, watching Alpha Reynolds' face transform from disbelief to shock.