From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 65

Nathan's POV

I curled my body tighter in the shallow cave, trying to escape the biting cold that had settled into my bones. Three days had passed since I'd manipulated my way out of the detention facility, three days of running, hiding, and sleeping in whatever shelter I could find. My once-pristine clothes were now torn and mud-stained, my carefully styled hair matted with dirt and leaves.

I shifted, wincing as a sharp rock dug into my hip. The cave was barely deep enough to conceal me, but it had kept me hidden from the search parties that had combed through these woods yesterday.

A bitter smile crossed my face as I remembered how easy it had been to escape. Trent, the night guard, had been so susceptible to my influence. I had felt the power growing inside me for months—the Alpha blood strengthening as my inheritance drew nearer.

My thoughts circled relentlessly back to my father's betrayal. The image of the man using an Alpha command on me—forcing me to my knees, compelling me to confess—made rage bubble up inside me like acid.

*They chose Eric over me. My own father chose that traitor over his son.*

Inside my mind, Shadow paced restlessly, growling and snapping. The creature had grown more vocal with each passing day, pushing me toward action rather than hiding. Its presence felt different now—darker, more demanding.

*Kill. Hunt. Take back what's ours.*

"Soon," I promised, rubbing my temples. My thoughts seemed to fracture and reform in strange patterns. Sometimes I'd find myself staring into space, minutes or hours lost to rage-filled fantasies. I knew this wasn't normal, but I blamed the anger, blamed Eric's betrayal, blamed my father's public humiliation of me.

It couldn't be anything else. I was just angry. Justifiably angry.

By midday, I had crawled to the small creek near my hiding place. My throat burned with thirst, and despite the risk of being seen, I needed water. Leaning over the surface, I cupped my hands to drink, then froze as I caught sight of my reflection.

For a moment, I thought I was looking at my father. The same stern mouth, the same cold eyes. I slapped at the water, destroying the image.

"I am nothing like you," I hissed.

But the resemblance had triggered memories of my Alpha training—years of preparation for the role that should have been my birthright. I remembered the hunting exercises, tracking prey for miles without rest. The combat training, where I'd excelled beyond every other young wolf in the pack. The leadership seminars, where I'd learned to command with my voice, to project authority.

I closed my eyes, imagining myself sitting behind my father's mahogany desk in the Alpha's office. I could see myself clearly—issuing orders, reshaping the pack into a stronger, more disciplined unit. No more of my father's lenient policies. No more tolerance for disrespect.

My first act would be dealing with Eric. The thought of my former friend made my lip curl in disgust. Perhaps I would hurt Lisa—nothing permanent, just enough to make Eric understand the cost of betrayal.

Shadow growled in approval, pushing violent images into my mind.

But the pleasant fantasy faded as reality intruded. Even with all my training, I wasn't strong enough yet to challenge my father directly. The older Alpha still commanded more respect, had more experience. I would need every advantage to overcome him.

*We need more power*, Shadow whispered. *We need what was always meant to be ours.*

"The mate bond," I said aloud, understanding my wolf's meaning instantly. The connection between fated mates was said to amplify an Alpha's abilities significantly. And I had rejected mine.

I struggled with the contradiction in my mind. I still believed Julia was beneath me, unworthy of being my mate. But now I needed the power that came with claiming her. I needed the strength of the mate bond to reclaim my position.

"It's not a compromise," I told myself, pacing beside the stream. "It's strategy. Using the tools the Goddess gave me."

I imagined how it would feel—marking Julia, claiming her, feeling the rush of power as the bond formed between us. My body tightened at the thought, a mix of anticipation and disgust churning within me. Once I had that power, I would be unstoppable. My father would fall before me, and the pack would be mine to command.

---

It took me two more days to reach the edge of the university campus. I kept to the shadows, my once-clean-shaven face now covered in a rough beard that helped disguise me. I approached a maintenance worker near the administrative building, affecting a casual air.

"Hey, I'm trying to find a nursing student," I said, keeping my voice friendly. "Julia White? We were supposed to meet up for a project, but my phone died."

The older man squinted at me suspiciously. "Don't know any students by name. Office might know."

I followed the man's gesture toward a small building labeled "Campus Information." Inside, a middle-aged woman looked up from her computer.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

I leaned on the counter. "I'm looking for Julia White, nursing program. Family emergency, need to reach her right away."

The woman frowned slightly but turned to her computer. "White, White... ah, Julia. Nursing." She clicked through several screens. "Says here she's on an off-campus assignment. Research project at Spring Valley Medical Center."

I forced my face to remain neutral despite the surge of excitement. "Spring Valley? Where's that exactly?"

"About half an hour north, near the mountains. Beautiful area." The woman tilted her head. "You family?"

"Cousin," I lied smoothly. "Thanks for your help."

Spring Valley. I knew of it—another pack territory, smaller than Star Shadow but reportedly well-organized. It would be a challenge to infiltrate, but not impossible.

I traveled north, sticking to forests and avoiding main roads. I hunted when I could, stealing food and supplies from isolated cabins when necessary.

Shadow grew stronger each day, pushing me toward a more primal state. Human thoughts became harder to maintain for long periods, instinct taking over more frequently. I found myself responding to sounds and movements like a predator, my wolf barely contained beneath my skin.

*Closer to our true nature*, Shadow approved. *Stronger this way.*

I crouched in the dense forest that bordered Spring Valley pack territory. I had spent hours observing their patrol patterns, watching as pairs of warriors made regular circuits of the boundaries.

This pack was more cautious than Star Shadow, I noted. Their patrols were more frequent, their warriors more alert. Breaking through their defenses would not be easy.

A patrol passed less than twenty feet from my hiding place—two men moving with the confident grace of experienced fighters. I held my breath, willing myself to become part of the forest floor. One of the men paused, head lifting as he scented the air.

"Something wrong?" his partner asked.

"Thought I caught something... strange," the first man replied, still scanning the trees. "Almost like rogue wolf, but not quite."

I remained perfectly still, knowing that the slightest movement would give me away.

"Want to check it out?" the second man offered.

After a long moment, the first shook his head. "It's gone now. Probably just a passing deer with a weird scent. Let's finish the route."

Once they had moved on, I slipped deeper into the forest, frustration burning in my chest. I had hoped to find a way into the territory today, to locate Julia and formulate a plan to get her alone. Instead, I'd nearly been discovered.

"Dammit!" I growled, slamming my fist into a nearby tree trunk. The bark split under the impact, pain shooting up my arm. The physical sensation barely registered through my rage.

I would need a better plan. Direct infiltration was too risky with patrols this vigilant. Perhaps there was a pattern to their movements, a gap I could exploit.