From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 66

Matthew's POV

The northern perimeter of our territory stretched before me, a dense wall of pines and Douglas firs leading toward the jagged rim of Crater Lake National Park. James walked silently beside me, his face grim as we approached the area where the patrol had detected signs of intrusion.

I inhaled deeply, allowing my enhanced senses to filter through the forest's natural scents. There—beneath it all—was what we'd come for: the unmistakable scent of an unfamiliar wolf.

"You smell it?" James asked.

I nodded, dropping to a crouch. "It's faint. Probably at least twelve hours old." I pressed my fingertips to a patch of disturbed earth. "But definitely a werewolf, not just a natural wolf. There's something... odd about the scent."

James gestured toward the east, where his security team members had spread out. "We've got six men combing a mile-wide radius. If there's any fresh sign, they'll find it."

Rising, I approached a nearby pine where deep gouges scarred the trunk, far higher than a natural wolf could reach. I ran my fingers along the claw marks, noting their unusual depth and erratic pattern.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the faint psychic impressions left in the environment. What I felt disturbed me: hunger, anger, and a strange fractured quality that suggested instability.

"Matthew!" James called from several yards away. "Over here."

He stood beside a small clearing where the forest floor had been deliberately cleared, creating an observation post with a direct view down the slope toward our community center.

"He was watching us," I said quietly, anger building in my chest.

The security team members began returning, each reporting similar findings—disturbed ground, scratch marks on trees, but no actual sighting of the intruder. After they'd all reported, I nodded to James.

"Let's head back to the clearing. I want your full assessment."

Once we'd gathered, James provided his analysis.

"Whoever this was, they're experienced," he began professionally. "The scent trails show they knew enough to stay downwind of our patrol routes. They established multiple observation points—all with good visibility of key pack locations."

He pointed to a rough map he'd sketched. "The claw marks on the trees are interesting. They're abnormally high—suggesting our visitor is either unusually tall or..." he hesitated.

"Or what?" I prompted.

"Or unusually strong," James concluded. "Based on these traces, I'd guess this rogue wolf is likely a Beta or perhaps a future Alpha. The energy signature in the marks is powerful but erratic. The depth varies wildly, suggesting someone who hasn't fully mastered their strength."

I considered this, recalling discussions at our recent regional Alpha meeting. "Silver Creek mentioned they'd had trouble with a young wolf who'd left after a leadership dispute. And Riverview reported a Beta who challenged their Alpha and lost."

"This doesn't feel like either case," James said, shaking his head. "The scent doesn't match the descriptions shared in the regional alerts. And I don't think this is a current Alpha—a mature Alpha wouldn't leave such obvious traces."

I paced the clearing, weighing our options. The timing of this intrusion couldn't be worse. We had the medical research project underway, students staying with us, and Olivia due to give birth any day.

An image of Julia flashed in my mind—her hurt expression as she'd passed me earlier.

*Focus,* Hati reminded me. *The entire pack is our responsibility.*

He was right. Whatever my complicated feelings about Julia, I couldn't allow them to distract me.

"We'll need to stay here for a few days," I announced. "I want round-the-clock patrols, doubled at night. Set up the motion sensors, and I want the camera feeds monitored continuously."

I turned to James. "Mindlink Edward back at the center. Tell him to increase internal security without causing panic. Special attention to the medical wing and guest quarters."

The men nodded, immediately moving to carry out my orders. As they dispersed, I pulled James aside.

"You should go back," I told him quietly. "Olivia could go into labor any day now."

James shook his head firmly. "My place is here, Matthew."

"I don't want you to miss the birth of your child," I insisted, memories of my own loss making my voice rough. "There are some moments you never get back, James. I know that better than most."

A flash of pain crossed his face—he knew I was thinking of Rachel.

"It's precisely because Olivia is so close that I need to be here," he responded. "What better protection can I provide for my mate and unborn child than securing our borders? Through our matebond, I'll know the instant she needs me."

"Besides," he added with a slight smile, "you might be Alpha, but you're a terrible tracker. Someone needs to make sure you don't mistake a raccoon for a rogue wolf."

The tension broke as I laughed, punching his shoulder lightly. "Asshole."

---

The next three days settled into a rhythm of watchful waiting. Our camp was minimal—just enough for shelter and basic needs. I established a rotation system, ensuring everyone got adequate rest while maintaining constant vigilance.

Each night, I shifted to my wolf form, leading patrols through the most dangerous sections of our border. The men were initially surprised by my direct involvement, but I could sense their approval.

In wolf form, my senses were even more acute, but night after night, I found no fresh sign of our mysterious visitor. The forest had returned to its normal patterns.

By the morning of the fourth day, I was beginning to think we'd overreacted. James and I stood by the remains of our small campfire, discussing our plans.

"The scent trail is completely cold now," he observed, pouring the last of our coffee. "No new markings, no disturbances in the patrol sensors."

I nodded. "Looks like our rogue wolf was just passing through."

"Should we head back today?"

"Let's break camp after lunch," I decided. "I want to make one more sweep first, just to be certain."

James nodded, contacting Olivia through their matebond to let her know we'd be returning. I caught myself wondering how it would feel to have that kind of connection again—the constant, reassuring presence of a mate. The thought brought a familiar ache, but it wasn't as devastating as it once had been.

shook off the thoughts in my mind, focusing on helping the men break down our camp. The mood was lighter, everyone relieved that the threat seemed to have passed.

A sound caught my attention—racing footsteps crashing through the underbrush with no attempt at stealth.

Every man tensed, hands moving to weapons. A moment later, Jason, one of our younger warriors, burst into the clearing. His face was flushed, eyes wide with fear, breath coming in gasps.

"Alpha!" he panted, struggling to speak. "The southwest boundary—multiple intrusion points!"

James was at my side instantly. "How many?"

Jason shook his head, still struggling for breath. "Not one rogue wolf," he managed. "A group. At least seven or eight of them."

I felt the blood drain from my face as the implications hit me. This wasn't a random passing rogue—it was a coordinated attack. And we'd been watching the wrong border.