From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 73

Julia's POV

I sat in Matthew's office, my face pale, hands clenched into fists so tight my knuckles had turned white. I stared at Matthew across his desk, unable to believe what I'd just heard.

"You're letting him in?" My voice came out as a whisper, too shocked to even raise my volume. "You're letting Nathan into Spring Valley?"

The very thought sent a wave of dizziness through me. Images flashed through my mind unbidden—Nathan's claws tearing into Daniel's flesh, blood spattering across the forest floor. The mocking tone of his voice in my head during our mindlink: *Did you really think you could hide from me forever?*

Matthew leaned forward, his expression calm but resolute. "I understand your concerns, Julia. But there are precautions in place."

"Precautions?" I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the hardwood floor. "This is Nathan we're talking about! He nearly killed Daniel. He attacked James. He brought rogues to your territory!" My voice rose with each statement, trembling with emotion. "What possible precaution could make that okay?"

"Wolfsbane tincture," Matthew replied simply.

I froze. "What?"

"He drank wolfsbane tincture in front of me and James. The entire vial."

I slowly sank back into my chair. Wolfsbane was one of the few substances that could temporarily weaken a werewolf. It was used in emergencies, to subdue violent shifters when necessary. The effects were brutal—nausea, weakness, and most importantly, a complete inability to shift for hours.

"That doesn't make sense," I whispered. "Why would he do that?"

"To prove his sincerity," Matthew explained. "The wolfsbane severely limits his strength and completely prevents shifting. He's essentially surrendered his wolf temporarily—it's as close as our kind can come to becoming human."

I moved to the window, staring out at the security team patrolling the grounds below. My mind raced, weighing possibilities.

*Nathan wouldn't willingly weaken himself. Not unless he had something to gain.*

But what could he possibly gain by making himself vulnerable? If he genuinely couldn't shift, couldn't access his wolf's strength, then he truly was at their mercy.

Part of me—the rational, logical nurse—understood that the wolfsbane created a genuine safeguard. But another part—the terrified girl who had endured Nathan's cruelty for a long time—couldn't accept that he would approach without an angle, without a plan.

"The security team thoroughly searched him," Matthew added, as if reading my thoughts. "No weapons. And this is the first time he's willingly come forward since he escaped detention. He could have remained hidden, continued launching attacks from the shadows."

I turned back to face him. "You can't possibly trust him."

"I don't," Matthew replied firmly. "But I do trust the wolfsbane. And I trust our security measures."

I wrapped my arms around myself. Unbidden, the memory of Matthew's confession days earlier flooded my mind—how he'd lost his mate Rachel, how the pain of that loss had nearly destroyed him. How some wolves never recovered from losing their mates.

*At least Nathan and I are both still alive,* I thought suddenly, then immediately felt ashamed for even considering it. After everything Nathan had done, how could I even contemplate giving him another chance?

"You'll have complete control of the situation," Matthew said, moving closer but maintaining a respectful distance. "Jason and Rick will be with you the entire time—two of our strongest warriors."

"Jason from security?" I recalled the friendly security team member who had helped me when I was drunk in the bar.

Matthew nodded. "And Rick is even more experienced. Neither of them will leave your side for a second." He paused. "You can end the meeting anytime you want. If anything makes you uncomfortable, you just say the word and it's over."

Matthew's eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn't quite read. "At least you have the opportunity to reunite with your fated mate. Some of us will never have that chance again."

The raw pain in his voice made my heart ache. I took an involuntary step forward, almost reaching out to comfort him, then stopped myself.

"Where is Nathan now?" I asked softly.

"Getting ready," Matthew replied, his voice returning to a more neutral tone. "He asked to charge his phone to call his parents. Requested a shower and clean clothes." A hint of sarcasm crept into Matthew's voice. "Suddenly acting like a perfect gentleman."

I gazed out the window at the moonlight filtering through the trees. The mate bond, the Moon Goddess's choice—all of it felt like both a blessing and a curse. I'd been hating Nathan for rejecting me, for making me feel worthless. But what if there was even the smallest chance he had changed?

"I'll hear what he has to say," I finally said. "But I'm not promising anything beyond that."

---

Jason and Rick flanked me as we walked toward the guest quarters. The night air was cool against my skin, helping to calm my racing heart. In the distance, I spotted Matthew standing beneath an oak tree, his eyes never leaving the building we were approaching.

When we entered the room, I nearly didn't recognize the man who stood before me. Nathan looked... different. His hair was clean and neatly combed, his face freshly shaved. He wore a simple button-down shirt and khaki pants that looked pressed and new.

The room had been arranged simply but comfortably—a small sitting area with two armchairs facing each other, a coffee table between them with a pitcher of water and glasses. Jason positioned himself by the door while Rick stood near the window, both alert but unobtrusive.

Nathan rose when I entered, giving a slight bow without approaching me. "Julia," he said, his voice soft and respectful. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."

I studied his face, noticing a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before his expression settled into one of sincere contrition.

"Please," Nathan gestured to one of the armchairs. "Would you like to sit down?"

I nodded stiffly, taking a seat while keeping my posture rigid and alert. Nathan sat across from me, maintaining a proper distance.

"I've rehearsed what I wanted to say a thousand times," Nathan began, his voice carefully modulated. "But now that you're here, I'm not sure where to start."

He took a deep breath. "I was young and stupid when the Moon Goddess chose you as my mate. I was afraid of commitment, afraid of what it meant to be tied to one person forever." His eyes met mine. "Out of fear and selfishness, I rejected you. And then, instead of owning my mistake, I made your life miserable."

I remained silent, watching him closely.

"What I did to Daniel was unforgivable," Nathan continued, his voice breaking slightly. "I was consumed with jealousy and rage when I saw him with you. My wolf took over, but that's no excuse."

He gestured to himself. "The wolfsbane I drank... it hurts. It feels like fire in my veins. But it's nothing compared to the pain I've caused you." His eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears. "I'm willing to endure any punishment, any pain, if it means a chance to make things right."

Nathan leaned forward slightly. "I'm not asking you to accept me right away. I'm only asking for a chance to prove I've changed—to court you properly, to show you the respect and care you've always deserved."

I listened carefully, noting the perfect construction of his words, the practiced pauses, the sincere expression. Yet something felt off. His words through our mindlink had been so different—filled with arrogance and threats. Could someone really change that completely?

I felt a strange ripple through our bond—something that didn't match the sincerity in his voice. Was it my imagination? My own reluctance to believe?

I thought about the independent life I'd built at university, the new purpose I'd found here at Spring Valley. I remembered Daniel's gentleness, how safe and valued he made me feel. I thought of Matthew's complexity, his pain, and his determination to protect me despite his own wounds.

"Thank you for your apology, Nathan," I finally said, my voice steady and controlled. "I appreciate your honesty. But I don't think we're right for each other. I hope we can both move forward and find happiness separately."

For a split second, something cold flickered across Nathan's face before his composed expression returned. He nodded with apparent acceptance. "I understand. I've hurt you too deeply."

Then, suddenly, his voice was in my head through our bond, cold and threatening:

*"The wolfsbane wears off in one minute. You don't want to see what I'll do to your two warrior friends if you don't cooperate."*