From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 78

Matthew's POV

The moment my foot connected with the door, it splintered open with a satisfying crack. The scene before me ignited something primal in my blood. Nathan stood half-transformed, his elongated claws pressed against Julia's pale throat, her clothing torn, eyes wide with terror—a red haze descended over my vision.

"**GET AWAY FROM HER!**" My Alpha command thundered through the room, making the walls vibrate with its force.

I lunged forward in one fluid motion, my fingers clamping around Nathan's neck like a steel vise. With strength fueled by pure rage, I ripped him off Julia and hurled him across the room. He crashed into the opposite wall with a satisfying thud, slumping to the floor with a pained grunt.

Immediately I dropped to my knees beside Julia, my hands hovering over her neck as I examined the angry red marks where his claws had pressed. Thank the Moon Goddess, the skin wasn't broken. No marking. I'd arrived in time.

After Jason had left my office earlier, Julia's warning had haunted me relentlessly. *Nathan is threatening me. This isn't what it seems.* Her words played on repeat in my mind, colliding with my responsibilities as Alpha. I'd paced my office for nearly an hour, torn between respecting what appeared to be a reconciliation between fated mates and the gut-wrenching feeling that something was terribly wrong.

"What if I'm overstepping?" I'd asked Hati, who only growled in response, urging me toward her door.

Eventually, I'd made my decision—I would simply check on her, just once. If everything seemed fine, I'd leave without disturbing them. If Nathan truly was her fated mate, I had no right to interfere with their evening. But something in her eyes when Jason had interrupted us... I couldn't ignore it.

I was still about fifty feet from her quarters when I heard it—Julia's desperate scream for help, followed by a sound that could only be tearing fabric. My body had reacted before my mind could process, my legs carrying me at supernatural speed toward her door, my shoulder already bracing for impact as I prepared to break it down.

"You're safe now," I said softly, my voice a stark contrast to my thunderous roar moments before. "He didn't mark you."

Hati growled in my mind: *Protect her. Cover her. She is our responsibility.*

I quickly shrugged off my shirt, carefully draping it over Julia's shoulders to cover her torn clothing. She trembled beneath my touch, her eyes still wide with shock. When her gaze shifted past me, I turned to see Nathan rising to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, a twisted smile forming on his face.

"Stay away from her!" I snarled, positioning myself protectively in front of Julia.

Nathan sneered, "She's my fated mate, Collins. You have no right to interfere."

I felt the change beginning within me, my anger triggering the transformation. My bones began to rearrange, muscles stretching painfully, fur pushing beneath my skin. I glanced back at Julia with what I hoped was a reassuring look, then turned to face Nathan, surrendering control to my wolf.

The pain of transformation was familiar, almost welcome in its intensity. Within moments, my massive black wolf stood in the center of the small room, golden eyes locked on my prey. Nathan, seeing my choice, quickly shifted as well. His wolf was deep gray, slightly smaller than mine, but his eyes held the same vicious intent.

My wolf lunged forward, colliding with Nathan's form. The hallway suddenly felt narrow and crowded as we grappled, teeth snapping, claws tearing. Nathan's wolf was cunning and fast, but I had the advantage of strength and experience. I clamped my jaws around his hind leg, flinging him against the wall. Nathan struggled to his feet, but I was already upon him, pinning him down, my teeth hovering dangerously over his throat.

At that moment, several warriors rushed into the hallway, freezing in shock at the scene before them. I backed away from Nathan, shifting quickly back to human form. Though bare-chested, I could feel my eyes still glowing with golden light.

"Alpha, what happened?" Jason asked, confusion evident in his voice.

I took a deep breath, my voice low and authoritative: "Nathan has been deceiving us all. He never took the full dose of wolfsbane, never truly repented. He just tried to forcibly mark Julia." I pointed to Nathan, still in wolf form, "Lock him up, highest security. Ship him back to Star Shadow first thing tomorrow morning."

The warriors moved immediately, securing Nathan with silver chains. I turned to Jason, my gaze hard: "Your judgment was wrong. But now isn't the time to assign blame—just make sure he can't get near Julia again."

Jason nodded shamefacedly and joined the warriors escorting Nathan away.

Once Nathan was removed, I returned to Julia's room. She sat on the couch, clutching my shirt tightly around her, still shaking slightly. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with terror and unshed tears.

I approached her slowly, not wanting to frighten her further. "Julia," I said gently, "Nathan is secured. He can't hurt you anymore."

Something broke inside her at those words. Julia suddenly launched herself forward, collapsing against my chest, releasing deep, wracking sobs. I carefully wrapped my arms around her, one hand soothingly stroking her back, the other protectively cradling her head.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, "I should have believed you. Earlier, when Jason interrupted us... I should have come to find you immediately."

Her tears soaked my skin, but I didn't mind. All I wanted was to protect her, to erase the fear she had experienced. Hati whimpered in my mind, longing to comfort her more deeply.

As time passed, Julia's crying gradually subsided. She lifted her head, her eyes red-rimmed, tear tracks staining her face, yet still beautiful. I felt a powerful urge to bend down and kiss away the tears on her face, to tell her how complicated and profound my feelings for her had become.

But I restrained myself. She had just experienced trauma and needed no additional emotional complications. I gently released her and stood up.

"You need rest," I said softly, "I'll arrange for someone to watch your door from outside. If you need anything at all, just say the word."

I turned to leave but felt a tug on my pant leg. Looking back, I saw Julia gazing up at me, her eyes pleading.

"Please don't go," she said quietly, her voice hoarse from crying. "I... I don't want to be alone."

Looking at her vulnerable expression, my heart softened. I nodded slowly, sitting down on the couch beside her.

"I'm not going anywhere," I promised. "As long as you need me, I'll be right here."