From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 79

Julia's POV

I stood there, Matthew's shirt hanging loosely around my shoulders, feeling both safe and confused. Nathan had been taken away, but his threats still echoed in my mind. Matthew stood just a few feet away, and I finally found the courage to ask the question that had been bothering me.

"Why did you come?" I asked softly, my voice shakier than I'd intended.

Matthew turned to face me, his eyes deep and intense in the dim light. "Because I believed you," he answered simply. "Even though you couldn't fully explain, I knew something was wrong."

A warm feeling spread through me. After all the doubt and mistrust, the sensation of being believed was so foreign yet precious. "He was threatening me through the mindlink," I explained, sinking down onto the edge of the bed. "If I didn't go along with his show, he'd hurt anyone who got close to me. He was planning how to overthrow his father... he needed to mark me to strengthen his power."

I couldn't help but shiver at the memory of that fear. Matthew quickly sat beside me, his presence bringing a rare sense of security.

"I wish I had realized sooner," Matthew's voice was heavy with regret. "The flowers, the jewelry... I should have seen through it all."

"How could you have known? He fooled everyone." I reached out, lightly touching his arm. "What matters is that you believed me in the end. You saved me."

We sat like that for a long time, exchanging stories and concerns. The dim light of the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the room, creating an intimate atmosphere that made it easier to share things I wouldn't normally talk about.

"Tell me about Rachel," I said softly, drawing my knees to my chest. "If you don't mind."

Matthew's eyes grew distant, but not in the pained way I'd seen before. This time, there was a gentle nostalgia.

"We met in biology class," he began, his voice low and warm. "She dropped her textbook, and all her notes scattered everywhere. I helped her pick them up." A small smile touched his lips. "Her handwriting was terrible—doctor's handwriting, she called it."

"Was she planning to be a doctor?" I asked.

Matthew nodded. "Pediatrician. She loved kids." He paused, swallowing hard. "She had this laugh... it wasn't delicate or quiet. It was big and loud and completely contagious. When Rachel laughed, the whole room laughed with her."

I could see her in my mind—a vibrant, joyful woman who'd captured Matthew's heart completely.

"How did you know she was your mate?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

"The moment I turned eighteen and shifted for the first time," he said. "I already loved her, but suddenly there was this... connection. Like finding a piece of yourself you never knew was missing." His fingers absently traced patterns on the blanket between us. "When she died, it felt like that piece was ripped away."

The raw honesty in his voice made my chest ache. "I'm so sorry, Matthew."

He looked up, his eyes meeting mine. I could see the question forming—about my past, about what happened—but something in my expression must have made him reconsider. Instead, his face softened with understanding.

"Tell me about college," he said gently. "What was it like, being away from pack life?"

The tension in my shoulders eased at his thoughtfulness. Matthew could have pressed for details about my painful past, but he'd deliberately steered us toward safer ground. It was a small kindness that meant more than he could know.

"It was... liberating," I admitted, a genuine smile crossing my face. "For the first time, I wasn't defined by pack politics or... expectations. I could just be Julia."

"And who was Julia?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, his interest warming me from within.

"Someone who stayed up too late studying, drank too much coffee, and actually enjoyed anatomy labs," I laughed softly. "I made friends."

Matthew smiled. "Sounds like you found yourself there."

"I did," I nodded. "Nursing gave me purpose. And for once, my worth wasn't tied to... to someone else's approval." I swallowed hard, not wanting to drift back to painful memories. "That's when I met Daniel."

Matthew's eyes held mine with an intensity that made my heart flutter. "He was lucky to have found you," he said quietly.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks and looked away. "He helped me see myself differently. As someone valuable, just as I am."

Matthew shifted slightly closer, his shoulder now just inches from mine. "And then Nathan attacked him."

I nodded, feeling the familiar surge of guilt. "Because of me. Because I dared to be happy without him."

"No," Matthew's voice was gentle but firm. "Because Nathan is possessive and cruel. That was never your fault."

The conviction in his words wrapped around me like a warm blanket. We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, and I realized how close we'd moved toward each other.

"It's strange," I said finally. "A week ago, I would never have imagined sitting here with you like this."

Matthew's lips curved into a small smile. "A week ago, I was still trying very hard to avoid you."

"And now?"

His eyes met mine, something warm and unexplored flickering between us. "Now I'm wondering why I ever tried."

The air seemed to thicken around us. I could feel my pulse quicken as Matthew's gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. For a moment, I thought he might lean in, close the distance between us. Part of me—a growing part—wanted him to.

Instead, he cleared his throat softly and leaned back slightly, breaking the tension. "It's getting late," he said, his voice a little rougher than before. He glanced at the damaged door frame, the splintered wood a reminder of how he'd broken through to save me. "The door's broken. I'll stand guard right outside tonight."

"Please don't go," I grabbed his wrist, my voice almost pleading. "I don't want to be alone."

Matthew hesitated, then nodded. "I can make a bed on the floor."

He fashioned a makeshift bed using spare blankets and pillows on the floor beside my bed, then walked back to check the door. He adjusted the chair wedged under the broken doorknob, testing its stability with a gentle push. "It's not the most secure setup," he admitted, turning back to face me, "but I'm here. You don't need to be afraid."

His words, simple and direct, carried a weight of promise that made my chest tighten. I changed into my pajamas and slipped under the covers, feeling an odd sense of calm and safety. There was nothing but the sound of our steady breathing in the room.

Lying in the darkness, I thought about everything that had happened tonight. Matthew had saved me, not just from Nathan but from isolation and fear. My hand moved unconsciously toward the edge of the bed, then dropped down, pretending it was unintentional. I hoped he might take it, but feared asking for that contact.

Minutes passed, and nothing happened. Perhaps he was asleep. Perhaps I was overthinking things. Just as I was about to withdraw my hand, I felt warm fingers gently capture mine. My heart seemed to skip a beat, then raced ahead.

"Won't this cause gossip in the pack?" I whispered. "You staying here overnight."

Matthew's laugh was low and warm. "Honestly, they're probably hoping I find a mate sooner rather than later. Most don't even know I once had a fated mate—they're just worried about their Alpha. I'm afraid they'll be disappointed when we emerge tomorrow without any marking on our necks."

I couldn't help but laugh, then suddenly realized the implication in his words, my cheeks burning. I instinctively tried to pull my hand away, but Matthew held firm.

"I wasn't suggesting anything," he said hurriedly, a note of panic in his voice. "I was just... joking."

"I know," I answered softly, relaxing my grip.

After a comfortable silence, Matthew spoke again, his voice gentler. "It feels nice, holding your hand."

I smiled, though he couldn't see it in the dark. "Yes, it does."