From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 91

Julia's POV

Walking across campus with the March sun warming my face, I couldn't keep the smile off my lips. Mom had called this morning with news that made my day: Nathan Reynolds was officially back in custody. After everything he'd put me through, knowing he was locked up again brought me a peace I hadn't felt in weeks.

"And there's no chance he'll get out this time?" I'd asked her.

"Alpha Reynolds and your father made sure of it," she'd reassured me. "They've implemented extra security measures. He's not going anywhere."

The mention of Matthew sent a flutter through my chest. Things between us had shifted into something real—something substantial. Our connection was growing stronger with each interaction, each mindlink conversation when we couldn't be physically together.

And that was the only downside. Between his Alpha responsibilities and my school schedule, our time together was limited to brief meetings and occasional shared meals. I missed him more than I wanted to admit.

My phone buzzed with a text from Matthew: *Thinking of you. Pack meeting just ended. Wish you were here instead of these stuffy elders.*

I smiled, typing back: *Same. Studying anatomy right now. Much rather study yours...*

His response came quickly: *Don't start something we can't finish. I still haven't recovered from last night.*

Heat rushed to my cheeks. For werewolves, this separation was particularly difficult. Most mated pairs spent almost every moment together, especially in the early stages of bonding. The physical connection wasn't just desired—it was practically a biological necessity. Wolves mated frequently, strengthening their bond through constant physical contact and intimacy.

"We're being incredibly restrained," Matthew had explained when I'd mentioned this. "Most new mates would be locked away for weeks, barely leaving their bedroom. The pack understands, but they also know I have responsibilities I can't neglect."

I sighed, running my finger over his last message. Our stolen moments would have to be enough for now.

My phone buzzed in my pocket as I approached the nursing building. A notification from the university portal: "New Elective Course Added: Advanced Pathophysiology for Clinical Practice – Nursing Department."

Interesting. Most courses were set before the semester began. Adding one halfway through was unusual.

I found Amber at our usual table in the student lounge, her curly hair piled on top of her head as she stared intensely at her laptop. I dropped into the chair across from her.

"Hey," I said, pulling out my notebook. "Did you see that new elective they just added?"

Amber looked up, dark circles under her eyes betraying her late-night study session. "Yeah, weird timing, right? We're already almost halfway through the semester."

"Super weird," I agreed, opening my laptop to check the details. "There's barely any information about it. No professor listed, just the course name and a brief description."

"Are you thinking of taking it?" Amber asked, sipping her coffee.

I scrolled through the sparse information. "I think I might. If I can get a few extra credits now, I can graduate early."

Amber rolled her eyes dramatically. "Of course you would. Such a bookworm." She grinned to soften her words. "I'm sticking with my original schedule. Three clinicals is enough to handle without adding a random course that appeared out of nowhere."

"Fair enough," I laughed. Most students would make the same choice. Adding courses mid-semester was asking for stress.

But something about this opportunity felt right. After everything with Nathan and the pack drama, focusing on my education gave me a sense of control. Plus, graduating early meant I could start my career—and maybe figure out how to balance that with whatever was developing between Matthew and me.

I clicked the registration button. A confirmation email appeared instantly, showing the class scheduled for 2:00 PM—today. That was fast.

"Looks like my first class is this afternoon," I told Amber, slightly surprised at the quick turnaround.

"Good luck," she said, returning to her work. "Let me know if it's worth adding."

I spent the next few hours reviewing the detailed course description that had appeared in the registration confirmation. The syllabus outlined an advanced study of disease mechanisms highly relevant to critical care—exactly the direction I wanted to take my nursing career.

At 1:50 PM, I walked into the assigned classroom, surprised to find only four other students scattered among the desks. A petite girl with glasses glanced up as I entered.

"Is this Advanced Pathophysiology?" I asked, double-checking the room number.

She nodded. "Guess not many people wanted to add a course mid-semester."

I took a seat near the front, arranging my notebook and pens. The clock ticked past 2:00 PM, and still no professor. Just as I began to wonder if this had been a mistake, the door opened.

My heart stuttered in my chest. I blinked, certain I was seeing things.

Matthew walked confidently into the classroom, dressed in a crisp button-down shirt and slacks, carrying a leather messenger bag. His dark hair was neatly combed, his jawline freshly shaved—looking every bit the professor I'd never known he was.

Our eyes met, and I saw the barest hint of a smile touch his lips before he addressed the class professionally.

"Good afternoon. I'm Matthew Collins, and I'll be teaching Advanced Pathophysiology. I apologize for the late addition to the course catalog, but when the opportunity arose to offer this elective, the department thought some students might benefit."

I sat frozen in my seat, my mind racing. Matthew was now my professor? How had this never come up in our conversations?

"Matthew?" The name escaped my lips in a shocked whisper before I could stop myself.

His eyes flicked to mine briefly before returning to address the class with absolute professionalism. Suddenly, an embarrassing memory flashed through my mind—me calling him "Professor Collins" in my bedroom during a particularly intense moment. My face burned hot as the realization hit that fantasy had somehow become reality.

Yet Matthew maintained a completely straight face, as if he didn't remember our private joke at all. He reached into his messenger bag and pulled out a stack of textbooks.

"I've brought copies of our course materials since this was added on short notice," he explained, distributing them to each student. "For today's class, since you haven't had time to prepare, we'll start by watching some case studies to give you a foundation for what we'll be covering."

He turned toward the computer at the podium, frowning slightly at the equipment. After a moment of hesitation, he consulted his class roster.

"Julia White?" he called, his voice perfectly professional. "I see you had the highest GPA in the nursing program last semester. Perhaps you could assist me with this multimedia setup?"

Still in shock, I rose from my seat and approached the podium on unsteady legs. Matthew handed me a USB drive, his fingers brushing mine for a fraction too long.

"The case files should be clearly labeled," he said, his voice lowered for my ears only.

While I plugged in the drive and navigated through the files, Matthew addressed the class. "Could someone please draw the blinds? And I'll dim the lights for better viewing."

The room darkened as I found the video file and clicked play. Just as I was about to return to my seat, I felt Matthew's hand gently catch my wrist, keeping me at the podium beside him.

As I stood frozen beside him, Matthew's voice suddenly filled my mind through our newly established mindlink—the intimate connection we'd formed just last night during a rare evening together.

*Don't be in such a hurry to leave, Julia. I still have so much to teach you.*