From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 93

Julia's POV

The tension completely melted away as Matthew's expression shifted to that familiar playful smirk I was growing too fond of. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"You know what? There might be some perks to this whole secret relationship thing," he mused, eyes glinting mischievously. "It's actually kind of exciting, isn't it? Like we're doing something we shouldn't be."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling the mood lighten between us.

"Just imagine," he continued, glancing around the empty classroom, "what if we decided to break a few rules right here? No one would ever know."

"Matthew!" I scolded, giving his arm a light smack, trying to look scandalized even as heat crept up my neck. "We're in a classroom."

"Exactly," he grinned, entirely unrepentant.

I rolled my eyes dramatically, but couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips. The truth was, the thought sent a thrill through me that Kaia absolutely approved of. There was something undeniably exciting about this forbidden quality to our relationship, even if I'd never admit it aloud. Matthew closed the distance between us and planted a quick kiss on my cheek.

"The door's still open!" I hissed, my heart racing as I glanced nervously toward the hallway.

"There's no one out there," he said calmly, though his eyes still scanned the doorway. "I checked."

My pulse gradually slowed. "You're going to get us both in trouble."

"Worth it." His smile was infuriatingly confident. "Do you have any more classes this afternoon?"

"No, but I need to go to the library. I should review for midterms." I watched his face carefully, secretly hoping he might ask me to spend time with him instead. Truth was, I had most of the material down already. My grades were solid, and one afternoon of missed studying wouldn't hurt.

But Matthew just nodded, and I felt an unexpected pang of disappointment. I quickly masked it, switching to a question that had been burning in my mind.

"So... what made you suddenly decide to become a professor?"

His answer came without hesitation. "You remember I said I wanted to see you every day? This was the most efficient solution."

He shrugged as if rearranging his entire life was nothing more than a minor adjustment. "I called the dean directly, offered to teach a specialized course. She was practically falling over herself to have someone with my 'extensive experience' join the faculty, even mid-semester."

The directness caught me off-guard. "You reorganized your entire schedule just to see me? What about your Alpha duties? The pack needs you."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to that confident tone that made my knees weak. "I'm an Alpha, Julia. When I want something, I make it happen. The pack will survive a few hours without me physically present. Besides," his lips curved into a self-satisfied smile, "seeing the look on your face when I walked in was worth every call and favor I pulled to make this happen."

"This class only meets twice a week for a total of four hours," he said, leaning against the desk. "It doesn't interfere much with pack business. Besides, James can help pick up some slack."

"James? Your Beta?"

"The very same." Matthew's lips quirked up. "He used to pile his work on me when I was struggling with Mate's Grief. Said keeping me busy would help. Now it's his turn to return the favor."

I couldn't help smiling at that. "But you said you wanted to see me every day. Twice a week doesn't sound like every day to me."

His gaze intensified, something hungry flickering in his eyes. "Is twice a week not enough for you, Miss White?"

Heat rushed to my face, spreading down my neck like wildfire. I fidgeted with my notebook, desperate for something to do with my hands. "You're the one who said 'every day.' I'm just pointing out the inconsistency!" My voice came out higher than intended.

Matthew's eyes darkened as he reached for my hand. I could have pulled away—should have pulled away—but I remained frozen as his thumb began tracing slow, deliberate circles on my palm. Each movement sent tingles up my arm. His touch was gentle yet possessive, and the woodsy scent of his cologne intensified as he leaned closer.

"The university gave me faculty housing," he murmured, his voice dropping to a rumble that seemed to vibrate through my chest. "I can stay on campus." The way he emphasized "stay" carried unmistakable implications.

"You're moving into teacher housing?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I swallowed hard, trying to focus on practical matters instead of how close his lips were to mine. "And then driving back to the pack every day? That seems like a lot of trouble."

His gaze locked with mine, unblinking and intense. "It's worth it," he said simply. Something primal flashed behind his eyes, making my stomach flutter and my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin. For a terrifying, exhilarating moment, I thought he might kiss me again.

The intensity was too much. I pulled my hand away, crossing my arms protectively over my chest as I took a step backward. "Well, I have my own dorm room, and I'm certainly not moving in with you!" The words came out in a defensive rush.

He chuckled softly, the sound rich and knowing. He closed the distance I'd created, towering over me. His fingers lingered against my cheek. "I wasn't asking you to. Unless..." He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smile that was pure temptation. "That's what you're hoping for?"

My mouth went dry. Images of waking up next to him flashed through my mind before I could stop them. "You're impossible," I muttered, punching his arm lightly, mortified at how transparent my feelings must be to him. Kaia practically purred at his attention, completely betraying any dignity I was trying to maintain.

He caught my wrist and brought my hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss against my knuckles before releasing me. "Go to the library. Study for your midterms. I'll be on campus for the rest of the day and head back to the pack tomorrow morning." He hesitated. "Would you like to have dinner together tonight?"

I bit my lip, considering my options. Then, before I could overthink it, I heard myself say, "Why don't we go see your new apartment first? You could... give me a makeup lesson for what I missed today."

Matthew's eyes darkened, and the air between us suddenly felt charged. "A private lesson, Miss White?"

"For academic purposes only, Professor Collins," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the hammering of my heart.

"Of course," he agreed, but the smile playing at his lips suggested he understood exactly what kind of lesson I was interested in. "Academic purposes only."