From Rejected Mate to Luna Chapter 99

Matthew's POV

I'd been looking forward to seeing Julia all day. After the last pack meeting ran longer than expected, I was more than ready to unwind and spend some quality time with her. The elevator ride up to my apartment at the university faculty housing seemed to crawl, my wolf getting impatient with every passing floor.

When I finally reached my door and turned the key in the lock, I wasn't prepared for what happened next. As soon as the door swung open, a blur of movement launched toward me. Julia threw herself into my arms with such enthusiasm that I barely had time to drop the bags I was carrying before catching her.

"Whoa there!" I laughed, securing my arms around her as she wrapped her legs around my waist. The weight of her in my arms felt right, perfect even. Her scent—vanilla with hints of antiseptic from the laboratory—enveloped me, instantly melting away the stress of the day.

Julia giggled against my neck, the sound light and musical. It was a side of her I was seeing more often lately, and it made my wolf rumble with satisfaction. We were good for her. I turned my head slightly, pressing my lips against the soft skin of her neck, breathing in her scent deeply.

She responded with a contented sigh that quickly turned into a soft moan. The sound sent a pulse of heat through my body, and I had to remind myself to take things slow.

"I thought you'd be at your own dorm tonight," I said, still holding her up effortlessly as I kicked the door closed behind us. The bags I'd dropped lay forgotten by the entrance.

She pulled back just enough to look at me, her eyes bright. "I am staying at the dorm tonight. My roommate was worried I'd been kidnapped or something because she didn't see me last night." She gave me a playful tap on the shoulder. "But I wanted to see you before I went back. Surprise!"

"So your roommate was worried about you?" I asked, taking a few steps into the apartment, still carrying her.

"Yeah, can you believe it? Turns out people actually do notice when I'm not around," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Something in her tone made me pause. "Why wouldn't they? You're the kind of person people naturally gravitate toward. Smart, beautiful, caring—of course you're missed when you're not around."

A blush spread across her cheeks, and she ducked her head slightly. "You're sweet, but that's not really true."

"I'm serious, Julia," I said, walking us over to the couch. I gently set her down, then took a seat beside her. "You're a total catch. I knew that from the moment I met you."

She reached up and pressed a finger against my lips. "I know you really believe that, and it's incredibly sweet. But the reality is... different." Her voice trailed off, and I caught the faint scent of salt in the air.

A protective instinct surged through me. I pulled her closer, settling her against my chest as I ran my fingers through her hair. The silky strands slipped between my fingers, and I felt her relax incrementally into my touch.

"Listen to me," I said softly. "If people haven't appreciated you, if they've treated you poorly, that's not a reflection on you. That's their failure."

I felt her body tense slightly against mine. "You don't understand. Back in Star Shadow, I was just... invisible. Or worse." Her voice cracked on the last word, and the sound tore at something deep inside me.

"Julia, look at me," I urged gently, tilting her chin up with my finger. When she finally raised her eyes to meet mine, I continued, "Whatever happened there, whatever people said or did—it doesn't define your worth. Not to me, not to anyone who truly sees you."

A tear slipped down her cheek, and then another. The sight of them made my chest tighten painfully. My wolf whined, desperate to comfort our mate.

"Hey, no, don't cry," I said, suddenly feeling out of my depth. I wiped the tears away with my thumbs, cupping her face in my hands. "I didn't mean to upset you."

She shook her head. "You didn't. It's just... no one's ever talked to me the way you do. Like I matter."

Those words broke something in me. The thought that this amazing woman had gone through life feeling unvalued was unbearable. Without thinking, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers, hoping to pour all the reassurance I couldn't verbalize into the kiss.

She responded immediately, her hands clutching at the front of my shirt. I could taste the salt of her tears on her lips, but as I deepened the kiss, I felt some of the tension leave her body. When we finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, I rested my forehead against hers.

"You matter, Julia. To me, to my pack, to your friends. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."

She gave me a watery smile, and I felt a surge of determination. I might not be able to erase whatever had happened in her past, but I could damn well make sure her future was different. My wolf agreed, rumbling with protective possessiveness.

For now, though, she needed comfort more than promises, though I desperately wanted to give her both. I bit back the declarations and assurances that threatened to spill from my lips—she wasn't ready for them yet, and I didn't want to burden her with my intensity when she was already vulnerable.

Instead, I shifted our position on the couch so that she was nestled against my side, her head on my shoulder. I breathed in her scent, letting it center me as I hoped my presence was centering her. My wolf paced restlessly, wanting to claim, to protect, to promise forever, but I kept him in check. Sometimes, words weren't necessary. Sometimes, what someone needed most wasn't grand declarations but simply to be held, to feel that they weren't alone anymore.

For Julia, I could be patient. I could be whatever she needed me to be.