His Rejected Mateless Luna

Terra

The morning sun streamed in through the open window, warming my face and coaxing me gently awake. I stretched lazily under the plush down comforter before rolling over to check the time. Nearly nine o’clock already.

After the long night attending to Nathan, I had slept like the dead.

Speaking of Nathan, I should check in on his recovery. I slipped out from under the covers and shuffled over to peer out the window overlooking the central gardens.

Sure enough, I spotted a familiar tall, broad-shouldered figure slowly pacing the graveled path below. Even injured, Nathan was never one to stay idle in bed.

I shook my head in amusement and slight exasperation at his stubbornness. At least the limp in his stride seemed less pronounced than yesterday.

After quickly washing and braiding back my unruly waves, I threw on soft jeans and a rose peasant blouse before making my way to the east wing kitchens.

The sprawling mansion was largely deserted this Sunday morning. With Nathan on the mend, most of the bustling pack members and staff had gladly seized the rare chance for a slower start to the day.

I found Elder Vera sipping tea at the worn oak table in the cheerful kitchen. She arched an elegantly greying eyebrow at my arrival, but her eyes were warm.

“There you are, child. Come sit and take tea.” She waved me over imperiously. I hid a grin and obeyed. After Nathan’s injury, Vera’s seemed to have decided my presence was now completely accepted, if not openly acknowledged. Derek likely informed her privately that I had come at Nathan’s urgent request.

“Did you sleep alright?” Lianna asked casually as I doctored my tea. Her sharp gaze took in the lingering shadows under my eyes. Little got past her notice.

I smiled reassuringly. “Well enough, thank you. Just up late tending to a difficult patient.”

Lianna nodded sagely at my discrete allusion. “Yes, he has always been stubborn as oak about admitting vulnerabilities, even to those only wishing to help.” Her voice held exasperated affection. She busied herself preparing a plate of scones and fruit, signaling the subtle subject was closed.

I bit into the fluffy raspberry scone, savoring this moment of uncomplicated compassion. Whatever Nathan’s old bitterness had dictated about my place here, Lianna clearly bore me no ill will. I was thankful at least one wolf might recall me fondly when I soon departed again.

We passed another half hour chatting lightly about easier topics before Lianna insisted on sending me off with an enormous basket of pastries and fresh vegetables from the garden. I protested weakly, but her word was law in this domain. Laden with delectable offerings, I returned to my room to check on messages before heading into town for the first time in ages.

Derek’s note from yesterday explained Nathan remained stable but should avoid strenuous activity for another week minimum. I penned a quick affirmative, feeling immense relief his recovery progressed well. The ordeal had unearthed more complex feelings between Nathan and I than I could wrestle with presently. For now, his improving health was all that mattered.

I rifled through my suitcase to take inventory of what items I needed to resupply during my outing. Toothpaste, shampoo, hair ties…the collection of everyday essentials sparked bittersweet nostalgia.

How quickly mundane human concerns had come to seem foreign after just a few weeks immersed wholly in the hidden supernatural world again. My two lives stood divided by a gulf I could never share or reconcile fully with anyone. The familiar isolation settled leaden across my shoulders.

But wallowing changed nothing. 1 buckled on my ankle boots decisively and headed for the sleek black sedan Derek arranged for my discreet use weeks earlier. Time I became acquainted with this village I had known only distantly growing up. Maybe exploring its changed streets would help clear the melancholy fog gathering in my mind.

I took the winding side lanes rather than the main packed highway into town, enjoying the scenery gradually transforming from dense woods to scattered homesteads and shops. The quaint downtown looked relatively unchanged from my vague childhood memories – stone buildings with brightly painted shutters and window boxes overflowing with cheery flowers. What I recalled as a modest general store now appeared to be a bustling café and bakery. And gaggles of teenagers crowded the sidewalks, likely refugees from their humdrum school day in search of excitement.

After poking through some artisan craft shops and selecting herbs from a fragrant apothecary, my growling stomach reminded me I had forgotten about lunch. The cozy café I passed earlier beckoned. A hearty sandwich and escape from the mild autumn chill sounded perfect about now.

Settling in a corner table with my meal, I was a ty people-watching through the wide window when a familiar laugh nearby made me start. My eyes snapped to the checkout counter where a petite woman with a sleek gold bob stood chatting warmly with the cashier.

Lilly.

We had been friends since her family moved to a bordering pack territory when we were twelve. Inseparable for those few precious years we shared before my sudden devastating departure. My heart clenched, a dozen tangled emotions hitting at once. Should I slip out before she noticed me? The risk of reigniting questions was steep. But neither could I dash away from my dearest friend without a word.

I sat paralyzed by indecision until Lilly happened to glance my way mid-laugh. Our eyes locked. Time froze as her jaw went slack in disbelief. Then her face split into an ecstatic grin and she rushed over, tackling me in a jubilant hug before I could react. I couldn’t help smiling and embracing her tightly back, tension melting away. No pretense or evasion could withstand Lilly’s uncomplicated delight at our reunion.

“Terra, I can’t believe it! You’re really here?” She pulled back to study me, amber eyes welling with happy tears. “We were told you had moved far away after…” She trailed off awkwardly.

I squeezed her hands, brushing past the painful subject. “I know, it’s been ages. I’m sorry I disappeared without a word.”

Lilly waved a hand dismissively, sunny nature rebounded already. “Oh please, we were teenagers, everything was always so dramatic. I’m just thrilled to see you now!”

Her ready forgiveness loosened the guilty knot in my chest. Impulsive as ever, she began tugging me toward the door. “Forget my boring errands. Let’s go catch up properly!”

Allowing myself to simply enjoy the surprise reunion, I let Lilly pull me down the quaint streets under gold-dappled trees, chatting a mile a minute about everything and nothing. The years apart melted away swiftly, our conversation settling into easy familiar rhythms. With Lilly’s bubbly presence beside me again, the desolation plaguing my thoughts earlier seemed to lift. I had nearly forgotten how steadying her exuberant friendship felt.

We meandered down to the rocky riverbank on the village outskirts, climbing onto a flat sunny ledge overlooking the gentle rapids. Lilly produced a bag of candy from her purse, and we munched contentedly, savoring the tranquil scene.

After we had discussed jobs and hobbies and mutual acquaintances, a thoughtful silence fell for several minutes. I could sense the conversation shifting before Lilly spoke again softly.

“I know there’s probably so much you still can’t explain about why you left. But I hope you know you can trust me. I’m just happy to see you smiling again.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, blinking back sudden tears at her empathy. Impulsively I pulled her into another fierce hug. I’ve missed you, Lil. Thank you for understanding.”

She hugged me back just as tightly. Finally I pulled away, wiping my eyes while we both laughed. The conversation moved on to lighter topics again. We passed a perfectly sunny afternoon talking and tossing pebbles into the rippling river until the lowering sun reminded me I should return before long shadows caused talk.

Lilly walked me back to my car, already chattering about plans to meet again soon. “Maybe I’ll even drag you to do one of those new aerial yoga classes with me! No more disappearing allowed,” she teased.

I grinned and promised to text her soon, buoyed by rediscovering this unexpected pocket of joy in my complicated visit home. As I drove back through the fiery autumn woods, some of the despondency from earlier had thankfully lifted. Healing the rift with Nathan would take time and continued care. But having Lilly’s sunny friendship again made the path ahead seem not so lonely.

When I pulled up the mansion’s winding drive some time later, Nathan himself sat waiting on the wide stone steps, elbows braced casually on his knees. His keen eyes tracked my approach.

I suppressed a rueful smile as I slid from the driver’s seat. Even recovering from injury, he remained the vigilant sentry, scanning for potential threats. Old habits died h specially for seasoned Alphas.

“Checking up on me?” I asked lightly as I reached him. “I promise I did not steal away again permanently. Just needed some air.”

Green flashed in Nathan’s gaze. “Merely concerned when you vanished without notice. Unwise to go unescorted given lingering tensions.”

I arched an eyebrow. “What tensions exactly? I cannot live under perpetual guard.”

Nathan’s stern expression wavered. He looked aside. “You are right, of course. I only meant…” His broad shoulders rose and fell with a resigned sigh. “You deserve freedom without stifling worry. But promise you’ll tell someone next time?”

My defensiveness faded seeing real care, not just Alpha protectiveness, in his shadowed eyes. Nathan had lost me unexpectedly once before. My disappearing sparked understandable fear now. I rested a gentle hand on his shoulder.

“You’re still healing. Don’t take on every burden alone. But yes, I’ll let Derek know if I leave again so you won’t fret.”

Nathan’s mouth quirked in a reluctant half smile at my teasing tone. He shifted as if to stand, but I pressed him back firmly.

“Don’t even think of getting up yet. I’ll make sure to tell Derek to send to bring you dinner out here.” Before he could argue I whisked inside, hiding my own small smile.

Under the gruff commands, his true nature endured – a guardian to his very core. The realization softened something jagged within me.

This glimpsed new chance to appreciate each other’s steady spirits felt a fragile gift. One I would nurture as best I could in the unpredictable days still ahead.

I curse myself for always having a soft spot for him. mostly now that he got hurt because of me.