Chapter 5
Julia's POV
"There you are!" Amber exclaimed when I returned to the dorm. "What took so long? I've been holding this tissue to my face for ages."
I applied the ointment to her cut, still distracted by the encounter. "Sorry, there was a line."
"You look weird," she observed. "Like, flushed. Did you run back?"
"No, I just..." I hesitated. "I made a fool of myself, giving sleep advice to someone at the health center."
Amber laughed. "Only you would stress about something like that. Come on, we're going to be late for the ceremony!"
Inside the packed auditorium, the university president welcomed the new students with the expected platitudes about excellence and opportunity. I was only half-listening, my mind still replaying the health center encounter.
"And now," the president announced, "... please welcome Mr. Matthew Collins!"
The audience applauded as a familiar figure walked onto the stage. My breath caught as I recognized the man from the health center. Matthew Collins—the Alpha of Spring Valley pack.
My face burned with embarrassment. I had just lectured an Alpha—an emergency medicine specialist—about herbal remedies for sleep. Who did I think I was? He probably thought I was just another first-year student with more confidence than knowledge.
But as his eyes scanned the crowd, they seemed to pause briefly on me, and I could have sworn I saw a flicker of recognition and interest before he began his speech.
Matthew's voice filled the auditorium, commanding attention with a natural authority that had nothing to do with volume and everything to do with presence. I found myself leaning forward in my seat, captivated despite myself.
"The medical profession isn't just about technical knowledge," he was saying, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "It's about the sacred trust placed in your hands by people at their most vulnerable moments. Whether you become a doctor, nurse, or any other healthcare provider, you'll witness both the beginning and end of life, and everything in between."
His passion was undeniable as he spoke about healing, about making a difference in people's lives one patient at a time. The way he described the nursing profession—not as subordinate to doctors but as an equally vital component of patient care—made my chest swell with pride for my chosen field.
"When someone is lying in a hospital bed, frightened and in pain, your presence can be the difference between despair and hope," Matthew continued, his eyes scanning the crowd. "The medications you administer matter, but so does your compassion, your attention to detail, and your willingness to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves."
As I watched him command the stage, everything clicked into place. The confidence, the natural authority, the way people instinctively leaned toward him when he spoke—these weren't just traits of a successful doctor. They were the hallmarks of an Alpha wolf, someone born to lead.
"At our medical center in southern Oregon," Matthew said, "we've implemented a holistic approach to emergency medicine that integrates traditional practices with cutting-edge technology..."
My breath caught. Southern Oregon. Medical center. Amber's words from our previous conversation rushed back: He's the Alpha of some pack in Oregon. Spring Valley, I think.
Oh God. I hadn't just been chatting with some random handsome doctor in the garden. I'd been speaking with—and receiving compliments from—the Alpha of Spring Valley pack.
My heart raced uncomfortably in my chest. What were the odds? Of all the medical schools in the country, I'd chosen one where another pack's Alpha was an alumni speaker? I felt simultaneously thrilled and terrified. An Alpha had noticed me—had called me intelligent and beautiful—and not just any Alpha, but one who seemed genuinely interested in the same medical philosophy I was.
But then reality crashed back. He was an Alpha. The leader of another pack. Even if I wasn't still technically bound to my ex-mate through Nathan's conditional rejection, Alphas didn't date ordinary Beta's daughters with weird herbal hobbies. They certainly didn't date rejected mates who carried that stigma.
He's too far out of your league, I scolded myself. Don't be ridiculous.
When Matthew's gaze occasionally swept over the audience, I ducked my head, afraid those perceptive blue eyes might find mine again. I didn't trust myself not to blush or, worse, have my wolf respond visibly to his presence.
Amber nudged me excitedly when Matthew finished his speech to enthusiastic applause. "Isn't he incredible?" she whispered. "And so hot for someone so accomplished. Usually the brilliant ones let themselves go, you know?"
I managed a nod, not trusting my voice.
After the ceremony ended, students and faculty mingled in the reception area. Amber and I were planning to head to the campus coffee shop when a strong hand suddenly clamped over my mouth, while another arm wrapped around my waist. I was yanked backward violently, my scream muffled against a palm as I was dragged away from the crowd.
I desperately tried to call out for Amber, my fingers reaching toward her retreating figure, but my voice couldn't penetrate the hand pressed firmly against my lips. Within seconds, the sea of bodies had closed between us, and Amber disappeared from view as I was pulled into a dimly lit corridor.
Panic surged through me as I thrashed against my captor. When I was finally released and spun around, my heart plummeted to my stomach. Nathan stood there, his eyes flashing with barely contained fury, his chest heaving as he glared down at me.
"Nathan?" I gasped, trying to pull my arm free. "What are you doing here?"
He kept his grip firm, his fingers digging into my skin painfully. He looked exactly as I remembered—handsome in that cold, perfect way, his golden-brown hair styled immaculately, his expensive clothes emphasizing his athletic build. But the hatred in his eyes was new, or at least more intense than I'd ever seen it.
"That's what I should be asking you," he growled, his voice low enough that passing humans wouldn't hear, but loud enough to make his anger clear. "Making a spectacle of yourself, especially with that speaker."
I stared at him in disbelief. "I wasn't making a spectacle of myself! And how do you even know about—"
"I saw you talking to him before the ceremony," Nathan snapped. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? God, seeing you parade around this place makes me sick, especially fawning over that speaker like some desperate—"
"I wasn't parading or fawning!" I interrupted, anger replacing my initial shock. "This is my school, Nathan. I have every right to be here."
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I allowed you to come here to study, not to... entertain yourself with others." He practically spat the words. "Don't think I won't be keeping tabs on you. You're representing our pack whether I like it or not."
My temper flared. Who was he to dictate my personal life after rejecting me? "You have no right to control who I talk to or... or anything else about my private life."
Nathan's face darkened as he moved closer, backing me against the wall. "I have every right. Because I'm your Alpha, and more importantly, I'm your fated mate."
The absolute audacity of this man was astounding. He had the nerve to reject our bond and then claim ownership over me? I shook my head slightly, speechless with anger and disbelief. I was just about to remind him of his recjection when a deep, controlled voice spoke from behind us.
"He is your fated mate?"
We both turned to see Matthew Collins standing a few steps away, his expression unreadable.
