The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Chapter 102

MAYA

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I woke up to sunlight blazing straight across my face and the bus finally slowing on the dirt road. My neck ached from sleeping twisted for hours, my legs were numb, but I still smiled. The air that rushed in when the doors folded open smelled like wet grass and freedom.

We climbed off laughing, juggling backpacks, coolers, and the giant tent Beatrice swore was “basically a portable apartment.” The sky was brushed in orange by the time we started setting everything up. We spent the whole morning claiming our little patch of nowhere-stretching tarp, hammering stakes, rigging up a makeshift food station.

Every now and then, I checked my phone.

Atila still hadn’t seen my messages.

The signal flickered like it was messing with me. One weak bar would appear, then disappear. Maybe he’d answered and it just wasn’t coming through.

Where is he?

I forced myself not to spiral.

By noon the sun was high and merciless. Beatrice cracked open the vodka with theatrical flair, Cassian passed around plastic cups, and we set the cake in the center of the folding table. We sang off-key, laughed too loud, and toasted to celebrating her birthday in the middle of nowhere.

Beatrice suddenly announced she was going to “explore nature” because she had to pee, leaving me alone with Cassian.

That’s when it happened.

He turned too fast with his cup in hand, and vodka spilled straight down the front of my shirt. The icy liquid soaked through the thin fabric, and I let out a startled squeak.

“Shit,” he muttered, dragging a hand through his hair.

I looked down. The fabric had gone practically see-through.

“It’s fine. Accidents happen.” I laughed, a little lightheaded from the heat and the alcohol.

He was already tugging his white T-shirt over his head.

“Here. Put this on.”

“You don’t have to. I can grab another one from my bag.”

“I insist.”

I hesitated. I really hadn’t packed much. With a small sigh, I took it.

He turned around like a gentleman while I peeled off my soaked shirt and slipped his over my head. It swallowed me, hanging almost mid-thigh. When he faced me again, he gave me a slow smile.

“Looks better on you.”

My stomach flipped. Cassian was handsome. Annoyingly handsome. Strong build, defined abs, the kind of guy women

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probably tripped over themselves for,

“Thanks.” I ducked my head and rushed to shift the mood. “Want more cake?”

“Yeah. I do.”

We went back to the table, and he started telling me about growing up on a farm-waking up before sunrise to help his dad, how his sister was stubborn but soft-hearted underneath. He talked about his family with easy affection. I listened, smiling. It felt strange-and good-to hear someone talk about home without heaviness or fear.

“That’s amazing. It must be incredible living on a farm.”

“Maybe one day you could come see my parents’ place.”

“Sure.” I smiled shyly. “I’d love that.”

He tilted his head.

“Hold on. You’ve got something on your face.”

“On my face?”

“Frosting. Right here.”

His finger brushed the corner of my mouth, gentle. It was quick-but my breath hitched anyway.

And then a voice cut through the air behind us like thunder.

‘Am I interrupting?”

I turned-and froze.

There he was. Dark brown leather jacket hugging his broad shoulders. Earth-toned shirt open at the collar, silver chain resting against his chest. Helmet in hand. He looked like he’d ridden straight out of some outlaw fantasy.

‘Átila?”

My heart slammed.

His gaze dropped slowly to the oversized shirt I was wearing. Then to Cassian-shirtless.

‘Whose shirt is that?”

‘I can explain-” I started.

‘It’s mine,” Cassian answered flatly.

‘I spilled on myself and he just offered-” I rushed out.

Átila closed the distance between us in a few decisive strides. He began unbuttoning his own shirt.

“Take it off.”

“Átila…”

“You’re wearing mine.”

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Chapter 102

He shrugged out of it and handed it to me, eyes still locked on Cassian.

Beatrice chose that exact moment to reappear.

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“Oh my God. I leave for five minutes and come back to a shirtless showdown? Did my birthday turn into a hot men convention?”

I almost laughed from sheer nerves.

Atila still held his shirt out.

With a sigh, I pulled Cassian’s off and handed it back, then slipped Átila’s on. The fabric was still warm from his skin.

“Happy now?” I muttered. “And how did you even get here?”

“Can we talk. Alone?”

I glanced at Beatrice, then Cassian.

“Bee, I’m going for a walk. Okay?”

“Go ahead.”

We headed toward the trees. Once we were far enough from camp, I turned and crossed my arms.

“I think you owe me an explanation.”

“I had something come up. By the time I got to your apartment, you were already gone.”

I stepped closer, suspicious.

“You’re married, aren’t you? Secret family somewhere?”

He blinked at me.

“What?”

“Your phone was off.”

“My battery died.”

I searched his face. There wasn’t even a flicker of a lie.

“And after class?”

“I went to see my

mother.”

My eyes widened.

“Your mother? Was it serious?”

“For her, yes.”

“Is she okay?”

“Healthier than ever.”

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I exhaled slowly.

“So the woman you were with… was your mom.” I muttered, looking away, relief flooding through me.

He tilted his head.

“Were you jealous?”

I shot back too fast. “Me? Of course not. I don’t get jealous.”

“Doesn’t look that way.”

“Oh please. You almost devoured my friend’s cousin five minutes ago.”

A crooked smile tugged at his mouth. Then he moved before I could react-lifting me into his arms. I gasped.

“I missed you,” he murmured, way too close.

“It’s been less than a day.” I wrapped my legs around him anyway.

“Long enough to drive me insane.”

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His mouth crashed into mine. It wasn’t gentle. My hands slid up into his hair automatically. The world narrowed until it was just breath and heat and the press of his body.

He sat at the base of a tree with me still straddling him, and for a few reckless minutes, the campsite might as well not have existed.

When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless.

“We should go back,” I whispered.

“Before I forget where we are,” he finished.

We walked back holding hands, trying to look normal. But his kiss still burned on my lips. And what lingered wasn’t lack of air-it was lack of him. A physical ache. Cruel and sharp. Like every inch of my skin was in withdrawal. I wanted him in a way that actually hurt-low and constant in my chest, my stomach, between my thighs. It wasn’t delicate. It was hunger.

And the craziest part? I barely knew him.

A few days. A handful of conversations. A couple of unforgettable nights.

Still, when he touched me, it felt like recognition. Like my body knew him before my mind caught up. Like something ancient and primal had woken up and decided-him.

It was absurd. Irrational. Too intense for the time we’d had.

But when our fingers laced together on the walk back, I knew it wasn’t just desire. It was that dangerous feeling that if he asked me to stay-forever-I would.

And that scared me almost as much as it turned me on.

“We need to set up the second tent. Átila’s staying,” I announced when we reached camp.

Beatrice glanced up at the sky. Clouds were rolling in fast.

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Chapter 102

“No way. That storm’s coming hard. We won’t make it in time. We’re all sleeping in the big one.”

“All four of us?” I asked.

“It’s huge. It’ll fit.”

I looked at Átila.

He looked at Cassian.

Cassian looked at me.

Damn.

It was going to be a very long night.

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