The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

-ATHLN

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I stepped into the room closing the door behind me with enough care that the latch stayed silent The dimness was broken only by the faint glow of the bedside lamp-and the smell hit hirst Warm herbs, Sweet and bitter at once. A natural remedy meant to calm the body I drew in a shallow breaths, justnough to register it, then held it, instinctively bracing mysell for the rest.

1

Maya lay on her side, han scattered across the pillow, her breathing heavy and even. Her cheeks were damp, faint tracks marking tears shed before sleep. The plate on the nightstand was untouched. She hadn’t even tried to eat

1 stayed where I was for a moment, watching from a distance. T and 1 knew I needed to leave before being this close stirred son the door, already decided.

Then she spoke

“No, Mom No

Her voice was low, strangled.

room telt smaller with her in it-too quiet, too fragile hing I couldn’t afford to lose control of. I turned toward

1 froze, glancing back just in time to see her shift in her sleep, he face tightening

My fist clenched.

“Please don’t hit me. It hurts. Don’t!” she cried.

My jaw locked. That wasn’t an ordinary nightmare. There was to stronger, broken sounds tearing from her chest as she slept, and myself to stay back,

I took two steps toward the bed-then stopped.

much pain in that plea, too much truth. Her sobs grew stood there, torn between moving closer and forcing

Waking her would be a mistake. Not now. Not with me there. He body was more sensitive than it had been even yesterday- I could feel it in the air-and provoking a reaction would only create a problem no one needed. Still, hearing her like that was tearing me apart.

“Please… do you always have to beat me?” Her voice wavered. “Why don’t you ever listen to me? You don’t love me, do you?”

Fuck.

The image hit like fire. I could see it all too clearly. Just the thought of someone laying hands on hier made something dark throb behind my eyes. I was a heartbeat away from waking her and pulling her out of that nightmare when I sensed it.

Someone else was there

I turned my head, instantly alert. Maya murmured a few broken words, as if trying to calm herself, and the crying slowly faded I went to the window, eased the latch open, and found the black wolf standing at the edge of the garden, halfTM swallowed by the forest’s shadow

Cassian?

There was no way to communicate mentally in my human form but he recognized me. He held my gaze a second too long. then stepped back and disappeared into the trees-fast, silent.

Why was he there?

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10:17 Mon, Mar 9 M

Chapter 20

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35 rounblas

Part of the wanted to dismiss it. Another part bristled in a way Idn’t like admuting It was ridiculous Cassian was roy friend He fought beside me bled with me had always been loyal And yet a strange weight settled in my stomach. It wasn’t distrust. It was something older Raw An instinct that didn’t ask permission.

I closed the window and locked it, drawing a slow breath. When looked back at Maya, she was calmer now, her skin darop, her body slowly relaxing I waited another moment, then accepted the truth.

1 wasn’t helping by staying

Tleft her room and went to mine

Sleep didn’t come easily. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw herar-streaked face, heard her voice begging in the dark. I had never hated the sound of someone crying the way I did that nig. It hollowed me out. Eventually, I turned onto my side. squeezed my eyes shut, and forced myself to sleep.

The days that followed were hell.

Maya got worse before she got better. She cried without warning screamed that something was burning inside her, clawed at herself as if trying to escape her own body. When she was alone, we had to restrain her to the bed to keep her from hurting herself More than once. I nearly gave in and stayed in the house just to watch her-but I knew my presence only. made everything harder Whenever I could, I isolated myself in he forest, keeping distance from what I couldn’t touch.

When the week finally drew to a close, I came home exhausted.angford served dinner, and I asked without looking up, chewing my steak harder than necessary.

“How is she?”

“Calmer,” she said, relief clear in her voice. “I think the heat is reching its end. She’s more aware now. She asked about you, actually” She hesitated. “Her cheeks were flushed. I think she’s embarrassed about the last few days.”

She asked about me.

I kept my reaction in check, wiped my mouth, and stood.

“Good. Then I’ll talk to her tonight.”

“Yes. She’s having dinner in her room.” Langford fixed me with serious look. “But be careful. There may still be lingering

effects

I nodded and went up to the second floor. I stopped in front ofer door, took the key from the cabinet beside it, and unlocked it.

“Maya”

The word died in my throat.

The bed was empty. The chains lay discarded on the floor-loos, useless. Cold shot down my spine. I crossed the room. checking the closet

“Maya.”

Empty. The bathroom-nothing

I turned back, and that was when I saw it.

The window was unlocked.

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10:17 Mon, Mar 9 M

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