The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

– MAYA

It had to be a miracle. I stared down at my own feet with almost childlike disbelief, flexing my toes, shifting my weight, half- expecting the pain to flare back up at any second.

It didn’t.

After the woman had washed my foot in a simple basin-warm water mixed with herbs of some mysterious origin-the pain had simply… vanished.

“Thank you so much,” I murmured, smiling.

She only nodded, as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world, while Miss Langford watched with a calm, approving

smile.

“It’s not a miracle,” the older woman said. “It’s nature doing what it knows how to do.”

Even so, it felt extraordinary to me. I stood up and gave two small, cautious hops, laughing under my breath. Satisfied that her task was done, the woman left the room without another word, leaving only Miss Langford and me in a comfortable silence.

“May I ask you something?” Miss Langford finally said.

“Of course.”

She took a deep breath, as if choosing her words carefully.

The last time we saw each other, you seemed fine. Clear-headed. You didn’t look out of control. So… if you were all right, why did you run?”

I bit the corner of my lip, remembering.

“Because I thought I saw a friend go into the forest.”

“A friend?” she repeated, folding her arms thoughtfully. “What kind of friend? Are you sure it wasn’t your imagination?”

I didn’t answer right away. My mind went to the black wolf-the way he had stayed close, watching over me in that moment. I knew I’d been reckless, putting my own life at risk… and his as well.

“Miss Langford,” I said at last, changing the subject, “may I speak with Alpha Átila?”

“Now?”

“Yes. I… need to ask him a favor”

She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “He should be in the sitting room. I’ll stay here and finish a few adjustments in

your room.”

I thanked her with a shy smile and left. As I went down the stairs, my heart began to race without warning.

He was there, leaning near the fireplace, freshly showered, his hair still slightly damp. He wore simple clothes, yet nothing about him felt ordinary. His shirt was open just enough to reveal part of his strong, sculpted chest, and a glass of whiskey rested in his hand as if it were an extension of his body.

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Chapter 26

When he noticed me, his gaze dipped briefly to my legs before returning to my face I blushed instantly

“Looks like you’re better he said.

Thanks to the woman you called”

“Silverroot is the best healer in the region.” He took a sip of his drink. “What brings you here?”

For a second, I got lost in the intense green of his eyes. I cleared my throat, forcing myself to focus.

I came to ask a favor.

A favor?

Yes. It’s about the wolf who was with me in the forest. I need to thank him. I don’t know where to find him.”

That’s not a problem.” he replied casually. “I know where he lives.”

My eyes widened. “You do? I mean… you know him?”

‘Of course. He’s my friend.” His tone was serious, almost indifferent.

Your friend?”

Cassian, he added, plainly.

The revelation left me speechless.

The wolf I’d seen since childhood, the presence that had appeared to me so many times… was the same handsome man I’d

een days earlier at the bar with Alpha Atila?

There was no way you could’ve recognized him.” Atila continued, watching my reaction. “He was in wolf form.”

I stayed quiet for a few seconds, trying to sort through my thoughts. He stepped closer, his attention sharpening.

So you do know him, he said.

“Know him? What do you mean by that?” I echoed, taking a step back.

“You’re thinking too much,” his voice dropped lower. “And you’re nervous.

I didn’t even realize my back had hit the wall until it did. He moved in close enough to box me in, bracing one arm beside my head I swallowed hard.

“How did you end up alone in that forest, Maya?” he asked “Did you go on your own, or did someone take you there!”

I lifted my chin, “I went by myself”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to My voice came out firmer than I felt

He leaned in a little more.

“Were you in heat again? Is that it? It would make sense-when you disappeared. I had just turned home Your Fit my presence and gotten unbearably worked up

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Chapter 26

I pushed against his chest reclaiming some sense of control

“You’re incredibly full of yourself. Alpha”

He caught my wrist-not roughly just enough to keep me close-and lowered his face toward mine.

Maybe. Or maybe I remember very well a girl who nearly begged me to lose control”

My heart slammed against my ribs. The world narrowed to the tiny space between us. Fire burned inside me for no logical reason I wasn’t in heat Not like that I shouldn’t have been feeling this

When his mouth drew closer. I turned my face away at the last second

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

He froze. I saw the exact moment he pulled himself back together, taking a slow breath before releasing my arm

“I’m sorry

“It’s time I mhaled deeply too, trying to organize the chaos inside me “What happened over the last few days I remember everything And I feel like something in me woke up. A side I didn’t know existed. But this-this was insane I’m still trying to process it”

The silence that followed was heavy, almost tangible.

understand.” he said finally “More than you think.”

I nodded “That’s good”

Hr slipped his hands into his pockets.

“Why don’t you go upstairs and rest? You spent a long time on the ground in that cave”

He was right I should have been exhausted. But I wasn’t My body hummed with energy, and that frightened me

Still, I lind

“You’re rights I’ll try to sleep”

“Best well”

I’d reached the first step when I stopped.

“Alpha Atila may I ask our more question?

Yes What is t

Ihat my lip, gathering my curage

“If you had given in these past few days if we had aleja tugether I paused steadying myself. Would you have marked me? I mean, would you have lost control enough to bite me and seal a bond

His brow furrowed-not in irritation tot in form balence sehifed between us again and Lich the weigh of his gathe my face, as if he were reading something beneath my words

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