The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The Next Day

– ATILA

So she’d known him longer than she’d known me.

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I’d heard her thoughts, of course-the recurring image of a black wolf appearing near her house, always there, always watchful, like he belonged. Like an old friend.

But I didn’t need mind-reading to figure it out. The way she nearly choked when I mentioned that the black wolf was Cassian told me more than any stray thought ever could.

That explained everything.

She knew Cassian in his wolf form.

And Cassian had always known exactly who she was.

My jaw tightened. Just a little.

Because it wasn’t just any wolf. It was Cassian. My friend. My very handsome friend. Who, apparently, had been circling her house for years-watching, protecting, doing God knows what-while I… wasn’t there.

I stopped drumming my fingers on the table and stared at nothing for a few seconds before standing. The training center felt too quiet for the storm tearing through me. I crossed the room and braced my hands on the windowsill. Outside, the rhythmic thud of bodies in motion cut through the air. Young soldiers trained in perfect sync-sweat, effort, discipline. At their center, one of our leaders ran the session with near-cold precision. Few words. Exact gestures. Unshakable posture. They followed him without question.

That was when I realized who it was.

Cassian.

Before I knew it, I was out the door, striding down the corridor and taking the steps two at a time. The garden opened before me-wide, green, alive. I walked up to him and took my place at his side, hands clasped behind my back, eyes forward, as if I were just passing through.

The scratch on his hand started the conversation.

“Looks like yesterday wasn’t easy on you.”

Cassian glanced down at the wound, assessing it as if it were nothing worth mentioning.

“It was an unusual day,” he replied, serious, in that almost mechanical tone he used most of the time.

“I imagine it caught you off guard,” I said. “What were your plans before all that happened?”

He turned to me, brow slightly furrowed.

“My plans? You’ll need to be clearer, Alpha Atila.”

I rotated my body toward him, squared my shoulders, held his gaze.

“I want to know how you found Maya in the forest. And why you were in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.”

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6:13 pm P NM.

Chapter 27

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“She didn’t tell you?” He lifted a brow, and that alone was enough to irritate me. There was a faint, provoking glint in his eyes when he added, “Apparently not.”

“What exactly was she supposed to tell me?”

I took a step closer, closing the space between us.

“Or were you watching her from a distance before anything happened to my future luna, my friend?”

The air thickened. For a few seconds, we stared at each other in silence-a wordless clash. Then Cassian gave in. He stepped back and lifted his hands slightly, restrained.

“No. I wasn’t watching Maya,” he said firmly. “I found her alone inside the cave. She was injured, too weak to leave on her own or climb onto my back. I stayed with her until someone from your household arrived to help with the rescue.”

I studied him carefully, searching for any crack, any sign of a lie. I found none. Cassian was my friend. He always had been. Still, something in me stayed alert, uneasy. I pushed the thought aside. It wasn’t distrust.

And it definitely wasn’t… that.

It wasn’t jealousy. I wasn’t jealous.

That was when I heard my name.

“Alpha Átila!”

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Miss Langford standing at the garden entrance. Maya was beside her.

Dressed in a short, white, flared dress, Maya looked too delicate for the open space-like a porcelain figurine misplaced among stone. In her hands, she carried a small, carefully wrapped bundle, the kind used to bring food. I hadn’t expected that.

They walked toward us.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“We came to bring this to you,” Maya said, extending the bundle with almost ceremonial care.

“What is it?”

Miss Langford answered before she could, practically glowing.

“Your meal. Maya prepared it herself. It’s delicious. Did you know she’s an excellent cook?”

“Is that so?” I looked straight at Maya. She blushed, lowering her gaze for a second. Damn it. There was something about that shyness that disarmed me. Her lips, slightly parted and pink. The memory of their taste hit me without warning, dragging me back to the moment I’d nearly lost control in the kitchen that day she caught me off guard.

I felt Cassian step closer-and in the same instant, I noticed Maya’s attention shift. She lifted her eyes to him and widened them, seized by a thought so clear it echoed in my mind.

Oh my God… it’s him. The black wolf.

“Good morning, ladies,” Cassian greeted, far too politely for my taste.

“Cassian, dear, you’re here this early?” Miss Langford replied.

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6:13 pm

Chapter 27

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“I came to train a group of young men.” His gaze slid to Maya and lingered a second too long. “And you? What brings you here?”

Is it just me, or has he been getting bolder lately? Bastard.

Before either of them could answer, I did it for them.

“Maya came to bring the meal she prepared for me.” I lifted the bundle slightly, almost showing it off.

What I didn’t expect was for Maya to take it back from my hands.

“I think I can go home and prepare a fresh meal for you, Alpha Átila.”

Then she held the bundle out to Cassian.

“Here This is for you. I hope you’re feeling better today. Yesterday I forgot to thank you for what you did for me. I hope you enjoy it.”

For a second, I couldn’t react. I just stood there, watching the two of them, incredulous.

Cassian accepted it.

“Thank you. I’m sure I will.”

Of course you will. My food. Made by her.

Maya nodded politely and smiled, ready to step away. That was when I stopped her, my voice louder than I intended.

“And what are you still doing here?”

She looked at me, confused.

“What do you mean?”

“Go home and make my food now. I’m hungry.”

Her eyes widened.

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