The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

– ATILA

“We couldn’t find her anywhere.”

55 Vauclus

Silas’s voice echoed inside my head the moment he emerged from the tree line at the edge of the clearing. His massive gray wolf form moved carefully, nose low to the ground, frustration clinging to his scent.

“You sure no one saw her in town, brother?” Kael asked through the link as he followed close behind, eyes sharp, body coiled tight.

I snorted, hot breath rushing from my nostrils as my claws tore into the damp earth beneath my paws.

“Honestly? I don’t know,” I snapped, irritation bleeding through. “I don’t control every inch of that town. But I made sure the word spread. Everyone knows we’re looking for her.”

“If she’d passed through, someone would’ve seen her,” Kael pressed.

Before I could answer, another presence settled behind me. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

Cassian.

His silence said enough. When I finally looked at him, I found the same hollow emptiness in his lupine eyes that gnawed at my chest. He hadn’t found her either.

Forty-eight hours.

Forty-eight hours combing every stretch of forest, every trail, every impossible detour.

Nothing.

Can we talk alone?” Cassian asked, his tone too serious to ignore.

Yeah,” I answered without hesitation. “My place.”

The walk back was quiet. The forest felt tighter, denser-like it was closing in on us, working against us. When we reached he house, we shifted back into human form. I tossed Cassian a change of clothes-simple, practical. We dressed quickly and vent straight to my office.

shut the door hard.

So,” I said bluntly, no patience for games. “What is it?”

We’re not going to find her,” he said flatly.

The words hung between us.

What do you mean?” My spine tightened.

Atila… who are you kidding?” He held my gaze. “We’ve searched every inch of this forest. Maya wouldn’t have made it four tilometers in on her own. We need to face the possibility that she was taken.”

Taken?” My voice dropped. “By who?”

You already know.” He exhaled slowly. “Isn’t there someone who’d want that?”

176

5:15 pm

Chapter 40

My brow furrowed as the pieces began to shift into place.

“Her family.” I said. “They sent someone last week demanding I return her. And I called the council to deal with unfinished business involving them.”

“So that’s why my father mentioned the council meeting,” Cassian muttered. Then his eyes locked on mine again. “Anything else strange before she vanished? Anyone from her family back in Moonville?”

The images hit me hard.

“Her sisters.” I murmured. Something inside me cracked. “They came to see me at the training center. Hours before she disappeared. Forced one last conversation.”

“So they were here.”

The silence that followed was thick. We didn’t say it out loud, but we were assembling the same truth.

“I’m going to Northumberland,” I said, final.

“I’m coming with you.”

I knocked without ceremony.

Mr. Melrose answered the door-a thick mustache, dark hair streaked with age, rigid posture. His brow creased when he saw me, then flicked to Cassian behind me.

“Alpha Átila… what are you doing here?” His voice was defensive, edged with suspicion.

“You’re not going to invite me in?” I asked coolly.

He hesitated. But he knew the weight of my title.

“Of course. Please,” he said stiffly, stepping aside.

Cassian and I entered. The living room looked exactly as I remembered-unremarkable. I sharpened my senses immediately, searching for any trace of her.

Nothing

He stopped in the center of the room, facing us.

“Can you tell me why you’re here?”

“You really have no idea?” I asked.

His expression hardened.

“So you’ve finally come to negotiate returning my daughter?”

I watched every microexpression, every quickened heartbeat.

“You don’t know what’s happened to your daughter in the last forty-eight hours?”

“How would I?” he scoffed. “You’re the one who abducted her to live under your roof”

2/6

5:15 pm P LMN.

Chapter 40

“She’s missing.” Cassian cut in.

The man’s gaze snapped to me, furious.

“What do you mean, missing?”

“Maya left alone and never came home,” I said.

He drew a deep breath, chest expanding.

“And you have the nerve to come into my house and tell me this?”

“I want to know if you had anything to do with it,” I said, not softening a single word.

“How dare you?” he exploded. “After everything, you accuse me of my own daughter’s disappearance while she was under your protection?”

“Don’: insult my intelligence, Melrose,” I shot back. “I know you’ve been watching her. I’ve already called the council to punish you and your wife for the lie you maintained for years.”

“The council met because of us?” Fear finally cracked his composure.

“Where are your other daughters?”

“What do you want with my girls?”

‘Bring them here. Now.”

He swallowed. He knew this wasn’t a request.

…Fine. I’ll have them come down.”

As he climbed the stairs, Cassian stepped closer.

‘What are you going to do?”

‘I don’t know yet,” I said. “But I’m not leaving until I know whether they were involved.”

I watched the top of the stairs.

The three of them came down side by side, heads lowered. Their mother followed close behind, curiosity sharp as ever.

‘Well,” Mr. Melrose said coldly, “here they are.”

Look at me,” I ordered.

They lifted their faces.

“Where is Maya?”

Silence.

“I won’t ask again,” I said. “Where is your sister?”

The mother stepped forward.

3/6

Chapter 40

“What is this? How would my daughters know where she is if Maya lives with you in Moonville?”

I turned to her, patience gone.

“She disappeared the same day your daughters visited me.”

“They what?” Outrage flared across her face. “Is that true? You crossed the portal without my permission?”

“You can argue about that later,” I cut in. “I want answers. Now.”

Elizabeth spoke first.

“No one here has seen her.”

I looked at the other two. Their nerves were practically vibrating.

“You’re lying.”

“Prove it,” she challenged, lifting her chin. “And if you can’t, I demand an apology.”

Cassian’s hand settled on my shoulder.

“I don’t think we’re getting anything here. We should return to the forest.”

I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth, thinking.

“Fine.” I said. “But first, there’s something I need to do.”

E55 Vorhers

I walked toward them. Stopped in front of Margot first. Inhaled. She looked away, fingers twisting. Elizabeth-same reaction.

Then I reached Freida.

The scent hit me instantly.

Forest.

And something else.

Something unmistakable.

“That smell.” I murmured.

“What smell?” Freida stammered. “Do I stink? Sorry, I didn’t shower.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify