The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

– MAYA

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My back hit the rough bark. His hands went to either side of me, caging my space, blocking my escape.

“Start talking,” he said, voice lower now. Meaner. “What the hell happened? You vanished without a word. Where were you? Who helped you? And-damn it-why are you here working as a server?”

“Wait.” My voice came out hoarse. “One question at a time.”

Åtila closed his eyes for a second like he was forcing himself not to lose it. He turned his head, took a deep breath, then looked back at me even harder.

“Your sisters told me they threw you into a hole.” His voice sharpened. “Is that true?”

My stomach sank.

I swallowed. “Yes. It’s true.”

His hand curled into a fist beside my head and the tree took a dull hit-like he’d taken out a fraction of what he wanted to do to someone else.

I went there and I couldn’t find you,” he said, his gaze burning. “Which means someone helped you get out.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

‘Who?”

‘An older man who was passing by with his daughter.” My throat tightened. “He… he was some kind of guardian of the forest portals. But he died. And his daughter helped me. Her name is Beatrice. We work at the farm now.”

‘What farm?”

I hesitated, my mouth going dry. Part of me wanted to protect it. Protect the little life I’d built far away from my past. But another part of me knew Atila wasn’t leaving without answers.

The Stone farm.” I held his gaze. “Do you know it?”

“The Stones’ farm?” He stepped back like pieces clicked into place. Then he came right back in, his huge body filling my space again. “Cassian… does he know?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “But I asked him not to tell you. None of this is his fault.”

Atila let out a humorless laugh. “You asked him not to tell me?” He leaned closer and I felt his heat again. “Why? Why didn’t you come to me? Do you have any idea how worried I was? Do you have any idea what went through my head-every fucking thought-imagining something worse happened to you?”

“Atila…”

“Why?”

I closed my eyes for a second and pulled air in, trying to organize the chaos inside me.

“Because I needed to prove something to myself.” I opened my eyes and held his stare. “That I could survive without my family Without a man saving me.”

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5:18 pm PWM M

Chapter 56

Silence dropped between us like a weight.

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Atila didn’t move. Only his jaw worked, slow and tight. When he finally spoke, his voice was thick, controlled, but still loaded.

“And?” He tilted his head like he was daring me. “Was it worth it? Staying away from me?”

“Yes,” I said, proud even though my heart ached. “It was.”

“Really?” His eyes narrowed, clearly pissed.

“Really.”

He ran his tongue over his lips like he was tasting my stubbornness. His hands went to his hips. He breathed in, slow.

“You said inside that you looked for me.” His gaze sharpened. “Was that a lie?”

I lifted my chin. “Do I look like a liar to you?”

Then you did look for me.” His voice dropped. “When?”

“Forget it.”

‘I’m asking you when.”

My hands curled at my sides as anger flared hot. “A few days ago.” My voice went quieter. “And let’s just say… well…”

I swallowed hard, the memory flashing.

He leaned in slightly, focused. “Say it.”

I took a breath, hating how vulnerable it made me feel. “You were…. busy. You didn’t look like a wolf who was worried about his fated mate being missing.”

Atila froze for half a second. “What are you talking about?”

I saw you in your office,” I said, voice tight. “Kissing that blonde.”

He blinked like it finally clicked, then his expression hardened with irritation.

Victoria?”

‘Doesn’t matter.” I crossed my arms, trying to hide how sensitive my body still felt. “You looked pretty comfortable.”

A short, disbelieving sound left him-almost a laugh. “That was a misunderstanding.”

I laughed without humor. “Sure.”

“I didn’t touch anyone while you were gone,” he said, voice firm. “I didn’t sleep with anyone. Not once.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” His eyes cut into mine. “If you stayed long enough, you would’ve seen me push her away.”

My chest tightened. “And then you went after her?”

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Chapter 56

“To reprimand her.”

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The words caught me off guard. For a second I just stared, trying to fit them into the picture I’d built in my head.

Wait.

So he… never?

The possibility hit me like a punch. Part of me felt stupid. Another part felt way too relieved, and that only made me angrier.

I went quiet-and that was all the opening he needed.

Átila moved fast.

His hands came up to my face, big and warm, gripping my cheeks with enough force that I stopped breathing.

“Listen to me,” he said, voice rough, brutal with restraint. “The only woman I want is you, Maya.”

My heart slammed so hard it hurt.

Still, I clung to my pride. “Either way, you have a pretty busy past.”

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