The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

-MAYA

His eyes narrowed, like he was deciding whether I was serious.

Then he held out his hand-big, rough fingers. The kind of hand that didn’t belong to a man who only knew luxury and polished rooms.

I drew in a shaky breath and let my trembling fingers touch his.

Heat shot up my arm like a live wire, and for one terrifying second, I was sure my knees were going to buckle.

He pulled me out of the wardrobe with ridiculous ease, like I weighed nothing at all.

He didn’t look away when he spoke.

“Msi Langford, prepare a room for my guest at my residence in Moonville. I want everything ready so she feels safe, comfortable, and taken care of.”

“Yes, sir,” Langford answered, and I caught the faintest note of excitement in her voice-like she’d been waiting for permission to breathe.

His hand settled against the small of my back-firm enough to guide me, gentle enough not to spook me.

We walked past my family.

My chin stayed lifted, but my eyes stayed locked forward. I didn’t dare look at any of them.

I just followed Langford’s steps, with Átila right behind me, his massive, warm shadow brushing against mine.

His

presence was… too much.

Overwhelming in a way my body didn’t know how to fight,

As we went down the stairs, my breathing started matching his, like my lungs were trying to keep up with his rhythm.

“What do you think you’re doing, Maya?” my mother snapped from behind us, her voice sharp enough to cut. “Stop right now, Immediately.”

I didn’t turn around.

I kept going, one step at a time, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.

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Chapter 71

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“Have you lost your mind?” she pushed, her hurried footsteps echoing through the hall. “You’re really going to abandon your family for some male?”

I swallowed hard.

Bitter taste flooded my mouth, but I kept my gaze straight ahead.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” she screamed. “Your father is going to lose it when he gets back from his trip.”

Lie.

He’d never cared that I existed. Why would he care if I was gone?

“You’ll regret this when he dumps you-because sooner or later he will. They always get bored. They always leave.” Her voice turned crueler, uglier. “And then you won’t have a home to crawl back to, you stupid girl.”

My chest tightened so sharply it felt like something inside me cracked.

I inhaled slowly.

And I pretended I didn’t hear her.

Pretended she wasn’t there.

Pretended those words hadn’t been carving into me for years.

Átila’s hand stayed steady at my back, a silent anchor. I didn’t need to look at him to know he was

there.

When we reached the front door, the wood creaked as it opened, the sound rolling down the hallway like a warning.

I was already at the threshold when I heard the fast footsteps behind me turn frantic-furious.

“Ungrateful little brat!” she spat, her voice splitting the air. “After everything I’ve done for you! How dare

you disobey me?”

Her rage was so raw, so unfiltered, it was like she’d forgotten the most powerful Alpha in the pack was standing right there.

Átila stopped.

He didn’t turn around.

He didn’t have to.

His presence simply… shifted.

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Chapter 71

Colder.

Sharper.

Like ice forming over deep water.

Not one more step, Melrose,” he said, low and lethal. “And you’d better have an excellent explanation for hiding the fact that my Luna has been alive this whole time.”

My breath vanished.

My mother froze, stiff as if she’d been struck by an invisible slap.

Luna.

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My Luna?

My stomach dropped so fast I felt hollowed out. For a second, everything disappeared-the cold Iraft from the open door, the scent of the house, the hard edge of the threshold beneath my feet.

He can’t be talking about me. He can’t.

But then he continued, each word heavy as a hammer.

You and your husband will answer to the Council. And I promise you, I won’t be merciful.”

My mother didn’t say a single word.

She just stood there-pale, trembling, lips parted like she couldn’t force sound out of her throat.

Me?

felt my world tilt.

His Luna? Me? That was impossible.

So why would he

say it?

And why was he helping me?

Like he’d heard every question spiraling through my head-like he always seemed to-Atila glanced at me from the corner of his eye. Sharp. Steady.

Then he said, “And you and I have a lot to talk about. Trust me.”

Those two words-trust me-hit my chest like warm air after a storm.

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