The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74

– ÁTILA

“You planning to stay behind me forever, Kael, or are you actually going to run?”

I sent the taunt through the pack bond and shot between the trees.

Cold wind. Pine. Wet earth.

Three Alphas chased my heels.

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Kael’s voice snapped back, irritated. “I’m being polite. Letting the elderly and the aristocrat go first. Ever heard of manners, Átila?”

Silas laughed, a low, wolfish sound. “Old? Look in a mirror, kid. If I take this seriously, you’ll be dragging your tongue through the mud in ten minutes.”

Cassian ran at my side, silent as always.

Kael, unfortunately, kept talking.

“Anyway, what we really want to know is why our glorious Alpha took so long to show up tonight. I’m personally offended. I thought you’d replaced us.”

Silas cut in, voice laced with amusement. “Heard a rumor he stopped by the Melrose house first. Something over there must’ve caught his attention.”

Kael let out a mental whistle through the bond. “The Melrose house, huh? Don’t tell me you still haven’t picked one of the daughters. Because if you hesitate too long, Cassian might steal your future Luna without even realizing it.”

Cassian’s voice sliced through the bond, flat and sharp. “Me? Where the hell did you get that?”

Kael laughed like he’d been waiting for the reaction. “Oh, please. You’ve been circling that house for years. A huge black wolf lurking around a proper family’s estate… one of those women got into your head, Cassian.”

Cassian didn’t even change pace. “You’re delusional. None of the Melrose daughters interest me.”

Kael hummed, pretending to believe him. “Sure. I’ll pretend I believe you, Saint Cassian-purest wolf in the pack, immune to flirty smiles and pretty dresses.”

Silas growled, his patience thinning. “You two are more immature than pups. What matters is our Alpha’s been spending too much time in that house. Maybe it’s time to settle it.”

I rolled my eyes and kept running. “Settle what, exactly?”

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4:15 pm

Chapter 74

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Silas didn’t hesitate. “Marry a Melrose before you end up powerless and feral. Imagine the humiliation-Átila Volkov, mighty Alpha of the pack, melting on a human doorstep. All domesticated. Begging for attention like somebody’s pet.”

A laugh rumbled out of my chest-half snarl, half amusement.

“If I’m running like this with a curse bleeding my strength away,” I shot back, “imagine me at full power, dear Silas.”

Kael surged up beside me, way too energized for someone who never shut up. “Speaking of that- important question on behalf of the entire pack. Which sister did you pick? Let me guess…. Elizabeth?”

I cut him off, voice hard. “I didn’t pick any of them.”

Kael’s smug little confidence faltered.

“But,” I added, “I found someone a lot more interesting in that house.”

The bond went dead quiet.

Cassian’s voice came through next, wary. “Someone more interesting? Who?”

“You’ll know when it’s time.”

Kael groaned like he was personally suffering. “Oh, he’s being mysterious. That smells like forbidden romance.”

“Go to hell, Kael,” I growled.

The trees broke apart, and the cliff appeared ahead-our finish line carved into the edge of a drop- off, wind slicing hard enough to sting.

Kael came barreling behind us, yelling out loud now, because of course he was. “Silas, are you seeing this? Two mountains sprinting like their male pride depends on it. Relax, boys-it’s a race, not a battle for the crown.”

Silas laughed behind us. “If you shut up, maybe you’ll catch them.”

Kael took a narrow shortcut and sounded way too pleased with himself. “Showtime.”

I was neck and neck with Cassian.

He ran like everything in life was a duty. Like fun was a foreign language,

Then Kael shoved me.

Hard.

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4:15 pm

Chapter 74

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I veered off my line, slammed into Cassian, and we both went down-rolling dangerously close to the edge.

The valley yawned open below us.

My claws dug into stone.

Cassian’s did too..

Kael flew past, voice dripping with fake innocence. “Oops. Almost took a little trip down there.”

Cassian recovered first and launched forward.

He crossed the line first.

I came in right behind him, fury still burning hot in my chest.

Silas arrived laughing.

Kael strolled in last, entirely too satisfied with himself.

Silas bent over, hands on his knees, breathing hard. “Finally. Someone actually beat Átila.”

I stared at Kael. “You cheated. You shoved me on purpose.”

Kael put a hand to his chest like I’d wounded him. “Me? Never. I’m the picture of sportsmanship. If someone slipped, blame fate.”

Cassian turned back, expression unreadable. “Cheated or not, you lost. Accept it for once. Your crown won’t fall off.”

I glared at him, still seething. “You too? You all wake up today and decide to piss me off?”

Cassian didn’t blink. “I almost went over a cliff with you. I think that earns me the right to

comment.”

Kael laughed loud enough to scare birds out of the trees. “Alright, enough drama. Summary of the night: Cassian won, you lost, Silas had the time of his life, and I almost caused a legendary tragedy. Which means-we should celebrate. Butterbrew at the village tavern?”

Silas pointed a finger at Kael like a warning. “As long as you don’t shove anyone into the bar. The owner likes Átila in one piece. Break her favorite toy and the whole village will hunt you down.”

Kael lifted his hands, already lying, “Relax. I’ll behave.”

Cassian started down the path and tossed over his shoulder, “You talk too much. Let’s go before someone asks for a rematch.”

I followed, swallowing the loss.

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4:16 pm

Chapter 74

It wasn’t just pride.

It was the fact that for one second-

I’d lost control.

And that…