The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

ÁTILA

I carried her all the way

home.

I don’t remember the route.

I don’t remember how far it was.

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All I remember is the weight of Maya in my arms-too light, too still-and the sound of Beatrice’s quiet crying behind me. Miss Langford walked at my side, her breathing uneven, as if she were

fraid to make noise in the presence of something sacred.

The gates were already open when we arrived.

A few of the pack were waiting at the entrance. Kael stood rigid, his jaw locked tight. Silas traightened the second he saw me. Cassian froze completely.

His gaze went straight to Maya in my arms.

For a second, he stared.

Then he turned his face away, devastated.

walked past them without a word and went straight inside. I climbed the stairs slowly, as if moving oo fast might steal whatever time I had left with her. I carried Maya into my bedroom and laid her on the bed with care, adjusting her body as if she were only sleeping. As if she might wake up at any noment and this would all turn out to be some horrible misunderstanding.

3ut she didn’t wake up.

Miss Langford stopped just behind me. When she spoke, her voice was hollow.

‘What do I do now?”

I stared at Maya’s face for a few seconds before answering. I took a deep breath and spoke without urning around.

‘I want you to bring someone here.”

Then I turned to face her.

“Go downstairs. Tell Silas to gather the pack and bring me a mage named Wilfred. He’s living on a small property in Hollow Creek.”

Her eyes widened.

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Chapter 81

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“A mage?” she asked, stunned. “One who lives out there? With all due respect, Alpha Átila… have you lost your mind? Shouldn’t we be preparing for the funeral?”

I turned slowly, my voice low and final.

“Don’t ask me any more questions, Langford. Do what I told you. Tell Silas to run like wolves. They have only a few hours to get here with Wilfred.”

She swallowed hard, cast one last look at Maya lying on the bed, and nodded.

All right,” she said quietly. “I’ll do what

you asked.”

When she left, the room fell back into silence.

I stepped closer to Maya and took her hand.

Cold.

The sensation hit my chest like a blunt strike, but I didn’t let it show. I tightened my grip, anchoring nyself in the pain, because if I let go in that moment, I would completely fall apart.

I’m sorry… for not getting there in time. But damn it, Maya-what were you thinking, going back lone? You promised me.” I swallowed the knot in my throat, dragged in a sharp breath, and kept going, unable to look anywhere but her face. “I respect your choice. I do. You wanted to face your Family, to close that chapter… I’m sorry. But you still left me with this cursed guilt crushing my chest.” My voice broke, and I stopped for a second, fighting what was rising. “In some way, I do ›lame myself-for not saving you. If some wish-granting bastard showed up right now and offered ne one single wish, I wouldn’t ask for power. Or time. Or anything like that. I’d only ask to have protected you from yourself. From those wounds that never healed inside you.”

Control finally slipped. My chest tightened, and the tears fell silently-heavy, no sobs.

‘I didn’t get the chance to tell you… but I love you. And it’s not just this irrational pull dragging me oward you. I love you because I truly, honestly fell in love with you. I love the way you are. Your voice. Your scent. The way you pretended you didn’t need me, even when all I wanted was to protect you from everything and everyone.” My voice dropped. “I love you, my love. I waited centuries to meet you… and maybe now it’ll take centuries to learn how to live without you.”

[ stopped and bit my lip, trying to rein in the storm inside me,

Slowly, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, staying there-too close to leave, unable to look away. I kept staring at her face as if the world had frozen, unaware of time passing, of how many hours dragged by in that silence.

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