The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90

MAYA

I woke

up

hot.

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Not sunlight-through-the-curtains hot. Not summer-morning hot. This was deeper. Restless. A slow, unsettling heat pulsing under my skin like it lived in my bloodstream. It was there in that quiet space between one heartbeat and the next-a primitive warning.

My body knew before my mind was ready to admit it.

The cycle was starting again.

I rolled onto my side and looked at the calendar tacked to the wall. The red circle around the next full moon stared back at me. Three days.

I drew in a slow breath, deliberate, controlled-like that alone could steady me.

Three days until containment. Lock the bedroom door. Secure the discreet but unbreakable chain to the bed frame. Safety protocol. For me. For everyone else.

At the peak, something inside me always slipped its leash. Something less rational. Less civilized. And that was when the blood I came from-the past threaded through my family line-got loud. Too loud to ignore.

I pushed myself out of bed and went through my routine. The shower was cold. It had to be. Even then, the spray felt too warm against skin that was already overly sensitive. When I dried off, the drag of the towel almost hurt.

In the mirror, my eyes looked brighter. Sharper. Like the world had been turned up to a higher saturation setting.

I pulled on jeans and a T-shirt, grabbed coffee to go, and headed to the University.

The campus buzzed with its usual morning chaos-laughter, backpacks slung over shoulders, conversations layered on top of each other. I walked fast, almost jogging so I wouldn’t be late for my first class.

That’s when my foot caught on a loose slab of concrete,

My balance tipped. My heart lurched. I braced for the slam of pavement.

It never came,

A strong arm wrapped around my waist, firm and steady, hauling me upright.

I looked up.

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Chapter 90

Átila.

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We were close. Too close. Close enough that I could see the faint imperfections in his lips, the exhaustion shadowing his brown eyes.

For one purely reckless, visceral second, I wanted him to kiss me.

He stepped back first. Dropped his arm like I’d burned him. His expression went hard. Professional.

“Be more careful. You could’ve gotten seriously hurt.”

My breath was still uneven. “Thanks. I was distracted.” I forced a small smile, trying to gather what was left of my composure. “So… how was your first night in the apartment? Get settled okay?”

“It was fine. No complaints.” Short. Controlled. As always.”

“I’m glad. And seriously-if you need anything. Tools, sugar, whatever. That’s what neighbors are for, right?”

He gave a brief nod. “I appreciate the offer.”

His eyes flicked around at the passing groups of students, then he lowered his voice slightly. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“Could you avoid mentioning to anyone that we’re neighbors?” His tone stayed calm, but there was steel underneath it. “I prefer to keep my private life and my professional life separate.”

I glanced around instinctively, like the campus itself might be eavesdropping. “Yeah. Of course. No problem.”

“Thank you.”

With one last nod, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I stood there a second longer, the ghost of his fingers still branded into my waist. I closed my eyes, embarrassment finally catching up with me.

What are you doing, Maya? You need to stop.

The first class blurred past. I was technically present, but all my senses were turned inward, tracking the low burn simmering beneath my skin,

The second class was his.

I chose a seat where I could watch him without being obvious about it.

Átila walked in and the room shifted. Conversations died down. He carried authority like it was

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4:24 pm M

Chapter 90

0445

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stitched into his bones. No nonsense. No room for cute comments or laziness. He was strict, and he didn’t bother pretending otherwise.

I watched his hands as he wrote on the board. The line of his shoulders under his blazer. The his voice filled the room without ever rising.

And then I started noticing things.

way

When he turned from the board and scanned the room, his gaze would sweep across everyone- then catch on mine for half a second too long before moving on.

When he asked a complex question, his eyes would skim over the eager faces… and land on me. Like he was waiting for something. A silent confirmation I couldn’t give him.

It was subtle. But it happened again. And again.

A soft, dangerous realization unfurled inside me.

I’m not the only one overthinking this.

The

energy

under my

skin grew restless. Demanding. It needed an outlet. A distraction. A game.

I quietly opened my backpack and pulled out a small yogurt. The lid peeled back with a soft pop. Keeping it low beneath the desk, I ran my finger along the inner seal, gathering the last of the creamy residue.

He was facing the board, explaining something.

I kept my eyes on him as I brought my finger to my mouth and slowly, deliberately, licked it clean.

He turned at that exact second.

Like he felt it.

His

eyes

locked onto mine. Dropped to my mouth-still damp. To my hand lowering beneath the desk. To the yogurt that wasn’t quite hidden.

His words cut off mid-sentence,

One full heartbeat passed.

His stare pinned me in place so hard the air stalled in my throat.

“No food is allowed in my classroom.” His voice sliced through the silence. Rough. Direct. Only for

Every head in the room turned.

Heat flooded my face. I shoved the yogurt back into my bag under the chair.

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4:24 pm M

Chapter 90

“I’m sorry, Professor,” 1 muttered, my voice smaller than I meant it to be.

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He held my gaze a second longer. His face looked paler than usual. A faint sheen of sweat glinted at his temples-even though the room was cold.

He didn’t add anything else. Just drew in a controlled breath and turned back to the board, his movements sharper. Tighter.

I looked down at my notebook, but a small, victorious smile tugged at my mouth. I bit the inside of my cheek to suppress it.

His reaction had been clear.

He was just as affected as I was.

When the bell rang, I shot to my feet, intending to catch him before he left.

He moved faster.

He gathered his materials with brisk efficiency and slipped out the door before I even reached the aisle.

I stood in the middle of the emptying classroom, frustration stabbing sharp in my chest.

I just wanted to apologize again… what is his problem?

I shrugged to myself.

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