The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

ÁTILA

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I knew the day had officially turned into a problem the second I saw Cassian standing behind

Beatrice.

“Bee,” Maya said, way too cheerful. “You’re early.”

“I texted you,” Beatrice shot back, then shifted half a step to the side. “Oh-and I brought someone. Maya, this is Cassian. My cousin.”

Cousin?

I almost laughed. Cousin from where? What crooked branch of the family tree?

What the hell was this asshole doing in their apartment?

I looked straight at him. My stare said what my mouth hadn’t yet: what are you doing here?

Cassian held my gaze a second too long. Then he shrugged, like my irritation didn’t faze him in the slightest.

Maya watched us both, clearly sensing something was off, even if she couldn’t name it. Her eyes lingered on his face just a beat longer. Curious. Slight frown.

“Nice to meet you,” she said politely. “Bee’s cousin, so that makes you family.”

“In a way,” Cassian replied, wearing that practiced half-smile.

Beatrice continued, practical as ever. “Cassian’s staying with us for a few days. The guest room’s empty, right?”

The guest room.

My stomach tightened with something primitive and completely irrational. So he’d be staying here. Under the same roof as Maya? Hell.

“Of course, Bee. No problem at all.”

No problem at all?

Maya turned to me casually.

“Oh, Bee, I want you to meet our neighbor. This is Átila. He’s the professor I told you about.” She whispered the last part.

Beatrice and I exchanged a glance. Fast enough to look casual.

1/5

In that living room, the only person who thought everyone was just meeting for the first time was Maya.

“Nice to meet you,” Beatrice said, perfectly composed.

“Likewise,” I replied.

Maya leaned closer to Beatrice and whispered, thinking I wouldn’t hear. “I’ll tell you everything later.”

Of course she would.

Beatrice shifted her gaze between me and Cassian and said,

“Maya, why don’t we go set up the room for Cassian now?”

“Now? Okay. The rest of the house is a mess, hope you don’t mind,” she answered quickly.

Before leaving, Maya looked at me with a sweetness that could dismantle me completely.

‘Are we still meeting later?”

‘Works for me,” I said, keeping my voice steady.

She walked up to me without hesitation. Rose on her toes and wrapped her arms around me. Her body fit against mine like it had always belonged there. Her scent still got to me.

“Thank you for staying with me these past few days, she whispered in my ear.

I slid my hand through her hair, quick and intimate.

I’d stay a whole year if you needed me to,” I murmured.

She shivered. I felt it. Then she pulled back shyly, like she’d just remembered we had an audience. She followed Beatrice down the hall.

I waited.

I waited until I heard the bedroom door close. Then a few more seconds, just to be sure neither of them could hear us.

Only then did I turn to Cassian.

He was already watching me with that irritating smile.

“Long time, Átila. Miss me, brother?”

I didn’t like his tone. He’d gotten bolder with every passing day.

2/5

:28 pm M

Chapter 97

55 vouchers

“I’d prefer to miss you a little longer,” I answered flatly. “So what are you doing here? I assume you’re not planning to trigger Maya’s memory just for fun.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“My presence would do that?”

“The presence of any of us could.”

He took a slow step across the room, surveying the space like he was assessing territory.

“And what are you doing here?” he countered.

I held his stare without blinking.

“Because I’m her man.”

Cassian took half a step back. Slid his hands into his pockets and tilted his head.

“Beatrice told me you were getting close. So I asked to come. I needed a change of scenery in this city anyway.”

“A change of scenery?” I repeated, incredulous. “Since when do you like leaving Moonville?”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“You might not know this, but I’ve always left regularly.”

I remembered one specific time. The night I found out he used to circle her house.

I almost forgot how much he liked circling the houses of untouched girls. The only saintly thing about Cassian was his face.

“You know,” he said, “I thought we were friends. Figured I’d get a warmer welcome.”

“If you were my friend,” I replied, “you would’ve talked to me before talking to Beatrice.”

He let out a short laugh.

“Beatrice and I have gotten closer. Seemed more appropriate to ask her.”

Appropriate? Give me a break.

“You really think Maya lost her instincts?” I asked. “I may not feel it like before, but she’s probably already picked up on your alpha energy.”

He reached to his neck and pulled out a necklace hidden beneath his shirt. Old metal. Subtle.

“Not when I’m wearing this, brother. You think I’m stupid enough not to plan for that?”

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