The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 124

Liora

Callum had only been gone a second, my mind still playing over what he said.

The tent flap rustled, and before I could even finish pulling on my dress, Mia stepped in with a dreamy, far-off look plastered across her face.

I yelped, “Ah! Mia! What are you—”

“You are not going to believe what Zane just said to me,” she breathed, flopping down on the bench opposite mine.

I braced myself, smoothing my dress over my legs, remembering what I’d overheard between them. “Do I want to know?”

“Um—yeah! He told me I’m different. That I’m not like all the other girls here.” Her smile stretched wide, cheeks flushed like she’d just run a mile. “And not in a pity way, either. Like he really sees me. And wants me to see him.”

I sat back, tugging the strap at my wrist a little tighter. “Mia…”

She tilted her head. “What?”

“You know Zane. He’s… Zane. Fun to flirt with, sure, but he’s not exactly mate material.”

Her brows knit, the glow in her eyes dimming. “You went on a date with him. It’s not like you don’t see his value. Besides, you’re special, Liora. You don’t get it. He treats me like any other wolf. Not like some wolfless nobody who’s lucky to be here.”

I kept my tone careful. “That’s because Zane treats everyone the same—himself first. He’s not evil, but he’s not looking out for anyone but Zane.”

“That’s not true,” she snapped, voice sharpening. “I think you’re just jealous.”

I blinked, my brain flipping over on itself. “Jealous? Mia, I promise you—”

“Ever since he started talking to me, and whenever I bring him up, you’re all—” She waved her hands vaguely. “Warning labels and red flags. Maybe because your date with him didn’t go well.”

“Reminder: it was never a date,” I said evenly. “And I’m not jealous, Mia. I just know how he operates. Now more than ever.”

She folded her arms. “No, you don’t. You’re strong, Liora. You have options. But you’ve never had to wonder if someone could actually like you for you—not as some pity toy they can mess with. Like Boys saying they like you, then leading you to the garden just to dump trash water on you.”

“Mia—”

“Or have a guy ask you out, only to be stood up—and then have the photos passed around school.”

The cheers, the chatter. About her. The riots outside the school. About her.

My teeth ground hard enough to crack. Not that I ever could.

Still, I was riding the afterglow of my little “win.” And unlike everyone else, I knew exactly who to thank.

“Really,” I purred, one manicured hand resting lightly on the official’s arm—the referee from Liora’s and my match—as he lingered by the judges’ table, “I can’t thank you enough for your… discretion. It’s so rare to find people who understand that rules are flexible for the right people.”

He laughed nervously, eyes flicking around. “Miss—”

“Oh, please.” I leaned in, lowering my voice like I was sharing the sweetest secret. “It’s Bianca. And my father will make sure you’re properly… compensated.” I let the word linger, smiling just enough to make him sweat. “He values loyalty above all else.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He nodded, mumbling something about being happy to help. I left him to choke on his conscience—if he had one—and headed for the locker rooms.

Steam and soap hit me the moment I pushed through the door. The space was warm and damp, thick with citrus-sharp body wash and the chatter of girls coming and going. My boots clicked across the tile until I reached my bench—the one everyone knew not to touch.

I tugged at the buckles of my chest plate, letting it fall into one of my girls’ waiting hands. Another was already crouched at my feet, quick and careful with the greaves so she wouldn’t smudge the shine.