The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 291

“What’s going on?” I whispered.

Alder took a step forward. “You wanted to retake your field test. Well, here you go.”

“What?”

He threw his arms wide, his grin almost devilish in the headlights from the van. “Look around you, Liora. This is your chance. Unless you’re declining my offer…?”

I looked around once more, and slowly, as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see shapes. We were in the forest, surrounded by trees. An obstacle course loomed in the distance. I couldn’t make out the other things, but I knew now that they were part of my test.

I stood slowly, my knees still aching from the fall. My body was sore all over from fighting in the van, and I was pretty sure my nose was bleeding from when I’d fallen on the ice.

“You were all in on this?” I asked the security officers, shooting them a glare. “I thought I was gonna get raped and murdered!”

The guards shifted nervously on their feet, but Alder waggled his finger at me and pointed at the phone the student was holding.

“Now now, Miss Belrose,” he said, “watch your language. You’re live right now.”

“I’m… live?”

Alder nodded. “Thanks to the selfless efforts of one of your fellow students, I have generously decided to let you retake your field exam—under a few conditions, of course. Your exam is currently being livestreamed on the school’s web page. Right now, hundreds of your peers are watching.”

“And counting,” the student added.

“Furthermore,” Mr. Alder went on, “your field exam will not solely be based on performance—your fellow students will vote on whether you pass or not. Whether they vote in your favor or against it will determine your final grade.”

I stared at the principal. This was insane. Not only had he had a student kidnapped, but he was livestreaming the entire ordeal? And students could vote on whether I passed or not?

But there were others who wanted to see me succeed. Mia and Zane. The girls who were kidnapped by rogues. Even the wolfless, who had been downtrodden, constantly told that they weren’t enough, that wolfless didn’t belong here.

I had to do this. Not just for me, but for them. I had to prove to Mr. Alder and Bianca and everyone who thought that people like me were worthless that I could do it. That I wouldn’t back down from this challenge.

My father would be furious, of course. He would say that I should never have stooped to Alder’s level. He might even threaten to pull me out of school, rendering this entire thing a waste.

But right now, I didn’t care about that. I only cared about accepting the challenge and proving them all wrong.

So I nodded.

“Fine. I accept your challenge, Mr. Alder.” I looked straight into the camera. “And to whoever’s watching, remember the night that wolfless Liora Belrose proved you all wrong. Again.”