The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 292

Callum’s POV

“...Remember the night that wolfless Liora Belrose proved you all wrong. Again.”

I stared up at the television in shock. Someone had cast the livestream to the TV, and all eyes were now glued to the screen. The music went quiet, and even the bartender, an older, gruff man in his sixties, was watching with interest.

Liora was standing in the woods, surrounded by men as a white van idled in the background. She was bruised and disheveled and, just a few minutes ago, she had been begging for her life with a sack over her head.

Now, she was coolly accepting Mr. Alder’s challenge.

Her cold resolve was impressive, but it didn’t change the fact that this wasn’t right. It was downright evil.

When I’d asked the principal to let her retake the exam, I never expected… this. I thought she would be called for a second chance, not kidnapped and terrified.

This was sickening. I wanted to turn it off, and yet I couldn’t. Everyone already had their phones out, ready to vote. Beside me, Bianca tightened her grip on my arm.

“Well, this is playing out in a rather interesting way,” she whispered in my ear as the camera followed Liora deeper into the woods. Her shoulders were back, her posture straight and determined, but I could tell she was still frightened. She just didn’t want to show it.

I glanced at Bianca. “Don’t you think this is horrific? Mr. Alder should never have been allowed to do this to a student.”

Bianca simply shrugged. “She was given the opportunity to back out, and she chose to go through with the test. Seems to me like she’s a perfectly consenting adult in the matter.”

I stared at her, stunned. Consenting? Consenting? Liora had been accosted and taken by strange men in the middle of the night! Even if she now knew she wasn’t in danger, I couldn’t imagine the terror Liora must have felt in the moments leading up to this.

And even if she had agreed to this in the long run, she was still coerced into it. If she refused, she would fail her field test and have to repeat the semester. That wasn’t a fair “choice” to make, and Alder knew fully well that she would endanger herself for the sake of getting her passing grade.

“Now,” Mr. Alder said, gesturing to a wide, muddy pit in the shape of a circle. Several items were strewn about—barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls, a jumprope, and more. “We’ll begin Miss Belrose’s exam with a test of her physical abilities.”

Alder went on to explain the rules of the first portion of the exam. It seemed simple enough—circuits of various exercises, all to be completed within the time frame. It was simple for someone like me, at least.

But for Liora, who had no wolf to lend her its strength, it would be very difficult. The weights were heavy, and the ground was slick with mud. That, combined with her obvious injuries, she was already at a disadvantage.

Bianca snorted and folded her arms. “This is a waste of time. A wolfless like her would never pass a test like this.”

“Excuse me?” a voice called out. I turned to see Amy, one of the other wolfless, standing nearby with a scowl. “There are plenty of wolfless in the weight lifting club! Besides, Liora is strong.”

Bianca pushed her lower lip out and checked her nails. “That’s a sweet sentiment, but, I mean… look at her! She’s clearly already exhausted and injured. We should all just save her the pain by voting her out now, before this goes on for too long.”

A few students murmured in agreement, pulling out their phones to cast their votes. Amy grumbled something and stormed off, rejoining her friends at their table.

I looked back at the screen.

Liora had begun her test, and despite her injuries, she was doing well already. She’d completed the first station—weighted squats—and was moving onto the next with practiced ease. I watched as she picked up a barbell loaded with what looked like two forty-five pound plates on each side and began to do deadlifts.

Her cheeks puffed out with air as she struggled to lift the weights, but she didn’t stop. In fact, her determination was infectious. I found myself leaning forward, eager to see her finish out the set.

“Her legs are shaking! But she’s still determined.”

Indeed, the determination on Liora’s face was palpable through the TV screen. Her mouth was set in a hard line, her eyes fixed on her next challenge. It made my wolf perk forward, intrigued in the same way he had been all the other times when Liora had let her skills shine through.

I leaned on the bar, too, taking a long chug of my drink before slamming the cup down.

But Liora froze when Mr. Alder led her to the next portion of her test. We all did.

It was a wooden obstacle course, built tens of feet into the air. The camera panned to reveal tall walls to climb, narrow pillars to hop across, and balancing beams that could result in bone-breaking falls.

And worst of all was the portion just before the end.

Alder’s lackeys stood on either side with ropes in their hands. Upon releasing them, large, battering ram-shaped beams went swinging down in opposite directions. Back and forth, forth and back, on a constant arc like two pendulums swinging in alternation.

Liora was going to have to get past those without getting hit.

Otherwise, she was gonna get seriously hurt.

Alder turned toward the camera again and sneered visibly.

“For Miss Belrose’s second test, she must complete this obstacle course within the time limit. Which starts… NOW!”