The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 309

Callum’s POV

“Callum?” Bianca’s voice was shrill and unwelcome across the hall. “Baby, what are you doing?”

I rubbed my hands over my face, growing wearier by the minute. She’d been here for one day. One. And already, I wanted her to leave.

When I didn’t answer fast enough, she began to bang on the door. Then, when I still didn’t answer, I heard the jingling of keys outside.

My mother had given her one, of course. A skeleton key that could unlock every fucking room in the house. Because her presence here wasn’t enough of an intrusion already.

“You’re a princess, and you should be treated like one,” my mother had said last night in that fake, simpering tone of hers when Bianca and I came home from the carnival. “That’s why you should be able to access every room in the house. What’s ours is yours.”

I should have known that it was just a tactic to sap me of what little dignity and privacy I had left.

Grabbing my laptop, I shot to my feet, rushing over to the door before she could unlock it. I swung it open, plastering a smile across my face, and brushed past her out into the hallway.

“I’d love to hang out,” I said, already moving toward the library, “but I just got an email about the selection process for the new principal. The student council has to prepare an interview.”

Bianca stared after me, but to her credit, she didn’t follow me. She never cared for libraries, anyway.

It was technically true. Part of my tasks as student council leader now involved helping the board select a new principal to take Mr. Alder’s place. A few had already been picked out from the running, and it would be my job to interview them.

But the questions and the process were already set up. I just needed to show up and follow the rules. However, if it would keep Bianca away for a while, then I would milk it as long as I could.

As I tried to work, though, my mind kept wandering. I kept thinking about that kiss last night, how… perfect it had been. How her lips felt against mine. How my wolf had surged forward with a ferocity I hadn’t felt in months, demanding more. Demanding that I claim her right there in the darkness and make her mine again.

And that scent.

Gods, that scent.

It had been overwhelming. Intense. Like standing in the middle of a lightning storm. An Alpha’s scent, powerful and commanding in a way that shouldn’t have been possible for someone who was wolfless.

But the moment we’d broken apart, it was gone. Just… vanished. Like it had never been there at all.

What the hell was going on with Liora? How could a wolfless person have an Alpha’s scent? And why did my wolf react to her like the bond was still there, not fully severed?

None of it made sense.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. A text from my mother flashed on the screen.

“Dinner reservations at 7. Don’t be late. Bianca is so excited.”

I stared at the message, my jaw clenching. Another forced date. Another night of pretending I gave a shit about what Bianca had to say.

I typed back: “Fine.”

The hours crawled by. I stayed in the library until the last possible second, then dragged myself upstairs to change. Bianca was already waiting by the door when I came down, wearing a tight black dress and way too much perfume.

“You look handsome,” she said, looping her arm through mine.

The energy here was electric, nothing at all like the stuffy dinners and fake smiles I’d been dealing with all day.

I watched a few races, the cars tearing down the makeshift track at insane speeds. Money changed hands. People cheered or cursed depending on who they’d bet on. Eventually, the race came to an end, and I turned to leave. I glanced at my phone and noticed several missed calls and texts from Bianca, which I’d definitely have to deal with when I got home.

I was just climbing back into my car when I spotted a couple of familiar faces.

Liora and Zane.

They were standing by a black motorcycle. Liora was tugging on Zane’s jacket, laughing, and my wolf snarled. I remembered their kiss from last night, and jealousy shot through me like a silver-tipped arrow.

Before I knew it, I was ducking behind a nearby car as they passed. My heart raced, although I wasn’t sure why. I just knew one thing: I needed to follow them. My wolf wouldn’t have it any other way.

Instinct took over. The moment they peeled out of the parking lot on that motorcycle, I turned on my car and followed.

They drove through town, weaving between streets until they pulled up to a hotel. Liora climbed off the bike and waved goodbye to Zane, then walked up to the door where a man was standing, smiling at her.

I frowned. Wait—I recognized that man. It was Delta Marcus, the one who’d led the excursion to the rogue encampment.

Liora walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and they headed inside together.

I stared at their fading forms, completely in shock. Was Liora staying at this hotel with him?

What was she doing with one of the King’s officials?