The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 325

Liora’s POV

The morning of my move back to campus dawned clear and bright. The sky was blue, much of the snow had melted, the birds were singing…

Actually, that was a lie. It snowed the night before and it was cold as fuck outside, the sky was gray and gloomy, I overslept, and I couldn’t get my car, which I had lovingly named “Shirley”, started.

But nothing could dim my excitement. Not the weather, not my father’s scolding over missing my alarm, not the fact that the car seemed hell bent on staying right here all day.

Because today, I was going back to school, and right now, that was all that mattered.

“You’ve got everything?” Marcus glanced at the pile of bags in Shirley’s trunk. “You’re sure?”

“Yes, Marcus.” I laughed and hugged the Delta. “You’ll see me in two weeks. Stop acting like I’m never coming back.”

“Well, you never know with that car.”

“I’ll be fine, Marcus.”

I turned to my father then, who was standing nearby, looking mostly proud. Emphasis on “mostly”, because he was still a little wary about my car. About all of it, really. “Stay out of trouble,” he muttered as I embraced him.

“No promises.”

“Liora…”

“Okay, okay. I promise.”

My father hugged me tightly, then released me. I turned to my mother, who was standing inside, looking at me through the window. She still looked pale and gaunt, and she wasn’t happy that I was leaving, but she hadn’t tried to stop me. Belinda stood next to her and smiled at me, waving from the window.

I waved back, but it felt stiff and awkward. Something about the witch still made me uncomfortable, but I could never quite put my finger on it.

Well, at least I was leaving again soon, so I wouldn’t have to think about it. I’d just have to think about Bianca and whatever new goons she had managed to gather for the new semester. At least Alder was gone, so that was one less thing to worry about.

With that, I left. The drive was long, and I had to stop once to put air in a tire that kept leaking. By the time I reached campus, it was mid-afternoon. The parking lot was full of students and their families, saying goodbye for the semester.

“Come on, Shirley,” I said, patting the steering wheel encouragingly as we rattled into a parking space. “You made it this far, girl. Just a few more feet.”

The car sputtered as if in response, but managed to roll to a safe stop in the space. I cringed as I heard something clatter outside, which was probably the back left rim falling off. Again.

As I climbed out, I realized I had gathered an audience already. Students were staring at me, some scratching their heads in confusion, others outright laughing.

“Nice car, Liora,” someone said as I picked up the rim and chucked it into the backseat, planning to fix it later.

“Thanks!” I smiled and slapped the roof of the car. “She’s a work in progress.”

“Yeah. I can tell.”

I knew they weren’t complimenting me, but I didn’t care. Working on this car had been my singular favorite thing to do lately, even if the thing seemed to have it out for me, and whenever I fixed something it would just break again.

Zane and my father and I grew close from working on it. In fact, Zane argued with my father about the engine, which was surprising, because no one ever argued with my father except for me. And even more surprising was the fact that my father didn’t kick him out of the palace after that.

“Mia, please sit down. I want to tell you something.”

She folded her arms and stood her ground. “No.”

I sighed, although I’d expected this. Both Zane and I had.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll tell you standing up, but I won’t catch you when you fall.”

Mia lifted a brow, waiting.

Taking another breath, I launched into my story.

I told her everything. I told her about the reason why I’d come to this school. About Callum and Bianca. I told her about my arrangement with Zane. And most of all, I told her about my identity. It all came rushing out, one thing after the other, like a dam had burst.

Mia listened the entire time, her face going more and more pale with each word. By the time I was finished, she was still standing there, frozen, staring at me in shock. She looked at me.

“You’re… the female Alpha?” she whispered.

I nodded. She looked at Zane then, as if waiting for him to confirm it. He did.

“Oh, Gods…”

Mia’s knees gave out, and she collapsed. Zane caught her before she hit the floor.