The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 361

The first note was loud and raucous, nearly drowning out the roar of the crowd. Around us, the bar patrons surged forward, and I went with them without thinking, pulled in by the music.

Somewhere in the first song, Callum appeared at my side.

He didn’t say anything. Neither did I. We just stood there together in the dark with the music pouring over us, and it felt easy in a way that I hadn’t expected it to. Easy like the dinner had been. Easy like breathing.

By the third song, I was singing along under my breath. I glanced at Callum once and caught him doing the same thing, lips moving quietly, and something about that made me smile so wide I had to look away.

The crowd loosened up as the set went on. People started moving more, and eventually I was moving too. Callum matched my movements. His hand found my hip, and for once, I didn’t try to move it away.

In fact, I even found myself leaning into him. Letting the music take us both somewhere else for a few moments, somewhere that there wasn’t any hurt between us and we could just… be.

It was nice. Nicer than nice, actually.

It was perfect.

Toward the end of the set, the band played a slower song. Somehow, although whether by conscious thought or purely driven by alcohol and the music I wasn’t sure, we ended up closer together. Callum’s other hand moved to my waist. He turned me to look at him. Without thinking, I put my arms around his neck and let him rest his forehead against mine.

We stayed like that throughout the song, eyes shut, just swaying and listening to the music and the crowd sing along. I breathed in Callum’s scent, and for a brief moment, I felt that familiar flicker in my chest, as if my wolf was stretching from wherever she’d been in her deep sleep.

But then the song ended, and the lights came up, and the crowd began to thin and scatter. Callum released me, stepping back, and my wolf’s presence faded.

I opened my eyes to find Callum looking down at me. His smile had faded, leaving temporary lines around his mouth.

“I guess I should get you home,” he said quietly. His voice was rough from cheering.

I nodded, knowing he was right, and let him guide me out of the bar.

The cold night air was a soothing balm against my hot face. Callum took me to his car and opened the door for me like a perfect gentleman. When he climbed into the driver’s seat, he leaned over and kissed me.

I let him.

The drive back to campus was a little too short and quiet. My mind raced the entire time, thinking back on the night.

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