The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 398

It had come out so easily. Too easily, I decided, for any of this to be real. I waited to wake up, to discover that this had all just been a dream. But if it was, then it seemed I was stuck in it.

Callum smiled.

“I’ll talk to you more tomorrow,” he said, stooping. He picked up my crutch and, with his free hand, he lifted my arm and tucked the crutch into my armpit. His fingers found mine, warm and sure, and he wrapped them around the handle.

Then, he turned and followed the man down the hall.

I just stood there, watching him go, my face still warm and my leg still twinging beneath me.

It was only when I heard a cough that I turned and realized that the audience still remained. At my look, several dispersed, quickly returning to their rooms. Amy stepped out from amongst the crowd and smiled.

“So,” she said, folding her arms. “You and Callum. Finally.”

I blushed more deeply.

Yeah. Me and Callum.

I hadn’t expected to say yes so easily. But it had happened, and it felt… right. And for the first time since the rogue attack, I felt something stirring deep within me. Not as powerful as before, but it was there. I swore my wolf was humming with approval from somewhere distant.

Mia appeared then, pulling on a hoodie that I’d definitely seen Zane wearing before. She smiled when she saw me and walked over, wrapping her arm around my waist.

“Okay,” she said, steering me gently away from the well-wishers. “Okay, okay. Congratulations, very exciting, now everyone go to bed.” She smiled at the remaining students until they dispersed, then turned to me with both eyebrows raised. “So.”

“Don’t even dare,” I warned her.

She smirked. “I didn’t say anything!”

“Well, keep it that way,” I huffed, but I was smiling, too.

She walked alongside me as we made our way back toward our room. Once we were alone with the door firmly shut behind us, she turned to me and said, “You have to tell him.”

I didn’t pretend not to know what she meant.

“I know,” I said, sinking onto the edge of my bed.

“Like, soon.”

“I know, Mia.”

“If you wait too long—”

I frowned. “What? Why not?”

“Don’t tell him. Not yet.” His voice was firm, and I knew there was no arguing with him when he sounded like that. “Keep your identity to yourself for now.”

“But Dad, I don’t understand. It’s Callum.”

“Liora.” His tone was final. “Obey your father.”

I blinked, confused. This wasn’t like him. My father never just… gave me orders with no explanation or reasoning behind them.

But when nothing else came through the mindlink, I knew there must be a reason for it. Perhaps some kind of safety issue. My father wouldn’t make such a command if it wasn’t serious.

“Okay,” I said at last. “I won’t say anything.”

He didn’t respond with words, but I felt his approval flicker through the bond. Then, it went quiet, leaving me laying there and staring at the ceiling in the dark.

I couldn’t tell Callum about my identity yet. Even though he said he loved me and asked me to be his girlfriend.

Whatever my father’s reason was, I hoped it was a good one. And I hoped I wouldn’t have to hide the truth for too much longer.