The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 440

Callum’s POV

The guards dragged me down a side corridor I didn’t recognize and shoved me into a small room at the end of the hall, slamming the door shut behind me. I stumbled forward, catching myself on the edge of a desk, and turned to see one of them standing in front of the door with his arms crossed.

The room was some kind of study. Shelves stacked with books lined the walls, and a single window looked out over the palace gardens. The moon was bright tonight, casting silver light across the hedges below.

I rubbed my shoulder where one of the guards had grabbed me and glared at the man blocking the door. He stared right back, completely unbothered.

I huffed and moved to the window, looking out. From here, I could just barely see the lights from the grand hall spilling out onto the terrace. The music had started up again, faint and muffled through the stone walls.

Liora was still in there. With that bastard.

My hands curled into fists at my sides. I should have hit him. I should have broken his nose and knocked out a few teeth while I was at it. But I’d hesitated, and now I was stuck in here while Ambrose put his filthy hands all over her.

The thought made my wolf snarl.

I paced the length of the room, trying to think. There had to be a way out of this. I could try to overpower the guards, but that would just make things worse. And even if I did manage to get past them, where would I go? Back to the banquet? That would just get me thrown out again, or worse.

I was still running through my options when I heard footsteps in the hallway outside.

The door opened, and the King stepped inside.

I straightened, my pulse spiking. The guard at the door bowed his head and moved aside as the King entered. He was still wearing his formal robes from the banquet, the deep blue fabric trimmed with gold thread. His face was calm, unreadable, nothing at all like a concerned father who was marrying his only daughter off to a monster.

He looked at me for a moment, then glanced at the guard. “Leave us.”

The guard bowed and stepped out, pulling the door shut behind him. The King and I were alone.

I stood there without moving, unsure of what to expect. Part of me thought he was going to yell. Or worse, have me arrested for attacking a member of the royal family in front of the entire pack. But instead, he just sighed and moved to the chair behind the desk, lowering himself into it slowly.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

I didn’t move. “I’d rather stand.”

He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Suit yourself.”

Silence stretched between us. I waited for him to speak first, even though there was a lot I wanted to say.

Finally, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands in his lap. “I owe you an apology.”

I blinked. “What?”

“For the way you were treated tonight.” His voice was even, calm, like we were discussing trifles. “You were only trying to protect my daughter. That’s admirable.”

I stared at him. “I don’t understand,” I said.

“I know this has been difficult for you,” he went on. “The situation with Liora is… complicated. But I want you to know that I don’t hold any ill will toward you. In fact, I think you’re a fine young man.”

My jaw tightened. “Then why are you forcing her to marry that piece of shit?”

The King’s expression didn’t change. “Ambrose is a suitable match for her. He has the resources, the land, the titles. Everything she needs to maintain her status.”

“She doesn’t want him.”

“What she wants is irrelevant.”

I took a step forward. “She’s your daughter. How can you—”

“Sit down, Callum.”

The command in his voice stopped me cold. I clenched my fists, but I had no choice. My body moved to the chair and sat on instinct. The King watched me the entire time with those sharp, yet unfeeling, eyes.

“I understand that you care for Liora,” he said. “But I’m afraid you’re going to have to let her go.”

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