The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 472

And I’d learned that lesson well. I’d kept everyone at a distance, even Bianca. Especially Bianca. I’d never loved her, and I had never even tried to. Because loving her would have meant giving her power over me, and I knew better than that.

It was safer to stay cold. Safer to keep my guard up.

But then Liora happened.

Liora, who’d looked at me like I was more than just my family name or my inheritance. Who’d challenged me and argued with me and made me laugh even when everything felt impossible. Who’d made me want to be better, to do better, to fight for something real.

I’d let my guard down with her. I’d opened my heart to her in a way I’d never done with anyone else. And for a while, it had felt right. It had felt like maybe this was what I’d been missing my entire life.

But now I wasn’t so sure.

Because if she really loved me the way she said she did, wouldn’t she fight for us? Wouldn’t she trust me enough to let me mark her, to let me help her bring her wolf back? Wouldn’t she choose us, even when it was dangerous, just as I had done?

I thought our relationship was built on trust and mutual respect. On choosing each other even when it was hard. Choosing each other especially when it was hard. But apparently, I was wrong.

My chest felt hollow. Empty. Like something vital had been carved out and left behind in those woods.

I pushed off the tree and started walking again. Campus came into view ahead of me, the lights from the dorms glowing in the growing darkness. Students were milling around outside, laughing and talking like everything was normal.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and kept my head down as I passed them.

I didn’t respond. I tossed my phone onto the bed and flopped back against the mattress with my arms spread wide.

The thing was, I still loved her. That hadn’t changed. And it probably never would, no matter how much I wanted it to. I knew I would still help her with everything involving Bianca and the King and that witch. I would still fight for her kingdom and do whatever I could do to protect her.

Because that was what you did when you loved someone. You had their back, even when it hurt. But I also knew that I wouldn’t open my heart like that again. I couldn’t.

It was too dangerous. Too painful.

I had let my guard down once, and it had nearly destroyed me. I wouldn’t make that mistake twice.