The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 89

A murmur ran through the hall.

Bianca’s smirk flickered in fear, just for a heartbeat.

I straightened my shoulders and closed my eyes, reaching for the part of me that had always been there. The wolf that had always answered when I called.

It should have been easy.

I focused on the wild pulse in my chest, on the hot flush of anger, on the memory of claws and fur and teeth.

But there was nothing.

No heat. No spark. No shift waiting just under my skin.

My body stayed exactly as it was, trembling slightly from the effort.

I opened my eyes to silence.

Then the laughter started.

It spread like fire, filling every corner of the hall. Students leaned into each other, whispering, pointing.

And Bianca, her smirk returned in full force, sharp with relief.

“Um? Where you trying to transform? Pfft. What a loser. Guess it really was all talk,” she said sweetly. “How disappointing.”

I stared at my hands…

My wolf… What? How?!

I turned on my heel and shoved through the crowd, not caring who I hit. Callum stepped forward, eyes wide, but I pushed past him without slowing. Zane was there, too, leaning against the lockers, watching everything with that unreadable face, but I didn’t stop for him either.

I just kept moving.

The bathroom door slammed behind me, and I locked it, leaning against the cold tile for a second before forcing myself toward the mirror.

I stared at my reflection. My hair was a mess from my shower this morning, my dress shirt rumpled, but none of that mattered.

I gripped the sink until my knuckles whitened, the porcelain slick beneath my fingers. The mirror threw back the same image I’d been staring at for what felt like forever: a girl with bags under her eyes, lips pressed tight, and a steadiness that felt like it was about to fracture.

I forced my eyes shut and drew in a long breath through my teeth. One more time.

Focus.

Find it.

Change. Transform.

I braced my hands against the sink, closed my eyes, and tried again.

I hated that thought more than I hated the laughter echoing down the hall.

I straightened, forcing my breathing back under control. The mirror reflected someone calm, collected, as if none of this had touched her. But my hands betrayed me, they wouldn’t stop trembling.

I curled them into fists, holding on to that single truth:

I don’t need anyone to fix me.

Not my father.

Not Callum.

Not Zane.

If my wolf was gone, then… I would figure it out on my own. Get it back no matter what.

Slowly, deliberately, I wiped my hands down the front of my shirt, smoothed back my hair, and turned away from the mirror.

I unlocked the door and walked out, my head high, as if nothing had happened.

The truth settled over me, heavier than anything I’d felt before.

I really was wolfless now.