The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 124

Liora

Callum had only been gone a second, my mind still playing over what he said.

The tent flap rustled, and before I could even finish pulling on my dress, Mia stepped in with a dreamy, far-off look plastered across her face.

I yelped, “Ah! Mia! What are you—”

“You are not going to believe what Zane just said to me,” she breathed, flopping down on the bench opposite mine.

I braced myself, smoothing my dress over my legs, remembering what I’d overheard between them. “Do I want to know?”

“Um—yeah! He told me I’m different. That I’m not like all the other girls here.” Her smile stretched wide, cheeks flushed like she’d just run a mile. “And not in a pity way, either. Like he really sees me. And wants me to see him.”

I sat back, tugging the strap at my wrist a little tighter. “Mia…”

She tilted her head. “What?”

“You know Zane. He’s… Zane. Fun to flirt with, sure, but he’s not exactly mate material.”

Her brows knit, the glow in her eyes dimming. “You went on a date with him. It’s not like you don’t see his value. Besides, you’re special, Liora. You don’t get it. He treats me like any other wolf. Not like some wolfless nobody who’s lucky to be here.”

I kept my tone careful. “That’s because Zane treats everyone the same—himself first. He’s not evil, but he’s not looking out for anyone but Zane.”

“That’s not true,” she snapped, voice sharpening. “I think you’re just jealous.”

I blinked, my brain flipping over on itself. “Jealous? Mia, I promise you—”

“Ever since he started talking to me, and whenever I bring him up, you’re all—” She waved her hands vaguely. “Warning labels and red flags. Maybe because your date with him didn’t go well.”

“Reminder: it was never a date,” I said evenly. “And I’m not jealous, Mia. I just know how he operates. Now more than ever.”

She folded her arms. “No, you don’t. You’re strong, Liora. You have options. But you’ve never had to wonder if someone could actually like you for you—not as some pity toy they can mess with. Like Boys saying they like you, then leading you to the garden just to dump trash water on you.”

“Mia—”

“Or have a guy ask you out, only to be stood up—and then have the photos passed around school.”

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