The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

I stayed quiet. The silence stretched.

“I’m wearing a lace set you’d like,” she added, voice low, teasing. “It’s lonely in this room without you. And no one will be here until morning…”

“Bianca.”

“Mm?”

“That’s not going to work.”

There was a pause, just long enough to catch the strain in her breath.

“Why don’t you like it when I talk to you like this?” she asked, her voice silk over steel. “I’m gorgeous. I’m the Alpha female. And you treat me like-”

“I treat you with respect,” I said, quiet but firm. “We’re underage. We’re not married. I won’t take your body

before then.”

I paused, then added, “This is how I love. If that’s not enough, just say it.”

Another silence. Sharper this time. Like something inside her flinched.

Then, more softly, more dangerous, “You’re being distant. Cold. Every since-”

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

She paused, and I could hear her sheets moving. “Are you… sure it’s not because of her?”

I didn’t answer.

“Because I just did what needed to be done, like a true Alpha.”

I still said nothing, picking absently at my nail.

“I really hope you’re not confusing infatuation for true fate,” she said, voice turning brittle beneath the silk. “You and I? We make sense. Liora is just a… detour.”

A flicker of heat burned in my chest. “I don’t need a reminder.”

“You keep saying that,” she snapped breathlessly. “But at the end of the day, Callum, your choices aren’t making me happy. And that should be your only priority. Me. Your future Luna. Your pack. Our bloodline’s reputation. Or have you forgotten who you’re supposed to be? You’re role?”

She let that hang between us like a loaded threat wrapped in silk and perfume.

“Goodnight, Bianca,” I said at last, calm and cold as stone. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

1/2

Chapter 52

+15 BONUS

“I love you,” she hummed.

“Yeah.” My head title back, squeezing my eyes shut. “I love you too.”

I hung up before she could twist the knife any deeper.

My phone tossed onto my desk with more force than necessary and flopped back onto the mattress. The ceiling stared down at me like it was waiting for something. An apology maybe. Or maybe a broken beam. to fall on me. Whichever came first.

Still, I couldn’t help my thoughts, how they wondered back to Liora, Zane…

He was acting so weird with her. I knew what that meant, I just didn’t want to admit it.

If Zane’s into her… truly into her, maybe that’s a good thing.

Yeah, he’s a slacker. But at least he feels things, loud, honest, stupid feelings he wears on his sleeve. He wouldn’t let her fade into the background, or hide behind “duty” while she’s shredded in the crossfire.

And he can afford it. He’s got siblings to pick up the family banner if he drops it. He can bend the rules, maybe even break them.

Me? I was the miracle baby, one–and–done for our massive clan. The entire pack’s future in a single

convenient heir.

So of course I’m the one who can’t choose her. Some of us have responsibility.

Their faces flickered through my mind, smiles, proud words, well wishes for my send–off to school. Ms. Ginny’s cookies. Alfred’s jerky sticks. Even the care box they send every month, stuffed with gifts and food and notes telling me to graduate with honors, bring pride back to the clan, marry well.

It was never just my parents. It’s everyone. The whole damn town, the clan, waiting for me to do everything right.

I rolled onto my side, facing the window again. The cracked pane winked at me in the moonlight.

There’s no winning move here. No path that doesn’t end with someone bleeding.

I can’t protect her and love her.

And I can’t be happy and make my clan proud at the same time.

I pressed my fist to my chest like I could crack the feeling out of me.

This is the right thing.

Has to be.

Then why does it feel like I’m the only one taking the hit?

2/2

Chapter 53

+15 BONUS

Chapter 53