99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 109

“What?” I gasped, startled by his sudden move. My cheeks flushed bright red, and my hand trembled, causing the stack of small boxes to scatter across the floor with a clatter.

“No, I just…” I stammered, trying to explain, “I was counting how many there are, I was thinking of moving them to the closet for safekeeping.”

“Why? Are there not enough gifts? Why stuff them away, Claire?”

“Lucien!” I raised my voice, “What are you thinking? I-I didn’t mean it!”

Lucien’s gaze locked onto mine, his voice carrying a hint of playful sarcasm. “I’m injured, so I might not be able to satisfy you today. But-”

My face burned with embarrassment, and I wished I could dig a hole and hide in it. Why was he teasing like this?

Taking a deep breath, I finally said, “It’s probably better that way. I’ll just throw them away.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lucien suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me firmly against his broad chest.

My eyes widened in shock, instinctively wanting to struggle.

But just then, a muffled groan escaped Lucien’s lips, “Ouch! My chest hurts. Claire, why must you wound me more?” His expression melts from his usual chilling features to one of a wounded puppy.

“Oh my Goddess, Lucien. I’m sorry. Tell me what’s wrong? Where did I hurt you?” Panic washed over me,

“Is it hurting here? Let me help you, Lucien.”

I quickly placed my hand on his chest, and began to gently rub it.

However, my fingers soon detected a small, hard bump, rather than swelling or discomfort from an injury.

My heart raced, thinking it might be an inflamed area from the previous injury with the Bear. In a moment of panic, without thinking, I yanked open his hospital gown.

The bright light illuminated the well-defined contours of his chest, revealing tanned skin marked by signs of fitness. That small bump was clearly his n****e.

My mind went,blank, as if struck by lightning.

I could feel my face burning as if it would explode from the intense heat. The chemistry between us magnified the awkwardness of the moment.

Lucien’s deep laughter finally broke free, “You did that on purpose. Claire, if you wanted me naked, all you had to do was,say so.”

“I didn’t!” I exclaimed and shook my head vigorously. “You have to believe me! I was really worried about your injury, not trying to-”

I was so flustered I could hardly speak. How could I have been so foolish and impulsive? Of course, it was his damn n****e, what else would it have been?

I mentally facepalmed myself.

“Oh really?”

I felt utterly humiliated. If he kept teasing me like this, I wouldn’t know how to face him.

I jumped to my feet, my hands nervously twisting together as I looked away. “Um, since this hospital is so nice and the nurses must be professional, Lucien, maybe I should go rest and come back to see you tomorrow morning?”

Lucien’s smile faded instantly, replaced by unspoken disappointment.

“How can you say that? Here I lay, helpless and vulnerable to the outside world with broken ribs and a leg that was nearly severed. Are you sure you want to leave now?”

I wanted to argue with him. I wanted to challenge his words, but I couldn’t. Part of me thought that he was playing the injuries up to keep me by his side, but what if he wasn’t?

I reminded myself that, yet again, because of me and my stubborn determination to break through to him, Lucien was injured.

How could I abandon him, even for just one night?

With a resigned sigh, I slowly sat back down in the chair by his side.

This time, however, I deliberately dragged my chair farther away, almost pressed against the cold glass.

“Well, I’ll sit here and keep watch. Lucien, if you need anything, just call me.” I lowered my head, staring at my shoelaces while forcing my libido to calm the heck down.

“What’s wrong? Can’t control your urges? Is my vulnerable state too tempting for you? Isn’t playing nurse a thing for females?”

“Not funny, Lucien! I’m sitting over here because it’s cooler over here.”

Lucien didn’t let me off that easily. “This ward is temperature-controlled. It’s the same wherever you sit. Try again, Claire.”

I blushed and looked out at the early night’s sky, pretending to focus on the view. “I’ll just look at the night scene.”

“Come here, Claire.” Lucien commanded.

I felt uncomfortable all over, instinctively resisting the urge. “No, I don’t want to.”

“I’ll count to three. One, two…” His voice grew heavier, filled with authority.

I knew exactly what that tone meant. Before he reached three, I resignedly moved my chair back to his bedside.

Lucien glanced past me at the small bed next to his, neatly made with white sheets, and simply said, “Stop being stubborn. Get up there and sleep.”

I looked at the couple’s bed, adorned with heart-shaped pillows and rose patterns, and hesitated.

Lucien raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing me. “Not listening again?”

A silent sigh spread through my heart.

With no other choice, I awkwardly climbed onto the bed.

At first, I faced away from Lucien; my body was noticeably tense and rigid.

Yet even with my back turned, I could feel the heat of his gaze burning into me, penetrating through my thin clothing, leaving me with nowhere to hide.

My heart raced.

I held my breath and slowly turned to face him.

Our eyes locked instantly.

The air around us seemed to freeze.

It had been so long since we had looked at each other like this, without any barriers, perhaps since childhood.

In those early years in Crown of Thornes pack, when my mother was busy working, she would often return home late. Lucien would always appear at our doorstep.

Though we weren’t blood relatives, Lucien treated me with more kindness and protection than a real brother would have.

He patiently taught me to ride the tall brown horse, helped me pull back the bow that was too heavy for me to steady, clumsily tried to cook me meals in the kitchen, and carefully took me on the back of his bike.

We even snuck into the orchard behind the old, abandoned packhouse that had long been ruined decades ago in battle. We would pick the unripe fruit before the omegas or warriors could chase us away. The fruit was sour enough to make us grimace, yet we laughed heartily like true bandits of the pack.

Lucien never cared that I was born wolfless and wouldn’t allow anyone to mention it as an insult.

A wave of intense nostalgia and sorrow washed over me. Tears unexpectedly welled up in my eyes.

Lucien quickly noticed the glimmer of tears in my eyes, his throat tightening instinctively, “Why are you crying, Claire?”

“It’s nothing.” I snapped back to reality, quickly wiping my eyes, “I just suddenly thought of our childhood.”

Lucien fell silent for a moment.

He reached out, gently brushing away the wetness on my cheek.

“Claire, I am not saying that I believe everything you said. But, about what you said today, I’ll look into it again.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I nearly shot up, instinctively gripping the blanket tightly, my eyes fixed on Lucien, “Lucien, do you mean it? You’re willing to investigate what happened back then?”