99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 11

Shaking off her initial discomfort from my smile, Stephanie’s eyes gleamed with vindication.

I knew that Stephanie Stering had waited years for this moment–a chance to put her despised daughter–in–law in her place, finally.

Liam had always shielded me, not from her words, but from her physical attacks. However, today. for the first time, both her son and mate stood firmly on her side. They both gave her consent to abuse and humiliate me in the name of Breanne.

Stephanie wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.

I arched a lazy brow as I watched Stephanie march ahead like a triumphant general, while I trailed behind, dishevelled and broken, a condemned prisoner marching to my execution.

When we reached the waiting room, I noted that it was still filled with Liam’s ranked unit, but neither Liam nor his father was present.

Soren, Liam’s Gamma, was present, and I saw a flash of pity in his eyes as he took in my physical state when I entered the room.

He should be the one from Liam’s unit that I was closest to. He would be assigned as the Luna’s protector, and if I were sworn in, he would have stood for me in this moment, but since Stephanie still filled that role, I was not to be saved.

Before I could steady myself, Stephanie’s foot lashed out, striking the back of my knees.

“Get on your knees, trash!” She hissed venomously.

A sharp cry escaped my lips as I collapsed forward, hitting the floor with a jarring thud.

“Oh shut up, you agreed to this,” Stephanie sneered. “Don’t act like we’re the villains. After what your little friend and that damned horse did to Breanne, kneeling won’t kill you. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay put!”

With a final glare, Stephanie flounced onto a nearby bench, crossing her legs and scrolling through her phone with a victorious grin.

My back was drenched in cold sweat, my body trembling from exhaustion. Yet I forced myself upright, my palms pressing into the meat of my thighs for leverage to keep my back as straight as possible.

I would not break. If I were going to endure this humiliation, I would do it with dignity.

Every second of suffering was etching itself into the ledger of my mind–a ledger titled Vengeance.

After the Council finalized the rejection, I promised myself that I would get my vengeance on the Sterling pack and family. No one would be spared.

My burning gaze remained focused on the Operating room doors. With each passing minute, I scrubbed Liam’s name from the depths of my heart, erasing it stroke by stroke.

‘Twenty–five more days,‘ I counted inwardly, clinging to the lifeline of my escape. ‘Twenty–five days, and I’m free.”

A crowd had begun to gather. Despite this being on neutral territory, an Alpha family occupying this entire area was arousing the hospital gossip.

Curious onlookers clustered around, murmuring at the sight of the frail and sickly looking woman kneeling before an operating room.

A few of Liam’s unit had the good conscience to look embarrassed.

That was until one of the onlookers stood ahead of the rest and asked what everyone wanted to know.

“What is wrong with you all? Why are you treating her like this? Look at her, she looks half–dead.” Murmuring filled the group, and I watched Soren, in particular, shuffle in discomfort; he wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

Stephanie’s eyes lit up with malicious delight, and she cleared her throat.

“That’s my daughter–in–law,” she announced, her voice dripping with faux sorrow. “I never approved of the mating. She’s jealous, manipulative–couldn’t stand my son showing kindness to my mate’s deceased Beta’s daughter, Breanne! Breanne has always been close to my son; they’ve been best friends since birth.”

“But Claire’s vengeance knows no limits. First, she sicced a deranged horse on Breanne, crushing her ribs. Then today, while Breanne, the poor thing, was healing- She sent her friend to stab her in the chest with a silver knife!” She gestured dramatically toward the OR. “Breanne has always been like a daughter to me, and now she may die from this.”

Cue the f*****g violins, I mean, come on! I wanted to react, but I didn’t take my eyes off the door. Gasps rippled through the crowd. I wasn’t surprised by how quickly the crowd turned on me; one man even spat in my face while calling me unworthy to have a mate at all.

I remained motionless. I kept my shoulders back and chin high. I wouldn’t break, not in front of her. Hours later, the OR doors opened, and Breanne was being wheeled out.

As if summoned by the devil himself, Liam appeared in time to be there as Breanne was being pushed out. He had a small takeout bag with him as he arrived.

Seeing Breanne was fine, and the Doctors confirming with the room that she would be okay, my body finally gave in, and I collapsed hard to the floor.

I did what was required of me; I was done.

The takeout bag appeared in my blurry sight. Liam scooped me onto the bench, setting it beside me with distracted haste.

I noticed that, although he was sitting next to me and holding me up as I didn’t have the strength to do so myself, his gaze never left Breanne.

Breanne was surrounded by dozens wishing her a speedy recovery, while I haven’t been checked on once to ensure I was okay. Not even Liam asked how I was, despite picking me up from the floor.

“Here, sweetheart,” he murmured absently. “I brought you some soup. Eat it while it is hot, okay.”

He released his hold on me, not waiting for a response before striding away. “Breanne? Breanne, can you hear me? It’s Liam. You’re safe now–I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

I slumped against the back of the bench. My head throbbed; my vision flickered in and out. My eyes lazily drifted to the soup container, but I thought of the irony.

I couldn’t lift any of my limbs, so how did he expect me to feed myself?

I hated that I was positioned in front of her Luna room, forced to watch as the bouquets, chocolate treats, and fruit baskets filled the space. Every face radiated for her, saying that she didn’t deserve to be lying there.

My eyes focused on Liam running his fingers tenderly through Breanne’s long hair, brushing it back from her face. The smile on his face was soft and gentle. One I could only have hoped for hours ago when I was first rushed in.

Everything around me muffled, my vision narrowed in as it dimmed.

My last thread of strength snapped, and I was unable to hold my body upright any longer, even with the bench’s support. I toppled sideways, my elbow knocking the takeout container to the floor. Broth splattered across the tiles.

As darkness crept in, strong arms slid beneath me. I was lifted, cradled against a broad chest. The faint scent of pine enveloped me–familiar, yet now foreign.

I knew it, but from where?

This wasn’t Liam cradling me close. The chest was too broad, and the scent was completely