99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 110

He swallowed hard and finally replied, “Yeah.”

I was almost convinced I was imagining this moment.

Was he finally questioning if there was more to the events of the past?

“Lucien, thank you! This means a great deal to me; thank you for trusting me!”

My rationality crumbled in that moment as I instinctively lunged forward, wrapping him in a tight hug.

But the man beneath me let out a muffled groan, snapping me out of my giddy bubble of excitement.

“Lucien, what’s wrong?” I pulled back in alarm.

Lucien frowned slightly. He slowly lifted his hand that was attached to an IV. The needle had shifted awkwardly, and a small bead of blood formed on the skin beside it.

“You’re still as clumsy as ever.”

“Sorry, I-I was just too excited.”

I felt heat rise in my cheeks again, realizing that being near Lucien brought my clumsiness to the surface. He had always made me this nervous, clumsy buffoon, but never scolded me for it.

Lucien quickly adjusted the IV before pulling me back into his embrace without hesitation. It felt as though I belonged there, and I wondered if he thought that too.

Next thing I knew, Lucien reached up and turned off the bedside lamp.

I tensed up, my eyes wide open.

In the quiet, I heard Lucien’s voice. “Relax and sleep, little Claire-bear. Don’t worry, I won’t try anything.” His breathing had already calmed.

My mind went blank, leaving me unsure of how to respond.

He called me by my nickname, and he was the reason the Cruz siblings started calling me that. I hadn’t heard that name from him in years.

The scent of expensive perfume barely masked the smell of antiseptic, yet the faint, incredible scent of pine from Lucien was unmistakable.

His strong arms held me tightly, forcing my cheek against his solid chest, making it hard for me to breathe.

This sudden intimacy blurred the invisible boundary that had long existed between us.

Though we weren’t blood relatives, everyone knew that my mother had remarried his father. Would the world look down on us now because of it?

If I genuinely had a romantic relationship with Lucien, wouldn’t that put me in the same position as Liam and Breanne?

Only, would we be viewed as worse?

Breanne was raised only by the Sterling family, but my mother briefly married Alpha Emeric; although it was only on paper, it was still documented as a relationship.

The more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I felt, and I instinctively shifted.

I struggled to lift my head, using the faint light from outside to see his closed eyes, long lashes resting on his cheeks, clearly lost in slumber.

What struck me was the heavy dark circles under his eyes, evidence of poor sleep over the years.

Had his sleep always been this bad?

Was he holding me simply because he wanted to get a good night’s sleep? Was that all this was to him?

The thought felt like a cool spring breeze, extinguishing the flames of my inner turmoil and bringing a strange sense of calm and acceptance.

Apart from my parents, Lucien was the one who had filled my life with the most sweetness.

If holding me would help him sleep peacefully, then so be it.

I gave up my struggle completely, even adjusting my position slightly to smooth my hair, making it more comfortable for him.

Time passed quietly, and the reassuring scent of pine enveloped me like an invisible net, wrapping me gently.

Before I knew it, my consciousness slipped into a hazy dream.

***BART POV***

It was late, well past the visiting hours, but I wanted to check in on my Alpha and little Claire.

Whenever I think of Claire, my heart clenches, and it becomes overwhelming to breathe.

I failed her, I failed Lucien, I failed my Alpha, Emeric, and now all three of the people I hold closest in my heart suffer because of my silence all those years ago.

I approach the Alpha/Luna wing of the pack hospital, and the moment I gaze inside through the small observation window of the door, my breath hitches.

My eyes softened at the sight of the two figures, nestled tightly together in a calm sleep.

This was how it should have been all those years ago. Claire has always been the only female to break through Lucien’s cold barriers, even when he was just a pup trying to lead in strength as his father had.

With an exhale of an exhausted breath, I turned away from the room.

I placed the fruit basket and nutritious soup I had brought on the nurse’s station and quietly instructed the on-duty nurse, “When they wake up, please give this to them.”

The nurse recognized me immediately and greeted me with a warm smile. “Bart, why didn’t you knock and check on the Alpha? You always worry about his health.”

“No need,” I waved my hand, “They’re sleeping soundly. Going in would only disturb their dreams. Our Alpha has always had trouble sleeping.”

“Alpha Lucien said that woman was his girlfriend. Bart, I must ask you, is she really our Alpha’s girlfriend?”

The nurse couldn’t help but lean in closer, lowering her voice as her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“What? Did our Alpha say that Claire was his girlfriend?” My voice trembled slightly.

The nurse nodded confidently. “Absolutely! When we brought in the emergency registration information, our head nurse asked about their relationship. Alpha Lucien himself said that she was! That is why they are in the Alpha/Luna joined hospital suite together.”

A surge of joy rushed through me, and my eyes misted over once more.

I couldn’t help but glance back at the direction of the hospital room, nodding in satisfaction. Then, I composed myself and spoke in a serious tone.

“Just keep this to yourselves. Don’t spread it around. Don’t ask too many questions. You all should know our Alpha’s temper.”

The nurse immediately fell silent, nodding earnestly. “Of course, Bart. I understand.”

As I was about to leave, the nurse remembered something and added, “By the way, Pack Advisor Matthew Scott came to see Alpha Lucien earlier, too. But just like you, he saw them sleeping inside and decided to come back another day. He just left his things and walked away.”

“Matthew? He was here?” My voice rose, filled with surprise and alertness.

“Yeah. Bart, what’s wrong?” The nurse was startled by my sudden reaction.

“Oh, I quickly adjusted my expression, regaining my usual calm demeanour. “Nothing. I just wanted to know. You mention he left something, what was it?”

The nurse arched her brow and held up a canister much like my own. “He also made soup. I am to give it to the Alpha when he wakes up.”

My heart flew into a panic. Lucien may not want to think it, but I already suspected Matthew of being the one trying to poison Lucien’s wolf.

“Oh, that was the soup the lead cook mentioned. I need to take that. It was burned, my soup was meant to be the one delivered.” I struggled to keep my tone even as I retrieved the canister.

I needed to have this tested, but I knew I needed to keep that to myself.

The nurse shrugged with a chuckle and handled it right over.

“Thank you for taking care of our Alpha and Claire. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

I put on a gentle smile again, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes.

I limped away into the shadows at the end of the corridor, quickly carrying the canister of soup from

Matthew.

I failed Claire and Lucien in the past; I wouldn’t do it again.