99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 12

I regained consciousness in a hospital room once again.

This time, however, the room was different–a private suite, luxurious by any standard. Did Liam come and move me to one of the Luna’s VIP rooms after all? No, it couldn’t be. This was significantly nicer than Liam had set up for Breanne.

A nurse stood beside my bed and immediately pressed a hand to my forehead when she saw me stir.

“Oh, thank Goddess, you’re awake!” The nurse exhaled sharply. “Your fever’s down–that’s good. But you gave us quite a scare. Donating blood after all you’ve endured was too much to ask. If we hadn’t stabilized you in time-” She shook her head. “You need to listen to us now when we say to stay put and rest. Is that clear?”

I blinked dazedly, ignoring the nurse’s reprimand, and tried to focus on my surroundings.

“Where am I? How long was I unconscious?”

“They transferred you here after the last hospital’s blood bank ran low,” the nurse said softly. “Three days unconscious, but don’t worry–we were able to find a donor and managed to inject you with Alpha blood in place of having your own wolf to heal you. All your major issues are corrected.”

Three days. An Alpha donor?

I knew in my heart that it wasn’t Liam, but who else would it be?

Alphas rarely donate their blood; it’s too valuable, but they can instantly heal the weaker omegas or the wolfless.

The fog lifted–and with it came panic.

Every second wasted was another second Liyah suffered in custody, another second Mirage remained missing.

I jerked upright.

“Miss Reese!” The nurse grabbed my arm. “You can barely move! Where could you possibly go in this state?”

“I have to-” I was so anxious that I felt like crying. I shook off the nurse’s hand and stumbled toward the door.

Three days.

Who knows what the Sterlings were having done to Liyah in her jail cell? I’ve heard stories of Elite or Rank families with long reaches into isolated cells. I couldn’t let that happen to Liyah.

“Claire!” A familiar voice cut through the room. “You’re awake! Get back in bed this instant!”

Liyah stood in the doorway, vibrant in a denim jumpsuit. Her face was stern and disapproving of me out of bed.

I froze. “You’re–free?”

Liyah marched over and delicately manhandled me back under the sheets.

“Don’t worry. You know my brothers, they had me sprung within the hour.” She flashed a grin, then paled at my gaunt face. “Goddess, look at you! Why’d you kneel for those bastards? And you gave that b***h blood? I-” Her voice cracked. “You self–sacrificing i***t. You let them manipulate you over nothing. I was safe. Don’t ever do that again.”

Tears spilled down Liyah’s cheeks.

She explained that her brothers had her released, which was seemingly effortless when they disputed Liam’s testimony as it was unreliable, seeing how he was protecting his suspected mistress, and that there was another witness in the room who stated the opposite happened.

When the Sterling lawyer appeared to try to bulldoze the Cruz.family, they produced the animal cruelty video and evidence of ties to the Sterling family. Henry Sterling had the charges dropped and the videos taken down immediately.

Her brothers dragged her home and confiscated her phone. Learning about my treatment here after the officers had taken her away, Liyah had bargained her way here and has been sitting with me ever since.

“Don’t cry. I’m fine. You’re safe–that’s all that matters.” I managed a weak smile.

Liyah yanked me into a bone–crushing hug. “Stop worrying about me! My brothers helped me out.

Nothing happened to me. But you-” She pulled back, sniffling. “You’ve always faced everything alone. And now you’re-”

I patted her back. She’d cried enough these past days; no tears were left. “It’s nothing. I’m used to it. I just didn’t want to drag you down.”

Liyah clapped a hand over my mouth. “Enough of that! We’ve been friends since elementary school -there’s no ‘dragging down‘. Listen, if you ever ditch that trash mate, move in with me. Anyone messes with you? We would all be on your side.”

I forced a smile, but at the thought of Mirage, a sharp pain shot through my heart.

I gripped Liyah’s wrist. “Any news from your brothers? About Mirage?”

Liyah’s grin vanished. “They called in every favour. Dead ends. You’ll have to ask… him.”

Hands shaking, I dialled Liam. He answered instantly.

“Claire. Perfect timing–Breanne’s out of the ICU. She’s recovering well. I will have the charges dropped now as promised.”

He mustn’t have heard his father dropped them to avoid another scandal yet.

His nonchalant tone made it sound as if my transfer and emergency rescue over the past three days had never happened.

Did he not realize I, yet again, nearly died, and he was by another woman’s side the entire time?

In his heart, there was only ever Breanne. What confused me was his wolf’s indifference; that was the only part that didn’t make sense. True mates were vital for Alpha wolves, yet they were so willing to push theirs aside for a chosen?

“Where. Is. Mirage.” My nails bit into my palm.

Liam paused on the other end of the line, then suddenly changed the subject. “Are you home?”

I have literally been in the hospital, unconscious for three days, and he didn’t realize?

I was moved to another wing of the hospital for VIP blood reserves. They reached out for an Alpha donor to save my life. Yet from his tone, it seemed he either didn’t know or had never cared.

My mate is an Alpha, but they had to reach out to another to save me.

I gently closed my eyes as a wave of bitterness washed over me.

I snatched the bedside glass and hurled it at the wall. A growl ripped through me, despite not having a wolf. I was still a shifter by blood.

“Tell me now,” I whispered, my voice low, cold, and carrying an undeniable warning. “Or I swear to

God, Breanne’s next stab wound will come from me.”