99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 155

My lashes fluttered as I cracked open one eye, meeting Lucien’s half-smiling, mocking gaze. There was no passion in it; only a playful, knowing, and cruel amusement.

‘You’re a fool, Claire!’ I think to myself as my eyes flew wide. He was toying with me again! He was pretending he would kiss me, to reel me in.

And I-I had fallen for it, completely and pathetically, surrendering every last defence in his game. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to slam my head against the dashboard.

What was I doing? Where was my dignity and reason? How could a single glance from Lucien reduce me to such a mess?

Embarrassment scorched my skin. I wished the ground would open up beneath me, swallowing me whole.

Why must he continue with these games?

“Just a little trick and you’re caving already? Silly, Claire. No wonder Liam led you around so easily.” A low, husky laugh escaped his throat.

Those words didn’t carry much damage, but the insult cut deep.

Even with all of my composure just now, I had to admit Lucien wasn’t wrong.

I had thought that leaving my mate with such difficulty meant I had had enough of love and men altogether.

But what Lucien just proved moments ago with my embarrassing desperation to be wanted by someone, had just made me realize-I had never truly given up that sliver of hope. I still wanted to be loved.

Being so thoroughly seen through was suffocating.

If I stayed in that cramped car any longer, I feared I would continue to be the butt-end of Lucien’s jokes and games.

I shoved the door open and all but fled.

The calm lake wind filled my lungs, and only then did I greedily take a breath.

John finally arrived with a tow truck and a mechanic in tow.

After a quick conversation with Lucien, about what, I wasn’t sure, but right after, he immediately set about directing the tire inflation.

I moved to the downwind side, leaning against the railing and gazing into the distance.

The lake here in my hometown was striking blue, like a massive moving jewel. I remembered that my father fished a great deal on hot summer days when he wasn’t building this city. At least, that’s what mum had said. He loved to fish, hike and be out with his wolf.

In that moment, a fierce yearning welled up in my chest-someday, I would return to this place as a victor, not as some rootless wanderer.

I inhaled deeply, bent down, and with my slender fingers, I carved the word SEERE into the soft sand, each stroke pressed firmly, as if wrestling with fate itself.

***LUCIEN POV***

Not far away, my eyes followed Claire-her delicate figure bent over the sand, carving with all her strength.

She looked like a small beast, trapped in a swamp yet struggling stubbornly to break free.

My brows knitted faintly.

“Alpha,” John came forward, opening his palm. “The tires are all fixed; it looks like someone just released the air from them. There was no actual damage done to the tires, but under the car-we found this.”

It was a custom men’s family-crested brooch. I gave it a cursory glance, then plucked it up.

I studied it in the sunlight, lips curving into a sneer that carried no effort to hide. No way this is what I think it is, but even thinking that, the Sterling family Crest was well-known.

“Well, well-Liam.” My fingers pinched the tiny accessory, my tone thick with mockery. “So, he planned to strand me out here on a perfectly romantic evening with his mate? i***t!”

I knew it would have been Liam’s; there was no reason for the Old, ailing Alpha, Henry, to be lurking in a different city at night.

For it to appear under my car, the events of last night-and who had tampered with the tires-needed no explanation.

Liam’s pathetic tricks and the image of him crawling under a car were laughable and pitiful.

“Alpha, are you sure that Liam Sterling, the Alpha heir of the Sterling Moon pack, had actually crawled under your car last night?” John’s expression looked like that of a man whose heart was about to explode.

“Alpha, should we-investigate who touched your car last night?”

“Why investigate?” I blew out a thin ring of smoke. This felt like an early Christmas gift in my eyes. “Knowing that Liam was forced to spend the night crouched under a car is punishment enough. Besides-”

I paused deliberately, dragging out the words with a suggestive lilt. “Last night felt pretty good. The view mixed with the company shared was-quite nice.”

John looked like his blood rushed to his head; it was the brightest shade of red I’d ever seen.

I’m sure that he had a thousand indecent, unprintable scenes running riot in his mind. After all, Alpha Lucien Thorne was notoriously known to hate all females. I avoided them at all costs; many wagered to break my pledge of abstinence, but none ever succeeded. I was sure that John thought Claire had achieved what no other could.

I had no desire to correct him. I liked the idea of Claire being the only female to chain me down in a romantic bond.

The thought that Liam was under my car all night, thinking and worrying about the same thing, warmed my frigid heart inside.

I flicked my finger, snapping it hard against John’s forehead.

“I wonder what dirty thoughts you must be thinking now, John. None should include picturing her naked. Is that clear!”

“Ahh-!” John yelped in pain, jolting back to reality, his tongue tied in knots. “N-No! Never, Alpha!

C-Congratulations!”

“Congratulations?” My eyes chilled instantly. “For what?”

John’s brain must have spasmed, survival instinct kicking in. He blurted out, “Congratulations… on getting the tire fixed now.”

The vein at my temple twitched. The next second, I ripped off my expensive leather shoe and raised it to throw at John.

“Son of a-”

John shrieked, bolting away like his life depended on it. In seconds, he ran away from the car and out of my physical reach.

I let out a dry laugh at the sight of his scrambling figure, then calmly slid my shoe back on.

Suddenly, as though recalling something, the corner of my lips curved faintly. I pulled out my phone, tapping rapidly across the screen.