99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 176

“Forgive me, Alpha, but you need to hear the truth. You spent years neglecting your mate, always choosing others over her. When a woman’s heart hardens against you, not even horses could drag her back. The more you chase, the harder her resolve becomes.”

Soren paused only for a second.

“It was better to channel that agony into becoming stronger and wiser than to drown in self–torment. You plead for her to come back, yet you still choose to support those who tormented her under your watch.

That love within her is gone, Alpha.”

Soren bravely stretched his neck, his eyes shut tight as he braced for a choking grip of my hand that never landed.

Each of Soren’s words had hit like a hammer blow to my chest. The shame, the rage, the unbearable truth, yet I could not bring myself to retaliate.

My hand dropped limply. I collapsed into the leather seat and dug my knuckles into my throbbing forehead.

“Do I,” my voice cracked, “do I look haggard to you? Broken? Pathetic?” It sounded more like a confession than a question.

“Yes. Like a different man from the one I’m proud to call my Alpha,” Soren admitted.

“And that,” I let out a bitter, trembling laugh, “just makes me more repellent, does it not?”

“Yes. It is time to move on, sir.” My Gamma’s courage did not waver.

My eyes flew open. My crushing grip on Soren’s shoulder sent a chill down the younger man’s spine. I could feel him shiver as it does.

“You are right,” I snarled, “Then why the hell did you not say so sooner?”

“I did not dare.” Soren’s gaze dropped to the floor of the car.

“From now on, you will never need to,” I wrenched my hand back, my fists clenching. “She thinks those few awards make her untouchable? And that Lucien’s backing makes her invincible?” My laugh was pure venom. “I will show her. My world will keep turning without Claire, And I will find someone better, more exceptional, than she ever was. My family was right about that woman-”

Her name lodged in my throat like a knife. When I finally forced it out, my voice turned to ice. “Claire is no longer my mate; she is dead to me now.”

Soren chose that moment to shove his phone into my line of sight. “Alpha, Ms. Telder’s gala is starting soon. She is demanding you return to the pack immediately.”

Breanne’s name and the urgent notification glared from the screen.

“Fine. Back to Edmonton,” I said with a curt nod.

In one swift move, I changed my gloomy social media avatar to a gritty, professional magazine portrait. My profile bio now boldly declares, “Single and ready to mingle.” Then, breaking my own long–standing silence on the platforms, I posted a meticulously arranged grid of nine flattering thirst–traps, just so that the eligible heiresses within the surrounding packs knew I was looking for my replacement mate.

To my shock, the desperate ploy worked instantly.

Within minutes, my phone buzzed with a notification from a long–dormant contact–Nora Jones, the golden girl of our university days, had surfaced.

Nora: Liam, years later, and you are still a heartbreaker. Love the newest pics!

A smirk curled my lips as wounded pride morphed into cocky confidence. My reply was swift.

Me: Nora? Have you returned to Canada yet? Where are you now?

Her response was an implication in itself.

Nora: Touchdown in just under three hours at Edmonton’s International Airport. Undoubtedly, my classmate would not leave a lady stranded.

Nora had been the source of most of the venom I had endured those four years. Liam knew all about it. He knew precisely how deeply Nora had wounded me. And yet, there he was, racing to the airport without a moment’s hesitation.

Liyah snapped, “Liam is truly disgusting! Swapping his profile picture to some glamour shot, flaunting his ‘single‘ status, posting shirtless thirst traps like some preening peacock!”

“How did you even see their private chat?” I asked softly, suppressing the pang in my chest.

“Some frenemy group chat,” Liyah explained, her voice thick with disgust. “Nora posted the screenshots, bragging about Liam picking her up at the airport! She has been obsessed with him since college. When you two mated, her posts were dripping with envy! Now that he is chasing after her, she must be flaunting it everywhere!”

Liyah’s cheeks were flushed with indignation.

“He is ancient history to me. Whoever he is with, however he is doing, it is none of my business.” I plucked a tiny leaf from a nearby branch, rolling it between my fingers before setting it down. “A decent ex should move on, don’t you think?”

Propping her chin in her hands, Liyah gazed at me with undisguised admiration. “Damn, Claire. You have transformed. You have got this serene aura about you now. At this rate, you will reach nirvana any minute now.”

I chuckled softly. “Enlightenment is overrated. I have got too much living left to do.”

Our light laughter mingled with the crackling sound of the fire until a jarring chime from the iron gate bell shattered the courtyard’s tranquillity.

I followed the sound. The lingering smile died on my lips as I recognized the visitor standing there. “It is my aunt.”

She was waving a screenshot on her phone. The closer I got to the fence, the more visible the screenshot became.

With a smug expression, my aunt leaned in. “Guess your precious Alpha mate was only toying with the dumb, naive orphan. It’s all over social media. You were his warm–up for someone better. Nora was the mate he always wanted.” My aunt burst into mocking laughter.

That was when I saw red.