99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 193

LUCIEN POV

Lewis, fearless because we’re family, pressed on me with relentless questions. Questions, I secretly wanted to be asked. I wanted to shout from the rooftop that I was a taken man, but couldn’t—yet.

Lewis: You just sent a pic of roses? Where’s the “company”? She’s not in the picture.

I tapped a reply with a big smile.

Me: Making me a sandwich!

The group chat was instantly flooded with nothing but ellipses.

For these enthused heirs to the surrounding packs, it was a rare sight to see me, the usually unapproachable Alpha Lucien Thorne—nicknamed the Demon Alpha—open up about his personal life.

The silence dragged on for several long minutes. Only then did I sense something was off. I lowered my gaze and studied the message I had sent.

There it was, laid bare: I had been spending time with a woman. This was a significant departure from my usual demeanor.

But could I have miscalculated? Was my message too vague? Were they holding back, fearful of interrupting me?

That theory seemed plausible. After all, I had maimed, tortured, and even killed for far less. My reputation preceded me, and it was well-known that I had no qualms about making an example of anyone who dared to cross me.

That had to be the reason for their hesitance.

Just then, Claire appeared, balancing two plates, each adorned with a meticulously crafted sandwich. She placed one before me with a smile that made my heart leap.

This woman had a gift; she could transform the simplest ingredients into something divine. I could already envision a future filled with her affection and culinary delights. Without a second thought, I snapped another picture of the artisan sandwich before me and sent it to the group, adding a sticker that screamed pride.

“Artisan sandwich made by my woman.”

The stillness shattered like glass.

“Lucien! Did your account get hacked?” Lewis exclaimed, his surprise palpable.

“Looks like a woman has caught his eye!” Ethan chimed in, his tone teasing. “Is this the enchanting soul who has bewitched our notorious Alpha? Does the Crown of Thornes pack finally have a future Luna?”

The chat exploded with a flurry of suggestive memes and playful banter, each message more outrageous than the last.

I took my time savoring the sandwich, a small smile creeping onto my lips as I read through the messages flooding in.

What did these guys really know? They spent their days gossiping about women without ever grasping their true worth. I had waited for the right one, and now that I had found her, I had no interest in anyone else. Claire was my singular focus!

Every bite of the sandwich was delightful; she was right—this was precisely what we needed before the day’s activities began.

I stared at the plate, my mind racing. Just twenty-nine more days remained.

In less than a month, I would be claiming more than just this delicious sandwich. I would be claiming my woman completely!

**CLAIRE POV**

I sat across from Lucien, my sandwich in hand, savoring every bite.

The turkey was succulent, oven-roasted to perfection, and the bacon was delightfully crispy. I found myself devouring my meal at an alarming rate, while Lucien seemed to take his time, casually enjoying his food while his eyes were glued to his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips. It was almost embarrassing how quickly I was eating compared to his calm demeanor.

As I watched him, my mind raced with questions. Who could he be chatting with at this hour? Was there a close female friend on the other end?

The moment the thought crossed my mind, I quickly dismissed it. There was no way Lucien would waste his time on casual chit-chat with other women.

But still, who was he talking to?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify