99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 20

As I slowly regained consciousness, I realized that I was in my own marital bedroom that I shared with Liam.

I was taken aback for a moment, unsure if I was dreaming or if this was real. The photos that I had had destroyed and burned away were once again on the wall, in their original frames.

Had Liam reprinted the photos? When did he finally notice I had removed them?

The faint aroma of soup lingered in the air as I stirred. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness hit me, sending me collapsing back onto the bed.

What confused me more than the sudden reappearance of the photos was the strong hand steadying me from the side.

I was pulled into Liam’s familiar yet distant embrace as his voice murmured above me, “Thank the Goddess, you’re finally awake. You’ve been out for two whole days. I haven’t slept–just stayed right here with you.”

I looked up at him blankly.

I would find that hard to believe, as he was usually obsessed with fussing over Breanne, but looking at him, I was unsure what to make of him.

Liam was a man obsessed with cleanliness, yet here he stood, his hair messy, a stubble shadowing his jaw, and his eyes bloodshot. There was even a faint odour to him, suggesting he hadn’t yet showered today.

Two days without sleep–he wasn’t exaggerating for sympathy or image of being the perfect mate. If I didn’t have everything else still heavy on my heart, I might even believe that Liam loved me.

Unsure what to do or think, I kept my response light. “I see.”

“What were you thinking, locking yourself in the dungeons?” Liam took my hand in his, his voice softening.

My throat tightened-

“You hit yourself over a dozen times just to get Breanne to forgive you,” he continued. “All you had to do was apologize. Why go that far?”

A bitter smile touched my lips. I wanted to argue, but exhaustion weighed heavily on me.

“You’re so gullible.” I mumble more so to myself.

He honestly believed his mother’s absurd story of me requesting all of that to be done to me? Over Breanne? Really?

Clearly, Liam has not been paying attention to anything.

“Claire, I forgive you. I am pleased to see that you are trying to make amends for what you’ve done to Breanne. I am sure she will forgive you, too. She isn’t the villain you think she is. She is kind and forgiving. You’ll see

Liam cupped my face, a strong emotion was reflected in his.

He believed I was accepting his friendship with Breanne, but failed to see what was really happening. Seeing this, cheapened everything he had done over the past few days for me now.

I’m so happy you are starting to see how things are, Claire. You are my mate, and Breanne is my best friend. We can all be happy together. You’ll see.”

Liam thrusted himself forward, pressing his lips over my own.

After suffering at the hands of his horrible mother, then having him spend two days nursing me back from the brink of death, he thinks I want s*x?

I could feel his wolf surging forward, eager to re–mark me. He must have taken notice of the breaking bond between us when he was trying to revive me. I wouldn’t allow that to happen.

He was starting to lose himself in the kiss, and that was when I bit down hard on his lip.

Annoyance fickened. He pinched my chin roughly with his vice–like grip, forcing the kiss to deepen into wait was desperate to dominate and reclaim his mate.

Promise for you be good to Breanne from now on,” he murmured between kisses, breath hot against my son. The twee of us–we’ll get along. Love each other Yeah?”

“I wanted to scream it, but my voice failed me

. You are my mats, and form staying with

What? What just happened? This man was giving me whiplash.

He reached for the bowl of soup on the nightstand, spooning it to my lips.

After days without food, even plain broth tasted heavenly.

I drank it until drowsiness pulled me under again.

Two hours later, I felt a shift in the bed. Liam’s side was shifting slightly. The blankets were moving around. I could hear him powering on his phone, thinking I was asleep because I kept my breathing steady.

My eyes opened with just slits to see what he was doing. Sure enough, he was reading through his messages.

His eyes widened as he read through something, causing him to sigh too loudly, and he turned his attention back to me to make sure I was still asleep.

Nervously, he shifted out of bed and carefully moved out onto our bedroom balcony.

He dialled a number; the door was slightly ajar.

“How is she? Still feverish? s**t. No, it was a work emergency that came up–don’t panic, I’m on my way. Tell Breanne I will be there shortly.”

Urgency sharpened his tone as he grabbed his jacket and rushed out of the room.

Behind him, my eyes slid open. A mocking smile curled my lips.

–

He honestly thought he could play both of us. I was labelled a work emergency, just like Breanne was when I would ask where he was. Lying came so easily for Liam when it came to the women he was juggling.

Three years had taught me better.

I lay there, refusing to acknowledge the cracks chipping away at the bond further. I knew it was happening, but to focus on it hurt more than just letting it happen like background noise.

I reminded myself that there were only twelve more left

After that, we can return to the strangers we should have stayed with. I was a fool to pursue someone who initially never saw me.

When he offered me the rejection agreement, when his family forbade us to mate, when I had to bend and work as hard as I had just to be seen, and continue to do so, all of this should have been my red flag long ago.

Twelve more days, I was chanting in my head as if it were now my preferred anthem–a silent mantra.

Instead of counting sheep as I lay there, unable to get back to sleep, I chanted the days left and what I planned to do first once I was free.

The clock ticked mockingly.

At 3:45 a.m., Liam returned. I kept myself curled up on the bed and heard him sigh in relief, thinking he got away with sneaking out on my wounded and healing mate for another female.

I listened to him shower, shave, slip into pyjamas, then pull me against him, arms snug around my waist–just like always.

I turned. In the dim glow of the nightlight, I studied his sleeping face–sharp jaw. Full lips. That damnably perfect profile.

Then my gaze snagged on the mark on his neck.

A hickey. Fresh. Bold. Like a brand. Since Breanne couldn’t, according to pack law, mark Liam since his mate already claimed him and it was documented with the Council, all she could do was mark him loudly with a hickey.

My stomach twisted.

He allowed another female to place a mark on him. Bite or hickey, it didn’t matter. The message was there.

He had a mistress, and anyone who would see it would know. It was next to the mate’s marking spot. It was an unspoken challenge to a mate.