99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 22

Wow! Part of me was surprised by Stephanie. She was clearly terrified that I might back out, and had offered twenty–five million to buy me out of the mating as soon as possible.

I wondered who Stephanie had in mind to replace her as Luna of the Sterling Moon Pack.

Stephanie did nothing without thought. She was planning something for Liam, that much was obvious.

Since I never planned to stay with Liam anyway, and Stephanie was offering this money without hesitation, I saw no point in refusing this easy money.

I took the pen offered and signed without hesitation. Stephanie immediately called someone to arrange the transfer.

The moment the deposit notification chimed, I stood. I saw no point in spending another second in this horrible woman’s presence.

From the day I had accepted Liam and mated with the Sterling family, Stephanie made my life hell.

Stephanie looked down on my humble roots, my lack of family. Had meddled constantly during our mateship. Encouraging Breanne’s presence, which Liam took on without a second thought.

Endless jabs–overt and covert. Enabled Breanne’s bullying. Never showed me an ounce of respect. Because of that, I saw no point in letting her know that I would have already been gone in just over a week. She didn’t need to pay me out. This brought a smile to my face. I was sure Stephanie would realize I had taken her for a ride and stolen her money with a big grin.

Behind me, Stephanie clutched the signed agreement, triumph spreading across her face.

I saw her pick up her phone and dial Breanne.

“Brea, it worked! That i***t actually signed it! Make your plans happen now. I want my money back.”

That caught my attention, but I decided to buy a cookie at the counter while Stephanie was preoccupied making another call.

“It’s me. Set up a meeting with the Taylors. She signed it, and I want to plant seeds for Liam to be arranged with their daughter, Queenie. I think that is a strong alliance between our two families. The Taylors are wealthy and powerful. Make it happen.”

Back in my car, I sat in the driver’s seat outside the cafe and reread the agreement.

Stephanie’s eagerness had felt off, and hearing her two phone calls, I knew she was planning things not just for Liam, but for me as well. She wasn’t going to let Breanne have Liam. I wondered if Breanne knew that part of the plan? But I knew Stephanie was using Breanne to do something against me.

Reading this agreement, I now understand what they were planning.

Buried on page seven.

“Should Claire Reese–Sterling be found to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship during the mating period with Liam Sterling, the Sterling family reserves the right to reclaim all funds and pursue extortion charges.”

I gasped.

An accusation like that? Once made, it becomes nearly impossible to shake.

No wonder Stephanie had coughed up twenty–five million so fast. The trap had been set.

I knew the Sterlings‘ games well–their tricks, their lies.

The money was mine now. The rejection proceedings were happening. But until it was legally settled with the Council, I needed to watch my back like a hawk.

I called Liyah. “Usual spot. Now.”

Thirty minutes later, Liyah slid into the café booth–wearing a black tee, ripped jeans, and a baseball cap–Tomboy chic.

She zeroed in on the faint swelling on my cheek, the pallor beneath my makeup. It was barely noticeable at this point thanks to Liam’s blood, but Liyah was a Beta female and would notice the faintest discolouring.

“Claire, Liyah grabbed my hand, voice tight. “What happened to your face. Did they hurt you? I heard about your fight with Breanne. I doubt this was from her, considering the performance she usually plays of being a defenceless damsel. Please tell me you crushed her.” Liyah was all grins.

Liyah hadn’t been invited–Liam’s doing. After the stabbing incident, the Cruzs and Sterlings were done.

However, the elite of Edmonton and the surrounding areas loved gossip.

Breanne’s version was already spreading, anything that was discrediting about Breanne interfering with mate bonds, and speculation of the meaning of the creepy doll, as a few called it, was buried and removed quickly.

I nodded and recounted the details of the day for Liyah.

Liyah slammed the table. “This is insane, Claire. How can Liam be this naive?”

I squeezed her hand, offering her a soft smile. “Forget her. None of it matters anymore. But Liyah–l need you to ask Kian for plainclothes guards. I need them to tail me discreetly. They’re going to try something underhanded to discredit me.”

“They? The Sterlings?”

I explained the dungeon tortures and the contract clause that Stephanie had me sign.

Liyah cursed viciously, then thumped her chest.

“Done. I will make sure that Kian handles this. He sees you as family, you know that. But Claire… the Thornes practically run Alberta now. The Sterlings pale in comparison to his hold over this province. You never officially cut ties. Why not use this rejection approval to reconcile?”

Beneath the table, my fingers curled.

The Thornes.

The name felt like a relic from another life.

*Reconcile?” My voice was hollow. “How is that even possible?” Almost defeatedly.

Liyah sighed. “Yeah. Stupid question.”

“But after the rejection is approved, I am going to see him.” My smile was bitter.

Liyah froze. “What? Really? You’re not scared that he will hurt you?”

“I am. But I have to. I left something at his house. Something important that my dad had left. I need it back.” I stared into my coffee. Memories flickered like scenes from a movie.

I was only six years old when my father died in a hiking accident in the mountains. Rogues were suspected of being responsible for it. It was as though, overnight, our family of three had become a heartbroken family of two.

That was when the wolves descended.

My Uncle came first. He kidn*pped my mother and me. Abused us for weeks to break us. Then, once he made his point clear, he made my mother an offer for our freedom. She agreed to sign over my father’s pack. Removing me as the heir to anything within our pack and accepting banishment

Then came my aunt. She presented herself in a supportive role, but she schemed and swindled my mother out of the remaining properties. The most profitable shops that supported us within the neutral territory.

Every morning, I remembered waking to the sounds of my mother trying to sob silently. She never wanted me to see her pain, but I saw it all.

I used to hate my mother’s weakness. I hated that she couldn’t save a single piece of my father’s legacy.

At six, I fought. Clawed to keep what was left, but I was too small and weak to fight against the greed of my father’s family.

Within a year, we had lost everything.

But even after all of that, it was still not enough for the greedy wolves. They wanted the villa–our last home, filled with memories–the memories I shared with my hero: my dad. It was a house my father bought in the neutral territory, and we spent our summers there. It was all we had left of him.

The night they came to take our home, my mother begged on her knees. Begged for scraps.

But they just laughed at how weak and undeserving she was–undeserving of the name Reese.

That was when Alpha Emeric Thorne, my father’s closest friend, rushed from his pack.

The Thornes–old money, endless power. The founding family of the Crown of Thornes pack.

Alpha Emeric stepped in and saved the villa.

With nowhere else to go, we followed him to his pack.

That year, I met Alpha Emeric’s son and the pack’s future heir, Lucien Thorne.