99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 26

Claire’s POV

When we got home, I bent to change my shoes at the entrance. Liam immediately stepped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Don’t touch me!” I flinched away as if electrocuted, my face twisted in disgust like I had touched something vile. I refused to hide my feelings from him any longer.

I noted that Liam’s expression tightened with hurt, but I didn’t regret my reaction. It was honest.

More honest than he was.

He followed me inside, pulling out his phone as he walked.

“Claire, I know what Breanne did was wrong. I already tore into her. I promise that it won’t happen again–I swear. Next time? I’ll banish her from the Sterling Moon pack and let her rot on her own.” I paused, surprised. So he knew it was her the entire time, but still came and defended her?

I glanced at his phone. His so–called harsh conversation was a single text.

[Don’t treat Claire like this again, or I’ll be angry.]

And warning of banishment? It was just

[Next time I’ll send you abroad. Permanently].

“Wow, how authoritative of you to go to such lengths in this reprimand of her. I’m curious, though, you were singing her praises at the hospital. What changed?“My lips curled into an icy smile.

I watched as Liam stiffened.

“Liyah was there at the hospital. If I’d acted like I knew everything, Breanne’s reputation-” He cut himself off. “Fine. I admit I coddled her too much. I can see how it would have made you feel like a secondary consideration. This time, she went too far. I’ll keep my distance now.”

Liam reached out for my hand.

“But Claire, I don’t understand what you have against Breanne, but it’s pushed her into doing something like this. It has to stop, you both do. Let it end here. We’re family. If the pack or Council were to find out about these petty scabbles, it would be bad for all of us.”

I scoffed. I saw what he was doing.

Even though he was putting it back on me. I was the one who pushed his angelic Breanne into doing this horrible thing. It didn’t matter that I had nearly been destroyed–humiliated before the entire pack.

He’d never cared about our mating and never cared about me.

Suppressing my fury, I met his gaze, feigning calm.

“You’re right, Liam. Stepping back does sound lovely. So, for that to happen, how about tonight I arrange eight rogues for her? Let her have fun, as she told me to through the video chat she had set up in the room when she watched them drug me, and tear off my clothing. Then tomorrow, ask if she’ll let bygones be bygones and step back with me. Does that sound like a deal?”

“Claire!” He roared in instant anger. “Breanne knows she was wrong! She swore she only meant to scare you never intended those rogues actually to touch you. She didn’t expect anyone to rescue you!”

“There it is. She did not expect another to rescue me. Yet you still defend her?” I stared, incredulous. “You’re right, that makes perfect sense. If you weren’t so busy protecting her, you would ask why she is dealing with rogues in the first place.”

“I already ripped into her! What more do you want? Should I disown her?” Liam snapped.

“Disown her? Why bother? Soon, I’ll reject you. Then you two can finally be together–no more hiding.” I laughed coldly.

Liam heard the rage in my voice but felt powerless. He sighed heavily.

“Why don’t you leave the pack for a while? Travel. Visit the US–clear your head. Attend fashion weeks. Just go somewhere and cool off. When you’re ready, come back as Mrs. Sterling. That title will always be yours.”

I stared silently, a sardonic smile touching my lips.

I was indeed leaving–but not to return as his obedient mate. I was escaping the Sterling Moon Pack forever.

“Honey… you’re the one I love most.” Mistaking my smile for softening, Liam pulled me into a crushing embrace. His whole body trembled. “You’re my everything. You know how hard I fought for us.”

His whispered endearments churned my stomach,

Once upon a time, I would have done anything to hear these words, but now? I felt nothing. The clearer I saw, the more I craved escape. Little by little, day by day, I was numbing to anything Liam Sterling

Seven more days…

The voice of reason reminds me. One week. I could endure one more week, as long as it meant that I would never have to allow him to touch me again.

Uncharacteristically, Liam decided to cook us dinner tonight. Not soup or anything light. He cooked spaghetti and even included garlic bread with fresh grated cheese. The man was pulling all the stops; he even had a desert at the ready.

For the first time, Liam was the attentive mate.

After we ate, in silence, much to Liam’s displeasure as he tried continuously to strike up a conversation but only received one–worded, noncommittal responses from me, he called the pack doctor to come and tend to my wounds and change my bandages.

Liam tried to help me undress, reaching to remove my shirt. Panic in me surged forward at the thought.

I slapped his hand away. “No. I don’t want to be touched. I will do it.”

“Alright. I’ll go and shower. How about you change into your pyjamas, then?“Liam hid his irritation behind a gentle tone.

I nodded silently.

Once I was finally alone, I sighed in relief.

I struggled to move still. My body was still healing, and although I healed faster than a human, I didn’t heal nearly as fast as a shifter would. The claw marks from the rogues and the bruises were still fresh, and pain lanced through my body; my fingers fumbled weakly at the buttons on my pants. Each article of clothing removed took agonizing minutes, but I would rather suffer than let him touch me.

I finally shrugged off my clothes and grabbed my pyjamas just as Liam emerged from the shower with a growing smirk.

His eyes darkened when they landed on my naked, bruised body. It was uncomfortable to think that he aroused him and not angered him.

I jerked the blanket over myself instinctively.

“You just started showering! Why-?”

Shirtless, Liam closed the distance. He wrapped around me from behind, biting my earlobe. His skin carried the clean, sharp scent of shower gel.

“Baby… It’s been too long,” he murmured, hands sliding under the blanket. “Tonight… let me fix that.