99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 27

“After what I narrowly survived, no thanks to you, the last thing I want is to have s*x. How insensitive can you possibly be?”

“Then allow me to erase the memory of those filthy rogues and remind you who your mate is.”

Liam trailed kisses from my earlobe down my neck, relentlessly.

My skin prickled with goosebumps.

“Liam, I’m not in the mood!” Suppressed fury thickened my voice.

Mistaking my resistance for coyness, Liam nipped my earlobe again. This would have enticed me once and gained his desired response, but it sent flashbacks of the rogues from the night before. I could feel panic gripping me, and I felt myself wanting to scream, to bite, to fight back.

Fed up, I shoved him hard, rolled away, and burrowed under the blanket, wrapping it tightly around myself like a cocoon.

“I said, No!” Tears welled in my eyes, and I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them closer to my chest.

I needed to feel safe, and nothing around me felt safe anymore. Not right now, anyway.

Liam stood beside the bed, frowning down as I was tightly bundled before him.

I hoped he started to realize that I was no longer craving his touch. He might try to rationalize it as being linked to the recent attack, and in part, it was, but it was so much more than that.

*****

BREANNE POV

It has been a full twenty–four hours since my plan was ultimately ruined.

Liam wasn’t talking to me after his little tantrum moment via text, and now I lay here, unsure what to do next.

I wouldn’t risk losing Liam.

I worked too hard and long playing this absurd best friend card to let go now. Even Stephanie believed I was willing to play second fiddle to whoever she decided to select for Liam later, but that wasn’t my plan.

She was just another puppet for me to manipulate.

Speaking of the devil, Stephanie had just raged in my room.

“Twenty–five million!” she squawked, “A full twenty–five million! And that little thief just walks away with it? Breanne! You swore this plan was foolproof! What happened?”

I hunched on the edge of my bed, arms crossed over my chest. The pink lace nightgown washed out my already pale, doll–like face.

“How could I have known she would be rescued? She is all alone; who would care about someone as unimportant as Claire?”

I am still trying to figure out who ruined our plans. But, who has that kind of power? No one would dare challenge the Sterling Moon Pack. That is our reserved floor.

“You don’t have anything yet? Alberta is practically under our rule! Only two other families rival ours. A few questions-” Stephanie slammed her palm on the vanity. “I don’t care who saved her! I care about my money! You made promises, I expect you to follow through!”

My jaw ticked, but I had a part to play. I was well taken care of here and couldn’t afford to lose their support yet.

I rushed to soothe her, rubbing her back.

“Luna Stephanie, please! Calm down. Next time, I’ll be much more thorough. The odds of this little saviour popping up again are unlikely. She only has the Beta Cruz family, and they only have so much reach against us.”

“You don’t think it could have been someone from the Alpha Thorne family?” Stephanie’s brow furrowed, her voice dropping.

“Him? He’d save a stray dog before her. Everyone knows what her mother did–seducing her way in, driving his mother to suicide. Honestly, Liam was insane to bring such lowlife filth into our pack, but I will make sure she is run out without a single penny to her name.“I scoffed.

Stephanie seemed to enjoy my words. I could feel her tension easing within her body as I continued to rub her back.

“You’re right! He could have chosen any respectable heiress! But foolish males make mistakes when they are young and naive. That is why they have strong mothers to help correct them. I trust you will not fail me again, Breanne.”

I let out a malicious giggle. “Don’t worry, Luna. She’s agreed to the rejection, hasn’t she? Once Liam cuts her loose… she’s ours.”

“You’re right, she’s nothing without Liam and a shield. I can not wait to make that b***h crawl.“I smiled in success as Stephanie’s expression eased.

This was the right time to get Stephanie to help me, now.

I pulled out my phone with a coy pout.

“There is just one small problem, Luna. Liam hasn’t spoken to me in two days because of this mess. If you want to continue to divide them, then I need you to help me get him back?”

Stephanie paused for a moment and then smirked. “I have just the idea that can bring him back into the fold, and cause yet another wedge between them.”

CLAIRE POV

For two days straight, Liam performed the role of a devoted mate. He did the unthinkable–he switched off his phone, ignored the outside world, and stayed glued to my side, showering me with contrived surprises.

A platinum necklace dangled from the showerhead.

A gold ring gleamed at the bottom of of my toothbrush cup.

A jewelled brooch tumbled out when I shook my shoe.

Once, he even feigned back pain, asking me to take a look at it. When I lifted his shirt, I found his waist wrapped in a roll of cash.

It was quite the performance.

I always played along, accepting each gift with a cool smile before promptly exchanging it for cash, which was deposited into my private account.

Soon, I would be starting over. Money was essential. If Liam offered it, I saw no reason to refuse it. Let’s call it danger pay for being mated to him.

This time, it seemed as though Liam was genuinely angry with Breanne. For two days straight, he silenced her calls and ignored her pleading texts.

He focused entirely on me. Though I remained distant, his efforts were tireless. He created the illusion of deep love, but my heart remained cold and unresponsive.

Five days left. My internal calendar reminded me. I was so close to being free.

As I packed up the home I had lived in for three years, a wave of sorrow washed over me. When we had married against the Sterlings‘ fury, Liam had bought this manor, calling it our defiant sanctuary. He promised we would fill it with laughter, beautiful pups, and memories.

Though a short distance from the packhouse, I had poured myself into it.

I had sketched the interiors, chosen every piece of furniture, and nurtured every plant in the garden. I had even designed a nursery corner, dreaming of bunk beds for a boy and a girl.

I entered this marriage dreaming of a lifetime. Three tremulous years with Liam and his third–wheeling bestie had shattered that dream beyond recognition.

Opening a locked drawer in the study desk, I found a thick diary chronicling our love story. Tucked inside the cover was a photo-a snapshot of my journey with Liam, from first meeting to mating ceremony day.

Flipping through pages filled with youthful photos and girlish dreams penned in my own hand, I found myself first smiling… then laughing… then I inevitably wept.

After reading the final entry, I pulled out a lighter. Without hesitation, I set the diary ablaze.

That all–consuming love–once believed to be my most treasured possession, meant to be cherished for a lifetime–was now just a monument to youthful folly. There was no going back. Time for a final goodbye.

Goodbye to the girl who’d loved like a moth diving into flame.

Goodbye to the Liam in my memories–the boy with the sunlit smile and gentle warmth.