99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 52

There was something about the mountains that made the air seem fresher.

At the Thunderbird show park, the arena buzzed with excitement as top riders and their beloved horses prepared to compete.

The stands were packed, cameras aimed at the grand event about to unfold.

I stood beside the stables, making final adjustments for Liyah’s horse, Trigger. I had been training with Trigger all month long and knew that whatever awaited us, Trigger and I could handle it.

Wearing a protective helmet and a tailored black riding suit, I looked both delicate and resilient under the sunlight.

“Deep breaths. Stay calm,” I whispered, my voice nearly drowned out by the noise outside the stables. I wasn’t certain if I was saying it to Trigger or myself, perhaps both?

The competition kicked off.

Soon, it was my turn to enter the arena. Taking a deep breath, my gaze instinctively drifted toward the VIP section.

The familiar figure from my memories sat high above, like the same unyielding iceberg that sank the Titanic, utterly detached from the surrounding excitement.

By the position of his body, I knew he’d most likely be sporting his trademark frown, seemingly uninterested in the competition.

I nimbly mounted my horse, giving Trigger a gentle nudge. The horse shot forward like an arrow, carrying me into the center of the arena.

The noisy crowd and blinding flashes faded into a blur.

All that remained was me and Trigger, along with the obstacles waiting to be conquered. It reminded me of a scene from Avatar. I was plugged in, and Trigger and I worked as a single,cohesive unit.

I felt free on the back of Trigger.

It wasn’t about the trophies or praise; it was about being free. With the wind coursing through mine and Trigger’s mane, we felt that together.

The jump.

The soar.

The clear.

The land.

The height of the rails, the difficulty of the combinations, and the unknown routes were all perfectly conquered.

When I crossed the finish line with zero penalties and the shortest time, the crowd erupted!

On the massive electronic screen, the name of Liyah Cruz shone in golden letters, sitting at the top with a commanding lead.

I didn’t wait around to be spotted; I immediately headed to the changing room to meet Liyah. “We did it! Claire, we won! You really helped me get the championship! Now I can finally face my dad!” Liyah exclaimed as tears streamed down her face.

I removed my helmet, shaking my damp hair free, a relieved smile spreading across my face.

I understood Liyah’s regret better than anyone.

Over the years, Liyahh had put in unimaginable effort into her riding, yet always falling short of the championship due to her lack of natural talent.

In the fiercely competitive Cruz family, this had become her unspoken weakness and a source of ridicule. Coming from a long line of proud Betas, their father had unrealistic expectations if they didn’t hold ranked positions within the Crown of Throne pack.

This year, her father’s ultimatum regarding an arranged mating had pushed Liyah to the brink. This ultimately resulted in an injury, and Liyah reached out to me for help.

If it hadn’t been for me stepping in, Liyah’s fate would have been sealed.

Liyah, overwhelmed with gratitude, hugged me tightly, forgetting I had no wolf and nearly busted a rib before we proceeded to the award ceremony as planned.

I changed out of Liyah’s riding gear into casual clothes, handing over the championship attire back to her.

Liyah quickly donned her riding suit, took a few deep breaths, and adjusted her excitement before striding toward the podium.

I watched from a corner backstage, a proud smile creeping onto my face as I saw Liyah shining on stage.

The weight on my heart finally lifted.

I instinctively glanced toward the audience and saw that familiar dark figure still seated high above, watching the awards ceremony.

His expression was cold and distant, as if he were completely out of place in this joyous celebration.

My fingers unconsciously tightened.

I wondered if I was right about Lucien’s perceptiveness. I was curious to know if, after all these years, he would still recognize my style.

After Liyah received her award, Liyah and I returned to the Sandman hotel, where we rested briefly before Hurricane Liyah woke me up to prepare us for the night. Two outfits that were her demands. And I do mean demands.

Tonight, the organizers will host a after–party to celebrate all the competitors and winners.

It was fine and the food was delicious, but now we would all be going to one of the local pubs for drinks, pool, and the dance floor to unwind. As Liyah’s substitute, I, of course, was invited to join her.

I knew Lucien would be at the after–party, but my luck was not in my favour and I didn’t get a chance alone to speak to him. He was unapproachable, as ever. I hoped that I would see him at the pub in a little bit instead.

Now we were back in our shared hotel room, tearing through the combined luggage bags. I didn’t understand how this professional suit wasn’t appropriate, but Liyah is trying to convince me to get back out there and attract some attention.

While I had primarily packed casual clothes focused on comfort. Liyah, on the other hand, had a suitcase full of sexy outfits.

“Ugh, if you’re going out to have fun, you need to let loose! You look like a forty–year–old single mum who has given up on dating and has resorted to reality TV for excitement. Do you really expect Lucien to notice you?”

Liyah shook her head, rummaging through my suitcase until she found a backless, strapless black satin dress and tossed it to me.

“You’re sexy. Put this on. You’ll definitely steal the show. PS. You’re welcome.”

“Where did this come from? I didn’t pack this in my luggage bag.” I frowned at the small piece of fabric in my hands. “Is this even appropriate to wear out at an event like this?”

“I packed it for you. Again, you’re welcome!” Seeing my hesitation, Liyah sighed. “Come on! You’re single and we’re celebrating. You could walk in wearing nothing, and nobody would bat an eye! You were always meant to turn heads, you just allowed people to dim the lights over you too long to know that.”

With Liyah’s relentless encouragement, I finally slipped into the daring dress.

Standing in front of the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. If I had to put a name to it, I would say I looked like a seductive temptress.

“Oh my gosh, you look stunning! You have a perfect body! Claire, let alone men, even I’m almost swooning over you! Liam was so lucky and dumb, man! Breanne can’t hold a candle to you! What the hell was he even thinking?”

Liyah dramatically placed her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, no more Liam mentions. I promise!”

I smiled and chose to ignore the topic.

My gaze wistfully at my reflection, wondering if Lucien would misunderstand and think I was trying to seduce him.

“Liyah, I think…”

“Listen to me! It’s absolutely beautiful! Let’s go! We’re running out of time!”

Liyah dragged me out the door, preventing me from changing my mind or the dress.

We exited the hotel and hopped into one of the shuttle cars awaiting us, arranged by the hotel, to take us to a small local pub.

On the way, Liyah casually mentioned, “Oh, by the way, I ran into Lucien backstage after I got my award. The way he looked at me was significant.”

I frozed, “Did he say anything to you?”

“He didn’t say a word, just smiled at me. But in my memory, he has never smiled at me before. That was a first. It almost felt–taboo.” Liyah shrugged, seemingly unfazed.

A smile? That could be problematic for us.

Lucien never smiles for no reason.

Even in the comfortably warm shuttle car, a chill ran down my spine, and an unsettling premonition began to grow within me.