99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 57

I froze, my heart racing as I gripped Lucien’s hand tightly, stopping him from moving down any further into my lower region.

Sure, I was technically licking him like an ice cream cone moments ago, but that was in a drunk haze, and I thought he was a steak.

This was very much different.

“Lucien, I didn’t mean to! The server said this room was for resting! I swear, I didn’t come in here looking to seduce you. I was mistaken about the room. That’s all.“I stammered.

“The lounge is two hundred meters away,” Lucien retorted, “My room has a hidden door and a code. If you didn’t have ulterior motives, how did you get in here? Enough with the lies, Claire.”

“I just walked in! I don’t know why, but the door wasn’t locked, and I didn’t need any code to get in.” Embarrassment flared up, heating my cheeks.

“Why? Isn’t it simple to understand, even for a small mind like yours?” Lucien tightened his grip around my neck. “Because you’re just as much of a desperate w***e as your mother! You’re willing to do anything to cling to a man from the Thorne Alpha family!”

His words cut deep, not just insulting me but also dragging my mother into the mud.

He could say whatever he wanted about me, but my mother was off–limits!

I forcefully knocked his hand away and pushed hard on his toned chest.

“My mum isn’t what you think! Matthew was the one who spread rumours about my mom because he couldn’t have her! Your mother misunderstood my mum’s relationship with your dad, leading to her suicide. Matthew is the real scoundrel! My mum and your dad never had an affair! They were just friends!”

“Like your mate and Breanne are just friends?” Lucien’s derisive laugh was unnerving.

That hurt.

With an annoyed huff, he shoved me, yet again, hard off the bed!

C***k!

My lower back slammed into the corner of the bedside table, hitting the same spot where I had been injured before.

The new pain shot through me, and I gasped, my body twitching involuntarily.

She Won’t Follow Her Mother’s Path

“Your rehearsed lies can’t clear your mother’s name for seducing my father!” Lucien stomped down on me, his shoe pressing down with crushing force. “You’re trying to slander Matthew? Who do you think you are?”

Cold sweat drenched my temples, and my face flushed ghostly pale. But I clenched my jaw, refusing to make another sound.

“The only one in this room willing to step back and see the whole damn picture. Lucien, Matthew is lying to you for his own selfish reasons. Why can’t you see that?” I shot back despite the agonizing state I was in.

I knew it was pointless to try, though.

Everyone knew that Lucien’s hatred for my mother ran deep, fueled by years of Matthew’s venomous words.

He believed my mother was responsible for his mother’s death. He would sooner believe the lies than realize that it was a simple misunderstanding led by the person he thought he could trust. Matthew led Lucien down this path of darkness with absolute ease. He’d been grooming him for years. Someday Lucien would learn the truth and see what Matthew was really doing, but it’d be too late.

Lucien stood in the dark for a moment before suddenly turning on the lights.

“What? Are you trying to crawl back into my bed? I don’t know what vile filth like your kind would drag into it. So, I will give you this one last chance to get out!”

I couldn’t help the whimper that escaped me.

“You think sticking around will get you into my pack like it did with your w***e of a mother? Claire, the more you do this, the more disgusted I become.” He crouched down, roughly gripping my chin to force me to look at him.

I looked at him weakly, my lips were pale and trembled with the pain. My hair damp with sweat, stuck to my face.

“The Crown of Throne pack will never accept someone like you. Get out now!”

He released his hold on me, and I crumpled to the floor again.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt a rush of my mother’s despair and humiliation.

My mother and my father were true mates, and that love never died. She never pursued Lucien’s father and was disgusted by Matthew’s relentless advances.

She was why I accepted Liam; I wanted what they had–an unfailing, never–dying love.

But after my father’s tragic death, my mum became a young, beautiful widow. The more men who tried to get closer to her, the more everyone felt comfortable labelling her as a seductress, and the slander wrapped around her like a snake. No one believed in her innocence.

A woman without support must be strong on her own!

I vowed to myself that I would never follow my mother’s path. One day, I would clear my mother’s name and right all the wrongs. Those who had bullied and maligned us would pay a hundred fold for it!

Forcing myself to move, the sharp pain in my lower back made it hard to stand.

Lucien watched me crawl like a snail across the floor, ready to unleash a wave of sarcasm.

Then, I heard what sounded like his breath hitching briefly–I wondered if he finally saw that my exposed back was a deep, ugly bruise! I could feel the damp crimson fluid sticky to my skin where it met my dress.

Maybe he finally understood I wasn’t acting pitiful to get into bed with him.

I was genuinely injured and without a wolf to help me heal, I was running low on adrenaline to keep me awake.

It took longer than I’d like to admit, but I reached the door.

With a huff, I used every ounce of strength to grasp the doorknob and pull myself up to my feet. My legs wobbled like Jell–O, but I leaned everything against the wall to stay upright.

Darkness crashed down, my consciousness fading as I slumped to the side. Yet, instead of hitting the cold floor, I fell into a broad, solid chest.

The familiar scent of pine filled her nostrils. My eyes flew open!

The scent was the same fresh pine smell from my mysterious dark hero who had protected me in previous crises!

Was it Lucien all the time?

I’m confused about a lot right now. And the searing pain surged back, was swiftly swallowing my remaining awareness and dragging me into darkness, but I fought the instinct as long as I could.

I wasn’t sure whether to trust Lucien.

I wasn’t sure what was real or part of the pain–induced hallucinations, but I thought I heard Lucien’s voice out with a hint of panic to it.

“Ethan, John,” Lucien called out, striding out of the room with me in his arms, his shadow casting a sharp jawline. “Get the car ready. We’re going to the hospital.”

Both Ethan and John were standing outside, with their jaws dropped in surprise.

Ethan was the first to recover from the shock. “Alpha, I thought you went to sleep alone? How’d Claire end up with you? Liyah has been searching for her inside.”

“Just shut up and drive!” Lucien growled.

That was when it all finally faded away.