99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 59

LIYAH POV

Since Claire had mysteriously disappeared from the club, I had been frantically searching everywhere, but to no avail.

Just half an hour ago, I received a call from my brother, Ethan, informing me that Claire had passed out and was now in the hospital.

Of all places to search for Claire, I never thought to reach out to my eldest brother, Ethan, to figure out if Claire was with or around him and Alpha Lucien.

I couldn’t wait for everything to calm down so I could have a moment to catch the heck up and figure out what was going on.

Did Alpha Lucien still or ever truly hate Claire? I’m starting to wonder if it was just a cover to protect himself or perhaps her.

But that was for later.

After the call with Ethan ended, without even taking a moment to process the situation, I grabbed my bag and rushed to the hospital.

“Liyah?!”

I had the front receptionist give me the directions to where to find Claire Reese, and then I heard Liam’s voice ringing in my ears.

Thinking I was imagining things, I spun around but was startled to see Liam’s face, heavily bandaged and looking worse for wear.

My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at him for several seconds, finally confirming it was indeed

Liam.

Part of me wanted to burst out in laughter at the sight of him, but also, why wasn’t his wolf healing him quicker?

“Liyah!” he exclaimed, grabbing my wrist, “I just saw Lucien. He brought Claire to the hospital! You need to tell me what their relationship is classified as now?”

“Lucien brought her here personally?” My eyes went even wider, “Well, hot dang! You go girl!! Claire’s got better game than I thought! Impressive!”

My tone dripped with amusement as I recalled Claire’s motives for getting close to Lucien. But Liam’s reaction was like lighting a fuse on a powder keg.

His face turned pale, then green, and his voice dropped to a dangerously cold tone.

“What do you mean? She’s trying to provoke me by flirting with that lunatic Lucien? Is she out of her mind?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his ridiculous self–confidence.

“Liam, you are such a hypocrite!” I shot out with as much venom as I could muster, swinging my bag at his hand, which was still gripping my wrist. “Get out of the way! Claire can now be with whoever she wants! You’ve got no say in this! Get a grip and stay away from her!”

Liam winced as I pulled away.

I could tell that my words made him uncomfortable, but his ingrained hypocrisy kicked in, and he quickly masked his feelings with a suave demeanour.

“I’m sorry, Liyah. I lost my cool. I’m just really worried about her. Can you please tell me how far things have gone between Claire and Lucien?”

I studied his forced charm, and it allowed me to really take in the sight of his injuries.

I recalled the panic and trampling incident that occurred during the random power outage at the club last night.

Was he the one who got trampled? Was he the one that I accidentally knocked out with the stun baton? There was no way I did all this damage in the dark; someone else must have been responsible for this.

A twinge of guilt instantly replaced my anger at the thought that I might have had a part in this. But it quickly faded away into smugness.

With a sly smile, I leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “Here’s the deal. Whatever your relationship with Breanne is, that’s exactly what Lucien and Claire have. Does that make better, Liam?”

With that, I turned on my heel and quickly disappeared from Liam’s sight.

I couldn’t fight the smile on my face as I did. Let him stand there, confused and unsure. After all, that was how Claire spent years feeling because of him.

It was about time he started to understand his consequences.

***CLAIRE POV***

I had just woken up in the hospital ward when the nurse left after administering my The large room felt empty with just me inside. Seemed a bit excessive of space for just one

person, but I wasn’t going to complain. I could use some quiet time anyway.

I felt like things were supposed to be calmer and easier since separating from the Sterlings, but I was more confused about the direction of my life than ever now.

Some time alone to think things through would do me wonders.

Or so I thought, right up until I room’s door swung open and Liyah stood there, completely flushed with bloodshot eyes.

“Claire!” Liyah exclaimed, rushing to the bedside and grabbing my hand, relief flooding her voice. “Oh my Goddess, I was so scared!”

“Liyah,” I forced a weak smile, feeling defeated, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I seem to be on a bit of a streak of bad luck. I keep ending up in the hospital.”

“Stop it! No more negative talk!” Liyah quickly covered my mouth, scrutinizing my face. Lowering her voice, she asked bluntly, “Ok, start talking. What the heck happened? What went down last night?”

I recounted my harrowing experience from the night before. I didn’t leave any of the details out as I did.

Liyah, much to my surprise, quietly listened, her mouth agape in shock.

Once I finished, Liyah glanced around the empty room, her voice dropping to a whisper, “Wait a minute. I heard Lucien personally brought you here! Where is he? Why isn’t he around?”

Lucien?

I couldn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat.

When I woke up, the nurse had only referred to him as a friend. I had assumed it was Liyah. How could it have been Lucien?

The same Lucien who had treated me like an enemy? He was the reason I needed this hospital visit in the first place. Was it really Lucien who helped me after I fainted?

I lay there stunned.

I suddenly recalled the fresh, familiar scent of pine I had caught before losing consciousness.

It was a smell that encompassed me like a warm, cozy blanket on a cool night. I wasn’t certain if the voices I heard speaking at the time were a dream or not, but I would never doubt that scent. It was slowly becoming my safe space. I felt protected when it was around.

“Liyah, be honest with me! When I fainted outside the operating room with Breanne, was it you who arranged for me to be transferred?” my voice trembled slightly as I grasped Liyah’s hand tightly.

I had always thought it was Liyah’s doing. I never thought to ask or look into it at all.

Liyah looked taken aback, shaking her head vigorously. “No way! I only found out you were transferred when I got the hospital notice. By the time I arrived, you were already there!”

So it wasn’t Liyah?

My heart raced, filled with disbelief as an idea dawned on me.

It turned out that Lucien was the man who had repeatedly shown up just in time to help me out.

How could this be possible?

My mind flashed back to the harrowing k********g case.

The tall figure on the black motorcycle fiercely protected me as we broke through the chaos.

I thought harder on all of my close calls where my mysterious hero arrived, and I slowly pieced it all together. The outline of my mystery hero’s shoulders and his strong frame looked strikingly similar to Lucien’s!

That thought sent a jolt through my heart.

That unknown man had jumped into a dark, muddy swamp pit to save me, risking everything. He’d been endangered countless times throughout the three years, never revealing himself, but always arriving just in the nick of time whenever I needed a saviour.

All this time, it was Lucien? There was no way he would risk his life for me!

Just that thought was enough to dismiss everything!

I instinctively crushed the budding suspicion, driven by a harsh clarity of thought.

Lucien has made it increasingly clear that he has no real affection for me anymore; I am just a toy to play with until he tires of me and ultimately ends me.

That was the harsh reality of Lucien and my relationship now. I just needed to get close enough to reclaim what was rightfully mine, and then I can disappear from his life forever.