99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 61

Liam froze, staring at me like I had grown a second head.

“How can you say all of this?” Liam reached out, gripping my wrist and yanking me closer. Everyone knows that Lucien Thorne is the devil reincarnated on earth. He enjoys torture and inflicting pain. Why can’t you see how dangerous he is?”

Lucien coughed again, and his hand gently tapped his chest.

I furiously yanked my wrist out of his tight grip, not caring for the sharp pain his nails caused as they dragged across my sensitive skin.

“You okay, Lucien? Let me rub your back.“I asked.

I slipped behind him, with my hands kneading his shoulders.

At the instant our skin touched, I noticed that Lucien’s back went rigid as steel.

When I was young, I would watch my mother soothe my father’s tired muscles and calm his annoyed wolf with simple touches.

So after I mated with Liam, I thought I would get the chance to do the same for my loving mate, but we never bonded on the same level as my parents had.

Now, I was finally able to apply my knowledge and soothe this demonic beast stirring within Lucien. I always had a way with wild animals; Lucien was no different.

I just needed to be given the chance to get close enough, and this was that moment.

Finally.

Although his coughing fit was over, Lucien didn’t shove me away.

He was openly allowing me to continue touching him like this in front of all within the restaurant, watching, fearful and dumbfounded.

Everyone knew that no one ever got close to Alpha Lucien Thorne, especially never females. They also would have known that Lucien was open about hating me, yet here I was, the only female in years allowed not only close, but to touch him.

His eyes half–lidded, fingers tracing the rim of his coffee mug.

Soon, the coffee mug was empty.

Beside us, both Ethan’s and John’s jaws dropped like they’d just witnessed pigs fly.

“John, what time’s our flight tonight?” Lucien stood, stretching lazily.

John snapped out of it, swallowing hard. “Eight o’clock, sir.”

“Eight o’clock?” My voice shot up, bright with excitement. “What are the odds, Lucien! Liyah and I are on the eight o’clock flight too! Perfect, we can fly back together!”

My eyes sparkled as I beamed at him.

Lucien flicked me a lazy glance, the corner of his mouth quirking into a knowing smirk as though he had a secret but wasn’t looking to share it.

Without a word, he turned and strode away.

I watched his broad–shouldered retreating figure, helplessly mesmerized, until he disappeared through the restaurant doors.

Even a loose cannon like Lucien Thorne wasn’t immune to a little ego stroking. That reaction? A world away from last night’s hostility.

I was ecstatic about the progress I’ve made.

The moment Lucien left, Liyah and I were on our feet, moving with purpose. I didn’t spare Liam a single glance, not even a backward look.

The vast dining room fell eerily silent; no one uttered a word until Liyah and I exited.

I wonder if this will circulate, or if Lucien squashed it quickly to maintain his hard exterior. Regardless, I knew I was denting the armour that man wore at all times.

After the event at the restaurant, Liyah and I spent another hour visiting the stables before we ultimately headed back, grabbed our luggage, and the shuttle van took us back to the airport.

The last place I wanted to return to was Alberta. I wanted to be in BC forever, but I had unfinished business still.

Liyah and I hit the airport a full two hours early. The second we cleared security, my expression soured.

I couldn’t believe my poor luck.

Across the terminal, Liam waved with sickening enthusiasm, a grin plastered on his face. It was as if he were flagging down a long–lost family relative.

It was embarrassing to witness; it was worse knowing he was waving at me.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Liyah’s arm and veered sharply down another corridor, desperate to dodge him.

“Heard you’re on Lucien’s flight,” he panted, “Couldn’t let you fly alone, Claire. We’ll travel together. It’ll be safer for you with me there.”

I flinched back like he’d offered me a disease.

“Goddess, Liam, have you no shame?” I snapped, voice sharp enough to cut glass. “Who I fly with is none of your damn business! Do I need to make a scene right here in security to get it through your thick skull?”

Liam stiffened like I had slapped him, and to be honest, I was considering doing it just to drive the point home.

Forcing sweetness into his tone, he said, “Come on, Claire. With me there, he won’t try anything. Who does Lucien think he is? He’s clearly up to his old tricks to hurt you.”

“The only one trying anything here is you!” I cut him off coldly.

Liam made a sound like he was choking on air. Liyah and I took this opportunity to power–walked away, desperate to shake him.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get very far before both Liam and his Gamma, Soren, seized our luggage and escorted us toward the boarding gate like cops hauling perps.

We squeezed into first class just minutes before departure. And there he was, in his typical lounged fashion, Lucien, sprawled across two seats like a panther claiming its territory, radiating effortless arrogance.

When he locked onto Liam trailing behind us, his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.

“I bought out first class. Get out.”

“Claire, do you hear that? Lucien selfishly cleared the cabin! Come on, let’s move to business class.” Liam didn’t hide his internal glee very well as he played the helpless card.

Liam’s hand hovered, ready to shove me toward the exit–farther from Lucien.

But I refused to budge.

Instead, I glided past him and slid into the empty seat beside Lucien with unnatural ease, even waving Liyah into the opposite aisle seat.

“Since you’ve booked the whole cabin,” I mused, tilting my head with playful defiance, “all these seats would go to waste. Do us a solid, Lucien, let us crash here? This flight seems to have a rodent problem. I suspect a big bad wolf will keep him at bay if we’re here.”

“Fine.” Breaking character, Lucien didn’t fire back with his usual sarcasm.

I fought the urge to smile with joy. I reminded myself to play it cool; Lucien spooks easily if too much emotion is displayed.

“Well, if Lucien has seats to spare, I imagine he wouldn’t mind one more being claimed, would he?”

I don’t know what Liam was thinking when he threw himself into the nearest seat and tried again.

“I mind.” Lucian enunciated two crisp syllables.

I watched in silent enjoyment as Liam’s cheek twitched violently. Humiliation burned so hot he could’ve melted through the floor.

“I’ll pay double.”

My eyes widened at Liam’s desperation. I turned to look at Lucien.

A razor–thin smirk, mocking, almost imperceptible, curved Lucien’s lips. He lazily held up five slender fingers.

He was demanding five times the price of this seat.

This just got interesting. I knew Lucien was toying with Liam; he was displaying himself the dominant Alpha, and Liam was foolishly complying without realizing the message he sent.

“Fine.” Like the coward he was, Liam gave in.

Grinding his teeth, Liam completed the transfer on the spot. He slumped into the seat closest to me, expression blacker than midnight.

I eyed him with open contempt.

The proud Liam I once knew would’ve eaten glass before swallowing this kind of disgrace. Since I left him, he’d lost his spine entirely, sinking deeper into pathetic desperation.

Liam caught me looking. His gaze locked onto mine, flashing me his best wounded puppy look, practically screaming that he only did this for me.

I couldn’t hold back the mocking snort, my mouth twisting in a sneer.

Spineless, weak and pathetic wasn’t sexy. I don’t care who you are; it annoys me.