99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 74

My right arm gaped open, a vicious wound weeping crimson down my sleeve.

Lucien’s brow darkened as he snatched the gauze from Bart, binding the injury with rough efficiency. In one fluid motion, he hauled my limp body against his torso and stormed through the courtyard gates.

The black SUV waited, engine growling, thanks to Bart.

Just as Lucien bent to shove me inside, a white Porsche Cayenne skidded sideways, blocking our path.

The door flew open with a violent kick, rushing out Liam with his teeth bared and fists clenched so hard that his knuckles had bleached white.

“You soulless bastard!” Liam lunged, “Look what you’ve reduced her to!”

Lucien pivoted with sharp Alpha-like reflexes, dodging the grab.

“Get the hell off my territory or suffer the consequences. Now.” His icy glare could have frozen hell over.

“Explain this!” Liam wrenched at his collar, veins throbbing at his temples. “What fresh hell did you drag her through, you monster?”

I could help but let out a pained whimper, my ashen face glistening with sweat.

Lucien’s jaw hardened. Shouldering past Liam like he was nothing more than trash, he marched toward the

SUV where Bart stood holding the door for us.

“You deaf f**k! Put. Her. Down! She told me-you’re the hell she’d choose death for, if it meant she would escape you!” Liam’s voice tore through the air.

Lucien froze mid-stride. Every muscle locked, a statue wired with tension.

Part of me wondered if he truly believed that.

After all, I just willingly walked into a Grizzly bear enclosure to be free of him, didn’t I?

Gritting his teeth seemingly against the urge to hurl me back into the bear’s cage, Lucien stayed silent, his expression dark as he carried me into the black SUV.

The vehicle peeled away instantly.

Behind us, Liam’s white Porsche clung like a persistent shadow, tailing us relentlessly to the hospital.

Just as Lucien lifted me out, Liam cut him off again.

“Lucien, you damned-” Liam’s snarl was cut short.

“Fine! She’s your problem now, stalker.” With a careless toss, Lucien dumped me into Liam’s arms like a sack of rags.

Staggering from the impact, Liam instinctively caught my limp body. The effect brought forth a surge of pain within my body. I whimpered low.

Lucien didn’t waste time and was already gone, vanishing into the car and out of sight in a heartbeat.

A muffled groan from me in his arms snapped Liam back.

Jaw clenched, he tore his gaze away.

There was no time to dwell.

Pulling me tighter to his chest, he sprinted toward the ER doors, his steps wild. I faintly could detect that his phone buzzed nonstop in his pocket, calls and texts, an unending flood.

“Get me your best surgeons! Now!”

After my surgery, I was groggy in my bed. The drug was numbing the pain, but I was semi-lucid to what was being said around me.

Liam was mumbling a lot.

I knew it was just the two of us in here, other than the occasional nurse coming in for vital checks.

“So little time. So little time, Claire.” Liam whispered. I hated that I knew he was holding my hand, but I was thankful that I couldn’t feel any of it.

“And yet, in that brief span of time away from me, you have been reduced to this broken, bloodied wreck without me even realizing it.”

The sound of Liam sobbing grated on my nerves.

I wanted to shoo him away like the pest he was in my eyes. Every time Liam interfered with my life, all he did was make it harder for me.

“I won’t let you go, Claire. Not ever. Why can’t you see that without me, you won’t survive? You need me!”

He cried, his tear-soaked face pressed against our clasped hands.

I always thought I wanted a sensitive version of Liam, but all this moment did was turn my stomach.

Lucien may be a monster, but he was a monster who jumped into the bear’s cage to save me.

He didn’t push me in. It was a gamble, sure, but I needed to test Lucien.

He is always so guarded, but I knew his feelings for me were in there.

I needed to prove it to him just as much as I needed to prove it to myself. If Bart and I were going to succeed, then I needed to make sure my Lucien was still in there.

“You stubborn, foolish woman! Why can’t you see that I am the one to keep you safe!” Liam scoffed bitterly to himself.

“Dammit, Claire! If you would stop being so stubborn and see things my way, you’d realize you need me. If you are jealous of Breanne this much to put yourself in danger constantly, then I promise to cut all ties with her immediately. Is that what it will take for you to accept me back?”

Liam’s cell phone broke the silence again.

He stared down at it with a twisted expression, but unlike before my surgery, he answered it this time.

He put it on speaker, refusing to release his hold over my unbandaged hand.

“Liam, where are you?” Breanne’s sugary sweet voice echoed through the room.

Ugh, please just let this be a nightmare I can wake up from. This version of her voice was like nails on a chalkboard for me. Nothing good came from it.

“I’m at the hospital. I can’t talk right now.” Liam tried to end the call, but Breanne’s gasp stopped him.

“Are you injured, Lee-Lee?” She began to cry through the phone.

Liam sighed. “No, Breanne. I need you to do something for me, okay.”

“Sure, what is it? Why are you at the hospital?” Breanne pushed again.

“The hospital? Oh my Goddess, is he alright?” I faintly detected Luna Stephanie in the background of the call.

“Stop, everyone!” Liam shouted. “I am fine. Claire was in an accident, and I am with her. Now, I need you to stop calling me Lee-Lee; it is inappropriate!”

There was either an incredibly long pause of shock on the other end, or I passed out for a moment, but after a while, Breanne’s voice turned vulnerable.

“But, I’ve always called you Lee-Lee, just like you call me your Brea-Brea. Why do we have to stop it now? Is it because of that b***h, Claire?”

“Enough!” Liam growled in response. “I should have put my foot down a while ago, but I am doing it now. I want you to stop, Breanne. If you do not, I will have to cut ties altogether. Is this clear?”

“Liam, this isn’t like you. You’re letting her brainwash you now, and I need you to leave the room before she affects you even more. Come home, your parents have Queenie here to meet with you. She is lovely and will make an incredible candidate for your future Luna.” Breanne was in a full sob.

If this were a nightmare, I prayed to wake up soon.

“Why the hell is there a female to apply to be my future Luna? I never agreed to any of this crap. My mate is Claire, accept it or stay the f**k away from me!”

The sound of Liam’s phone hitting the wall of my hospital room was the last thing I heard before I succumbed, willingly, back into darkness.