99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 84

I had only tossed out the remark casually. I never expected Liam actually to mop the floors and tackle the dishes. The man can’t even figure out the microwave, much less a washing machine. He’s never cleaned a day in his life, yet he was now.

Watching him wrestle with a mountain of plates in the kitchen, apron hanging lopsided, movements hilariously awkward like he was battling the dishes out of sheer spite, I froze.

“Dishes are done, your majesty,” he announced, emerging with raw, pruned hands held up like evidence. “What is next on my punishment list?”

“Nope, I’m not interested in playing house with you. It’s time for you to get out,” I said, shaking my head.

“Get out?” Liam stared at me as if I had lost my mind. “Claire, it’s almost midnight. Where exactly am I supposed to go?”

I felt a headache brewing.

Even now, after breaking the bond between us, he still did not get it.

He kept barging into my life, playing the martyr, as if a few half-assed chores and a few apologies could fix everything he’s done, or allowed his family to do against me.

I jabbed a finger toward the door. “Where should you go? How about your own damn place, Liam? And let me remind you, again, we are done. There is nothing between us.”

“I am trying, damn it. Why can’t you see that, Claire?” he grunted, “I just need you to see that, and to give me a chance.”

“Let go!” I growled, shoving at him. But the more I struggled, the tighter he clung to me.

“Not until you say yes,” he bargained, lips brushing my ear. “Tell me you will accept me as your mate again.

Say you still love me, Claire. Please, I need you to say you love me again.”

I could not fathom it. Liam had not touched a drop of alcohol, yet here he was acting like a stubborn ass refusing to budge.

Finally losing patience, I kneed him in his groin.

While he folded in the unexpected spike of pain, I dialled the property manager, demanding immediate assistance as I had an intruder in my home.

Seeing my resolve, Liam retreated with grudging reluctance.

At the manager’s knock, Liam slipped back into his flawless gentleman’s mask in an instant.

Without prompting, he strode out and walked to the next door, leading to the unit overhead.

“Wrong door,” Liam tossed jokingly to the manager as he did.

I shut the door with a resounding slam, exhaling hard.

I couldn’t sleep knowing that Liam was above me, planning his next move, so I distracted myself and spent the night drafting furniture designs from memory, every detail of the Crown of Thorne Packhouse vivid behind my eyelids. The approach of sunrise found me still working, collapsing into bed only when exhaustion won just after 4 AM.

Morning came too soon.

My phone’s shrill ring dragged me from my exhausted slumber. Blinking against the light, I squinted at the caller ID: Liyah.

“Claire!” Liyah’s voice crackled through, “OMG! Giiiirl, did you film Liam and Breanne’s dramatic showdown.

“Film what?” I bolted upright, thumb swiping open my feed.

A viral hashtag, #SterlingScandal, dominated trends..

Crystal-clear video showed Liam and Breanne in an awkward public struggle outside the hospital, uploaded by some anonymous busybody. Liam goes from one moment, hugging and soothing the weeping Breanne, to the next moment yelling and telling her to stop overstepping into his personal life.

Only to pull her back into another long hug, apologizing for hurting her.

No wonder Breanne was as territorial as she was. Even I was confused.

“See this?” Liyah pressed. “This reeks of your doing! How are they still this shameless after everything?”

I chuckled dryly. “I can assure you, this was not me, but I wish I knew who did.”

“Wait, seriously?” Liyah’s voice jumped an octave. “Everyone will assume it is you! Who else would bother?”

“Let them wonder,” I mumbled, sinking into pillows. “I am running on empty, babe. Call you later.”

Sleep pulled at my eyelids. With a massive yawn, I flung my phone aside and hung up, immediately sinking back into slumber.

***LIAM POV***

I was half-asleep when I was jolted awake by my mother’s call. Breanne had slit her wrists with a silver dagger again. My mother flew into the dramatics of how Breanne was bleeding heavily, and that I needed to rush over immediately.

Slit her wrists again? My stomach dropped.

As I sped through the streets, my phone buzzed with fresh rumours about me and Breanne.

Again!

All this dramatic bullshit being twisted was what was pushing Breanne over the edge so much.

My mother told me that it was my father barreling down on Breanne because of yet another scandal with us. Telling her that she was nothing but a stain on our good name.

Speak of the devil himself.

My father’s caller ID flashed on the car’s dashboard. I answered.

“Yes, father?” I greeted bored.

“Watch the disrespect with me, boy.”

I ground my teeth, but stayed mute.

“I have been thinking a lot about the gossip and negative publicity descending upon our pack lately.”

“Come again?” I stumbled out.

“Speaking too fast for your dwindling brain cell? Fine, I lay it out more clearly. We, the Sterling Moon pack, did not have a scandal like this until you started straying outside of your mate bond.” He wasn’t done.

“Claire wasn’t many things, but she knew how to behave. Yet you allowed Breanne to drag you into her dramatics and messes, now look at what’s happened? The crazy she-wolf has yet again flown off to the land of the cuckoo’s, and sliced her own wrists again. She is more of a burden than a blessing.”

“And what would you have me do?” I growl in frustration.

“Isn’t it clear? Honestly, you got your smarts from your useless mother. This is why I haven’t handed you the title. What I am telling you to do is simple: keep your d**k out of Breanne and put it back in your f*****g mate! Fix this or consider finding a civil job, because I won’t pass the title to a weak, spineless Alpha wannabe. Understood!”

It wasn’t a question. And he hung up before I could even respond.

What the hell was that?

My father hated the fact that Claire was my mate, and now he wanted to turn it around and act like she was our f*****g saviour?

Better yet, did my father just threaten not to give me my title if I didn’t claim Claire back as my mate? What the hell was going on with my life? Nothing was making sense anymore.