99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 85

It’s been three days since I kicked Liam out, and saw the news about Breanne and her latest attempts at being relevant in the spotlight. I guess it’s true what some people say, insufficient attention is still attention.

Honestly, she should consider writing a book and self-publishing it on sss. ‘How to hollow out your self-dignity, but still get the status and all his cash.’

Does that make me sound bitter? Maybe a little, but it’s still funny, right? I feel like there are she-wolves out there that would genuinely buy it. Title hounds playing the best friend cards are everywhere, it seems.

Either way, Breanne kept Liam busy and out of my hair, allowing me to focus solely on my active work projects.

I had beaten Queenie’s deadline, completing the preliminary designs for the Thorne Alpha family.

I have recently discovered exactly whose suite this torture chamber furnishing idea was meant for, and I couldn’t support it.

I made several adjustments and hoped that Lucien would accept reason once he saw them. After all, midway through the project, Bart made a special trip to deliver a medicinal cream that healed my right shoulder entirely within days.

Something like that had to have been Lucien’s idea. I felt like I was making significant progress by chipping away at this version of him.

Or at least that is what I tell myself.

In the three days, I saw Liam in he news a lot.

“If Liam Sterling cannot maintain a healthy mate bond with his true mate, then he has no business leading a pack of hundreds of innocent wolves. We demand a new heir select!” One news article headlined.

All I could do was shake my head.

I guarantee that even reading this, Liam still doesn’t understand the messes he continues to make running to that woman.

As dusk settled, after turning in my draft, I shrugged off my exhaustion, looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home. I refused to think about Liam and his family’s problems any longer.

Sounds like an incredible idea, yeah?

Unfortunately, the moment I stepped out of Moonves’ entrance, my stomach lurched.

I knew that car parked out front all too well.

It belonged to Alpha Henry, the very man who made it his mission in life to remind me how much of a burden my presence was in his family’s good name.

And sure enough, his driver walked around the car and opened the door for me to get in.

Why? Why couldn’t this family just take the hint?

“I won’t ask again. Get in, Claire.” Alpha Henry growled from within the car.

Jaw clenched, I got in and we drove to the nearby cafe, taking a seat inside. As we settled in, Alpha Henry lifted his cup and remarked casually,

“You have always had good taste. That tea set you gifted me years ago, I have been using it lately. I should have given it a chance years ago, it makes the tea taste incredible.”

My brows knit in confusion, but I forced a polite nod. “Well, better it gets used than collects dust.”

Henry stiffened for a split second before masking his unease. “So you are working now?”

“Yes.”

“Must be rough, slaving away for pennies.” He paused, then dropped the pretense. “If you are willing to apologize and properly fulfill your role as a daughter-in-law, we might just let you crawl back into the family. I will even have Stephanie step down and agree to give you the title of Luna once Liam proves himself capable.”

I coughed.

So this was his agenda?

I had braced myself for accusations, assuming he blamed me for the latest of the many scandals.

Instead, he offered a fake truce, dripping with superiority. Every word demanded that I submit, and the irony was not lost on me.

“No, thank you. The Sterling name is far too lofty for someone like me.” I pushed back my chair, not bothering to hide my intent to exit. “If that is all, I will be going.”

Behind me, Alpha Henry smacked the teacup down with a loud clatter.

“Claire, I am giving you a way out of this mundane, poverty-ridden life. There won’t be another chance given. This is it!”

Hearing this, I could not hold back any longer. I turned to face Alpha Henry, my eyes flashing with cold fire, my shoulders squared in defiance.

“Life has got more than one road. Seeing where this one leads, I would much rather take another direction. Even if I am crawling on my knees, it is better than grovelling forever in your not-so-perfect Sterling family. Your pack is in ruins, your son and his mistress are steering it in that direction themselves. Good luck, Alpha Henry.”

I flashed him a smile that did not reach my eyes and walked away, not once looking back.