The Day I Lost You and Found Myself 169

Chapter 169 The Proposal

The car came to a smooth stop by the curb. I heard my Gamma let out a long, tired sigh, his eyelids. drooping as he urged me to hurry up and exit so he could steal a quick nap.

If this were any other day, I might have said something, reminded him that I was the Alpha of the pack, but I was too excited to clear everything up with Claire.

A soft click echoed in the quiet car as the vanity mirror flipped open in the backseat.

The mirror’s light spilled across my sharply defined profile, illuminating the tension in my jaw. My brow furrowed slightly as I scrutinized every detail of my reflection.

I combed through the strands framing my forehead, and my fingertips pressed gently at my temples as if

smoothing away traces of exhaustion.

Before all these scandals and issues arising seemingly at every corner, I was considered a work of art.

The Goddess took extra time sculpting my brilliant features, and I knew that once Claire was back by my

side, taking care of things, I would return to that image of perfection.

After a moment longer of assessment, I retrieved a bottle of cologne and applied generous spritzes to my

neck, wrists, and shirtfront.

Soren’s cough at the intensity of the fragrance let me know I was perfectly saturated. I still couldn’t believe

that I was down here, in my Porsche, fussing over seeing my ex-mate like a nervous schoolboy, drowning

myself in enough cologne to fumigate the car.

Even to myself, this performance was beyond ridiculous, more excessive than our first meeting all those Updates are released by f͟i͟n͟d͟n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟.net

years ago. But love makes you do crazy things.

Only when I was finally satisfied with my perfectly groomed appearance did I step out, heading straight for the rooftop bar. I had already tracked Claire’s whereabouts and knew she would still be there at this hour. With my heart racing, I bounded up the stairs two at a time, emerging onto the top floor.

And there she was. Claire, draped in a simple ivory dress, looked radiant under the night sky.

I raised my arm in an enthusiastic wave, but before I could call out her name, two elite warriors for the

Crown of Thornes pack suddenly appeared, blocking my path. I’ve run into these two before; they are the ones assigned to watch over Claire now.

“What is the meaning of this? Move! I am going in!” I demanded.

“No! Alpha Sterling, the entire rooftop is rented out for Alpha Thorne’s private party,” one of the warriors stated flatly, not giving an inch.

“What if I decide to crash this party anyway?” I challenged with an arched brow.

“Sir,” one warrior sighed with a tone of weary experience, “as you remember, we have played this game before. Please do not make us the bad guys here. We are following orders and will continue to do so.

Leave!”

That wasn’t going to happen. I was dead set on reaching Claire.

Every second counted; I felt I had to swoop in before Lucien Thorne could work his magic. My father’s unexpected approval tonight might just be the ticket to winning her back.

“Claire! Claire!” Abandoning all dignity, I shouted over the warriors, waving frantically like some desperate

groupie. “Call off your goon squad! This cannot wait!”

After we finished our delicious meal, my brother, Claire, and I relaxed and enjoyed a calm evening. I still

couldn’t believe that my Alpha, the most terrifying Alpha of the province, perhaps the country, was hopelessly in love with my best friend.

Now, to try and help my foolish brother realize that he didn’t stand a chance, because I was convinced

Claire felt the same for Lucien, just too wounded by her past and scared for her future to admit it.

The evening was one of the best we’ve had together in a while, when Liam’s voice cut through our

laughter.

All of our heads snapped up to see him flailing his arms at the entrance, a sweaty and desperate mess

that clashed with the chic rooftop vibe. My stomach did an unpleasant flip. The night had been

complicated enough without his grand entrance.

“Goddess! What the heck does this clown want now?” I groaned, my cheeks flushed with alcohol as I

launched to my feet. “Stay put, Claire. I will handle this stalker.”

I stormed over, whiskey courage fueling my tirade.

“Liam freaking Sterling! You are not just persistent; you are a full-blown stalker at this point! What is wrong

with you? Can you not even let a girl enjoy late-night bites in peace?”

Steeling myself for his usual cold comeback, I blinked in surprise when the ice prince transformed before

my eyes. He oozed sugary apologies with an uncharacteristically sweet surrender.

“Liyah, come on. We have known each other forever. You are Claire’s best friend. When we go through with

the official mating and Luna ceremony, I will even make you her ranked Beta female. Just let me in, alright?”

Mating? Luna Ceremony? Me, as her Beta female?

I gaped at Liam like he had sprouted antennae. I instinctively pressed a palm to his forehead.

“Did you hit your head or something? You are not making any sense!”

Liam peeked over my shoulder, confirming Claire was not watching, then dragged me behind a pillar.

Before I could protest, he produced a velvet box from his pocket. Snapping it open, he revealed a solitaire diamond of impressive size, its facets throwing rainbow sparks.

A gasp was audible. I clapped both hands over my mouth, my voice hushed in shock.

“Liam-what in the world? Are you proposing to Claire?”

He nodded, solemn as a vow.

“It was custom-designed. Our initials are laser-etched inside. Give me five minutes with her. I would bet

my life she will say yes! If she takes me back, I will give her a storybook ceremony. She will want for

nothing! I understand where I went wrong and will do better this time, Liyah. I promise.” His eyes shone

with the desperate glow of a gambler betting his last chip on red.

My lips pursed, barely restraining the blunt truth itching to escape. But as I took in his reckless, lovelorn

expression, the kind of all-consuming passion that teetered on the pathetic, the sharp words lodged in my

throat.

Perhaps it makes me wicked, but I decided to let him have this one shot, to learn the hard way once and

for all. He needed this final rejection to face the hard truth. With that thought, I flicked a glance at the pack

warriors posted by our Alpha, signalling them to stand down with a playful smirk.

“Alright, since you are so confident,” I sang, gesturing for him to pass. My lips quirked with a flicker of

enjoyment at what was to come as a result of this. “Go ahead, then. Talk.”

Liam lit up like a reprieved convict. He barreled to Claire’s side, barely registering that my brother was also at the table before blurting out, “Claire! I drove here straight from Edmonton tonight, just for you!”

Claire lowered her glass, her smile vanishing. Her tone could have frozen hell.

“And?” Her lip twitched, fighting the urge to smile at her response.

He closed the distance in a heartbeat, his hands seizing her shoulders to haul her up.

Blind to her reaction, he continued. “Claire! Your storybook wedding is happening! My father finally caved!

It’s time to come back and lead by my side. I forgive you for leaving like you did, and you forgive me for not seeing our distance. You will say yes!”

Lucia Morh

Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.