The Secret Heirs of the Lycan King (by Misha K) novel Chapter 10

**When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown**
**Chapter 10**

**Bella**

Fifty-one vouchers.

I stood there, utterly paralyzed, as Scott Moore made his way to the podium. The instant he entered the room, a profound silence enveloped us, as if the very air had thickened with anticipation. Every man in the audience regarded him with a mix of awe and reverence, while the women gazed at him with stars twinkling in their eyes, as if he were some celestial being descended from the heavens. His presence was nothing short of electrifying, and my heart raced wildly in response. I had never anticipated seeing him again, yet here he stood, commanding attention as the CEO of Phoenix Mall.

He adjusted the microphone with a casual ease that belied the weight of his position, and his deep, resonant voice echoed through the hall.

“Phoenix Mall has always believed in more than just business. We believe in people. We believe in passion, hard work, and ideas that can shape the future. Every proposal here tonight represents courage and effort. I thank each of you for trusting us with your dreams.”

As he spoke, a wave of applause erupted, filling the room with a palpable energy. He cleared his throat, and the audience fell into a hushed reverence, hanging on his every word, as if he possessed the power to weave their hopes into reality. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him; my palms were slick with sweat. How was this even happening? And then, as if sensing my presence, his gaze swept across the audience and landed directly on me. My stomach twisted into knots. He smiled ever so slightly, an expression that seemed to suggest he found some amusement in my surprise.

“Tonight,” he continued, his eyes still locked on mine, “I want to try something new. As a gesture of encouragement, I will be conducting a raffle. One business will receive an investment of one hundred thousand dollars from us. Consider it a small gift to help one of you take your next step.”

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Whispers began to circulate, and some people broke into spontaneous applause.

“Scott Moore is not the kind of man to throw money away. He is known to be selective, careful, even ruthless in business. Why is he suddenly acting generous?” a voice near me murmured, tinged with skepticism.

“This is unprecedented!”

“Incredible,” another voice chimed in, filled with excitement.

Every second felt like a weight pressing down on my chest, squeezing the breath from my lungs. Perhaps now was the moment to slip away before everything spiraled out of control. The rapid pace of events made me feel as though the ground was shifting beneath my feet. I had no intention of walking into this trap and jeopardizing my children. So, with deliberate care, I began to retreat.

Scott turned to the man standing beside him. “Troy,” he said, his voice steady and commanding. “Can you please get that jar?” He gestured toward a glass jar perched on a side table.

I directed my gaze toward Troy. He was tall and muscular, exuding an intimidating presence that rivaled Scott’s. His light brown eyes and chocolate-brown hair framed sharp features that made him stand out even among the elite. He looked momentarily taken aback by Scott’s request but complied without hesitation, retrieving the large glass jar filled with folded slips of paper and handing it to Scott. I stood near the door, stealing one last glance at them.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify