The Secret Heirs of the Lycan King (by Misha K) novel Chapter 13

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**When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown**
**Chapter 13**

Scott

As I stepped into the meeting room alongside Bella, I was immediately engulfed by a swarm of eager faces. The air was thick with anticipation, filled with band owners, investors, and board members, all clamoring for figures, timelines, and the all-important handshakes. Despite my attempts to engage, my gaze kept straying toward the door. I caught sight of Bella maneuvering through the throng, tightening my coat as she slipped away into the night. A sudden wave of panic surged through me, gnawing at my insides. I hastily wrapped up my conversations, pushing through the crowd with urgency. By the time I reached the exit, she had vanished.

I took the private elevator down, the metallic hum echoing in my ears as I descended. Once in my car, I instructed my driver to tail the taxi she had hailed. I maintained a respectful distance, not wanting to spook her. I could sense the tension she had been under after encountering Maya and Craig. Those two were trouble, and they had undoubtedly riled her up. For that alone, I had no intention of letting them off easy.

As I watched her cab pull up to a hotel just a few blocks from the mall, I hesitated. Entering that establishment would only complicate matters further. It would give her the impression that I was tracking her, hunting her down. My Lycan was restless, urging me to go to her, to envelop her in my embrace, to ensure she was warm and safe. But I fought against that primal instinct. My Lycan was a tempest of emotions, a restless beast within me, howling like a giant dog yearning for its owner.

I was acutely aware that Bella had lied when she claimed not to remember me. I could hear her heartbeat quicken and see her pupils dilate. As a Lycan, I had a knack for detecting untruths. She remembered every moment of that night—we both did. That was why I wanted her to confess it aloud, to acknowledge that our shared history was real and undeniable.

Upon returning home, I found Troy lounging in my living room, flipping through a stack of reports with disinterest. His eyes remained glued to the papers as he spoke. “So, purely academic question—how many names did you throw into the raffle jar?”

“Why does it matter?” I growled, bracing myself for what I knew was coming.

He raised a hand, counting off on his fingers. “One—Bella. Two—Bella Williams. Three—Bella Williams again. Four—’the small lingerie one.’ Five—’the only one Scott cares about.’ And my personal favorite—’burn these or you’re fired.'”

I glared at him, hoping he would spontaneously combust.

Finally, he looked up, a mischievous grin illuminating his face. “You really thought I wouldn’t check? The jar had one name repeated fifty times.”

“It contained all the shortlisted names,” I replied, my expression deadpan.

“Uh-huh.” He leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “And all of them were Bella, a rare surname from the ancient ‘Because I Said So’ clan.”

I clenched my jaw, realizing there was no escaping the relentless probing of my irritating Beta. “I’m interested in her,” I admitted, the words spilling out against my will.

His posture straightened, surprise washing over his features. “Interested?” he echoed, incredulity lacing his tone. “After all these years of you acting like you were married to your calendar?”

I refrained from revealing that she was my mate—it was still too perilous to share.

“I can’t believe it, Your Majesty!” he exclaimed, nearly choking on his words. He stood up, stepping closer to scrutinize my expression. “Like, really?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, my voice steady. “So keep an eye on her. I can feel she’s going to bolt.”

Troy sensed the gravity of my words. “I’ll have eyes on the hotel,” he replied promptly, recognizing the importance of the situation. “Should we inform the Elders?”

“Hell no!” I barked, my voice sharp.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay!”

“And put an announcement in the morning papers and online,” I added, formulating my plan. “Official word from Phoenix Mall: she’s shortlisted, and I will invest one hundred thousand dollars in her brand. Full names with photos.”

“You’re… making it public?” He blinked, astonished. “Really?”

“Yes,” I stated with a determined smile. That way, she’d be compelled to stay.

Troy whistled softly, a note of intrigue in his tone. “That’s bold!” Without further argument, he exited the room.

He had no idea that I would fight tooth and nail to keep what was rightfully mine. That night, sleep eluded me. My Lycan was restless, pacing within my mind. As dawn approached, I surrendered to the urge and headed to the gym. The punching bag bore the brunt of my frustration. By eleven, I could no longer wait; my wolves had reported that she was checking out. I changed clothes, skipped two crucial meetings, and drove to the hotel like a bat out of hell.