The Secret Heirs of the Lycan King (by Misha K) novel Chapter 36

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

I stood there, watching Bella stride away, her chin held high, eyes aflame with a fierce determination that cut me to the core. It felt like a dagger twisting in my chest. She didn’t even spare me a glance, as if I were nothing more than a pesky ant scuttling beneath her feet—insignificant and easily dismissed. My fists clenched tightly at my sides, a physical manifestation of the frustration boiling within me. The old power I once wielded so effortlessly was slipping through my fingers once more, like grains of sand in an hourglass.

Ever since Maya had urged me to track down Bella’s whereabouts, I had become a ghost chasing shadows. I’d questioned every hotel staff member, made countless phone calls to every contact I could think of, and even went so far as to hire a driver to tail a car I suspected was hers. But all my efforts had been in vain. Bella had vanished into this sprawling city like a drop of ink dissolving in water—untraceable and utterly lost. So, in a last-ditch effort, I thought I might find her at her construction site.

After leaving the site behind, I made my way to Maya’s new space nestled within the Phoenix Mall, hidden away in one of its less frequented corridors. The path was convoluted, requiring two sharp turns and a trek through a narrow stretch that was dimly lit. Upon arriving, I was greeted by Maya’s small team: two decorators, a sales trainer, and a junior manager, all of whom looked up from their tasks with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“Where is she?” I asked, my voice taut with impatience.

The junior manager merely shrugged, her expression apologetic. “Ms. Williams usually arrives later. We’re just waiting for her instructions on the layout.”

A heavy sigh escaped my lips. Maya had envisioned a flagship store, yet here we were, crammed into an alleyway that felt more like a forgotten corner than a prime retail spot. It wasn’t just unfair; it reflected poorly on me, too. We had invested so much into this venture, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were throwing our money down a well. I resolved to confront Maya directly.

When I finally reached her parking lot, my anger simmered just beneath the surface, barely contained. I spotted Maya in the midst of getting ready, her focus on her appearance rather than the business at hand. I chose to ignore her, striding purposefully to the bar where I seized a bottle of whiskey and twisted the cap off with a satisfying pop.

“What happened?” she asked, her tone light yet laced with concern.

“I was at the mall,” I replied tersely.

“And? Did you meet Bella?” she pressed, her eyes narrowing with interest.

“Damn that woman!” I exploded, the frustration erupting from me like a volcano. “She’s changed. You have no idea how much confidence she has now. When I confronted her, she didn’t even flinch! She dismissed me like I was some lowly clerk.” I took a long swig from the bottle, feeling the whiskey burn its way down my throat as I loosened my tie in an attempt to ease the tension. The transformation in Bella was infuriating. “How dare she act like she’s above me? Who does she think she is?”

Maya let out a derisive snort. “She’s treating herself like royalty these days.” Turning to face me fully, her expression shifted to one of bitter envy. “Do you have any idea how many times Scott has been to her site? Several. And how many times has he visited mine? Not once.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, heavy with resentment. “She’s seduced him. Because of that, she’s secured a prime spot right near the main aisle, while I’m shoved into a corner that shoppers will miss unless they’re completely lost. It feels like we’re throwing money away. I wish I had her position.”

“How do we stop her?” I demanded, taking another mouthful of whiskey. The burn fueled my determination. “I can’t even locate where she’s living. She’s vanished from the hotel, no forwarding address. It’s like she’s shed her old skin, and we can’t get a grip on her anymore.”

Maya’s expression hardened. “Bella is like a festering wound. Touch one part, and the infection spreads,” she spat, her anger palpable. “I had hoped that by introducing her to Grandmother, her inheritance would be jeopardized, but Isla is such a damn fool that she wants Bella back in the family!”

“Stay focused, Maya. We need to take Bella down. With her in the picture, this house, this money—all of it will slip through our fingers! And what about her kids? How do we deal with them? It’s like she’s trying to take over everything we’ve built!” My voice rose with each word, the urgency of our situation pressing down on me.

Maya clenched her jaw, her frustration mirroring my own. “I’m thinking the same thing,” she hissed. “You want to take her down? So do I.” She moved to sit beside me, her presence both comforting and dangerous.

I took another swig, irritation swelling inside me like smoke filling a small, closed room. I wanted to teach Bella a lesson she wouldn’t forget.

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