The Secret Heirs of the Lycan King (Bella and scott) novel Chapter 39

**When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown**
**Chapter 39**

Scott

Maya and Craig stood a few feet away, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and intrigue as they observed Bella. The sight brought a rare smile to my face, a fleeting moment of joy that quickly vanished the instant Bella departed. As soon as her presence faded, so did my mood, sinking like a stone into the depths of my frustration.

Their attention shifted to me, and I could see them donning their rehearsed smiles, the kind that felt more like a mask than genuine warmth. I couldn’t shake the memory of Craig’s last visit, where he had the audacity to pitch Maya as a superior investment over Bella. My eyes narrowed at them, irritation bubbling to the surface. “Your progress is painfully slow,” I growled, my voice low and menacing. “If this continues, I will have no choice but to terminate our contract.”

“Mr. Moore,” Maya interjected, her voice laced with urgency. “I sincerely apologize. Things have been chaotic lately. But I assure you, we will complete our work by the deadline.” She glanced at Craig, then back at me, a flicker of determination in her eyes. “However, we are here for a different purpose today.”

I clenched my jaw, my patience fraying. “I’m pressed for time. If this isn’t about business, I would prefer to skip it.”

Maya flinched, humiliation coloring her cheeks. Good.

“Actually, we came to invite you to my grandmother’s eightieth birthday celebration next weekend. She would be truly honored by your presence. Please, Mr. Scott, it would mean the world to her.”

“I have work to attend to,” I said curtly, moving toward my desk, my Lycan stirring restlessly within me, urging me to seek out Bella.

Maya exchanged a nervous glance with Craig, who took a step forward, his demeanor shifting to one of earnestness. “About our last encounter—I owe you an apology. I was immature.” He shook his head, his voice filled with regret. “I spoke out of turn. My feelings for Maya clouded my judgment. I shouldn’t have questioned your business decisions. I hope you can forgive me and not hold it against her.”

Maya looked at him with soft, understanding eyes. I couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. His words rang hollow; he regretted only that his earlier attempts had failed.

“I’m a very busy person, Mr. Jones. I’ll get back to you,” I said, dismissing them with a wave of my hand.

Once they finally departed, I picked up my phone and called Troy. “What’s the status on Tasha?” I demanded, my tone sharp.

He let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve confined her to the south wing of the villa.”

I barked, “She was sniffing around Bella’s place, telling her she’s my fiancée. I want her gone!”

“I understand,” Troy replied, his voice steady. “Give me a couple of days. The Elders are still keeping an eye on things. If all Tasha gets is two rooms and silence from you, she’ll start making noise. We can use that to our advantage. But keep it discreet. If the Elders catch wind of it, they’ll target Bella, and that could be catastrophic.”

My Lycan stirred with agitation at the mention of the Elders, its growl echoing in my mind. It wanted Tasha gone yesterday, and it craved Bella’s presence—close, safe, within my reach. “Fine,” I growled, irritation lacing my voice.

I ended the call and made my way down to Bella. Upon arriving at her floor, I found the area bustling with activity, but she was nowhere to be found. A foreman informed me she had left early. I reached for my phone to call her, but it went straight to voicemail. A knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. Something was off.

With a sense of urgency, I drove to her house. When Nancy opened the door, her expression was fraught with concern.

“Where’s Bella?” I asked, my voice taut with worry.

She gasped, “There was a fire at the Dallas store. She left in a hurry—”

My heart raced, a wild drumbeat in my chest. I didn’t wait for her to finish; I was already sprinting back to my car. The thought of returning to the office slipped away—meetings, files, calls—they all felt trivial compared to the urgency of my mate’s safety.

I pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. “Let’s go…”

She resisted for a moment, but eventually, she relented. I guided her toward the car, where the driver opened the back door for us. Without thinking, I sat down and pulled her onto my lap. She stiffened at first, then gradually melted into me like a weary bird seeking refuge.

“Drive,” I instructed the driver. “Hotel.”

The city blurred past us as she cried quietly against my chest, her words spilling out between soft sobs.

“My sketchbooks… the vintage lace… the samples for the fall line… half of it is just ash now. I couldn’t even walk where the mannequins had fallen. I kept thinking about the first day I opened the doors and how proud I felt. And now it all smells like smoke.” She hiccupped, her voice trembling. “How do I explain this to Emma and Ryan? How do I tell them their mom messed up?”

“You didn’t mess up,” I reassured her, my heart aching for her pain. “It was beyond your control.”

Her lips quivered, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I shouldn’t have let you distract me.”

“Then it’s my fault,” I admitted, my voice heavy with sincerity. “I’m sorry, love.”

Her resolve cracked at my words, and thankfully, she ceased her struggle, pressing her face against my throat, shaking with emotion. I held her tighter, letting my Lycan soothe her with warmth and steadiness, a silent promise that she was safe within my embrace.

At the hotel, I carried her up to the suite, cradling her like something precious. Once inside, I set her gently on the bed and knelt to remove her shoes. Her eyes were glassy, her hands limp by her sides. She looked so utterly broken that my heart ached to mend her, to make everything right. But how could I?

I cupped her face in my hands, wiping away her tears with my thumbs. Up close, I could feel everything through our bond—her sorrow, her anger, her fear. I urged her to lie down, sliding behind her and curling my arms around her. “Sleep, love…” I murmured, hoping to provide her with a semblance of peace as I spooned her, holding her close against the chaos of the world outside.