The Secret Heirs of the Lycan King (Bella and scott) novel Chapter 63

**When Midnight Winds Carry Secrets Toward Worlds Yet Unknown**
**Chapter 63**

**Scott**

A circle of elders and fellow wolves surrounded me, their smiles stretched wide, brimming with anticipation and unspoken expectations. The air was thick with a tension that crackled like static electricity, and I could feel the weight of their gazes upon me.

“King Scott, a toast!” Elder Hux declared, raising his glass of deep red wine high above his head. His voice boomed with authority, and I could sense the crowd leaning in, eager to hear his words. “To Samhain! To the future! To your union, which will bless us with heirs and save our kind from the brink of extinction!”

As he spoke, Elder Cass’s eyes locked onto mine, holding my gaze for a moment longer than was comfortable. There was a challenge in his look, a silent provocation that stirred something primal within me. My Lycan growled low in my chest, a warning that I needed to tread carefully. I understood that if I displayed any signs of defiance here, in this gathering of wolves, questions would arise. If I dared to name Bella as my mate now, they would hunt her down, and before I could even react, they would harm her and the twins.

So, I swallowed my words, holding back the storm brewing inside me. Instead, I focused intently on Cass, silently vowing that once I returned to New York, I would have a very different conversation with him.

Reaching for Troy through our mind-link, I thought, ‘I hate this!’

‘What do you want to do?’ Troy’s voice came through, calm and steady. ‘Stay cool. Bella’s safety comes first. Remember, sooner or later, you will have to confront the Elders about her. Let’s wait for the right moment.’

I exhaled slowly, attempting to suppress the anger boiling within me.

Just then, Tasha returned, balancing a tray adorned with wine glasses. She approached me with a soft smile, her head bowed slightly, exuding an air of modesty. The Elders had already begun to chatter excitedly amongst themselves.

“I’m thrilled about the upcoming festivities the pack will soon celebrate on the full blood moon when King Scott marries Tasha,” Elder Maren chimed in, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “It will be a perfect night for the official joining.”

“A strong sign for the werewolves,” Elder Hux echoed, his eyes gleaming with approval.

“Yes,” Cass added, his tone serious. “Our people will feel secure.”

Tasha lowered her lashes, her voice barely above a whisper. “We are honored,” she said softly. “I only wish to stand beside him and serve our people.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Just yesterday, she had implored me to at least play along for the sake of her reputation. That was the sole reason I tolerated her presence beside me now. If it were solely my decision, I would have dismissed this entire charade without a second thought.

Cass lifted his cup once more. “To Scott and Tasha,” he proclaimed. “May this union be strong and lasting.”

A chorus of voices joined the toast, and I brought the rim of my glass to my lips, taking a measured sip.

As the night deepened around us, the fire pits roared higher, sending flickering shadows dancing across the ground. The drums thumped louder, their steady rhythm pulsating through the earth, drawing the younger wolves closer together. Some had already begun to sway to the music, their bodies moving freely, while a few couples stole kisses in the shadows, hands exploring faces and hips, eager to claim one another.

My thoughts drifted to Bella. If only she were here with me, I would have taken her hand and led her to the fire, pulling her against me, allowing the world to witness who truly belonged to me. I would have kissed her until all her doubts melted away, until she leaned into me completely, and then I would have claimed her before everyone, marking her as mine in the most primal way. I envisioned carrying her away, laying her down in my bed, keeping her safe, marked, and forever mine.

The thought sent a thrill through me, and I took another sip of wine, trying to quell the heat rising within.

Troy had mentioned yesterday that when he called Bella, she had been reading. Perhaps I should consider creating a small private library for her, a sanctuary filled with her favorite books.

This was her doing? How had I been so blind? Why had I trusted her?

As she began to kiss my throat and jawline, ensuring all eyes were on us, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I wanted to shove her away, to snarl in defiance, to stand tall, but my muscles refused to respond.

Her hand roamed over my chest, inching toward my belt, her fingers working at the buckle. Rage ignited within me, burning hot and fierce. Please, goddess, help me fight the Chainflower’s fog.

Her hand slid lower, and she exclaimed loudly, “Ah, you’re hard for me!” Her voice dripped with excitement. “I want to mark you, Scott. I love you!”

Just as her fingers reached for my zipper, a sharp, commanding voice sliced through the air, “Move away from him unless you want me to kill you!”

Tasha froze, her head snapping around in shock. I lifted my gaze, and disbelief coursed through me. Bella? Among wolves? Was I dreaming? Did she not care for her safety? How had she even arrived here? Nothing made sense.

Bella stood before me, a vision of strength in black leather pants and a fitted black jacket, her golden hair cascading around her face. Silver belts hung from her hands, and a gun was tucked into the waistband of her pants. Her eyes blazed with a cold fury that sent a thrill through my heart.

The crowd fell silent as she strode toward me with unwavering confidence. “If anyone comes closer,” she warned the surrounding wolves, “I will shoot. The bullets are silver.” With a flick of her wrist, one of the silver belts struck Tasha across the arm, causing her to scream and stumble back into the dirt, clutching her skin where the silver burned.

Bella closed the distance between us, ignoring the gasps and whispers that followed her. She knelt before me, cupping my face in her hands, and declared with fierce conviction, “HE IS MINE!”

In that moment, I felt as though the ground beneath me had vanished, and I collapsed into her embrace, overwhelmed by the surge of emotions that flooded through me.