Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 104

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 104**

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the windows, the atmosphere in the house shifted palpably. By the time night had fully settled in, every member of the family had been accounted for, their presence a silent testament to the chaos that had unfolded. Security measures had been ramped up significantly; even the servant quarters were now under tight surveillance, and Bureau agents lurked nearby, a shadowy reminder of the tension in the air. The omega had been processed thoroughly and handed back to her family, who were now tasked with the somber duty of making funeral arrangements.

Yet, amidst this turmoil, my own family had chosen to confine me within the four walls of the family room, their eyes boring into me as they interrogated me about my actions.

“Nathan is dangerous, Katerina. You shouldn’t have gotten close to him,” Kostas insisted, his voice laced with concern.

“But it was perfectly fine for you? I thought you two were friends? What changed? How is he suddenly deemed too dangerous for me to be around?” I shot back, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

“I can protect myself,” he countered, his tone firm.

“Funny you say that. I managed to protect myself just fine for three years,” I retorted, crossing my arms defiantly.

“You’re an omega,” Kostas stated, as if that single word could encapsulate everything about me.

I snorted in disbelief, my arms still crossed tightly over my chest. His words ignited the simmering anger that had been brewing within me all day.

“And in your eyes, that makes me ‘less than’? Unworthy of my own choices?” I asked, surprised by the calmness in my voice. This confrontation had been a long time coming, years of pent-up frustration and hurt waiting for a moment like this. If they couldn’t see the pain they had inflicted upon me after this discussion, then what was the point in trying to make them understand?

“That’s not what I mean. We’ve protected you your whole life; you’re not equipped to defend yourself out there,” Kostas argued, his voice rising slightly.

I gasped, feeling the sting of his words.

“You don’t know me at all,” I said, the realization hitting me like a cold wave.

How had I only just come to this understanding? They only knew the carefully constructed image of me they had maintained over the years. They didn’t know the real Katerina—the one who craved independence, the one who refused to submit to anyone’s will.

“Enough,” Father’s voice boomed in the small room, cutting through the tension like a knife. “She’s here now, so we can just proceed as planned.”

His words weren’t directed at me but rather to my siblings, who were discussing the future they had envisioned for me without my consent.

“You mean the plan where you want me to mate with my brother?” I blurted out, the words spilling from my lips before I could stop them.

Mother gasped, shooting up from her chair where she had remained quiet until now, her eyes wide with shock.

“Katerina! Don’t be so vulgar,” she admonished, her voice trembling.

“But I like it, Mother,” I replied, leaning back defiantly, crossing my arms over my chest. “This is who I am. I thought coming back would be different, but the longer I stay here, the more I just want to return to my real life.”

Mother clutched her chest, stepping back as if I had physically struck her. Her expression was one of betrayal, but she had betrayed me first. Kostas rushed to my side, sitting down next to me, his expression softening.

“I understand. We pushed too hard, and sometimes things spiraled out of control,” he said, his voice low. “But when have I ever failed to fix your problems?”

“Did you know there was a saying back in the day?” I asked, refusing to look at him. “If you want to find a true mate, you have to dump the princess first.”

A heavy silence enveloped the room. No one reacted with anger or surprise. They had known all along.

“The people who said that were not worthy of you anyway,” Kostas said, his voice steady. “They were just jealous.”

I snorted, unable to contain my disdain.

“Do you even grasp how humiliating those dates were? And I use the term loosely because how could they be dates when they all took place within the confines of my prison?”

“Katerina!” Father interjected sharply. “You’re being ungrateful. Do you have any idea how many omegas would kill to be in your position?”

“Then give it to them,” I snarled, standing up in frustration. “We’ve been together all day, and not once has any of you explained what in the world is going on. Kostas is my brother! But now you’ve turned me into a laughingstock because you’ve announced to the entire kingdom that I will mate him.”

“We adopted him,” Mother whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes. “We raised him for you, just in case…”

“There you go again, not telling me the full story,” I snapped, turning away from them, my heart racing as I moved toward the door.

“You need a true mate, Katerina,” Mother called after me, desperation creeping into her voice. “That’s the only way.”

“Katerina, stop!” Father’s voice boomed, his authority wrapping around me like a vice. My muscles tightened involuntarily under his command, but my anger surged, breaking through the hold he had over me. This was the man who had raised me, who had always told me that no one would ever command me in this lifetime. The same man who had used his aura to soothe both Mother and me had now violated my free will, stripping away my dignity.

“You know you will do as I say anyway,” he said, his tone softening, almost pleading. “Once you’re mated, I promise I will tell you everything. But you must trust that your mother and I have always acted in your best interests. Trust us just one last time, princess.”

How could he speak so gently when his wolf still held me captive?

“After this, I will never trust you again, Father,” I whispered, the weight of my words hanging heavily in the air.

The atmosphere shifted, and I could sense Mother’s quiet sobs behind me, the heaviness of their emotions pressing down on me.

“As long as you stay alive, I can bear that burden,” Father murmured, his voice low and filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher.

My eyes burned, and tears began to spill down my cheeks.

“You were right earlier; I have to take care of the pack,” Father sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Return to your room and stay there until the Bureau completes its investigation. I’ll send someone to help you into your ceremonial gowns when the time comes.”

Another command. My fists clenched at my sides, more tears falling as I felt the walls closing in around me.

“Kostas will walk with you in the inner courtyard a few times a day to stretch your legs,” he added, as if that would somehow make everything better.

“Of course. Even prisoners get yard time,” I snapped, bitterness creeping into my voice.

My body moved to obey the order, leaving my family behind as I trudged away, my mind swirling with more questions than answers. In the human world, I often found myself wondering if my parents would have changed had I simply spoken up or if they would have explained why they were so invested in finding my fated mate. I had thought their intentions were purely to ensure my safety, but it was evidently far more complex.

As I approached the door to my quarters, I felt that familiar ripple over my skin—a comforting reminder that I would be safe there. But would the magic keep Kostas away too?

Leaning against the door, the tears flowed more freely. That was one battle lost. My wolf had bowed to the alpha, as expected. And now I was destined to be trapped in this life, yielding to everyone’s demands for the rest of my days.

I wiped my tears with the back of my fists, steeling myself as I walked toward my bedroom. Suddenly, I froze, stepping back to take in the sight of my couch and the man sprawled out on it.

“Took you long enough,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips, as if he had been waiting for me all along.