Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 118

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 118**

**ΚΑΤ**

The moment unfolded with alarming swiftness. My father, a figure of usually steady resolve, dashed to my mother’s side, his worry palpable, a stark contrast to the indifference he had shown since my return. Mother lay still, her frail body sprawled on the ground, her skin a ghostly shade of pale, and a trickle of crimson flowing from her nose, painting the earth beneath her.

As my gaze remained fixed on my mother, Kostas, in a sudden burst of ferocity, tore off his suit. Within heartbeats, his transformation was complete, and before me stood his massive black wolf, inches away, teeth bared and snarling viciously.

But it was more than mere rage that radiated from him; it was a chilling intent, a predatory focus that pierced through the air like a blade. Those glowing yellow eyes bore into me, and I felt the weight of his murderous intent.

“And this is the wolf my parents chose for me,” I murmured, disbelief lacing my voice.

This creature, this beast, was now regarding me as if I were the enemy. No longer a family member, certainly not a mate. How could I ever feel safe with someone meant to protect me, when he now appeared as a threat?

His presence enveloped me, a tangible force far more oppressive than when he was in human form. I stumbled back, a familiar terror bubbling up from the depths of my stomach, a sensation I thought I had left behind. But this fear was not from my wolf; no, it was all mine. The barrier between us had vanished, yet my inner wolf did not shrink away. Instead, she prowled within me, hackles raised, a fierce protector ready to confront the danger before us.

Her defiance surprised me, almost as much as Kostas’s aggression.

Behind me, the guests who had come to witness the ceremony were retreating, many collapsing to their knees, whimpering in fear. The air crackled with panic. My wolf responded to the chaos, a hunger igniting within me, gnawing at my insides. She was feasting on the terror that surrounded us, but I struggled to process it all with such a formidable threat looming before me.

Kostas was no ordinary wolf; he was the second strongest in our pack, capable of obliterating anyone in his path without a second thought. I opened my mouth, desperate to command him to back off, yet no sound emerged, as if my words were caught in a vice grip within my throat. This wasn’t merely fear; it was the culmination of every ounce of frustration and anger I had been forced to swallow since Nathan had brought me back into this chaotic world.

Why should I appease him after the way he had treated me? Why should I placate someone who had directed all his fury at me?

“Kostas, stand down!” I commanded, my voice trembling, not with authority but with an edge of panic.

My father’s voice cracked under the weight of his concern, his eyes glued to my mother as he and a few attendants rushed to her side. He seemed oblivious to the fact that the mate he had chosen for me was now pushing me further down the path, stalking me like prey, his intentions clear and menacing.

“Call the doctor!” he barked, urgency lacing his words.

In that moment, I could almost forgive him for not noticing how his people were paralyzed by fear. Even as I attempted to distance myself from Kostas, I could see that Mother remained motionless, a haunting image of vulnerability.

“Kostas, what the hell are you doing?” I hissed, frustration boiling over.

He had driven me all the way to the doors before shifting back to his human form, yet the glow in his eyes remained, and his lips curled into a snarl that had not dissipated with his transformation. He stood before me, unabashedly naked, as if his vulnerability was of no consequence.

“What do you think I’m doing?” he growled, advancing towards me again, his gaze predatory.

His eyes fell to my neck, and I could feel his beast stirring beneath his skin, a reminder of the bond that tied us.

“I said I’m already mated,” I asserted, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. “You can’t claim what belongs to another.”

A cold, humorless laugh escaped his lips, sending a shiver down my spine.

By ‘this,’ did he mean the violation he had orchestrated? A wave of nausea washed over me, and I fought to keep my composure, turning my gaze away from him, battling the urge to retch.

“Are you really that disgusted by me?” he asked, closing the distance between us. There were mere feet separating us now, the tension palpable. “This is the only way, Katerina. You’ve shifted now. Before the next moon, you have to be mine, or everything your parents worked hard to prevent will come to pass.”

I halted my retreat and met his gaze. So, he was finally revealing the truth. I had longed to understand the colossal rift that had formed within our family.

“And what is that, Kostas? At least have the decency to tell me the truth now.”

“Father’s command binds me,” he spat through clenched teeth. “But even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t take that risk. Your life was never yours to begin with.”

It was futile to ask again; there was nothing left for me in this castle. It was time to leave.

“I’ll be gentle with you. You can trust me.”

A low growl rumbled in my chest, the wolf within me restless, or was it excitement?

Then, I felt him. The bond snapped back into place, a familiar warmth enveloping me. The scent of sandalwood and orange blossoms filled my senses, a stark contrast to the chaos that had enveloped us. The pandemonium outside faded to a whisper, yet the fear in the air thickened, suffocating my other senses.

“Didn’t I warn you,” a calm voice interjected, “not to mess with my people?”

Kostas froze, his demeanor shifting as the monster returned.