Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

HUNTER

The first person I saw downstairs was April.

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I stopped, watching the smile on her face as she studied one of the paintings. Any other person would have been apprehensive, but she looked content. Had I overdone it when I’d calmed her mind? Still, this was better than the skittish girl I’d met the first time.

The agents who’d split from us had picked up April and her family as planned, but after what happened with the coven, it was safer to keep them close. By the time Kostas realised their house was empty, I was sure he’d head straight for mine. Better to stay hidden until I had a plan.

I descended the last few steps. April turned and lowered her head

“Your Majesty,” she said. “Thank you for saving us again.”

I flicked my gaze towards the stairs.

“Call me Alpha Sterling.” I said, releasing a measured sliver of my aura. I didn’t command people often, but at times it was necessary.

“Of course, Alpha,” she said.

I studied her as I passed. It still didn’t make sense. Kostas had her in the castle from the beginning, What did he need from her? April had nothing to do with the prophecy or Kitty.

The only anomaly was the magic that messed him up.

I stopped short when I spotted Rivers leaning against a doorway, a drink in his hand. Was he watching April or waiting for me? Dark circles rimmed his eyes. He hadn’t slept. When his gaze flicked to my robe, his nostrils flared, and something sharp flashed through his expression before he looked away.

I felt a wave of savage satisfaction.

I wore Kitty’s scent openly, like a challenge. If I showed him the mark on my neck, would he give up his idiotic fantasy?

I followed him into the room and looked around. I’d seen it all before, when I’d assumed it was Katerina’s hiding place. But looking at the loud furniture and the pretentious artwork, it should have been obvious. The house screamed Rivers’ ego.

I sat at one end of the room and crossed my legs. The robe was ideal, but my clothes were still at the coven’s cabin, and there was no chance in hell I was going to ask Rivers to lend me something I’d wait until Tanner gave me something

Rivers remained standing, his head still bowed. Where was that arrogant man who’d declared, “I am the answer,” with such confidence?

“There will be three more moons after tonight,” I growled. “Talk

They were never going to help us,” Rivers said. “The meeting was a setup. They want to give Kathrine back to Kostas.”

My fists clenched when he used that name. He knew exactly who she was, but he still clung to whatever connection they had in the human world. The same way I still held on to the name she’d given me the night we met

“She’s not theirs to give,” I growled.

“I know,” he replied. “That’s why you need to come dean. About everything”

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16:55 Fri, Jan 9 DRD

Chapter 149

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I pinned him with my gaze, letting my beast surge. His wolf presed just beneath his skin, but Rivers tensed and stepped back. First, he’d told me to kill my uncle, and now he wanted Kitly burdened with the truth before she was safe. He knew too much.

“I didn’t ask for your advice. Tell me what the hell happened with the coven.”

“The magic couldn’t kill me.”

That got my attention.

“Turns out my bloodline is special, too.”

I laughed harshly. “You’ve been rogue your whole life. An orpha. Kicked out of every territory. You don’t know if your parents are alive, much less who they are. What fucking bloodline?”

The air crackled between us. I’d hit his weak spot. It was information he kept buried, but my Bureau had uncovered it long ago.

Rivers didn’t rise to the bait.

“Your Majesty,” he stared quietly. “I know my place. I’ll never overstep. I just want this over quickly so I can leave.”

I shot to my feet and was on him in a heartbeat. He didn’t back away, but his fear scented the air. Yet despite that, his rebellious wolf still pushed forward, refusing to submit. I never demanded it of anyone else, but this man was a threat to my bond with Kitty.

This man, the man who’d come from his own city and targeted itty from the start. Who’d threatened to take her from me. Who’d hidden her in the mountains to keep me away.

My beast demanded his submission.

“You’ll never overstep?” I hissed. “Then tell me, how exactly are you the solution? How are you going to save Kitty from me?”

Rivers finally stepped back, but his fists clenched at his sides.

“I know she’s yours,” he whispered. “And I know she chose you. My only interest now is keeping her alive. I promised Malcolm.”

“There you go again, not giving me any real fucking answers,” I snarled. “I don’t trust you, Nathan. You have no fucking idea how hard I’m fighting not to tear you apart.”

“I swear on my honour,” Rivers said, “I’m not a threat to your bod.”

“Then how are you the solution?” I demanded, grabbing his coll.

“Because Kostas and I share the same blood.”

I froze. Then shoved him away and stepped back.

“What the fuck did you just say?”

Nathan straightened and raised his head, as if he was done pretending to be submissive,

“Kostas isn’t the only one left from the Ironclaw Pack,” he said. “They were the pack the Blackmore coven used to seal the dark magic.”

The Ironclaw Pack.

I stepped back again, and dread coiled in my gut.

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16:56 Fri, Jan 9 DR

Chapter 149

“He was just the only one found.”

A chill slid down my spine. My beast snarled, sensing the threat around me.

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“When the pack was destroyed, a few escaped and hid,” Nathan continued. “Even after saving the world, they were branded jinxes. People feared them just because they could contain such devastating magic.”

Nathan’s gaze remained locked on mine.

“Over the generations, most were imprisoned or killed. Their eyes gave them away. Yellow. Not gold. Not blue. Not violet.”

Nathan raised his glass and drained the rest. Apprehension crawled up my throat, but I swallowed it down. I didn’t want to leak anything into the bond.

“Some integrated. Mated. Had children.”

My fists tightened.

“They thought they were safe. Until just over a couple of decades ago, when a luna gave birth to her second child, and his eyes bled yellow within hours.”

I already knew what he would say, but I still wanted to hear the words from his own mouth.

“They tried to escape, but the man and woman were caught and executed the same day. The baby was taken.”

No. I didn’t want to hear the rest. My limbs were already numb.

“But the firstborn son, the one whose eyes bled gold, the future alpha of that pack, vanished into the night.”

Rivers let out a humourless laugh as he set his glass down.

“So you see, Your Majesty,” he said, “I am the way out. The loophole. The exception.”

That infuriating smirk returned.

“And if you have to go down that road, I’m a better option than my brother.”

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