Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 172

Chapter 179

Chapter 172

ΚΑΙ

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The light hit my face, and I groaned as I rolled over. My whole Gdy ached as if I’d been in a fight-

I sat upright with a jolt, my eyes darting around. I was back in Hunter’s bedroom. But where was he?

Panic clawed up my throat. The bond was still absent, I couldn’eel him. His sandalwood and orange blossom scent was everywhere, on the bedding, in the walls, soaked into the room,ut all it did was deepen the ache in my chest. That scent used to live inside me. Now it was just around me.

I swung my feet off the bed and rushed to the door. Golden threads appeared in the hallway without conscious thought, stretching ahead of me down the stairs. I followed them, running so fast my feet barely touched the floor.

The threads led me to the lounge, and Nathan’s soft voice made me stop short.

“The wards are strengthened; no one will get through. You should be resting.”

“I’ll rest tomorrow.”

Warmth flooded through me so fast my knees buckled. Hunter’s voice was weaker than I’d ever heard it, but he was alive. I burst through the doors, and my gaze locking on him instantly. His face was pale, and his eyes dull. I couldn’t see his chest under his T-shirt, but the black veins were gone from his neck and jaw.

He stood slowly, unsteady on his feet. Then he just looked at me. My chest rose and fell like I’d run for miles, my heart pounding in my chest. From the corner of my eye, I saw Nathan slip out quietly, but I couldn’t pull my focus away from

Hunter.

I approached him one step at a time. Inside me, my wolf howled, still searching for the bond, still calling for his beast. The silence killed us both. My hand trembled when I reached for his face, when I traced my fingers along his cheek just to make sure he was real,

“You’re still here,” I whispered.

Hunter lifted his hand and pressed my palm against his cheek. But there were no fireworks. No sparks through my body at

the contact.

A sob tore out of me before I could stop it.

“Shh,” Hunter murmured, pulling me into his arms. His hold was restrained. “It’s my fault. I knew it was a trap, but I still went. I thought I was untouchable.”

His voice trembled slightly before he continued. “But we’ll be okay.”

Would we? I was still drawn to him, still aching for him, but I couldn’t sense his beast at all. Like the broken bond had taken it completely out of my reach. I’d hated the bond before. I’d wanted a choice that was completely my own. But this silence was unbearable.

How was I going to survive this?

“You went through a lot because of me,” Hunter said. “Let’s go upstairs. We’ll be safe until tomorrow.”

The full moon was the least of my worries, but Hunter was still planning for me as if …ing had changed. As if he was still bound to me, obligated to keep me safe.

But could he keep me safe now? Or was that now up to me?

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I straightened my shoulders, my head becoming clear again. Thosen Hunter, for better or worse. He was alive, and I was still in love with him. That was all I’d ever wanted in this world was enough.

I would protect him.

“Kostas disappeared. I should-”

“Not today,” Hunter interrupted gently, his hands sliding down my arms. “He can’t walk into my territory again. We’ll deal with him when things settle.”

“What about my parents?”

Guilt stabbed at me. When I got my hands on Zachary and Randall, saving Hunter had been my only thought.

“Zachary helped them after he helped me,” Hunter said. “They’ stable.”

I let him take my hand and lead me upstairs. His steps were slower, and his breathing shallow. He’d been the strongest since the day I met him, but now just walking took a lot of effort.

I bit my lip to stop from crying out again, but my wolf hadn’t stopped. Would Hunter’s beast ever answer our call again?

At the top of the stairs, I saw the last person I wanted to see. April waited with a tray full of medication and dressings in her hands. She lowered her gaze when she saw me.

“I brought Alpha Sterling’s medication.”

The scent of his blood hit me. How had I missed that?

But I looked at April’s offerings and almost bared my teeth. I’d dess his wounds and take care of him myself.

“I’ll take care of it,” I said, already pulling Hunter away.

We hadn’t gone far when I saw Nathan in his doorway. His expression before I passed out flashed in my mind, and I remembered the pendant. Who had it now?

“We need to talk,” he said.

I expected Hunter to tense and growl. I expected his jealousy in the air. Instead, he released my hand and gave me a tight smile before turning away.

Was he letting go?

I clutched my chest as if that would stop my imploding heart.

“He can’t protect you right now, Kathrine,” Nathan said quietly. Stay inside, even after tonight. His pack is already restless, they can sense weakness.”

I hadn’t thought of that. Challenges against an alpha were always brutal. If they sensed he was weakened, they’d attack in droves.

“What can we do?” I demanded. “How long until he recovers?”

Nathan’s gaze flicked to the closed bedroom door.

“I don’t know if he will.”

My heart cracked. My wolf howled louder. But I sucked in a breath and reminded myself that all that mattered was that he was alive.

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Chapter 172

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What do you mean you don’t know?” I snapped. “You could haly stand when you drove here, but you’re fine now.”

“Because I’m not like him. You’re not like him, either.”

I shook my head and turned away. Why was I even listening to him? He believed Hunter was a monster and wanted me to reject him so I could bond with him instead.

“Keep the pendant on you.”

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