Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 2

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 2**

**KAT**

No. No, no, no. This was impossible. There had to be some sort of elaborate joke at play here. A test devised by my parents to see just how far they could push me. After enduring countless disastrous dates, surely the pool of potential suitors had dwindled to nearly nothing. Yet here I was, facing this insufferable little boy, and my parents truly believed he was a suitable match for me? The mere thought made my stomach churn. Goddess forbid there was even a flicker of chemistry between us.

What on earth were they thinking?

In just a few days, I would be eighteen. This was not merely a poor pairing; it was downright illegal!

“Princess Katerina?”

His childish voice sliced through the chaos swirling in my mind, and I hastily rearranged my features, forcing them into a semblance of politeness. Something rehearsed, something that would mask the turmoil within.

“M-my apologies, Justin,” I stammered, casting a quick glance at the two chaperones hovering nearby.

One of them averted her gaze, her lips twitching ever so slightly. They knew. They could see how my parents had paraded me around, all dolled up for this mere boy.

Was I some sort of joke?

“Please,” I managed to say, recalling my manners with effort. “Let’s sit.”

One of Mother’s finest tea sets had been meticulously arranged on the table, a servant lingering at a respectful distance, poised to serve. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any worse, the sun chose that moment to retreat behind a cloud, stealing away its warmth.

Justin plopped down into the chair across from me, a smirk plastered on his face as his eyes wandered lazily around the courtyard. The earlier tantrum seemed to have evaporated, replaced by a casual slouch as he chuckled to himself. Clearly, he had no grasp of etiquette. Nothing about him stood out except for that obnoxious aura of confidence.

There was no way this kid excelled at anything.

“This place is really cool,” he remarked, lifting the delicate teacup as if it were a soda can. “I thought you’d be mated before my turn came around.”

Heat flooded my cheeks, embarrassment rolling through me like a wave. His turn? Anyone who made it onto my parents’ list was a privileged individual. The notion that we were merely taking turns felt vulgar, as if I were just another box to check off. As if he were doing me a favor by even sitting here.

I turned away, taking a sip of my tea. A full meal was on its way, but my appetite had vanished, and the idea of strolling about with this boy suddenly felt unbearable.

“You’re only a child. This was obviously a mistake,” I replied, my voice steady as I fought to keep my composure.

Deep down, I yearned to storm back into the castle and demand answers. Yet, Mother’s voice echoed in my mind—poise, no matter the circumstances. I had a guest, and it was my duty to entertain him, even if he seemed fresh out of diapers.

I nearly snorted at the thought but swallowed it down. I had to endure this. So much for a leisurely walk; it would feel more like babysitting, and I was far from in the mood for that. Still, I reminded myself that this was a better option than the dreadful dates I had endured the previous week.

A shiver crept down my spine, and my hand quivered slightly. The teacup clinked softly as I placed it down, the uneven sound reverberating through the courtyard.

No. Not now. Dwelling on the past served no purpose.

“I’m not a child,” Justin retorted through gritted teeth, a hint of his earlier temper surfacing.

Something about the flash in his eyes tugged at my memory. Why did that expression seem so familiar? The realization pulled me from my thoughts as I scrutinized the boy again. Had I seen him at a ball? Perhaps lurking in the background during one of the pack gatherings I had spied on from the safety of my window?

“But at least I’m getting this out of the way quickly,” he continued, his tone casual. “Gives me better odds of finding my mate when I shift.”

Frowning, I met his gaze head-on, breaking yet another one of my parents’ unwritten rules.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, curiosity piqued despite myself.

“You know,” he shrugged, as if the answer was obvious.

I didn’t. Wasn’t he here to see if we were a match? Then why was he already contemplating finding a mate when he shifted?

Not that I would entertain that idea, but what on earth?

“Which pack are you from?” I inquired, my fingers curling tightly in my lap.

He was clearly uncultured to act as if I wasn’t good enough for him. I was a princess! What could he possibly find objectionable?

“Ironbridge,” Justin replied, his gaze wandering again before he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He aimed the camera toward the cherry blossom tree, treating it like a tourist attraction.

Unbelievable.

The tree was more intriguing to him than I was! At least he didn’t attempt to snap a picture of me. How he had managed to sneak that device into the castle was beyond me. Kostas had banned recording devices, claiming, “Not everyone deserves to gaze upon your beauty.” I used to roll my eyes at that, but now I found myself grateful.

I had studied enough cases to understand just how disastrous it could be when someone captured the wrong kind of image.

Suddenly, a guard emerged from a hidden corner and snatched the phone from Justin’s hand.

“And Jake…”

The smile slipped from my face entirely. My skin crawled as if a hundred baby spiders had just hatched upon me. Justin noticed and laughed, glancing behind me, clearly calculating how far he could push his luck.

“Jake said you’d only be good for one thing.”

My gaze snapped back to his, blood rushing in my ears as my vision sharpened. With only a few weeks until my first shift, the beast within me stirred. If I lost control now and shifted, I could easily tear this insufferable pup apart. Unshifted, he would be defenseless. It would be akin to toying with a human.

“If your brothers said all that, why are you here?” I asked, my voice steady, though behind me, I sensed my chaperones inching closer. Did they hear him?

“You really don’t know?” Justin laughed, clapping his hands as if this was all a game. “There’s a saying. Life isn’t complete until you’ve dated the princess. If you want to find your true mate, you have to dump her first.”

Behind me, one of my chaperones—the one who had struggled to suppress laughter earlier—snickered. She knew!

My cheeks flared with heat. Humiliation surged within me. I dated these boys for a reason, for the good of the kingdom, but this was how they viewed me? My heart felt as though it were shattering, each piece cutting deeper.

Did my parents know?

Did Kostas?

The fury I had been swallowing all morning while my maids dressed me for this boy surged back with a vengeance, propelling me to my feet.

“Mr. Carter, we’re done here.”

Justin rose, still chuckling, and offered a mocking bow. Every fiber of my being screamed to slap that smug grin off his face, but I kept my hands clasped in front of me.

Proper.

Still perfect.

Even as an inferno blazed within me.

“I wasn’t staying here long anyway. We’re obviously, thankfully, not true mates,” he said. “Hand me my phone back and wish me luck for my future, Princess.”

“Good luck, Mr. Carter,” I replied, a smile still plastered on my face. “You’ll need it to find anyone who’ll tolerate that stench of manure spewing from your mouth. You talk a lot for a child who’s mediocre at best. Not surprising, considering who your father is. I’ll remember your name fondly the next time Alpha Carter bows at my feet. Goodbye, little boy.”