Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

KAT

I woke up to the scent of coffee and something warm drifting from the kitchen. Sunlight spilt across my sheets as I stretched, happy that it was the weekend. For a moment, I enjoyed that feeling. But that happiness drained away when I remembered Nathan Rivers.

I couldn’t shake that look in his eyes, and his parting words also echoed through my head. We’d meet again.

A knock on the door snapped me out of it, and Hunter’s head appeared in the crack.

“You’re awake. Feeling better?”

I blinked, trying to remember how I’d ended up in bed. For two nights, this man had shown me a different side of himself, alarmed by the state I’d arrived home in. When he returned last night, he’d just silently made me hot drinks while I pretended to work. No questions. No demands. He’d left me like that until my high- strung nerves had relaxed. I must have fallen asleep on the couch.

And then this man who owed me nothing had carried me to bed. I hadn’t had that kind of care since leaving

home..

“I am,” I said, smiling.

Hunter walked in, his gaze flicking over me before he sat on the edge of the bed, keeping space as if he was afraid of crowding me. Still, my pulse quickened. He had that effect without even trying.

“Breakfast is almost ready. Wash up and I’ll dress your back before we eat.”

“I’m fine-”

“You’re still bleeding.”

I froze. My shoulder blades still ached, but I thought I’d already started healing. Ice slid down my spine until I caught sight of the sheets. They were stained red. For a second, I’d thought he had smelled it. Like a wolf.

Warmth filled my chest. It had been so long since I felt like I mattered to someone.

“Am I allowed to do that, at least?” Hunter asked softly. Something flickered in his eyes, but he hid it quickly. Was that insecurity?

“Okay,” I murmured. “I’ll be right out.”

The morning passed by more peacefully than I expected. Hunter treated my back with careful hands, hovered around me, bringing food while I studied. It was… nice. Like we were a real couple.

That thought slammed into me, and I snapped my book shut. Hunter’s head whipped towards me instantly.

“What happened? Are you in pain?”

Why was he being so nice? Belatedly, I remembered the reason I’d made my rules. It was so that this situation wouldn’t happen. So I wouldn’t start dreaming about things that were never meant for me.

“No, I’m okay,” I said too quickly as I stood. “I… I just remembered I have to meet someone.”

Rushing to the bedroom, I opened my closet and pulled out my gym bag. All the clothes smelled freshly laundered. My gaze darted to the back, glad that I’d hidden my rucksack somewhere else, and then I grabbed my workout gear.

This wasn’t the time to play house when my cover was potentially blown.

When I walked out in riding gear, Hunter stood near the windows, facing me. His gaze went to my helmet, and then he cocked his head at me. But he didn’t ask. He was sticking to the rules.

Half an hour later, my bike rumbled into the gym’s lot. The back of my head prickled the whole ride. Nathan?

Since he already knew about the gym, I didn’t deviate from my plan. I looked around quickly. Someone was watching me. But it was the same kids loitering on the steps of the old building on the corner. The same old couple hanging out on their porch. The same old cars crawling the streets. Was I imagining things?

Inside, voices, the smell of sweat, and the rhythm of fists against bags greeted me. The incident with Nathan didn’t seem to have affected it. I forced smiles until I slipped into Mal’s office. He sat behind his desk, which was piled with paperwork. There was even more behind him, piled up in boxes from the floor almost to the ceiling. Mal was never one for using technology.

“Did Nathan come back?” I asked, collapsing into the only free chair.

“Hello to you, too,” Mal grunted without looking up. “And no, he hasn’t made another move. I think he’s busy enough after that shit he just did to his new fighter. Still, watch your back.”

I decided not to tell Mal about my “date.” He worried about me too much already.

“I can always move back into the storage room and have you as my bodyguard,” I teased.

“That’s still an option, Kat,” Mal said, looking up to meet my gaze. “Especially now.”

My fingers twitched. I looked at the closed door and then back at Mal. We never talked about how we met.

“I’m fine,” I lied, pushing to my feet. “I’ll train, then help you out.”

Anything to keep my mind busy.

After the sneaky blows Dax had landed, I should have taken it easy, but I pushed my body to the limit, punching the bags as if they would get rid of my problem. But the anxiety still ate at me. If Nathan came for me, what would I do? Abandon everything I’d built for myself or fight for it?

On the mat, my sparing partner gave up after only a couple of minutes. My breath caught, and I stepped back when I saw him coughing blood while he tapped out. Mal caught my eye across the room, shaking his head.

I’d done enough. It was clear the only way I’d focus again was if I confronted Nathan. With my bag strapped to my body, I headed out without talking to Mal again. I didn’t want him to become as anxious as I was.

As my bike ate up the miles back into town, I glanced back in the mirror. A large SUV wasn’t far behind me. It was too sleek and familiar. A Bureau vehicle? The same Bureau that had been searching for me for three years.

The back of my neck started prickling again. Panic clawed at me. I picked up speed, cutting through the busy traffic, and took a hard turn at the last second. The SUV shot past the turning, and only then did the prickling

ease.

I couldn’t go back. Kostas would never let me out of the castle again. I’d return to being the prisoner I had been for eighteen years.

By the time I stumbled into the apartment, my nerves were shredded. Hunter wasn’t home this time. I went straight to the shower, ignoring the bandages he had put on that morning, and then collapsed into bed.

Nathan or the Bureau? Who was coming for me? Would they kick down my door? Handle me like I was a criminal, chained up and shackled?

The sound of the door opening made my heart slam in my chest. And then the footsteps were heading right for me.

No. I had to run.

The bedroom door flew wide, and the Hunter rushed in. Relief flooded through me so quickly that my limbs weakened, and I sagged against the pillows.

“Are you going to hide in here all night? I haven’t touched you in too long, Kitty.”