Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 41

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 41**

**HUNTER**

The tracker flickered to life, and at last, I saw Kitty’s car begin to move. A rock that had lodged itself in my throat finally eased its grip. I had pleaded with her not to leave, especially after the chaos she had witnessed at the gym and the fragile state in which I had found her. It was far too perilous for her to be out there alone.

The threat loomed larger now that this monster had struck so close to home. I wasn’t naive enough to dismiss it as mere coincidence. He knew about us.

And that meant he was watching me. Watching Kitty.

My mind raced to Elijah. I had been trying to suppress my suspicions, but they clawed their way back to the surface. Whenever I wasn’t doubting my beta, Rivers crept into my thoughts—the rogue who should have bled out in the elevator if Elijah hadn’t distracted me with that urgent news.

Just like that, my focus snapped back to Elijah. It was a relentless cycle, a torment that wouldn’t let go.

I kept my gaze glued to the screen until I saw her car come to a halt outside. Leaning over, I peered out the window, my instincts sharp, scanning the street for any sign of danger. No one appeared to have followed her. Only when she stepped through the front door did I finally allow myself to breathe a little easier.

For the first time since I had entered the eerie silence of our empty apartment, I ripped off my tie and rushed to our door, flinging it open just as Kitty emerged from the elevator. She had looked like a ghost all day, her eyes vacant as she stared out the window, physically present but mentally adrift. It was painfully evident that she was still in shock.

The horrific scene at the gym… Damn it. It was the same kind of nightmare that had shattered April and her friends. Kitty shouldn’t have to bottle that up inside. If she had been a wolf, I would have commanded her beast to keep her grounded, to prevent her from drowning in the aftermath of it all.

The elevator chimed, and Kitty stepped out, halting mid-stride when she spotted me storming down the hallway. Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms, burying my face against her neck. To my relief, she didn’t resist. I inhaled deeply, savoring her scent until my beast quieted.

But then, I caught other scents. Blood. Sweat. Rivers? Again.

I pulled away sharply, forcing my beast back down before I could react. Her eyes were wide, searching my face, confusion etched across her features.

“You didn’t stay in. Who were you with?” The growl slipped from my lips before I could rein it in, and I cursed myself silently. She wasn’t ready for this confrontation.

Kitty stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself as if she were trying to shield her heart from me. It felt like she had constructed an impenetrable wall between us.

“Excuse me?” she replied, her brows knitting together in disbelief. I could taste something bitter in the air, the tension thickening like fog.

“I’m sorry. I’ve just been worried sick.”

“I’m fine,” she responded flatly, the words lacking conviction.

**19:50 Sat, Dec 13**

“I’m fine.” It was the only assurance I had received from her since she woke up. When she had looked at me with those blue eyes, I had—

Blue eyes? No, they were distinctly green. I must have imagined it. My mind was spinning, caught in the chaotic loop between the crime scene and the moment I found her collapsed in the shower. I wasn’t thinking straight. I still wasn’t.

Kitty had a target on her back because of my choices.

She walked past me, one arm hugging her ribs protectively. Her steps were slow and cautious. Had she been fighting again? That would explain the scent of blood clinging to her, but not Rivers’. That bastard had disregarded my warning, ignored the memory of my hand around his throat, and still dared to approach my woman.

I clenched my jaw, following her silently. Asking Kitty would be pointless; she didn’t trust me enough to share the truth. A fissure opened in my chest, and my beast shrank back, whimpering at the painful reminder that our bond would never be balanced. She would never feel the same burning passion for me that I felt for her.

In the bedroom, she dropped her bag and slipped into the ensuite.

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