Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 44

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 44**

**ΚΑΤ**

**2200**

Why in the world was my body in such agony?

As I stretched out on the couch, a sharp wave of pain shot through my back, my ribs, and my hips. Even my scalp felt sore, as if it had been under constant pressure. But the most alarming sensation was the throbbing ache between my legs—a reminder of the night before. Heat surged to my cheeks as I realized just how slick I was. Hunter had truly used me to the fullest.

I blinked, taking in the surroundings, and the eerie silence settled over me like a heavy blanket. Just like last night, it was painfully clear that he was not home. The stillness felt oppressive, almost suffocating. He had left me here, fully clothed, without even a blanket to cover me.

This wasn’t typical behavior for him. Or had I grown too accustomed to his attentiveness? I recalled waking up safe in bed after collapsing in the shower. He had hovered over me, armed with a first aid kit, ever vigilant of my needs. But now, I didn’t even need my wolf senses to know he hadn’t prepared any food. Not even a simple cup of coffee. He had walked away, leaving me on the couch after taking me to heights I hadn’t known before.

A tight knot formed in my chest as I pushed myself off the couch. Perhaps I was the one at fault here. He had been trying to bridge the gap between us, but I had stubbornly pushed him away. It felt like the right decision in the long run, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that clung to me.

Dragging my weary feet toward the shower, my fingers brushed against my neck, and I winced at the jolt of pain. My reflection in the mirror caught me off guard. Love bites were one thing, but the bruise on my neck looked almost raw. It was unmistakably a bite.

Did Hunter possess some sort of wolf kink? I had heard of humans who relished in that—calling themselves alphas and marking their partners in such a primal way. But Hunter didn’t strike me as the type.

No, last night had revealed something deeper within him. Something primal and raw, as absurd as that sounded. My mind had been in a fog, almost as if I were losing my grip on reality, allowing him to take control of my body completely.

In those moments, all the chaos in my mind had faded into silence.

Maybe I should call him before work, just to apologize. To confess that I had been having a rough day and hadn’t meant to lash out at him. Goddess, I felt pathetic, but I longed to hear his voice.

The shower only served as a stark reminder of how much of him lingered inside me. He had never broached the topic of birth control, and I wondered—if I didn’t bring it up, would he become suspicious? Thankfully, we weren’t genetically compatible. The thought of being on the run with a child was far from my desires.

As I climbed the steps to the Bureau, it hit me that I had forgotten to take my suppressant. I mentally added it to my growing list of things to do after work.

“Miss Munroe?”

I had barely stepped through the security gate when my name echoed in the air. I turned to see two men in suits approaching me, the quintessential attire of Bureau agents.

“Yes?”

“Could you come with us, please?”

I instantly recognized the purpose behind their request. Deep down, I had anticipated this moment. News about the gym incident had spread like wildfire.

The corridor they guided me through was starkly different from the rest of the building. The white walls gleamed under harsh fluorescent lights, and the polished floors seemed to amplify the chill in the air. It felt almost sterile, devoid of warmth. Guards stood like sentinels outside several doors, and from within one of those rooms, a muffled scream sent a shiver down my spine.

Were they torturing people in there? Was this where they would bring me once they discovered my true identity as a princess?

The chill seeped into my bones, and as we reached the interrogation room, I felt my heart race. It was the archetypal setup—one-way mirrors, cameras blinking ominously in every corner. How many eyes were watching me? Every instinct screamed for me to flee, but I forced myself to sit where the agent indicated.

“We won’t take up too much of your time,” the first man said, introducing himself as Agent Black, with Agent Wallis at his side.

It was only then that I truly focused on them. One of them was a wolf; I could sense it in his stillness and the subtle flare of his nostrils. Goddess, I needed to find a way to mask Hunter’s scent on me. My cheeks flushed, and I shifted my gaze to my hands resting in my lap.

“As you’re aware, there was an incident at your gym,” Agent Black began, his tone serious. “We’re still in the process of gathering evidence and statements.”

A hollow feeling spread through my chest. It had been days since the incident, and I had expected updates, news that they had apprehended the perpetrator. But the thought that the psycho was still out there, roaming free, sent a wave of dread through me.

“Tell us what happened.”

The image of the girl flashed before my eyes, and my hands trembled slightly in my lap.

“I was in the office when I heard someone scream.” I glossed over the more traumatic details, delivering the rest of the story in a clipped manner.

“Why were you there that night?”

“I go there several times a week.”

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