Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 5

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 5**

**KAT**

Taking a moment to steady my breath, I crossed the threshold into the family dining room. The atmosphere was warm, filled with the soft glow of candlelight and the gentle hum of laughter. My mother and father were seated close together, their fingers intertwined, sharing a quiet joke that seemed to wrap around them like a cozy blanket. In stark contrast, Kostas lingered by the window, a wine glass cradled in his hand, his gaze lost in the distance. He seemed almost like a statue, too rigid, too serious for the lively scene unfolding before him.

As soon as my mother spotted me, she rose with an elegance that had been honed over the years. Her arms opened wide, inviting me into her embrace.

“Darling, come here,” she exclaimed, her voice bright and welcoming.

Kostas turned his head, a fleeting frown vanishing as if it had never been there. The three of them wore smiles that belied the truth of the previous night—how the guests had deliberately skirted around me at the ball, how I had been the only royal they chose to ignore. It was as if they were living in a bubble, blissfully unaware of the reality that surrounded us.

I stepped into my mother’s embrace, allowing her familiar scent to envelop me, a blend of floral notes and something uniquely hers. She was adorned in an evening gown that sparkled with crystals, a stark contrast to my own simpler attire. I had opted for comfort, forgoing the corset and heavy makeup that she seemed to expect. The subtle disapproval in her gaze spoke volumes, but I didn’t feel the need to explain myself. After all, no one had ever offered me an explanation for the unspoken rules of our lives.

“You were the belle of the ball last night,” my mother said, guiding me to a seat beside her with a gentle hand on my back. “I have a wonderful feeling about your upcoming appointments.”

My fingers fidgeted in my lap, but I maintained the smile plastered on my face, a mask I had grown accustomed to wearing.

“Oh? Did you notice anything?” Father interjected, his eyes flickering between my mother and me. “Has your wolf shown herself, Katerina?”

“Not yet,” I replied, perhaps too hastily.

“She doesn’t need her wolf right now,” Mother dismissed, waving her hand as if the matter were trivial. “She’s so close to shifting that her true mate would have sensed her already. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone comes calling very soon.”

A twist of anxiety coiled around my heart at her words. A true mate. The elusive dream I had been raised to pursue. Yet, the weight of expectation pressed heavily on my shoulders.

“You can’t be sure, Mother,” I said, taking a sip of wine, surprised that my hand remained steady.

“We had the best of the best from all the territories gathered under one roof. Of course, I’m sure,” Mother insisted, her hand enveloping mine in a comforting grip. “Trust me on this.”

For the first time in what felt like ages, my mother appeared relaxed, her eyes devoid of the usual worry that often clouded them. Could she truly have sensed something?

But deep down, I knew better. She had uttered similar sentiments countless times throughout the years. My happiness seemed to hinge on the whims of the queen’s ever-changing moods. We oscillated between joy and disappointment like a pendulum swinging wildly.

I felt weary.

“I trust you,” I lied, managing a soft smile just as the servants entered with our dinner.

Across the table, Kostas’s gaze met mine, and I noted the silence that had enveloped him since my arrival. He hadn’t uttered a single word since the humiliating incident on the dance floor, where that man had made a mockery of me in front of everyone—among the very best of the wolf territories.

His turn, he had said. That wretched man was just as despicable as Justin and his brothers.

Kostas looked away, picking up his cutlery to begin his meal, the tension between us palpable.

“When your mate reveals himself, we’ll throw the grandest wedding,” Father said, his voice brimming with excitement. “I’ll walk you down the aisle, just as I’ve always dreamed. Kostas, have you finished overseeing the housing project? Every unit must be furnished.”

My father spoke as if it were a certainty, as if my true mate would willingly reside in the castle with me, his pack merging with ours. But what if he chose otherwise? What if he didn’t want my brother as his beta?

My attention drifted back to Kostas, who remained silent, avoiding Father’s gaze as he replied, “Yes, everything is under control.”

But Kostas was the most astute person I knew. Hadn’t this troubling thought crossed his mind?

Hadn’t it occurred to any of them that no one would want to live with the kingdom’s laughingstock?

“Perfect,” Mother chimed in, clasping her hands together in delight. “Our little butterfly will have everything she desires.”

After that, I tuned them out, my mind wandering as Mother detailed her endless plans for the wedding, while Father adjusted security measures and living arrangements. I had participated in these discussions enough times to recite them by heart.

By the time dessert plates were cleared and we transitioned to the lounge, I struggled to keep my mask from slipping. My stomach churned with nerves, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears.

This was it. The final supper.

Would I ever see my family again? Would they grasp the reasons behind my decision? Would they ever find it in their hearts to forgive me?

How crushed would they be when they discovered that I rejected the life they had so meticulously constructed for me?

“Are you alright, Katerina?” Kostas’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I smiled at him over the book I had been pretending to read.

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