Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 53

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

**Chapter 53**

I parked Mal’s car beside an extravagant vehicle that seemed to belong in a different world entirely. Gripping the steering wheel, I took a moment to gather my thoughts, the cold air creeping in through the cracks of my resolve. Why had Mal come alone? The chill of the evening had already begun to seep into my bones before I even stepped out of the car.

With a cautious glance down the street, I scanned the surroundings one last time before entering the gym. The unsettling sensation at the nape of my neck had lessened, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the watchful eyes of Rivers’ men were lingering just out of sight, ready to pounce if needed.

As I stepped inside, I braced myself for the worst. I had envisioned Mal being pummeled into submission, fighting for breath, encircled by the merciless enforcers of the alpha. Instead, I was met with an unexpected sight: Mal was seated comfortably in the center of the wrestling mat, looking completely unscathed, his arms and legs crossed in a posture of defiance. Rivers, on the other hand, stood by the window, his hands clasped behind him, surveying the world outside with an air of superiority.

The moment Mal spotted me, his eyes widened in alarm, and he surged forward, grasping my hand tightly. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice a mix of concern and urgency as he attempted to pull me back toward the door.

“I told you she would come,” Rivers interjected, turning to face us with a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine.

I froze, instinctively resisting Mal’s pull. There was no point in trying to escape; if Rivers had decided our fates, we wouldn’t stand a chance once we stepped outside.

That infuriating smirk was plastered across Rivers’ face, a stark contrast to the chaos I had imagined. His flawless complexion and impeccably tailored suit made him look like a man who had just stepped out of a high-end fashion magazine, not someone who had recently been ensnared by the Bureau.

“Welcome, Princess,” he purred, the mockery in his tone making my muscles tense.

Why hadn’t I fled the moment I had the chance? I was baffled by his motives for revealing Hunter’s secrets. What was his endgame? As painful as the truth had been, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Rivers was playing a game with stakes I didn’t fully comprehend. Was this just another way to keep me under his control, to force me into submission whenever he deemed it necessary?

“I could have handled him,” Mal hissed, his voice low and fierce. “Why would you put yourself in danger like this?”

“Because she understands what’s best for her,” Rivers replied, slowly closing the distance between us. “Don’t you, Princess?”

I took a step back, pulling Mal along with me, my gaze flickering between them. What was Rivers feeling? Was that amusement dancing in his eyes, or was it something darker?

“Stop calling me that,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“I would, but it seems you’ve forgotten our agreement,” he said smoothly, his tone dripping with condescension.

“What agreement? What is he forcing you to do?” I shot back, my eyes darting between my mentor and the alpha who had already shattered one precious bond in my life.

“Nothing. Just go finish what you were doing. I’ll be fine,” Mal replied, his jaw clenched as he held my gaze, but I could tell he wouldn’t challenge me again in front of Rivers. His shoulders were tense, and the fire in his eyes burned fiercely as he glared at the alpha before he turned and strode toward the office.

I turned back to Rivers, who had settled into the chair Mal had just vacated, a triumphant smirk spreading across his face.

“I thought you’d be out of the country by now,” he remarked, adjusting his cuffs with a casual grace. “How’s the boyfriend treating you?”

The mention of Hunter twisted my heart, a painful reminder of the turmoil I was trying to navigate. I remained silent, unsure of how to respond. The man seated before me seemed to have shed some of his earlier menace; there was an unsettling warmth in his gaze, devoid of the icy malice I had come to expect.

“I’ve heard the director has been a bit… off lately,” he continued, that infuriating smirk returning.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify