Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 68

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 68**

**HUNTER**

The moment Kitty laid me down on her bed, I succumbed to sleep, as if her presence cast a spell over me. Her scent enveloped me like a warm blanket, soothing the wild beast that had been clawing at my chest and providing a sense of grounding, even as the acrid stench of River lingered throughout the house. The fire coursing through my veins still crackled with intensity, but with Kitty nearby, it felt more manageable, more bearable.

It had to be the bond.

When I finally stirred from my slumber, I noticed the other side of the bed was chillingly empty. It was evident that Kitty hadn’t spent the night beside me. Sunlight poured through the window, illuminating the room, while the sweet melody of birdsong drifted in, mingling with soft murmurs echoing through the house. It felt surreal, as if I were caught in a dream, my hearing flickering in and out, making me question my very senses.

One of those whispers belonged to Rivers.

With a surge of determination, I threw off the covers, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and rolled my shoulders, testing my strength. The magic that had once coursed through me had faded, but the remnants of the broken bond still played tricks on my senses. Yet, I felt strong enough to confront Rivers.

But first, I had to find Kitty.

Somehow, during the night, she had removed my jacket and shirt. They were beyond salvaging anyway, caked with blood and dirt from the chaos I had endured. The burns on my skin had transformed into dark bruises, but I still felt like a wreck.

After a quick shower, I stood before her mirrored cabinet. I hadn’t shaved in days, and the bruises on my face were a grotesque tapestry of black and blue, but I knew they would fade by midday.

As I opened the cabinet, my gaze fell upon her vitamins, a contact lens case, and the solution. Right. My little mate had yet to reveal her true eyes to me. Blue? I had steered clear of women with blue eyes ever since that cursed masquerade ball. If Kitty had looked at me with those captivating eyes from the beginning, I would have never walked out of that club with her. Fate had a twisted sense of humor.

There was so much to clarify between us now that Elijah was gone. I intended to lay everything bare and hoped she would trust me enough to reciprocate.

Like, why in the world did she spend so much time with Rivers?

As I re-entered the bedroom, I noticed that the bed had been neatly made, and fresh clothes awaited me. Kitty’s sweet vanilla scent lingered in the air, a reminder of her presence. She had come and gone without me even sensing her departure. But that was irrelevant now; I was in the safest place to heal. I pulled on the surprisingly well-fitting sweats and shirt and followed her lingering scent through the house.

People moved past me without uttering a word, some avoiding my gaze altogether. In the kitchen, the old man stood, his eyes fixed on me as if he had been anticipating my arrival. The more I gazed into those hardened eyes, the more enigmatic Malcom Leighton became. The wards surrounding this place were no mere coincidence.

Without addressing him, I followed Kitty’s scent out the back door, my heart racing as I caught sight of the flickering golden thread weaving through the trees. Intertwined with it was Rivers’s scent, and my fists clenched in response. I was determined to follow it.

Emerging from the treeline onto the riverbank, my eyes locked onto Rivers, who stood uncomfortably close to Kitty. I couldn’t hear the words he was whispering, but I could see Kitty’s head bowed, her posture small and submissive, as if she were an omega yielding to a dominant force. My beast roared within me, desperate to break free.

A growl erupted from my throat, and both of them turned to face me, their expressions shifting to one of guilt, as if I had caught them in a compromising moment. Perhaps I had.

That ugly, green-eyed monster surged within me as I stalked toward them. Rivers glared at me, his defiance palpable in the air. For a fleeting moment, I felt the weight of his fury pressing down on me, making me feel almost human in its intensity.

“You don’t call the shots here,” Rivers snarled, cutting me off before I could speak. “Kathrine can talk to whoever she wants.”

“It didn’t look like she was enjoying it,” I shot back, my voice low and dangerous.

“Then that just proves how little you know. Miss Munroe and I are quite close,” Rivers drawled, that infuriating smirk reappearing as he turned to Kitty. “I’ll wait for you inside.”

Wait for what? That bastard was playing a dangerous game. Even with death looming over him, he had the audacity to look so self-satisfied.

Once he was gone, I turned my attention to Kitty. She still kept her head down, and my senses flared again; I couldn’t decipher what she was feeling. Had Rivers upset her?

“What does that bastard have on you? Why did he give you so much money?” I demanded, my voice steady but laced with urgency.

Kitty’s head snapped up, and our eyes met once more.

Blue. A piercing blue. The same blue as that spoiled, useless princess tainted with the vile Lordswood blood.

I had to remind myself to step back and breathe; Kitty was not that infamous princess.

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