Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 71

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**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 71**

**HUNTER**

The anguish of her departure struck me with a force that felt far more potent than the magic woven into the wards surrounding our territory. I had lost track of time as I sat on the cold floor beside the door, my knees drawn tightly to my chest, my gaze fixated on my bare feet. The distance between Kitty and me felt like a physical entity, stretching and pulling, threatening to sever the bond we shared.

Would it break?

Though I had never encountered such a phenomenon, the gaping hole in my chest, widening with every agonizing second, led me to believe it was a distinct possibility. For so long, I had resisted the advances of every woman my uncle had paraded before me, adamant that I would never forge a bond with anyone. Then Kitty had come into my life, dismantling all my defenses in a single night, only to leave me shattered. She had outmatched my uncle in ways I never anticipated.

I was powerless to pursue her; the wards would claim my life if I tried.

The old man entered without so much as a knock, his presence heavy in the room. He didn’t spare me a glance as he settled himself on the edge of the bed, his fingers deftly adjusting his shirt sleeves.

“How did you get in?” he inquired, his tone casual, as if addressing an old friend rather than a wolf.

Most humans would never dare to speak to a creature like me with such nonchalance, but I understood that Malcolm was not your typical human.

“Why do you have unregulated magic in my city?” I growled, my voice low and dangerous.

“How else are we mere mortals supposed to protect ourselves?” he replied, his expression betraying no hint of guilt or regret.

Was that truly the only reason for his actions? Just a means of safeguarding himself against the potential threat of the supernatural? Or was there a deeper, more sinister motive behind his choice to wield such power? This was my first direct confrontation with him, yet the way others in the community avoided my gaze suggested they were all too aware of who I was. But Malcolm, he held my stare, his voice steady and unwavering. Where did he draw such confidence from?

Yet, in that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care about his bravado. Kitty was gone. With Rivers.

My chest felt as though it had been ripped open anew, and I clutched it, a groan escaping my lips as I leaned against the wall for support. I had marked her, claimed her as mine, yet she was human. Her departure was not supposed to inflict this level of pain. But even if I was mistaken in my beliefs, she had never uttered the words that would have made our bond official. She was still mine in my heart, at least.

So what in the hell was happening to me?

“Why are you hanging around Katherine?” I demanded, my voice sharp, protective instincts flaring despite the fact that Kitty had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with me.

“What’s it to you?” he shot back, his tone incredulous.

“You’re the director of the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs, a Lycan who holds countless lives in his hands. And she’s just a young woman, utterly powerless against you,” he stated, his voice dripping with disdain.

I bristled at his tone, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

“If you’re implying that I would harm her, then perhaps you shouldn’t have let her wander off with that sex-crazed psychopath,” I growled, my anger rising.

“I don’t think anyone could be more of a psychopath than you, Your Majesty,” he retorted, his eyes narrowing.

I froze, the weight of his words settling heavily in the air. Only a select few knew that the director and the king were one and the same. Who the hell was this man?

“What did Rivers tell you?” I barked, my voice low and menacing. What twisted lies had this madman spun to convince Malcolm that I was the villain in this scenario? To justify taking her away from me?

“I don’t need to rely on what others tell me to know the truth,” he replied coolly. “Instead of fretting over Katherine, you should be out there trying to clean up the mess you created.”

“What mess?” I shot back, confusion mingling with my rising anger.

“Have you not heard yet? There’s no fucking body,” he said, his words slicing through the tension like a knife.

Shock washed over me, momentarily eclipsing the pain that had been gnawing at me. I hadn’t disclosed to anyone that there had been a body at all, so where was he sourcing his information?