Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 73

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 73**

**HUNTER**

The first light of dawn crept through the thin curtains, and I jolted awake, my body ignited with a fiery tension that left me breathless. My pyjama bottoms clung to me, soaked with the remnants of a dream that felt too real, too vivid. Groaning, I kicked the tangled sheets off my legs, the fabric sliding away like an unwelcome memory. The remnants of her lingered in my mind—her taste, her scent—so potent that it felt as if she had been right there with me, clawing at my back, leaving marks that throbbed with a mix of desire and regret.

I swung my legs over the edge of the lumpy bed, the worn mattress creaking beneath me. The little motel where I had sought refuge smelled of dampness and decay, a stark reminder of my surroundings. The shower promised relief but carried a foul stench that made my stomach churn at the thought of standing in it. I glanced down at the pyjamas, a ragged reminder of my hasty escape from the shop next door. There was no way I could step outside looking like this.

With urgency, I washed myself quickly, the chill of the water snapping me to attention. I slipped into the sweats I had carelessly discarded earlier, the fabric comforting against my skin. Kitty’s cries echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of my longing for her and the claim I felt over her. Yet, amidst the chaos of my thoughts, my beast seemed subdued, almost tranquil, as if she had truly been with me in that dream.

I tossed the pyjamas into the trash, the fabric crumpling as it landed. Stepping out of the room, I found myself in a cramped motel with only five rooms and a tiny shop that seemed to sell everything from snacks to car parts. I could have shifted and sought solace in the forest, but Elijah’s scent had drawn me to this place like a moth to a flame.

The golden threads of fate floated in the air around the shop I’d broken into, shimmering with a promise of revelation. My instincts screamed at me to hunt Kitty first, but deep down, I knew Elijah was likely doing the same. The thought of him getting to her first ignited a primal rage within me. I had to find him before he could make a move.

Barefoot, I strode into the motel office, my heart pounding with urgency. The man who had checked me in looked disinterested until he met my gaze, at which point his expression shifted to one of fear. My sudden appearance must have startled him more than I intended.

“Any news?” I growled, my voice low and menacing.

“What?” he stammered, his complexion draining of color as he realized the gravity of my question. “I’m sorry, sir. How may I assist you?”

“You promised to find out where the man I’m searching for went after he left the store.”

“Did I?” he replied, his voice wavering under my glare.

I fixed him with a steely look, willing him to remember. He swallowed hard, clearly intimidated. “She was supposed to open half an hour ago. I’ll retrieve the security footage as soon as she arrives,” he managed to say, his voice trembling.

Frustration bubbled within me, and I stormed out, heading straight for the shop. The golden threads were dimmer now, but they still danced around the entrance, teasing me with their fleeting presence. I had already broken in and discovered Elijah’s bloody trail within those walls. He had a knack for disappearing from the eyes of others, but I understood his patterns too well. Even without the threads, I would have found him.

Before I’d taken the pyjamas and sweats, I had scouted for cameras, but the security system had vanished. Someone with remote access had to have seen him slip away. Someone had to know how he managed to disappear.

I circled the area again, searching for any signs I might have overlooked in the darkness. Small splatters of blood dotted the ground, the gravel slightly disturbed, and broken twigs littered the path. If Elijah had been at full strength, he wouldn’t have made such careless mistakes. My window to catch him was closing rapidly; I needed to act before he healed completely and erased his trail.

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