Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 77

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 77**

**HUNTER**

A prickling sensation crept over my skin, an unsettling awareness that someone—or something—was observing my every move.

Turning on my heel, I cast a wary glance behind me, my gaze piercing through the dense thicket of black trees that loomed ominously around me. The boundary’s magic was nothing short of formidable, distorting my heightened senses, twisting reality into a labyrinth of shadows that danced and flickered. The faint traces Elijah had left behind were scattered like fragile golden threads, winding through the air like gossamer, leading me in frustrating circles with no clear destination.

Yet, amidst the chaos of magic, one thing remained steadfast: the bond between Kitty and me. It was no longer stretched thin, and as improbable as it seemed, I could feel her presence as though she were just a heartbeat away.

Though daylight still lingered, darkness enveloped me like a thick cloak, pressing in from all sides. I could sense nothing—no heartbeat, no prey, no predators lurking in the shadows, not even the vile creatures that thrived in this cursed land. Yet, the distinct feeling of being watched persisted, gnawing at my instincts.

If I were a betting man, I’d wager my money on Elijah. His broken trail had led me this far, and I was closing in on the bastard at last.

A twig snapped beneath my paw, the sound slicing through the stillness like a gunshot. My muscles tensed, coiling like spring-loaded traps as my instincts sharpened, ready to catch even the faintest hint of movement. No scent, no heartbeat. Just that creeping awareness, threading its way through the shadows, whispering of unseen dangers. My eyes cut through the gloom, scanning for every rustling leaf and quivering branch, as if the sunlight could somehow pierce the canopy above.

But where was that bastard hiding?

I prowled deeper into the darkness, blending seamlessly with the shadows, the damp earth beneath my paws squelching softly with each step as I moved toward the wolf kingdom. Yet, Elijah’s golden threads had vanished entirely, leaving me with a growing sense of unease.

Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through my chest, striking me like a dagger to the heart. I stumbled mid-stride, crashing onto my knees, gasping for breath as my beast recoiled in shock. For a fleeting moment, I feared I had been fatally wounded. My hand shot to my chest, searching for a wound. Was it an arrow? Poison?

But there was nothing. No arrow, no visible injury. Yet the pain surged through my veins, an inferno of agony that seemed to blister my skin beneath an invisible flame. This was a torment unlike anything I had experienced before, reminiscent of Malcolm’s wards. Though my fur remained intact, every fiber of my being screamed with pain. This magic was foreign to me, even in these woods I thought I knew so well.

Someone had set their traps in a forest meant for public passage, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was an act of defiance. Who would dare challenge me like this?

As I struggled to manage the burn coursing through me, another wave of pain hit me—this one more emotional than physical. The bond. My fingers dug into the earth, trembling as I felt Kitty’s presence shift. She was on the move.

Despite the agony radiating through my body, I mustered the strength to rise, anchoring myself to the faint pull in my chest that guided me toward her. For the first time since she had left my side, I truly felt her. Panic, distress, fear—each emotion rippled through me, as visceral as if they were my own.

Elijah could wait. My legs propelled me forward before I could even finish the thought. I pushed through the pain burning beneath my skin, calling upon my beast once more, shifting mid-air to land on my paws. For days, I had resisted the urge to follow Kitty, but I could no longer ignore the raw emotions that bound us. My chosen mate was in danger.

Half an hour later, the dense woods gave way to a sprawling mansion, rising majestically from the earth, cloaked in a shroud of magic. A mansion that would have made my uncle swell with pride. Magic coursed through my fur as I raced down the paved driveway, urgency propelling me toward the grand steps.

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