Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 84

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 84**

**KAT**

“No!”

A wave of disbelief washed over me, mingled with a sharp, searing pain that radiated from my stomach like wildfire, morphing into something far more sinister, something insatiable. It felt as if my very essence was being twisted, a violent concoction of agony and primal need that made my core tighten and my toes curl into the plush fibers of the rug beneath me.

*You’re about to go into heat…*

Mr. Rivers’ words reverberated in my mind as I crawled across the cold floor, desperation clawing at my insides. This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t possibly go into heat before my first shift; the very idea was ludicrous. Every book I had read, every hushed conversation I had eavesdropped on, every biology lesson had drilled that fact into my head. So, what was happening to me? Was this some twisted prelude to heat? Pre-heat didn’t exist! Perhaps the suppressants had finally shattered something deep within me.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I dragged myself to my bedroom, wrenching open the drawer of my nightstand. My fingers trembled uncontrollably as I fumbled for the bottle, knocking it over in my haste and sending the pills scattering across the floor like tiny white soldiers. I snatched a handful, swallowing them dry, then grabbed a few more, my desperation mounting.

Every time I had taken those pills since that fateful night in the ring, the symptoms had dulled, my wolf had quieted. But now, a low, menacing growl reverberated through my room, causing my heart to seize in my chest before I realized it wasn’t an external threat. It was my wolf. She was stirring.

“No,” I whispered, scanning the room for an escape that I knew was futile.

Would I shift here, in this very room? Would I succumb to heat immediately after? Was this my punishment for defying nature’s demands, for resisting my first shift, my instincts, my destiny? Would it all crash down on me now, like some cruel act of retribution?

Sweat trickled down my forehead as I hoisted myself onto the bed. My clothes clung to me, itchy and suffocatingly tight. I felt an overwhelming urge to tear them off, to lie back and explore my own body. Every inch of me pulsed with a need that transcended mere physicality; it was primal, feral. I was already drenched, despite the inferno raging within me.

A tremor of fear sliced through the haze of desire. If this was merely the beginning, what would happen when I could no longer rein it in? Would my wolf seize control entirely, dragging me toward the first male I laid eyes on? Would she attract every unmated male in the pack, driving them into a frenzy, their only thought to claim me and alleviate my suffering? The mere thought made bile rise in my throat.

*Hunter.*

His name flickered in my mind like a lifeline, a tether I clung to with desperation. He was the only man I wanted—if only my instincts would allow it. But would that matter when my primal urges drowned out everything else?

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I froze, my breath hitching as footsteps echoed down the hall. Was this the moment?

When Mr. Rivers stepped into view, a rush of relief flooded through me, quickly followed by a wave of disgust. Relief because he understood what was happening to me, and disgust because, in my fevered state, all I could focus on were the hard lines of his body beneath that impeccably tailored suit. His light brown eyes swept over me before locking onto mine, and I felt as if I were already exposed, laid bare before him, ready.

What would he feel like—

*No. No, no, no.* Mr. Rivers was an arrogant jerk. He was manipulative, ruthless, and had humiliated me, using my vulnerabilities against me. I still harbored deep mistrust regarding his motives, especially concerning my family. I hated him.

Yet, despite my better judgment, I inhaled deeply, drawing in his scent until it enveloped me. He smelled intoxicating, like pine trees and the forest after a cleansing rain. My mouth watered as I pushed myself up onto my knees, watching him as he prowled closer. Another wave of heat crashed through me, and I couldn’t suppress the whimper that escaped my lips.

Mr. Rivers’ eyes shimmered with a golden hue as he stepped nearer. He glanced down at the scattered pills on the floor, then back to me.

“Those won’t do anything for you anymore, Princess.”

His voice was low, strained, and the words barely registered in my foggy mind. My thoughts spiraled with images I didn’t want—him, naked, and another woman riding him.

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