Bought by the Beast King (Katerina and hunter) novel Chapter 93

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 93**

**KAT**

A cacophony of cracking bones echoed through my body, each snap a cruel reminder of my transformation. It felt as if my very essence was being torn apart, piece by agonizing piece. I collapsed to my knees, the ground beneath me unforgiving.

I fought against the urge to scream, but the intensity of my heartbreak was a relentless tide, drowning me in its depths. It magnified every sensation, every pang of anguish.

“Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Mr. Rivers muttered, his voice a low growl as he scooped me up, cradling me against his chest.

His scent of fresh pine enveloped me, a stark contrast to the chaos within. But unlike the previous night, it didn’t soothe the wildness inside me. His heartbeat was a frantic drum against my ear, and I could sense the panic radiating from him, mingling with my own. My body jolted as he rushed through the darkness, the world around us blurring into an indistinct haze.

But the agony was all-consuming. My thoughts spiraled, trapped in a vortex of pain, desperately wishing for it to end soon. The first shift was notorious for its brutality, a rite of passage fraught with suffering. It could stretch on for what felt like an eternity, leaving me suspended between life and death, shedding the old to embrace the new.

And yet, I was doing this without Hunter.

My vision swam, slipping in and out of focus. One moment, I was cocooned in his arms, the next, I found myself buckled in the backseat of a car, the jarring motions of the vehicle throwing me around as it careened over a rough road.

Another bone shattered, and my scream erupted, morphing into a howl that echoed in the confined space. My nails dug into the leather seat, the sensation of them tearing free from my skin was agonizing, as though someone were using a cruel instrument to extract them. The metallic scent of my own blood filled the air, and the comforting embrace of darkness beckoned me once more. I surrendered to it willingly.

When consciousness returned, I was back in his arms, the harsh glare of overhead lights piercing through my closed eyelids. I turned my face into his chest, seeking refuge from the brightness.

“Your timing really sucks, princess,” Mr. Rivers growled, his voice laced with irritation.

Suddenly, we were in a dimly lit room, the jostling ceased. A soft mattress cradled my broken body, and instinctively, I curled into a fetal position. But as my spine arched, a crack echoed, and a howl of pure agony escaped my lips.

The pain was relentless. It consumed me. Even thoughts of Hunter faded into the background as I clawed at the layers of fabric that suffocated me. I was desperate to shed the dress, to free myself from the constraints that bound me. Just then, cool hands enveloped mine, halting my frantic movements. When I finally opened my eyes, Mr. Rivers loomed over me, his expression a mix of determination and concern.

With gentle precision, he rolled me onto my side, and the sound of a zipper echoed ominously in the room. In a clearer state of mind, I might have protested, but relief washed over me. I wasn’t alone in this torment. He worked swiftly, peeling away the dress, the corset, the underskirt. When he unclasped my bra, I felt a strange sense of liberation, unbothered by the fact that he had seen me in my underwear.

Then, without warning, my arm snapped, and the scream I had tried to contain was swallowed by the encroaching darkness once more.

When I emerged from the shadows again, the room was cloaked in deeper hues, and Mr. Rivers—Nathan—sat beside me, wringing out a small towel in a basin. He paused, his gaze locking onto mine as I blinked awake.

“It’s almost time,” he said softly, his voice a gentle reminder of the impending change.

“Already?” My voice came out hoarse, rasping from the screams that had torn through me.

“Not long. It’s gone faster than I anticipated,” he replied, placing the cool towel against my forehead, a soothing balm on my frayed nerves.

But that thought was abruptly swept away as warmth blossomed in my head. An awakening surged through me, the power that coursed in my veins merging with my consciousness until my other self made her presence known.

The transformation happened in a blur. My bones cracked and reshaped, my body elongated, and soft fur erupted from my skin—pure white, like freshly fallen snow.

Seconds later, I gazed down at my paws and then turned to see a tail wagging behind me, like a dog’s. It was complete. The transformation I had resisted for so long had finally taken place, and my life would never again belong solely to me.

Thoughts faded, the beast within seizing control, liberating my mind for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Then I was running, the cool breeze rushing through my fur, my tongue lolling in exhilaration. I howled at the moonlit sky, and a chorus of howls echoed back in response. I yearned to find them, the instinct to seek out my pack surging within me. Yet, my instinct to remain clear of the magical barrier was stronger.

My eyes darted around, absorbing the vivid details of my surroundings, tracking the scurrying creatures and the tiny insects in the soil. My nose cataloged every scent, each one a new discovery.

The familiar pine scent lingered nearby, but I chose not to pursue it. I reveled in the exploration of this new world.

Then, a scent of sandalwood and orange blossom wafted through the air, and I skidded to a halt. It struck me like lightning, igniting something deep within, settling in my core as if it had always belonged there. It was the most intoxicating aroma I had ever encountered, and my mouth watered in response.

The scent beckoned me closer to the magical barrier. Hunter was near.

He was mine.

Mate.