I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King novel Chapter 106

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 106**

**KAT**

The tears streaming down my face felt like molten fire, and the bitter taste of humiliation lingered like ash in the back of my throat as I strode across the room with purpose. I plopped down on the couch beside him, my arms crossed defiantly, the simmering anger beneath my skin threatening to boil over.

“What happened?” Nathan inquired, his voice laced with concern.

The words stuck in my throat, heavy and suffocating. How could I possibly articulate the devastation of having my autonomy stripped away by the very person I had trusted more than anyone else? It felt surreal, especially when Nathan himself had played a role in that betrayal. He had forced me to my knees, making me witness the most degrading act imaginable as he took that woman, right before he’d shoved me into the helicopter that whisked me back to this gilded cage of a life. A whirlwind of hurt, disappointment, and anger churned within me, a tempest I struggled to contain.

“You shouldn’t have brought me back,” I hissed, my voice barely containing the fury. “In another year, I could have walked in with my head held high. I could have defended myself.”

“Look at you,” Nathan sighed, straightening his posture as he reached for the jug of water on the table. “You’re already at the top of your class. You can defend yourself right now.”

His words were true, but they did little to extinguish the fire that choked my chest. It felt like a dark, festering thing lodged inside me, refusing to let go.

“Why should I have to submit to anyone?” I snapped, my voice rising. “I have my own mind, my own dreams!” I grabbed the glass of water he had poured for himself, gulping it down as if it could douse the raging inferno of my fury.

“Sometimes, there’s more strength in submission,” he replied, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Look at the past few days. Two dominant men hovering around you, but who was really in charge here?”

Heat surged up my neck at his words. Images of him sprawled on the bed, his hand wrapped around his cock beneath the sheets, invaded my mind uninvited.

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” I muttered, my gaze flicking away. I didn’t want to entertain thoughts of another man naked; my wolf was already snarling, fiercely protective of our fragile bond.

“I know, but someone had to say it,” he chuckled, the sound lightening the oppressive atmosphere momentarily. “Once this whole mess is sorted, I probably won’t be allowed to speak to you again in this lifetime.”

His casual remark cracked something deep within me. ‘Once it’s sorted.’ The tightening in my chest eased a fraction, and fleeting glimpses of a life with Hunter washed over me, momentarily pushing Nathan from my thoughts. My wolf settled, the threads binding us still humming softly.

Life with Hunter. Would he stand by me as I forged a career in law? Would we have pups together? I knew his job at the Bureau kept him busy, but we could navigate that, couldn’t we?

But then, his cold eyes flashed through my mind, the memory of him walking out of the Grand Hall, and the fact that he’d vanished before I woke up after easing my heat still stung like a fresh wound. Yet, we were connected. Eventually, he would have to hear me out.

“What brought that smile to your face? Thinking of your upcoming nuptials?” Nathan teased, mischief glinting in his eyes.

The warmth inside me shattered like glass. I shot him a glare, crossing my arms tighter around myself.

“How are you even here?” I demanded, frustration boiling over. “Father said you weren’t coming out until after the mating ceremony.”

“As gracious as the king is, I didn’t care for the room he assigned to me,” Nathan replied, rising and shoving his hands into his pockets. His jacket was missing, and his once-pristine shirt was now torn and smudged with dirt. “Besides, I have no intention of being here when they realize they can’t give away what belongs to another.”

“So what’s the plan? How do we get out of here?” I asked, a flicker of hope igniting within me.

“You’re staying put,” he replied flatly.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify