I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King novel Chapter 119

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 119**

**HUNTER**

The expression etched on her face was forever imprinted on my heart, a haunting reminder of that moment. The first words she had hurled into our mindlink, words that felt like daggers, echoed in my mind: “Go away!”

Since that fateful exchange, I had plummeted into an emotional abyss.

A whirlwind of fear, hopelessness, anxiety, and despair crashed over me like a relentless wave, each feeling more suffocating than the last as I maneuvered through the dense forest. Each beat of my heart felt like a painful reminder of my shattered state, reverberating through my body as if it were a fragile glass that had been smashed into countless shards. Katerina’s gaze had pierced through me, leaving me in ruins.

The bond we shared—what a cruel twist of fate it was. I should have been celebrating her choice, the decision that would keep us apart. In theory, distancing ourselves was the wisest course of action. I could have easily rejected her, turned my back on everything we had ever shared, and walked away.

Yet, my beast roared in defiance, its primal instincts refusing to let go. Even amidst the turmoil, it resisted the only path that could lead to solace. Before I had caught up with Elijah, I had reconciled myself to the inevitable, even if I had loathed the thought. But the way Katerina had looked at me after I had acted on instinct shattered me further. I was weary of this relentless cycle of emotions, this maddening merry-go-round that spun faster with each passing second.

I didn’t want to crave a Lordswood. I didn’t want to need her.

Still, my beast propelled us back, retracing our steps through the barren landscape of the forest, refusing to relent until we reached the edge. There, I sank to the ground, my gaze drawn to the distant drawbridge and the murky moat that surrounded it like a dark shroud.

What was I even doing here? She had ordered me to leave, and I could only imagine the chaos that had erupted within the pack because of my reckless actions. I had no right to linger like a lovesick fool, wallowing in my own misery.

Yet, I remained, watching as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows that mirrored the deepening gloom in my heart. I should have been finalizing paperwork after dealing with Elijah, coordinating teams for upcoming cases, and taking April back home now that the threat had passed.

Instead, I found myself fixated on the tiny insects scurrying across the ground, their movements almost hypnotic as the shadows danced around them. I observed the Bureau vehicles crossing the bridge, their presence a stark reminder of the world I was supposed to be part of. And then, a realization struck me like a punch to the gut:

Wedding guests?

The thought hit me hard, and before I knew it, my feet were moving towards the bridge, compelled by an unseen force. I didn’t announce my presence or justify my intrusion into Lordswood territory, not that it mattered now that the case was behind us.

With each step I took, a fleeting sense of relief washed over me, but I knew it was merely a temporary balm for the aching void within. My feet felt heavy, burdened by the weight of uncertainty. Katerina had wept when Kostas had tried to force her submission, but what if it had merely been a disagreement? What if she hadn’t truly needed me that night? What if she was eager for this ceremony, especially now that she had seen the truth of who I was?

Was I walking into a trap, only to have her sever the bond we shared?

As I approached the castle gates, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. A throng of people rushed out, their panic palpable. It took me a moment to comprehend the source of their fear.

I felt it—a powerful aura, unmistakably alpha. The same aura that had enveloped the night before.

Fear thickened the air, and my beast finally roused from its stupor. The intoxicating scent ignited something primal within me, awakening urges that had lain dormant. I inhaled deeply, allowing the chaos to seep into my very bones. The stench of Elijah’s blood still lingered, a potent reminder of the danger that surrounded me. It ignited a hunger within me, a dangerous craving when I was already teetering on the edge of instability. Katerina believed me to be a monster.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify