I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King (by lg savage) novel Chapter 61

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 61**

Katherine stood there, her heart racing, as Mal’s voice sliced through the tension in the air. “What the hell have you got yourself into, Katherine?”

She felt the weight of his words pressing down on her, but she couldn’t bring herself to respond. Instead, she averted her gaze, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn’t articulate. She had shared her past fears with Mal when they first crossed paths, revealing the shadows she was running from. Yet, the chaos that had enveloped her lately was a different beast altogether, one she struggled to comprehend. Hunter was not just a man; he was a force of nature, captivating on an instinctual level.

**Mine.**

The thought sent a shiver down her spine, a ridiculous notion that made her stomach churn. Her wolf hadn’t fully awakened yet; she had no right to claim him as her mate. But the signs were there, lurking beneath the surface, just as her parents had drilled into her before those excruciatingly awkward forced dates. This magnetic pull she felt towards Hunter was merely a primal reaction to his dangerous allure, a result of the fact that he was her first.

Perhaps it was just her own brokenness—confusing raw intensity with something deeper, something meaningful. Once she moved on from Hunter, she would likely find herself drawn to another handsome face, just as easily.

“I didn’t think you’d wait for me,” she murmured, barely above a whisper.

“Of course I waited,” Mal replied, his voice sharp. “You came here in your pajamas, without a phone or a dime to your name, and you let that lunatic drag you out of here.” He gestured angrily towards his office, frustration radiating off him like heat from a fire.

She halted mid-step, the air around her becoming thick with an unsettling stillness. No. Was Mr. Rivers lurking nearby? But Mal’s expression didn’t betray fear; it was pure, unfiltered rage.

“We can go back now. Did you manage to get me another phone?”

I pulled out the device Hunter had given me, a token of his twisted intentions, and tucked it away in a drawer outside the office. There was no universe in which she could trust anything that had come from him.

“We can leave as soon as you’re done with that man,” Mal said, his tone brokering no argument. “I’ll give you five minutes.”

His words confirmed her worst fears. Mr. Rivers was indeed here. Hadn’t she been supposed to seek him out ‘bright and early,’ just as he had insisted?

Mal’s grip on her arm tightened, pulling her aside with an urgency that made her heart race. “Did he do that to you?” he hissed, his eyes narrowing as he pointed to the bite mark she had barely managed to conceal with her scarf.

Before she could respond, the office door swung open, and Mr. Rivers stepped out, a steaming mug cradled in his hand. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a stark contrast to the designer suits she had come to associate with him. The casual attire threw her off balance.

“Unfortunately not. But I’d be more than honoured,” Mr. Rivers smirked, taking a leisurely sip from his mug as if he had all the time in the world.

Was he flirting with her? The thought made her grimace as she glanced between him and Mal. Their dynamic had shifted in an instant. She remembered how defiant Mal had been when she’d walked into the gym the other day, arms crossed, radiating a sense of invincibility as if Mr. Rivers couldn’t touch him. What was she missing?

“You took your time, Miss Munroe,” Mr. Rivers remarked, his tone dripping with condescension.

“What are you doing here?” she spat through clenched teeth, her heart pounding in her chest.

She had no doubt that whatever this meeting entailed would not benefit her in any way. Had Kostas discovered something?

“Don’t be like that. I’ve been waiting in this dank little place for hours,” he replied, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with the tension in the room.

Her eyes widened as she sought confirmation from Mal, but his irritated scowl was answer enough. He brushed past Rivers and strode into his office, leaving her feeling more on edge than ever.

“Why were you waiting for me?” she asked, suspicion lacing her voice.

Mr. Rivers’ gaze swept over her, lingering on her neck before locking onto her eyes. His irises flickered with a golden hue, and a tight smile crept onto his lips, sending a chill down her spine.

“You should go shower,” he said, his tone firm, almost commanding.

Goddess. She had forgotten about his heightened senses. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she spun on her heel, heading towards the locker rooms.

“Wash him off you, Kat,” he murmured, his voice low and threatening. “While I’m still being civil.”

His warning echoed ominously in her mind, setting off alarm bells. Wolves were fiercely territorial over what they deemed theirs. Did Mr. Rivers believe he had some claim over her? Did he think he could manipulate her with the threat he held over her family?

In the shower, she took her time, washing every tender spot with care, but her thoughts betrayed her, spiraling back to Hunter. The feel of his skin against hers, the sound of his voice, the weight of his body pressing down on her. Wolves didn’t knot all the time, and Hunter hadn’t until now. Why?

“Wolf business,” Mr. Rivers continued, his voice steady. “I believe it’s our king’s birthday coming up.”

Those words struck her like a dagger to the heart. After seeing her brother the previous night, that flicker of homesickness came rushing back. Mr. Rivers must have known the effect his words would have on her.

“Walk me out,” he instructed, not bothering to give her a choice.

As they made their way out of the office, she could sense the tension radiating off him, as if his carefully crafted facade was beginning to crack.

“Go and hide out for a while,” he advised, his voice low. “It’s not safe for you here. I’ll wait until you’re gone before I leave town.”

“What do you mean? Have you heard from the Bureau?” she pressed, anxiety creeping into her tone.

“Just take my word for it,” he replied curtly. “I came here to make sure you were still okay after last night.”

Was he referring to the incident in the ring? Or her night with Hunter? His behavior was so erratic that she couldn’t discern whether he was flirting or simply toying with her emotions.

“Don’t forget the suppressants again. Lock this door after I leave, but make sure you and Malcolm get out right now.”

And just like that, he was gone. The moment the door clicked shut, the air felt heavy and unsafe, as though a predator had slipped into the shadows. She rushed back to Mal’s office, her heart pounding, and grabbed both her bags.

“Are you going to tell me why you had an alpha wolf camping out in here waiting for you?” Mal demanded, his frustration palpable.

How did he even know Mr. Rivers was an alpha? She opened her mouth to ask, but the alarm system beeped, and an image flickered onto the desktop monitor.

The bags slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Her heart stopped.

On the screen, staring directly into the camera, was the man from the Bureau—the same one who had followed her home.