I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King novel Chapter 78

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**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 78**

**KAT**

With a single, authoritative command, Mr. Rivers ushered me into his helicopter.

“Get in and sit like a good little girl,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Don’t make any trouble.”

I settled into my seat, my fist clenched tightly, fury boiling beneath the surface as I realized the helplessness of my situation. Opposite me, Mr. Rivers sat with an air of nonchalance, impeccably dressed in a crisp blue suit that seemed to accentuate his imposing presence. He was engrossed in a document, acting as if I were nothing more than an insignificant detail in his world. Yet, I could feel the simmering anger radiating from him, more palpable now than it had been the previous day.

“I’ll never forgive you for this,” I spat through gritted teeth, my voice low but filled with venom.

His gaze shot up to meet mine, and a cold smirk crept onto his lips, a cruel twist that sent shivers down my spine.

“I don’t need your forgiveness, princess,” he replied, the disdain evident in his voice. “It’s worthless.”

With that, he returned to his papers, dismissing me entirely. I turned my attention to the landscape outside the window, watching the forest recede beneath us, a sea of green fading into the distance. Mr. Rivers’ mansion soon disappeared, swallowed by the trees, leaving behind the eerie stillness that had enveloped it on the night of my arrival.

“Did you tell Mal what you’re doing?” I ventured, testing the waters, my voice barely above a whisper.

I noticed his grip on the documents tighten, a telltale sign that I had struck a nerve. Mal was blissfully unaware of the betrayal that had unfolded, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger for him.

“Maybe this will teach him not to trust a snake like you in the future,” I shot back, my words laced with venom.

“Shut up. You have no idea…” he retorted, his voice low and dangerous.

That was the crux of it, wasn’t it? Their secrets, their hidden truths. I had no inkling of why Mal had concealed his relationship with Mr. Rivers from me, even when the latter had approached us about buying the gym. I didn’t understand the allure of that cabin or the magic that seemed to linger around it.

With a swift motion, he flipped the page of the file he was reading, the paper tearing under the force of his frustration. I could see his jaw clench, his wolf-like eyes flickering with suppressed rage. I could feel his aura enveloping me, heavy and oppressive, but I refused to let it intimidate me. He had already humiliated me, and he continued to do so with every passing moment.

“What do you want from me?” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly, betraying my resolve.

“You’re no longer useful to me,” he stated coldly, his words slicing through the air like a knife.

The man I had begun to see beyond that hard exterior was merely an illusion. The true Mr. Rivers was the ruthless figure sitting before me now.

My fists were balled so tightly in my lap that I could almost taste blood. My nerves were frayed, the lack of sleep gnawing at my sanity. The oppressive heat and the haunting dreams of Hunter had left me lightheaded, my thoughts muddled beneath the chaotic drumming of my heart.

I should have stayed with Hunter.

A wave of panic washed over me, tightening my chest and twisting my stomach into knots. As I faced the inevitable conclusion of my futile rebellion, I couldn’t bring myself to think about the end of my career, the freedom slipping through my fingers. All I could focus on was the crushing reality that I might never see Hunter again.

I would willingly spend the rest of my days locked in a small room if it meant Hunter was my captor.

I bit down hard on my lip, fighting back the sob that threatened to escape. Once more, I glanced outside, the vastness of the forest stretching endlessly below, and a realization hit me like a cold wave. I had been trapped in this ancient forest all along. The eerie darkness of my first night should have clued me in. I had barely managed to escape its grasp before my eighteenth birthday.

Soon enough, we soared above the forest, and a wave of anxiety coursed through me. We would soon land in my father’s territory, and I was far from prepared for the disappointment I knew awaited me. I could already envision the looks of disapproval on their faces. I had squandered all their efforts, and I was certain I would become the subject of ridicule.