I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King novel Chapter 89

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 89**

**HUNTER**

Turning my back on Kitty felt like tearing a piece of my soul away, an act more painful than any physical wound I’d ever endured. Yet, I pressed on, fueled by a purpose that I clung to like a lifeline. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. One last gamble with that untrustworthy rogue was a risk I was willing to take, because in the end, my mate—my everything—was coming home with me. The sooner, the better.

My first destination was to hunt down my uncle. Tracking him wasn’t a challenge; he wasn’t even attempting to conceal himself. His scent lingered in the air, unmistakable and potent, like breadcrumbs leading me straight to him. And to make matters worse, he had the audacity to unleash his full aura within the territory of the werewolf king. I felt it wash over me, a nauseating sensation that crawled across my skin, mingling with the palpable fear that hung thick in the atmosphere.

As I approached the drawbridge, it lay open, inviting. The crowds parted before me as I strode through, completely exposed, as bare as the day I was born. I couldn’t care less about my nudity. The streets were more crowded than I had anticipated, filled with people who bore no allegiance to the Lordswood pack. No, these individuals appeared healthier, dressed in fine attire that contrasted sharply with my own disheveled state. They had the luxury to stop and gawk at me.

“Who is that?” one passerby whispered, eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

“No one is allowed to shift within the walls today. How disrespectful!” another scoffed, indignation lacing their voice.

“He might be the king’s guest,” a third offered, uncertainty creeping in.

“Is he even worthy of standing before our king?” came the retort, dripping with condescension.

My head whipped around at the audacity of that last comment, a snarl twisting my lips. If my beast had been free, it would have shown them exactly who the true king was. The man who had spoken recoiled, bowing slightly, recognizing the raw power I possessed even with my beast restrained deep within me.

After the last attack, Kostas had tightened his grip on his father’s territory, locking it down like a fortress. To open the gates for a worthless king and his pampered daughter was a blunder that could cost them dearly. Patrols were nearly nonexistent; it was an open invitation for anyone to slip through, like Elijah. That blood-stained message he had left behind at the motel echoed in my mind, sending a cold shiver through my gut. ‘Guess where I’m going.’ A chilling certainty gripped me—he had infiltrated the territory. Yet here I was, the fool, placing my trust in Rivers with my Kitty, my glaring weakness.

But Elijah wasn’t the only threat lurking within these walls. They had also allowed another deranged Lycan entry. Three of us, if you counted me.

My instincts guided me toward a guesthouse nestled close to the castle walls, situated in a more secure area typically reserved for alphas. The guards stationed outside the two-story building were clad in our military uniforms, their heads bowed under the oppressive weight of their leader’s aura.

I felt my fists clench at my sides, anger simmering just beneath the surface. Jasper’s delusions had spiraled out of control. I would sooner rip him apart than acknowledge him as anything but a traitor, despite the blood that tied us together. We were the last remnants of the ancient Sterling royal bloodline, an honor he had no right to claim.

“Stop. Move along. You can’t enter without an invitation,” one of the guards growled, blocking my path.

I turned to face him slowly, muscles in my jaw twitching with barely contained rage. There was no bond between us, a realization that sent a flicker of satisfaction through me. Jasper had clearly been busy recruiting outside the pack.

But before I could respond, the second guard shoved the first aside.

“Welcome, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing deeply as he opened the gate. “Alph… Elder Sterling is waiting for you.”

The first guard immediately dropped to his knees, forehead pressed to the ground.

“I apologize, Your Majesty,” he stammered, his voice quaking with fear that radiated off him like heat from a flame.

I inhaled his scent, cataloging it for future reference. After I dealt with Jasper, this guard would be the first to pay the price for his leader’s arrogance.

As I stepped through the threshold, a hush fell over the house, whispers fading into an eerie silence. Ten men? Twelve? It was difficult to gauge accurately in my current state.

Before I could even reach for the door, it swung open, revealing another man dressed in pack colors, standing to the side.

“Welcome, Your Majesty. Elder Sterling awaits you in the lounge.”

I didn’t need directions; I could smell him. My filthy feet padded silently on the cool marble floor as I followed the stench to a room at the back. When I entered, my gaze locked onto Jasper. He lounged in a chair at the far end, legs crossed, surrounded by his men. He wore the military uniform, complete with the ridiculous cape that he favored.

“Hunter, you’ve finally arrived,” Jasper said, a smirk playing on his lips.

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