I Bought A Male Escort, Turns Out He's The Lycan King novel Chapter 95

**Leaves Falling Like Promises**
**By Amara Grant**
**Chapter 95**

**KAT**

A blinding light pierced through my consciousness, forcing me to wince in discomfort. I instinctively shielded my eyes, rolling away from the source of this unwelcome brightness. The mattress beneath me was unforgiving, jarring my body, and an uncomfortable sharpness pressed into my side, reminding me that I was far from home.

As I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the harshness of the light, I was puzzled to find a tuft of grass obstructing my view.

Wait a minute.

In an instant, I shot upright, and a jolt of pain coursed through me. It was not the same agony I had felt the night before; this felt akin to the aftermath of an intense workout with Mal, back in the days before he had sculpted my physique into something more resilient.

A soft blanket was tangled around my muddy feet, and I could feel the cool air on my bare legs, sending a shiver down my spine. Gasping, I hastily pulled the blanket over my exposed body, my eyes darting around in a frantic search for familiarity. The woods enveloped me, and I realized I had dozed off on a patch of grass beside a towering tree.

Why was I here?

The memories of the previous night flooded back like a tidal wave. I had shifted. Mr. Rivers had brought me here for my own protection. After my father’s shocking announcement that had turned my world upside down, Hunter had stormed out of the castle, leaving me in a whirlwind of confusion and despair.

Within me, there was a new thread of awareness, a sensation that hadn’t existed before. It felt like a connection, a tether to something deeper. My chest tightened as I probed this sensation, and suddenly, that awareness—my wolf—retreated, extinguished as if it were hiding away from me.

With a groan, I pushed myself off the ground, every inch of my body protesting, even my scalp felt tender. I wrapped the blanket tightly around my naked form, feeling the weight of change pressing down on me. Everything appeared transformed; the colors around me were vivid, sharper than I had ever perceived. I could see ants scuttling through the grass, their tiny bodies moving with purpose. The gentle rustling of leaves and the soft patter of small creatures searching for food filled the air, creating a serene backdrop that starkly contrasted with the chaos swirling in my mind.

Inhaling deeply, the scent of pine overwhelmed me, stronger than I remembered. Mr. Rivers was nearby. He must have been the one to drape the blanket over me. My feet moved instinctively toward him, even before I had the chance to think about what I might say. Despite our shared animosity, he was the only person who had shown me any kindness during this tumultuous time. He was the only one I could trust to guide me through this mess.

As I entered a clearing, the cabin where he had brought Kostas and me for breakfast came into view. Alongside the pine aroma, the enticing scents of coffee and sizzling meat wafted toward me, causing my mouth to water and every other thought to dissipate, leaving only the primal need to satisfy my hunger. I was ravenous.

Mr. Rivers stood on the porch, his shirt sleeves rolled up, a steaming mug cradled in his hand. His face looked drawn, shadows under his eyes hinting at a long night. Despite the weariness etched on his features, I could sense the alpha wolf lurking just beneath his skin—something I hadn’t been able to perceive before. My own wolf instinctively retreated again, sensing the power emanating from him.

His gaze tracked me as I cautiously ascended the steps. When I halted before him, his eyes flicked over my form before he extended the coffee toward me. I didn’t dare think about how I must look right now.

“Breakfast is ready,” he stated, his tone neutral.

He was offering me a chance to eat before diving into the heavy conversations that awaited us. I wasted no time; I dashed into the dining room to find a feast laid out, reminiscent of the spread from the other morning. As I took in the scene, it dawned on me that there was no one else here—he had prepared all of this himself.

Without a second thought, I dove into the food, devouring everything in sight as if I hadn’t eaten in days. My stomach felt like an insatiable void, each bite filling me with strength, nurturing the wolf that had finally emerged after three long years of dormancy.

When I finally savored the last morsel of steak and drained my coffee cup, I leaned back and adjusted the blanket around my shoulders. Mr. Rivers must have been waiting for this moment, as he walked in just then and settled himself across from me.

I found it difficult to meet his gaze; the reality of my new life as an omega weighed heavily on my soul. That simple act of submission felt like a crushing blow to my spirit.

“Kostas has been searching for us,” Mr. Rivers informed me, his voice steady.

My eyes briefly met his before I returned to the emptiness of my plate, the weight of his words sinking in.

“He won’t find us. This place is… protected,” he assured me, a hint of finality in his tone.

“Why are you helping me?” I whispered, the same question lingering from the previous night. After all that had transpired and the anger I had directed at him, why was he still here, standing by my side?

“I promised Malcolm,” he replied, but I longed to understand the depth of that promise. Why did he feel such an obligation to Mal that he would go to such lengths? After all, Mal was only human. “And once your suppressants began to fail, there was only one way this was going to end. You’re safer here.”

“Are you and Mal that close?” I asked, curiosity piqued despite my turmoil.

“Closer than you might believe,” Mr. Rivers said quietly, his words laced with an unspoken history.

I looked up just in time to catch a flicker of sadness in his eyes, a fleeting emotion that hung heavy in the air. My wolf instincts were sharper than I had anticipated, allowing me to sense the weight of his feelings.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify