Bloodbound to the Beastly King

Catherine was losing her mind. No, she had lost her mind.

Her room was a total mess, black mascara tears streaked her cheeks. Her hair was rough and scattered from how hard she'd been pulling it. She was a mess, and it was all because of one person: Adina.

Oh, she hated her, and even more now… Catherine had never dreamt of anything other than being Luna of the pack, but when Adina was chosen for her fertility, she had lost her mind even then… Adina was nothing… she had always been nothing, and it didn't take Catherine anything to have Roman eating right out of her hands. She had the alpha, her parents, the people. She had it all up until that day.

Adina just had to have spoken up. She just had to say she was also pregnant in that meek, stupidly timid voice of hers. Oh, how was Catherine ever going to take it?

She'd spent years making sure Adina wouldn't conceive. Making sure she was barren. She did it all, bribed the healers, the midwives, all of them who gave her different concoctions to drink. All the different rituals to carry. It was a done deal. As long as she continued to drink and carry out these rituals, she would never birth a pup. So how did Adina manage to beat it and end up pregnant?

Witchcraft. That was the only explanation.

Catherine wasn't going to let it slide. No. And so, she grabbed the first thing that came to mind: a knife and lunged at Adina.

The fight was vicious. She wanted to carve out that bastard right out of Adina's belly. To make sure he didn't even see the light of day. And she was almost successful. It almost worked until it didn't.

That barren witch suddenly grew strength, one Catherine couldn't compete with even though she had training. It was like something had possessed Adina. Her eyes had turned milky white, her screams echoed through the room. She stabbed Catherine so deep and right in the belly, making sure she bled her pup out.

If Adina had just accepted her fate and not gotten pregnant. If Adina had just let herself be stabbed… had just not gotten pregnant, Catherine would still have it all. Roman would still worship her, she'd still have her pup, the people would still worship her, and most of all, she would still have her womb.

Catherine wiped her tears. That's enough. She would not shed another tear… Adina might think she's better now that she's the king's mate, but it didn't mean anything, not if Cassandra could help it.

Just as the clock hit midnight, Catherine dressed in black. Every inch of her body was covered, long gloves, heavy boots, and a cloak that swallowed her frame. She covered her hair and wrapped a dark cloth over her nose and mouth. Only her eyes remained visible.

She had something to do and would see it through.

She snuck out of the pack house like she'd done a hundred times. No one caught sight of her as usual. Within minutes, she was out the back and into the woods.

Catherine moved fast; she knew the woods like the back of her hands, her heart beat thumped harder in her chest with each passing second. Soon, she burst out of the woods and into the familiar dark place.

The black market.

As the Luna, she couldn't be caught moving around in a place like this. The beatings she would receive from Roman would paralyze her for good. She hid her face as she walked through the crowded streets. People made their trades at night. Things you needed and can't get during the day, you'd come here. Everyone's dark desires could be found in the black market.

Catherine wasn't a newbie when it came to doing her deals here. Everything she knew and had, she got from here. The numerous herbs. The healers she introduced to the pack… every single thing she got was from here… and tonight… there wouldn't be a difference.

She neared the outskirts of the market. This part of the market was usually quiet, much more dangerous than the rest. Only dangerous deals were carried out here. There were tents with candlelight, covered figures loitering in corners, and the scent of burnt herbs was thick in the air.

She navigated the place of sin with ease, then she saw him.

Her contact stood just where he always did, leaning against a crooked post, his figure body covered in black leather, his face was also covered, well, except for his eyes. He was the kind that didn't care whether the blood on his hands belonged to a stranger or a child.

He raised a brow the moment she stepped into view. He stepped forward from the post, dragging the cover over his face even more.

"Another deal?" he rasped, voice dry like sandpaper. "You're getting greedy."

Catherine looked back and forth, not that anyone here cared about your status, but still, she had to be careful. "This time, it's going to benefit you," she replied.

The man raised his brows, "So you're not getting paid tonight, I presume?"

"No, I'm desperate."

The man hummed, "Talk."

She stepped closer, her voice dropping, "These people you take. You sell them as slaves, don't you?"

"You could say that."

Catherine nodded. This was perfect. "I have someone I want gone. That bitch ruined my life, and I want her gone… far, far away from the realm."

"Gone from the realm?" he asked, and she nodded. "I want her gone from the realm. You can do that, can't you?"

The man didn't respond for a second. "I can. But that would cost a lot. You know this."

"I know," Catherine interjected quickly. "I know, and I don't mind it. Whatever you want, I'll pay. I don't care what your price is. Just name it and consider it done."

The man's eyes hardened. "Who is it you want gone?"

"Adina. A lowlife slave named Adina. I want her gone permanently."