King Novel 26

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

GAMMA ABEL

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I've seen a lot of strange things in my time as Gamma, but this... Watching Taryn, an Omega no less, handle a man who looks like he could break her anytime soon, like he's a damn puppy is definitely climbing my list.

The man-a rogue, no less-stands there towering over her, built like he was chiseled out of granite and probably twice as strong. Yet, one word from Taryn, and he's nodding along as if she's the Alpha here.

It's unsettling how much power she has over him.

"Stick with Gamma Abel," she says, poking a finger into his chest. "Don't wander off, don't do anything stupid, and for the love of the goddess, don't eat anything raw while you're out there."

I've seen men submit before-hell, it's my job to make sure they do when the Alpha dermands it-but this isn't submission. This is something else entirely.

And it's not just the obedience. It's the way he looks at her, like she hung the moon, the stars, and whatever other celestial bullshit you could throw into the mix. If Taryn ever snapped her fingers, I don't doubt this man would burn the world to ash just to keep her warm.

But I've learned not to dwell too long on things that don't make sense.

"We're moving out," I bark, pulling my focus away from the odd pair. "Eyes open. Mouths shut."

The warriors shuffle into formation, but not without the usual grumbling.

"Why's he here?" one of them mutters under his breath, but loud enough for the group to hear.

"He wasn't even accepted by the goddess on his ceremony," another adds.

I whip my head around, silencing them with a glare. "You got time to gossip, you've got time to scout the area. Move."

That shuts them up, though I catch a few sideways glances thrown in Enoch's direction.

I glance at Enoch, expecting him to react. A snarl, a glare, maybe even a fist to someone's jaw. But he doesn't. He's walking along, calm as ever, as if the whispers are static on a broken radio.

It's unnerving. A man like him should be dangerous, and yet he looks...detached. The guy has no emotions. None. Unless Taryn's involved, then he's practically feral.

And that's the part that scares me the most.

The forest is damp, the air thick with the scent of wet earth and decay, the thick canopy above barely letting in any sunlight.

We're deep in the area where we suspect the attack happened. The ground is littered with broken branches and churned-up mud.

I signal for the group to stop, and we spread out, combing through the area. It doesn't take long to find the remains.

Or rather, it doesn't take Enoch long to find them.

"What the fuck?" one of the warriors croaks.

I turn, and there's Enoch, standing there as if he's just found the world's most interesting artifact.

Only it's not an artifact.

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Chapter 26

It's the head maid's head.

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Her dead eyes stare back at us, frozen in terror, her blood-maned hair clinging to Enoch's fingers as he holds her head up by

starraforets

"Look," Enoch says, his voice disturbingly causal, like he's showing off a wildflower be picked.

One of the warriors pukes into the bushes. Another stumbles back, mattering something about needing a drink

"Enoch," I say, my voice tight. "Put it down"

He tilts his head, confused, but does as I say, lowering the head to the ground with the care of someone placing a precious

relic.

Kallias, of course, can't let the moment pass without making a scene.

"See?" he snaps, his glare fixed on Enoch. "I told you he's the one who killed her.

Who the hell else walks around holding heads like that?"

I step between them before this turns into another fistfight.

enough," I

even be here!" Kallias spits.

to decide who's a danger, not

at me, his jaw tight,

clear my throat and gesture for one of the warriors to

what's left of the head maid while I keep a close eye on Enoch. He

scene unfold with that same calm

the air growing heavier

over to me, his jaw clenched

hell is he

a hand to silence him. "My decision stands. You don't have to like it, but you

argue but

choke on. The metallic

when we

say,

Everyone freezes,

in the mud. But the deeper we go, the clearer

prints, impossibly large, dug deep into the earth. Deep claw marks rake across the

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Thu, 20 Mar

Chapter 26

one of the

edge of a paw print with my

to make

just a rogue,"

steps up beside me,

you think

glance at Enoch, who's

expression unreadable.

think,

"You're

him, my focus

his eyes scanning the tracks with

had all day.

"Powerful," he says simply.

his

shoot him a look, and

I say, rising

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out there. My

another rogue. And I'm starting to think we're not prepared to

***

to

glowing faintly as the warriors sit in a loose circle, tearing into the deer we hunted

mingles with the damp earth, clinging to everything as a stubborn fog. It's the only warmth we've had since setting out, and yet I can't enjoy

Enoch is

to now?" one of

eating the head maid's ghost," Kallias mutters under his breath, just

at him, and he has the decency to look away. Standing, I grab my plate and head toward the cliffside where I

him sitting on a rock near the edge, the moonlight casting a pale glow over his shirtless back. The scars are the first thing I notice-angry, jagged lines crisscrossing his skin

out in my time

those.

him, keeping my distance. Up close, his stillness is

I ask, breaking

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Chapter 26

at me, his gaze fixed

go back," he says, his

"Back where?"

"To Taryn."

dry, humorless sound. "You're sitting out

nowhere, covered in blood, and all you can think

expression blank but

"Yes."

shake my head, leaning back on my hands. "You've got

by the

nod toward his back, unable to ignore the

about those?" I ask. "Where'd

shrugs, his shoulders moving stiffly.

but I get the feeling

pause, he

me off guard. I turn

and he stares down at his hands as though they hold

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