Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

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.

I

here!" Kallias spits. “He's

job to decide who's a

his jaw tight, but he

to wrap the head. "Bag it. We'll take it

of the head maid while I keep a close eye

the scene unfold

on, the air growing heavier with every

over to me, his jaw clenched so tight I'm surprised his teeth haven't

the hell is he here?

stands. You don't have to like it, but you do have

argue but thinks better of it. Smart

continue the patrol, the lingering anger thick enough to choke on. The metallic scent lingers in the air,

we find

say, raising a

Everyone freezes,

barely noticeable in the mud. But the

paw prints, impossibly large, dug deep into the earth. Deep claw marks rake across the bark of nearby trees, too high for any ordinary

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Chapter 26

the hell made these?" one of

a paw print with my fingers.

make

just a rogue," I mutter, mostly to

me,

do you think it is?" he

at Enoch, who's standing off to the side,

expression unreadable.

do you think, Enoch?" I

"You're

him, my

steps forward, his eyes scanning the tracks

had all day.

"Powerful," he says simply.

snorts, crossing his arms.

him a look, and he

move," I say, rising to my

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there. My gut tells me

to think we're not prepared to

***

to take

as the warriors sit in a

damp earth, clinging to everything as a stubborn fog. It's the only warmth we've had

is

now?" one of the

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

head toward the cliffside where I spotted Enoch slipping away earlier. It's not unusual for him

back. The scars are the first thing I notice-angry, jagged lines crisscrossing his skin

punishment dealt out in my time to

those.

him, keeping my

I

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Chapter 26

fixed on the forest stretching out

to go back," he says, his voice

"Back where?"

"To Taryn."

help but laugh. It's a dry, humorless sound. "You're sitting out

in blood, and all you can think about is

to me, his expression blank but his

"Yes."

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

broken only by the wind whistling through

nod toward his back, unable to ignore

I ask. "Where'd they come

his shoulders moving stiffly.

much, but I get

a long pause, he speaks again. "Feels like...

caught me off guard. I turn to him, "Waiting for

stares down at his hands as though