Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

King Novel 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The moment the pack warriors grab me, I know this isn't going to end well.

Their grips are unforgiving, their fingers digging into my arms as they drag me across the dirt floor like I'm nothing more than a ragdoll. My feet barely keep up, stumbling against the uneven ground as they haul me toward the raised platform.

I catch myself, barely.

The stench of sweat, blood, and something more acrid clogs my nose-adrenaline,

fear.

Then I see him.

My hands brace against the rough wooden flooring, splinters biting into my palms as I lift my head.

The Alpha of the Riverstone Pack sits above the chaos like a king surveying his pitiful subjects. Old but not frail, his presence alone makes the air feel disastrous. He's old, his hair grayed at the temples, his face lined with age and something cruel. But it's his smile that unsettles me the most-thin and creepy, as though he already knows how this night will end, and I'm the last one to catch up.

"Bring her here."

The warriors throw me forward without a sliver of care. My knees hit the ground hard, a jolt of pain traveling up my legs, but I barely have time to register it before I'm being yanked up again, shoved closer to the Alpha's side. My skin prickles, every nerve on high alert.

One of the pack warriors who was stationed outside Kallias' door-aka, my glorified prison-steps forward, as stiff as a board. "Alpha, Kallias himself ordered us to keep her locked inside his room-"

For a second, I think the Alpha might consider his words. Then, without so much as a shift in expression, he simply looks at the man. One look.

The warrior immediately shuts up, his mouth snapping closed like it's been wired shut. He bows his head and backs away without another word.

The Alpha pats the seat beside him. "Sit, girl."

I don't move.

He lifts a brow.

One of the pack warriors forces me down before I can think about resisting.

'The Alpha hums in approval, clasping his hands together as he leans forward. "Sacrifice," he says, drawing out the word as a teacher introducing a new lesson. "It's the foundation of every pack, every kingdom, every great power that has ever risen and ruled. Without it, there is no order. No strength. No future."

I don't say a word.

My stomach coils tight, my senses screaming at me that this isn't just an old man giving a philosophical speech. He's leading to something-something I'm not going to like.

"You see, child," he continues, "truth and sacrifice go hand in hand. One always demands the other. And tonight... one truth has made itself known."

He turns his head toward me, expression unreadable. "Tell me, girl, what have you lost?"

My throat tightens. Too much. But I know better than to answer him honestly. "That's none of your business."

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Chapter 35

He chuckles. “Oh, but it is. You see, truth has a funny way of revealing itself, whether we want it to or not. And the truth, my dear, is that you are not as insignificant as you pretend to be."

Before I can process that, a roar erupts from the fighting ring below. My head snaps toward the sound just in time to see a body collapse.

The champion.

Blood pools beneath him, a dark stain spreading across the dirt. And standing over him, chest rising and falling with steady, unbothered breaths, is him.

Enoch.

Shock. Fear. Uncertainty. They're all thick in the air, pressing down on every soul

in the audience as they try to make sense of what the fuck just happened.

A sick, dangerous thrill sparks in my chest. He did it. He won.

Who is he?

How did he kill the champion that easily?

Where did he come from?

I already know the answers to all three.

And so does someone else.

A ragged, breathless sound pulls my attention toward the entrance of the dome.

Kallias.

he steps forward, his face pale, his blue eyes locked onto

He knows.

me being beside his father

grabbing my wrist with enough force to make me wince. "What is she doing here?" he demands, barely sparing

right to, like I belong to him, but I still start to move. I'd rather

take a single step, the Alpha's voice cuts through the

"Wait."

leaving,” he mutters,

once, I don't argue. As much as

we can take a step, the Alpha's voice cuts through the space like

"Not so fast."

freezes. I do

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Chapter 25

his stare pinning his son in

you like

My stomach drops.

What?

stiffens beside me.

自

his voice cis calm. "You can forcefully mark her. Make her yours. That way, no other pack will take her

arena seems to

I turn

say no.

his eyes, dismiss the whole damn thing

he turns his

And he smiles,

"Yes."

My heart stops.

grip tightens them. My bones protest, skin pinching under his bruising hold “Let me go.” I spit, panic clawing up my throat, but

at the pack warriors flanking us. Before I can thrash away, they seize

runs down

simplyu stands there like a dutiful little pawn as his father turns

Please no...

at Enoch. "Do that, and

good on my promise."

slam into me

stomach turns violently, bile burning my

He means it.

actually going to make

pray-stupidly-that Kallias will snap out of

realize how fucking insane this is, and back

But then he smiles.

wide and manic, a twisted mockery

like

jumps down the arena and shifts midair, bones snapping,

a thud that rattles my goddamn ribs. The crowd roars, and the

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Chapter 35

warriors' grips. My arms

at their iron holds. "Let me go!

Run

Enoch doesn't move

chest rising and

wait.

It's a massacre.

and fur blur together in a brutal ballet of claws

fury, a tornado of teeth, and

He's taking it.

hit, every wound,

echoes through the air, his

he gets up and

to

floor. The scent of iron

care. They're screaming, cheering, celebrating

be happening.

in excitement. My throat is raw, the sound barely

watches it all with a fucking

waiting

blow,

body swaying. He

Eyes locking onto mine.

shake my head frantically,

Please, fight

hand snatches my hair, wrenching me backward.

I'm being dragged