Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

King Novel 38

10:33 Fri, 21 Mar

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

I should not be here.

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I don't mean to eavesdrop, but when the Alpha and Gamma are going at it like a couple about to sign divorce papers, I'd be stupid not to listen. Especially when I hear a name that shouldn't be spoken so freely.

Enoch.

The door is cracked open. Just enough for me to hear everything.

"This is insanity," Gamma Abel snaps, voice sharp like a blade against stone. "You'd surrender him for a fucking bounty? Have you lost your damn mind?"

"The bounty on his head could wipe out our debts. Do you know what that means? No more groveling for trade deals. No more rationing supplies. Our pack is bleeding, and this is our salvation."

I clamp a hand over my mouth. My stomach churns as the reality sinks in. They're talking about Enoch like he's a fucking lottery ticket. Like he's not a living, breathing person who just barely survived whatever hell landed him in our territory.

A cold weight drops in my stomach, and suddenly, the air in this hallway feels suffocating.

They want to turn him in.

Abel isn't convinced. "And what do you think the Imperial Family will do? Welcome him back with open arms? You think this doesn't reek of a setup? The rightful Lycan King disappears in an 'accident,' and no one even attempts to search for

his body? That's not an accident, Alpha. That's an assassination."

A slow, nauseating dread slithers up my spine. Enoch's arrival wasn't an accident.

Of course, it wasn't.

I should leave. I should turn around, pretend I never heard any of this. But my feet won't fucking move.

"Bullshit, a carriage accident is a carriage accident." the Alpha growls. "I don't care about conspiracies. I care about this pack. And I care about getting rid of that man before someone realizes we've been harboring him."

"A carriage accident where no one looked for the missing heir?" Abel snaps. "Where the first pack expected to launch a search didn't lift a damn finger? The Imperial Pack isn't stupid, and neither am I. Someone wanted him dead."

I bite my lip so hard I taste blood. He's right.

The whole situation never made sense to me either. If Enoch was so important, why didn't anyone try harder to find him? Why was it so easy for me to stumble upon him, half-dead and memory-wiped, like he'd been conveniently erased from existence?

I shift my weight, and my elbow grazes something cold and smooth. I don't even get a chance to react before-

Crash.

The vase shatters at my feet.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

Footsteps inside stop.

I bolt before my dumbass curiosity gets me killed. But I don't make it far before someone steps into my path.

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Fri, 21 Mar

Chapter 38

Seraphina

Oh, for fuck's sake.

She's just reached the top of the stairs, her brows furrowing when she sees me. "What the hell are you doing-"

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I don't let her finish. My hand shoots out, clamping over her mouth as I yank her into the nearest shadowed alcove. She thrashes in protest, nails digging into my arm, but I tighten my grip, silently begging her to shut the fuck up. If she screams my name, we're both screwed.

Seraphina thrashes immediately, heels clicking against the marble as she fights to break free. "Mmmph!"

“Shut up.” I hiss into her ear. "Unless you want Abel to catch both of us and explain why we're eavesdropping on the Alpha discussing treason.*

That shuts her up. Mostly.

I press my back against the wall, muscles locking tight as Gamma Abel stops near the door. He scans the hallway, his gaze briefly sweeping over our hiding spot. For a second, I swear he's going to see us. My pulse thrashes against my ribs, my breath caught somewhere between my throat and my lungs.

The Gamma's gaze lingers on the broken vase before he exhales sharply and turns back inside. The door doesn't close all the way, leaving the conversation wide open.

I exhale. Fuck, that was so close.

Seraphina exhales louder, and I glare at her. "Would you-

damn good reason for dragging me," she hisses, voice muffled against my

ever shut

in the shin, the argument inside flares

doing, Alpha," Gamma

played a role in his

can't touch us. Their

spits it out like a

once. We both know he killed one

My blood runs cold.

Killed.

Enoch... Enoch really did

Alpha counters. "We both know the Imperial Pack won't act recklessly," the Alpha continues. "Not when he

breath catches in my throat.

head toward me, her wide eyes burning into the

of my face.

the Alpha finally says, sealing my fucking

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10:34 Fri, 21 Mar

Chapter 38

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is unreadable for exactly two

realization.

me, then flick back toward the office, then back to me again. Connecting dots, Drawing conditions. Ber shock

something

Disgust.

"You," she mouths.

move.

nothing-nothing-I can say right now that would make

better.

I think I'm just realizing, for the first time, that

don't know Enoch at

***

arrives, dragging in a thick, uneasy atmosphere that clings to

humidity before

grounds are packed, bodies shifting uncomfortably as they try to make sense of what the hell is going

himself. That's what the Gamma

the raised stage with an unreadable expression,

murmurs start slow, then roll through the crowd like wildfire, picking up

days, has it not? I want to call someone on stage for today's announcement." His

partner, Enoch. Come on up."

the wolves who

weren't nervous around the Lycan King suddenly look like they want to melt into the

way, sharp enough that I can practically feel it slicing across

those dark forest eyes searching my face as if asking for permission. It's almost childlike, that small hesitation, that unspoken, Can I

My throat tightens.

don't know what the Alpha is playing at, but my gut twists with warning. Still,

nod. "Go," I murmur.

Enoch moves.

demeanor changes. His spine stiffens, his hands clasp behind his

act so respectful toward anyone, let alone an amnesiac stray who had nearly broken his son in half just a few days ago. But I get it. He sees the opportunity. If Enoch ever remembers who he

hate that it

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Chapter 38

voice booms, drowning

respect

for his

Silence.

whispers come,

I freeze.

fuck no. I mean, sure, that's what the bond says, but how the hell does the Alpha know that? Enoch doesn't

for his part, doesn't react much. He tilts his head slightly, almost like he's trying to understand, but he doesn't look particularly concerned. I, on the other hand, am

answer to

around to know what's happening. People are trying to rationalize it. Others are already finding loopholes. But mostly, they're just relieved, because none of them

he

Speaking of-

still

on, Enoch training alone while I pretend I don't notice the way the omegas carefully avoid me. They don't sneer. They

be relieved, but it's unsettling. The silence of it. The isolation. All

wiping down a hallway table

his face still

looks like shit, which makes sense considering his father left him

boyfriend was the one who put him in that condition,

slow my steps.

flicker with something

I swallow,

as though he can't believe I just asked him that.

settling on my neck where the Alpha's

he asks, voice

a beat of hesitation before we both answer at