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-

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

you ever

knee me in the shin,

know what you're doing, Alpha,"

Imperial Family already played a role in his downfall once. You think they'll reward us for bringing him

Alpha scoffs. "They can't touch us. Their precious Alpha

spits it out like

he killed one of

My blood runs cold.

Killed.

Enoch really did it. "No

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

breath catches in my

turns her head toward me, her

of my face.

Alpha finally says, sealing

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10:34 Fri, 21 Mar

Chapter 38

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expression is unreadable for exactly two seconds before her lips part

realization.

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

something nastier lurking

Disgust.

"You," she mouths.

move. Don't

right now that would

better.

just realizing, for the first time,

don't know

***

arrives, dragging in a thick, uneasy atmosphere that

before

bodies shifting uncomfortably as they try to make sense of what the

Alpha never makes announcements himself. That's what

on the raised stage with an unreadable expression,

of dominance. The murmurs start slow, then roll through the crowd like wildfire, picking up theories and assumptions along the

to call someone on stage for today's announcement." His eyes drops on Enoch beside me. W-what

Enoch. Come

crowd collectively stiffens. Even the wolves who

look like they want to

glare burns hot from across the way, sharp enough that I can practically feel it

turns to me, those dark forest eyes searching my face as if asking for permission. It's almost childlike, that small hesitation, that

My throat tightens.

what the Alpha is playing at, but my gut twists with

nod. "Go," I murmur.

Enoch moves.

His spine stiffens, his hands clasp behind his back,

stray who had nearly broken his son in half just a

that it makes

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Chapter 38

the Alpha's voice booms,

respect he deserves." He pauses,

his mate,

Silence.

come, thick with

I freeze.

says, but how the hell does the Alpha know that? Enoch doesn't even feel the same way

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 on the verge of throwing myself into a

cross them will answer to me," the Alpha finishes, his gaze sweeping the

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

what he did

Speaking of-

still watching

Enoch training alone while I pretend I don't notice the way

relieved, but it's unsettling. The

hallway table when I spot him.

arm strapped into a brace, his face still bruised from where Enoch pummeled

like shit, which makes sense considering his father left him to die

so-called boyfriend was the one

my steps.

but his eyes flicker with something I can't place.

I swallow, "Are you

as though he can't believe

on my neck where the

you?" he asks,

a beat of hesitation before we both answer