Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

King Novel 48

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

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I swear, if one more person looks at me like I'm a fucking wounded puppy, I'm throwing myself into the damn washtub.

The laundry room smells like damp fabric and cheap detergent, the kind that burns my nose if I inhale too hard. The pile of dirty clothes in front of me is a towering mess of sweat, musk, and poor life choices. I scrub at a shirt so aggressively that my knuckles sting against the washboard, the pain grounding me more than anything else has today.

The pity stares are unbearable. I can feel them drilling into my back, my arms, my still-bandaged hands. Whispered voices scrape at the edges of my patience.

"I heard she's the Omega that was kidnapped."

"She shouldn't even be working yet."

"Did you see her face? Looks like someone dragged her through hell."

They aren't wrong. I did go through hell. And apparently, I came back wearing a

big neon sign that says kick me while I'm down.

Whatever. I don't need their sympathy, and I sure as shit don't need their judgment.

I finish the last of the washing, wringing out a towel so hard I half expect it to snap. As soon as I hang it up, I'm out of there, peeling off the suffocating attention like an itchy sweater. My muscles ache, a dull reminder that I shouldn't be doing this much yet.

Dr. Lisa told me to check in whenever I could, and now seems as good a time as any before the other maids gets another bright idea to send me on some impossible chore.

By the time I reach my room, I'm already mentally preparing myself for the walk to the infirmary. But when I push the door open, I'm met with something unexpected-Enoch is standing near the window. He's not reading as he usually

does.

His book is abandoned on the table, his dark eyes already locked onto mine as if he knew I was coming. He steps forward, closing the distance between us, and without a single word, I know exactly what he's about to do.

"No," I deadpan, already exhausted.

His jaw tightens. Yes.

"No."

He lifts his chin slightly, the stubborn gleam in his gaze making it clear that I have about five seconds to either accept this or be bodily dragged there.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Fine. Whatever. But you're not carrying me or some macho shit like that."

His lips twitch like he wants to smirk. I pretend not to notice.

As I move past him, I reach up and pat his head. "Good boy."

His brows shoot up, but I don't stick around to see his reaction. I'm already walking out the door, and to his credit, he follows without question.

The halls are their usual dreary self-gray stone, flickering torches, the occasional pair of judgmental eyes staring at us. Enoch's presence alone makes people uneasy. He walks with a slow, purposeful stride, a kind of predatory gra people instinctively step out of his way. Must be nice.

We round a corner, and that's when I see her.

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Chapter 48

Seraphina.

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She's leaning against the wall, arms crossed, her expression carefully neutral. But there's something in her eyes, something hesitant, like she actually has to work up the courage to talk to me.

Enoch doesn't hesitate-bis growl is low and immediate, vibrating through the hallway like a warning bell. He knows.

Seraphina stiffens but doesn't back away. "Can I talk to you?" she asks, her voice softer than usual. "Alone."

I glance at Enoch. His shoulders are tense, his body radiating barely restrained aggression. He looks as thugh he wants to rip her throat out, and honestly, I'd probably let him if I weren't so damn tired.

"It's fine," I say, waving him off. "Give us a minute."

He doesn't move.

my

teeth grit, but eventually, he steps away, though not far enough that he couldn't intervene

from foot to foot. She's

should've said something," she blurts out. "When

blink at her. That was... not

knew you hadn't just run away. I saw you being taken, and I didn't say anything." Her hands tighten into fists at her

bitter laugh escapes me. "That's

and for the first time, I see

"And I-"

say anything. I simply... stare at her,

supposed

hate her. And

have the energy to

hand down my

means I want anything to do with

slightly, like she was

heel and walk away

watching me carefully. I don't say anything, just nod toward the hallway. "Come on." We make it to the infirmary without another interruption, and the moment

me and sighs. "Taryn, I swear, if you keep pushing yourself like this, you're going to

I say

Instead, she gestures for me to sit while she carefully

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Chapter 48

no longer the shredded mess it used

approval. "Looks better than I

her eyes slide to Enoch.

He stiffens

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you're completely healed now. Which means, by all

Silence.

remains blank, his

push, but her eyes narrow

And so do L

The silence stretches.

A presence of its own, pressing

of something unseen but

in the air

they?" I ask again to

just sits there,

swear, I can hear the slow tick of the infirmary's shitty clock over the

his fingers twitch slightly on his knee, the only sign of life in

Then, finally-

"No."

fucking word. Quiet,

Lisa exhales, something like relief loosening her features.

then shakes her head, like she's trying to push away the doubt creeping in. "But it

breath, already dismissing it as nothing.

Not for me, though.

about this feels...

won't meet my

He's lying.

buried deep beneath my skin. The way he' second too long before answering. The way his throat worked when he

' himself just a

cost him

gives us some half-assed instructions and waves us off,

to the next thing in her day. I barely

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Chapter 48

My head's too

infirmary, the door clicking shot behind

empty. It's just us.

say anything.

grab his wrist. "Come

don't wait for an answer. I just

He follows. No hesitation.

we don't talk. I'm too wrapped up in