Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

King Novel 53

Chapter 53

1 fucking hate this day.

It's the kind of day that grinds you down to dust-one inconvenience at a time until you're two seconds away from committing a felony just to get the universe to cut you some slack.

First, I humiliated myself in front of the entire office during my first day. Then I found out he is coming to the city Lycan King, the ghost who ripped my heart out and walked away like it was a favor.

Enoch. Fucking Enoch.

Goddamnit, I don't even know his last name.

The rain is pouring hard outside and I glance down.

the

For thirty minutes now, I'm locked out of my shitty apartment, staring at the door as if I can manifest telekinesis through sheer, simmering rage.

I jiggle the handle harder, biting down a snarl. The lock doesn't budge. My keys sit

on the kitchen counter inside-right next to the half-empty bottle of cheap wine I was supposed to drown my misery in.

Of course, they do.

"Perfect," I mutter, smacking my forehead against the door with a hollow thunk. "Fucking perfect. Love that for me."

I exhale slowly through my nose, forcing down the panic bubbling under my ribs. I could call maintenance - but knowing my luck, they'd take three hours to show up and charge me half my rent for the pleasure of unlocking my own goddamn door. Option two: break a window.

Tempting - but considering this apartment is hanging by a thread between livable and crack den chic, I'm not convinced the window wouldn't just shatter into toxic dust the second I touched it.

Option three: camp outside like a pathetic little stray until morning.

I glance down at my crumpled blouse, the coffee stain dried into a sad brown blotch near my boob. Yeah, I'm one missing shoe away from full-blown Disney princess breakdown territory.

A door creaks open behind me.

Oh, for fuck's sake.

I don't even have to turn around to know who it is because the universe clearly has a hard-on for kicking me when I'm

down.

Liam fucking Beckett.

Of course.

Because if there's one thing this day needed, it's my boss-slash-neighbor-slash- certified pain in the ass witnessing my rock bottom in real time.

"You lost the key to your kingdom, Your Highness?"

grind my teeth, slowly turning to face him. He's leaning against his doorway like the world's i

infuriating male model

tousled hair, gray sweatpants slung low on his hips, plain white T-shirt stretched across lean muscle. Casual. Effortless.

1/7

Chapter 58

Completely unaware that every woman in this building probably thinks about

riding his face at least twice a week.

I wouldn't know anything about that. Obviously.

I cross my arms, trying to pretend I don't feel like a half-wet dog left out in the

rain. "What are you doing here?"

He lifts a brow. "I live here"

Smartass.

I scowl, heat prickling under my skin. "I meant, why aren't you out feeding on the tears of interns or sacrificing virgins to the journalism gods or whatever the fuck you do after hours?"

Liam's mouth twitches, the corner of his lips tugging up like he's trying not to smile.

God, I hate that smirk. Hate how it makes something hot coil low in my stomach. He's nothing like my sweet Enoch.

"You're in a mood."

"No shit." I slap my palm against the door again, rattling it in its frame. It holds firm the stubborn bastard.

Liam's gaze flicks lazily between me and the door, enjoying this a little too much. "Locked out?"

I plaster on my sweetest fake smile. "Nope. Just bonding with my door. We're trauma-bonded now. Very intimate stuff.

actually fucking snorts

He snorts

- like I'm the most amusing little disaster he's ever seen.

Dick.

"Well, don't let me interrupt your spiritual awakening." He turns like he's about to walk back inside - and I swear to God, something inside me snaps.

"Wait."

The word punches out of me before I can stop it. I immediately regret it.

Liam freezes mid-step, glancing back with one eyebrow raised.

His eyes are sharp- too sharp - like he knows exactly how badly I don't want to need his help.

I swallow my pride. It tastes like broken glass and humiliation.

"You wouldn't happen to know how to pick a lock, would you?"

There's a long pause.

Liam fucking grins.

Of course he does.

Then

carry a lock pick set around for

as if I'm not internally combusting. "I

2/7

92%

Chapter 53

widens, teeth flashing

"Maybe."

is that

hate him. I hate him so

into his back pocket and pulls out

case. He flips it open with practiced ease, revealing

against the

1 blink.

"What the actual fuck-"

lock, fingers moving quick and precise. The

flex under the fabric of his shirt, veins

myself to look away. Definitely not staring.

I be concerned that my boss moonlights as

again, but he doesn't look

into the apartments

snort. "Bold of you to assume I'm a

you to assume you're

My mouth opens

Dick. Again.

then snaps shut.

open with

hands. I stare at

actually just carry

to his own apartment. "Never know

sketchy

glances over his shoulder, something dark flickering behind those

eyes.

"Depends on who's asking."

of my neck rise.

thicker. As though maybe I should be more scared of him

then the moment's

his door, leaving me standing there

too fucking

should forget

forget about

3/7

Chapter 53

know

Beckett just became a puzzle

absolutely going to rip him apart piece

apartment, shutting the door behind

in the silence.

beating faster than it should

+53

back against the door, clutching the necklace hanging

off since the day he

coming

Enoch.

My Enoch.

have to press a hand to the wall to steady

No. Not mine.

Not anymore.

my nose, holding it until my

for me to lock it down. Deep.

now.

can't fall apart. Not here. Not

from the wreckage

one overheard

Not for him.

shut behind me, the flimsy lock clicking into place, and

My whole body aches-part from exhaustion, part

the single bed shoved against the wall, sheets still tangled from last night's insomnia spiral. The tiny kitchenette that barely fits a stove. The cracked

Fresh start, my ass.

isn't a

into it, hoping I

press the heels of my hands into my eyes until colors bloom behind my lids. My breathing hitches when the necklace around my throat digs into my skin-the one thing I couldn't bring myself

this... for you." I remember Kallias muttering as he handed me

for months until I had

to take it out

warm where it rests against my pulse,

between my collarbones.

His mark.

if he never

4/7

07,92%

Chapter 53

left it back in Riverstone. Or had it tossed it in the woods where

left me.

But I didn't.

I'm still the same pathetic girl who clung to him as he was

me -only to watch him walk away without

empty room, the crack in my

He's not here.

But somehow, he's everywhere.

on autopilot, leaving them in a

on after a few violent sputters, steaming the cracked

the heat leaches out, letting it

him off me if

slams into me before I can

me into

in my ear. The sound of his voice

he wanted me

"Taryn..."

but it

hard erection on my back then. The way his fingers bruised into my

1. me.

the first time when he