Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 71

Click. Flash. And another click.

They definitely know what they're doing.

I feel it before I see it.

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That sharp prickle at the back of my neck. The kind of awareness that slithers up your spine and whispers in your ear- you're being watched.

And then, a flicker. A glint of light where there shouldn't be any. In the deep forest below the balcony. The only thing a human would see is the eternity of trees along the horizon.

But no, not me. Especially not Enoch.

I shift in his hold, my breath still uneven, my pulse an erratic drumbeat against his chest. The warmth of his lips lingers on my skin, but my focus sharpens on the dark patch of trees below the balcony. My wolf hones in on movement, on the nearly imperceptible rustling of leaves.

There.

A human crouches behind a tree, their camera lens reflecting the ballroom lights like a fucking beacon.

My stomach plummets.

Stupid paparazzi.

I can't believe I'ms saying that because I too, am one.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Every single alarm bell in my head wails at once.

Enoch-his face-undeniable proof of who he is. A ghost, a myth, the king who rose from the dead, caught in the middle of a secret rendezvous with some mystery woman. Me.

If this gets out, it's not just me who's screwed.

Liam's company will burn. I will burn-or worse, fired. I already made two records of humiliation, putting the company on blacklist from most events they could have had scooped on simply because the company had a...

"Mad woman"

If I get caught in this, it would already be strike three. The final fucking nail in my coffin.

My pulse hammers in my ears. My brain kicks into damage control even as Enoch's lips trace my jaw, completely unaware of the fire about to consume us both.

I react on instinct.

I shove him.

Hard.

His grip tightens for half a second, his body unmoving, his wolf-dark eyes locking onto mine in stunned refusal.

"No," he growls, voice rough with those red eyes beginning to surface. No, no, no. This can't happen now. I bite my lip when

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Chapter 71

his hands tighten on my arms. He'd rather be caught a werewolf by the entire human race than risk letting me go?

I can't do this. Not here. Not now.

My mind races, my options thinning. I need him to let me go.

So, I do the only thing that I know will make him pause.

I kiss him.

Soft. Slow. A whisper of goodbye against his lips.

Enoch stills. His body goes rigid, his fingers twitching on my waist like they want

to hold me tighter-but then his lashes Autter, his grip loosens, and his breath catches.

There he is, the obedient dog I raised.

Turns out, I still hold his leash.

I take advantage of the fraction of hesitation, pressing my lips to his forehead, his nose, his mouth-our usual rhythm of calming him down. Memorizing the feel of him, the scent of him, the way he always-always-leans into me as though I'm the only thing that makes sense.

And then, as my lips graze his ear, I seal it.

"Find me again."

words barely leave my mouth before

don't look back. If I do, I'll

the faceless sea of bodies and gilded masks. My hands yank my

liquor. Laughter swirls around me, oblivious, while my skin burns with the weight of

keep moving.

make it outside, a cab is already idling in the grand driveway. The driver doesn't question me when I fling

I say, voice

I can't be seen in the ballroom any longer. They caught a good picture of my dress-not the midnight one, but the one I actually wore. If I

of neon and late-night bustle, but I barely see it. My pulse is still somewhere back

never wanted

them,

Find me.

help me, I want

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Chapter 71

wake up in my apartment with

known to man.

wearing my dress from last night, one shoe kicked off, my hair

over and burying my face in

kissed him. You told him to find you. You ran away like a

Brilliant. Fucking brilliant, Taryn.

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dress off and trudging to the bathroom. A cold shower brings me back to life just enough to function, and by the time I'm

making coffee, I almost convince myself that last night was a

Almost.

Zoe kicks the door open like a human wrecking

can't get over

mid-pour, coffee sloshing dangerously close to the

I ask,

wide as she clutches her phone. "The King. Last night. How he danced with that mysterious

you said that like a hundred times last night."

scene!

at her. Blank.

the inside, I am

tighten around my mug. "Huh."

way people are describing it, it was like something out of a fairy tale. Can you imagine being the girl who danced with

Yes. Yes, I can.

my coffee machine so she doesn't see the twitch at the corner of

"Hey, Taryn."

my coffee, mid-sip, and find a junior staffer peeking into the breakroom. She looks nervous, shifting her weight from foot to foot like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Great. That's

calling for you," she

way. I choke, coughing

ever the dramatic best friend, slams her palm onto my back like

a demon out of

you do now?" she

wheeze, my throat burning. "Maybe he just

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Chapter 71

to the

It's Liam."

is instant. It's just last night since the ball. Since him. Since I tried to shove that entire part of my life into a dark, locked box and throw it into the fucking ocean.

to Liam's office like a woman marching

he never complains. Liam's behind his desk, fingers steepled, eyes sharp. He looks like he's

Close the door."

that's not ominous or

as I'm told, stepping into the office and folding my arms as I meet

"So, what's up, Boss?"

me for a beat, something

blue eyes.

for

like an

my mouth parting

The assignment.

The investigation.

The goddamn Alpha King.

inhale burns my lungs.

don't know what to say. No? After everything?

myself, pushing through the wreckage of the

I know who I'd be

when I've already

me with the patience of someone

this conversation will end.

"What, you

Maybe I grew