Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 76

"Get over it"

My voice barely scrapes past my lips, hoarse and bitter. It sounds weak, even to

me,

81%

1 drag a hand down my face, my skin raw from wiping at the tears I refuse to acknowledge. My throat is thick, my stomach twisted into a knot so tight I feel like I might throw up.

I hate this.

I hate that I can still feel him—his touch lingering on my skin like a fucking, brand, I hate that my body still craves him, even After he walked away. Even after he proved, yet again, that I'm just a goddamn idiot when it comes to him.

Fuck him. Fuck his lips, his hands, his scent that's still clinging to my clothes, I shove the thought down, forcing myself to focus on what actually matters,

The documents.

They're spread out in front of me on the floor, edges curling, ink faded in some spots from age. I scan over the words, trying to push through the haze in my head.

Names. Dates. Transactions. Reports.

I trace my fingers over the text, my mind sluggish as it tries to put the pieces together. But my focus is shit.

All I see is my own last name, scrawled across an ancient Lycan royal record like it belongs there.

But it doesn't.

My family has never been tied to the royal house. At least, not that I've ever known.

A sharp, cold weight settles in my chest as my eyes move down the page.

Then I see his name.

My brother.

The inked letters feel like a slap to the face, knocking the air right out of my lungs.

His name is buried in a document tracking border activity.

I skim further.

A date,

My stomach drops.

It's the same fucking day I lost him.

My pulse hammers in my ears, drowning out the silence of the room. I clutch the paper tighter, my knuckles white.

What the hell does this mean?

My brain stumbles through the implications, but none of it makes sense. None of it fits.

And the worst part?

1/6

11:53 Tue, 25 Mar ti 6

Chapter 76

It feels familiar. Like I've seen this puzzle before but never had the right pieces.

A sick feeling coils in my gut.

I'm missing something.

I don't know what.

Not yet.

But something tells me I'm running out of time.

I inhale sharply through my nose, forcing the panic down. I need answers, and I need them now.

81%

My phone is on the bed, the screen cracked from one of the many times I've dropped it. I snatch it up and scroll through my contacts, my thumb hesitating over a name before I press call.

Liam picks up on the second ring.

"Sinclair," he greets, his voice clipped, like he's already annoyed and I haven't even said anything yet.

Charming as always.

"Hey, Calloway," I mutter, shifting on the floor. "I need a favor."

There's a brief pause, then a sigh. "Of course you do. What is it?"

I roll my eyes at his tone but ignore it. "I need you to dig into something for me. Family registries, royal records-anyone with ties to the Imperial Court from before the coup."

Liam doesn't respond right away, which means he's already debating whether or not to waste his time on this.

"Please," I add, though it tastes like vinegar in my mouth.

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters. "I'll see what I can find."

Relief loosens my shoulders. "Thanks, Liam."

"Don't thank me yet," he says flatly. "I haven't found shit."

Then he hangs up.

I stare at my phone for a second before shaking my head. Asshole. But at least he's a useful one.

Before I can set my phone down, another call flashes across the screen.

Kallias.

1 blink.

What the fuck?

I hesitate for half a second before answering. "Hello?"

There's a beat of silence, then, "Hey."

His voice is familiar, but there's something off about it. Something hesitant.

I frown. "What's up?"

2/6

1:53 Tue, 25 Mar ti

Chapter 76

he says. "Just wanted to

My stomach tightens.

don't know what I expected, but it sure as hell

my knees up, gripping the phone tighter.

exhales, a rough, barely-there sound. "Don't

working on stopping it."

strange mix of emotions swirls in my chest-surprise,

what to say to

don't say

between us until

then the call

ear, staring at the screen like it might give me

against the edge of the

feels

time in

completely,

81%

53

pressed against the cold floor, the documents still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I

about the weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it belonged to him. Like I

It doesn't work.

slithers

I shove it down.

up. My door flies open like it owes someone money, and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed between her teeth, eyes wide

scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic, shoving them under my bed

parent.

mouthful of bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her

blink. "The hell I

hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

sharply, rubbing my temples. “Zoe, I'm not in the mood

3/6

11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

expression. "-whatever the

81%%

+53)

I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't, you'll sit in this room, going batshit crazy over documents

and I refuse to let that

Zoe puts her

"You need to clear your head. And what better way to do that than

my eyes. "...Define

She grins, all teeth.

me I won't like

knew I

adrenaline. It smells like leather, metal,

feels like a well-dressed

by the sounds

a goddamn underground

turn to

She smiles innocently.

me

she corrects. "Not illegal. Just...very

her. Then the ring. Then back at

is

relax," she groans, waving a dismissive hand. "You need to let off

figured what better

voice cuts

to kill you when she

I whip around.

ring,

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

Zoe. "You planned

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

4/6

Tue, 25 Mar

Chapter 76

throw my hands up.

Jacob says casually, like he

pause. Slowly turn back to him. "Someone is

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at me. And then

And

the way his gaze settles-steady,

stomach drop.

feeling crawls up my spine. "Jacob," I say

fighting anyone or

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I

through the thick air like

gentlemen, the match you've

The

81%8

the ring. Two fighters are

then, without warning,

It's not a sport.

It's war.

mat. The English guy lands a hook

it. The Italian retaliates, grabbing the

slamming him into

My stomach churns.

a normal fight. This is barely

hiss. "I want to

she urges, grabbing my

fucking trust

ends with a knockout. The Italian

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's voice

unlike any you've

The lights cut out.

darker, something that

5/6

Tue, 25 Mar

Chapter 76

the opposite side of

entire body goes

Because he steps out.

Commanding. Cloaked in black, hood shadowing his

81%

+53

who he is. Not really. His face has never

took the throne. The media isn't allowed

forbids it.