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,

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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?

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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.

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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?"

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Chapter 76

wanted to hear

My stomach tightens.

know what I expected, but it

up, gripping the

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

working on stopping it."

emotions swirls in my chest-surprise,

what to

don't say

silence stretches between us until he finally mutters,

the call

like it might give me some kind of answer. But

back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

feels heavier

the first time in a

completely, utterly

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ceiling, my back 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 bleed for it. But

about him. Try not to think about the weight of his hand on

It doesn't work.

slithers in,

I shove it down.

bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money, and then there's Zoe-her

stolen documents off the floor in a panic, shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from

parent.

"You," she says through a mouthful of bread, pointing

"The hell

the dresses onto my bed. The hangers clatter against each

in the mood for some-"I motion vaguely at

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Chapter 76

the

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+53)

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 like

and I refuse

being a feral conspiracy theorist." "Taryn." Zoe puts her hands on her hips, tilting her head like

to stop being at pathetic, emotionally-wrecked dumbass. "You need to clear your head. And what better way to do

narrow my

She grins, all teeth.

me I

fucking knew I

smells like leather,

entire place feels like a well-dressed

out by the sounds

a goddamn underground

turn

She smiles innocently.

me to an

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

her. Then the ring.

is

waving a dismissive hand. "You need to let off

I figured

deep voice cuts

going to kill you

I whip around.

standing next to the ring, arms crossed, expression as unreadable

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

to Zoe. "You planned this? With

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Chapter 76

throw my hands up. "What the actual

casually, like he didn't just drop

back to him.

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

doesn't answer. He just looks

And

about the way his gaze settles-steady,

stomach drop.

up my spine. "Jacob," I say carefully.

fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

I hear

announcer's voice, cutting through the thick

match

The

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to the ring. Two fighters

hands. And then, without warning,

It's not a sport.

It's war.

mat. The English guy lands

swear I feel it. The

him into

My stomach churns.

normal fight.

hiss. "I

my arm.

don't fucking trust

knockout. The Italian guy doesn't get

The crowd goes wild.

announcer's voice

unlike

The lights cut out.

something that vibrates through

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Chapter 76

opposite side

my entire

Because he steps out.

Commanding. Cloaked in black, hood shadowing

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room knows who he is.

since he took the throne. The media isn't

forbids it.