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

knees up,

a rough, barely-there sound. "Don't mind it," he

working on stopping it."

in my chest-surprise, confusion, maybe even

to say to

I don't say

until

the

screen like it might give me some kind of answer. But

back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

feels

the first time

feel completely,

81%

53

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do something-keep

Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name

It doesn't work.

memory slithers in,

I shove it down.

like it owes someone money, and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread

in a panic, shoving them under my bed

parent.

stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of bread, pointing at

blink. "The hell

slamming the dresses onto my bed. The hangers

not in the mood for some-"I motion vaguely at the

3/6

11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

"-whatever the fuck

81%%

+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

I refuse to let

being a feral conspiracy theorist." "Taryn." Zoe puts her

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

narrow my eyes.

She grins, all teeth.

tells me I won't

knew I wouldn't

like leather, metal,

entire place feels like

but it's almost drowned out by the sounds of fists slamming into

a goddamn

slowly turn to

She smiles innocently.

"You dragged me to an illegal

she corrects. "Not

her. Then the ring. Then back at

is

she groans, waving a dismissive

I figured what better way

deep voice

kill you when she

I whip around.

standing next to the ring, arms crossed, expression as

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

I whip back to Zoe. "You planned

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

4/6

Tue, 25 Mar

Chapter 76

hands up. "What the

casually, like he didn't just

pause. Slowly turn back

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at me. And then

And

the way his gaze settles-steady,

stomach drop.

up my spine. "Jacob," I say

fighting anyone

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

I

voice, cutting through the thick air like a

and gentlemen, the match you've all been waiting

The crowd

81%8

Two fighters are already inside-one English,

hands. And then, without

It's not a sport.

It's war.

mat. The English guy lands

I swear I feel it. The Italian

and slamming him

My stomach churns.

normal fight.

"I

my arm. "Just... wait. Trust

don't fucking trust

fight ends with a knockout. The Italian guy

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's voice

challenger unlike any you've

The lights cut out.

shifts-deeper, darker, something

5/6

Tue, 25 Mar i

Chapter 76

opposite side

entire body

Because he steps out.

Cloaked in black, hood

81%

+53

one in this room knows who he is.

The media isn't

forbids it.