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 your

My stomach tightens.

expected, but it sure

my knees up,

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

working on stopping it."

mix of emotions swirls in my chest-surprise, confusion, maybe

what to say to

don't

stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight,

then the

at the screen like it might give me some kind

breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

feels

the first time

feel completely, utterly

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stare up at the 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

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

It doesn't work.

slithers in,

I shove it down.

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed between her

fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic, shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a

parent.

mouthful of bread, pointing

blink. "The hell I

slamming the dresses onto my bed. The hangers clatter against

my temples. “Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I

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Chapter 76

the

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+53)

she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't, you'll

and I refuse to let

conspiracy theorist." "Taryn." Zoe puts her hands on her hips, tilting her head like she's about

need to clear your head. And what better way

my

She grins, all teeth.

me I

knew I

adrenaline. It smells like leather, metal, and aggression. The overhead lights are dim, flashing erratically, casting

place feels like a well-dressed

almost drowned out by the sounds of fists slamming into flesh,

goddamn

slowly turn to

She smiles innocently.

dragged me to an

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

stare at her. Then the ring. Then

the fuck is

dismissive hand. "You need to let

figured what better way

voice

you when she finds

I whip around.

the ring, arms crossed, expression as unreadable

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

I whip back to Zoe. "You planned this?

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Chapter 76

up. "What

tonight," Jacob says casually, like he didn't

turn back to him. "Someone

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at me.

And

something about the way his

stomach drop.

my spine. "Jacob," I say carefully.

is fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

I hear

the thick air like a

gentlemen, the match you've all been waiting

The

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the ring. Two fighters

then, without warning, they brutalize

It's not a sport.

It's war.

English guy lands a hook to

swear I feel it. The Italian retaliates, grabbing the

him into the

My stomach churns.

fight. This is barely legal

I hiss. "I

she urges, grabbing my arm. "Just... wait.

fucking

fight ends with a knockout.

The crowd goes wild.

then the announcer's

next... a challenger unlike any

The lights cut out.

something that

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Chapter 76

opposite side of

entire body

Because he steps out.

in black, hood shadowing his

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one in this room knows who he is. Not really.

media isn't

forbids it.