Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 91

I pull back.

Fast

Like I just touched a damn stove. The heat of Liam's breath is still lingering near my lips, but I shove him off so hard he actually stumbles back.

I don't even process it-my hands just react before my brain extches up

“Fuck.” I breathe, stumbling a step back, like the distance will undo the last five seconds of whatever the hell that was "Shit."

Liam's brows draw together, confused, maybe hurt-but i don't care. I don't fucking care. My fingers shake as I wipe my mouth, even though nothing really happened, and 1 pace like I'm about to be sick.

"What the fuck was I thinking?" I mutter to myself, gripping my scalp. "What the actual fuck, Taryns

Because it was so close. My eyes were closed. My lips were parted. I was ready to move on.

Except-no.

Because his voice slams back into me like a freight train.

Mates don't do that shit to each other.

My knees nearly buckle.

I stare at the floor, but all I see is Enoch's face. The way he looked when he screamed at me.

When I left him in that hallway, bleeding with more than just his wounds.

And now I almost kissed someone else.

"Why would you-why would you even try that? You knew-"

"Because he's not here," Liam cuts in, his tone might be flat but eyes are sharp. "And he won't be. Not after what you did."

I flinch.

Like a slap across the face. Open-palmed. Brutal. Because it's true, isn't it? \\

That damn article. That stupid, twisted article with my name on it. I didn't write it, but it has my fucking name. And maybe it doesn't matter what the truth is anymore because he's gone, and now I'm here-dripping in regrets and desperation.

"Don't," I manage. "Don't use that against me."

He steps forward. "I'm not. I'm just telling you the truth."

"You don't get to decide that," I snap.

"Are you seriously still hung up on him?" Liam asks, voice lower now. Less

heated, more... fucking patronizing. "He's gone, Taryn. He left you. After everything. And you think he'd still want you after what you did?"

I blink up at him. "Get out."

He takes a step forward instead. Wrong move.

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Chapter 91

"He's the King now," Liam says, like it's a fact that should end the whole damn conversation. "And you're now the girl who aired his secrets like dirty laundry. He's not coming back for you."

"I said get the fuck out, Liam."

He doesn't.

His hand shoots out, gripping my arm. Tight. Too tight.

"Just listen to me for once-"

"No!" I try yanking back, but he's stronger. Bigger. Angrier. His voice rises as though he's trying to knock sense into me with brute force, but I don't hear it anymore. My skin's crawling. My heart's in my throat.

"Liam," I warn, voice dropping. "Let me go."

And still-still-I can't shift.

"Eris," I whisper inside my head. Begging. Pleading. Do something. Please. Snap

his wrist. Bite his throat. Anything.

Nothing.

Dead silence.

My own fucking wolf has gone mute.

"Liam-" My voice cracks. I try to say more, but my throat burns. "You're hurting me."

That's all it takes.

That small, broken sound. The kind that escapes before pride can choke it back. Liam jerks his hand off me as though I'm made of acid. His eyes go wide, like maybe he just realized he was gripping too tight.

Or maybe he just saw me for what I am now-powerless.

I step back. He steps back further.

"Taryn, I-"

"Get. Out." My voice is steadier now, but my eyes sting. "Before I start screaming."

He looks at me for a second longer. His lips twitch like he's gonna say something

else. Apologize, maybe. Justify himself. But he doesn't.

He just turns and walks out the door.

He doesn't even close it properly.

I don't move until I hear the elevator doors slam shut.

And then I sink.

the

uneven bursts. I dig my palms into my thighs like the

it doesn't.

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Chapter 91

fuck am I

almost kissed

who isn't

My mate.

God.

is wrong with

him once. That was enough. That was already

swims back into my brain, clear as day. His stupid soft eyes. The way he used to hold my ankle when I got hurt like I was made of

Liar.

still love him. God help me, I still fucking

couch, legs folding under me like a

the bottle of liquor from earlier sits

to celebrate my

being a

It's half-full.

on

Screw the

死

and drink straight from the mouth like the fucking mess

down my throat, hot and merciless, but it's still

yet.

let my head

at me.

still tingle. But not

I close my eyes.

Maldives comes rushing

his hair. My toes

dumbass. His voice whispering "I feel safest with

He lied.

I lied.

fucking lie, don't

mouth with the

still feel him-like a phantom limb I can't

squeeze my

I can't do this.

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Chapter 91

I drink again.

And again.

My phone rings.

I ignore it.

It rings again.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

dig it out, ready to

But my hand freezes.

Caller ID: Gamma Abel.

only man who's ever given a damn about me without asking for

return.

the screen, chest

I

I reply. "I saw it." His voice is low

that.

article is still

still says

is raw. My heart's

wrote into

I scroll down.

there. Paragraphs of

who almost got fucking

thought I could find closure by writing everything down-are all twisted into the worst.

And the worst part?

a good

fucking praises too.

didn't publish

tremble as I scroll further,

woman with cold, sea-glass eyes

His grandmother?

Whoever

him.

Shit.

their hands on my

W-who...

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Chapter 91

laptop shut, turning

publish it," I croak, nose running, voice shaking. "I

His voice is steady, a lifeline.

that?"

+58)

at me. He threw me out of the

still in the pack," Gamma Abel says, quieter now, "I've

you when you weren't

in my life. Like a starving wolf

to

tell him, Taryn. Make him fucking see

what if he doesn't want to?" I

him remember

stare at the phone after the call ends, breathing like I just

lungs burn. My stomach flips. Something inside me

It's not courage.

It's clarity.

lifts, and

Eris.

to the surface as though she's been waiting

a fucking spine.

get our mate

grin, tears still