Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 123

CHAPTER 121

CHAPTER 121

ENOCH

The fucking paper won't stop shaking.

It's not my hands. It's this cursed, pathetic excuse for a goodbye. Thin and too clean-smells like her. A whisper of lavender, something floral and too soft for the mess she left behind.

I don't blink. I don't breathe. Not until I tear it open.

The letter's inside-folded neatly like she gave a shit about presentation. Typical Taryn. Even when she's leaving, she does it with a ribbon and a bow.

I'm not ready to read it.

But I do anyway.

Something small slides out and hits the table. Tink. A black microchip. I stare at it for a second, my heart already punching through my ribcage as though it's trying to escape the moment.

I unfold the letter. My eyes scan the page first. Her handwriting is still goddamn perfect. I fucking hate that I recognize her curves before her words.

Enoch,

If you're reading this, it means I'm already gone. And no, not because I betrayed you-l never could. You know that. Deep down, past the rage. You know that. I never meant to hurt you. Not when I left, not when I hesitated.

The video that played at the Unity Ball wasn't me. I was going to stop it-I did stop

it. But someone took the file. I don't know who, but I'll find out. I promise.

This chip has something that belongs to you. To us. The real story, the one I wanted to tell. Not for the world, but for you.

I loved you. God, I still do. I don't know how to stop.

I don't expect you to believe me right now. Maybe not even ever. But one day, when it stops burning-when the bloodlust fades and your silence doesn't sound like war drums-I hope you'll play it.

Loving you was never the mistake.

And if there's a next life-I'd choose you again. Even if it ends like this. Even if it ends bloody.

But we need space. You need time. And I... I need to stop bleeding for people who won't stay.

If this is goodbye, then know this-

I never stopped choosing you.

-Taryn

My fingers curl into the edge of the letter until the paper creases hard enough to tear.

"You fucking liar," I whisper. But my throat burns. My jaw tightens. Muscles strain until I taste iron on the back of my tongue.

Fuck.

Fuck her.

No, no. Don't lie to yourself, Enoch.

You'd fucking burn down every kingdom for her.

I shove the letter aside and grab the chip. Plug it into my laptop. If this is another

trick, another dagger dressed in silk-I swear to the fucking moon-

The screen lights up, cold and clinical, too modern for how raw my chest feels right now.

The video boots. Buffering.

And then-her face.

My world doesn't just shift. It cracks.

There she is. Auburn eyes bright like she's just told someone a dirty joke and got away with it. Her lips are curled into that

smug half-smile that used to get her out of everything-including my temper.

And her voice-fuck-I forgot how it wraps around you like barbed wire and honey.

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CHAPTER 121

The video opens with her giggling. Blurry footage. It's handheld, shaky as hell.

"Okay, this thing's on, right? Ugh Enoch, you better not be watching this naked, or asleep, or naked and asleep because I swear to God-"

A blurry flash-camera pans too fast-my face shows up for half a second. I flinch at the light. Scow! She laughs behind

the screen.

"Shit, sorry! Flash! Okay, no flash, got it."

The image steadies. We're in Riverstone. That rundown cabin. My hair's longer, sofy. She pans across the tiny room, all wooden floors and peeling paint. Then back to me.

I'm shirtless

Of course I am.

"I present to you, the grumpiest patient of all time," she says in a fake posh accent. "Zero out of ten bedside manner. But, hey, look at those abs."

I scoff under my breath. Fucking hell.

Another clip loads.

We're on the beach. The Maldives. That night.

I recognize the sheets-white and kicked halfway off the bed, her legs tangled with mine. My arms are around her waist, and she's giggling so hard the camera shakes again.

"Enoch-no, stop! I'm recording-baby-!"

A low grunt from me as I reach for the camera. She squeals, holding it above her

head like it's some national treasure. "Put that shit down," I growl in the background.

She laughs harder.

"Just say hi to future-you. C'mon. This is for memories. For-"

shakes as I snatch it. It falls sideways into the sand.

the speakers.

"Give. It. Back."

"Make me."

squeals. My arm comes into frame. And then-There's a snap. The frame cuts

Jesus fucking Christ.

hands curl into

Third clip.

still passed out beside her, arm flung

mess, mouth slightly open like

trace over my

voice is

mate. The

up with me. I'm

"So hot. I mean, who gave him the

at that jawline."

giggles again, stupid and

sees this-hi, babe. You're welcome. I could've

but didn't."

I press pause.

My chest is... fuck.

hand balls

I can't breathe.

press

scene. Silver glitter. Everywhere. She's filming the

total chaos.

And he's gonna lose his shit-" "Sinclair," I bark offscreen. "What the

says

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CHAPTER 121

naturally, I'm going to

screen, and two seconds later I've tackled her into

on laughter.

taughter, bodies crashing into boxes.

and breathy and

okay! I

the clip changes one

The final video.

It's her

Just her

In my

that dress. The deep navy one that made my throat close

it. Her hair's curled Lipstick

background hum sounds like the Unity Ball,

is probably the only time I'll get to say this,"

ball, and you're probably downstairs too. Or maybe still sulking.

place, the dress catching the

looks like a

looks straight at the

smile this time. No

tonight. I thought it'd

it was... everything

but she

1. us. Before

Blackwell," she says. "My mate. My King. If

saw something else. But this-this was the real story.

and sand and early mornings

forevers."

whispers, "Enoch Blackwell, you are my long-destined mate. My longtime

Silence.

The screen goes black.

I close the laptop.

I can't fucking move.

in the chair like something just

it with her when

chair skids across the

even

"FUCK!"

into the wall. Again.

down the surface.

My jaw clenched so tight it feels

She didn't betray me.

She fucking loved me.

burn the world to do

I can't fucking breathe.

my fingernails. Not real blood. Not

like it was looped and embedded in the

of my skull.

you... isn't that

I should've answered her.

I should've answered her.

I should've-

CHAPTER 121

into the side of the

splitting my knuckles

one go.

palace shakes unde my grief. Or maybe

I lean forward, both palms

sweat dripping from my

It's not sweat.

It's fucking tears.

Pathetic.

face with the back of my hand and stare at

screen behind me has gone black, her face gone with

still see

hurt and tears, begging me to see her.

her. Pick her

turned my back like a

said shit since I shut him

Pissed.

Raging

"You don't deserve her."

voice slices

up," I mutter, jaw

She begged. And you fucking walked

I slam my fist into the mirror. Glass bites back, tearing

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